SHARGAZ EFB - FACTION FOCUS: ELF ARMY

 

Hello there, pointy ears! Today we are reviewing the elf army.

Elves are an iconic race in every fantasy setting and they couldn't be missed here. They are exceptionally good at almost everything they do, but they lack the endurance and numbers of other armies. The army list try to capture this spirit as much as possible. They can be considered a glass cannon army: difficult to use and unforgiving, but very rewarding when used properly.

The elves are really strong at magic. The elven wizards have access to powerful attack spells, as well as defensive spells. They are a keystone of the army, punishing the enemy with magic bolts and healing your own units with the aura of regeneration. 

The elf warriors and archers are the backbone of most lists. The warriors are likely to win any one-on-one combat against most enemies, even elite units. However, they must avoid getting caught in combat against several enemy units at the same time. Their small number of wounds and rather low save mean they will suffer attrition quickly.

Similarly, the archers are superior to any other army’s missile units, and not too bad in close combat. When working together, elf archers and warriors make a powerful combination, disrupting the enemy units at range and hitting them hard when they inevitably reaches you. Try to force engagements where your opponent cannot use their superior numbers. And don’t be afraid to charge with your archers as well, ensuring a decisive blow.

The forest wardens are a combination of both. They can be considered an elite unit, with the ability to cross forests at full pace and perform well in both combat and shooting. A good defensive unit, taking defensive position in a forest. But it is expensive in points, so you won't have many of them around.

The elf knights are the main attack unit of the elves, with good mobility and a heavy punch. A combined charge of two cavalry units can cause serious damage to even enemy elite unit. Use this to your advantage, but make sure they cannot get easily countercharge and get stuck in an attrition fight. 

The royal guards (both on foot and on horseback) are your best elite units. With an impressive 2+ to hit, few units in the game can face them in one-on-one combat. Although they have a decent save roll, they must be protected from missile attacks (especially war machines). Protect them well.

Without cheap and expendable units, the elves must rely on horse archers to protect their main battle line from enemy missile attacks and flank attacks. The skirmish rule and their high mobility allow them to move across the battlefield, providing a screen for the main battle line. Although they are not dedicated combat units, they can easily win fights on their own against isolated support units if needed. This also makes them very useful for threatening the enemy’s war machines.

The giant eagle is one of the most mobile flyers in the game. With very good combat attributes and the ability to move from one side of the table to the other, the elves can rely on it to perform hit-and-run attacks against enemy war machines and support units. However, with a safe of 6 and only ten wounds, they are very vulnerable to shooting attacks. Get them out of the danger zone fast. 

The dragon rider is the most powerful unit in the army, very resilient and able to handle enemy elite units by itself. Although not as fast as the giant eagle, it does not need to hide. However, enemy war machines can cause it serious trouble, so make sure it is properly screened from them (did someone say horse archers?). Its Terror can also be very useful against armies with poor Courage (e.g., orcs and goblins).

The only “weak” point of the elves is their war machines: they only have bolt throwers. Not that they are weak, but their numbers are limited. Also, these war machines may be dangerously unprotected against flyers and other skirmishers in a small elite army as the elves. However, they prove very valuable against enemy forces with high saves (e.g., dwarfs).

Finally, the elf rangers are archers on steroids. This elite unit can only be deployed in one list (the Wardens of the Black Forest), and they are extremely versatile. Clearly focused on missile attacks, they are not bad in melee either. Combined with their ability to move through forests at full pace and high maneuverability, they can decimate enemy elite units from safe distance.

You currently have four army lists available in the army book: the Elf Kingdom Levies, the Wardens of the Black Forest, the Elf Royal Army, and the Elf Expeditionary Force.

The Elf Kingdom Levies represent the most standard battle force you can deploy—an army raised from the citizens of the elf kingdom to defend their land from attack. The core of the list consists of elf warriors and archers supported by bolt throwers, relying on a small number of elite units (knights, horse archers, giant eagle, etc.) . It is very flexible, especially in small battles, as you have a bit of everything. However, it is best played defensively, as it lacks the mobility (by elf standards) to concentrate its attack at a single point and disengage quickly. 

The Wardens of the Black Forest are similar in composition, but their core units consists of wardens and rangers, making it a more elite list. It relies heavily on forest terrain to make the difference and should be played in scenarios where forests are a dominant feature. It is also best played defensively.

The Expeditionary Force is the elven attack formation, focusing on mobile elements like knights and horse archers, supported by eagles, royal knights or even a dragon. It represents an assembled army sent to fight outside the kingdom’s borders. It has very limited access to infantry and only one slot for bolt throwers. However, you can rely on the dragon to sow terror among the enemy ranks. Look for the weakest point in the enemy line, focus all your knights there, break through, and withdraw before your opponent can bring the rest of their army to bear. Then, repeat again. 

Finally, the Elf Royal Army represents the forces of the elven king and queen, gathering all elite units under their banner. It can be played defensively, relying on archers and bolt throwers, or more aggressively, focusing on knights, royal guards, and the dragon to deliver a heavy blow. In any case, you have at your disposal the finest units of the elves.