by Jeff Petrowicz
When playing with the
Dark Elf race you must consider your advantages and
disadvantages. From the start the strength & toughness of an
elf is low at 3. By playing you will find that this is a real
disadvantage especially when playing strength 4 or more opponents
such as dwarves. From my experience I have found that there is
really nothing to be done about it because you can't raise the
toughness of the entire unit but you can make them harder to hit.
Ex: Ruby Chalice (-2 for shooting and -1 in h-t-h, or make it
easier to hit your opponent by giving a regiment the Standard of
Might(+1 in h-t-h). A real advantage about choosing elves is
their fast movement of 5 and their high WS & BS. You must use
this towards your advantage.
Dark Elf Scouts: With a BS of 5 and the ability to infiltrate
they are a great choice but the high point cost is a downer.
Still I field at least 1 regiment of 10 without the armor because
I find that I rarely roll 6's so I use the extra points for more
of them.
Witch Elves: With the Cauldron of Blood backing up these girls
they have 4 strength 4 attacks for only 12 points a piece. I
would suggest adding the light armor for 2 points when playing
another race with strength 3 or less(another elven race, orcs and
goblins) because even though it is only a 6+ the Cauldron gives
them a 6+ regeneration save so you have two chances. Then after
giving them either the Standard of Shielding of the Banner of
Might, a Hero, Champion, and Musician they are a force to be
reckoned with. I once fought a unit of Empire halberiers, 20
including a standard, musician, and champion. I had 20 witch
elves including a standard with the banner of might(2+ to hit),
musician and Hero. On the first round of combat I killed the
entire front rank and more, broke them while sustaining no
casualties of my own and running them down.
Cold Ones: I have to admit that I rarely use these hard hitting
troops because they are the target of every piece of artillery of
the opposing force and because of their high point cost they give
a lot of victory points in the very beginning. If I were to field
a unit of these shock troops I would give them everything
possible to increase their chance of surviving. But still with
their toughness of 3 they are mowed down unless they can kill
everyone they are in base contact with. I would field a unit of
these guys against Wood Elves, Chaos, and Undead. Good Luck!
Executioners: Again I really don't use them because they can give
it but they can't take it. Every time I engage one of these units
in combat they are destroyed because of their striking last, low
toughness, and their 5+ armor save which can't be lowered unless
the Standard of Shielding is used but I have better uses for
that.
Harpies: If you play a lot against Empire or Dwarfs like I do
then these are the best choice for attacking war machines. Either
to fly 24" and charge the first round of movement of to fly
high and swoop down upon the crews of the lightly defended war
machines. I find that with strength & toughness 4 and 2
wounds they get the job done especially against those cannon crew
of the Empire with no save. Just don't lose combat a flee because
with a leadership of 6 I find that once they start they don't
stop. I usually field 1 regiment of about 5 for 75 points.
Spearmen: A good defensive unit but I rarely use them. I put the
points into Corsairs w/ A.H.W's or Repeating Crossbowmen. I Have
not found a real use for them that another unit could not do such
as Witch Elves or Corsairs. At 11 points and a 6+ save you need
at least a unit of 15 to 20 of them with a standard, musician,
and champion. I don't think they are worth the points that you
pay for them.
Corsairs: An excellent investment for 12 points apiece and A.H.W
for an additional 1 and/or Repeater Xbows for 3. With a 5+
unmodified save they are great for going up against S4 or higher
troops such as the flagellants of the Empire. I will field them
as the required units to my bolt throwers with A.H.W's for 130pts
for 10. I would suggest this regiment for any army you are
fighting.