A Dark Elf Army Revisited!

So with the advent of the new Warhammer Fantasy: Dark Elves book coming out i wanted to do a small article on how a new book affects an army. I primarily play in the 1500pt level battles, there are several reasons why i do this: no lords, faster games and it's all i have painted.

Here is the old list using the last rulebook (with the White Dwarf revision of course).

Old List:

HEROS:

Noble (70) Halberd (4) Sea Dragon Cloak (6) Shield (2) Blood Armor (20) Seal of Ghrond (25)
- 127pts

Sorcerer (90) Lvl 2 (40) Darkstar Cloak (20) Dispel Scroll (25)
-175

CORE:

Warriors x10 (70) Crossbows (40) Shields (10)
-120pts

Warriors x10 (70) Crossbows (40) Shields (10)
-120pts

Corsairs x15 (150) Full Command (25)
-175pts

Corsairs x10 (100) Champion (10)
-110pts

SPECIAL:

Executioners x12 (132) Champ (12) Musician (6)
-150pts

Shades x9 (126)
-126pts

Cold One Chariot (95) Spears (2)
Cold One Chariot (95) Spears (2)
-194pts

RARE:

Repeater Bolt Thrower (100)
Repeater Bolt Thrower (100)
-200pts


Total: 1497pts

This little lethal list has won me MANY games I'm proud to say between the shooting and an aggressive counter charge (or maybe just charging?). Though I don't play as much fantasy anymore with the new book coming out I should make an attempt to bring out my army some more.

Moving on my first example will be a straight conversion of the list using the new rules:

LORDS:

Master (80) Halberd (4) Sea Dragon Cloak (4) Shield (2) Blood Armor (15) Seal of Ghrond (30)
-135pts

Sorcerer (100) Lvl 2 (35) Darkstar Cloak (25) Dispel Scroll (25)
-185

CORE:

Dark Elf Repeater Crossbowmen x10 (100) Shields (10)
-110pts

Dark Elf Repeater Crossbowmen x10 (100) Shields (10)
-110pts

Black Ark Corsairs x15 (150) Full Command (25)
-175pts

Black Ark Corsairs x10 (100) Reaver (10)
-110pts

SPECIAL:

Har Ganeth Executioners x12 (144) Draich Master (12) Musician (6)
-162pts

Shades x9 (144)
-144pts

Cold One Chariot (100)
-100pts

Cold One Chariot (100)
-100pts

RARE:

Repeater Bolt Thrower (100)
Repeater Bolt Thrower (100)
-200pts

Total: 1531pts

Well the first two glaring things about the list is that i am 31pts over the limit and the second is that the second chariot is no longer legal (i have too many special choices). Though some units and equipment went down in cost many others went up a point or two. This is quite acceptable seeing as the units that went up in cost also went up in stats. For example the executioners went up a point of strength and the shades a point in ballistic skill.

My corsairs stayed the same points value and even gained two VERY good rules in the process. The first is "Slavers" which gives me the choice of having my opponent re-roll his highest die when running away! The second ETERNAL HATRED! which is actually an ARMY WIDE special rule, needless to say every dark elf unit has hatred in the first round of combat! Making deadly units even more deadly and regular units quite capable on the charge.

Looking through the book here is the revised list that i am thinking about fielding:

HEROS:

Master (80) Halberd (4)Sea Dragon Cloak (4) Blood Armor (15) Seal of Ghrond (30)
-133pts

Sorcerer (100) Lvl 2 (35) Darkstar Cloak (25) Dispel Scroll (25)
-185

CORE:


Dark Elf Repeater Crossbowmen x10 (100) Shields (10)
-110pts

Dark Elf Repeater Crossbowmen x10 (100) Shields (10)
-110pts

Black Ark Corsairs x15 (150) Full Command (25)
-175pts

Black Ark Corsairs x10 (100) Reaver (10) Musician (5)
-115pts

Harpies x6 (66)
-66pts

SPECIAL:

Har Ganeth Executioners x12 (144) Draich Master (12) Musician (6)
-162pts

Shades x9 (144)
-144pts

Cold One Chariot (100)
-100pts

RARE:

Repeater Bolt Thrower (100)
Repeater Bolt Thrower (100)
-200pts

Total: 1500pts

Now that looks more like it, though i lost one of my cold one chariots i feel that i should still be able to do fine as they have gained a leadership, weapon skill and armor save upgrade! With the extra points from the dropped chariot i was able to to buy a small group of harpies, i have always wanted to give them a try but never had a chance (they were special) now that they have been moved to core I'll gladly send them out to harass war machines and wizards. I also gave the corsairs without full command a musician never know when that will come in handy!

At a glance it seems that the GW team has put a nice army book out for the Dark Elves and i am quite happy to see my second army updated (i received codex orks for 40k earlier this year!). Between army wide hatred and having my crossbows have armor piercing all for free makes me quite giddy to see my raiders in action again!

Hopefully this article has been informative or at the very least entertaining to all the Dark Elf players out there may your Black Arks be full of slaves and your rivals be quelled! Thanks for reading!