High Elves were my first army back in Warhammer Fantasy Battle 4th Edition so I was excited for them to get their own Arcane Journal. This 48 page soft cover book provides additional background, two Army of Infamy army lists, a scenario, new troop and character types, and 18 additional magic items. Let’s take a deeper look within!
After 10 pages of background material the book contains a scenario. This is is one of the better scenarios from the Arcane Journals as it is suited to both sides. The Dwarfen Mountain Kingdoms forces the slow moving Dwarfs to attack their foes all the way across the board, in this scenario the High Elves must also attack their enemies but the deployment zones are only 12″ apart. This is a scenario the Dwarfs would love to fight!
The two Armies of Infamy are the Characian Warhost, based upon the White Lions of Chrace, and the Sea Guard Garrison, not surprisingly based on the Lothern Sea Guard. Unlike previous Arcane Journals the High Elf Realms only have two special characters: Korhil Lionmane, Captain of the White Lions and Ishaya Vess, Sentinel of the Silent Isle.
The Chracian Warhost list limits the Elven honors characters can take, allows units in the army to pay 1 point per model to give the unit move through cover, and give units of Spearmen and Archers the Lion Cloak special rule for +10 points per unit. Additionally, once per game, after rolling the die, the Elven player may add or subtract one from the result to see if Ambushers come on the board.
The Chracian new units are the Chracian chieftan, basically a Noble with furious charge and a lion cloak, a Chieftans Chariot, which is a lion chariot where the lions have Armor Bane 1 and it costs 20 points less, Lion Guard, Chracian Woodsmen and War Lions. The Lion Guard have one better WS and Ld but cost an additional 4 points per model. Additionally, every model in the unit can accept challenges, and characters in the unit can re-roll failed “look out sir” tests. Woodsmen are Chracian Great Blade wielding skirmishers who can also take War bows. War Lions give you an excuse to use the “extra” lions you’ve been hoarding after building your Tiranoc Chariots. These beasts are on 30mmx60mm bases and have Cleaving Blow which on a roll to wound of 6 allows no armor or Regeneration saves. This unit can be taken as a 0-1 Rare choice in a normal High Elf list as well! They only have 1 wound a piece, T4, and no armor so I don’t see them being a popular unit choice. I guess their hides do a better job protecting the Elves who killed them than they do themselves….
The Sea Guard Garrison introduces Sea Guard Garrison Commanders, Storm Weavers, Ships Company, and brings back the Merwyrm. The Sea Guard Garrison Commander is a Noble with Evasive and Fire and Flee if not mounted in a Lothern Skycutter, and if he joins a unit of Lothern Sea Guard they can Evasive and Fire and Flee as well. A Storm Weaver is a level 1 mage than can be upgraded to a level 2 or 3 mage which uses Dark Magic, Elementalism or Illusion. The Stormweaver can ride a Unicorn and also be taken as a 0-1 choice in a regular High Elf Army. The Ships Company have Warbows but can replace them with thrusting spears and shields for free. They can replace their Open Order with Skirmishers and have the Detachment special rule. The Merwyrm is a stompy monster with a breath weapon that if a unit takes a wound from their Initiative drops by 1 until your next Start of Turn sub-phase. This beast can be taken as a 0-1 Rare choice in a regular High Elf army that includes at least one unit of Lothern Sea Guard.
I think this book is worth it if you want to get some lore and have a pretty book to thumb through. With this edition being more about anything but infantry the variant lists are not likely to be used competitively but they could be fun to try out. I do like the few units that can be used in regular High Elf armies and if you have any of those models such as the Merwyrm this book is a must. I’d love to see the War Lions on the table but overall they don’t look like they will be worth the point cost.
Will you be playing one of the new High Elf variant armies?
-Wachtmeister
The Wachtmeister's Patrol 