So after seeing how awesome Wraithguard can be in a recent tournament (they gave me quite some grief in one of my games as I had to play against a unit), I can't wait to put together a few units to throw down with a classic Iyanden type army in a future tournament. The new models are amazing, though, my OCD is driving me crazy regarding how some of the pieces look. This post will basically cover how the new Wraithguard look, especially compared to the old Wraithgaurd and how one might want to use them in an army.
So first I'll go over my OCD regarding the new Wraithguard kit then show a size comparison between the old and new models followed by how I expect to use Wraithguard in a future army list.
My OCD:
So first off, is it just me or do the different "cowl" pieces each box comes with drive anyone crazy? I like things to be consistent, orderly and symmetrical. Therefore, I hate how each "cowl" in the WG box set is different...I'll probably have to trade mine out for different styles with other fellow OCD gamers. I ended up cutting/filling some of the cowls so they all look more consistent and similar (as you'll see below) but overall, once I put the model together I thought the new WG kit is fantastic and amazing.
Size Comparison:
So here you can see how much bigger the new WG model is compared to the old one. You can also see how I filed down and cut the cowl piece to look more like the traditional WG model, I just can't stand the designes in the new box but ultimately, very cool models. The bigger size means you can draw LOS easier to them but now they can more easily give cover to Wraithlords/Wraithknights. Can't wait to have a bunch of these guys running around...But what about my old ones? Putting them on larger bases will be a hassle and they might look funny next to the new ones...Perhaps I'll just have to buy a bunch more?
Using Wraithguard:
So now that we have plenty of options for our Wraithguard, how should we run them? Ultimately, a 5 strong unit in a Serpent is very solid as once they get to a target, their guns are bound to kill stuff dead and they are sturdy enough to stick around. Therefore, I probably will run 2x 5 in a Serpent with D-Scythes along with 1x5 in a Serpent with regular Wraithguns. On top of that, I might run a 10 man unit on foot with some Wraithlords/Wraithknight and Psychic support.
A list I am toying around with will be something like this:
HQ: 170
-Farseer:115
100(base)+15(bike)=115
-Spiritseer: 70
Explanation: Farseer is there to hopefully buff units with Fortune or just get Guide/Prescience while Spiritseer is there to make Wraithguard troops and provide Conceal and hopefully 2+ armor to a unit. Bike on Farseer since I had the points and what's not to love about getting a 3+ armor save and T4?
Troops:1335
-Wraithguard: 210
32(base)*5=160+50(5xD-scythes)=210
-Wave Serpent: 150
115(base)+5(Scatter Laser)+15(holofields)+15(Vectored Engines)=150
-Wraithguard: 210
32(base)*5=160+50(5xD-scythes)=210
-Wave Serpent: 150
115(base)+5(Scatter Laser)+15(holofields)+15(Vectored Engines)=150
-Wraithguard:160
32(base)*5=160
-Wave Serpent: 135
115(base)+5(Scatter Laser)+15(Holofields)=135
Wraithguard:320
32(base)*10=320
Explanation: The D-Scythe wielding Wraithguard are bound to wreck havoc on anything they get near and I just think that weapon adds so much utility once it gets in range. Their Wave Serpents have Holofields to help make the most of their Jink saves and Vectored Engines lets you move up 6" with the back of the vehicle facing the enemy so you can essentially add the length of the Wave Serpent to the unit's disembarkation while turning the Wave Serpent back around to avoid giving up Rear Armor after shooting the Scatter Laser. The other Wraithguard are just there to score and take out units where S10 AP2 shots will be required.
Heavy Support: 330
Wraithlord:165
120(base)+40(2x Bright Lance)+5(Gost Glaive)=165
Wraithlord:165
120(base)+40(2x Bright Lance)+5(Gost Glaive)=165
Explanation: long ranged shooting from Bright Lances are always solid and now you can get 2 on a single Wraithlord. Guide/Precience them both and get some good long ranged anti-tank in while your army moves up for the kill. I always take 2x Flamers on my Wraithlords too, BTW. They are also a decent CC element to protect against things that get too close so their Glaive will help in that sense.
This list comes out to 1850 on the dot and if you want to, you can move some things around to fit in a 3rd Wraithlord or a Wraithknight. You can also take the Iyanden Supplement and add in some more Spiritseers but I think that Conceal is too strong to give up and you don't really NEED them for the Wraithguard in the Serpents.
The new Wraithguard are really nice models. I got a box of them when they were released. You right when you say they are a lot larger than their older counterparts. In terms of the older ones, might you have to put them on larger bases if you want to use them in tournaments (they will probably look a little awkward on them too...)?
ReplyDeleteI also like how you filed down the 'cowl' piece on the one pictured. I imagine it will tie the entire squad together quite nicely.
Why not take a wraith knight rather than the wraithlords so it can keep up with the wave serpents? I feel almost ashamed to say but I dropped some money today on some wraithguard. 25 more to be exact. I had bought one kit with the one click launch and only started putting them together last night. First time I think that the Eldar ever had a plastic mini that can be so customized. I really dig new models. Any chance of some feedback of the following 1250 list I want to start out with?
ReplyDeleteHQ:
Spirit Seer - The wraith forge stone
Troops:
10 Wraithguard - d-cannon
5 Wraithguard - d-cannon (back field scorer)
5 Wraithguard - axes
5 Wraithguard - template weapons
Heavy (warlord):
Wraith Knight - sunfire cannon, shield, scatter laser
I think the list looks ok but 25 WG for 1250 seems a bit much! Maybe drop the 5 man D-Cannon unit for a Farseer because Prescience/Guide and potentially Fortune will help the rest of your units hit harder. You can give him a bike so that you can send him late game to contest an objective or pop a tank with a Spear and/or take a Windrider unit for objective grabbing and or line breaker.
ReplyDeleteOh my, those are massive, I guess since my five are getting scythes they'll just cost more and be bigger.. Very cool otherwise. Three things:
ReplyDeleteYriel: The farseer on the bike confuses me.. without the mantle of the laughing god or any squad for him to hide in won't he draw too much fire that T3 just won't be able to handle?
Also, your absolutely right about not needing the spiritseer in the tanks, good call. That'll help my hammer and anvil list with the mobile wing.
Kaughnor: I was thinking the same thing about dropping the backfield wraithguard squad, that's alot of points to just be sitting around. Maybe rangers or guardians with EML for range and a conceal lock to hold the backfield?
Garret, the Farseer on a bike is T4 and gets a 3+ armor save and can still join infantry units like any other IC (though the unit can only still move as fast as the slowest model). I plan on having him just hang out in the Wraithguard on foot.
ReplyDeleteCareful they can't run then.
DeleteThe unit should be able to run as long as they maintain coherency with the Farseer as only the Farseer will be unable to run. There is no restriction in the rules that says you cannot run a unit if a model inside that unit cannot run and there is permission for a unit to run if it can run so put 2 and 2 together and you can run the models in the unit that can run but you must maintain coherency.
DeleteI have 15 of the old WG and don't plan on buying more, with the exception of maybe getting 5 more for the D-scythes. But then my opponent will just know which ones are the ones with the templates :)
ReplyDeleteoohhhhhhhhh, that is something that has never even crossed my mind. Well played mighty autarch, well played.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of mighty autarchs, how do you feel about yriel this edition? Ambush of blades pretty good, doomed much much worse.. Saving graces in some potent combo or best left on the shelf, sad as I just converted one with part of a dragon knight of caledor, since your dragons were utterly awesome.
ReplyDeleteI think Yriel will have his uses but overall, I am not impressed. I will probably keep him on the shelf except for random experiments/games.
DeleteI can see a use with the +1 armor buff a Spiritseer might grant and/or -1 armor on an enemy, the blast and spear can be quite devestating.
Yeah, I was switching between him and the avatar at the end of the last codex depending on the opponent, but now the avatar is too strong and expensive and yriel is all the more deadly, but preposterously fragile now.. All well
ReplyDeleteI know I'm a little late to the party.
ReplyDeleteBut what are your thoughts on wraithblades?