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So I was wondering if it was worth taking a squad of 3 shining spears, the exarch having skilled rider. This means that they are small so no one will dedicate large quantities of fire power to it and they have a 3+ cover save. This squad size is optimal for devastator squads etc.
What's your opinion?

The whole squad has skilled rider, so you don't even need the exarch. A bit of a lulzy little AT unit on the charge, with decent shooting and combat power if need be.

For less than 100 points, you get 6 S6 ap3 attacks on the charge +hammer of wrath. Bikes still have TL catapults if your up against some cheap stuff.

On the charge, 3 have a pretty solid chance to wreck anything with Av10. Against 5 devs(assuming no overwatch deaths) you should kill ~3 on the charge before they strike back. Problem is, without an exarch you are stuck there and the marines will probably kill you before you kill them.

This gives me an idea; since we no longer need troops to score, 3 spears only cost a bit more than 3 guardian jetbikes, while bringing a lot more to the table...hmm.

If you use any you pretty much need a hit and run exarch in my opinion.

Just looking at the dex properly for the first time now. A full squad with hit and run exarch plus a conceal casting warlock for a 2+ cover looks insane!


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Especially if you roll protect for a 2+ in combat!

Don't have my dex to hand but warlocks can't join aspect warriors mate

 jay170788 wrote:
Don't have my dex to hand but warlocks can't join aspect warriors mate

This is correct. Warlocks are specified as only being able to join Guardians (on foot or on Jetbikes). They might be able to join artillery squads too, but I can't remember offhand.

Now, if you have a Farseer on jetbike, and he rolls on Telepathy, you have a pretty darn good chance of getting either Invisibility or Shrouding. At that point, though, you're going to also want the squad to be bigger, and thus you're putting some pretty significant points into it.

This opens up another avenue of discussion regarding the Spears: what is an optimal unit size for them? Assuming an Exarch with Hit/Run and Monster Hunter, what is an ideal number of them to have to support their standard role (hunting medium vehicles and MCs, and opportunistic attacks on infantry)? Is it worth investing in an Autarch as well for the extra WS5 lance or a Fusion Gun? What would be the ideal Farseer psy tree to roll on if you're riding one with them, or just near them?

Oh can they not? Im not an eldar player (play against them a lot though), just borrowed my mates dex to leaf through tonight - I missed that point!

I am planning to buy and paint a 6-man unit with exarch, H&R and monster hunter. Stick a farseer in them, roll on telepathy. Profit.

Telepathy gives great buffs for them, namely Invis and Shrouding. Aside from that, you get a couple of witchfires, and an avenue to making them fearless.

I don't think an Autarch would add much they don't already have. I find Autarch's expensive, and lacking in punch without getting much more expensive. Unless you need reserve modifications, and hate farseers, probably stay away from them.

Autarch does add a few things.

First is reserve modification which has always served me well as an Eldar player.

Second is Banshee's Mask. In those rare cases where your opponent is the same or higher I than you, those 5 points are a steal for what you get.

Third is the BS6 Fusion Gun, which is good to have and very inexpensive.

Fourth is 5 WS6 I6 attacks either with Laser Lance (S6AP3), or some other relic weapon.

EDIT: Cheers, Arbiter, didn't see the mistake there.

Just as a note the laser lance is Ap3, if it was Ap2 even more cheese.

Does the Exarch still get the S8 ap2 star lance from the old codex? That dude was a beast in challenges.

He does, of course.

Theres a s8 ap2 lance for the autarch too in the iyanden book

No there isn't. There's S6AP2 lance with a S8AP2 shooting attack. That's why it's a very weak choice. It even has a chance to kill your own models. If that could go on a MoTLG Autarch, that'd be cool. This way, it's a very poor gimmick.