[SteveBerenyi]

ELITES

Striking Scorpions
Striking scorpions are the single best CC experts among the elder forces. Here is why: while their profile says 1 attack they in actuality get a total of 3 at +1 str.
Mandiblasters +1 A, 2 CC weapons +1A = 3 attacks at +1 Str (Scorp chainsword)

So for a unit of 10 (which is what I recommend) with an exarch, you have WOW 30 attacks before upgrading your exarch. For a 10 man squad I am hard pressed to find another squad in any army that can match that.

Upgrades to the exarch
Scorpions claw:
basically a power fist and shurican catapualt.
It says you can use both, but as your other hand has the scorpion chainsword in it you probably would just use the power fist. Useful if you plan on assaulting a tank or some such, but other than that I’d say about useless.
Biting Blade
+1s like the scorp chainsword, but also gets further +1’s to str. Useful for taking on MC’s and such, but I believe that this item’s usefulness is lost in normal melee.
Chainsabres.
The true gem of upgrades to the SS Exarch. They count as 2 CC weps but let you re-roll to hit and to wound. Combined with his mandiblasters you get 4 attacks and re-roll all fails. UNBEATABLE.
Exarch Powers
Shadow Strike:
Infiltrate. Useful. In fact I recommend it. As it negates the need for a Wave Serpent and allows them to make use of your enemies deployment. And when used correctly can be devastating to your opponent.
Stalker.
Move through cover. Has it’s uses, but I would only take it when I know there will be enough cover to make use of it otherwise it is a waste of points.


My Optimal Layout
9 Striking Scorpions
1 Exarch
Chainsabres, Shadow Strike

Infiltrate, and then assault for a total of 41 attacks. Flurry of Blows anyone? They are survivable enough with a 3+ save that I would say the can take on just about any squad in HTH and come out far better.

Fire Dragons
Ok, we all know that fire dragons are just the single best squad available to any army in 40k for armor hunting. Their uses are very small and as such they should only be used in 2 cases. 1 vs IG. They will melt any and all armor they come across. 2 vs any army you think will have some Hard To Kill Armor (SM, CSM, TAU, INQUISITIONAL) in which case I’d say take only a single squad.

The Fire Dragons work best IMO when fielded as such:
Falcon (Pulse Laser, Bright Lance)
5 Fire Dragons
Exarch

Exarch Upgrades:
Fire Pike: Longer Ranged Fusion Gun
Useful, but only when you first disembark from the falcon.
Your best bet would be to take a fusion gun and land the falcon closer.
Dragons Breath Flamer: anti infantry.
FIRE DRAGONS ARE NOT AN INFANTRY FIGHTING FORCE!!! I cant stress that enough. If they are in HTH they are dead.

In all honesty the best setup for the exarch is a fusion gun as well.

Exarch Powers
Tank Hunters
Name says it all and I recommend this power always.
Crack shot
Again if you have these guys shooting infantry you are wasting them. No usefulness here.
Howling Banshees
The ultimate Shock Troop in the whole game. I don’t care what cover or grenades your Opponent has, they are useless. The whole point of the howling banshee is to make sure that all of a unit is wiped out in a single round of combat before they have a chance to respond. THEY ARE NOT SUSTAINED FIGHTERS. Between their power weapons (negate saves) and their always striking first and the number of attacks they bring to bear, you will usually take out a squad unless it outnumbers them more than 2 to 1. Here is how and why:
Banshee mask ensures they strike first always in the first round.
Power wep and shurican pistol gives +1 attack charge gives +1 attack
Fleet makes it so you will almost always get the assault first.
With an exarch you get what you need to make sure everything goes the way you want it to.
Exarch Upgrades:
Executioner:
Ads to str and is still a power weapon, use this if you are not fighting a horde based army.
Triskele:
A ranged power weapon… HOWLING BANSHEES ARE NOT RANGED FIGHTERS.
Mirror Swords:
Personally my favorite as they grant the exarch a total of 4 attacks and they are power weapons.
Exarch Powers:
War Shout:
Pass a LD test or have 1 WS until the next turn. If you are playing against horde armies this is a definite must as it gives them little power to harm your banshees and you can finish a squad off in the next round of combat.
Acrobatic:
Honestly if you lost the assault portion with your fleet and all, you don’t deserve to be able to counter. This is more a point sucker than anything else

My Optimum Setup:
Wave Serpent (Shurican Cannons)
9 Banshees
Exarch
Mirror Swords, War Shout
JAIN ZAR (if you want, drop war shout from the exarch)
Wraithguard
Can also be troops, but in normal size (non-apoc) they should be used sparingly as elites. Incredibly powerful guns and a sustainability that sets them aside. See the Troops entry.
Harliquins
We will save the tactica of the harliquins for it’s own article since it is so involved and can cover so many situations.