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Hey guys I've been considering trying out 40k for awhile. I've been doing a lot of research lately and finally landed on a mobile shooty army. Either Tau or Eldar, where would be the best place to start model-wise?

Landed on Dark Eldar after seeing thier models and falling in something close to love anyway trying to plan my first 500 points and Im stuck so far I was going grab 10 warriors, 3 reavers, 1 raider, an Archon and a small retinue its about 3-400 atm can anyone help?

Mobile and shooting is a tau specialty. You should start with the battleforce

Eldar are the best. Start with some Wave Serpents (and token troops to put in them), then as you expand your collection you can add your choice of support units.

The Eldar Battlebox, two boxes of Jetbikes and a Farseer (converted to ride a Jetbike would be better) is a VERY solid start. Another Battlebox and some War Walkers and you have a great list that isn't spammy or overpowered. Or, some other purchases and you can go the overpowered spam route if you prefer. But it gets you started off very well no matter which way you decide to go.

 Great White wrote:
Mobile and shooting is a tau specialty. You should start with the battleforce

Too bad its outshined by Eldar. I would argue Eldar if you want a strong army, Tau if you want a strong army but a challenge

Mobile is an Eldar thing. They have 2 types of jetbikes, skimmers of various sizes, swooping hawks with jump packs, warp spiders that teleport, 2 jet fighters. And they all shoot.
On top of that, most foot troops get to run circles around the field, while shooting.
Even the cc units are quick.

It is just the wraith models that are slower, except the Wraithknight with a jump pack.

 jreilly89 wrote:


Too bad its outshined by Eldar. I would argue Eldar if you want a strong army, Tau if you want a strong army but a challenge

A challenge is to beat eldar or tau with possessed spam.

So it appears that Eldar will be my best bet for what want. but how do the armies compare cash-wise?

Rankings will change. Which looks and fluff really speak to you?

Bharring wrote:
Rankings will change. Which looks and fluff really speak to you?

That's a tough thing to answer since like Tau fluff but prefer the more streamlined look of the elder.

So your answer is 'yes'...

Have you had a chance to look at their options? What appeals to you?

Tau isn't a mobile shooty army at all. You might as well play guard if you want mobile firepower. A few suits MSMing from one place back to the same place they started while the rest of your army gunlines isn't what is being looked for here.

If you want mobile firepower, you need to get yourself an army that needs the movement phase to apply its firepower, not something where everything starts the game in range. Things that have speed options, and shorter ranged guns.

Eldar can do this, if you build it correctly (so, not wave serpents), but I'd go for either dark eldar or grey knights for this one. Open topped skimmers with blasters or shunting around is going to be better. Also, it's possible to do with a bike list of any stripe.

I was thinking about at least getting some jetbikes and warp spiders as well as the advice listed up thread. Maybe with an allied dark elder attachment?

I haven't spent the money on a codex yet since I want to have a firm army in mind before I do so.

What do grey Knights do?

Eldar Jetbikes are pretty nasty IMO. Zooming all over the board like nothing. Blasting, charging then popping out of combat.

If you like jetbikes, Eldar are your army. Maybe Dark Eldar too, although you'd have to get into the sado-masochsist aesthetic.

(This is just coming from the receiving end...I don't own and am not overly familiar with the codex)

 koooaei wrote:

 jreilly89 wrote:


Too bad its outshined by Eldar. I would argue Eldar if you want a strong army, Tau if you want a strong army but a challenge

A challenge is to beat eldar or tau with possessed spam.

Depending on units taken by the opponent and if you gave them outflanking, that maybe could be done. You have piqued my interest

Raven Cowl wrote:
I was thinking about at least getting some jetbikes and warp spiders as well as the advice listed up thread. Maybe with an allied dark elder attachment?

I haven't spent the money on a codex yet since I want to have a firm army in mind before I do so.

What do grey Knights do?

Grey Knights are small but elite. they're not what I'd call super mobile (although I suppose you could build your armor around interceptor squads and dreadknights and be reasonably mobile)

if you're looking for a low model count army they're you're best best. good army I occasionally play em.

Sounds like you want mechdar. But if you want to keep your friends, avoid Serpents!

Tau are long range firepower, with some closer range options for support. Firepower has a little mobility, and support tends to be recently mobile.

Eldar Mechdar is kinda broken right now. Footdar, though, relies heavily on mobility for LOS and getting in range (few 24"+ weapons). Lots of finesse. Outside Guardians, low model count too. Mine are outnumbered more often than not against Marines.

GK are super elites. Think Knights of the Round Table, but with stormbolters. You will almost never outnumber your opponent. Great survivability per model though.

Mechdar. Serpents. feth the whiners. There'll be another OP codex or something soon enough so that they'll be whining about something else.

The only other army that's as mobile would be Dark Eldar, very nice playstyle as well.

If you're really into conversions, you could make some fringe aristocratic Eldar that use soulstones and CW Eldar tech, but pre-fall culture, so Dark Eldar rules. It would require a *lot* of kit and work, but could look amazing. I'd advise against starting that way though.

Bharring wrote:
If you're really into conversions, you could make some fringe aristocratic Eldar that use soulstones and CW Eldar tech, but pre-fall culture, so Dark Eldar rules. It would require a *lot* of kit and work, but could look amazing. I'd advise against starting that way though.

This is a great Idea and I will defiantly try it once I get some modeling under my belt. I think I think I'll go with Dark Eldar for now thanks guys.

Eldar are an all around good army. Not going to be the cheapest. Wave Serpents are really good in 7th Edition, and you can field lots of them. Start with either the army box.

Tau are really shooty. If you layer the special rules, buffs, and have different units cooperate they can be brutal. Not that good in hand to hand. Riptides are quite good. I'd start with fire warriors and riptides, or the batteforce box for a small playable force.

Grey Knights - Everything is a Psyker, everything is good at killing daemons. Since they are Space Marines with extra powers and gear, they cost more points per model. This army will have the lowest model count, and frankly be the easiest to paint. They have an Army deal for $215 US which is basically getting one of the included units for free. If you can find it at a modest discount (20+% off) it's like getting two units for free. Strike Squads are considered the weak link in the codex, but the model kit that makes them, can be used to make other unit types. You'll likely want a Librarian as well, as he is probably the best HQ, point for point .

Before you spend any money on models, always pick up the codexes first. That way you can compare which army you like better when viewing the books side to side. Whether it is an armies' aesthetics that you like over another's. Or, you like the fluff as a matter of preference. Or, quite possibly the rules and unit types that help you decide. Any combination of the 3 factors above, that help you make you decision.

For the cost of 1 typical unit, you get the majority of rules for an entire faction of WH40K. And even if you do not play one of those codexes, you will have a reference on your opponents that do choose to.

Updated the op and title.

If pick up either a Ravager, Reaper, or Razorwing to give you some anti-tank.

(My fiance plays DE.)

If you are going to go DE, I'd really recommend the boxsets. Either Wych Cult Shardstorm, which is the big boxset 1 Succubus, 1 Venom, 1 Raider, 10 Wyches and 6 Reaver Jetbikes. If you want to go for something smaller, get one of the other raider box sets either Kabalite Skysplinter or Wych Cult Swiftshard. The two raider boxes allow you to get a raider and then get either 10 warriors or 10 wyches in one go.

DE is a finesse army. They are glass cannons. They are extremely mobile. You can make your opponent chase you all over the board and shoot the crap out of them the entire time, if you want. And at the same time, you can be a jerk (to put it mildy) and smash something else's face in by running 5 talos pain engines in a formation from the haemoculous covens supplement, with a chronos to add in some feel no pains.

If you go DE, you will want the supplement.

Keep in mind you can always ally DE and Eldar.

Thank you all for your help I will definitely use your suggestions.