LINEBREAKERS

ere are a few unit types that are especially good at fending off pesky High Elf armies:

Excuse me, Elector Von Troke, have you any Handgunners I can borrow?
Why sir, yes I do. In fact, I have thirty two of them in my army. And twenty crossbowmen, two mortars, two cannons and a Helstorm Rocket Battery, all for less than 1,000 points. If a High Elf army thinks it's going to 'strike first' against that lot, it's got another thing coming... they will be lucky to make it across the table. Lots of armies can implement similar tactics. Often referred to as a 'gun line' such forces present a wall of lead (or arrows) that the lightly armoured High Elves are ill-equipped to stomach.

Set chariots to ramming speed...
It doesn't matter if the enemy would normally get to fight before you, if he's squashed flat beneath the wheels of your chariot. Most Warhammer armies have one or more of these contraptions to choose from and they all share a similar advantage. They roll over High Elves brilliantly. For an army that relies on expensive, elite troops in limited numbers, Chariots spell doom. Tomb Kings, Orcs and Goblins, Chaos (Warriors and Beasts), Dark Elves, Vampires, Empire, Lizardmen and Ogre Kingdoms all have a Chariot (or chariot-like unit) upon which they can call.

Fanatics, Doomdivers, Rocklobbers...
If you Orc and Goblin generals are worried about taking the High Elves on face-to-face, then you can always stoop to some more 'nefarious' means. Night Goblin Fanatics aren't interested in who's supposed to strike when, and Doom Divers don't care how many ranks you can fight in. Rocklobbers couldn't be less concerned with what bonuses your Lion Cloak provides while every Giant finds the idea of stuffing a Phoenix Guard into his pants thoroughly entertaining.

Let's Dance...
Elite infantry has experienced the most notable improvements across all of the High Elf army. Thankfully the Wood Elves army boasts the Wardancers - a specialist close combat unit that can mix it up with the very best of them. Use the 'dance' that allows the War Dancers to strike first to steal the High Elves greatest advantage (bear in mind only Phoenix Guard can match the War Dancers Initiative of 6).

Chosen Knights/Grail Knights
The thunderous charge of the heavy cavalry elite is enough to put the fear of dying into any unit, regardless of who they are. Chosen Knights of Chaos and Grail Knights are both able, quite literally, to smash into the front of a enemy unit and laugh off the puny attacks directed at them. Though they are among the most expensive units in the game, they are nonetheless utterly deadly.

Dwarfs...
Forgive the unimaginative title, but that's what Dwarf players will need to rely on to defeat the arrogant Elgi. Good, solid Dwarfs with lustrous beards and gleaming coats of mail. Ironbreakers can meet the charge of a unit of Sword Masters or Dragon Princes head on and stop it dead, while Slayers or Hammerers will make a unit of Phoenix Guard fight to the bitter end. Oh...and Flakkson's Rune of Seeking is just the ticket against Dragons.

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