[Dark Elf] Starting roster

[VoidSeer]

Here is my questionable dark elf starting roster for long leagues:

• 4xBlitzers: 400k

• 1xRunner: 80k

• 6xLineelves: 420k

• 2xRerolls: 100k

Roster idea:
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This roster gives your team a solid backbone for the league to come.

• 10 players with AV8 and 4 blocks. Pretty good for an elf team

• 5 players with MV7. Not too bad either

Why no assassin or witches from the start
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Witches are darn good players. But they need a solid team to back them up for them to be effective. You need a couple of guards to benefit the best from frenzy.
These players are also very fragile with AV7.

Assassins: Well, there new to the roster. I'm not sure I can use them properly yet. I see their potential, but they're an added value to the team, not part of the core of it.

Team purchases:
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APO - 3rd Reroll - 2x Witch Elves (or 1 Witch 1 assassin).

Skill progression
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(this list is just for starters, to give a general idea)

Linelf:

• 1st lineelve that skills up gets Kick.

• simple: block - dodge - sidestep

• double: guard

Runner

• simple: sure hands - block - NOS - accurate

• double: strong arm(?!)

Blitzer
You need one dauntless to deal with ST4 players and Big Guys

• simple: dodge - side step - tackle

• double: mighty blow - juggernaut - guard

[Coach]

That is my preferred lineup for dark elves as well. Any reason you didn't put the team thumbnail on the thread?

[VoidSeer]

I don't know how to do it coach. Please edit the thread.

[BoBliness]

I'd be tempted to swap out a blitzer for a second runner and upgrade a line elf to an assassin.

That would be my more 'characterful/quirky' list.

Yours is definately the more reliable and safe list :P

I like the double-dump-off and I think its a shame not to have an assassin since he provides an early-league option for shutting down gobbos, skinks, human catchers, the entire wood elf team (dancers especially), high elf catchers, all of the norse team etc etc.

Essentially, he gives you a way to bypass the requirement for tackle and block in an early league, something not many teams have.

I can see dark elves beating wood elves purely on the basis of their assassin shutting down dancers. Only breaking armour is a 40% chance (roughly) which massively outstrips the chances of taking one down unevens, even if you have block (obviously if you have wrestle and/or tackle thats a different matter, thats why I like an assassin early)

I dont think you lose too much by dropping one blitzer and the addition of a second runner adds a bit of redundancy and also lets me try the delay tactics early in a league against bashy teams.

Either way, I dont think you can go wrong with that list.

[VoidSeer]

You're right Bob, my roster has nothing fancy to start. It is designed for the long haul.

I've been facing a rookie DE setup with one assassin with the rookie Wood Elf setup I'm using (2 dancers + 9 lineelves). I made the assassin my every-turn target until I removed him from the pitch.

Pro for the assassin, I had to focus on him which ultimately lead to a draw.
Con, I would not get an assassin without an APO first. I does not start with block and skills slowly as it does not gain any SPP from stabbing.

[MadBanker]

This is my favoured starting line-up for league play too.

[BoBliness]

Originally Posted by VoidSeer

You're right Bob, my roster has nothing fancy to start. It is designed for the long haul.

I've been facing a rookie DE setup with one assassin with the rookie Wood Elf setup I'm using (2 dancers + 9 lineelves). I made the assassin my every-turn target until I removed him from the pitch.

Pro for the assassin, I had to focus on him which ultimately lead to a draw.
Con, I would not get an assassin without an APO first. I does not start with block and skills slowly as it does not gain any SPP from stabbing.

Thats a big pro for the assassin in my book. Its very unlikely you'll kill him, and any other injury is not career-ending for him since stab is his utility (-1MA would be upsetting though lol)

And lets face it, at only a few grand more than a linesman, its no big deal really, if you can get an opponent to focus on him during games, he's been worth the money.

I'm not sure you can get enough utility out of him against bashy teams though.
I guess I'll find out when i run the build and see how it plays

[VoidSeer]

I dunno, honestly. I was a big fan of DE teams in LRB4, but haven't played with them much in LRB5. I don't really know what to do with the assassin.

Shadowing is fun, but on a AV7 player without block, the fun may be short.
It's a good player against light teams. But against bashy teams, he's more a liability.

I'd say, if you know what team you'll be facing before making your roster, draft an assassin only if your not playing against a high AV team.

I'd much prefer a reliable AV8-block guy instead, however.

[Agamon]

You definitely need to be able to sit your assassin against bashy teams, something rookies teams don't have the luxery of doing. Depends on the other teams in the league, but all else being equal, I'd leave the assassin until at least the 13/14 player on the team.

Your lineup is good. WEs are quite fragile and tough to play on rookie teams, so good call there.

[BoBliness]

Yeah, I'm dying to try out some games with DE versus bashy just to see if its viable.

I suspect open league will be death for dark elves (as per other posts) but I'm hoping to be proven wrong!

Its a pity mighty blow doesnt work with stab :P
Really I dont think it would be broken, you'd need a double for access to it....though it WOULD make him death against other elves I suppose.