First Timer Army List (1500pts)

Hi all,

So, as you can see from my post count I haven't been here before. I've found this site really useful for info as I'm going to start putting together a Dark Eldar Army. Haven't played 40k in a few years, and the evil space elves have tempted me back.

Anyway, before the list theres a few key questions I wanna address:

1) Is the 20 warrior blob, for holding home objectives, worth my time?
2) Agonisers on unit leaders (Wyches/Wracks), worth it or no?
3) Is a Ravager the best heavy support choice?
4) Soul trap, yes or no?

And on that note here is the list...

Cabal of the Thorned Chalice

Troops 870

20 Warriors 180
2 Dark Lances 50
1 Blaster 15
1 Sybarite Upgrade 10
255

10 Warriors 90
1 Splinter Cannon 10
1 Blaster 15
1 Sybarite Upgrade 10
1 Raider 60
Splinter Racks 10
195

9 Wyches 90
1 Hydra Gauntlets 10
10 Haywire Grenades 20
1 Hekatrix Upgrade 10
1 Agoniser 20
1 Raider 60
210

9 Wracks 90
1 Liquifier Gun 10
1 Acothyst 10
1 Agoniser 20
1 Raider 60
190

HQ 250

Haemonculus (with wracks) 50
Liquifier Gun 10
Haemonculus (with wyches) 50
Animus Vitae 5
Power Weapon 10
125

Archon 60
Huskblade 35
Shadowfield 30
125

Elites 183

4 Incubi 88
1 Klaivex 15
Onslaught 15
Venom 55
Twin Linked Splinter Cannon 10
183

Fast Attack 110

5 Scourges 110
2 Blasters 30
140

Heavy Support 105

Ravager 105



Total 1498

Stojati wrote:

1) Is the 20 warrior blob, for holding home objectives, worth my time?
2) Agonisers on unit leaders (Wyches/Wracks), worth it or no?
3) Is a Ravager the best heavy support choice?
4) Soul trap, yes or no?

1) In my opinion, probably not. It's alot of points to sit in your back field when a cheaper squad could potentially do just as well (or one of your forward squads could run back). That said, if you do go with a 20 man blob I'd consider a Haemonculus an excellent buy at least start with them he can walk away later (when you consider you're giving 20 guys feel no pain, it's a bargain). I'm also not sure if I'm a fan of a Blaster. I'm not sure if you'll get close enough to use it if you sit in the back field.
2) I'm not a fan of really expensive squad leaders. Agonizers are 20 points a pop which is a ton, only wound half the time and are being put on guys who are 1 wound and not that tough. I'd rather shell out for a real character to lead my important squads(Succubus in wych squads for example though I don't do ths often), use units that can actually fight without the squad leader being decked out (Incubi maybe though keeping them light on upgrades), or buy more units and win that way. To me upgrades should be minimal to make way for more troops.
3) IMO yes. Flyers have too many restrictions/limitations. Talos are too slow/close range. They both can work of course but I think the Ravager is the best.
4) Depends on the enemy army. Vs some (Nids) it's good, vs others (IG) it's mostly useless. So if you know what army you're likely to face and it's got targets for the soul-trap then it's something to consider (though not a must have by any means). If you don't know or they aren't good targets then you probably can find a better use for the points.

i would swap out the two large warrior squads and have 4 sqauds of 5 in venoms with twin cannons, roughly same amount of shots at 36" ranges and that is just including the shots from the venoms them selves.

Ok, interesting. I hadn't considered taking small warrior squads, seems like I could easily get left with very little in the way of scoring units.

Is it worth having a unit specifically for holding home objectives? 20 warriors does seem like overkill, but what are my alternatives?

Well, ok I'll drop the agonisers on that basis. I had a feel they were a bit much in the long run.

You can start your kabablites out of the venoms just leave one squad on the objective from the beginning if you put the haemi with them at the start they will gain FNP if they get shot at put them to ground for 2+ cover saves if they are in ruins and with feels no pain they will stay around for a while.

(Edited to correct some calculation errors in new list. And again. Frak me.)

Ok, so I've worked on the list a bit after this feedback and reading other army list posts. I've trimmed some stuff down to try and fit in two 5 man units in Venoms, I'm nearly there. However, I have 3 new problems:

1) I'm 10 points over. I'm at a loss as to what else to cut. I have one idea (see below), but others would be appreciated.

2) Haemonculi. I'm running 1 with the wracks and 1 with the wyches. Is this worth it? The wracks already come with a pain token and so have FNP, but is the furious charge worth it? I could drop this haemonk and get another wrack with liquifier, so I'd still have the double liquifier goodness. Equally, I could drop the haemonk with the wyches and get another hydra gauntlet wych. Any thoughts?

3) Scourges. Are these guys worth my time? I put them in more because I love the models more than anything, but the more I read the more I see people saying they aren't worth the time. I've traded blasters for heat lances, good idea or no? I like the idea of getting in close and popping a tank/dread/dropping some TEC with them, but maybe there is a better option? eg: a second ravager. I just don't know, it's all new to me

So yeah, any feedback would again be appreciated.

Cabal of the Thorned Chalice

Troops 878

10 Warriors 90
1 Dark Lance 25
105

5 Warriors 45
1 Blaster 15
Venom 55
Splinter Cannon 10
125

5 Warriors 45
1 Blaster 15
Venom 55
Splinter Cannon 10
125

10 Warriors 90
1 Splinter Cannon 10
1 Raider 60
Splinter Racks 10
170

9 Wyches 90
1 Hydra Gauntlets 10
9 Haywire Grenades 18
1 Hekatrix Upgrade 10
1 Venom Blade 5
1 Raider 60
191

9 Wracks 90
1 Liquifier Gun 10
1 Raider 60
160

HQ 240

Haemonculus (with wracks) 50
Liquifier Gun 10
Haemonculus (with wyches) 50
Venom Blade 5
115

Archon 60
Huskblade 35
Shadowfield 30
125

Elites 153

4 Incubi 88
Venom 55
Extra Splinter Cannon 10
153

Fast Attack 134

5 Scourges 110
2 Heat Lances 24
134

Heavy Support 105

Ravager 105



Total 1510