Which units define the Dark Elf army to YOU?

[Black Razor]

Okay so I'm making this post in response really to the many .. many .. discussions throughout a number of threads on what the "iconic" units of the Dark Elf army are to most. What when you think of the Dark Elves ..do you believe define there army from other armies? Which are the top 3 units to you? I'm excluding specific heroes like Malekith as I want it to be a more generic survey rather then specific named models. Unfortunately polls are limited to 10 items so I had to leave out some of the lesser units .. but some others are of course Harpies, Cauldron of Blood, Dark Riders and Cold One Chariots. Feel free to add anything I forgot.

[Selendor]

Gotta admit, Cold One Knights. I also voted for Corsairs, Sorceress, and Repeater Bolt Throwers, as that's typically what comes to mind for me when I think of the Dark Elf army. But I love Executioners...didn't vote for 'em though.

[Thrakkesh]

Witch Elves/Executioners, Cold One Knights are the big two, but you could go lots of ways with thirds. Cosairs & Shades come to mind. ( Wait, wasn't I always arguing against Cosairs?)

[Xurré]

Personally I consider these three units (http://www.eilistraee.com/a/darkelvesarmybook.jpg) to be the most “iconic”.

That’s the old dark elves army book btw (so I guess at some point GW agreed with me ;)). And it should be obvious that the three units are: Cold One Knight, Sorceress and Witch Elf.

Fouth place I think would go to the Beastmaster. And, interestingly, the poll currently pretty much supports my views. Though of course there’ve only been a couple of votes. Would be interesting to see if it hold. :)


- Xurré

[Zoatibix]

I can't believe you left out Dark Riders for Beastmasters! :confused:

I voted Witch Elves, Cold One Knights and Assassins.

[Black Razor]

I can't believe you left out Dark Riders for Beastmasters! :confused:

I voted Witch Elves, Cold One Knights and Assassins.

Uh .. Beastmaster is on the list and if you read my top post you would see I had to exclude some cause it was 10 only and ..well .. I didn't think Dark Riders were especially ..special. But like I said at the top ..your welcome to add em in your response. :)

[Zoatibix]

You have misunderstood. I dont' think Beastmasters are very defining so shouldn't have been on the list.

A lot of DE players don't take them but Dark Riders are commonly used as flankers in a DE list.

If they aren't being taken, they don't define the army, to me.

[Xurré]

You have misunderstood. I dont' think Beastmasters are very defining so shouldn't have been on the list.

A lot of DE players don't take them but Dark Riders are commonly used as flankers in a DE list.

If they aren't being taken, they don't define the army, to me.
I don’t agree… how much they’re used in table-top games is largely irrelevant as to how “iconic” they are since other factors play a part in that. Beastmasters present a strong part of dark elf culture in how they’re willing to use the most vile beasts to do their bidding and how they see other races as little more than animals.

Anyway, they’re still my fourth choice.


I’m very surprised though that not more people vote for Sorceress… have people forgotten how big a part magic plays far all elves, including dark elves? In fact, it’s dark magic which is pretty much one of the main contributors to the split within the elves that gave rise to the dark elves to begin with.

I can’t help but wonder if people vote more for the units they like (or like to use in TT; recognise from TT) than for what units are iconic.

Then again, the same could be true for me and it’s not at all clear what makes something “iconic”.


- Xurré

[Orochimaru]

I don't know how others are voting but I thought of it from the point of view of someone who played a Dark Elf army. The top two have to be the Reaper Bolt Thrower and the Assassin for what they can do on the battlefield. If we're just talking pure visuals then it has to be Witch Elves and COK's.

[Zoatibix]

Oh, I love my Sorceresses, don't get me wrong but I didnt' vote for them because there are wizards in every army. I will have a Sorceress if they are available in WAR.

I was taking the question more as what makes the DE army for me, a WHFB player..

[Dalamar]

Sorceress - Portraits how deeply magical elven race is.
Witch Elf - Devotion to their got taken to an extreme
Blackguard - shows them as master fighters as well as extremely disciplined force that hates everything and everyone, even their own kin (like all dark elves do, Blackguards are just better at it)

[Joeydevil]

I like the Shades and Assassins alot but the Corsairs are my pick. They are who I think of right away. Pirates raiding and robbing everything in sight.

[Kimmie]

i picked witch elves cold ones and sorceress.

i am new to warhammer so out of all the reading ive done those three were the ones that jumped out.

its also why i love dark elves

sexy powerful women

come on mythic dont let me down

[Nathar]

Grrr! Didn't see the "mutiple" thing! My vote went for reaper bolt throwers because that was what my army became known for when I played. I played a rare defensive dark elf army. Reapeaters and Reapers..

More votes would go to Cold one knights (back when I started they were way more fearsome. Add to their current power a stupidity-removing banner and one more attack per cold one) and witch elves although I never played a unit in my life. I don't like their vulnerability but it doesn't change how iconic they are!

Also honourable mentions: Beastmasters (few races have anything like it), sorceresses (many think of these but they aren't that special to me), assassins (watching the face of an opponent when that guy jumps from front line to kill his general) and maybe a couple others I've forgotten because dinner is ready.

[Black Razor]

I don’t agree… how much they’re used in table-top games is largely irrelevant as to how “iconic” they are since other factors play a part in that. Beastmasters present a strong part of dark elf culture in how they’re willing to use the most vile beasts to do their bidding and how they see other races as little more than animals.

Anyway, they’re still my fourth choice.


I’m very surprised though that not more people vote for Sorceress… have people forgotten how big a part magic plays far all elves, including dark elves? In fact, it’s dark magic which is pretty much one of the main contributors to the split within the elves that gave rise to the dark elves to begin with.

I can’t help but wonder if people vote more for the units they like (or like to use in TT; recognise from TT) than for what units are iconic.

Then again, the same could be true for me and it’s not at all clear what makes something “iconic”.


- Xurré

I voted for the Cold Ones, Witch Elves, and Beastmaster. Sorceress would of been my fourth choice. I look at it from the view of what defines the Dark Elves from other armies.. especially from the other elves. Sorceress are certainly iconic of the dark elves but they arn't unique to me .. as both high elves and wood elves have female casters and they don't have any special rule set other then there magic choice. But though there are units similar to my three picks in other armies .. lizard men ride cold ones, wardancers and slayers both wear very light armor and duel wield, and greenskins have squig herders .. none of them have identical rule sets, or are used in quite the same way. So that was my own reasoning. From a visual perspective I may well have subbed sorceress for beastmaster ..it was a hard call ..but I went with what defines them to me and I stick by it.

[Thrakkesh]

Grrr! Didn't see the "mutiple" thing! My vote went for reaper bolt throwers because that was what my army became known for when I played. I played a rare defensive dark elf army. Reapeaters and Reapers..




That's actually very common amongst skilled Dark Elf players.

Repeater crossbowmen, double bolt throwers, Dark Riders/Shades for disruption, with typically one unit of Cold One Knights or Executioners to counter-charge as they wade through their firing lines.

I can tell you from personal experience playing against them as Orcs, Chaos (Tzeentch and Khorne), and High Elves, that this army was a nightmare, every time.

[Krulltak]

Cold One Knights, Witch (http://img505.imageshack.us/my.php?image=witchelvesij1.jpg) Elves (made by yours truely, the poster I mean not the actual drawing), Beastmasters, and Assasins are all the most iconic.

[Nathar]

That's actually very common amongst skilled Dark Elf players.

Repeater crossbowmen, double bolt throwers, Dark Riders/Shades for disruption, with typically one unit of Cold One Knights or Executioners to counter-charge as they wade through their firing lines.

I can tell you from personal experience playing against them as Orcs, Chaos (Tzeentch and Khorne), and High Elves, that this army was a nightmare, every time.

Alright, part of my previous post was wrong. I thought it was more common to play a more aggresive flanking based dark elf armies working with the mobility we have.

I started in 5th edition and I remember the high fly rules. Tons of repeater crossbows, 2 (and later up to 4, guess it's no wonder my opponents remember them) reapers for artillery. Cold one knights (fifth edition had fear, 2 attacks, blood banner (no stupidity)) were a hit.. big time and they'd clean through lines and several units in no time. Add to that some high flying harpies that swoop down around 3rd turn or so an remove enemy artillery men or distract enemy troops (had one game where this guy turned 2 saurus units completely around to take them out but I just flew away and they turned back wasting two turns filled with tons of arrows). And black guards or executioners to take care of enemy knights, both could do it very well with a little luck.

I loved that army. Too bad I don't really have time to paint or anyone to play against anymore.

[Thrakkesh]

Fly high was pure cheese. Nothing worse then having a Bloodthirster land behind your army when you were halfway on the map.

I do see a lot of very aggressive, close combat/flankers but I would hesitate to say those are the good ones. Frankly, High Elves are better at it.

[Nathar]

Fly high was pure cheese. Nothing worse then having a Bloodthirster land behind your army when you were halfway on the map.

I never thought of it like that. I was the only one of two flyers in my gaming group back then. The other was a manticore riding vampire and he didn't use it. So I only know how to use it as nuisance not actual powergaming.

I do see a lot of very aggressive, close combat/flankers but I would hesitate to say those are the good ones. Frankly, High Elves are better at it.

I guess you're right. The only high elf guy I've ever played against (ain't that sad as a dark elf player:( ) and he played a balanced game. Pretty straight forward, no tactics involved. Hence, I wouldn't know.

[wojo2024]

Cold One Knights - the willingness to numb themselves to get an advantage
Witch Elves - Cold blooded killers, blind rage

last one was tough, corsairs or beastmasters for me..I chose corsairs there greed just embodies the Dark Elves perfectly.

[Selandri]

Cold One Knights, Witch (http://img505.imageshack.us/my.php?image=witchelvesij1.jpg) Elves (made by yours truely), Beastmasters, and Assasins are all the most iconic.

Awesome pic, though the musculature on the further back ones right leg is going to give me nightmares.

Whatchoo mean I can't vote for Witch Elves three times!?

[kharnage]

Cold One Knights, Witch (http://img505.imageshack.us/my.php?image=witchelvesij1.jpg) Elves (made by yours truely, the poster I mean not the actual drawing), Beastmasters, and Assasins are all the most iconic.

Awesome!! That is probably the best Witch Elf fan art I've seen yet!

[Krulltak]

Awesome!! That is probably the best Witch Elf fan art I've seen yet!


On a side note, I did not draw the thing, I just made the poster with the funny captions.

[Blaze]

On a side note, I did not draw the thing, I just made the poster with the funny captions.

Could you post a source for the original please? Great piece of art right there.

And on topic.
I voted Executioners because I think they are the coolest Dark Elf unit. They embody the cold, calculating side of drucii war tactics (as opposed to the frenzied Witch Elves thats are also cool). Just a personal preferance. I just like their look I guess.

[Krulltak]

http://www.jaestudio.com/JAE-2004-CardGames4.html

Source.....................

[Pugslah]

corsairs. I don't know much about Dark Elves, but the Dark Eldar were mostly Priates, and Raiders. Thats the way i see Dark elves


So either Corsairs or Black Guards.
Just give them power armor, and a power sworld.:D

[Blaze]

http://www.jaestudio.com/JAE-2004-CardGames4.html

Source.....................

Thanks.



blah blah blah ten character limit

[Thrakkesh]

but the Dark Eldar were mostly Priates, and Raiders. Thats the way i see Dark elves



Just give them power armor, and a power sworld.:D

Yeah, and they were so embarrassing that they're now special-order only. I'd bet money that in a few months, they'll talk about Dark Eldar the way they talk about Stunties. (Which is to say not at all).

[Black Razor]

Yeah, and they were so embarrassing that they're now special-order only. I'd bet money that in a few months, they'll talk about Dark Eldar the way they talk about Stunties. (Which is to say not at all).

I like how they did away with the squats hehe .. a tiny .. non-ceremonious mention in an article about the tyranids. There home world was eaten by hive Behemmoth. And yeah the dark eldar were just a bad idea. They have some great characters ..but beyond that they are a washed down version of the eldar with a dark elf overlay. They are probably one of the weakest armies in 40k. The one person I know brave enough to field them regularly gets trounced by my Imperial Guard army (which is infantry heavy). Side note ..Dark Eldar don't wear power armor. :p

[Thrakkesh]

I like how they did away with the squats hehe .. a tiny .. non-ceremonious mention in an article about the tyranids. There home world was eaten by hive Behemmoth. And yeah the dark eldar were just a bad idea. They have some great characters ..but beyond that they are a washed down version of the eldar with a dark elf overlay. They are probably one of the weakest armies in 40k. The one person I know brave enough to field them regularly gets trounced by my Imperial Guard army (which is infantry heavy). Side note ..Dark Eldar don't wear power armor. :p

Yeah, there's reallly not any army I can think of that doesn't sort out Dark Eldar pretty quick.

Hah, fun fact. Games Workshop employees can't even mention Squats anymore, and if asked any questions are only allowed to say "There are no more Squats."

Also fun rumor, an acquaintance of mine went to Games Day and met with Gav Thorpe, and over drinks it was explained that the Squats were literally a drunken invention, gluing Dwarf models to Space Marine Motorcycles.

Insight into GW's creative process, I guess.

As an aside, do you get buthcered by Speed Freaks like I do with an army like that? :P Freaking in combat by the second turn, and all the lascannons/heavy bolters in the world can't seem to swat enough of their stupid buggies.

Edit: Fun to watch my Grey Knights eviscerate them though.

[Black Razor]

Yeah, there's reallly not any army I can think of that doesn't sort out Dark Eldar pretty quick.

Hah, fun fact. Games Workshop employees can't even mention Squats anymore, and if asked any questions are only allowed to say "There are no more Squats."

Also fun rumor, an acquaintance of mine went to Games Day and met with Gav Thorpe, and over drinks it was explained that the Squats were literally a drunken invention, gluing Dwarf models to Space Marine Motorcycles.

Insight into GW's creative process, I guess.

As an aside, do you get buthcered by Speed Freaks like I do with an army like that? :P Freaking in combat by the second turn, and all the lascannons/heavy bolters in the world can't seem to swat enough of their stupid buggies.

Edit: Fun to watch my Grey Knights eviscerate them though.

I'm pretty liberal with my heavy weapon spread so they arnt THAT bad but yeah orks in general are my least favorite opponent. Any kind of shooting war .. with the exception of Necrons .. I hate them .. I can win though simply by merit of massed fire. Its fun watching a space marine player throw a tantrum cause of a bunch of Imp Guards obliterated his army.

[Thrakkesh]

Better yet, when you obliterate his army all around him, that one really expensive unit finally gets into combat, wipes 2-3 squads, and you calmly inform him that was less then 1/10th of your army. :D

[Bulwyf]

Cold One Knight are THE iconic unit of Dark Elves. Every single DE gamer I know personally or met at conventions consider them to be the one "must have" unit in any army.

After them I would list Executioners and Witch Elves.

[Zoatibix]

Dark Eldar play differently from CE Eldar.

I've very much looking forward to a new Dark Eldar Dex. The first incarnation of figures were passable at the time but they need to be redone.

Great army to play, though. :D

[Dalamar]

Cold One Knight are THE iconic unit of Dark Elves. Every single DE gamer I know personally or met at conventions consider them to be the one "must have" unit in any army.

Meet the first one that avoids them like plague <bows> they are way too unreliable and expensive.

[Thrakkesh]

Dark Eldar play differently from CE Eldar.

I've very much looking forward to a new Dark Eldar Dex. The first incarnation of figures were passable at the time but they need to be redone.

Great army to play, though. :D

You might be waiting a long time. Last I heard, they're not giving any more support to them: Speical Order only status is their way of saying "We are done with Army (X)" Plus there's some fluff that says basically they're cut off and can't do any major offensive action anymore (a webway gate closed to them or something.)

[Dalamar]

Uhm, Dark Eldar are announced to come late 2008 early 2009 (GW is bad with schedules). There is some concept art already about.

[Ilairon]

Well, Dark Eldar were involved in the Medusa V campaign so it seems they're fine. They took a beating in the EoT campaign, but that's because CWE rock! And the models and rules could use some work (the re-released codex was a cruel joke by GW). On 40k, the Orks could use a face-lift, too, in terms of codex at least.

Back to the topic at hand, most of those are iconic of Dark Elves, IMO. Except - and I doubt anyone will agree with me - the Black Guard. For some reason I just don't have much love for Malekith's elite guard (although their now-deceased captain was a beast!). I never use them in tabletop, and I can't see that changing. I do like the models, though. I ended up picking Corsairs, Sorceress, and Executioner in that order. I thought about going with the Reaper Bolt Thrower or the Assassin, the former because I use 1-2 fairly often in TT and the latter because visually speaking they're awesome. Shadowblade and Urian Poisonblade. And likewise the art's there too. But...I finally decided on those top three. Cold One Knights were close behind, but...idk, the lizard-lovers just didn't win through in my mind. Albeit I was disappointed there was no noble or highborn slot.

[Dracnye]

For me the basic unit of choice is Executioners. I also like Witch Elves, Assassins and Black Guard.

[Zappa]

I don't see "hair stylist" anywhere on that list.

[Xurré]

I don't see "hair stylist" anywhere on that list.
Hair stylist (http://www.eilistraee.com/a/witchelf.jpg)? :???:

I think you might be confused with the prissy high elves. :p


- Xurré

[Zappa]

As far as I'm concerned, you're both prissy.

Convince me otherwise, Witch Elf!

[Heno]

You're a goblin, they could be wearing rags and covered in Muck (The orc kind) and you'd still think they're prissy

[Eltair Shadowblade]

umh....you guys voted multiple times?

my vote goes to the Nauglir knight(Nauglir=way cooler then 'cold one')
to me, they show how far a high elf goes for power.

if i would vote another 3 times, they would prolly go to
-sorcerer = c'mon! sorcerers, everyone's heard of the sorcerers
-witch elf = same, a lot of people dont know how they look like, act like(how many times havent you heard 'im wondering if witchhunters get extra dmg vs witch elfs, they are witches after all') but have heard of them
im not too fund of them myself, but they are a very iconic class

for the last one...
prolly either shade/repeater thingie guy or beastmaster

[Ilairon]

Which are the top 3 units to you?


You were supposed to vote for 3.

Cheers!

~Il

[Zappa]

You're a goblin, they could be wearing rags and covered in Muck (The orc kind) and you'd still think they're prissy


Doesn't matter what they're wearing, they're still prissy. Hmmmm, I'd betcha a little Warpstone would change that.

Chaos Elves has a nice little ring to it....

[Xurré]

Doesn't matter what they're wearing, they're still prissy. Hmmmm, I'd betcha a little Warpstone would change that.

Chaos Elves has a nice little ring to it....
Are you a goblin or a rat? :p

Either way they both taste nasty I bet.


- Xurré

[Zappa]

Are you a goblin or a rat? :p

Either way they both taste nasty I bet.


- Xurré


And I bet you taste like garden-fresh spices with a hint of peppermint, and maybe apple-scented.

Of course I'd bet all Elves taste like that. Probably would go good with a glass of azima. <_<

[Xurré]

Oh yes, they do indeed taste absolutely marvelous. Though I prefer it with a glass of Sangre de la Vida. In fact, I think I'll just take the drink. ;)


- Xurré

[Estebar]

Sorceress would of been my fourth choice. I look at it from the view of what defines the Dark Elves from other armies.. especially from the other elves. Sorceress are certainly iconic of the dark elves but they arn't unique to me .. as both high elves and wood elves have female casters and they don't have any special rule set other then there magic choice.

It's their magic choice which makes the Sorceresses unique. They're the only casters who can use Dark magic spells. Off the tabletop, they also use their magic to move the Black Arks, enchant some of the beastmaster's Hydras...heck, it was because of their magic that the Sundering happened! It was Dark magic which "sundered" Nagaryth from the rest of Ulthuan. Plus, it's Dark magic which gives the Dark Elves their unique relationship with Chaos, treating the daemons as slaves to mastered and the power of Chaos as an instrument to be harnessed and manipulated.

Although, there are many units which define the Dark Elf army. The Witch Elves demonstrate how differently the Dark Elves worship Khaine from the High Elves, which started their whole...disagreement. Aside from how impressive they look, I wouldn't say there's much about the Cold One Knights which helps them define the Druchii. The Beastmasters do a better job with the whole enslaving foreign beasts aspect. Even Corsairs do a better job defining the Dark Elves than the COK's. The Corsairs show that, compared to the proud High Elves on their glittering island, the Dark Elves seem somewhat nomadic on their scattered floating islands, torn from Ulthuan, forced to raid like lowly pirates in order to support their lifestyle. It gives them a raiding pirate edge which makes them different from the highly erudite aristocratic Elves of Ulthuan, which I enjoy. Obviously, it's taken to a much greater extreme in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

...and to those who voted for Assassins, you should feel ashamed. :-P

[Yvo]

Personally I consider these three units (http://www.eilistraee.com/a/darkelvesarmybook.jpg) to be the most “iconic”.

Why does that witch elf have a Khorne rune on her hat? I thought the whole Khorne=Khaine thing was just a weird rumor.


I voted Cold ones, Bolt Throwers, Executioners and Black Guard. I couldn't decide between Executioners or Black Guard.

[Ghrond]

I'm guessing the Khornate/Khaine symbol isn't iconic of the individual god as much as it is of the concept of bloodshed. Sort of how the swastica wasn't just the symbol of the natzis but also all that buddhist stuff and they mean very different things in their respective context.

I chose Corsairs, Shades and Witch Elves :rolleyes:

[Heno]

Witch Elves symbolise the insane grip of thier bloody religion on the Dark Elves.

Beastmasters show thier desires to subjugate and tame even the nastiest of creatures and people.

Sorcerers show the depth of thier power, and how the Dark Elves have taken magic to limits even the High Elves never dreamed of.

And a special mention to the Black Guard, who's undying hatred for all thier enemies shows how the Dark Elves have lost the control of emotion the High Elves subjugate themselves too everyday.