1K list - need help as new player

I just got a DE 2nd hand on the cheap, tried playing a game against Salamanders and got my ass handed to me. If I play everything I have approx 1.3-4k.

I'm reluctant to buy anything new right now knowing a codex is coming soon but would love some tips on how to min-max what I already have.

Humonuclous
Drazhar
Urien Rakarth
20x Kabalite Warriors
11 Incubi (including Klaivex)
8 Reavers
5 Scourges (inc Solarite)
Talos Pain Engine
Raider

I have the Gangs of Corromagh coming as well so that will mean more Reavers and Hellions.

From what I can see looking at the list, it seems like putting dark lances anywhere I can makes sense (Reavers, warriors, Scourge, Raider) is the best thing I can do.

Thinking in terms of how I'd play is to
DS Incubi/Drazhar and Pain Engine
Kabalite in the Raider
Use the flying/DS rule for Scouges to drop them in to cover and pick off big things.
Put reavers either in one big group or split in to 2*4 squads and race up flanks.

Any help would be welcome.

Can see this has had quite a lot of views but no responses. Have I done something wrong?

Here is an idea of a list I've put together myself.


++ Unbound Army (Faction) (Aeldari - Drukhari) [57 PL, 1000pts] ++

+ Dedicated Transport [6 PL, 125pts] +

Raider [6 PL, 125pts]: Disintegrator cannon [30pts]

+ HQ [11 PL, 204pts] +

Archon [4 PL, 64pts]: Huskblade [10pts], Splinter pistol, The Parasite's Kiss

Drazhar [7 PL, 140pts]: 1. Legendary Fighter, Hatred Eternal, Warlord

+ Elites [9 PL, 180pts] +

Incubi [9 PL, 180pts]
. 9x Incubi [162pts]
. Klaivex [18pts]: Klaive

+ Fast Attack [26 PL, 428pts] +

Reavers [10 PL, 184pts]: Grav-Talon [5pts]
. Arena Champion [34pts]: Agoniser [4pts]
. 3x Reaver [90pts]
. Reaver with special weapon (up to 1 for 3 models) [55pts]: Heat lance [25pts]

Reavers [10 PL, 174pts]: Grav-Talon [5pts]
. Arena Champion [34pts]: Agoniser [4pts]
. 3x Reaver [90pts]
. Reaver with special weapon (up to 1 for 3 models) [45pts]: Blaster [15pts]

Scourges [6 PL, 70pts]
. 4x Scourge [56pts]
. Solarite [14pts]: Shardcarbine

+ Troops [5 PL, 63pts] +

Kabalite Warriors [5 PL, 63pts]
. 8x Kabalite Warrior [56pts]
. Sybarite [7pts]: Splinter Rifle



As I'm almost certainly playing against the same player again with a similar list that was 2 dreadnoughts, hellblasters, agressors, whirlwind and some special characters (re-rolls and chance to fight/shoot again before dying) So unsure if I should actually switch to more heavy weapons (dark lances, esp on scourges) to try and hurt them before they can hurt me.

You haven't done anything wrong, it's more likely most people are waiting for the new Codex rather than trying to solve problems using the old one. I'm also not sure there is a list you can make out of what you have that will work against your opponent. All that could be completely subject to change when the Codex comes out.

Dark Lances are your best bet against Dreadnoughts and Whirlwinds. Giving the Scourges Dark Lances could help here.

Disintegrators are exceptional against Primaris like the Aggressors and Hellblasters. One on the Raider wont really cut it though, and a couple of Ravagers would be the best additions you could make.

Warriors are useful options, whether on foot or mounted.

Incubi are OK, but one melee unit by itself is unlikely to do much in an offensive role.

Coven units are nice and resilient, but don't do enough damage compared to other options. They are a little better against Primaris with the two damage on the Haemonculus (Electrocorrosive whip) and Talos. I note you were thinking of deep striking the Pain Engine - sadly being a Monster, and not Infantry/Bike/Beast, this isn't an option available to the Talos or Cronos.

Drazhar and Reavers aren't in a great spot at the moment.

Hellions are quite fragile, but against Primaris, they put out an impressive amount of damage.

Detachment structure wise, you have enough Kabalite Warriors to (just) form a Battalion, which is probably your best bet.

I would look for something like this:
Batallion 990 points

Haemonculus (Electrocorrosive Whip / Parasites Kiss)
Urien Rakarth (Warlord with Master Regenerist)
10 Kabalite Warriors (Dark Lance / Blaster)
5 Kabalite Warriors (Blaster)
5 Kabalite Warriors (Blaster)
8 Incubi
5 Hellions
5 Hellions
5 Scourges (4 Dark Lances)
Raider (Disintegrator Cannon)

If you don't have the Hellions yet swap in 3 man Reaver squads and move Blasters from the Warrior squads onto the Reavers.

Haemonculus can go with the Incubi (fluff be damned) in the Raider, and Urien can be 'accidentally' left out the front of your army if you can remove any Lascannons in this list. Hide in cover as much as you can and keep the Raider back until they have managed to close in on you a bit. If they get close, try to hit with Hellions and Incubi.

That's still an uphill battle though. Hopefully, some of those units get buffed in the Codex.

Kantalla wrote:

You haven't done anything wrong, it's more likely most people are waiting for the new Codex rather than trying to solve problems using the old one. I'm also not sure there is a list you can make out of what you have that will work against your opponent. All that could be completely subject to change when the Codex comes out.

Dark Lances are your best bet against Dreadnoughts and Whirlwinds. Giving the Scourges Dark Lances could help here.

Disintegrators are exceptional against Primaris like the Aggressors and Hellblasters. One on the Raider wont really cut it though, and a couple of Ravagers would be the best additions you could make.

Warriors are useful options, whether on foot or mounted.

Incubi are OK, but one melee unit by itself is unlikely to do much in an offensive role.

Coven units are nice and resilient, but don't do enough damage compared to other options. They are a little better against Primaris with the two damage on the Haemonculus (Electrocorrosive whip) and Talos. I note you were thinking of deep striking the Pain Engine - sadly being a Monster, and not Infantry/Bike/Beast, this isn't an option available to the Talos or Cronos.

Drazhar and Reavers aren't in a great spot at the moment.

Hellions are quite fragile, but against Primaris, they put out an impressive amount of damage.

Detachment structure wise, you have enough Kabalite Warriors to (just) form a Battalion, which is probably your best bet.

I would look for something like this:
Batallion 990 points

Haemonculus (Electrocorrosive Whip / Parasites Kiss)
Urien Rakarth (Warlord with Master Regenerist)
10 Kabalite Warriors (Dark Lance / Blaster)
5 Kabalite Warriors (Blaster)
5 Kabalite Warriors (Blaster)
8 Incubi
5 Hellions
5 Hellions
5 Scourges (4 Dark Lances)
Raider (Disintegrator Cannon)

If you don't have the Hellions yet swap in 3 man Reaver squads and move Blasters from the Warrior squads onto the Reavers.

Haemonculus can go with the Incubi (fluff be damned) in the Raider, and Urien can be 'accidentally' left out the front of your army if you can remove any Lascannons in this list. Hide in cover as much as you can and keep the Raider back until they have managed to close in on you a bit. If they get close, try to hit with Hellions and Incubi.

That's still an uphill battle though. Hopefully, some of those units get buffed in the Codex.

Thanks so much for your reply.

Upon doing some further reading (new to 40k) it looks like I can take eldar units? They're all in pieces and unpainted so some way from being tabletop ready but do have these available.

2 Autarch
1 Avatar
4 Warlock
1 Farseer
5 Swooping hawks
5 Fire dragons
8 Dire avengers
21 Guardians with heavy weapons platform
5 Rangers
1 Wave serpent
2 Falcon
1 FW Nightwing
5 harlequins troupe
1 Shadowseer

I got the DE army as it was pre-built and painted so I could play right now, the regular Eldar was supposed to be my main army that I can build/paint in leisure and still get my fix with playing DE. However if there is anything that I should maybe build and paint first to expand to 1.5-2k army I'm all ears.

You can take Eldar units, however, there are some downsides, and some ways of getting around the downsides...

All units in a Detachment must have a common faction keyword, which can include Aeldari. So you could take a Detachment with some Craftworlds and some Drukhari units.

However, there are also Stratagems, Warlord Traits and Attributes that you get if you have a "pure" Detachment. Drukhari right now don't have many Stratagems or Warlord Traits, and don't have the equivalent of Craftworld Attributes, but that will change once the Codex comes out.

So right now, you can add some Eldar without any real loss to your Drukhari, but in a few weeks time you will almost certainly want proper Detachments for both Eldar and Drukhari so you get all the relevant bonuses. The minimum sized Detachment to build from is a Patrol, which needs an HQ and Troops choice. A Farseer and unit of Rangers would be a sensible starting point. Swooping Hawks, Guardians, Warlocks and Fire Dragons are all decent at the moment too.