ARMYLIST: Eldar Riposte Host – 2000pt
This is one of my current Eldar lists I’ve been tooling around with, that has given me good results so far.
Summary
Back in 4th I was big believer in Eldar lists designed around the Torrent of Fire/Blows rule mechanic. Then 5th Edition came along and threw that entire concept out the window yet opened up other more interesting tactical combinations, such as this one: The Eldar Riposte Host (say it 10 times fast, its fun!) , a list focussing on rapid reaction to the enemy.
The goal of this list is to unlock the Eldar Codex’s maneuver and shatter power based on the new missions and deployment options that came with 5th edition. A secondary focus will be on dealing with a couple of our newest challenges on the 40k scene, the Chaos Daemon army and Marine Droppod lists, both of which are vying for the “Maneuver and Shatter” crown.
So big picture things first…why?
If you’re anything like me, you’ve come to realize over the years that the Eldar list just can’t take a punch. Yes you can gussy it up to be a bit more resiliant, but most of the other armies can play that game better. If the Eldar list can only survive to hit the enemy where it is most vulnerable you can do fairly well, and many games are often lost for the Craftworlders by the end of the bottom of turn one if the enemy rolls well.
The Reposte Host fights against this problem by instead offering NO resistance for an enemy to “get the jump” on. In most cases you deploy nothing. Let your opponent face an empty table. This is in fact the desired deployment case for droppod and chaos daemons lists who lose much of thier effectiveness with no enemy to focus on. Let the enemy army lose a turn or two of valuable shooting, or see thier Deathwing/Droppod/Daemon first wave appear into an empty table and do nothing.
At the start of turn 2 the fun begins. Your entire army will arrive from reserve on rolls of 2+ (double Autarchs). Now you get your pick of how to deal with the foe. Study his deployment carefully and focus on your priority targets that are most threatening to your Reposte Host. In most cases this is not the heaviest weapons, but the mid-range high rate of fire weapons such as autocannons, heavybolters, heavy flamers, and the like. High value units caught out of position such as drop-podding dreads, Sternguard, particularly nasty daemons packs and such can be eliminated with massed fire to begin the dismemberment of the enemy force.
What the Reposte Host gives you is the initiative. The list works whether you win the first turn roll of not. Winning first turn means the enemy only gets 1 turn before your arrive instead of 2. The key with these lists is to use fast mobility forces that can get where you need them easily. Anything with range is good, but shortranged forces MUST be mechanized or nimble. Thus Guardians are out, vypers are in. Walking aspects and wraithlords are out, spiders and mechanized aspects are in. Make a special note for ourflankers as these will also arrive on a 2+, making things such as War-walker squadrons with long ranged high-rate of fire weapons valuable.
A final note. While torrent of fire is gone, this list throws out LOTS of wounds, so make sure you have re-read the wound allocation rules and know them backwards and forwards. This list will often snipe out a higher than average number of important squad members during games.
Army List
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HQ ~This pair makes the army work, are mobile, and can combine with other units to provide long ranged AP:3 fire or nasty shock assaults to finish off small isolated units.
Autarch
Jetbike
Reaper launcher, mandiblaster, laser lance
Autarch
Jetbike
Reaper launcher, mandiblaster, laser lance
Elites ~These go in the Falcon and prioritize the destruction of high AV vehicles or elite infantry such as terminators. Don’t expect them so survive games.
Fire Dragons (6)
Troops ~The bread and butter of the list. Do not be tempted to use these versus any heavy targets, as they dont have any farseer tricks up their sleeve. You will get only 1 or at most 2 massed triple Bladestorm blasts so pick the soft underbelly of your foe’s army well and shatter it in one turn. You will be kicking out over 100 dice of shuriken firepower between the squads and the Serpents, so stay focussed and use it well. Their best defense is little surviving return fire.
Avengers (9)
Exarch Dual catapults, Bladestorm
Wave Serpent; TL Shuriken Cannons, Stones, Star Engines
Avengers (9)
Exarch Dual catapults, Bladestorm
Wave Serpent; TL Shuriken Cannons, Stones, Star Engines
Avengers (9)
Exarch Dual catapults, Bladestorm
Wave Serpent; TL Shuriken Cannons, Stones, Star Engines
Fast Attack~The hunters. These units are built to move. They should be able to pick out targets of thier choosing and reach them quickly (usually vehicle rear armor or elite infantry). Keep them moving or behind cover for increased resiliance until they reach their targets. Wthdraw and hide for last turn objective contention once they get mauled (and they will).
Warp Spiders (9)
Exarch, Twin spinner
Vyper Squadron (3)
Star Cannons
Heavy Support ~Falcons hauls the Dragons where they need to go and assists after the drop. The Warwalkers outlank and keep distance, peppering the foe with massed scatterlaser fire.
Falcon
Scatterlaser/ Shuriken cannon/ Pulselaser
Holo/Stones
Warwalker (3)
Scatterlaser (x6)
~The Reposte concept can work with a variety of lists and combos. The one listed is simply based on my model collection, but I’m sure you guys can make even better ones. Forgeworld is pretty cool for this list concept as flyers and things like Eldar Firestorms are really effective in this context. Comments and feedback are welcome as usual.
