Deathstars Part Four: Dark Elves Shades
The second Dark Elf deathstar is the dreaded Shadestar. This unit can be a nightmare for a lot of armies. Lets take a look at this tabletop monster in detail:
This is one of the few truly rock, paper, scissor builds. The load out for this unit is 20-35 shades with great weapons, a dreadlord, 3 nobles(1 being bsb with Hag Graef , ring of hotek, and MR2or3), and an assassin for good measure. It shoots 40+ BS 5 rxbows, has 360 line of sight, and the characters are always in front when you or it charges.
Hard to avoid with move and shoot capability
Devastating shooting to one unit
Immune to warhammer*
Has hard time with multiple targets
Can be tactical wheeled
*I joke when the shadestar is immune to warhammer. But, it does play completely different than anything you may have faced previously. Most of the other anti deathstar tactics really doesn’t work on it either. You can’t really avoid it because it shoots you. You can’t really hinder its move because it skirmishes. And most units in the game will be smashed if they charge the front of 5 S6+ characters with ASF and hatred.
Anti-Shadestar Tactics:
Shoot It: It is hard to hit with skirmish and probably hiding in a forest or near cover. However, every wound counts and even ½ points for the shade star is something worth going for. Template weapons are great, but, remember the shadestar charges 360 10” so keep your dragons safe!
Life Magic: Howler wind is definitely a show stopper for the shadestar. If your opponent had plans of staying back, his mind will suddenly change when your whole army can’t be shot by Str4 or less shooting.
Impact Hits: Barring all your chariots getting blow up by rending stars, impact hits can do a number on the shadestar. Consider charging 3+ chariots in the front. You might lose 2 of them in the process ,but, if you kill 10+ shades you have a good shot at a low probability breaktest. The steam tank is the bane of the shadestar. If you have one, roll up and have fun. Watch out for executioner axes though!
Tactical Wheel: This is the main tactic to deal with the shadestar. Because this unit is a skirmisher you can have it form up to the first unit that charges it. By declaring multiple charges at the same time on the shade star you can get advantages of hitting it in the rear and gaining valuable combat resolution. Charging a chariot in from one point and a unit of knights in the rear would be the best plan. The chariot can only give up a max of 4 wounds to the front characters while the knights will have the rear bonus and probably kill a decent number of shades in the process.
How about it BoLS? Have you faced the cursed Shadestar and lived to tell about it? Have any ideas on how to beat it? Share your comments.
We have heard that Black Boxes with the new 8th Edition WFB rulebook are heading out in just a few weeks. So expect detailed tactics overviews as soon as we get it in our greedy little gaming hands.
