First of all, it is almost the end of fall semester and I am done with all my projects and finals already, hahahahaha. Ok, on to super serious 40K stuff.
Since we last left off I have been hard at work writing even more 1500 point lists (I had over 20 saved on my laptop for some time) trying to find that elusive balance that is hard as nails to achieve at such a point total. After doing some mathhammer, talking to playtesters and finally doing a bit of testing myself I have come up with a list that I believe combines efficiency with some of the cool new toys available to the Dark Eldar player both new and old.
HQ: 105
Baron Sathoynx
Troops: 764
4 Warriors w/ Blaster
Sybarite w/ Blast Pistol
Venom w/ 2 Splinter Cannons
4 Warriors w/ Blaster
Sybarite w/ Blast Pistol
Venom w/ 2 Splinter Cannons
4 Warriors w/ Blaster
Sybarite w/ Blast Pistol
Raider w/ Flickerfield
4 Warriors w/ Blaster
Sybarite w/ Blast Pistol
Raider w/ Flickerfield
8 Hellions
Helliarch w/ Venom Blade
Fast Attack: 312
6 Reaver Jetbikes w/ 2 Heat Lances
6 Reaver Jetbikes w/ 2 Heat Lances
Heavy Support: 315
Ravager w/ 3 Dark Lances
Ravager w/ 3 Dark Lances
Ravager w/ 3 Dark Lances
1496 points
So what's the deal with this list you ask. No Elite slot, what-in-the-hell? Lets cover this:
The Baron and his duders are your counterattack unit, they guard backfield or advance into mid to hopefully Splinter Pod + assault other mid-strength CC units or to wipe the floor with smaller troop units. Dark Eldar don't really need CC ability (they have mobility for that against armies with high amounts of CC) but it's nice to have a bit just in case you need the ability to eradicate a troop or pull something from an objective. The Helliarch is there to make sure you don't fail those LD 9 tests and provide more attacks for that little extra punch. People really underestimate Venom Blades in my experience; DE don't really need to put out heavy wounds with overpriced armaments like Agonisers, just lots of "splinters". Eventually stuff like marines, terminators etc will roll some ones.
The Warrior squads are small indeed and I am far from sold on Blast Pistols, but some locals and I talked about it and I figured I would at least try some out. The two Raider squads can sit further back and protect Ravagers if need be or give easy LOS blocking to Venoms (lord willing on the Venom model lol). The Venom squads disembark, shoot a transport, then the Venom either hits the dudes inside or some other guys. The Raider transports are there for just a few more lance shots and the utility they can give the list by acting as LOS blockers etc. The Raiders also have Flickerfields, another upgrade I've been pretty unfavorable of, but again I'm trying to reevaluate my biases here lol.
The Reaver squads are your disruption units and probably the list's best answer to Long Fangs, Devastators, and corner hugging Guard artillery units. Turboboost right up to those mo-fos and either dare them to shoot them down with kraks (through a 3+ save) or charge them, or fire through them for a cover save on a vehicle. make sure to get close enough that he can't hit you with frags. Against tanks you can turboboost right up next to (or near) them and gib them with lances next turn, just try not to get assaulted on the way there.
Ravagers are Ravagers lol. While Flickerfields and I are in talks to work together, Night Shields have been left hung out to dry and probably won't get to see the kids for at least a year. Just too many missle-autocannon-weapons that are more than 36" that scare Ravagers to be worth it at this point level, and is questionable at higher points. The only units that should be able to see your Ravager is what you are firing at and they should be getting a cover save from your Raiders and terrain.
So, no Elite slots in this list. Why is this you ask? Well, conceited as this sounds I just don't like most of them, or don't like them in this list. Mandrakes? This list is too mobile and doesn't need points in a list that can either avoid CC or cheat by assaulting weak squads with stronger. The same goes for Incubi, who are often included as a one of big squad in a Raider that is promptly shot down and ignored. Harlequins are awesome and all, but I couldn't find the points for them without dropping the Reavers which provide an essential role in this list. Fusion Pistols are really nice though, and allowing some Harlies to steal someone's Venom is usually a good plan.
Just to put it out there, I hate Trueborn squads. If I wanted a suicide anti-tank unit in the elite slot I would just keep playing my Eldar. There's no efficiency issue at work here, I just don't like the unit as I have seen it presented. Someone write a list that incorporates a squad with like 4 Shredders and 2 Splinter Cannons and I will dig it all day, but Blaster Trueborn just seem so meh.
One of the key tips to playing this list is to provide target saturation for your opponent. You don't want to make target priority easy, and with every target in this army being dangerous to both tank and infantry (for the most part) you want to make sure your opponent can see everything so he can shoot at it (hopefully making target priority mistakes) while at the same time having cover saves. This list doesn't have Haemonculi pain tokens to give out to help keep everything alive, but as others have said it is merely nice to have and not a necessity.
Oh yeah, the most important part of playing Dark Eldar, using enough terrain. Measure out exactly 25% of the board (into a rectangle formation) and place as many buildings into that space as humanly possible. Hopefully about half or so blocks LOS. You really, really need this as a DE player. If you are playing on "planet golfcourse" with like 4 buildings in the corners like I know a lot of people do, reconsider playing this army until you get/make more terrain. It makes that big of a difference.
I know I have a really bad habit of not commenting on these posts I write, I aim to change that lol. Anyway, any critiques or questions? Looking back at the previous entries in this series the lists certainly have come a long way no?
