How to Optimize the 500-Point Core Unit Requirement in Old World High Elves Lists for Warhammer: The Old World
In Warhammer: The Old World, when building a 2000-point list, you must allocate at least 500 points to core units. But whatâs the best way to do it? In this post, we explore four efficient combinations to meet this requirement without sacrificing your High Elf armyâs performanceâtwo with Sisters of Avelorn and two without them.
Option 1: Sisters of Avelorn and Silver Helms
- 14 Sisters of Avelorn (with champion)
- 10 Archers
- 8 Silver Helms with shields
This combination provides strong shooting power and solid combat presence. The Archers and Sisters of Avelorn serve as support units, while the Silver Helms act as the main combat force in the list.
The Sisters’ champion is there to challenge any lone character that might charge them, helping the unit survive an extra turn and allowing for a countercharge. Since theyâre an expensive unit, I think including the champion is worth it.
The Sisters are one of the best shooting units in the army, and if we can take them as core, we should. But is it really worth including a character just to unlock them? Personally, I donât think so. Iâd rather field them as a special unit and use a different core setup since there are solid alternatives available.
Why 8 Silver Helms?
A unit of 8 Silver Helms has a strong defensive advantage: your opponent needs to kill 75% of the unit to claim victory points, meaning they have to take down 7 models. This makes it much harder for them to score points from this unit.
Donât deploy them in two ranks of four. In this edition, models with only one attack can fight entirely from a single rank, so keeping them in a straight line is the most efficient setup.
Option 2: A More Aggressive Variant with Elyrian Reavers
- 5 Elyrian Reavers (spear, shortbow, musician, skirmishers).
- 8 Silver Helms with shields.
- 14 Sisters of Avelorn with champion.
This version sacrifices some shooting by swapping Archers for Elyrian Reavers, but in return, it gains more mobility and better charge redirection from turn one, thanks to the Reavers’ speed.
Common question: Why use skirmishers on Elyrian Reavers? Because it gives them greater movement flexibility and helps them avoid getting blocked on the battlefield. Plus, they can cover a flank with 360Âș vision and spears. A fast unit with both shooting and redirection capabilities can make a huge difference in a competitive game.
Option 3: A List Without Sisters of Avelorn
If youâd rather not rely on Sisters of Avelorn as core choices, you can build the list using other efficient units instead:
- 8 Silver Helms with shields
10 Archers with unit champion
10 Archers with unit champion
5 Elyrian Reavers (spear, shortbow, musician, skirmishers)
A solid block of Silver Helms, paired with a redirector and long-range shooting support. If you prefer to split the Archers into units of 5, Iâd drop the champion.
Option 4: Flexible Frontline with Multiple Support Units
- 5 Silver Helms with shields
- 5 Silver Helms with shields
- 5 Elyrian Reavers (spear, shortbow, musician, skirmishers)
- Three small Archer units (5, 5, and 6 models)
This approach works well whether you want to run a flexible frontline with small, mobile units or if your list already includes large units in the special slots.
If your army already features Dragon Princes, Phoenix Guard, or Swordmasters, spending your 500 core points on more big blocks would be a mistake, as youâd lose flexibility and key support units.
The way you fill your 500 core points should align with the rest of your list. Personally, I focus on avoiding units that donât perform any role well and look for core choices that can cover gaps in my armyâs strategy.
Why havenât you seen a single Spearman or Sea Guard unit here? Iâve got a post explaining that below, along with a breakdown of all the core unit equipment options.
If you think thereâs an error in the post, feel free to reach out at theoldwarrior@theoldwarrior.com, and Iâll review it. Hope you enjoy ToW!