8th Ed. Tips for playing wood elves

[Wazz]

So it seems my first game of 8th will be against Wood Elves. Any pointers?

 

[n810]

Bring fast units.

Wood elves will generally keep running away
and shooting you from as faraway as possible.
A solar engine Bastidon might be a good idea...
a big unit of Calvary might work too, be sure
to give it defense against shooting though.
Ripperdactals might work, but beware of their
crazy stand and shoot against chargers.

 

[Wazz]

Ok cool! Is a "Cowboy" a good call as well? And can they shoot while they are in close combat? I think my friend will take it kinda easy since it is my first game.

 

[n810]

Shooting in close combat is not usualy a thing in 8th edition...
though Wood elves may have a character who could do it...
I don't recall.

 

[Wazz]

Wouldn't suprise me lol. Could I run Skinks into combat have the soak the damage then the calv?

 

[n810]

My Skinks didn't last long...
but yea, meat shield is often a job for Skinks.
but they are probably a better core choice over Saurus.
just make sure to keep them in cover if possible,
if they ever want to get close enough to shoot something.

ps. beware wood elves can move forest.

 

[Wazz]

Ok awesome thanks @n810

 

[NIGHTBRINGER]

Is a "Cowboy" a good call as well?

A Scar-vet cowboy is always a good call to be honest. If played right, that guy will prove very useful against any army you happen to face.

A couple of random pointers:

• Wild Riders are devastating on the charge. They are glass hammers though, you can shoot them down or take them in close combat provided you charge them with a decent unit.
• The best all comers enchanted arrows are the poison one (great against monsters) and the one that ignores to hit modifiers (which will mow down skinks and camo skinks with ease)
• Wood Elves are squishy, skinks can actually do a fair bit of damage to them, so the WE player has to focus fire on them (and not your more important units).
• Ranged magic is effective against Wood Elves
• Beware of Waywatchers, who are probably one of their best units. Be especially mindful of your opponent lowering your toughness via shadow magic and then ignoring your armour save via the Waywatchers special shot.

 

[Wazz]

Awesome! Thanks @NIGHTBRINGER! I'll let everyone know how it goes, we should be playing sometime this week. I do know he likes to use the lore with the Throne that makes spells better. Sorry I don't know the actual name.

 

[NIGHTBRINGER]

I do know he likes to use the lore with the Throne that makes spells better. Sorry I don't know the actual name.

I think you're referring to the Throne of Vines in the Lore of Life. It's a good defensive lore. Try to avoid having Dwellers below cast on your Slann.

 

[Wazz]

Ok and High magic /beast are the better lores for us?

 

[NIGHTBRINGER]

Ok and High magic /beast are the better lores for us?

I think Light, Life, Death, Shadow and High magic are all better than Beasts.

 

[n810]

.... I think it depends entirely on your army composition,
but yea all of those are good.

Ps. also wandering deliberations, where you get the 8 default spells.

 

[Chicken Lips]

No Wood Elves don't have any characters or units that can shoot out of close combat. I don't think that there is any unit in the game that can do that. Skaven can shoot INTO a close combat that involves Skaven Slaves - because they don't care if they kill their slaves or not.

As far as magic vs WE, I think Light, Shadow and High are your best options. Life is really good too, but it's mostly a defensive lore and you'll need some offensive (magic missiles) to catch them. They are all about staying away from you and do it well. If you can hit them anyway, then you're taking away a big part of their game.

P.S. - what n810 said about taking the 8 sig spells is really good advice too!

 

[Wazz]

Nice thanks guys! I think we are going to play 2500 points. I made a list of..
Slann-channeling staff and wandering deliberations high magic.
Scar-vet on cold one- with a shield and Piranha blade.
Skink priest- lvl1 lore of beast and dispell scroll
2 units of 20 saurus warriors full command
A unit of 20 skink cohort with 2 Kroxi
A unit of 10 skink skirmishers
Bastiladon with solar engine
2 units of 5 cold one riders full command
3 rippers
20 temple guard full command razor standard
Salamander hunting pack.

 

[n810]

er.... you can't take Focus of Mystery (high magic) and wandering deliberations (default spells from all 8 lores) at the same time.

 

[Chicken Lips]

Yeah, I don't think you need the Razor Standard on your Temple Guard since Wood Elves have virtually no armor. Those points are better somewhere else. You could get another Ripper for that standard.

Also, I'd make your Slann your BSB as well.

 

[NIGHTBRINGER]

Yeah, I don't think you need the Razor Standard on your Temple Guard since Wood Elves have virtually no armor. Those points are better somewhere else. You could get another Ripper for that standard.

Also, I'd make your Slann your BSB as well.

Good advice on both accounts.

 

[Wazz]

Ok cool! For some reason I thought the Slann couldn't be the bsb. Thank you kindly folks!

 

[n810]

He is the sole exception,
normally generals can't be BSB's.