Piling Out of the Clown Car

Well, well, well. The Harlequins got some new rules. And they’re absurdly good.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article about my pure harlequin list, here. While super fun, I wouldn’t say it is top tier competitive; even with new rules, you’re not going to see pure Harlequins dominate the meta. But you can bet your pointy elven boots that every Eldar player on the planet will be including these Clowns in their lists, and the next Eldar army to win a big tournament will have some Harlequins in it.

They really are that good. The issue with pure Harlequins, well, the many issues, is a topic for another day. But let’s go over my pure Harlequin list, and I’ll explore the new possibilities it holds. This article isn’t a review of the new rules, Cameron Piniero did an excellent job in this article. I am just applying some of those rules to my Harlequin army. Here is the current list:

Frozen Stars Battalion

• Shadowseer (Warlord)
• Troupe Master (Kiss)

• 11 Players (6 Kiss)
• 11 Players (6 Kiss)
• 5 Players

Frozen Stars Battalion

• Shadowseer (Warlord)
• Troupe Master (Kiss)

• 11 Players (6 Kiss)
• 10 Players (5 Kiss)
• 5 Players
• Solitaire

Frozen Stars Outrider

• Yvraine

• 5 Skyweavers (5 Haywire Cannons, 5 Zephyrglaives)
• 5 Skyweavers (5 Haywire Cannons, 5 Zephyrglaives)
• 5 Skyweavers (5 Haywire Cannons, 4 Zephyrglaives)

First up, we are dropping Cat Lady. We need a Death Jester in here now, and maybe even two… Here is the evolution of this list:

Frozen Stars Battalion

• Shadowseer (+6 Range for Enemy)
• Troupe Master (Free Relic: Twilight Fang)

• 10 Players (3 Kiss 2 Caress)
• 10 Players (4 Kiss 2 Caress)
• 5 Players

Frozen Stars Battalion

• Shadowseer (-1 to Wound for Friendly Frozen Stars Infantry)
• Troupe Master (Kiss)

• 10 Players (4 Kiss 2 Caress)
• 5 Players
• 5 Players

• 6 Skyweavers (Glaives and Haywire)
• 6 Skyweavers (Glaives and Haywire)

Mixed Vanguard

• Troupe Master w/ Kiss (Silent Shroud/2 Mortal Wounds at the end of the Fight Phase)

• Solitaire (Midnight Sorrow)
• Death Jester (Dreaming Shadow/No Overwatch and -2 Move)
• Death Jester (Dreaming Shadow/ Exploding hits against units with 6+ models )

So a few things have changed, obviously. I value Death Jesters a lot now. No overwatch just for hitting a unit is so huge for the Quins, I can’t get over it. The second guy is good for making a new detachment where I can bring in some different masque keyword for strats, and he gets the exploding hits Pivotal Role. They are Dreaming Shadow because then I can give one of them Curtainfall, and the other Cegorach’s Jest, and that would be badass.

This new Vanguard gives me a Solitaire who can fight on death with Midnight Sorrow (great for making sure he gets the job done in a turn where many combats are going on and he may not get to go first,) and it gives the Troupe Master access to the no Overwatch Stratagem. I could even give another guy the Starmist Rainment against something like Tau.

My two Frozen Stars Battalions have stayed pretty much the same. I added some Caresses to the big troupe units for that sweet, sweet Str 5, Ap 2, 2 Damage profile to slice down Intercessors on a turn where I pop Murderous Entrance for 2 CP. Those units were nasty before and they’re even filthier now.

It’s a great time to be a Harlequin Player.

As for relics and Pivotal Roles, the ones I’ve picked really juice up my characters. One of my Shadowseers is taking the +6 for my enemies range. That rule is so amazing, I cannot say it enough. It. Is. amazing. They have to get even closer to shoot you! Then you can go wrap them, slice and dice them, or they just won’t be able to hit you at all. So good.

I like making my Troupe Master with the Twilight Fang the Warlord for one reason. I want to give that guy the Reroll ones to hit warlord trait. You might be saying, Conor, that’s a waste. Take the CP cycle on the Shadowseer or a Death Jester! Well dear reader, while the CP cycle can be really useful, when I send this guy in to kill something, I want him to kill it. A string of ones to hit will now ruin his moment! He will also probably use a CP to get the 2+ to wound Pivotal Role, or the one that does 2MW to an enemy he hasn’t killed. Both are super good. This dude is a blender, and he should be the Warlord. He’s a badass.

The other options for relics are pretty fierce. This army is so CP hungry that buying a bunch of pregame stuff is pretty tough. Most games I will buy the Rose for the Solitaire and stop there. I want as many opportunities to bamboozle my foe with the Curtain Falls as I can, and between using the 6″ auto-advance, the 3++ strat, and random CP rerolls for Twilight Pathways, I am hard-pressed to spend more than 2 or 3 before the game begins.

That being said, If I play a horde type army, I am probably buying Cegorach’s jest and the Rose for 3CP. The options are infinite, and that’s why I love these new rules so much. You can really tool up for any foe.

The implications for Eldar Soup are REALLY bananas, and I will probably cover a new list idea I’ve got for my Aeldari Megaforce next week. Until then, be safe everyone!

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