Dark Elf (WHFB 6th Edition) - Collectors Guide

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Citadel/Marauder Dark Elves

The Dark Elf line was completely re-worked for 4th edition Warhammer and the release of the first Dark Elf Army book. The entire line was sculpted by Aly Morrison (some figures in conjunction with Colin Dixon). A prototype Dark Elf Army list was previously available in the 4th edition Warhammer boxed set (along with army lists for most other Warhammer races) that included rules & troop types extrapolated from 3rd edition Warhammer that were later dropped with the publication of the 4th edition Army Book. The Dark Elf army book included the background material (Malekith) and troop types that are familiar from the current edition Dark Elf Army Book. Several key units from the Dark Elf army list were unavailable throughout 4th edition Warhammer and into 5th edition Warhammer, notably Dark Riders, Shades/Scouts, Executioners and The War Hydra (although there were unreleased versions of many of these unit types). Dark Riders and the Cauldron Of Blood were released late in the life of 5th edition Warhammer, for use with the Tears Of Isha campaign Pack. While many of the figures in this range say "Marauder" on their slotta tabs, they were sold in Citadel blisters after Marauder was re-absorbed into GW and lost its distinct brand.


Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Command

In the USA, these figures were originally sold in blisters of 2 (either Champion/Musician or Champion/Standard Bearer) and then later in 3-person blisters with a full Command group and variant banner tops.




Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Swordsmen

While the Metal Dark Elf Swordsmen look like prototypes for the single-pose plastic Swordsmen, they were released and sold blistered by themselves in packs of 2. When originally released, the single-pose plastic Swordsman came in a box of 10, this was later reduced to a box of 8. The plastic Swordsman may have originally been intended for use with the Talisman fantasy boardgame (like the single-pose plastic Beastman & Skaven models), but the Dark Elf character was dropped from the game prior to publication (rules for the Talisman Dark Elf character were published later in White Dwarf magazine).




Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Spearmen


Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Repeater Crossbowmen


Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Black Ark Corsairs

Corsair models had no specific Command figures and were expected to use either converted figures or the generic Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Command group.



Citadel/Marauder Witch Elves

Witch Elf models had no specific Command figures (apart from one default Champion) and were expected to use either converted figures or the generic Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Command group (quite inappropriate to have heavily-armored male Command models in a unit of scantily-clad Witch Elves!).


Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Black Guard Of Naggaroth

Black Guard models had no specific Command figures and were expected to use either converted figures or the generic Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Command group.



Citadel Marauder Dark Elf Executioners

These figures were never released for general sale, and were only available for one day at the 1999 US Games Day convention blistered in packs of 2. Painted examples appear in some photographs of the Studio Dark Elf army in White Dwarf. In practice, Black Guard models (with or without the points of their halberds removed) were used as substitutes, or axe-wielding Dark Elf models from non-GW figure ranges were used.


Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Cold One Knights

While the Cold One Knights range had specific Champion & Standard Bearer Command figures, there was no Musician figure and players were expected convert their own.




Citadel/Marauder Dark Riders

Photographs of painted examples of the original 2 Dark Rider models were published in the 4th edition Dark Elf army book, but the models were never released for sale. Rumour has it that there were dropped from the line because the torso on the rider figure is too short (although this is a commonplace failing of 4th edition GW cavalry models across the board). GW also briefly released Marauder MM71/72 Cavalry rider figures blistered with a plastic steed (on which the mmetal rider did not fit).



Upon their original release (in conjuction with the Tears Of Isha campaign pack). Dark Riders had single-piece Champion & Standard Bearer models and no Musician. When the line was re-released for 6th edition Warhammer, the Command models were replaced by 2 mulipurpose Command figures that could be assembled as either Champions, Standard Bearers or Musicians. The Repeater Crossbow that comes with each Trooper model was also redesigned, making it slightly smaller. Otherwise the individual (non-Command) Rider models were unchanged from late 5th edition until the present day.


Citadel/Marauder Bolt Thrower


Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf general


Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Assassins


Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Harpies



Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf Sorcerer & Sorceress


Citadel/Marauder Sorceress On Dark Pegasus


Citadel/Marauder Beastlord Rakarth


Citadel/Marauder Cauldron Of Blood


Citadel/Marauder Dark Elf War Hydra

Warhammer 6th Edition Dark Elves

The Dark Elf range was completely re-worked yet again for 6th edition warhammer with the release of the second Dark Elf Army Book. The range featured many elements sculpted by Chris Fitzpatrick, notably the Cold One Knights, Black Ark Corsairs, Witch Elves and Black Guard Of Naggaroth, plus most Special Character figures. While the range included models for almost all troop types (with dedicated Command figures for each unit type), there was a distinct paucity of generic character figures (no generic Noble or Highborn figures of any kind, apart from the Limited Edition Battle Standard Bearer originally sold with the Boxed Dark Elf army deal, and later through GW's "Skullz" sticker redemption program). The range did include multiple variant Assassin & Beastmaster models.


Mengil Manhide's Manflayers

Chris Fitzpatrick sculpted a completely new range of Mengil Manhide's Manflayer models at roughly the same time as the rest of the Dark Elves before he left GW, but GW sat on the models and did not release them until the Storm Of Chaos campaign event, when they were finally released at roughly the same time as the Dark Elf Cult Of Slaanesh variant army list. This latest range includes Mengil himself, a Musician & Standard Bearer, plus three different variant troopers, all of them male. The Ean Hawkbane Champion character was dropped from the range for this release (purportedly killed and eaten by Mengil).


Blood Bowl Dark Elves

There are two distinct lines of Dark Elf Blood Bowl figures, tied to different editions of the game. The first Dark Elf Blood Bowl figure was originally released as a Limited Edition under the designation LE18, but then later in general release blistered with Human, Orc & Dwarf Blood Bowl figures as "Blood Bowl Defenders"



http://www.solegends.com/citle/citle1990/numbered/le18Bloodbowl.htm


A complete range of Dark Elf figures was released for the first edition of Blood Bowl, including Catchers, Throwers, Kickers, Blitzers, Linemen, a Cheerleader and a Casualty figure (but no Witch Elves). The Dark Elf Star Player Tuern Redvenom also dates from this range.

http://www.solegends.com/citbb/bb106darkelves.htm


A second range of Dark Elf figures was released for the revised second edition of Blood Bowl under the name "The Naggaroth Nightmares". The Dark Elf Star Player Horkon Heartripper dates from this second range of figures. Specialist Catcher & Kicker figures were dropped from this range and replaced with Witch Elf specialist players. The same Dark Elf Cheerleader figure was retained from the previous range for the later range.

http://store.us.games-workshop.com/storefront/store.us?do=List_Models&code=303089&orignav=300811&GameNav=300808

http://store.us.games-workshop.com/storefront/store.us?do=Individual&code=99110999002&orignav=300811&ParentID=214012&GameNav=300808&ItemNav=303089


A smattering of further Dark Elf figures was also released under the Fanatic Games imprint before Fanatic was re-absorbed back into Citadel. the Dark Elf Star Player Hubris Rakarth and two different Dark Elf models with poison blades date from this latest period. There was also a Witch Elf Referee made at this period, but never released.

</gallery>

http://store.us.games-workshop.com/storefront/store.us?do=Individual&code=99060999105&orignav=300811&ParentID=254387&GameNav=300808&ItemNav=303089


Man O' War Dark Elves

The Man O' War 15mm naval combat range included a full range of Dark Elf fleet figures, including a Black Ark, Manticore Riders, and a variety of other monster-mounted Dark Elf ships.



Warmaster Dark Elves

The Warmaster range includes a full range of Dark Elf figures.

http://store.us.games-workshop.com/storefront/store.us?do=List_Models&code=303999&orignav=300815&GameNav=300808



Dark Eldar

The Dark Eldar are essentially "Dark Elves In Space" and thus are included here for reference. One of the unreleased figures from the original Rogue Trader "First 40K Releases" Flyer is designated as "Dark Elf Space Trooper", but this is a Craftworld Eldar figure, not a Dark Eldar per se. The range was discontinued by GW but is still available from GW Mail Order. The range also includes an interesting selection of unreleased concept models, four by Gary Morley & seven by Chris Fitzpatrick (two of which are not Eldar, but human slave & prisoner models).


http://store.us.games-workshop.com/storefront/store.us?do=List_Models&code=300919&orignav=10&GameNav=10