Shimmershields

After seeing how much shimmershields benefited the grotesques, I've started to wonder about using them to beef up other units. Reavers, hellions, incubi, and even wyches could potentially get a lot better with a unit wide 5++ save for 15 pts.

What do you guys think?

The units that benefit the most are tough units with FnP already, or psychic units that have the potential to get sanctuary with the shimmershield. Since it comes on expensive HQs, I'd say its potential to be helpful on those other units is minimal. Grots are basically the ideal DE unit for it. It's unfortunate that corsairs don't really have any units that get serious benefit from it, except perhaps malevolent bands.

Second best is probably the Court. 9 SSlyths and 3 Lhameans feels about right.

The real problem with shimmershields is you can only easily get 2.

Shimmershields provide the most return on maxed out squads with better than rubbish toughness.

Therefore I believe that the far and away best choices are Grotesques, Courts, and Beastmasters. The problem I have with reavers is that it requires the use of my prince who is almost always indisposed and even if I were to take the bike out I'd almost always want a shadowfield instead.

Incubi, Wyches, etc. have the unfortunate downside of being t3 and limited in unit size. Hellions only have the first problem, tho they cost almost as much as a 10 Sslyth/2 Lhamaen Court which I think is much more useful. Wracks have the second Problem. A 20 man of wracks with 4 Ossefactors would be a real party.

How cheaply can you fit one of these into an army? I assume an allied detachment with 1 troop?

It would be nice to have a save (any save) on my Grots

90 pts for a scat pack troop choice, 50/75 gets you a Void Dreamer/Prince before upgrades (respectively).

I'd go with a Dreamer with +2 ML and the SS, for an all-in total of 195. (Which includes a scat pack and a ML 3 psyker who can choose his own powers and potentially get you a T1 charge.)

Splinter cannon is cheaper and has more shots.

I'm also of the opinion that every corsair detachment of any type must have a prince. I'd just take their detachment for 2hq1troop and grab a shadow field or a shimmershield for a different unit as well.

Btw jimsolo I realized that Wracks at 130pts but t4 might also be alright.

Let's change the angle of attack here. I want to consider all of the extent circumstances where one could equip a shimmershield

Let's think about what Shimmershield does on a tactical level, in my mind a shimmershield can be used 2 ways. It can either make a killy eldar unit more survivable or it can make a killy eldar characters wound shield more survivable.

I think that bearing this in mind while in terms of raw power Grotesquerie grots in 10 body units will be it might not be the most cost effective option. I think that is going to be dependant on what bundle of USR's your looking for as well as unit statline.


I'm going to type this into a spreadsheet like the heavy weapons comparison

Shouldn't be difficult, there are only four units in the Eldar family that can take them (Dire Avenger, Prince, Baron, Dreamer).

I'd be interested to see what you come up with.

I'd be curious how you'd mathhammer this one, though. There are lots of variables like unit size, attacking unit size/loadout, cover saves, AP, FNP, and IWND if you're looking to measure survivability. Seems like a daunting task.