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Friday, July 13, 2012

Breakdown: Dark Eldar with NEW Rules (HQ)


Well this is the 2nd installment of my breakdown of 6th Edition Dark Eldar. I will be going over plain Headquarter units. I will talk about there new roles and toy options.






Headquarters




Archon
He's always been staple HQ slot ever since Dark Eldar was released by Games-Workshop. He has been around for a couple of Editions with evolving tactics. Question is, what cunning, conniving, and colluding plan and tricks will the Archon bring in 6th Edition?

I will admit a lot of his toys have been nerfed with the AP hit on CC weapons, but that doesn't stop him from soul siphoning. So lets take a look at some possible builds and units he can join.

"Pistolero" Archon, 155 pts (Plasma Grenades; Blast Pistol; Blast Pistol; Haywire Grenades; Combat Drugs; Djin Blade; Shadow Field)

With the change to Dual-Wielding Pistols, letting you shoot both pistols, that's 2x S8 AP2, Lance goodness. You can still bring the Djin Blade to at least have a AP3 weapon and still have the +1A for having 2 CCWs.

4 Kabalite Trueborn, 240 pts (Blaster x4; Haywire Grenades), 1 Dracon (Haywire Grenades; Phantasm Grenade Launcher; Blast Pistol; Power Axe or Spear), 1 Raider

8 Kabalite Warriors, 211 pts (Blaster x1), 1 Sybarite (Phantasm Grenade Launcher; Blast Pistol; Power Axe or Spear), 1 Raider

8 Wyches, 213 pts (Haywire Grenades), 1 Hekatrix (Haywire Grenades; Blast Pistol; Phantasm Grenade Launcher; Power Axe or Spear), 1 Raider

Note: PGLs will be more for the defensive grenade buff (Stealth @ 8")

"Gladiator 1" Archon, 135 pts (Plasma Grenades; Power Axe; Power Sword/Spear; Haywire Grenades; Ghostplate Armour; Combat Drugs; Clone Field)

This Archon will go and challenge everyone he see. Most characters unless IC will have low number of attacks (example Blood Angel Assault Sergeant w/ PF only has 2 attacks without the Charge, same for TH/SS Terminators) On average you should roll 3+ on Clone Field negating the any PF your opponent can throw at you, let just say pray you don't roll a 1 or 2 and hope your 6++ will save your life. Depending who you challenge you can use either the Power Axe or Power Sword/Spear.

"Gladiator 2" Archon, 135 pts (Plasma Grenades; Power Axe; Power Sword/Spear; Haywire Grenades; Combat Drugs; Shadow Field)

Same as Gladiator 1, but with a 2++ (also, praying you don't roll a 1.)

You still have your old 5th Edition loadouts so no point in beating a dead horse.



Succubus
I felt in 5th Edition the Succubus was overshadowed by the Archon for HQ choices. The Succubus might make a small comeback being a cheap challenger against MEQ (maybe TEQ.) You can give the Succubus a Power Axe and throw away that I8 goodness to fight TEQ, or just keep the Agoniser for MEQ/GEQ hunting. I would probably cough up the extra points and just bring Lelith or Duke.



Haemonculus
Still the best choice for cheap HQ and easy PT distribution. I still feel that the Ancient upgrade is a bit point less. I still think it's weird that Haemies don't have access to the Clone Field or the Ancient not being able to figure out how to give himself +1S after being experimented on for so many years. I foresee Haemies bringing Hexrifle or Animus Vitaes more often with the chance of rolling 6s in shooting or assault. They can also bring Mindphase Gauntlets to challenge an IC and roll a bunch of hits and preventing the IC from attacking (you have to take a S and LS test per hit, and you just have to fail one of the tests to be affected.)



Summary
Coming into 6th Edition everyone will have to be open to new builds and roles for our HQs. The Pistolero Archon (Dual-Wielding Pistols) and the Gladiator builds will be the two new builds that can possibly appear on the battlefield. The Succubus might make a comback if the Archon has no clue what to do anymore on the field. The Haemonculus will still be seen in almost every Dark Eldar Build. Hexrifles, Mindphase Gauntlets, and Animus Vitae might start appearing in the Haemies "Bag of Holding." (can you guess what reference is that?)
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4 comments:

  1. XzandrateJuly 13, 2012 at 11:35 PM

    I'm not sure I see enough usefulness in the mindphase it's very specific slow ICs and MCs, and at I4 for the Haemie that's a REALLY slow IC/MC. If it gave the concussive rule like a TH instead, maybe a little better.

    I think the shattershard became a bigger threat because it will just remove the TH/SS termies, and especially multi-wound groups like Nobs and Paladins.

    The Dark Gate is also something I've looked at with a bit more interest. A str 10 large blast coming at a group of vehicles would be a nice one shot surprise, but it's rather pricey.

    The Hexrifle is quite a bit more appealing now, but I think you'll need to hedge your bets with it, because it still is a sniper rifle, which have that habit of underperforming. Stick him in with a group of allied Pathfinders and you should see some effective consistency.

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  2. UnknownJuly 14, 2012 at 7:12 AM

    Well The concussive rule only works if you wound a model. Mindphase activates on successful hits. I do agree the Mindphase shouldn't be used on fast IC or MC, but on IC using anything that has the unwieldy rule or slow MC. I can see the gauntlet working on necron ICs, some Tryanid MC, and Daemon MCs.

    I didn't mention the shattershard because the tactic hasn't changed, target the character or IC in the group and blow them away.

    I agree with the Dark Gate popping up more, I really didn't think of that.

    Snipers in general have a low performance history. It's still great against MC or Solo Models. I do think that snipers will make a combat because you can actually snipe with them now. Roll of a 6 to wound normally makes your sniper AP2 and now it also lets you pick your models. We now have another option for sniping special weapon models and IC/Ch (LO,S! can't be used either, because hexrifle ability with unsaved wounds and LO,S! happen at the same time, if your shooting you will declare that hexrifle goes first.)

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  3. UnknownJuly 17, 2012 at 11:50 AM

    Wow, I had no idea you could take more weapons that they had hands, very cool. Love the blog so far :D

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    Replies
    1. UnknownJuly 17, 2012 at 5:41 PM

      Thank you for the compliment.

      I love the and/or option for wargear. I probably would go with the gladiator 2 build. I like the idea of a Power Axe for TEQs and Power Spears for MEQs, it being S+1 AP3 on the charge is great. You can also go with the Agoniser for 5pts more than the Spear.

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