A Beginners Guide To Starting Dark Eldar

I'd suggest you go fire up a post in the army list section, you'll probably get more discussion about your list there than here.

Hey I'm new to Dark eldar used to play Tau, with Dark eldar its keep things moving and in cover when possible and make each unit good at either killing infantry or Armour?

Thanks
JDW

edit: forget it. ...

i have started my army but I've ran into a problem...... i don't have enough haywire blasters for my scourges and i need 3 more are there any conversions i can do to make some from the bits i have laying around from other dark eldar boxes?

edit
well now i feel silly if i had spent 2 more minuets looking at the forms i would have found my answer I'm sorry. please disregard this post.

As a possibly returning Deldar player, what is the current codex like compared to the 5th one?

I find it very good (and Covens book too) but some people don't like it. New power from pain is excelent and combined with covens version it gives DE army some good options. Mechanised lists are still very painfull to play against.

How do it stack up to the rest of the books?

Mid tier app.

So, I am going to be starting DE and am looking for advice for a good foundation/purchases. Will be picking up the Start Collecting box then where to go from there? I have no experience with the DE only Space Marines, so any input is greatly appreciated.

Hey, friend.

So, in 8th ed Dark Eldar there are a small number of mainstay units and a large number of units that simply aren't worth their points.

Some popular suggestions for listbuilding include:

Trying to keep a ratio of 1 Dark Lance per 100 points, or more if you're capable.

If you're bringing a HQ, it should probably be a Warlock or Farseer casting Doom, Smite or other offensive powers (yes, these are Craftworlders.  Unless you're Coven heavy and taking a Haemonculus our HQ's just fall flat.)

Ravagers and Scourges are popular (though don't make the mistake of loading out the Scourges with Heat Lances, Splinter Cannons or Haywire Blasters).

Beasts are some of our best meatshields to defend against deep strikes and assaults (bubbling, if you're familiar with the term).

Kabalite Warriors with Blasters/ Darklances in Venoms and Raiders are a staple.

The PGL is almost always worth its points if you have a few left over at the end of a list.

Razorwing Jetfighters are amazing.

The debate between Disintegrator Cannons and Dark Lances is long and enjoyable, Dissies are better for Infantry, TEQ and other BEQ.  DLances are our best anti-tank and anti-monster.

Don't take Splinter Cannons as an upgrade, the fifteen points will be better spent elsewhere.

And always remember to charge the shooty units with your vehicles.

Thank you for the information, this is a tremendous help. My gaming group is running a campaign this coming summer involving only Xenos and I have always had an interest in the DE (Drukarhi), so this is a perfect excuse for me to start an army.

Hmm, the previous post was quite helpful I must say, but didn't answer the critical question - I have the Start Collecting box, what should I focus on buying next? Should I get some more Warriors and Venoms/Raiders? A Ravager? Some Fighters?

I wouldn't invest too heavily until the codex comes out. Until then, I would focus on stuff that will be useful regardless. For example, warriors, raiders, venoms, ravagers. Can't go wrong with any of those. They have always been the staple of our armies and I can only assume that they will still be viable after the codex.

Good point merse24. Thank you.

Hi all, I'm a newcomer to the Drukhari.

I'm just wondering how much of this thread is still relevant following release of the codex? Is there a new beginner's guide somewhere on the forum for 8th, post codex?

I suppose I should state what my goals are for this army? I'm coming from a competitive Age of Sigmar scene, looking for a casual entry to 40k. I don't really plan to attend 40k Tournaments, I have AoS for my competitive buzz. 40k is going to be more of a 'paint what I like' sort of affair, but I still want to build a Drukhari army correctly for matched play in store with mates.

So I suppose my main question is; where do I start? Are the SC sets a valid option?
I already own one of the older DE Start Collecting Sets (the Kabal Warrior one) and can easy grab a Wych one too.

Hoping to get some models assembled and onto the table soon, even if only using Power Level it'll be a good starting point.

Much of it is out of date as of the Codex. I don't believe there is an updated beginner's guide, and there are a lot more ways to make a viable list these days, so it isn't as easy to say start here as it once was.

The first key difference is there are now basically three separate subfactions of Drukhari (Kabal, Coven, and Cult) and in order to benefit from Obsessions you can't combine them in a single detachment. Kabal are good at shooting and mobility, Coven are very resilient and strong in melee, and Cult are fragile but do good damage in melee.

Recommended Detachments:

Black Heart Spearhead (Archon with Writ of the Living Muse + 3 Ravagers)
Flayed Skull Battalion (2 Archons and multiple Kabalite units in Raiders / Venoms)
Prophets of Flesh Battalion / Spearhead / Vanguard (Vexator Haemonculus, Urien Rakarth, Talos, Grotesques and Wracks in most combinations)

All three of the Cult Obsessions are viable, but not as potent as the Kabal and Coven options above. Strife does the most damage in most cases, Cursed Blade is similar damage and best for morale if deep striking large Wych units, and Red Grief for first turn tie ups with Reavers.

What's good or otherwise could change a bit with Chapter Approved in a couple of weeks (likely points adjustments).

Thanks for the tips

In just listening the Splintermind Codex review (on part 2). It’s really helpful for new players.