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They have fear.. so useful.

Bit pricey at 50 points base though.

Could Harlequin Masques not be a painting/heraldry book? It sounds pretty...weird as a codex name. And if there's still transports or whatever then usually they'd come out before the dex.

For those of you considering a Sin City scheme:


Planning a small force in this style. Just need some freehand details and to learn how to paint chrome properly.

That looks awesome. I like that it's quite different to the usual bright harlequins.

There're some cool "dark" Harlequins out there.

Straight from the master, here's a Golden-Demon-winning one by Jeremie Bonament Teboul

 TheKbob wrote:
Seriously, those spears and bolas will be nigh impossible to transport. ...
Too spindly!

Magnets.
Take the arms off, and drop them in a bag or spare foam slot. Handy for keeping track of which have thrown the thing.

 Skinnereal wrote:

 TheKbob wrote:
Seriously, those spears and bolas will be nigh impossible to transport. ...
Too spindly!

Magnets.
Take the arms off, and drop them in a bag or spare foam slot. Handy for keeping track of which have thrown the thing.

And frankly it's no worse than transporting dark eldar stuff anyway, just a bit of a challenge to overcome.

Or stick with the emperor's little boxes

50 points for something insta-killed by every missile, melta-gun, Lance and lascannon on the board? Even with the invulnerable, that's too much of a gamble.

 docdoom77 wrote:
50 points for something insta-killed by every missile, melta-gun, Lance and lascannon on the board? Even with the invulnerable, that's too much of a gamble.

Heaven forbid there is one Eldar unit that isn't easy mode.

Synergy, e.g. an 8-model unit consisting of a CWE Farseer on bike casting invisibility, 6 skyweavers, led by an Autarch on bike. Army composition: CWE with Harlequins allied in. That unit can damage and even destroy most targets within a strike range of 12+2d6 in one turn or 48" plus 12+2d6 in two turns. The invisibility or similiar psychic powers (shrouding) protects the unit well enough to get there. Shoot, hide or charge, fight, rinse-and-repeat thanks to Hit&Run. There is quite some potential. The Solitaire will also be helpful by finishing off damaged units. They look to be more efficient than Guardian Jetbike or Shining Spear units who have their strengths but are not as versatile as the Harlequin bikes who can deal sufficient damage to both vehicles and infantry. Charging into terrain looks to be the Skyweavers weakness because they lack plasma grenades. Maybe the Shadowseer has psychic powers to fix that, staying nearby in a transport, and other buffs to offer. Skyweavers are an interesting unit imo

 ImAGeek wrote:
That looks awesome. I like that it's quite different to the usual bright harlequins.

I don't think it will look good on the table, though. Would be really hard to make out any details, and the blue spot isn't bright enough. Even on a closeup it's a bit boring, probably because there's not enough bright tones.

The Teboul model is a bit better with medium-low saturation values, IMO.

 docdoom77 wrote:
50 points for something insta-killed by every missile, melta-gun, Lance and lascannon on the board? Even with the invulnerable, that's too much of a gamble.

You're oversimplifying it. Keep in mind they are jetbikes, which allows an assault move. As stated above, if you use them as a assault platform you're going to be disappointed. But there's potential here if used correctly. The haywire upgrade makes them decent tank hunters, the blast actually works in their favor for knights (being able to scatter to a different facing). Once you've picked off all the scary S8 + weapons, they can pick off easy infantry targets and even do work against heavy targets (though the bolas are not my favorite aspect of them).

There's absolutely no reason to take them as Shuri Cannon platforms, as vypers do exactly the same thing for less and better (and we see how often they get used). As a haywire platform, they're outclassed by scourges by a very large margin. As an assault platform, the lack of grenades hurts them quite a bit and the expensive "real" weapon hurts too. For them to be used well you will need to be able to take adv. of both assault and shooting. Fortunately they're fast enough to pick off weak units, and they don't really need to fight real assault units (your troops do that fine).

Alternately, if you compare them to Harli's on the ground, base line they are ~same cost as 2 with ~same dmg output (after shooting) and better save.

TL-DR: It's entirely too early to be saying the bikes are bad, but barring crazy wargear options/Codex bonuses they aren't auto take either.

 Dash2021 wrote:

There's absolutely no reason to take them as Shuri Cannon platforms, as vypers do exactly the same thing for less and better (and we see how often they get used).

I don't think Harlequins will get Vypers anyhow (outside of using Craftworlders as allies).

Wonderwolf wrote:

 Dash2021 wrote:

There's absolutely no reason to take them as Shuri Cannon platforms, as vypers do exactly the same thing for less and better (and we see how often they get used).

I don't think Harlequins will get Vypers anyhow (outside of using Craftworlders as allies).

Certainly won't, but I highly doubt you see a pure Harlequin army either. Was simply comparing the possible uses to things your allies can bring to the table. Given that you're allies are available, there is just no possible sense in bringing this unit as a gun boat. Filling only that role it is horridly inefficient.

I think they should be used to soften an enemy with shooting, charge them with the slightly improved invulnerable and soak up the overwatch so that a troupe can come in and assault without taking any casualties.

To be fair, at base cost, these guys are slightly better than vypers.
2 Wounds T4, 4+ vs 2HP AV 10 both are susceptible to light weapons fire.
However Str 5-7 Weapons could pen a vyper and blow it up in a single shot, whilst you need Str8 to ID the Skyweaver. At S9/10 they still have a 1/6 chance of failing at wounding them, whereas they would autoglance/pen the vyper.

Both have 1 Shuriken Cannon, Both have a 12" range secondary weapon. The Vyper's is much less powerful but limitless supply, the Bolas are proper nasty vs anything with armour but 1 shot.

Skyweavers can assault and have a better turbo-boost distance, buts Vyper get better access to heavy weapons.


So buck for buck (both £ and pts) the Skyweavers work out a little better to my mind.

But it's like most things in this game, personal preference and your local meta trump stat-hammer when it comes to whether any particular can be applied usefully in game.

[edit] Plus this squadron goes up to 6 models (less FoC), can't be immobilised or weapon destroyed.

 docdoom77 wrote:
50 points for something insta-killed by every missile, melta-gun, Lance and lascannon on the board? Even with the invulnerable, that's too much of a gamble.

A significant number of every army's units can be insta-killed by those weapons. That's the entire point of high-powered weaponry! It's like arguing against taking Boyz or Gaunts because blast weapons exist.

You'd be better off asking other questions instead:
1) Why is a T4 jetbike the best target in your army for an opponent's lascannons and missiles to be firing at? Do you have no Avatar, Wraith units or grav tanks for them to shoot at instead? I know I'd rather be chipping away at a looming Wraithknight with a lascannon than trying to blap a 5++ / Jinking jetbike that could be countered with bolters.

2) We still haven't seen the rest of this army. There were hints last week of warlord traits and wargear lists not printed in White Dwarf, which will almost certainly be in an upcoming codex. There's potential for all sorts of shenanigans once you start adding in Great Harlequins, Shadowseers and psychic powers. We don't have anywhere near the full picture yet, so it's a little early to be writing off whole units.

Not quite sure why Jetbikes need grenades anyway.
The rules say they aren't slowed by difficult terrain.
That and logically they arent touching the ground anyway.

Damned if I know.

 Dash2021 wrote:

Wonderwolf wrote:

 Dash2021 wrote:

There's absolutely no reason to take them as Shuri Cannon platforms, as vypers do exactly the same thing for less and better (and we see how often they get used).

I don't think Harlequins will get Vypers anyhow (outside of using Craftworlders as allies).

Certainly won't, but I highly doubt you see a pure Harlequin army either. Was simply comparing the possible uses to things your allies can bring to the table. Given that you're allies are available, there is just no possible sense in bringing this unit as a gun boat. Filling only that role it is horridly inefficient.

If I can I'm making a pure Harlequin army, I have no desire to play Eldar or Dark Eldar yet again or paint any more of their stuff.

 xttz wrote:

 docdoom77 wrote:
50 points for something insta-killed by every missile, melta-gun, Lance and lascannon on the board? Even with the invulnerable, that's too much of a gamble.

A significant number of every army's units can be insta-killed by those weapons. That's the entire point of high-powered weaponry! It's like arguing against taking Boyz or Gaunts because blast weapons exist.

You'd be better off asking other questions instead:
1) Why is a T4 jetbike the best target in your army for an opponent's lascannons and missiles to be firing at? Do you have no Avatar, Wraith units or grav tanks for them to shoot at instead? I know I'd rather be chipping away at a looming Wraithknight with a lascannon than trying to blap a 5++ / Jinking jetbike that could be countered with bolters.

2) We still haven't seen the rest of this army. There were hints last week of warlord traits and wargear lists not printed in White Dwarf, which will almost certainly be in an upcoming codex. There's potential for all sorts of shenanigans once you start adding in Great Harlequins, Shadowseers and psychic powers. We don't have anywhere near the full picture yet, so it's a little early to be writing off whole units.

Why is everyone assuming that they're going to be paired with Craftworld Eldar? So, for question 1: No I don't have an avatar or a wraith unit or grav tanks or a wraithknight. I might have a Talos and some flimsy armor 10 skimmers, but a smart player will knock out those expensive bikes in one round of concentrated shooting and move on to the other targets as they present themselves.

I don't know if the bikes are terrible, but I do know they would make a terrible addition to my Dark Eldar army (which is pretty terrible itself, being made up of stuff that was good in 3rd and 4th edition and only having one Venom as an update ).

They might have their uses. The models are sexy. But they are not for me. I don't think they're wroth their points. (which isn't to say I won't buy them anyway and curse them game after game... sexiness goes a long way. )

Is it me or is $40 for 2 reasonable?

Sexy models, but i'm likewise in the camp of them being very soft-targets for reasonably high points. I know everyone will be doing this, but I feel like compared to something like TWC, they just come up short on survivability, offensive threat vector, etc...

That all said, as others have wisely pointed out, we don't have all the rules, and the devil is in the details.

I will say I can't believe these don't have skilled rider.

 pretre wrote:
Is it me or is $40 for 2 reasonable?

Not too bad actually.



Hopefully some other rules* will show up making them less hilariously crap.



*Characters, artifacts, etc.

I doubt you will see either the 'Enigmas of the Black Library' or the Warlord Traits table in White Dwarf.

 pretre wrote:
Is it me or is $40 for 2 reasonable?

If they're as big as Vipers as they look then yeah

Ace Rimmer wrote:
To be fair, at base cost, these guys are slightly better than vypers.

"Slightly better" than garbage is still garbage.

Like others have stated I do think they will be pretty weak when it comes to small arms fire but when you are playing an army that is completly weak to it that is going to be your main target priority.

I myself think the cannons are prob best (as long as you have some way to deal with av 13-14 elsewhere). What i feel like thier role would be best suited for is tearing up the infantry units that pump out the small arms fire in the opponents ranks. Every less bolter/pulse rifle/gauss flayer is going to matter playing harlies.

We still have yet to see what the death jester(s) have to bring to the shooty part of the army, it could provide more ways to thin out troops and hopefully pin the enemy.

Thats one thing i hope we see in form of psycic power or more guns is pinning, with it stopping overwatch and providing shooting debuff to the enemy it seems like it would be a huge asset to the army. The bikes shouldve had the shrieker variant that pinned that wouldve made the 50ppm alot easier to swallow.

 pretre wrote:
Is it me or is $40 for 2 reasonable?

No I was surprised as well. I was expecting $50 dollars minimum.

 DarknessEternal wrote:

Ace Rimmer wrote:
To be fair, at base cost, these guys are slightly better than vypers.

"Slightly better" than garbage is still garbage.

We get it, you don't like them. Can we move on now?

I plan on running a pure Harlequin force myself.

Although I am tempted to ally them with DE and use the Carnival of pain detachment. Two sides of the same twisted Circus theme.