2000 Pt Pure DE Force

Hey Everyone,

I've been away from the 40k scene for a very long time, the last thing I remember playing was a hell of a lot of 4th, though I was around for the beginning of 5th. Dark Eldar was my first love back in the heady days of 3rd, so now that I'm back I thought I would return to my roots for the rad models and the best fluff in the game!

The below list is based on what I've gleaned from skulking about here and from listening to a bunch of episodes of Splintermind and Independent Characters. I don't really know what I'll be facing in my local meta. My FLGS is starting to run 40k tournaments on the regular again and I'd like to get involved. I've been told that we'll be doing 2k points.

Let me know what you think of this list please. I don't think I'm reinventing the wheel here and I'm ready to be crushed for the first year or so of outings. I want something that can compete, but I've never spent much time at the top tables so I have no illusions about going there now. I really just want to bring a good game for my opponents, at least make 'em fight for it you know?

Anyway, your comments are appreciated as I've been out of the game for a long time.

CAD:
HQ - Lhamaen, Venom + Splinter Cannon upgrade 75pts.

T1 - Kabalite Warriors x 5, Blaster, Venom + Splinter Cannon upgrade 120 pts.
T2 - Kabalite Warriors x 5, Blaster, Venom + Splinter Cannon upgrade 120 pts.
T3 - Kabalite Warriors x 5, Blaster, Venom + Splinter Cannon upgrade 120 pts.

FA1 - Reavers x 6, Arena Champ, Heat Lance, Cluster Caltrops x 2 146 pts.
FA2 - Reavers x 6, Arena Champ, Heat Lance, Cluster Caltrops x 2 146 pts.
FA3 - Scourges x 8, Solarite, Blasters x 4 198 pts.

H1 - Ravager, Dark Lance upgrade x3 125 pts.
H2 - Ravager, Dark Lance upgrade x3 125 pts.
H3 - Ravager, Dark Lance upgrade x3 125 pts.

Detachment - CTC:
Talos, Ichor Injector upgrade, Twin-Linked Haywire Blaster upgrade x 5 700 pts.

Total Points: 2000

The last time I played regularly I was running Death Guard with two Daemon Princes so I thought the Corpse Thief Claw might help me get back in the swing of things with a big, nasty Monstrous Creature unit with a lot of Toughness and killing potential. I realize that this detachment is pretty controversial, and if you think it's worked it's way out of the meta, let me know.

I feel bad that there isn't a Haemonculous in this list, I would prefer it, but it is for tournaments.

I am also concerned that I'm overly prepared for tanks and heavy armor without enough anti-infantry. Should I swap out the Scourges for a Razorwing Fighter? My plan was to drop the Scourges in to handle things like Knights, Land Raiders and even the odd Mastodon that I've seen around out here. Do you think they can hack it? Let me know.

Thank you for taking the time to read and leave feedback.

What value do you see the Solarite bringing? As I would absolutely say that they and all the other additional members of that unit are wasted points. Having said that I don't really mind the 5th member of a scourge squad being a solarite if they have a venomblade, everyone else does but I think that it's essentially insurance, of the same variety as sybarites with haywire grenades but in reverse. Bear in mind I also don't run blaster scourges, Haywire and heat lance only, and your build is already 20pts more than mine base.

A stock razorwing would also be worth considering. But I would re-evaluate where you are loading up on your anti-infantry and anti-vehicle first, as without alterations beyond that I'd still be concerned about both specialty units like thunderwolf cavalry and wulfen, and skirmish range meq like grav-dev's, sternguard, and deathwatch.

Your CTC is mixed, and not in a good way in my opinion. I actually feel that with the darklight spam your expressing elsewhere these should be solely focused on anti-infantry and should have splinter cannons or heat lances, but not haywire blasters.

Such a change would also radically alter the point and purpose of your other choices so far that I would suggest dissie raiders over venoms, and 2 medusae instead of a lahmian. Perhaps a second HQ squad of them as well. these alterations shore up your above mentioned weakness and provide you some ignores cover to deal with 2+ re-rollable jink nonsense.

@amorrowlyday, Yeah, I was a little tenuous about the Scourges myself. I guess I've seen others running them at that depth and thought that perhaps the extra bodies could prove as ablative armor and take some heat off the special weapons. The Solarite was upgraded with that in mind, in case the unit had to make a morale check, he contributed superior Leadership. I was unhappy with how points heavy the unit was though.

Still want to run the Scourges though because I love the models and it sticks with the (sort of) Coven theme in the list. Looking through the weapon options again it seems like Haywire Blasters and Heat Lances are the best bet for tank hunting, I don't know what i was thinking there.

So what configuration would you recommend? A unit of five with two and two for 120 pts?

If I did that and downgraded the Talos's ranged weapons to Splinter Cannons, that would open up 128 pts. and I could get in that Medusae x 2 in a Venom with Splinter Cannon for 125. What do you think?