Dark Eldar vs Imperium 2500: Pain for All

With my Dark eldar force swelling with recent reinforcements I decided to use them in a larger game 2500 points to be exact, vs the Imperium of Man. As a change we use the maelstrom of war missions, and play Deadlock with vanguard strike deployment.

The Armies

Dark Eldar: 2 Combined arms detachments

Archon – 95 (warlord: strategic genious)

Shadow field, venom blade

Succubus – 75

Venom blade, haywire grenades

Haemonculus – 65

Venom blade, liquifier

Haemonculus – 65

Venom blade, liquifier

Haemonculus – 55

Venom blade

Haemonculus – 55

Venom blade

8 Incubi – 176

Raider – 60

Dark lance

8 Incubi – 176

Raider - 60

Dark lance

5 Warriors – 45

Venom – 65

2x splinter cannon

5 Warriors – 45

Venom – 65

2x splinter cannon

8 Wyches – 106

Haywire grenades, Hekatrix

Raider – 65

Disintegrator cannon grisly trophies

8 Wyches – 106

Haywire grenades, Hekatrix

Raider – 65

Dark lance, grisly trophies

BeastMasters – 132

2x masters, 9x khymera

10 Scourges – 254

2x heatlance, solorite

Ravager – 105

3x dark lance

Ravager – 105

3x dark lance

Ravager – 105

3x disintegrator cannon

Talos – 110

Chain flails

Talos – 110

Chain flails

Total: 2500

Combat Drugs: +1 strength

Imperium of Man

Astra Militarum: combined arms detachment

Yarrick – 175 (warlord)

Veterans – 80

lascannon

Veterans – 80

lascannon

Veterans – 80

lascannon

Veterans – 80

lascannon

Veterans – 90

Demolition charge

Chimera – 65

Multi-laser, heavy bolter

Veterans – 90

Demolition charge

Chimera – 65

Multi-laser, heavy bolter

Imperial Fists: Combined arms detachment

Captain – 120

Storm shield, power axe

Command squad – 130

Champion, apothecary

Razorback – 75

Twin-linked lascannon

5 Terminators – 220

Assault cannon

Dreadnaught – 100

Drop pod – 45

Locator beacon

Tactical squad – 150

10 men, melta gun

Drop pod – 35

Tactical squad – 150

10 men, melta gun

Drop pod – 45

Locator beacon

Land speeder – 60

2x heavy bolter

Land speeder – 60

2x heavy bolter

Centurion devastators – 220

1x twin-linked lascannon, omniscope

Devastator squad – 140

2x lascannon, 2x missile launcher

Devastator squad – 140

2x lascannon, 2x missile launcher

The Mission

Rolling for mission we get Deadlock (a maelstrom of war mission) and we roll vanguard strike deployment. Before rolling for deployment zones we set up the objectives and they get placed with 1 bottom right behind the sand bags. Another behind the large tree, one in the middle, and the other 3 in the ruins (middle, bottom and top).

The Imperial force wins the roll off for both deployment zone (picking the ruins) and then also wins the roll to set up first. He sets up in a line, with the veterans forming the bulk of it. Both of the demo charge veterans start in their chimeras, and the command squad (with captain) start in their razorback. The two devastator squads deploy on either side of the table, one in the left ruins at the back, and the other on the ground by the top objective (next to the walls). The centurions deploy on the far left. The rest start in drop pods ready to kill me.

Dark eldar deployment has the main focus in the middle, with the wyches and incubi raiders all combining close together. The wych raiders are at the front though, giving cover to the more important raiders. I place a talos on each flank and the beast masters go on the left. Both venoms go on the right but one of them doesn’t have their warriors inside, they are holding the objective behind the sandbags. I place one of the lance ravagers on the left and the other two behind the raiders. In reserve I place the razorwing jetfighter and the scourges.

Night Fight: turn 1

Steal the initiative: YES!!!!

The Battle

Cards drawn

Imperium: Hold the line, Asendency, secure objective 2, domination, witch hunter

Dark Eldar: hungry for glory, overwhelming fire power, secure objective 5, secure objective 2, secure objective 2, secure objective 4.

Dark Eldar turn 1

The force moves forwards, with the beasts taking point going straight for objective 2 with the raiders following. At the back the ravagers spread out trying to get lines of sight.

First shot of the game and it’s from a ravager targeting the chimera on the right, and manages to destroy its heavy bolter. The other ravagers can’t really see anything of value so shoot at veterans and kill 5 between them. Both of the Talos models and the beasts run forwards, and the beasts manage to claim objective 2. The raiders all go flat out getting very close to the Imperium straight away.  Both venoms shoot at the veterans in the woods on the right, and kill 3, and they hold.

Score: secure objective 2, secure objective 2, secure objective 4

Dark Eldar: 3 – Imperium: 0

Imperium turn 1

In come the drop pods, First the dreadnaught’s pod screams in and hits the ground behind the raiders unloading its cargo within melta range. The other pod containing tactical marines goes after objective 4 (sand bags) and locks on threatening the warriors, the marine disembarked and they are combat squadded. The half with melta gun go after the ravager next to them while the bolters go after the warriors. Jumping out of their chimera, the veterans on the left with demo charge move straight towards the beasts and the centurions move up to get a better line of sight. The command squad also jumps out of their transport.

Double tapping their bolters, the tactical marines next to the dark eldar warriors easily eradicate them leaving none alive. The other half target the ravager with melta gun and krack grenade, seeing the danger the pilot jinks and manages to avoid the penetrating hit. Multi-melta fire from the dreadnaught targets the archons raider and the pilot jinks as well, but the shot misses anyway forcing the tank to snap shot next turn for no reason. The chimera on the right targets the wyches raider which jinks and does no damage. 2 veteran squads target the other wych raider with their lascannons, the tank jinks and prevents any damage... right into the shot of another veteran unit and it gets shaken. Showing the guard what astartes can do, the devastators on the right explode the wyches raider with ease. Most of the occupants were flung free of the tank except 1 who dies in the explosion. Throwing their demolition charge at the beasts the veterans manage to kill 2 with the explosion, and the lasguns kill an extra 3. The centurions kill off the rest of the unit. All the shots from the devastators on the left target the left talos and kill it in a single turn. The other chimera shoots at the disembarked wyches and kills 1. Firing its twin-linked lascannon at the archon’s raider, the razorback manages a square hit and explodes the transport, forcing my archon on foot and kills an incubi as well.

It’s a rather long charge (and suicidal one) but yarrick attempts to charge the wyches, but takes a wound from the pistols and fails the charge.

Score: secure objective 4, Asencency (1), hold the line

Dark Eldar: 3 – Imperium: 3

Dark Eldar turn 2

No reserves come in for me this turn. At the top of the table the wyches still in a raider jump out and go straight for the veterans in the woods, while the others rather rudely removed from their transport go after the dreadnaught behind them. The incubi push forwards and the others in the raider move up and they jump out ready to threaten the devastators. The ravagers move out as most are jinking this turn. Both venoms turn to face the tactical holding objective 4.

Shooting from both venoms manage to kill a grand total of 1 marine this turn. Throwing a haywire grenade, the wyches glance the dreadnaught with ease. The heamonculus with the incubi flames the devastators and manages to kill 1 (rolled ap 2 for the flame). The rest of the force fails to do any damage.

Assault phase and the incubi charge into both the devastators and the veterans next to them (so I’m safe in combat). I lose 1 to over watch but manage to kill 1 marine and 3 veterans. 1 more incubi does die for my trouble and the veterans run while the combat continues. Wyches charge into the dreadnaught and wreck it with ease, it didn’t stand a chance. Finally the other wyches charge into the veterans at the top of the table and kill off the whole unit gaining a pain token.  

Score: hungry for glory, score objective 1

Dark Eldar: 5 – Imperium: 3

Imperium turn 2

Teleporting into battle, the terminators land in the middle behind the bottom ravagers. The other drop pod comes in on the right behind the other ravager ready to cause some havoc. The chimera at the top moves a little so the demo charge can be thrown out the top hatch while the running veteran heavy weapon rolls double 1 and rallies. Much of the imperial force moves to see the incubi in the middle while the command squad and yarrik move to aid the devastators.

The new tactical marines target a ravager with melta gun and it jinks, he gets unlucky with his roll and only glances the tank but it saves the damage anyway. On the right half a tactical squad shoots bolters at the full venom and wrecks it, forcing the warriors out. A demo charge is flung at the wyches in the woods and It locks on, but the wyches take cover and only 4 die leaving a few left. Amazed the wyches are still alive the chimera shoots as them as well taking down 1, and the speeder joins in killing an extra 2. The veteran unit behind them then fires and kills off the remnants of the unit. The other tactical melta gun shoots at a ravager, who jinks and saves the penetrating hit. A lucky drop pod glances a ravager by shooting into its rear armour. Not wanting to feel its anger, the terminators attempt to destroy the disintegrator ravager before it can do anything but it jinks out the way and takes no damage from their shooting. Another lucky shot from a drop pod kills an incubi and veterans drag down 2 more. Heavy weapons fire from the devastators reduces the unit by a further 2 leaving them in a mess. The centurions shoot at the wyches raider and manage to destroy the dark lance leaving it neutered.    

Assault and Yarrick and the command squad charge into the incubi, before any marines can strike the incubi manage to wound Yarrick, and kill 1 devastator. Unfortunately 4 incubi die in the process and the 2 remaining run for it and escape.

Score: Big game hunter, score objective 4

Discard: Domination

Dark Eldar: 5 – Imperium: 5

Dark Eldar turn 3

Both the flier and the scourges come in this turn. The flier goes straight for the veterans next to the centurions on the left while the scourges deep strike in on the left as well to aid that flank. The incubi move left towards the vets who killed the beast hoping to get revenge. The wyches in the middle move towards the chimera in the middle while the remaining talos goes after the other. In the back field the venom and warriors converge on the tactical marines and the lance ravager turns to face them as well. The other 2 ravagers are tired of running and turn to face the terminators hoping to do some damage despite needing to snap shoot.

A hail of splinter fire targets the half tactical squad containing the melta gun and manage to kill the entire 5 man unit with just the ravager, venom and warriors. Slight over kill but the razorwing jetfighter fires all 4 missiles at the veteran squad next to the centurions, clipping them as well, most land on target and 7 guard die and not much else. Not exactly in the best place, the scourges shoot at the centurions and kill 1.

This assault phase and things go better for the dark eldar. The Talos charges into the chimera and rips it apart wrecking it. The wyches charge the other chimera and wreck that with haywire grenades as well. The interesting one though is the incubi and archon charging into the veterans, they charge and kill 6, taking no damage in return. The guard don’t know what to do and as they attempt to flee they get cut down.

Score: score objective 1, Overwhelming fire power

Dark Eldar: 7 – Imperium: 5

Imperium turn 3

With the ravagers so close, the terminators and tactical marines in the middle go after both of them. Yarrick moves towards the wyches and on the right the veterans swam the talos.

In the back field the tactical combat squads combine fire with a drop pod and they kill off the warrior squad with ease. Another drop pod shoots at the remaining venom and takes a hull point off it. A lascannon from a veteran squad shoots at the remaining raider and even though it jinks, it get immobilised. Firing frag missiles and lascannons, the devastators shoot at the scourges who are still grouped after deep striking. Both blasts lock on but after the dust settles only 3 of the dark elder die. The centurions shoot at the wyches but only the heamonculus takes a wound, the sergeant split fires at a ravager but it jinks out the way. Finally the razorback targets the immobilised raider and explodes it. End of the shooting phase and the scourges run back 6 inches (even on 3D6).

Assault phase and yarrick attempts to charge the wyches again, but once more fails the charge. Seeing the fleeing incubi as a possible threat the command squad charge them before they can regroup, they fail their moral test and get cut down while trying to run. At the bottom of the table the terminators multi-charge both ravagers backed up by the tactical marines next to them. In combat the tanks didn’t stand a chance versus the krack grenades and power fists, both are wrecked.

Score: score objective 3, score objective 5, no prisoners

Dark Eldar: 7 – Imperium: 8

Dark Eldar turn 4

The ravager and raider on the right both go after the land speeder. No longer under fire the scourges rally ready to take the fight back to the imperium. Not the lord of this army, but an imposing figher none the less, the archon goes after the space marine captain, eager to add another skull to his wrecks. Moving on its course the razorwing jetfighter goes after the razorback.

Acid spraying out of the haemonculis liquidiser goes over the command squad, managing to wound the captain attempting to protect his subordinates. Returning fire the venom shoots at a tactical squad and kills 1 of the marines.

Finally Yarrick gets to meet the wyches in combat, but not on his terms. In the blink of an eye the succubus dispatches the old commissar before he knows what happened. The Archon and friends charges into the command squad, the champions issues a challenge to which the heamonculus accepts. Before the command squad can move to help their captain, the archon strikes and wounds the Commanding marine reducing him to a single wound. Unfortunately the incubi fail to even wound. In the challenge the champion and heamonuclus strike at the same time, and at the end of it, only the decrepit dark elder remains with the champion convulsing on the floor poisoned from a single small cut. The strikes back from the marines kills the incubi, and the Captain pounds on the shadow field with his power axe and shorts it out, wounding the archon, end of that combat and its a draw. The final combat and the talos charges into the veterans next to it and kills 2, the guard can’t harm it and run for it but get cut down by the pain engine.

Dark Eldar: 7 – Imperium: 8

Imperium turn 4

The determined old man gets back up, despite the perfect cuts delivered to him by the Succubus, not wanting to make the job of the wyches easy he moves back and joins the veterans next to him. Needing to secure objective 5, the centurions take it upon themselves to take it. The land speeder takes objective 2, while the terminators power tough the wreckage of the ravagers.

Turning on the spot, the speeder on objective 2 guns down 4 of the scourges and the centurions finish the rest off. The right hand side devastators shoot at the talos and deal a single wound to it. With the wyches in the open the terminators shoot at them firing bolters and assault cannon, and unfortunately they all die, even the succubus. The final ravager gets removed from play by a lascannon from the other devastator squad, after it manages to jink 2 krack missiles.

Assault phase and the combat continues with the apothecary issuing a challenge to which the heamonculus accepts again, wanting to slowly kill the healer in his most painful way. Unfortunately the single wound which the venom blade inflicts gets past the marines armour, but the healing stimulants keep him alive, much to the disgust of the master of pain. In retaliation the apothecary doesn’t try anything so fancy and cuts the dark elder limb form limb killing him. Striking desperately at those around him, the archon kills 2 marines leaving only the captain and apothecary left. Power axe held aloft, the captain strikes and deals 2 wounds to the Archon, but he is fuelled on too much pain and doesn’t even notice the connection (i make 2 Feel no pain rolls). Alone the archon passes his moral test, determined to show these apes who is the greater combatant.

Dark Eldar: 7 – Imperium: 11

Dark Eldar turn 5

The only unit close to getting yarrick is the Talos, so it moves straight for his squad. The flier leaves the table as it doesn’t really have any targets.

Again a salvo of shots from the venom brings down a single tactical marine. A shot from the remaining raider hits the land speeder on the right and wrecks it.

Assault phase and the Talos charges into the veterans with Yarrick, the over watch fails to connect. Slashing into the guard, the talos kills 2 with ease but they get a lucky frag grenade past its armour killing it. The Archon again strikes first and this time dispatches the apothecary, leaving the fight 1 on 1. The captain strikes but fails to do any damage.

Dark Eldar: 7 – Imperium: 11

Imperium turn 5

The imperial forces spread out over the battle field.

Tired of getting shot at by the venom, the tactical marines combine their fire and finally wreck it with bolter fire. The other raider gets exploded by the land speeder.

In combat the archon finally dispatches the Captain by getting a single wound past his armour.

Dark Eldar: 7 – Imperium 13

We roll to see if the game carries on, and it does.

Dark Eldar turn 6

I forget to bring back on the jetfighter, leaving me with only the Archon left. He goes straight for the veteran squad with yarrick in.

Assault phase and the Archon charges the veteran squad and makes it into combat, he issues a challenge and Yarrick accepts, stepping forwards. The venom blade slick with poison strikes yarrick in several places, again making the old man collapse again. Seeing their commander fall the veterans jump on the archon and club him to death with their rifle buts.

The Dark Eldar are Tabled.

Dark Eldar: 7 (7 objective cards) – Imperium: 16 (13 cards, line breaker, first blood, slay the warlord)

Post-Battle

That game went well at the start but very rapidly went down hill. It was fun using my dark elder in such a large game, and using a few units that i don’t normally get to use (scourges and Talos) but obviously i need a lot more practice with them as i used them terribly.

Ignoring the drop pods might have been a mistake, i probably should have not tried to steal the initiative and let the pods come down, probably not do much damage and then i could have killed them with ease then dealing with the rest of the force later on. Having a combat force might not have been the greatest list, but it was really fun, and i will defiantly try it again.

I know some of you are veteran dark elder players, and i would appreciate some feed back on my list and (lack of) tactics.

Hope you guys enjoyed.