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I really like the current wood elves models and am eager for them to get a new book. They fit my favored paint schemes as well since I love doing lots of dark greens and browns.

Is there anyway to make them competitive though? I want to be able to use them in my meta that has a lot of different forces, with everything but wood elves represented.
Can they be competitive? How? What units does one need to bring?

I've seen some pretty successful Asrai lists. They usually include: several characters with the Alter Kindred or on Eagles (always one with the Bane-bow and the Hail of Doom Arrow, maybe one with the Bow of Athel Loren and Arcane Bodkins), then maybe a few units of Dryads and Waywatchers, some more Eagles, and then TONS AND TONS of Glade Guard. Usually in 10-strong units.

It is...actually pretty tough to face. And not exactly fun, either. But hey! It can win.

The competitive wood elf list features a big unit of flaming glade guard, 7 units of ten glade guard. Some minimum dryads for chaff, about 3 of them. Two eagles. And two units of 6 waywatchers. (With the abundance of dragon princes and dark steed characters, these guys are awesome.) Then you take a level 4, probably beasts as it's a far superior lore than life and athel loren. And some eagle characters, if they fit your fancy. And of course, the standard BSB.

The whole premise of the list is you focus on one unit at a time, and shoot it off. Dryads run in, and chaff things up and possibly snipe mages. Eagles do their job, and redirect.

I actually really like the eagles and love the idea of fielding a ton of them in a list. How viable is bringing an entire list made up of eagles ( minus minimum core requirements)?
Also, so we have any rumors on the date for wood elves? I've heard May?

Great Eagles are Rare, so you get two in normal-sized games.

Characters on Eagles don't really do much; they just also don't get hit by much. Especially since, because they're not doing a ton anyway, your opponent isn't likely to try to take them out. Not when there's 70 Glade Guard raining arrows down on him each turn.

@thedarkavanger: what does Beasts offer this list? I guess Crows and Spear are yet more shooting. Curse helps. And...Pelt and Beast for those characters?
I guess I'm just looking at Dwellers, but Flesh to Stone and Regrowth look like they'd help extend the chaff-game. What're your thoughts?

I feel like there is only one sure fire way to be competitive with wood elves? Am I wrong? I don't want to be running the same list as every other elf player out there.

Warpsolution wrote:

@thedarkavanger: what does Beasts offer this list? I guess Crows and Spear are yet more shooting. Curse helps. And...Pelt and Beast for those characters?
I guess I'm just looking at Dwellers, but Flesh to Stone and Regrowth look like they'd help extend the chaff-game. What're your thoughts?

So you're wondering why a lore that makes elves strength and toughness 4. Can boost a branch wraith to strength and toughness 8/9, AND has one of the best hexes in the game is better than life?

Oh, beasts can take off war machines with flock. And kill stanks and princes with Amber spear.

The only spell in beasts that ISNT worth keeping is transformation.

Another fun list build is tons of dryads, treekins, treeman and level 4 beast, cheap bsb and as many brainchwraiths as you can squeeze in.

canadianguy wrote:
Another fun list build is tons of dryads, treekins, treeman and level 4 beast, cheap bsb and as many brainchwraiths as you can squeeze in.

Fire bad!!!

Always a weakness somewhere! Lol

They are very weak IMO, but if I win with them I feel more strong than any other time! I jsut won a game, Dwarves+WE vs VC+Beastmen. Our shooting phase was destroyed by their vanguard moves, scouts, and "move 'em forward" spells. But we played very well strategically and we won. I used 30 glade guards, Spellweaver lvl 4 lore of Life, Noble, 5 Tree kin, 3 Warhawk riders and 1 Treeman who made tons of damage.

 Maelstrom808 wrote:

Fire bad!!!

Tree Pretty!

 thedarkavenger wrote:
So you're wondering why a lore that makes elves strength and toughness 4. Can boost a branch wraith to strength and toughness 8/9, AND has one of the best hexes in the game is better than life?

Oh, beasts can take off war machines with flock. And kill stanks and princes with Amber spear.

The only spell in beasts that ISNT worth keeping is transformation.

S4 T4 Elves doesn't seem to matter that much to me (S5 T5 Dyads seems far more promising, but still not enough to make a difference, most of the time). Savage Beast'd/Pan's Pelt'd Branchwraiths do sound pretty cool, though.
Amber Spear taking down those big targets is the real strength of the Lore, I'd say. Dwellers just makes you better at what you already do. Spear gives you a different tool entirely.
Okay, yeah, I'm sold.

Warpsolution wrote:

 thedarkavenger wrote:
So you're wondering why a lore that makes elves strength and toughness 4. Can boost a branch wraith to strength and toughness 8/9, AND has one of the best hexes in the game is better than life?

Oh, beasts can take off war machines with flock. And kill stanks and princes with Amber spear.

The only spell in beasts that ISNT worth keeping is transformation.

S4 T4 Elves doesn't seem to matter that much to me (S5 T5 Dyads seems far more promising, but still not enough to make a difference, most of the time). Savage Beast'd/Pan's Pelt'd Branchwraiths do sound pretty cool, though.
Amber Spear taking down those big targets is the real strength of the Lore, I'd say. Dwellers just makes you better at what you already do. Spear gives you a different tool entirely.
Okay, yeah, I'm sold.

The main buff is Curse. On a unit like Crushers where there are so few wounds, and the way that the wound allocation system works means that on a unit of 5, one model is likely to die per cast. Or your opponent wastes his dice dispelling it, leaving you to buff your characters. Which will likely include the Arcane Bodkins lord.

 thedarkavenger wrote:


The only spell in beasts that ISNT worth keeping is transformation.

Why? surely the chance of turning a wizard into a giant terrifying beasty is a good thing right?

To fully make use of transformation you need to charge your wizard in BEFORE casting it, because if you cast it then charge on your next turn, they can dispel it or it wears off.

If you charge THEN cast it, they can still try to dispel it, and bam you just sent a t3 elf lord into combat.

And even if you do get the spell off, then the wizard is out by himself with the opponent able to attempt to dispell it on his turn.

Ah... makes sense now.

One thing I've seen people do is use Transformation to turn your Wizard into a Hydra for a sweet breath weapon and maybe protection from shooting and such. No need to get into combat for that!

Then, on your turn, you dismiss the spell, and cast it again, for more breath weapon-goodness.

Not the best thing ever, but still far from useless.

I suppose it'd be ok to do that if you ended up with that spell and already had the signature. I've rolled rolled 4 1's with my Lvl 4 Tzeentch sorc lord before...lol.

Do you just pick which beasty you want to turn into?

BAN wrote:
I suppose it'd be ok to do that if you ended up with that spell and already had the signature. I've rolled rolled 4 1's with my Lvl 4 Tzeentch sorc lord before...lol.

Do you just pick which beasty you want to turn into?

I think the spell turns you into a mountain chimera. It might as well be the only option. That thing is crazy. (Answer is yes. You do. )

And for those explaining why transformation is bad, don't forget, wounds transfer over.

Ok back to wood elves and not just number 6 lore of beasts!

How well would an all fast cav wood elf list work?
Maybe with eagles and warhawk riders aswell?

I really like my mates dark elf fast cav army but I want a good side equivalent, I already have an evil army.

BAN wrote:
Ok back to wood elves and not just number 6 lore of beasts!

How well would an all fast cav wood elf list work?
Maybe with eagles and warhawk riders aswell?

I really like my mates dark elf fast cav army but I want a good side equivalent, I already have an evil army.

Not very well, as Glade Riders are far too overcosted for what they bring to the table. And you do not want wild riders. A combat unit in a wood elf army! For shame!

Ok I'll wait and see what comes with the new army book, I'm betting on new wood elves for may/june.

I would argue an all fast cav army is very good. It plays points denial, you win because you kill one or two of his units, and he doesn't kill any of yours. Wild Riders are amazing if used properly, they erase chaff (very important with this kind of list as any skirmishers or archers are a big threat) and wipe war machines off the board. The next step to winning the game is simple, dance you pansy dance! The list wants turn two so that at the bottom of 6th you charge everything into one unit, break it on pure combat res, and run it down.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
However since we are expecting a new book soon here is my advise for starting right now, buy a tonne of glade guard. They will likely be even better in the new book and are currently available for fairly cheap online (ebay) plus they are definitely one of the best sculpts in the entire line (especially for a 6th ed sculpt), spend the next two months modeling, painting, basing, and falling in love with as many of them as you possibly can and then get yourself the book as soon as it arrives.

danny1995 wrote:
I would argue an all fast cav army is very good. It plays points denial, you win because you kill one or two of his units, and he doesn't kill any of yours. Wild Riders are amazing if used properly, they erase chaff (very important with this kind of list as any skirmishers or archers are a big threat) and wipe war machines off the board. The next step to winning the game is simple, dance you pansy dance! The list wants turn two so that at the bottom of 6th you charge everything into one unit, break it on pure combat res, and run it down.

You know what does that better? Glade guard. Seventy glade guard is far more cost effective, and reliable than any cav in the book.

And far more likely to get caught.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And I'm not saying it's the best list, the OP is asking if it's playable and it is.