They deploy a combination of powerful psykers who read the skeins of fate to predict the outcome of combat, soldiers who have walked martial paths that grant them skills beyond human ken, hardy walking constructs piloted by the souls of long-dead warriors, and lightning-fast anti-gravity bikes and tanks. Speed and precision are the name of the game, as most Aeldari units – from Aspect Warriors to Fire Prisms – can move fast and hit hard, but can’t weather much return fire. Aeldari armies are highly mobile, a specialised scalpel that can bring down a much more powerful opponent by careful application of incredible force. Of the 25 miniatures in the Orks Combat Patrol, 24 were brand new on the set’s release, including 20 new Ork Boyz, three Deffkoptas, and a Warboss in mega-armour. The Deff Dread isn’t a new sculpt, but is as shooty and stompy as ever.

The Aeldari once ruled the galaxy, before their civilisation collapsed beneath the weight of its own hedonism. Now the Asuryani sail the stars aboard massive vessels called craftworlds, their citizens keeping to highly disciplined Paths to avoid drowning in the same decadent madness as their ancestors. Each craftworld's Guardians take up arms to defend their dying race, wielding deadly shuriken catapults or power blades, or shredding foes atop their swift Windrider jetbikes. Guided by the wisdom of their Farseers, supported by the advanced firepower of their sleek Wraithlord constructs, the Aeldari fight to survive in a galaxy where extinction seems inevitable. The greatest strength of Combat Patrol: Aeldari is its flexibility. Assemble your infantry as Storm Guardians and give the Wraithlord a ghostglaive to punch right through fortified enemy lines, or muster a squad of Guardian Defenders with a mobile Heavy Weapons Platform to hold the ground claimed by your blistering bikers. Personally, if I was starting a new army, I’d get two and stop there. For a Combat Patrol it’s a pretty strong box — it’s got a bunch of more “generic” options that can really fit into any army. Alternatively you can buy a couple and go hard into the Windrider builds. The result? Tense, involved, but straightforward games that can be played in less than an hour.* There’s still plenty of nuance for Warhammer 40,000 experts to enjoy – swapping out Enhancements and Secondary Objectives to mix up their playstyle, and mastering each faction’s Combat Patrol in turn, without having to build up a full Incursion or Strike Force-sized army.There’s plenty of guidance on how to paint your chosen subfaction, as well as fascinating lore on their histories, victories, and defeats. Since we are leaning into that Saim-Hann theme it would be appropriate to snag another Combat Patrol box. Doubling down on this core allows us to do a few things. First, we get another 10 Guardians. We can use them to fill out the previous squad or use them as two 10-man squads. Either option is useful for various reasons. Second, it gives us a total of 12 Jetbikes. We’re gonna need them. The additional Farseer and Wraithlord are less helpful here but maybe not as terrible as you might think.

Where to go from here? Expanding your Aeldari army post this box set could involve adding the Avatar of Khaine or the Yncarne as powerful and intimidating centrepieces. An Autarch Wayleaper makes for a brilliant character addition, thanks to its Lone Operative rule and Command Point generation capabilities. Falcons and Wave Serpents are excellent transport options, while Fire Prisms can add heavy firepower and range, making your force a threat from all distances.

Ah, the Blood Angels– noble and civilised sons of Sanguinius, most handsome, tragic, star-crossed and pretty of all the Emperor’s ‘Primarch’ sons. These renaissance Italy-themed space marines are among the most storied and popular chapters of the Adeptus Astartes. The Eldar are a technologically advanced humanoid race who once dominated the Galaxy. At the height of their power, their empire spanned and dominated a significant portion of the galaxy and they were secure in their prosperity. Freed from the need for manual labour the Eldar grew decadent. They began to explore all the sensations their heightened senses and psychic mastery could offer, over time becoming more and more debased in their tastes, exploring and satiating any and all desires they could conceive. It was this that would lead to their fall. The psychic echo of their vices coalesced in the warp and in a single night obliterated their entire empire as the chaos god Slaanesh was born, tearing a gouge in the fabric of real space that is today known as the Eye of Terror. Brave, honest and true, they only very occasionally indulge in macabre vampiric rituals with goblets of suspiciously viscous red ‘wine’– and it really is only once in a blue moon that one of them slips into an insane, suicidal killing frenzy fuelled by the overwhelming psychic grief imprinted in his DNA.

The Aeldari are a long-lived race, but in the aftermath of the Fall, they faced a slow demise, and a horrifying afterlife – for Slaanesh has staked its claim on each Aeldari soul in death. In response, the Asuryani bound themselves to soulstones, which capture their souls at their deaths to prevent Slaanesh from taking them. In times of great need, these soulstones are embedded in wraithbone constructs, so that the dead can bolster the armies of the living. There are many such constructs, including the mighty Wraithlord , the towering Wraithknight , and beyond. Fire Prism Did you know you can get all of the latest news delivered right to you by signing up for our newsletter? You might even be among the first to hear about the next Combat Patrol set, which we’ll be showing off in just one week’s time… While different Aeldari armies might choose to focus on specific aspects of the combat arts, they have a host of iconic units at their disposal. These are likely to be some of your mainstays. Farseer There are many elite units which excel at one battlefield role, rewarding an observant commander who can be flexible on the fly. Harlequins must be used with even more precision – they’re faster and deadlier yet as they caper across the warzone, but their only real armour is surprise. If the Wraithlord can tank as well as I’m hoping then you’ve got a very well rounded box. The Verdict?

Combat Patrol game mode

Guardians Which can be built as Guardian Defenders with 1x Heavy Weapons Platform, or as Storm Guardians with 1x Serpent's Scale Platform 2x Aeldari Formed around a core of redoubtable, objective-grabbing Guardians , this Combat Patrol offers a force that embodies everything the Aeldari are famed for – speed, psychic abilities, and withering firepower. It’s led by a sagacious Farseer, who can dish out mortal wounds and tweak the Strands of Fate in between supporting the CORE -keyworded Guardians and Wraithlord. Guardians, which can be built as Guardian Defenders with 1x Heavy Weapons Platform, or as Storm Guardians with 1x Serpent's Scale Platform. Shroud Runners are a new unit. They are basically Pathfinders on Jetbikes. I’m honestly a little hesitant to include them for our theme… but a unit of 3 isn’t too much of a break from theme. And it scratches that “new unit” vibe. For only 105 points a unit isn’t going to break the point bank. A few forward-thinking groups of Aeldari managed to avoid the Fall, building vast spaceships called Craftworlds and escaping their increasingly debased kin. Known as the Asuryani, these refugees have lived a precarious existence in the millennia since the coming of Slaanesh, preserving a more austere way of life and guarding against another calamity.

I hope you enjoyed this, how would you build a 1,000 point list from the Combat Patrol Box? There may well be aspects of the codex or units that I have not included that you think should be, so why not let us know in the comments below. Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error In conclusion, the Aeldari Combat Patrol box earns a solid 7/7 for its harmonious unit selection and the strategic depth it offers. Though the Aeldari may not be the most durable, they more than make up for it with their psychic abilities, speed, and grace, making them a rewarding and engaging faction to master. For the Craftworlds! For new players or players looking to start an entire Aeldari army this box is a Repeat for sure. Mainly if you want to run a Saim-Hann list, but also just because you’ll get a fantastic core to a collection. You’ll find use for just about everything in the box. The only “issue” is that after 12 jetbikes, you’re kind of leaning hard into playing Saim-Hann. To return your product, you should mail your product to: Ashdown Gaming, The Wheatsheaf, Mount Pleasant, Crowborough, TN6 2NF, United Kingdom

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Personally, I wouldn’t recommend this army to a brand new player. I’m not going to lie: this list is going to be fighting an uphill battle. Until you get the hang of positioning and how to really dissect an opponent’s army it’s gonna be rough. But it’s thematic and rewarding to play! If you’re up for a challenge then have at it! It also includes 2x Aeldari Transfer Sheets, each with 369x decals. All models are supplied with their appropriate bases. How does the Aeldari Army Play? The Aeldari are essentially a precision force, known for their psychic capabilities, incredible speed, and agility. While they may seem fragile – akin to a ‘glass cannon’, they boast potent tank units like Wraith Constructs. The true strength of this army lies in its characters and their psychic might, combined with the speed and hit-and-run tactics of units like Windriders and Warp Spiders.