The following army list will allow you to field a Dark Eldar army in battles using the scenarios included in the Warhammer 40,000 rulebook. It also provides you with the basic information you'll need in order to choose a Dark Eldar army for scenarios you've devised yourself, or that form part of a campaign.
The army list is split into five sections: Headquarters (HQ), Elites, Troops, Fast Attack and Heavy Assault. All of the squads, vehicles and characters in the army are placed into one of these depending upon their role on the battlefield. In addition, every model in the army is given a points value which varies depending upon how effective the model is on the battlefield.
Before you choose an army you will need to agree with your opponent which scenario you will be fighting and the total number of points each of you will spend on your armies. Having done this you can proceed to pick an army as described below.
Force Organisation Charts
The army lists are used in conjunction with the force organisation chart from a scenario. Each chart is split into five categories that correspond to the sections in the army list, and each category may have one or more boxes. Each light toned box means that you may make one choice from that section of the army list, but a dark toned box means that you must make a choice from that section of the army list.
Note that unless a model or vehicle forms part of a squad or a squadron, it is a single choice from what is available to your army.
Standard Missions
| COMPULSORY | OPTIONAL |
|---|---|
| 1 HQ | 1 HQ |
| 2 Troops | 3 Elites |
| 4 Troops | |
| 3 Fast Attack | |
| 3 Heavy Support |
The Standard Missions force organisation chart is a good example of how to choose your army. To begin with you will need at least one HQ unit and two Troop units (dark shaded boxes indicate units that must be taken). This leaves the following options for you to choose from to make up your army's total points value: up to 1 HQ unit, 0-3 additional Elite units, 0-4 additional Troop units, 0-3 additional Fast Attack units or 0-3 additional Heavy Support units.
Using The Army Lists
To make a choice, look in the relevant section in the army list and decide what unit you want, how many models there can be in it, and what upgrades you want (if any). Remember that you cannot field models that are equipped with weapons and wargear if they are not shown on the model. Then, simply subtract the points cost of the unit from your total points, and go back and make another choice. Continue doing this until you have spent all your points.
Army List Entries
Each army list entry consists of the following:
Unit Name: The type of unit and any limitations (if any) on the maximum number of choices you can make for it (eg 0-1).
Profile: These are the characteristics of that unit type, including its points cost. Where the unit has different warriors, there may be more than one profile.
Number/Squad: The number of models allowed in the unit, or the number of models you may take for one choice from the force organisation chart. Often this is a variable amount, in which case it shows the minimum and maximum unit size.
Weapons: These are the unit's standard weapons.
Options: Lists the different weapon/equipment options for the unit and any additional points cost for taking them. It may also include the option to upgrade a squad member to a character. If a squad is allowed to have models with upgraded weaponry (eg, heavy weapons, shredders, etc) then these may only be taken by ordinary squad members, not the character.
Special Rules: This is where you'll find any special rules that apply to the unit.