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What’s the best units to counter Dark Elder for the Custodes?

I have all the units in my army except the forgeworld stuff atm.

But if you think one of the fw units would be best please let me know.

I’ve not played against them yet so any information would be appreciated.

I can't speak specifically on Custodes, but here's some general considerations.

1) AP is mostly useless on Dark Eldar. Anything worth shooting with AP has an Invuln. Focus on rate of fire and damage instead.

2) Don't count on Strategems. Agents of Vect is one of DE's greatest strengths. If your list relies on a "Gotcha" stratagem, learn to live without it.

3) Build flexible. There's no way to to tell how your opponent is going to play without knowing their list. Everything from a mechanized fast moving ranged force to a footslogging wall of flesh that gives Death Guard a run for their money in terms of durability. The more flexible your force, the better chances you have at beating DE.

Other than that, play conservatively and play smart. If you can weather the first turn or two of their fire, you'll have ample opportunity to slaughter what remains of the enemy. DE can hit hard, but tend to have trouble avoiding critical existence failure.

DE have always excelled at taking on elite armies, and you are the elite of the elite.

They don't ever need to engage you on your terms because they can dance around you all day with their speed and range unless you're taking all Jetbikes.

Basically you need jetbikes, and for shooting Caladius grav tank or Telemon dreadnought with dual storm cannons or accelerator culverin.

If you want your basic custodes in combat, better pony up for a land raider or Coronus.

Personally, I bought a few Coronus tanks because I can take 2 squads of 3 in each one.

There is actually no counter to a well built DE army that is also played by a good player by custodies.


They have units that are just as if not more durable than us.
They have units that are cheaper and put out more damage than us.
They have deep striking threats that can take out our vehicles.
They have a strat that just stops your strats when they need it.



It's even worse if they are rolling hot.

I think you're going to keep on struggling, you just don't have enough bodies on the table, weight of dice will drop a Custodes army before they're able to do enough damage.

Your best bet is probably a couple of Telemon Dreadnoughts, they're pretty survivable and put out a good number of shots. They are, of course, alpha units so will draw a lot of fire in return though.

Thanks for the info it will help a lot.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
With my jet bikes should I put salvo lunches on them or the bolt guns? I have three with bolt gun that’s including the shield captain but am going to buy more maybe two or one box.


I should have stated that the Dark Elder player is a lot of jet bikes and fast moving units.

Generally Hurricane Bolters are better, but the salvo launchers do really work well against his army because they have so many flying units.

Putting a unit of bikes with salvo launchers is fine.

Bikes and the FW flyer (which has disgusting rules) coupled with the -1 to hit banner.

 Voltan wrote:
Thanks for the info it will help a lot.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
With my jet bikes should I put salvo lunches on them or the bolt guns? I have three with bolt gun that’s including the shield captain but am going to buy more maybe two or one box.


I should have stated that the Dark Elder player is a lot of jet bikes and fast moving units.

Are they all Dark Eldar jet bikes because Reavers are pretty bad, you shouldn't be having much trouble with them.

 Imateria wrote:

 Voltan wrote:
Thanks for the info it will help a lot.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
With my jet bikes should I put salvo lunches on them or the bolt guns? I have three with bolt gun that’s including the shield captain but am going to buy more maybe two or one box.


I should have stated that the Dark Elder player is a lot of jet bikes and fast moving units.

Are they all Dark Eldar jet bikes because Reavers are pretty bad, you shouldn't be having much trouble with them.

Yes I believe so I have my first game in about a week against my brothers army.

Well, the best counter against Drukhari vehicles have always been heavy bolters.
In general, lots of shots (such as from bolter type weapons) is the way to go,
while lascannons are often wasted due to the vehicles' inv. saves.

Hi, Deldar player dropping in to talk here.

If they're bringing kabalite units, then expect a fast-ish gunline with mediocre durability. Focus down the Ravagers if they have them.

If they're bringing Wych units, laugh, because your 2+'s will bounce just about everything they bring in melee. Though watch out for the buckets of dice. Reavers can be a danger unit in the early game, not for their damage output (quite mediocre) but for their ability to cross the board and surround a shooty unit. Your Dreadnoughts might not care too much, but your tanks won't like being enveloped all that much.

If they're bringing Coven units, you may want to avoid combat. Hard hitting wall of Flesh usually with a 6+/4++/6+++. Keep in mind that the Coven HQ's actually have a 6" +1T aura for their Coven buddies, which can turn Grots into monsters and Taloi into nightmares.

Weight of dice will be your friend here, as very few things have a save better than 4+ and a lot of things (all Vehicles, all Coven, HQ's, Wyches in melee) have a 5+ or better invuln. So always go for the hurricane bolters.

Weight of dice will be your friend here, as very few things have a save better than 4+ and a lot of things (all Vehicles, all Coven, HQ's, Wyches in melee) have a 5+ or better invuln. So always go for the hurricane bolters.

Often, Marine armies are not in the position to bring a lot of weight of dice on the board.
This is one reason why DE armies often laugh about Marines.

 wuestenfux wrote:
Well, the best counter against Drukhari vehicles have always been heavy bolters.
In general, lots of shots (such as from bolter type weapons) is the way to go,
while lascannons are often wasted due to the vehicles' inv. saves.

So I’ll probably be better off going with Hurricane Bolters on the jet bikes then.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Ikol wrote:
Hi, Deldar player dropping in to talk here.

If they're bringing kabalite units, then expect a fast-ish gunline with mediocre durability. Focus down the Ravagers if they have them.

If they're bringing Wych units, laugh, because your 2+'s will bounce just about everything they bring in melee. Though watch out for the buckets of dice. Reavers can be a danger unit in the early game, not for their damage output (quite mediocre) but for their ability to cross the board and surround a shooty unit. Your Dreadnoughts might not care too much, but your tanks won't like being enveloped all that much.

If they're bringing Coven units, you may want to avoid combat. Hard hitting wall of Flesh usually with a 6+/4++/6+++. Keep in mind that the Coven HQ's actually have a 6" +1T aura for their Coven buddies, which can turn Grots into monsters and Taloi into nightmares.

Weight of dice will be your friend here, as very few things have a save better than 4+ and a lot of things (all Vehicles, all Coven, HQ's, Wyches in melee) have a 5+ or better invuln. So always go for the hurricane bolters.

Thanks for the information. I’ll definitely go bolters.