Grimdark Future: 'Fluffy' High Elf Fleets Lists, Part 1

A focus on xeno scum this time around, with thematic lists for the 'High Elf Fleets' of Grimdark Future which are absolutely, totally not Eldars! Beside, Games Workshop call them Aeldari now. See? Legally distinct! In any case these fit the standard pattern for my fluffy lists, standing at up to 3000pts and trying to build a list which fit the playstyle of each sub-faction. The Eldar/Aeldari are 'space elves' and as such hit all the key conceptual elements of elves: smug, pointy eared, near-immortal and yet a dying race.

Iyanden: Ghost Warriors

Iyaden Wraithguard

Once one of the largest and most populated Craftworlds, Iyaden got its ass brutally handed to it by endless hordes of Tyranids from Hive Fleet Kraken. With most of its military forces killed, this Craftworld has since been forced to rely on Wraith-constructs to fill the ranks of its army, earning them the nickname and namesake of this list of 'Ghost Warriors'. Iyaden field armies heavy in Wraithguards and Wraithlords, constructs of wraithbone controlled by a dead Eldar warrior, making them quite close conceptually to Space Marine Dreadnoughts.

High Seer [1] x3 (170pts)

Wraith Suit Squad [5] x3 (1560pts)

Wraith Walker A [1] (465pts)

2x Flamethrower

Additional Weapon: Scatter Laser

Additional Weapon: Scatter Laser

Wraith Walker B [1] (575pts)

Additional Weapon: Taser Lance

Additional Weapon: Taser Lance

Tactics: This is an elitist army to the core, with few units but powerful ones, as each and every single unit in this army has Tough, meaning it has multiple wounds. Assign a Seer to each Wraith Suit squad (these are your Spirit Seers for fluff purposes). The Wraith Walkers each have a different loadout fit to attack different targets, with Wraith Walker A being an infantry-killer and Wraith-Walker B being your only reliable anti-tank. Since the list has a Psychic for each infantry squad, spam the crap out of any powers, especially Creator (to heal wounds) and Destroyer (to blast tanks and monsters).

Saim-Hann: Wild Riders

Saim-Hann warrior, here seen
without his bike for once.

The wild and rowdy, almost barbaric (by Eldar standards anyway) inhabitants of Saim-Hann are infamous for their love of fast vehicles whose speed and agility would make a Speed Freak ork blush if they had the necessary biology to blush. Saim-Hann's forces go to war mounted on their Jetbikes nearly exclusively, which they make great use of, creating this primarily 'mounted' list emulating cavalry charges. But with space elves on space flying bikes, of course.

Elven King [1] (150pts)

Laser Blaster & Energy Sword

Jetbike

Ancient Commander

Seer Council [3] (265pts)

Jetbike

Jetbike Squad [6] x6 (1440pts)

4x Twin Shardguns

2x Shard Cannon

Hunter Plane [1] x3 (1020pts)

2x Laser Lances

Tactics: This army is all about speed and hit-and-run tactics. The bulk of its forces are Jetbikes, whose primary utility is to ram into the enemy or harass them with their speed and mobility. Assign the Elven King to a squad (it doesn't have to be the Seer Council) and abuse his mobility boosting ability. Meanwhile, a trio of planes will swoop in and out of the battlefield: their goal is to blast apart the hardest enemy targets which the jetbikes cannot destroy, like tanks.

Ulthwé: Black Guardians

What a bunch of dicks.

The Eldars of Ulthwé are the closest to the Eye of Terror and are the most closely in contact with Chaos which, when combined with their psychic potency (even by Eldar standards) make people raise some eyebrows and wonder if being so close to that swirling insanity hasn't left a tiny bit too much connected to the Warp and Chaos, leaving a lingering taint. Ulthwé is most known for its Seers and as such has the least amount of Aspect Warriors of any Eldar Craftworlds, relying on a unique standing army of Guardians rather than the usual militia setup.

High Seer Farseer [1] (125pts)

Psychic (3)

Energy Spear

High Seer [1] x4 (340pts)

Seer Council [3] x3 (600pts)

Storm Squad [10] x2 (490pts)

8x Shard Pistols

2x Fusion Rifle

Defenders Squad [10] x3 (750pts)

+Gun Platform: Missile Launcher

Anti-Gravity Tank [1] (530pts)

Doom Cannon

Tactics: Psychic cheese up the ass. This is a more typical army than the other two lists but it support these baseline troops with a ridiculous amount of Psychics, namely a High Seer  for each infantry squad, including the mighty Psychic (3) Farseer to lead them all into battle. To top it off, there is a big tank in the back with a big, scary gun that is garanteed to be a target for enemies. Which is fine as it is all according to plan...