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Hey guys,

here is my tournament list which focuses on not using any FW units, yet keeping most units at a -2 modifier to hit if played correct. Yes, there is some spam, but I happen to own 5 hemlocks, so I might as well use them! There is a version of this list that runs triple battalions for maximum CPs, but I think I may settle on this one. Autarch descends with his wings to buff the two 20 man guardian units arriving via Webway Strike. The Farseer gets to join the action via his relic as well. That's my offensive obsec and anti horde aspect of the force(with 80 rending shots and being fearless). The hemlocks need little explanation if you've even faced just one before. The list also has 8 full power smites which isn't too shabby. Anyways, let me know what you think!

Alaitoc Air Wing Detachment

Hemlock Wraithfighter (Jinx)
Hemlock Wraithfighter (Jinx)
Hemlock Wraithfighter (Jinx)
Hemlock Wraithfighter (Jinx)
Hemlock Wraithfighter (Jinx)


Alaitoc Battalion Detachment

(HQ)Autarch with Swooping Hawk Wings // Relic: Shimmerplume of Achillrial // Warlord Trait: Puritanical Leader(6" fearless bubble)
(HQ)Farseer (Guide, Doom) // Relic: Shiftshroud of Alanssair

(TRP)4 Dire Avengers / Dire Avenger Exarch with single Avenger Shuriken Catapult
(TRP)20 Guardian Defenders
(TRP)5 Rangers


Alaitoc Battalion Detachment

(HQ)Spiritseer (Conceal/Reveal)
(HQ)Spiritseer (Quicken/Restrain)

(TRP)4 Dire Avengers / Dire Avenger Exarch with single Avenger Shuriken Catapult
(TRP)20 Guardian Defenders
(TRP)5 Rangers

(DT)Wave Serpent / Twin Shuriken Cannon / Shuriken Cannon / Vectored Engines

total: 1997pts/10CPs

Looks pretty damn scary without a very tailored list to stop it. I'm not super familiar with the Eldar clan benefits, I assume there is a -1 to hit for Alaitoc built in like for the Marine Raven Guard chapter, does that apply to the Hemlocks as well? I know marine bennies don't apply to vehicles but as I said, not that familiar with Eldar.

If your opponent kills everything but the hemlocks, you will lose the game as being tabled

FarseerReborn wrote:
If your opponent kills everything but the hemlocks, you will lose the game as being tabled

Considering he has several characters (one of which can leave the table and come in somewhere safe) and that the Hemlocks are likely to be the closest targets, thus meaning those characters are pretty safe, I highly doubt this would ever be a concern.

I'd put some different powers on a few Hemlocks. I know the idea is to use Jinx with one and Smite with the others, but having 1-2 with a different power might come in handy. Maybe Reveal or Drain?

Gwarok wrote:Looks pretty damn scary without a very tailored list to stop it. I'm not super familiar with the Eldar clan benefits, I assume there is a -1 to hit for Alaitoc built in like for the Marine Raven Guard chapter, does that apply to the Hemlocks as well? I know marine bennies don't apply to vehicles but as I said, not that familiar with Eldar.

Yeah, the Craftworld attributes apply to all Craftworld units, not just certain ones. So in this list the Hemlocks are at -2 to hit most of the time.

Galef wrote:

FarseerReborn wrote:
If your opponent kills everything but the hemlocks, you will lose the game as being tabled

Considering he has several characters (one of which can leave the table and come in somewhere safe) and that the Hemlocks are likely to be the closest targets, thus meaning those characters are pretty safe, I highly doubt this would ever be a concern.

I'd put some different powers on a few Hemlocks. I know the idea is to use Jinx with one and Smite with the others, but having 1-2 with a different power might come in handy. Maybe Reveal or Drain?

I've been playing with that. Fine tuning to see which ones come in most handy!

ps. I wrote this list pre-FAQ, so I had to change a few things to open up an additional 56 points, but it's remained fairly close to this as you can see below, and I can tell you those 5 Hemlocks put in some serious work!

Alaitoc Air Wing Detachment

Hemlock Wraithfighter (Horrify)
Hemlock Wraithfighter (Horrify)
Hemlock Wraithfighter (Jinx)
Hemlock Wraithfighter (Jinx)
Hemlock Wraithfighter (Restrain)


Biel-Tan Battalion Detachment

(HQ)Farseer Skyrunner (Doom, Will of Asuryan) // Relic: Blazing Star of Vaul // Warlord Trait: Natural Leader(re-roll to hit in the shooting phase for a friendly unit within 3" of your WL)
(HQ)Warlock Skyrunner (Quicken/Restrain) // Relic: The Spirit Stone of Anath'lan

(TRP)4 Dire Avengers / Dire Avenger Exarch with dual Avenger Shuriken Catapult
(TRP)4 Dire Avengers / Dire Avenger Exarch with dual Avenger Shuriken Catapult
(TRP)17 Guardian Defenders


Biel-Tan Battalion Detachment

(HQ)Spiritseer (Conceal/Reveal)
(HQ)Spiritseer (Protect/Jinx)

(TRP)4 Dire Avengers / Dire Avenger Exarch with single Avenger Shuriken Catapult
(TRP)4 Dire Avengers / Dire Avenger Exarch with single Avenger Shuriken Catapult
(TRP)17 Guardian Defenders

(DT)Wave Serpent / Twin Shuriken Cannon / Shuriken Cannon

total: 1999pts/10CPs

The list does look very scary, and I agree on the extra Hemlock powers.

My only concern is the occasions where you don’t get first turn vs an alpha strike army or a fire base army. The 34 Guardians potentially won’t last a turn, along with the Wave Serpent also likely going down. If you can’t then seriously cripple your opponent’s army, you’ll be in a lot of trouble as they’ll be able to mop up the remaining 24 models.

The main issue I have with large amounts of Hemlocks, is that if they are forced to target hordes, you’re prob only killing 4 models per Hemlock a turn, and if you’re forced to target everything on a Wave Serpent, then, all 5 likely won’t even kill it when combined.

Kdash wrote:
The list does look very scary, and I agree on the extra Hemlock powers.

My only concern is the occasions where you don’t get first turn vs an alpha strike army or a fire base army. The 34 Guardians potentially won’t last a turn, along with the Wave Serpent also likely going down. If you can’t then seriously cripple your opponent’s army, you’ll be in a lot of trouble as they’ll be able to mop up the remaining 24 models.

The main issue I have with large amounts of Hemlocks, is that if they are forced to target hordes, you’re prob only killing 4 models per Hemlock a turn, and if you’re forced to target everything on a Wave Serpent, then, all 5 likely won’t even kill it when combined.

He can use some strategems on those guardians to firstly have them at -2 to hit or to give them a 4+ invulnerable save... they should be decently durable I think.
If the warlord was also alaitoc, he could have th warlord trait to have a 6" fearless bubble which could keep the infantry in line.

Also another option is to use 1/3 command points to put 1 or 2 units (infantry or bikers) into reserves so he could deepstrike the unit of guardians to spare them from alpha strike.

What about reveal on a couple of the hemlocks? It’s like a pseudo jinx.
Also, might be worth switching out a couple of hemlocks for crimson hunters?

Ohris wrote:

Kdash wrote:
The list does look very scary, and I agree on the extra Hemlock powers.

My only concern is the occasions where you don’t get first turn vs an alpha strike army or a fire base army. The 34 Guardians potentially won’t last a turn, along with the Wave Serpent also likely going down. If you can’t then seriously cripple your opponent’s army, you’ll be in a lot of trouble as they’ll be able to mop up the remaining 24 models.

The main issue I have with large amounts of Hemlocks, is that if they are forced to target hordes, you’re prob only killing 4 models per Hemlock a turn, and if you’re forced to target everything on a Wave Serpent, then, all 5 likely won’t even kill it when combined.

He can use some strategems on those guardians to firstly have them at -2 to hit or to give them a 4+ invulnerable save... they should be decently durable I think.
If the warlord was also alaitoc, he could have th warlord trait to have a 6" fearless bubble which could keep the infantry in line.

Also another option is to use 1/3 command points to put 1 or 2 units (infantry or bikers) into reserves so he could deepstrike the unit of guardians to spare them from alpha strike.

His 2nd list changed the 2 battalions to Biel-Tan instead of Alaitoc so one unit would only gain a -1 to hit.
The problem is that the stratagems can only be used once per turn. As it stands, even with the 2 units of Guardians in the Webway for 3 CP, it’d leave a Wave Serpent and 10 Dire Avengers on the table to be targeted (assuming the other 10 and 2 spiritseers are inside the wave serpent). Most people shouldn’t have to much trouble killing 10 Avengers and a Wave Serpent in the first turn (potentially 20 Avengers if they have the fire power left after destroying the Serpent). Once the Guardians come out of the webway, everything would be on them and the Hemlocks doing enough damage to ensure at least 1 of the characters survives til the end of the game.

It will certainly be a challenge to play against, but, as it’s more for the tournament scene, they will need to be prepared for the high probability of having to try and rely on the Guardians surviving. You then also have the problem of objective scoring.