Astra Militarum vs Aeldari

In the ever changing landscape of Warhammer 40k missions, here's my first foray into Chapter approved 2025-26. Unexploded Ordnance is kind of weird, and I did not get the reading right on the first try. You can move the objectives and you get points for how close they are to the enemy deployment zone. You don't actually have to control them to score. Weird, but I like it.

So anyway, here's the Aeldari Warhost spread out across their deployment zone. And here's my scions, with some artillery support. I thought to make good use of the cover denying stratagem. Spoiler: it never came up.

I had first turn, but the only thing I did was move in this Taurox for a sneaky Sabotage. That and shoot my artillery at Rangers and Banshees. Not much damage, but my opponent was convinced he'd die if he staid in his zone (may or may not have come true).

And so the eldar deployed in force. Rangers went ahead for secondaries, and Fire Dragons failed to shoot down my right flank Taurox.

On my left flank however, the squad of 10 killed both Tauroxes and an Artillery Team. Damn Fuegan!

Battle round 2

As is the way of the Tempestus, I struck a devastating blow. The eldar are squishy and I had a load of fun shooting at them. I lagged a bit behind in points, but they enemy can't score if they are dead, right?

On the right flank, Aquilons shot down Warp Spiders with their phoenix lord. The two Scion squads with their Inquisitors, having survived the destruction of their transports, shot down a Wave Serpent and the Fire Dragons inside. I charged whatever was left, leaving only Fuegan standing.

In the center, the large squad with my Warlord came out of the ruins to take down both Ranger squads and Jain Zar's Banshees.

The jump Scions landed behind the enemy, clearing out a squad of Banshees and Dark Reapers.

The eldar scrambled to respond. I overwatch'd another squad of Banshees exiting the Wave Serpent, killing them.

The Holey Ghost failed the psy shield, and the jump squad was shot down to the Tempestor Prime at a single wound.

Right flank Scions died, along with the Aquilons.

Fuegan fell back, shot and charged.

Jain Zar shot and charged the large warlord squad, mowing them down but dying to a power fist. Go Scions!

Battle round 3

At this point I was slightly ahead in remaining units but slightly behind in points. That all changed during round 3. I got some good secondaries: Area Denial and Marked for Death, and scored both for 5 points each. My final reserves came in the eldar back lines and shot up whatever was left of them.

I shot up the left flank, killed the Hawks and charged and killed Fuegan. He failed his 2+ revive roll.

At this point the eldar had 3 more units remaining on the board. I had several remnants of squads and two Artillery Teams still chipping away. My opponent conceded the game.

Final score

About equal in points, in before I would have ran away with it for the final two turns. Well, that's what we mathhammered out.

Final thoughts

The scions are fun as ever. Turn two is when I come in, disembark, and shoot down the enemy army. If I shoot them enough, I tend to win. If I don't, my troops die in the following turn and I lose. At least it makes for faster games.

The artillery teams did not do as much as I expected, but they were certainly a psychological factor and they made my opponent commit to the board. Maybe they would do better against heavy infantry... I'll try them out some more.

Keeping a large unit in strategic reserves is unwieldy to deploy, but some late turn 3 reinforcements came in handy.

The eldar are a lot more squishy than my usual marine/custodes/knight opponents. It was fun to see them die to scions in close combat. Especially killing two phoenix lords with S6 power fists!