"Hi Kirby
I really enjoy your blog and it has really helped me go from a very casual 40k player to a more competitive player. However I suffer from the curse of wanting to play armies that are a bit different from the standard builds. I have had moderate success with a 1800 point dark eldar list at my local club and local tournaments (placing well and winning best army). There is a 2 day 2k tournament in early July that I would like to take my dark eldar to which means adding another 200 points.
The original 1800 point list was:
105 - Baron Sathonyx
185 - 10 Hellions, Helliarch, Agonizer
185 - 10 Hellions, Helliarch, Agonizer
234 - 14 Hellions, Helliarch, Venom Blade
304 - 9 Reaver Jet Bikes, Arena Champion, 3x Caltrops, 3x Heatlance
304 - 9 Reaver Jet Bikes, Arena Champion, 3x Caltrops, 3x Heatlance
155 - Void Raven, Flickerfield
155 - Void Raven, Flickerfield
165 - Razorwing, Flickerfield, Splinter Cannon (disintegrators instead of dark lances)
1792 - Total
I am aware that it is sub optimal but I have it all painted and really enjoy playing it, I have found that although it is fragile it can at least draw any match up. The biggest issue is anti tank, although the flyers survive far longer than most people would think they are fragile and the lack of any dark lances or blasters does mean I suffer with massed mech. The reavers have heat lances as a secondary utility, their primary aim is using the caltrops pick off infantry units that are isolated or unable to beat them in combat. Along with the razorwing they are the stars of the list. The razorwing is absolutely devastating for 1 shooting phase and easily pays for it self most of the time, it can then provide cover saves for the void ravens, and a cannon and 2 disintigrators can help with small meq units.
I'd really want the Razorwing to have Lances if you could make that happen otherwise considering you have these models painted I'd change the 2x9x Reavers to 3x6x. This gives you a lot more flexibility and less potential to lose firepower to overkill. The Hellions + Baron are fine but I'm really not sure how your vehicles survive for long at all. They are the only tanks out there and paper thin so your opponent should be focusing them early and easily at least shaking them.
Anyway let's see what changes you make for 2000.
This is the basis of the 2k list, I am light on scoring and very light on anti tank and would really like some advice on what would be best to spend the last 280 points on.
105 - Baron Sathonyx
154 - 9 Hellions, Helliarch, Venom Blade
154 - 9 Hellions, Helliarch, Venom Blade
224 - 14 Hellions
304 - 9 Reaver Jet Bikes, Arena Champion, 3x Caltrops, 3x Heatlance
304 - 9 Reaver Jet Bikes, Arena Champion, 3x Caltrops, 3x Heatlance
155 - Void Raven, Flickerfield
155 - Void Raven, Flickerfield
165 - Razorwing, Flickerfield, Splinter Cannon (disintegrators instead of dark lances)
1720 - Total
The list is pretty themed so far, I am willing to be pretty flexible but I really dont like the raider chassis. I like the idea of scourges as I have a good idea how I would model them to fit the theme, I could get a unit of 10 with 4 assault anti tank weapons blaster/heatlance/haywire blaster in the points. I could cut the arena champions from the reavers and have a 3rd 9 strong reaver unit with caltrops and heat lances. I also have 3 elite slots free so could potentially try and use true born I could just about get 2 units of 3 with blasters in venoms but with only 2 they will be very fragile and makes me much worse at kill points which is currently a very strong mission for me.
Are any of these ideas any good? Are there any better ones with the slots I have left available, I would be willing to tinker with the basis of the list but I cant really afford to change too much.
Thanks for your time
Dan"
The Trueborn idea IMO is your best bet or if not Trueborn, Warriors in Venoms to shore up your scoring though you gain less anti-tank. Once again though I'd look to split the Reavers into three squads and drop the Arena Champions. You could also grab a Haemonculus and Wracks in Raiders for extra ranged anti-tank, a FNP token for the large Hellion squad and durable scoring but since you don't like the Raider chassis this will be an issue.
If you're really set against this idea I'd go with the Warriors or Trueborn in Venoms with Blasters to up your anti-tank. You've got a ton of anti-infantry with the Razorwing and Hellions already and the Venoms will add to that but as you've said, you really need to increase your anti-tank to deal with a lot of mech and the Venom + Warrior/Trueborn combination also adds anti-infantry so the unit combo as a whole isn't useless against infantry lists.
Logging you in...
Sethis · 727 weeks ago
I'm not convinced that adding 1-2 Lances in the form of Raiders is the best move, as they tend to be supressive weapons instead of anti-tank weapons unless you have dozens of them. Haywire-armed Scourge gives you the same amount of supression, more reliably, for cheaper, and if you keep them in cover they're not even that less survivable than a Raider. However this does not increase your scoring capability at all, which is the one thing stopping me from recommending it outright.
General Smooth · 727 weeks ago
Dan · 727 weeks ago
The vehicles survive better than expected simply because many armies use meltaguns or other short range guns/combat as their primary anti tank and my mobility means I can keep away from them very easily. Obviously armies with a lot of long range firepower will kill them, but I am lucky enough to usually play with terrain that can give them cover.
I have tried taking the reavers as 3x6 instead of 2x9 but have found 2x9 to be far more effective. units of 6 are better if you are using them just for their heat lances but I like that on an average roll a flyby by a unit of 9 can take out meq combat squads or devastators/long fangs.
I was going to convert scourges to basically be slightly more armoured hellions with guns instead of glaives, so they would fit in well with the look and theme of the army. With haywire blasters they would have a 36" threat range with reliable suppression. I recognise that trueborn with blasters are the standard wisdom but I am still unsure about how I could get the best out of them. Will proxy them and give them a go.
Thanks for such as swift reply Kirby.I
Kirby 118p · 727 weeks ago
Dan · 727 weeks ago
Duke + 5 warriors with a blaster in venom for 275 or in a raider for 280
He has a blast pistol for a second anti tank shot, as all the hellions have drugs as well he would buff the whole army, the warriors give him a unit to sit in as well. It doesnt add much in the way of reliable anti tank, but with a raider it would add a bit and its an extra scoring unit.
Kirby 118p · 727 weeks ago
The Black Jackal · 727 weeks ago
Troops: Kabalite Warriors - 150
- Sybarite w/ Blast Pistol
- Warrior w/ Blaster
- 3x Warriors
- Venom w/ 2x Splinter Cannons
It's fast, it's cheap, it's scoring, it has a reasonable number of darklights for its points and the Venom gives it great duality. I try to run at least two of these beauties in every list I write now.
Additionally, the Baron has his uses against tanks as well, seeing as he's normally S6 on the charge. Not great, to be honest, but useful against mech lists.