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What is the best way to run Harlies in an Eldar army? I have so many of these guys sitting around, but I have no idea how to use them. I do understand that they are not the best choice, but I dont think they are "un-playable"

I have been considering running a smaller troupe with a shadowseer, death jester and Maugen Ra chilling at 24" and blasting away for lulz. maybe some DE support for the trophies to keep the Shadowseer from failing?

Thought about maybe running a couple max squads in a foot list a counter chargers for some guardian blobs.

Any ideas?

What is the best way to run Harlies in an Eldar army? I have so many of these guys sitting around, but I have no idea how to use them. I do understand that they are not the best choice, but I dont think they are "un-playable"

Sadly, I think they are pretty much unplayable. The unit requires a substantial point investment in order to work. Unless you want to run a Fortuned Dark Eldar character with a Shadowfield out in from for some re-rollable 2++ cheese, the unit will die fast. There is simply too much ignore cover out there to consider 22 point models with a +30 point character (that now has to psychic test for Veil) to be worthwhile.

He's talking eldar codex Harlequins, so Ignore Cover doesn't matter, they got their "old night-fight" back.

Harlies are a huge points sink, but they are also just about the coolest darn unit in 40k imo, so play them for fun - use cover and Shadowseer to get within charge distance and maybe a sacrificial unit to soak overwatch (I play DE so use a small wych squad for this).

JGrand's observations are perfectly valid though so leave them at home for competitions!

extremefreak17 wrote:

I have been considering running a smaller troupe with a shadowseer, death jester and Maugen Ra chilling at 24" and blasting away for lulz. maybe some DE support for the trophies to keep the Shadowseer from failing?

This was really good in 5th edition when you did not have to test for veil. It is still doable in 6th, but a bit less effective due to the psychic test(or if you go second and the unit gets shot). Fliers and FMCs can also get incredibly close and shoot the unit down. Once the shadowseer falls small arms will do the rest. Good for fun games and decent enough for semi competitive play, but not really viable in a competitive setting.

Thanks for the replies! I don't really have any super competitive players in the group I joined, so maybe its worth a go then. The models are so awesome, I just hate that they changed the veil to a regular psychic power that you have to cast. =/

They work as all of the Codex: Eldar's assault units.
Either as a counter-assault unit or praying that you throw only sixes for your cover saves.

Harlequins have one major advantage however: no unit will shoot at them behind 24" (providing that Shadowseer will make it) and even then they are less likely to hit you behind 18"). So Shadowseer is a must and if he succeeds with his power, they should make it to the assault relatively safe. After that I'm not 100% sure of what they can do. Rending is nice and they do have 3 attacks basicly but for their price I'm not sure if that's enough.

To sum it up, they are the Death Company of Eldar. Cool, fluffy and effective in close but cost as much a house in Tinseltown you need more than good luck to get them where needed.

Counter assault behind the ADL.

Harlies are great as a counter assault unit. If you use them offensively, let them approach along a flank. If necessary, throw a fast moving unit like WR Jetbikes in front of them to protect them from incoming fire especially flamer templates.

The problem with the counter-assault approach is two fold. One, if you are near other units, you risk getting blasts shunted on to you, which ignores their veil. 2nd, they are really expensive for a counter-assault unit. Almost twice the cost of a basic scorp unit and really can be broken out into 5 man units due to the shadowseer cost.

The entire problem with harlequins comes down to the psychic test. You both have the unpredictability of failing the test some time during the game and having the whole unit die due to only a 5++ or perils and having your 49 point model die and lose the squads protection. Harlequns were already borderline usable before the new codex. The change back to 'night fighting' made them more usable, but the test makes them really, really bad. The only way i can see running them is with a spiritseer for concel in case the veil goes down. Jump in cover and you at least have a 3+ save ,which is respectable.

I have 30 harlequins i would love to run again, but until they get their rules into a place where they can actually function as an unsupported assault unit again i wont run them except in the rare friendly game.

They are not that bad to run near a grisly trophies DE skimmer. If you are already taking one then they can be pretty great. In jetseer council builds I have found some good utility in using a squad or two.

There is also a kind of cool build with A spiritseer council with all of them attached to a harlie star. Depending on how you play psychic powers stacking they can start getting pretty nasty, though at that point you probably are better with wraithblades.

Cool unit but as said they suffer greatly from having to take a psychic test for their ability.