As covered in my past articles, I am a competitive player at my roots when it comes to every game I play. Unfortunately, the last year or so has had me drop off in the amount of events I could play, or find the time to practice for the one I did participate in. Luckily, I am now able to really invest my spare time into 40k once again.

The biggest issue so far has been picking which faction I want to start grinding out and become really proficient with. If you can’t tell by the title of the article, I’ve gone with the 10th edition menace: Aeldari. But I want to explore a bit within this article how I came to that decision, the other factions I had considered and why I didn’t ultimately pick them. In addition, some overview of my current list and the practice I’ve gotten with it so far. Hopefully this will give some insight into my process for picking a faction, and how I’m building towards learning.

The three factions I was picked between are:

1. Adeptus Mechanicus
2. Drukhari
3. Aeldari

Firstly, we have the Admech. My gripes with the faction are no secret. It’s just moving pieces onto an objective to steal it from your opponent hoping your Kataphrons only whiff one out of five turns. However, they’re what I’ve been playing constantly for the last three or so months, and I think I’ve genuinely become very proficient with them. I don’t hate the struggle, and low tier armies keep you engaged with the game much more than something on the top. I’ve figured that if I keep up the practice with them, when the eventual buffs for them come in three months time, I’ll have all the tools I need to really succeed. It also helps that I’ve painted them decently.

So why not Admech?

I’ve suffered enough. Do you understand me? I have suffered enough for the machine. Is it so wrong that I’d like to know that all this extra thought I’m putting into the game over a T3 1W body is worth something? If it’s not Dragoons or Kataphrons, it rarely feels like anything does anything. Yes, you can spike your rolls, but that’s not special to this army, and it isn’t exactly overwhelming when it does happen. Shout out to my girl Draxus for carrying me to the moon. Until there becomes more list variety and feel good moments, I think this will remain my crusade army.

#100PointCawl

Onto my first love: Drukhari. “Josh,” I hear you say in anticipation to read more of this awesome electronic writing, “Didn’t you just gush about the new detachment?” I did gush. I will continue to gush. It’s aggressive, in your face, very fast, a ton of dice, and most importantly they’re elves. I know this army super well, I’m comfortable playing them, and the lists being made with that new detachment are what I dreamed of the last two editions.

Ok. Let’s have a heart to heart. Can you keep a secret?

Dude I really hate transporting these guys.

Reaver jet bikes, hellions, 3 ravagers, 3-5 raiders, 3-6 venoms. That’s just the flight stand guys. I am so sick of my Incubi breaking every time I travel. Setting up at each table between rounds is going to suck. This is a problem I’ve had with Admech too. I want to be able to get to an event, unpack quickly, and have enough time to still converse with my opponent about their list, if they like their kids, and what they’re drinking.

Guys I can only super glue the Incubi wings back on so many times. Don’t even get me started on Drazhar (Master of Blades). Guy dropped his tape measure on him once and he’s never stayed together the same since.

Did you know Court of the Archons are really good right now? I sure do.

Guess what I can’t buy? A Court of the Archon.

Would I buy one if I could? Probably not, they were already super expensive for a bunch of fine cast garbage.

How about anything from the beast side of the index? You got that right, unbuyable right now and also resin dog water.

I can love this army all day and call them my favorite. But I refuse to arrive to an event, spend 15 minutes gluing back models, just to hardly get my stuff on the table and do an army run down then stress playing more T3 goodness. By the way, your Kabalites arms fell off during turn 2 movement phase.

I also contribute my dark lances never rolling above a two to be the icing on the cake. Thanks.

Alright that’s the end of the article. You can leave. No really, it’s over. Everything below this is just pounding on the keyboard. Go home.

Are they gone? Nice.

Just you and me now. It’s a nice day outside, isn’t it?.

Oh what am I doing? Why I’m convincing you to still hang out with me even though I’m playing eldar. Woah hey. Please don’t leave ok? We can make this work. Look! I only have 6 fate dice now! And Night Spinners are sooooo expensive now, I would never take one at that points cost. Why don’t I go buy you a drink while you set up terrain. I’ll get you a chocolate bar too, what’s your favorite? Oh man, I also love legally distinct chocolate bars.

Wow, your Imperial Knights army is really well painted! I sure don’t hate playing against you at all, I’m very content right now.

Why did I pick Aeldari? I mean hey, after those nerfs I figured maybe it was time to dust them off and make some friends, like you. Yeah, they’re easy to transport and paint. They feel impactful and man, this index is so deep in units, it never feels like I’m bringing something terrible. You know honestly, I just really love having super efficient tools.

Oh, you like my Avatar? Thank you so much! Yeah, he’s one of my favorites. Isn’t it awesome when your centerpiece is viable? Poor Admech players. No, don’t worry. I didn’t bring The Yncarne too, we’re just having fun right? Awesome.

Oh hey, one more thing.

I lied about the Night Spinners.

I’ve held myself back from this faction for a while. I think the triple Wraithknight LARPing put a bad taste in my mouth. Like, my guy, just say you want to play something busted. It’s fine. We all do it. Don’t tell me, “No, really, eldar have always been my favorite. Yes I played Iron Hands in 8th. No I don’t have the army anymore.” It’s ok. If you’re meta chasing, that’s totally fine by me. I’d just like it if you admit to it.

Hi I’m Josh and I am a recovering meta chaser, kind of.

Maybe they’re not the best army in the game anymore. But if someone tell you that Aeldari have dropped off the face of competitive, you should probably direct them to the open play portion of the core rule book. Or be a good member of the community and just talk to them like a normal human being; it’s a turbo nerd game guys, maybe don’t drive away players.

Regardless, I feel like the army has been nerfed enough now to be at sewage level toxic, rather than my past relationships toxic. Which means I can play them, win, and still make friends.

So what’s the list looking like?

Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host

CHARACTERS

Autarch Wayleaper (140 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
1x Howling Banshee Mask
1x Star glaive
• Enhancement: The Phoenix Gem

Avatar of Khaine (335 points)
• 1x The Wailing Doom

Farseer (80 points)
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witchblade

Farseer Skyrunner (105 points)
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Witchblade
• Enhancement: The Weeping Stones

Fuegan (115 points)
• 1x Searsong
1x The Fire Axe

Warlock Skyrunner (55 points)
• 1x Destructor
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Witchblade

OTHER DATASHEETS
Falcon (140 points)
• 1x Pulse laser
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull

Falcon (140 points)
• 1x Pulse laser
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull

Fire Dragons (85 points)
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Firepike
• 4x Fire Dragon
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Dragon fusion gun

Fire Dragons (85 points)
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Firepike
• 4x Fire Dragon
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Dragon fusion gun

Night Spinner (210 points)
• 1x Doomweaver
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Wraithbone hull

Rangers (55 points)
• 5x Ranger
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Ranger long rifle
5x Shuriken pistol

Rangers (55 points)
• 5x Ranger
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Ranger long rifle
5x Shuriken pistol

Shroud Runners (80 points)
• 3x Shroud Runner
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Ranger long rifle
3x Scatter laser
3x Shuriken pistol

Shroud Runners (80 points)
• 3x Shroud Runner
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Ranger long rifle
3x Scatter laser
3x Shuriken pistol

Swooping Hawks (75 points)
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasblaster
• 4x Swooping Hawk
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Lasblaster

Windriders (160 points)
• 6x Windrider
• 6x Close combat weapon
6x Shuriken cannon

I’ve played exactly one game so far with the list and I am very pleased with it. Here is how it went:

Ignore the CP usage, we tracked it with dice in the game like all gentlemen do. And it was Invasion Fleet, not Synaptic. Yes my phone was at 8%, mind your own business.

The real MVPs is the Autarch, Khain, Shroud Runners, and Swooping Hawks.

I took the advice of playing fixed secondaries Deploy Teleport Homers when a second fixed is viable. It was very successful. I would have probably lost my first game.

I’m still not sure which war gear to take on the wind riders. The cannons were very good against multi-wound Tyranid monsters, but I think I’m leaning toward the twin-linked catapults. I would have been wounding on 6’s regardless, so I might as well try and fish for more wounds. Other than that, I did misplay them very bad and lost them round three. This ties into an earlier point. I’m willing to put more brain power into an army if I get to see more consistent results. Admech doesn’t do that as often as Aeldari do and I have noticed it with only one game.

The solo foot Farseer honestly kind of kills me? It won me the game hands down with a clutch auto 6 damage for some fire dragons. But if he had any indirect, I have no idea what I would have done? To be determined when I already have a bike Farseer.

The only thing in my list I am unsure of is surprisingly the Night Spinner. It was…fine? It wasn’t a slouch by any means but it felt very underwhelming for it points. Play testing required but I hope to find my answer in the coming week.

My biggest struggle so far has been slowing down my play. Both in my decision making and in how I influence the tempo of the game. I’ve found a lot of my issues with eldar in the past has been trying to strike out before taking out the resources that actually scare me.

Panicking about score is another big one, giving my opponent a 15 turn 2 and 3 is probably fine as long as I can then make sure they score nothing the next two turns. Aeldari have the speed, you just have to use it right.

Before the next post I plan to have answered a few questions:

Does the Night Spinner stay? Do I bring The Yncarne? Is Steve the Footseer 80 points badly spend? And most importantly, am I having fun with the army?

Buddy, Fuegan has melta 6. I’m having fun.

Send me some feedback on the list, and your opinion on if Knight players count as people.

Until next time, thanks for reading.