Beastpack 5th ed. Codex vs 7th ed. Codex?

I was discussing beastpack armies with an acquaintance at the gaming store and he used to field a full beastpack army in 5th and 6th edition, but says that (for competitive play) his army doesn't work with the 7th edition codex.

I was wondering why precisely that is (he was speaking in very general terms) and what your thoughts are on beastpacks with the 7th edition Dark Eldar codex?

Baron and smaller max unit size are the main issues. Nerfing of the razor wing flock didn't help nor did the change from a 4++ to a 5++ though T4 helps a bit.

I think the big things were the Khymeras dropping to a 5++ save and Razorwing Flocks losing an attack, wounds, becoming Swarms, and having tanked WS. It completely changes their capability as a Death Star of any sort, before even considering the loss of fast moving ICs (Baron) to move with them. The problem they have now is that they are pretty generic and fight over the best slot in the codex. Spend more points and grab big units of Reavers that'll pull a lot more work if you're looking for a fast assaulting unit. x4 Cluster Caltrops at I10 is like magic.

4D6 Funtime is delicious getting them all in with no overwatch wounds is hard

Thanks guys I'm preparing to make a video on my channel about this, so your input is much appreciated

I haven't played Dark Eldar before 7th, but I use a squad of 5 Beastmasters as an all-terrain mobile shooty unit. I like to play Cities of Death, and beasts are pretty useful in those games, especially ones that can shoot.

The greatest nerf to me are both 4++ and the limit 1-12 models.
And, of course, the lack of Baron (hit and run).

Now, they are changed, even their role

would still be a viable unit in larger quantity (with an allied baharoth) but at 12 models- there is just not enough bodies to soak up a concentrated round of firing.

I don't think we are looking now at beastpacks persay. A beastmaster is 3 pts cheaper than a hellion - he has a splinter rifle shots. He can take an agoniser. So 3-5 of these guys that move 12" and ignore terrain are not terrible. They certainly are better than hellions.

A squad of five clawed fiends will work as well but you need eldar allies to buff them up with invisibility, fortune, etc.

If course we have such a crowded fast attack slot that taking beasts always means we are comprising by not taking scourges, reavers, razorwings. Still, a lot is dependent on your list - are you using detachemnts, are you adding eldar allies, are you okay with no ObSec and real space.

I`ve tryed this one:
2 clawed fiends
2 razorwings
2 khymeras

Pretty cool. They strong enouth to survive some shooting, and do average dmg and close combat.
But, yeah... they Ld is only 5, soooo, when they lose combat - its pretty obvious a retreat

Devilogical wrote:

I`ve tryed this one:
2 clawed fiends
2 razorwings
2 khymeras

Pretty cool. They strong enouth to survive some shooting, and do average dmg and close combat.
But, yeah... they Ld is only 5, soooo, when they lose combat - its pretty obvious a retreat

I'd leadership is your problem then swap one razorwing against a beastmaster. The majority toughness is still 5 at the cost of some CC potential. That's how I want to run my"big" unit.

Maybe the Clowns bring some usefull Jetbike-IC for this unit to rock again?

I need to see someone run 12 beastmasters with all agonizers. I just do.

Anyway, some IC seems like a good idea for them. If not a farseer or an autarch (banshee-mask could help the beasts a lot), then maybe

Quote :

Maybe the Clowns bring some usefull Jetbike-IC for this unit to rock again?

we can hope for this.

I would probably most rather run a mix of everything (because I kind of like all of them) with an emphasis on khymerae or then just khymerae, in addition to one or two beastmasters (beastmaster could be optional though if you have an independent character).
1 invul worse is annoying but I think T4 really makes up for that easily since majority toughness is going to affect everything in a unit, and it is a lot cheaper to bump it up from the pitiful T3 that didn't even have FnP to something better without getting a lot of clawed fiends.

I can't speak from experience though, I have never ran them (this or previous edition)

Crazy_Irish wrote:

I'd leadership is your problem then swap one razorwing against a beastmaster. The majority toughness is still 5 at the cost of some CC potential. That's how I want to run my"big" unit.

i think about that too, but in exchange for Ld u will lose aditional wounds and attacks.
So it`s kinda double edged sword

I will try this tactic more for sure

Attacks and wounds mean nothing if the squad fails a morale test and runs away early. I think a beastmaster or IC is manditory.

Also flocks have lost a lot and got a price increase (plus they are still a liability in combat against str6+), I'd recommend 1 beastmaster, 3 krymerae, 3 clawed fiends, 13 wounds at majority t5.

Rathstar