Why Eldar will impact the game more than you imagined

I think the game design by GW is to go through cycles. A new über codex is released to end each cycle and start anew. Change can be painful and forces us either to adapt or withdraw. A good example is the new Wraithguard unit with D flamers - mount them in a dark eldar raider with a webway portal Archon - they can and will delete most any unit in the game with average rolls. Many people told me there's no way Wraithguard would get D flamers but they did just as I predicted after perusing the rumors just leading up to the new release. To counter this you can use cheap bubble wrap to protect your prime units, hold them in reserve, run MSU, stock up on intercepting units, or invest heavily in flyers and FMC hoping you get to go first... I'm sure there are other counters too such as a drop pod army for Space Marines or even mechIng up.

The point is if you don't adapt it could be very painful because you're going to see a lot of new eldar armies and those players wont be holding back at all. If we consider the new undercosted Wraightknight which is now a gargantuan creature it has FNP and is immune to instant death so you'll you have to delete it one wound after another.

I'm already wondering what will come next to counter the new eldar. D weapons are the antithesis of Necrons as they get no save at all. The T5 Wraiths with RP sounded great up until just now - right ? Spreading out for maximum coherency will also help as a counter and could be the best approach to squaring off versus the new eldar.

So the previous cycle began with the advent of seventh edition - Orks, Dark Eldar, Grey Knights then finally Blood Angels were all debuffed only to await this new release of the eldar. Many of us hoped foolishly that eldar would be debuffed but the writing is on the wall and it didn't happen... In fact the exact opposite occurred.

We must accept the change and adapt.

Return of the Jetseer Council (JSC) & Necrons

Eldar
Here is a link to the new rules for Harlequins:

Harlequin Rules

They really have lots of nasty tricks up their sleeves.

I predict the return of the Jetseer council. Harlequin jetbikes have Hit and Run which JSC lost when the Baron was removed from the new dark Eldar codex. Hit and Run plus Fortune are the core rules for JSC. The Harlequin jetbikes have some solid mėlee buffs plus are two wounds apiece with decent shooting. JSC had some issues inflicting wounds in combat but the Harlequin jetbikes will fix that aspect for the council. Mark my words you'll see soon see JSC back on the tables and it will be more fearsome than ever before. I predict the standard build will be with up to four Jetbike Farseers (double CAD) and two or more Harlequin jetbikes. A new deathstar will be reborn and better than ever ! I don't have the Harlequin codex yet but expect to see some tactical articles here within the next week or two.


Necrons
Necrons are back and tougher than ever with their newly revised Reanimation Protocols (RP). In my opinion it's the best seventh edition codex yet. While some units and wargear took a few hits from the nerf bat overall they are stronger now overall.

I can easily see Jetseer Council and the new Necrons quickly climbing back up to the top of the meta in short time. Necrons will be one of the armies that can match up well versus JSC... CANOPTEK WRAITHS with RP and two wounds apiece plus T5 will tear through lots of armies.

Be prepared or be afraid - it's one or one of the other.

DraigoStar vs. Jetseer Council • Part 2 • TempleCon

Turn 1 - Eldar
This was a fairly uneventful turn with the Eldar performing the serpent shuffle and the Cullexus moving forward towards my deathstar while hugging cover like a green tree lover. The Farseer jumps out of a serpent joining the tail end of the JSC.

JSC successfully casts Fortune on itself.

My Storm was popped by a serpent giving Eldar First Blood.

Turn 1 - DraigoStar
The five man Strike squad and scouts jump back behind the building moving completely out of sight. DraigoStar moves to my right drawing a bead on one serpent with the lascannon.

I successfully cast Invisibility and Perfect Timing. Loth burns a warp charge for the 2++ invulnerable save.

The lascannon hits and penetrates the Fire Dragons' serpent. It explodes killing one of the Fire Dragons.


Turn 2 - Eldar
The Cullexus feels bold moving forward again just within 12" of DraigoStar canceling Invisibility... This brings the assassin out in the open. JSC moves forward as well so it can line up some shots on DraigoStar - roughly about 10" out with the lead jetbikes and a small bit of terrain between them. The remaining serpents also move into position to target what they can see of DraigoStar.

My opponent casts some psychic powers... I save all my dice to deny Fortune, which I do - they won't be risking an assault this turn.

My dice are hot during the Eldar shooting phase and I make all my saves.

Turn 2 - DraigoStar
The Stormraven with the embarked ten man Strike squad comes in from reserve... Just what I needed !!! I move the flyer into position to blast down the Cullexus and the Strike squad paratroops down behind it with minimal scatter - all guns are trained on the assassin with the psycannons up front in rapid fire range.

DraigoStar moves further right and out of the Cullexus' 12" anti psychic bubble.

DraigoStar botches the roll for Invisibility but I successfully cast Shrouding, Perfect Timing and Prescience. I also botch the rolls for Force and Hammerhand. Loth burns another warp charge for his 2++ invulnerable save.

The Stormraven then unloads into the Cullexus... Thank the Emperor for all those twin linked weapons (you always have to snap fire at that cunning bastard) !!! The assassin is splattered to oblivion - untimely death for the Imperial turncoat... What a relief that was gunning down the assassin. I also manage to shoot down a jetbike with DraigoStar. The Strike squad targets the Fire Dragons and blows them off the table.

I then attempt to assault the JSC and just miss reaching them by 1"... Shouldn't have shot them... Oh well.


Turn 3 - Eldar
The serpents shuffle around again with one squad of Dire Avengers disembarking to draw a bead on the exposed Strike squad. JSC moves up to within an inch of DraigoStar.

This turn the Eldar successfully casts Fortune on the JSC and reveal DraigoStar.

It takes two serpents to pop my Stormraven. Some more shooting drops one Grey Knight from the Strike squad. JSC unloads on DraigoStar... Loth tanks the rending shots and Look Out Sirs the armor saves onto a Centurion like a boss.

The JSC then makes the charge into DraigoStar - psychic deathstar versus psychic deathstar. I fail one armor save on a Centurion and fail the ensuing blind test from the Farseer's special witch blade... That's rolling a 1 for a 2+ armor save followed by a 6 for the blind check which would have passed on a 5 or less. I am less than pleased with my dice to say the least. My opponent passes all his invulnerable saves thanks to Fortune and we remained locked.

Turn 3 - DraigoStar
The big Strike squad moves forward towards the relic and that's pretty much it for the movement phase.

I cast a few dice to successfully Prescience DraigoStar which my opponent does not attempt to deny. Most of the rest of my warp pool is cast on Gate of Infinity via Draigo which is denied by the Eldar using all their dice. I have a couple of warp charge left and just manage to successfully cast Gate via the GK Librarian. DraigoStar at full strength bounces across the table squatting down in a big ruin beside the relic... Really needed that to go down !

The Strike squad targets the disembarked Dire Avengers wiping them off the table. DraigoStar targets another serpent and blasts it off the table. Four of the five embarked Dire Avengers go up in flames from the ensuing explosion and the last Avenger breaks legging it towards it's table edge.

No assaults this turn.

I have a solid lead on kill points and currently have two units in range to grab the relic with the JSC caught out of position way over on my table edge... Heh ! The plan is methodically coming together but time is starting to run low now. Eldar are currently on the back foot though much to their chagrin. I need to keep applying the pressure.


Turn 4 - Eldar
The remaining two Dire Avenger squads both disembark from their serpents... One squad is in position for a challenging attempt to procure the relic while the other squad runs up to an upper level in the ruin beside DraigoStar (i.e., xenos death wish). JSC makes a long haul back stringing out towards the relic to support the ground level disembarked Dire Avengers. One of the remaining serpents performs a flyby landing dead center on top of the relic... I knew it was coming and was well prepared.

JSC casts Fortune on itself again.

Most of the xenos shooting is directed at the Strike squad, whittling them down to roughly five Grey Knights and they just barely pass their break check.

No assaults this turn again.

Turn 4 - DraigoStar
Time is running out... There'll only be enough time left after this turn for a fifth turn. Scouts pop out from behind the building moving towards the JSC while the fully intact Strike squad pops out as well heading towards the relic along with remainder of the other Strike squad. DraigoStar encircles round the serpent situated on top the relic.

I successfully cast Shrouding and Invisibilty on DraigoStar along with Shrouding and Hammerhead.

I assault the sitting serpent and wreck it (no passengers inside) blowing it up a mile high. Only one more to go ! There is much rejoicing amidst the brutal Marines.

Turn 5 - Eldar
JSC moves into position to contest the relic but are blocked off by DraigoStar. Farseer splits off to intercept my Scouts. The final serpent cruises in place of the last one to block off the relic yet again. My opponent forgets his psychic phase... Oh well. Shooting finishes off the remainder of the remnant Strike squad and the Farseer heavy flamers a couple of Scouts it can see but they pass their break check. The JSC fail their attempt to chsrge DraigoStar - big break for me.

Turn 5 - DraigoStar
DraigoStar moves into position to assault the final serpent currently holding the relic while the Scouts encircle the Farseer. The five man Strike squad moves and runs toward the relic ending up beside the JSC just out of range from the relic.

First DraigoStar shrieks the Dire Avengers up in the ruin - gone. I then am able to cast Hammerhand and Loth juices his armor again for the 2++ invulnerable save.

Scouts bolt pistol the Farseer dropping a wound. DraigoStar splits fire pounding the JSC managing to pop a few more jetbikes.

Scouts opt not to assault the Farseer and run around him cutting the Eldar psyker off from the JSC. DraigoStar charges the last serpent and explode it as well... Game over.

JSC is contesting the relic from DraigoStar so we draw on that objective. Eldar take Maelström and I take kill points. I have Line Breaker and my opponent has First Blood and Line Bresker. We tally up the final overall score... 13-7 in favor of the Eldar.

One heck of a close battle... Wish there had been enough time for one last turn as I probably would have scored the relic.

Next up is one of the two battles versus Chaos Daemons... Stay tuned !