Darkshards vs Shades
For the same gold, the shooting goes to Darkshards: 22.7 s to shoot down the other side's gold worth, against 42.7 s the other way (every projectile hitting). Missile damage per 10 s on each other: Darkshards 1,713, Shades 2,292; cost 550 and 950 gold. In melee at equal gold, Shades come out ahead. Base stats, patch 9.0.4.
| Darkshards | Shades | |
|---|---|---|
 Multiplayer cost | 550 | 950 |
 Health (whole unit) | 5,670 | 6,720 |
 Models | 90 | 80 |
 Armour | 30 | 30 |
 Melee attack / defence | 18 / 16 | 40 / 32 |
 Weapon strength (armour-piercing) | 24 (5) | 30 (9) |
 Attack interval | 4.3 s | 4.5 s |
| Melee damage per second against the other | 86.7 | 265.1 |
 Time to beat the other, one unit each | 77.5 s | 21.4 s |
| Time to beat the other's gold worth, same gold | 44.9 s | 36.9 s |
 Missile damage per 10 s against the other | 1,713 | 2,292 |
 Volleys to destroy the other (all hitting) | 3 | 3 |
| Time to shoot down the other's gold worth, same gold | 22.7 s | 42.7 s |
COMPUTEDMelee damage per second = models × expected damage per attack (the combat calculator's hit chance 35 + melee attack − defence, damage after armour and resistances, bonus vs large or infantry) ÷ the weapon's attack interval (melee_weapons.melee_attack_interval). One unit each: the other's hit points ÷ that. Same gold: the other's hit points per gold ÷ damage per second per gold — the side that needs less time wins (within 1%: even). Both are missile units, so the verdict is their shooting: expected damage of a whole volley at the other (after its armour and resistances) ÷ reload time, at equal gold. Multiplayer costs, patch 9.0.4.
ASSUMPTIONS
- Every model fights at once at its weapon's attack interval; in battle only the front ranks reach and animations set the pace.
- No charge, mass, splash attacks, flanking, fatigue, leadership (no one routs), abilities, spells, skills, technologies or items.
- Missiles: every projectile hits, the target's shield faces away; accuracy and range are not in this.
- A Tzeentch unit's magic barrier (main_units.barrier_health: Pink Horrors 1,400, a Lord of Change 800) counts as hit points taken before its health: it recovers only while the unit takes no damage, so a fight gets it once. Barrier that skills, items or effects add on top is not counted.
Side by side with every number: compare Darkshards and Shades. Blow by blow, with charge and shields: combat calculator. Dark Elf units ranked.