Over the weekend I had a chance to play in an RTT and I was able to take the new Eldar out for a spin. It’s actually mainly a Ynnari list, but still used a few detachments of pure Eldar to unlock their very powerful Stratagems. Here’s my list:

Battalion Detachment Alaitoc HQ: Farseer Skyrunner, Twin-Shuriken Catapult, Singing Spear Alaitoc

HQ: Warlock, Witchblade, Shuriken Pistol Alaitoc

HQ: Warlock, Witchblade, Shuriken Pistol Alaitoc

Troop: Rangers x5, Ranger Long Rifle x5, Shuriken Pistol x5 Alaitoc

Troop: Rangers x5, Ranger Long Rifle x5, Shuriken Pistol x5 Alaitoc

Troop: Rangers x5, Ranger Long Rifle x5, Shuriken Pistol x5 Alaitoc Battalion Detachment Alaitoc HQ: Spiritseer, Shuriken Pistol, Witch Staff Alaitoc

HQ: Spiritseer, Shuriken Pistol, Witch Staff Alaitoc

Troop: Rangers x5, Ranger Long Rifle x5, Shuriken Pistol x5 Alaitoc

Troop: Rangers x5, Ranger Long Rifle x5, Shuriken Pistol x5 Alaitoc

Troop: Rangers x5, Ranger Long Rifle x5, Shuriken Pistol x5 Alaitoc

Fast Attack: Swooping Hawks x5 with Exarch, Lasblaster x4, Hawk’s Talon Alaitoc

Fast Attack: Swooping Hawks x5 with Exarch, Lasblaster x4, Hawk’s Talon Alaitoc

Dedicated Transport: Wave Serpent, Spirit Stones, Twin Shuriken Cannon, Twin-Shuriken Catapult Alaitoc Vanguard Detachment Ynnari HQ: Yvraine WARLORD

Heavy Support: Dark Reapers x9 with Exarch, Reaper Launcher x8, Tempest Launcher Alaitoc

Fast Attack: Shining Spears x8 with Exarch, Laser Lance x7, Twin-Shuriken Catapult x8, Star Lance Saim-hann

Elite: Howling Banshees x6 with Exarch, Shuriken Pistol x6, Power Sword x5, Executioner Alaitoc

Elite: Fire Dragons x5 with Exarch, Fusion Gun x5, Melta Bombs x5 Alaitoc

Elite: Shadow Specters x10 with Exarch, Prism Rifle x10, Sunburst Grenades Alaitoc TOTAL: 1996 Command Points: 10

The <Craftworld> distinction in the Ynnari portion is important. Mainly because all the non flying Alaitoc units can get into the -1 to hit Wave Serpent and the Shining Spears from Saim-hann can use the Stratagems of being able to Advance and Charge as well as rerolling 1s to hit in the assault phase. The ability to Soulburst and use the Eldar Stratagems is really crazy, and I really loved how the list performed in general. I went 2-1 only losing the last round to a deep striking Marine list with Lias Issodon and 4 Storm Talons.

How I’d Play the List

Generally I put rangers in cover to claim objectives as we were playing the new ITC Champion Missions, so they’d rack up points and be more work then they’re worth to remove. I’d then put the fire dragons in reserve using the Webway Strike Stratagem, with either the Shining Spears or the Reapers, depending on who I would be facing. Over the tournament I started to realize I really didn’t need to put the Spears in reserve, unless I was afraid of them getting alpha’d, because they could move 22 inches in the movement phase, get quickened to move an additional 22 inches and then charge. Shining Spears are one of the best thing in the Eldar Codex currently, and Soul bursting Shining Spears are even better.

Next I put the Warlocks, Spirit Seers, Banshees and Yvraine in the Wave Serpent. This was 7 drops in one. This caused me to have the +1 to choose to go first every game. The Warlocks were only in the list as I don’t personally own more Spirit Seers and after this weekend I’m going to be working hard to get more of those. Spirit Seers just outshine Warlocks in every way, especially the full smite. Towards the end of the game when you need to get enemy units off of objectives or out of your grill, full smites are far more reliable. But that’s not to say that the Runes of Battle powers aren’t amazing. Quicken, Protect, Empower, and Conceal – I want to cast every power on Runes of Battle twice over!

The Farseer took Doom and Fortune to make my pseudo Death Star of Shining Spears even tougher, and the Yvraine took Word of the Phoenix and Gaze of Ynnead. People would get caught off guard by Gaze mainly because it’s a Smite that can target, rather than having to hit the closest enemy model. And of course guaranteeing a Soul Burst on the Reapers or Shining Spear each turn made her even more invaluable.

Thoughts on the Units – Big Winners

Shadow Specters are pretty cool, able to take out both hordes of dudes and elite units. They struggled versus vehicles but their coherent profile just adds so many hits that their weight of fire, even on Vehicles, made them a threat. Their innante -1 to hit with the ability to make it a -2 through the Lightning-Fast Reactions Stratagem or even a -3 with the Alaitoc trait will make them a staple in all Eldar lists. I wouldn’t be surprised if these get a nerf along side Spirit Seers. Speaking of which. . .

Spirit Seers. That’s all that needs to be said really, but I’ll go into a bit more. If you read our Eldar Codex Winners and Losers – First Reactions article you’ll know that we already told you why we think these are huge winners. So I’ll say it again. Full smite, full battle powers and for only 10 points more than a Warlock on foot. I found you really didn’t need a bike as they typically advanced behind my first wave and stuck close to rangers to avoid being targeted.

Shining Spears, as stated above, are one of the best units in the Eldar Codex, if not the best. I explained why I thought so above, so I won’t go into it too much. If you haven’t tried them – do. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at their durability with Fortune and Protect up. A 2+ armor, 3++ versus shooting and a 5+ Feel no Pain. These guys just won’t die and they’ll put a ton of fire power out, in shooting and melee. They took down a Hemlock Wraithfighter themselves in just shooting. Now I did get lucky with Shuriken Weapons, but even still if they hadn’t they would have taken it down in melee.

Reapers. I can see Eldar armies of just pure reapers and a few fast moving units. The Tempest Launcher on the Exarch is the greatest SURPRISE they could offer, other than the always hitting on 3s. Up against another Alaitoc player? Have some pesky -1 to hit flyers in your meta? Don’t worry because these guys can take care of it! And with the Tempest Launcher on the Exarch it makes them even more well rounded as he can essentially split fire into another unit that the Tempest Launcher is more appropriate to target.

Okay Units AKA Units I Was Happy to Take

I felt the Farseer played okay. The fact they can only cast 2 powers, down from 3 last edition, made me really want to take a second one so I could guide the Reapers. They’re still a little high in points to fit another one on Jetbike, but I’ve been thinking of taking two on foot. Another thing that annoyed me greatly is that 5 out of 6 Runes of Fate powers are Warp Charge 7. That means they’re going to fail at least one of their two powers, regularly both. Runes of the Farseer help, but when you use your reroll and still don’t get your power off it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. It only bothers me because one of the best powers in the game, Smite, is Warp Charge 5.

Rangers, it’s weird to have them here. But they aren’t as invincible as you think. It also doesn’t help I forgot about their Pathfinder Stratagem, which makes enemy units need 6s to hit a unit of Alaitoc Rangers in the shooting phase. But they’re the backbone of this army, and probably the best troop choice in the Eldar Codex. I’m happy with how they played out in my games.

Banshees just make people think twice about placement, they’re the first punch followed up by the Shining Spears. They’re cheap and soak (remove) overwatch fire. But perhaps the best part is I like their models and they were fun to paint. Always a plus!

Units that are getting CUT CUT CUT

Fire Dragons. I fell into this trap. I say trap because you think to yourself that spending 1 CP to deep strike 5 Melta Guns anywhere on the board is going to be awesome! Then when the Fire Dragons wiff you’re thinking to yourself, man that’s 120 points worth of suck.

Final Thoughts

With that being said overall I’m happy with the list. I’m going to have to play a few more games before I make a final decision on the Swooping Hawks. I keep playing them wrong. I 100% will be cutting out the Fire Dragons from the list and with their points I’d like to try getting a Solitaire or a foot Farseer. I’m leaning more towards Solitaire as Yvraine can Soul Burst him and he can hunt annoying characters or small screening units. But I’ll have to play with both, as guided reapers sounds appealing!