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After playing a practice game against my Squats army (a weakened Squat list at that). I am now thinking that my Dark Eldar army is in need of a lot more Reaver Jetbike formations.
From playing quite a few games against Eldar - Sian-Hann, Sisters of Battle Ministorum (minigeddon), and Squats, I have decided that I should have certain formations dominating my lists. These formations need to be able to either be really fast and have the skimmer or jump ability and also have an armour save for infantry. Thus reaver Jetbikes, Hellions and Scourges.
vehicles or light vehicles must have skimmer, be fast and have weapons to handle both infantry and vehicles alike. I must take a Dracom or Archon, and I can do this with either the Coterie (incubi), the Syndicate (kalabite warriors), or my Flotillas (ravagers). The flotilas seem to be the best option. I woiuld also use Vessels of Pain like Imperial Guard use their Shadowswords, in the role of Titan Killers. Each Flotilla can have 1 added to it.
All the rest of the formations are ground pounders that rely on raider or Barges of Pleasure to transport them about. My Talos AV require a Slavebringer to get somewhere quickly, units like kalabite warriors, wyches, warp beasts only get a save if in cover or if in close combat for the beasts and wyches. Incubi, Haemonculi and Grotesques get an armour save, however their ranged weapons are really poor. All these units stuck on foot once their transports are destroyed. Since they do not get extremely large formations like Guard, Cultists, Tyranids, and Orks get, these units can be a liability, as I found out when my Supreme commanders formation had their transports wiped out from squat artillery and a salvo fro m 2 Overlord armoured airships. They had to triple move into cover and never left it for the rest of the game.
From all this I would recommend to anyone wanting to play Dar Eldar that the following formations are the best for any list you want to build. The list is in order of priority on which should be purchased.
Kabal Flotillas, each with a Sybarite, or a Dracon, one with an Archon. You might add a Vessel of Pain to these for extra punch.
Reaver Jetbikes with a Sybarite, as these 40cm moving skimmer infantry can steal objectives, or lend that much needed support in a combat.
Raven Fighters, as they are your best anti-air formation for their points cost. Take them in pairs so you can filed more formations.
Tormentor Titan/s - Only take a second if you are playing really large games. They can jump move 35cm, have shadowfileds making enemy ranged attacks -1 to hit, and you get 1 back automatically each turn if you still have any active. They also have a decent array of long ranged weaponry to handle infantry and vehicles.
Barges of Pleasure as transports if you do decide to take foot darkdar forces. They will prolong the life of the ground pounders, and give better fire support than raiders.
Scourges, always taken with a Sybarite, only have a save of 6+, however they can teleport, have a 30cm range dark lances, and a 4+ FF value. If backed up by Reaver Jetbikes or Hellions as part of a mobile infantry block they can take on enemy in defensive positions to grab objectives. They are best when used along side Mandrakes. In this case teleport the Scourges and Mandrakes in together, and use the Mandrakes to handle infantry, and to assault using their 3+ CC value, while the Scourges kill of the vehicles and provide FF support. It may be the best way to grab objective in the enemies side of the table without the use of risky planetfall /self planetfall assaults., or the need to rush lone Reaver Jetbike formations up.
Hellions are fast jump troops with a move of 30cm and a save of 5+. They get scout, and are decent in close combat. Always take a Sybarite, however they still may not be as points effective as Reaver Jetbikes.
Everything else, except Mandrakes when used along side teleporting Scourges are not worth the points you pay to field them.
Razorwings get extra weaponry, but at 25 points more per aircraft, they get expensive quickly.
Here is a sample of a list I might use, if I can get the models in from Onslaught
3 formations of 6 ravagers 2 with Sybarites at 375 points each, one with a Sybarite and a Dracon at 425 Points
2 formations of 6 reaver Jetbikes each with a Sybarite at 225 points each.
2 formations of 2 Raven fighters at 200 points each
1 Tormentor Titan at 500 points
1 formation of 6 Mandrakes at 225 points
1 formation of 6 Scourgeswith Sybarite at 250 Points
Alternately
3 formations of 6 ravagers, 2 with Sybarites at 375 points each, one with a Dracon at 400 points
2 formations of 6 Reaver Jetbikes with a sybarite at 225 points each
2 formations of 2 Raven Fighters at 200 points each
1 x Tormentor Titan at 500 points
2 formations each with a single vessel of pain at 250 points each used as mobile support for the flotillas and they also give you an extra initiative sink formation. I would not put them together in one formation or add them to the Flotillas formations as this would make the Flotillas the BTS obj or make the Titan and the Barges equal BTS objective
I am leaning towards the last list as it the vessels of pain can handle Titans and large vehicle armies better popping up with range 45cm 3+ D3 Titan killers. They get 2 shields and 3 DC each. With the Titan adding its long range fire power this makes other armies warier of approaching my formations without their own ranged tank formations.
The Ravagers can work together with the Jetbikes to take and even hold objectives. While the Ravens provide CAP.
I do lose the Archon Supreme Commander, but I can not squeeze in another 50 points and and justify it for the formations I would lose. This might be the list I use for Castle Assault 2016 or MOAB 2016. I will have to play a few games to be sure though.
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6mm wargaming is just like 25mm wargaming with more units fitting on the same size table. Thus bigger games to get lost in and avoid the hassles of everyday living, and offerings for the dice gods.
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