Warhammer 40,000 on a Budget: Aeldari

I did it, I finally did it, I said it couldn't be done, but what do I know? Three armies cheaper than the aeldari combat patrol box. Unlike necrons you don't have to sell anything or do anything extra. The Aeldari combat patrol is easily one of the best, for beginners, a great amount of models, diverse minis, and unit types. These are budget armies for starting an aeldari army. Trying to make the same amount of unitsand variet too. It would be too easy to make an army of heavy weapon platforms and a winged autarch at £65. So variety is key here too.

Let's talk about the aeldari combat patrol box first. You have your farseer as you hq with his singing spear a strength 9 shooting attack with 3 damage, though 0 ap. So can do considerable damage on light infantry. As a melee weapon always wounding on 2+. That goes for the farseers other option, the witchblade also wounding on a 2+ damage is 2, it does have an armour penetration of -1. So light infantry again. The farseer is an insanely good psyker, that is where his strength will lie. There is six windriders, with either heavy weapons of scatter lasers, or shuriken cannons. These can be a single unit or as two, I would go with two for more maneurverabilty. The guardians comes with the weapon platform adding a heavy weapon to the unit. The shurikenn catapults getting a buff ap on natural wound rolls of sixes. Finally the combat patrol box comes with one of my favourite minis, the wraithlord. A mobile heavy weapons god, with the ability to carry 2 heavy weapons. The wraithlord is a melee beast as well, fists are s7 -3 ap and 3 damage.The ghost glaive is cool looking giant sword, which adds +2 strength -4 ap and a whopping d3 + 3 damage. I always go with the ghost glaive, not because of the stats, because its a a massive freaking sword. So a great box, and it is a £60.50 saving too. Prices farseer is £18, windriders are £32.50 for three so they are £65, the guardians are £32.50 and the wraithlord is £35. So a good number of minis at 19, and a good range too.

The first force will be a pure craftworld army, keeping the guardians from the combat patrol box, price is still £32.50. Going to change the windriders for a vyper, this is the landspeeder of the Aeldari cheap models at £21 and is great for a speedy heavy weapons. Great for light to medium units. The leader is the winged autarch at £17 a inexpensive model, it doesn't have the bts the plastic one has, and finally the heavy weapon platform again a cheap model at £16, this army is more a bargain army. The total price is £86.50, £3.50 cheaper than the combat patrol. A lot of heavy weapons, but only one kit more than £20.

Next is harlequins, these weird circus clowns are best as a side detatchment to craft world. You can use them as a fun main force. First the troupe box, make a unit of 5 and the troupe master as your hq, and the remaining players as your troop choice. This box is £26. Great for melee and have a great 4+ invulnerable save too. Next is a death jester, it's £18 this is one of your elites. Finally a starweaver for your heavey support, £26. So the total is £70 a whole £20 cheaper than the combat patrol. Now there is enough bits left in the starweaver and troupe kits to make a solitaire saving an extra £17. You could add a shadow seer as a second hq and you will still be £2 less than the aeldari combat patrol box.

Last is a ynarri army with a mix of drukhari and craftworld. The thing is to remember here is you need the same unit type of craftworld aeldari for each of the drukhari or harlequin unit. So if you have a drukhari troop choice you will need a craftworld troop choice.

The hq is the winged autarch again at £17. A box of guardians still £32.50, and your final craftworld is a vyper at £21. The drukhari unit is hellions at £18. A total of £88.50 saving you £1.50.

There three starter armies cheaper than the combat patrol box. Also with the forces seperated in different boxes means you are not paying out the £90 straight away and can stretch it out over time.