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Hey all.

So im sorta new to this, and am trying to build up my Eldar.. was looking at the troops on the GW website and saw black guardians and normal guardians

Is there much of a difference? and does it matter which one i chose?



Sorry if this is a silly questions. New to all of this

If you look at the contents, the black guardians has a HWT, whereas the guardians don't. Depend on your army build, mobile or stationary? mobile=guardians, stationary=black guardians

on the website it also says the normal guardians come with a heavy weapons platform, am i missing something? :p

"Black guardans" are just guardians for Ulthwe craftworld.
They're the same box, otherwise.

Black guardians are of ulthwe, and are better trained compared to regular guardians

 Big Mac wrote:
If you look at the contents, the black guardians has a HWT, whereas the guardians don't. Depend on your army build, mobile or stationary? mobile=guardians, stationary=black guardians

The heavy weapon is is on a grav platform so is very much mobile

If you go with the Black Guardians consider storm guardians.

With Disdain Strategem, Black Guardian Strategem, Enhance, chain swords and Doom you get a unit that has double attacks that get exploding attacks on 4+, hits on 2+ and a good chance to would. Expect 30 to 60 saves needed from a 20 man unit.

The other thing about Black Guardians...is the craftworld trait. You will be rolling a LOT more dice during the game.

Some like that....I see it problematic on a couple areas.

Since you said you're a bit on the new side, here's the genuine answer:

1) Model-wise, it's the exact same kit.

2) Fluff/story-wise the Ulthwe Craftworld has particularly good Guardian units - they no longer really have this benefit in 8th edition, so it can be ignored more or less. Originally Ulthwe Black Guardians had a superior stat-line to normal Guardians. None of this matters with regard to buying the models though, so ignore it. Same kit, same stuff.

Black guardians have higher ballistic / weapon skill depending on if they're storm guardians or regular, or at least that's what is was in the good old days of 3rd Ed.

Correct, but that no longer exists. Now it's simply a stratagem they can use. This is another reason I disagree heavily with Guardians becoming BS/WS 3+. Completely unnecessary and unfluffy...but that's for another discussion.

Black Guardians have more athletic ability and better rhythm, but their economic prospects are hindered by a prejudicial society.

Thanks for all the answers guys!

I'll assume its the same for black windriders/windriders

Deltaa wrote:
Thanks for all the answers guys!

I'll assume its the same for black windriders/windriders

Yes, rule and model wise there is no difference. I'm rather surprised GW left them listed up on their website, Black Guardians were only a thing again for the last 6 months of 7th edition when they had a formation that made Guardians into Black Guardians but became obsolete in 8th. Black Guardians now is just the Ulthwe specific stratagem that targets Guardians.

Black Guardians have the WS/BS of Aspect Warriors, - 3+.

Regular Guardians have the WS/BS of Eldar militia - 3+.

I do miss that brief time in 7E in which BG Windriders were a thing and could drop in via Webway (for free) and the clearly missed opportunity GW had to make 2 Windrider datasheets for 8E:
A Troop WR unit that can only take 1 upgrade weapon pre 3 models (like it was for years before the new kit)
And an Elite BG WR that can upgrade all models' weapons (to take advantage of the new kits options)

But alas 'twas not to be

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