General DE Army Thoughts

Before I go out and buy models I'm never going to use I would like to know what you guys think. This is my general idea after reading the codex and comparing to my play style.

I prefer to sit back in cover and fire at my enemy and only cc with a select few cheap models (I did notice that Wyches cost more than Kabalites) so I'm thinking:

Archon with 4 Incubi with a Venom
5 Trueborn with a Venom
10 Kabalite with raider
10 Kabalite with raider
10 Wyches with raider

Now this would just be the heart of my force, but if i give each unit a dark lance and two dark lances to the trueborn, along with the raiders all having dark lances, I'm thinking thats a lot of fire power to deal with what I useally play against. SM, CSM, IG, Orc, Tau, & every once in awhile Tyranid. We play with plenty of terrain, and we use the house rule that we dont know whats in each others transports. Personally I'm not much on the Haemoncul, & some of the other models, even though they do have some cool rules. I know I'm going to add a unit of Scourges, Hellions, 2 Ravagers, & a Jetfighter. Just because I like the models. Now with this all said we only play 1,000-2,000 point games. I will never play a tournament or anything and we just play for the fun of it, but I wouldn't mind winning a few lol. In my thinking can I out shoot armies with a combo of Kabalites and Raiders with Dark lances, use my Trueborn with 2 blasters & 2 Dark lances as tank hunters, then a combo of Archon with 4 Incubi and my unit of Wyches to mop up any CC that needs to be done? Any suggestions? In my normal games (I mostly play my IG 60% of the time) I dont have to much trouble getting into CC and I use Vets with Meltas as Tank hunters and it works out 80% in my favour. Just wanted some pro advice before I waste money on models that I dont need lol. Thanks for any tips.

The models I have at the moment is:

Archon
5 Incubi
10 Kabilite
10 Wyches
3 Reavers
1 Raider

Im new to DE and just played a grip of games this weekend. I will say that your ideas are all common builds although there is so much variance with builds that your preference will likely need to be the deciding factor. My preference is for MSU warriors that dont usually stay inside their rides except to get to cover but ive seen plenty of people run full squads of warriors too.

I will say that I was leaning heavily away from warriors and towards wracks mostly, maybe even a few wyches... until I played these units. Warriors are amazing and the standout choice IMO. I dont think I will include a non shooty unit unless its grots or incubi and both these units rock too btw.

Also In the games I tested them I found definite value in enhanced aether sails for my assualt elements to set up better positioning as opposed to the venom. Also there were several games where the extra hull pt of the raider came into play and the disi cannons as well. Anyway just some things to consider.

On the incubi im running 7 currently which by DE standards is expensive but by marine standards is borderline stealing their so good for only 22 pts with ws/init 5 ap2 weapons.

We played multiple games at 1k, 1850, and 2k team play as well fwiw.

Bear in mind that You have to be stationary for the DLs on infantry to be effective. It is more common sense to give the blasters and splinter cannons for KW and 3-4 blasters for TB.

That list looks like a good basis to work off, but I have a few points/questions I'd like to pose:

What're you intending to do with your Archon? Is he sitting there just to be the HQ or is he a challenge monster? Having him with four Incubi in a Venom is good but also consider taking six or seven, as Brom suggested, in a Raider with the Archon. Those extra couple of bodies can really come in useful. (I know that model wise it's awkward having to buy a whole new box, but you could get a spare body off of e-bay.)

What're you equipping the Trueborn with? I think for this basic list having them set up for anti-tank would e the best as you already have plenty to mash up infantry. Have you considered giving them blasters to shred hull points?

For the Kabalite Warriors it's best not to use Dark Lances, as if that transport explodes you've got an expensive upgrade that you can't fire when you shoot. Try going for Splinter Cannon's and Blasters with Splinter Racks on the Raiders. You can easily mount Dark Lances on the Raiders if you want that extra Lance shot.

TB with 2 blasters, and was thinking on what 2 more should carry (DLs or Blasters) dracon with shard. (I'm not giving any of my unit leaders cc weapons unless they are a cc unit) Since we use a lot of terrain in our games I was thinking of using the (kabalites) raiders empty to hunt rhino's, wagons, & etc. Then use them to pick my Kabalites back up to contest objectives in those type games. Archon with Incubi are to be my HQ & Elite killers backed up by a squad (maybe 2) of Wyches as meat shields or extra punch if needed. i was thinking of venoms because of the damage they can do during the shooting phase. If I'm playing lets say SM I can see where a few extra Incubi and a Raider would be perfect, but against Orcs, IG, & Nids? I was thinking venom would be very effective in taking out troops compared to an empty raider. Im thinking once the Archon Incubi and Wyches get into CC then which transport is going to assist my troops the most and come back to pick CC troops up if needed. I was thinking DLs with the Kabalites becuase most of my buddies lean heavyly on mech to get across the table. Would it be worth it to sit back and let them come to me with a DL? Or go with a blaster when they get within 18"? Once I get my core troops figured out I'll move on the the other units. Thanks for all the help guys, I'm more of a painter and collecter than a player and need all the help I can get lol.

DL for a unit is expensive, and rarely worth it unless you have a unit that is never going to move (sometimes I will put a unit of trueborn with lances inside a bastion)

to deal with mech, use trueborn blasters (27 pts a 'lance')
or Ravagers (35 a lance, on armor 11)

Also useful are 5 man squads in a venom. You can use the blaster as needed, and still have Anti-Infantry power
Or Reavers with Blasters. Reavers are great multi-role units

Don't forget 5 haywire wyches (in a venom). Such squads can reliably glance almost any tank to wreckage.

Personaly, I'd say a mix of Wyches and Kabalites, at least to start with,.

I agree, a mix of Wyches with Hydra gauntlets is a great way to mass wound enemy troop choices, especially if you roll high enough when deciding how many extra attacks you get. Also, think about swapping the Archon with Duke Sliscus, he's 150 pts but any unit of Kabalite Warriors or Trueborn he joins get 3+ poisoned splinter weapons rather than 4+. He also lets your roll 2 D6 for combat drugs and you pick the highest result. However, an Archon is better for tackling IC's and Monstrous Creatures.

Thanks guys for the help. Also one more question. Has anyone tried 4 TB with Blasters lead by Archon with a Blaster?

It makes for great tank hunting and Marine slaying. It can become a fire-magnet, though.

I was thinking of moving a squad of Wyches in a raider around with the Venom that would be carring the Archon and TB. I'd use the Raider as cover and the Wyches as pop up. I think this would be a lot of fun vs my buddies that plays SM & CSM

Get heavy support for sure, Ravagers or flyers ar the top choice, fill the 3 slots as a priority.

Frankly this will make a nice look army, but not an effective one.

Just look at the cost of a ravager compared to a raider squad.

Several troops + ravagers/flyers are the real basis of a dark eldar force. Incubi are not recommended in smaller forces, because you need the points to be invested in more important matters.

Troops are the basis of an army, no chocie there, putting it all in raiders is best, as our army relies on speed and you need the Dark Lances on these skimmers.

Heavy support however are the first and best slot to pick units out. Just cheaper than elite or fast attack units.

Around 1500 pts you usually have filled your troops and heayv support enough to start thinking about incubi and other stuff.

Reavers are kind of expensive and very fragile, 3 are very fragile and they won't serve any purpose except to be shot down during one turn.

You obviously need to give your units special weapons, Dark Lances arent' a bad choice as everyone says, blasters are shorter range and you expose yourself too much at times. You may not be able to move your dark lances, however most weapons don't have such a long range, keeping these guys pretty safely at distance.

Ravagers and reavers always do great. Get a lot of both!

if your going to have a shooting type army try out the " gun boat"

A raider with splinter wracks ( + whatever else you want) and ten warriors with splinter rifles.

you save a few points by not upgrading your warriors and if the raider lives long enough to get close to the enemy your pumping out 20 poisoned shots a turn with re-rolls to hit.


also on another note, never ever expect your raider's to live through any battle