I have been trying a few different lists out for my Dark Eldar. I have already sent in my list for Heavy Bolter this month, however I am thinking of upcoming events like Castle Assault in Newcastle NSW in August and maybe MOAB in Sydney NSW in October.

I tried a practice game against a fairly tried and tested Sian-Hann list I have from the available formations I have from the Eldar Minis I have collected. It was a hard battle with lots of units killed on both sides, and a little luck in close combat outcomes for the last 2 assault/ fire fights for the Dark Eldar. The overall tactic and list I used worked well, even though there were 4 War Engines, which could be targeted among the other units from their formation.

I think the -1 to hit from the shields helped a lot, and the plethora of close combat units also helped.

The list I used for the Dark Eldar is below.

Kalabite Formations – 1500 Points
575 Points – Kabal Coterie – 4 x Incubi, Archon (mounted in Barge of Pleasure), 1 x Barge of Pleasure, 1 x Ravager, 2 Kalabite Warriors, 1 Raider
625 points – Kabal Flotilla – 6 x Ravagers, Sybarite in Ravager, 1 x Vessel of Pain
375 points – Kabal Flotilla – 6 x Ravagers, Sybarite
Partisans – 1025 Points
225 Points – Reaver Gang – 6 x Reaver Jetbikes, Sybarite
225 Points – Reaver Gang – 6 x Reaver Jetbikes, Sybarite
575 Points – Wych Cult – Sybarite, 6 Wyches, 2 Warp Beasts, 2 Barges of Pleasure, Sybarite in Barge 1
Titans, SS and Aircraft – 400 Points
200 points – Ravens – 2 x Raven fighters
200 points – Ravens – 2 x Raven fighters


The Sian-Hann List is also below.

Craftworld Warhosts – 1050 Points
425 Points – Wild Rider Clan – Wild Rider Chieftain (replaces Wildrider), 5 x Vyper Jetbikes, 1 x Farseer Vyper, 3 x Jetbike
275 Points – Wild Rider Clan – Wild Rider, Farseer Vyper, 4 x Vyper
350 Points – Shining Spear Aspect – 2 x Exarch Upgrade, 8 Shining Spear bases
Craftworld Troupe Support units (2 per craftworld host) – 1000 points
275 Points – Sian-Hann Guardians – 4 x Guardians, 2 x Heavy Weapons Platforms, 1 Farseer, 3 x Wave Serpents
175 Points – Scout Rider Troupe – Scout Rider 4 x Jetbikes, 2 Vyper Jetbikes (Garrison unit)
250 Points – Hornet Troupe – 5 x Hornets Scratch Build these
300 Points – Swords of Vaul Troupe – 4 x Falcons, 2 x Firestorm AA Gravtank
Titans and Aircraft (max 1/3 points) – 950 Points
650 Points – Revenants – 2 x Revenant Titan
300 Points – Nightwing – 3 x Nightwing Fighters


By the end of turn 3, the Dark Eldar had almost lost their BTS formation and had the Vessel of Pain and the last Raider with the Sybarite sitting on the Blitz. However the Eldar had nearly twice as many casualties, and no objectives. The Dark Eldar had Defend the Flag.

In turn 4, the Eldar, moved to take out the Dark Eldar holding an objective in their half, and also kill off the threat formations near their Blitz, while rushing a formation into the enemy half to support an assault on one of the objectives in the dark eldar half. Unfortunately the Dark Eldar got the strategy roll and killed off the scout bike formation holding the second objective in the eldar half, and reinforced this with a formation of Ravagers. They also broke in close combat initiated by the Eldar the Shining Spears, and Hornets,and destroyed the smaller Wind Rider Host.

The Revenants were busy, but were not able to support the 2nd objective as they were outside the 15cm range while trying to block Dark Eldar forces trying to get to the Blitz. Eldar did get forces into the enemy half (unbroken), and did not lose their BTS Revenants. They lost both objectives in their half, destroyed a Barge of Pleasure from the Wyches formation which had taken their first objective, and one of the Ravens. Dark Eldar won with Take and Hold, and Defend the Flag.

It was amazing to see the Dark Eldar Vessel of Pain get shot at so many times and not lose more than a single Shadow Field. Enemy move up and shoot, normally needed either 4 or 5, and the -1 made the difference. That and the double moves some formations had to do to get in range. The Ravagers were also shot at, but as they were usually just behind the Vessel of Pain to most enemy, they had to shoot at it. A similar thing happened with the Wyches formation, but they lost a lot of units in close combat. The only thing that saved them was wiping out the enemy they assaulted, and breaking the enemy support formation. I did send in another formation to support just after that them in case the enemy counter attacked.

My evaluation of the force and its tactics is that it has enough War Engines with Shadow Fields to reduce the effectiveness of enemy attacks, and if I keep certain formations near each other, they can support, and deter enemy from assaulting my key formations, or provide an effective counter attack against enemy after they break a formation in close combat/firefight. I found that 6 ravagers and 1 or 2 war engines that support 6 Reavers jetbikes, or wyches or incubi, can destroy a lot of tough enemy formations.

I am unsure how this will perform against a well dug-in enemy with lots of artillery, good counter assault formations, and perhaps teleporting or planet falling formations will work. I do believe that this list works best on the attack, and should push as hard as they can into enemy territory.

I have a few other lists, one with teleporting Mandrakes and Scourges supported by formations of wyches, incubi, Barges, a vessel of pain, ravagers, ravens and jetbikes.

This is a fun army to use.

_________________
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.