Elder Review...Jetbikes!

 

Ok, so now that the new Eldar codex is here, where to start? So many ideas, thoughts, and possibilities…
Seeing how my love of Eldar is Saim-Hann, let’s start the discussion off with jetbikes…
First though is that essentially jetbikes and rangers will now be the standard stock troops for your craftworld- for jetbikes this is due to the change in shuriken weapons- the bladestorm attribute which means on a “6” they cause a wound at AP 2.
Nice!
Of course the problem of shuriken based weapons still remains in the codex- the fact that it is short ranged and carried by squishy T3 5+ save troops. You have to somehow get up close to blast away, which was always a problem with guardians so they sat back and shot with the weapon platforms.
How can guardians take advantage of the new shuriken catapults…I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s focus on jetbikes.
Jetbikes have the movement ability to get into place to use the new shuriken catapult rules- more then just moving distance- they can go OVER other units, which is important in 6th since more and more players are choking the mid field with huge cheap blob units + fearless tricks to stop you from getting to the back field of the board.
Not a problem with jetbikes…
Take it a step further in that jetbikes enhance the catapults by hitting on a 3+ naturally and twin linking them.
Huge jetbike wolfpacks just got even more deadly, with the ability to threaten any non- vehicle on the table and bring it down with the huge volume of hitting shots and more than a few “6”s sneaking through.
Just as before we also get the +1T and 3+ save giving them (for Eldar) the triple threat of mobility, firepower, and armor saves at T4.
But it gets better once we add the wolf guard…excuse me…warlocks.
Each one is a level one psyker which some interesting powers, and with a first few plays, but still WAY too early to tell, can Fritz dare to say Eldar/Saim-Hann might not need farseer support anymore?
Two goodies from the rite of battle stick out- protection and embolden.
+1 armor save which turns the jetbikes into terminators- T4, 2+ armor save and a cover/jinky save if needed. Did I ever think  would see the day of a 2+ jetbike with rending like catapults, twin linked, and hitting on a 3+.
Debate against the statement that jetbikes aren’t godly now…
But this is the obvious power, we need some tricknology in there and for that I’m looking at embolden/horrify for the -3 LD.
Jetbikes zoom to the back field, high volume of shots against a unit, and force a LD test at -3 to run off the board- I feel like I’m playing my old codex Necrons with a destroyer lord with nightmare shroud.
I will say this as both warning and prophecy- I am, and am going to be coming up with some tricknology exploits and make THEM the focus of my Saim-Hann list…
It’s a good day to have lots of jetbikes…