So for the first time since the start of the rollercoaster
ride we call 6th edition we have something that allows for a realistic choice
in allies. The Eldar dex got me very excited…. A new way to play? Maybe!
Certainly a few options really makes me wanna do a mushkilla style reserve army
with jet bikes and so on. New options really make this ally much better than
before. Below I’ll take a look at the units in the codex and have a go at
rating them in the context of an ally. I’ll use the xx/x/-/+/++ scale when
rating each unit. Unfortunately with the sheer size of the book this will have
to be in 2 instalments but I’ll try and get the second instalment out early for
everyone!
HQ
In the previous edition this section used to be an automatic
choice for me. Eldrad. 210 points that could and would often win me a game. His
vast selection of psychic powers was really unrivalled. But a new codex has
shown up many new options for the leader of our allies. So let’s have a look.
Eldrad Ulthuan +
Jury is out for me on Eldrad now. He’s lost his ability to
cast each spell twice but he gets an additional warp charge on a 5or 6 every
time he casts a spell. He no longer ignores all armour with his sword just av 3
but now it’s also a force weapon. He now has fleet which means he combines with
the beasts better. Overall I think he’s still very good, however with the
increase in power of the normal farseer, this guys price tag is really high at
205 pts just for an extra spell and some ass kicking combat ability over a
normal seer. Is that 100points more worth it? I don’t know. Still a solid
selection.
Prince Yriel xx
Poor Yriel. An on foot T3 model with a 3+ save begs to be
instant killed, especially when he’s reroll av saves of 6 in combat. He’s cheap
but there’s just no-where for him to go really other than a beast/grotesque
unit or an eldar infantry unit. A normal Autarch is much better for the points
and can be made manoeuvrable. I really don’t see any reason to take this poor
fellow.
Illic Nightspear
xx
140 points is too much for this sniper and doesn’t really
fit in with the army. He’s very good at doing wounds on monstrous creatures but
frankly that’s about it, something we can do well anyway.
Asurman x
By taking Asurman as an ally you lose his best feature (his
extra warlord rolls) He’s pretty nifty in combat with 4 strength 5 attacks and
he gives the unit he’s with counter attack and fearless. Useful for both
grotesques and a beast master unit. At 220 points though he’s probably too
expensive to be useful for dark eldar.
Jain Zar +
I initially Dismissed Jain Zar. She brings probably the best
combat punch of all the Phoenix Lords (6 str 4 ap 2 attacks and reroll to wound)
She also brings fearless but is 200 points and has no tank punching ability. At
200 points that might not be worth it. But her compatibility with the beast
master unit here is outstanding. Each time Jain zar charges a unit, it goes
down 5 ws and 5 initiative. So for most unit that are charged, this means
they’ll be initiative 1 and ws 1. Not only does this mean that the beasts would
be hitting on a 3, the opponents will be hitting on a 5+. Definitely a great
choice here, unless you don’t use beats in which case don’t bother! (I doubt a
grotesque unit will charge as often!)
Karandras -
He’s a brute as much as Jain zar is a brute (perhaps even
more so). He has infiltrate and the debate rages on whether he can give this to
a unit. He gives stealth which is ok (baron already does that). But he’s very
pricey potentially good with scorpions but I’m not convinced. 230 points is a
hefty amount and perhaps in an army like dark eldar his benefits don’t really
outweigh the cost.
Fuegan +
This guy is pretty cheeky being pretty good in close combat
and having his 2 shot fire pike to hand. If I were to use him I’d stick him in
a unit and then split him off near the enemy to kill a tank, tank out a unit on
his own. Don’t sit Fuegan back, send him forth. Probably best in an advancing
unit. I quite like him tbh!
Baharroth xx
Too expensive at 195 points. Were as the other phoenix Lords
are brutal in combat or provide a unique special rule baharroth doesn’t really
give anything a normal swooping hawk unit doesn’t. He does give hit and run to
any hit he wants. But that isn’t something worth 195 points really.
Maugan Ra +
This guy is probably the first useful special character
(maybe Eldrad as well?) for the Muskilla reserve army. This guy can still in a
unit of troops making them fearless and he pumps out plenty of str 6 rending
shots. His str 6 ap3 combat attacks also useful when confronted by any deep
striking units fancying a bit of action near the dark eldar lines. He’s also a
bit of an assassin with marksmen’s eye, pretty good when his gun is 36 inch
range as well. Again perhaps a bit pricey at 195 points, but a useful choice.
The Avatar of
Khaine xx
This is a bit outdated now but really doesn’t go with Dark
Eldar. Its slow its gun is short range (you can give it night vision which is
silly since night vision doesn’t give it any bonus….) It’ll probably be killed
very quickly and as such is pretty useless for us! (Although it would look
menacing!!!)
Autarch ++
Essentially the reason for taking an autarch would be the
adding to reserves. Now for the reserve jet bike army, this guy is just brilliant.
For me he’s best used as a solitaire boosting forward with the bikes with an
aim to take out small holding units. He’d be hard to kill as well with his
rerollable 2+ cover save a useful option!
Farseer ++
A 100 point level 3 psyker that can make 2 units reroll to
hit. Yes please! Access to fortune for any unit would make the beast unit hard
as nails. Shooting a doomed unit with venoms? Plenty of useful combinations and
at only 100pts, whose gunna argue? Well… the next guy!
Spirit Seer ++
70 points for an lvl 2 wizard that has access to the runes
of battle. And a guaranteed shrouded power. So with this and the baron you have
stealth and shrouded for any unit you want… Brilliant! With plenty of boosting
powers as well but also aggressive maledictions another brilliant choice! Oh
god I really don’t know which to choose!
Warlock Council xx
Can’t take this only works in primary detachments!
Conclusion
The special characters are nice. But the stars of the HQ
options are the normal choices. Farseers, Autarchs and Spirit seers will be
incredible useful and adds an edge to a dark eldar list that it currently
lacks!
My Choice: Farseer/Spirit Seer – Not chosen this yet both
have their advantages. I think the spirit seer is edging it for me to give the
beasts shrouded. But a farseer's destructive potential might also drag me towards
it! In a reserve list I’d definitely take an autarch, but in my math hammer
damage output list, I’m going for one of the psykers.
Elites
Howling Banshees
xx
Not much to say here. These guys have no grenades, can’t
charge out of a transport and frankly are just cack. Leave these at games
workshop!
Striking Scorpions
–
An interesting unit, stealth making them deploy on a second
turn charge, a small unit deploying in the opponents deployment zone might be useful.
To draw them away from the dark eldar lines. I just think that there are better
places to spend the points.
Fire Dragons x
These poor fellows got more expensive and as such although
there a guaranteed vehicle kill, but needs a transport and they are expensive.
Not a fan, stick with the lances and haywire grenades!
Harlequins x
Better than before but still too costly, if they could go
into a venom I’d consider taking them, but their far too vulnerable to shooting
when they jump out of a serpent. When they update our book, these guys will be
pretty good! At the moment? Maybe not.
Wraithguard/WraithBlades
–
Pretty useless as elites, too expensive, but as a troops
unit their pretty useful. Pretty difficult to shift, and with a shadow seer can
be even more so, they do some decent damage as well. Definitely a choice to
consider. Maybe not right for Dark Eldar tho.
Conclusion
Some weak choices here. These units all need a transport to
work and those are expensive as well as the choices themselves.
My Choice: Striking Scorpions. Only unit that doesn’t need a
transport to be useful and at 85pts could be pretty useful. Although I’d probably
not use anything!
Next Time!
Heavy Support, Troops, Fast Attack and dedicated transport. Plenty
more of the book to go and plenty of choices to look at! Check it out next
time!
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