Meet the Eldar Swiss Army Knife – the Lynx
I’ve been waiting for 8th Edition rules for one of most unique 40k vehicles – the Eldar Lynx. Forge World did not disappoint.
I’ve been a fan of the Eldar lynx for quite a while. It’s odd asymmetrical design somehow looks both alien, antiquated and fast at once. Here’s the basics on the vehicle to bring you up to speed:
Eldar Lynx
The Lynx is an ancient Eldar war machine first encountered by Imperial forces on Betalis III in 894.M41. It is larger than the more common Falcon grav-tanks but smaller than a true Engine of Vaul, though it shares superficial similarities. It is believed that only Craftworld Mymeara makes use of this unique vehicle, though whether they intend to share the design, especially with their Alaitocii allies, is a matter of grave importance to the Ordo Xenos. It is believed that the Lynx has been fought by Imperial forces prior to Betalis III, as the craft’s design matches descriptions of Eldar war machines found in records dating back to the earliest days of the Imperium.
While the Lynx lacks the sheer firepower found in a Scorpion or Cobra, it makes up for it in speed and maneuverability and is capable of limited flight. It is crewed by a single pilot who controls the craft from within an encapsulated cockpit, and while heavily armoured it boasts a Titan-grade Holo-field making it near-invisible to Imperial sensors. Its primary weapon is either a Pulsar for attacking armoured foes or, more rarely, a Sonic Lance for superior anti-infantry firepower. A secondary mount under the cockpit can carry a Bright Lance, Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon or Starcannon. Control of the Lynx’s main weaponry is handled by multiple redundant back-up systems, making it much harder for enemy fire to render its armaments ineffective.
From the start it has had one standout ability – it can fly! IN previous editions of the game, you could make the Lynx a flyer for a turn, giving it fantastic movement, but without the ability to fire. Which in realistic game terms was useless. It was handy for Apocalypse games on enormous tables where you could quickly move from one flank to the other but overall never came up much in standard 40k games. It terms of stats, it filled a middle ground in between the Falcon/fire-Prism and the “big boy” Scorpion/Cobra engines of Vaul. It was a nice “pocket superheavy” that didn’t break the points bank, looks fantastic on the tabletop, and could dish out some punishment.
8th Edition Lynx
The arrival of Index Xenos from Forge World included the Lynx and I was anxiously awaiting it. I wanted to see how it’s two primary weapons, the Sonic Lance and Lynx Pulsar would hold up in 8th. More importantly I wanted to see if the flying rules would stay or go.
Take a look at that!
20 Power Level clocks in at roughly the same as 2 Crimson Hunters or Fire Prisms. For that you get a rugged T7 W16 3+ Save platform with some cool tricks up it’s sleeves. The two main weapons are both impressive:
The Lynx Pulsar has two firing modes for high to very high strength targets. Two S12 -4SV D6 DMG shots are nothing to be trifled with. I personally think the Sonic Lance is where it’s at. In most games of 40k, the key it getting rid of big chunks of infantry fast. The Sonic Lance is just the tool to do it. R18″ Heavy 3D6 (wounds infantry on a 2+, else on a 4+) -3SV 1 DMG is just the ticket for taking entire units off the table per shot. Add in a Crystal Targeting Matrix to ignore the -1 for firing heavy weapons on the move as close range. 18″ for the Sonic Lance doesn’t seem like much until you realize – IT CAN STILL FLY!
LOOK! Up in the skies!
It’s normal move is 16″, so no slouch there, but you can now Activate the Sky Hunter ability at the start of any of your turns – giving it flyer rules and move of 20-60″. Note it can still fire away as normal with all it’s weapons. The funniest part of the Lynx is its Lumbering Flyer rules which are identical to the standard flyer rules for Imperial aircraft. HA – the Eldar have high standards! Combine the 20-60″ move with the Sonic Lance and you should be able to hit any squad anywhere on the table.
I’m beside myself with love for my newfound Craftworld Swiss Army Knife. According to the fluff the Lynx might be the oldest vehicle the Eldar keep in service, from the era Humans first met the Aeldari – but it can still get the job done.
~Like the old saying goes – “When you fight the Eldar – watch the skies.”
