Tuesday 4 June 2013

Eldar 6th Edition Codex Review first impressions

I have the new Eldar codex.  If I had to pick one word to describe it, I would say, disappointed.

Now, lets start with the good.  Farseers and the new Spirit Seers are both solid choices.  The Runes of Fate lore is very similar to the old Eldar spells from the 4th edition book, but with two new powers.

Warlocks are now very similar to Royal Courts.  You buy them as one unit, and split them off.  Some debate exists on whether you generate spells before or after splitting them up.  There is also an absurdity where a jetbike warlock splitting off counts as being an infantry unit.  I expect that to be errataed.

Swooping hawks became better.  Their guns became marginely better and they became a bit cheaper.  In fact, most of the improved units, are improved by virtue of being cheaper.  Shining Spears, Guardian Jetbikes and Wraithguard also feature in this section.

All shurikan weapons got a kind of false rending.  Guardians got a boost on WS and BS.  Still got pistol ranged rifles.  Not sold.  Their heavy weapons became cheaper though and they can take more than one in a unit.

They have some nifty run/shoot or shoot/run option available to most of the living eldar units.  Time will tell if this is a gimmick, game breaking, or more probably something in between.  I suppose its kind of like having the jetpack rule, but better.  Will need some games to decide if I like this.  Dark Reapers can even use this.

Dark reapers can have the option for krak like missiles, but no skyfire, unless I misread something.  Huge opportunity lost.

Exarches have similar upgrades and maybe better powers than before. Again, its something that will need to be played.

Scorpions claw is not a powerfist and doesnt strike last.  With the exarch being able to up his strength on exarch powers, he will be quite good.

Eldrad can run and is the same toughness.  Thats something I guess.

I think that is about it for improvements.

Downsides, where do I begin?

Avatar, is a whole bunch more expensive, gains a wound, reduces his invulnerable save to the daemons standard.  Oh and he can buy options.

Phoenix Lords.  Terribly over priced.  Pretty much across the board.  They are all the wrong side of 200 points.

Guardians.  Yes they are better.  No they are still not very good.  Same price as Tau fire warriors despite being considerably worse.

Guardian defenders.  An even worse unit than they used to be.  Can for some unusual reason take two with power swords, but no champion.

Dire avengers are more expensive, probably due to the false rending ability.  They may be possibly acceptable, but they are only one point cheaper than a dark angel tactical marine.

Banshees are utterly lame.  Mask has been nerfed into a slaanesh like reduce the enemy initiative ability.

Mandi blasters are now basically the same as hammer of wrath in every round.  Not as good as before.

Reaper exarch lost his ultimate killing ability with the tempest launcher and crack shot, unless I am missing something.

Fire dragons went up in points, by a fair amount and gained slightly better saves.

Thats it for now. Please find the other articles written on this subject below;



6th Edition Eldar in more Detail
6th Edition Eldar the good units
6th Edition Eldar Swooping Hawks
6th Edition Eldar Warp Spiders
6th Edition Eldar Shining Spears
6th Edition Eldar Avatar
Can Howling Banshees be competative?
To Exarch or not?

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