Part of the fun of trying new armies is learning new play styles and approaching 40k from different angles. One list building habit I always get into is building a hammer/deathstar unit. Call it a unit of terminators in a land raider, nob biker unit, thunderwolves, etc. It's the unit you can hammer into the opponent and cause a lot of damage. Plus it's a force that intimidates.
When building out my Dark Eldar, I have thought about the same thing. Nasty characters with big incubi units, bloodbrides with Lelith, beast squads, and other things that can dish out a bunch of attacks. With the fragile delivery system of DE, maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. This codex is all about the "death of a thousand cuts". I think maybe my goal is to really take advantage of the mid range firepower and speed of the DE instead of throwing a haymaker.
The large assault units are not only heavy in the points but put a lot of hope in the staying power long term of the unit - which DE do not have like most other hammer units. If I were to eliminate the thought of a hammer assault unit, is this the best path? Yes and no. I still need something to take on my opponent's nastiness. That's where I feel bloodbrides with shardnets come in.
Instead of barreling down the flank or middle with raiders filled with wyches, I think I'll take a couple and use them as a counter punch when the pain comes to my area by leaving them back or even in reserve. The shardnets can do a good job neutralizing the combat characters, and the 4+ invulnerable save (combined with feel no pain if I start with a haemonculus) should tarpit up a unit for awhile.
We'll see if this strategy pays off. At least I can try a new strategy out!