Topic: Shadow Spectres in 7th

[sunstrider]

Hi everyone!

I'm still a bit new around here to the forums and to craftworld eldar, but I'm already loving my eldar experience. All the different aspect shrines all have a lot of unique character, but are still extremely effective at what the they do (usually, you get cool fluffy units or really effective units, not both in my experience).

I'm planning on growing out my eldar force soon, and I've had my eye on the Shadow Spectres from forgeworld for quite awhile. Even before I considered playing eldar, I loved their fluff and aesthetics, so regardless of whether I play them, I'll get them (this thread isn't about whether or not I should buy them).

Rather this thread is intended to discuss their effectiveness, points cost, unit composition and any battlefield experiences people have had with them. So if you have any experience or advice to share, it would be greatly appreciated.

Take care,
Autarch Sunstrider

P.S. link to the rules from FW: http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/resources/fw_site/fw_pdfs/Warhammer_40000/Eldar_Shadow_Spectres.pdf

[Aoitora]

My best experience with them was in their initial trial rules where they were tank snipers. One of the highlights I had was sniping a grey knight land raider which came from reserves. My Swooping Hawks then pinned them 3 turns in a row on the 3rd time they did it my opponent took the whole unit off in frustration.

However that was a long time ago and neither unit has those capabilities any more. I do recall in an apoc game once deep striking my 6 spectres and Irillyth who then blew up a battle wagon. They were subsequently charged by nobs. I won the combat and swept the unit. Come to think of it that might have been in 5th edition as well although with the rules in IA11.

Recalling more recent battles I can only  think of times where I have been really disappointed in them. One of my friends who plays orks fears them greatly and claims my spectres decimated a full mob of 20  boys in 1 volley however I don't recall this. I do recall firing 5 blast templates at a unit of lesser daemons and only killing 2-3 out of a large group I'm not even sure how that turned out so poorly from memory I think they were daemonettes =\

My general experience involves deep striking them, they fail to take out their target and then get killed to a man in my opponents next turn. Currently they dont come close to hawks  never mind spiders. Ive read rumours that in the upcoming update to IA11 their guns are staying the same which is ok I suppose. I'm not sure if the Ghostlight rule is staying the same or will be better. If they drop in points by another 10 or so they'd be much better and more importantly if I could take them as part of an aspect host then I wouldnt even care.

Dont expect too much from them and you wont be disappointed.

[Cavalier]

While I haven't played them, I definitley plan on adding them to my collection.

I actually think they are a very nice unit and would fit well into an army using Spiders and Hawks. I think their best use is with the unified blast. With the super reliable BS of the Exarch, that blast is not going to scatter much giving you a very nice high strength low ap blast.

While they aren't Warp Spider fast, battle-focus plus thrust moves is truly phenomenal. Coupled with 18" range and their self-generated cover save they are mobile unit with good resilience. I'd run a unit of 5 plus the Exarch and call it a day and use them as a specialist unit to flush out high priority infantry units. They'd also work well with Warp Spiders, softening up targets for them and sending in the Spiders for the kill.

Their are a lot of Eldar units that don't jump off the page at you, but with well designed army backing them Spectres pack a deadly punch are very elusive with all their cover saves, and high mobility. I'd rock them all day

[sunstrider]

Yeah, deep striking them, at least to me seems like a poor way to play them. Their low numbers and no exarch powers like herald of victory means they wouldn't be accurate the turn they come in, and given the wording of the Spectre jet packs, they won't get their cover save (since you need to "move" in the movement phase to get the initial 5+ cover).

Personally, I'm planning on playing them as defensive warp spiders. They have longer range than warp spiders and their weapons are more specialized, so since I play warp spiders all the time, the shadow spectres would fill a scalpel role were the warp spiders are more general purpose.

Ill probably end up running them as 5 with an exarch sans exarch powers (although monster hunter is a tempting option). Most of the exarch powers require them to get in close with the enemy, and even with a 4+ cover, i feel its too big a risk with the low body count and possibly of getting charged.

Illiryth tho, thats an entirely different story. He's great at range and in combat, and can make great use of those exarch powers

[Cavalier]

Sounds good Sunstrider. I think the unit size and composition is spot on. I love Iryllith as well. He's probably one of the best of the Phoenix Lords, his cover save giving him a psuedo-invuln save. He's also excellent in combat and has great speed. While I favor cheaper HQ's if you were willing to invest points in an expensive one Irillth would be a good choice.

[sunstrider]

Hey all!

Now that the new doom of mymeara book is out, anyone have an idea if/how the shadow spectres got updated?

I still havent gotten my shadow spectres yet, so im curious

[Ebon Star]

Hey all!

Now that the new doom of mymeara book is out, anyone have an idea if/how the shadow spectres got updated?

I still havent gotten my shadow spectres yet, so im curious

While I can't tell you about specific changes the unit has, I can tell you that they got an exclusive formation - the Shadow Spectres Shrine, which is an Auxiliary Choice. To field it, you need exactly three squads of Shadow Spectres, with only one squad allowed to be upgraded to an Exarch. That's it for options and restrictions. No Iryllith here.

While you can't take Iryllith, the formation gives them an extra bonuses which you'll have to read in the book, because GW's copyright regime means that we can't, unfortunately, share the rules here.

Which like the other formations in the book, is pretty mint. Then again, not really had a chance to use Shadow Spectres so I can't comment on how the Formation improves the unit.

Formation bonuses sound crazy though.

Edited in accordance with forum rule 1 - Iris.