Aeronautica Imperialis - Faction Review - Aeldari - Asuryani - Wave Two
When the Aeldari were initially release for Aeronautica Imperialis, they arrived in the Wrath of Angels box set. As per usual, the rulebook in the box set gave the rules for the aircraft for the miniatures included. I then proceeded to buy the Aeldari Aircraft and Aces card pack expecting to see more aircraft, but to my surprise it did not have the rules for the Vampire Raider or the Vampire Hunter. These aircraft had had rules in the original Forge World 1st Edition rules. So where were they for 2nd edition? The answer is they were still incoming, but they are here now.
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Aeldari Overview
The addition of these four new aircraft (the Vampire Hunter, Vampire Raider, Nightshade Interceptor, and the Hemlock Wraithfighter) have not changed the overall playstyle of the Asyurani. They are still fast, manoeuvrable, and hard-hitting, but lack the durability to enter a straightforward toe to toe dogfight. The must use their agility to hit their opponents and avoid the returning shots. They are now a more versatile force.
How many models are available in the range?
Currently, there are rules for six Aeldari aircraft and two ground defences.
The two ground defences:
- Pulsar Platform (Wave one)
- Night Spinner Platform (Wave one)
The six aircraft are:
- Nightwings (Wave one)
- Phoenix Bombers (Wave one)
- Vampire Raider (Wave two)
- Vampire Hunter (Wave two)
- Nightshade Interceptor (Wave two)
- Hemlock Wraithfighter (Wave two)
Vampire Raider
The Vampire Raider is the Asuryani’s only aircraft with a transport capacity. As such, it is a must have aircraft to play the full range of scenarios available within the game.
The aircraft is a fast and reasonably agile drop ship especially when compared to similar sized bombers of other factions. However, this aircraft will need to use it advantage of speed and manoeuvrability to protect its 5 structure points. It should be noted, it does not have the Jink special rule.
The Vampire Raider is equipped with a nose mounted Scatter laser and two wing mounted twin Shuriken Cannons, which can be upgraded to Twin Linked Pulse Lasers. The Raider can also exchange 1 point of its transport capacity for a Phoenix Missile Launcher. This is a very strange option. If you take a Raider, it is for its transport capacity, so why would you lose it to get another weapon. Also, the Phoenix Missile Launcher is does not deal much damage and has an ammo count of 2.
Finally, as mentioned already the Vampire Raider has a transport capacity of 3. Being such a fast and agile aircraft, it should not have problem reach the landing zone in a scenario. This aircraft is expensive and when it is manoeuvring for deploying its troops it loses its advantages and becomes highly predictable. This is when the aircraft is most vulnerable. Asuryani players should be patient with this aircraft, using its firepower early in the game to damage the opposing player force. Later in the game, it can make its way to the landing zone when at least most threats have been neutralised. The Raider also has the Jump Troop special ability, which make it easier depositing troops in a landing zone, as it will not have to land.
This aircraft is a particularly good addition to Asuryani sky host, but only when the scenario requires transport capacity. I will be using this aircraft.
Vampire Hunter
The Vampire Hunter is the Asuryani’s heavy bomber. Having played ground attack scenarios with the Aeldari, I am unsure of its purpose. I write this because I have found the Phoenix Bomber to be more than equal to the task of taking any ground targets out of action.
The aircraft is faster but less agile than the Phoenix Bomber. It is also more durable with 5 Structure Points. Again, like the Raider, the Hunter does not have the Jink special rule. It is also very well armed with a nose mounted Scatter Laser, Twin Linked Pulsars, and a Phoenix Missile Launcher. Together, these weapons give the Vampire Hunter considerable firepower during a Strafing Run, and it is in this role, the aircraft excels and is superior to the Phoenix Bomber. I like the idea of using this aircraft at medium or long range to 'snipe' ground defences.
This aircraft, like the Raider, is expensive, but the reason for including it in a sky host is less obvious. As with the Raider, this aircraft is scenario dependent and should be taken when there a sizeable number of hard ground targets to eliminate. Otherwise, I think I will just continue to use my Phoenix Bombers.
Nightshade Interceptor
The Nightshade Interceptor is used by the Asuryani aspect warriors of the Crimson Hunters shrine. It is fast fighter aircraft. The word fast is the keyword. It has a max speed of 9 and a Throttle of 4. Combined with access to all 8 Ace Manoeuvres, this aircraft's movement is extremely difficult to predict.
It is equipped with Twin Bright Lances, which have the aerial attack rule. These weapons result in the medium and long range being optimum for this aircraft. As such, this is where the difference between the Nightwing and the Nightshade is most apparent. The Nightwing gets in close with the opponent and fires lots of low-powered shots with its Shuriken Cannons and Scatter Lasers. The Nightshade on the other hand, will need to hang back and ‘snipe at’ opponents with its fewer high-powered shots. Additionally, as the Nightshade will usually stay further back the Holo-Field upgrade will be more useful on this aircraft than the Nightwing.
My main issue with this aircraft is the cost. For 25 points, I could take this aircraft or a Nightwing with Twin Bright Lances and Star Engines. The Nightwing is identical to the Nightshade but with an additional weapon and 1 less throttle. Also, the Nightwing's Bright Lances do not have aerial attack. Overall, I will not be using the Nightshade Interceptor. This is a shame as I am an Aspect Warrior fan.
Hemlock Wraithfighter
The Hemlock Wraithfighter has the same basic statistics as the Nightwing, making it a fast and manoeuvrable aircraft.
It is equipped with twin Heavy D-Scythes. The weapons are only effective at short and medium range and if the hit can easily cause damage. They damage on a 2+, with extra damage on a 3+, which makes it the most potent weapon in the game. As, it the weapon uses only 3 dice, it will not be particularly reliable. To get the most out of this aircraft, it should really be used to go bomber hunting. In this capacity, it needs to use its speed and manoeuvrability to get into tailing position.
This aircraft is expensive, points wise, but I will probably include one in a force when my opponent is using slow moving transports and/or bombers. The Asuryani Ace might be a good upgrade for the Hemlock. The reroll on its Heavy D-Scythes could be very useful, but the upgrade makes the aircraft even more expensive.
Conclusion
The Vampire Hunter and Raider are nice additions to the Aeldari force. I do expect I will use the Vampire Raider more frequently than the Hunter. I continue to be pleased that the game is still receiving plenty of support with new miniatures and rules, but I am disappointed the miniatures are from Forge World. I am not a fan of resin miniatures. I do not like working with resin and I find it especially expensive, in an already fairly expensive hobby. I do hope that game continues to be supported primarily with new plastic miniatures but only time will tell.
The Nightshade Interceptor and the Hemlock Wraithfighter, for me, were the most exciting additions to the Aeldari. This is because I was not expecting them. They were not in the 1st Edition of the game, and until now were aircraft only from Warhammer 40,000 (the game). This is really interesting, because almost every aircraft currently in the game was a miniature originally from Forge World (unless we consider Epic from the 1990s). The only exception being the Valkyrie. Now with the addition of the Nightshade and the Hemlock (along with the Necron Doom Scythe and Night Scythe), I can start hoping for other aircraft from Warhammer 40,000. Now I am hoping to see Tau Razorsharks and Adeptus Astartes Storm Talons arrive in the game and, even the introduction of the Drukhari.
More of my Aeronautica articles can be found here.
If you have any questions, please put them in the comments below and remember to ‘always watch your six’!
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