“Crouching Lictor” ask me to make a "How to win Eldar". He gave me the list of a player in his local store that is beating everyone in his path. Eldar players have at their disposal a very strong codex, offering many solutions. All models in their book can be used competitively, but some units are the tip of the cream, not only in the Eldar Codex, but among all the armies.
+++ Eldar HK (1994pts) +++
Selections:
+ HQ +
* Spiritseer
Witchstaff
+ Troops +
*4x Dire Avengers
10x Dire Avenger
* Wave Serpent
Holo-field, Serpent Field, Twin-linked scatter lasers, Twin-linked shuriken catapults
+ Heavy Support +
* Dark Reapers
* 8x Dark Reaper
8x Reaper launcher, 8x Starshot Missiles
*2xWraithknight
Suncannon and Scattershield
Eldars are the worst enemy to face with our wolves. They outmaneuver us, outspeed us and now also outgun us. What can the cunningness of our wolves do against the trickery of Eldars?
First, we have to analyze the list, so as to understand what we are up against and prioritize our targets, The list contains 40 Dire Avengers, 1 Spiritseer, 8 Dark Reapers, 2 Wraithknights and 4 Wave Serpents. With the Wraithknight and Wave Serpent being the 2 biggest threats here.
Wraithknight’s best trait is his survivability with his T8 W6 and 12" movement, it can walk the entire battlefield, sometimes unscratched (we will fix that). In this list, each has a Suncannon [Range 48" S6 AP2 Heavy 3, Blast] and a Scattershield [5+ inv]. It also has the Monstrous Creature type that gives it smash [AP2 in melee], thus being able to chew (almost all) your units in Close combat.
Wave Serpents is a fast vehicle that can carry up to 12 models. It moves up to 12" per movement-phase and has a 12AV both front and side and a 10AV rear armor. What makes it a big threat is its wargear. The Wave Serpents best layout is: a twin-linked Scatter laser [Range 36" S6 AP6 Heavy 4, Laser Lock (makes all other weapons twin-linked)], Twin-linked Shuriken Catapult [Range 12" S4 AP5 Assaul2, Bladestorm] and a Holo-field [+1 to cover saves] for only 135P. Its best trait is – as with the Wraithknight –survivability. As a starting gear it has the Serpent Shield that turns all penetrating hits in glancing hits on 2+ or you can choose instead to shoot the shield [Range 60" S7 AP- Assault D6+1, Pinning, Ignores Cover].
[Wolf tip1: Don’t forget that with the Holo-field and jink it has at least +5 cover save.]
[Wolf tip2: A Wave Serpent can have 6 to 11 shoots per turn without the Shuriken Catapult, not bad.]
Now that we know our enemy is time to know our self and find a way to beat him. We have a Monstrous Creature and a vehicle. The best way to go here is melta and when I say melta I mean a lot of melta. The list that I built is based on the one I play, Steel Rain. So you bring Wolf Guards with combi-meltas and Logan to make them Troop choice. Also a good way to counter Wraithknights is using a model with Eternal Warrior SR, a Power Fist/Thunderhammer and an inv (at least 4+), like Logan, Arjac or a Lone Wolf.
+++ Anti-Eldar HW (1997pts) +++
Selections:
+ HQ +
* Logan Grimnar
* Rune Priest
+ Elites +
* Lone Wolf
* Terminator Armour
Power Fist, Storm Shield
* Wolf Scouts
* 5x Wolf Scout
Meltagun
+ Troops +
* Grey Hunters Pack
* Drop Pod
* 10x Grey Hunter
2x Meltagun
* 5x Wolf Guard Pack (Troops)
* Drop Pod
* 6x Power Armour
6x Bolt Pistol, 6x Combi Melta, Terminator Armour
Combi Melta, Power Fist
+ Heavy Support +
* Long Fangs Pack
* Drop Pod
* 5x Long Fang with Multi-melta
5x Multi-melta
* Squad Leader
Meltagun
The list has 7 Drop Pods, four for the first turn and 3 more to come later. I suggest taking out first the Wave Serpents, as it has too many shots, with your meltas. The Dark Reapers can be annoying but they aren’t your priorities. 40 Dire Avengers and the Spiritseer have enough fire power so be careful, best way to deal with them is in close combat. The purpose of the Wolf Scouts isn’t to blow up one Wave Serpent from behind by outflanking it, but to make your enemy be at least 12” away from the table edge. That will give your units less ground to cover until they have another target. The Lone Wolf has two targets in the battlefield, the Wraithknights. As for Psychic Powers, your best choices come from the Divination table.[Wolf tip3: Bladestorm makes all weapons on a roll to-wound AP2 if 6 is rolled, so take cover and try always to be inside an area terrain.]
Surely this won’t be an easy fight, but I believe Space Wolves can make it throw and win this list and Eldar once more. I hope this post helps you “Crouching Lictor”, I will wait for your report against the Eldar player.
Lastly, I would like to say Congratulations to Alex Fennel and his Seer Council for making an unbeatable streak at “Las Vegas Opening” and getting the first place, but I guess he didn’t encounter any true Space Wolves or he wouldn’t have that streak. As always I would like to hear your opinion on this and all my previous posts, as well as suggestions for what you would like me to write about.
Next post “Supplement: Iyanden Review”
Until next time happy valentines day, remember Prospero and…
VLKA FENRIKA
VLKA FENRIKA