Blood Claw Bikers Worth it

[Rommel44]

Hello again. I recently was able to get a Space Wolves Codex and have began the process of getting at least a 1000 point army list together sometime this week hopefully.Though I'm not considering them right now, I was wondering if the Blood Claw bikers are worth it in 2000 points games and are they even worth taking to begin with.

[OnlyInDeath]

I absolutely think they are worth it. However, you have to play them right.

 

1. my first and foremost rule is to give them a WGBL or a priest on a bike for some much needed extra attacks.

 

2. Flamers work wonders on a bike unit, take 1

 

3. Having a power fist and weapon in a bike unit is brutal, letting u hit hard, anywhere, quickly

 

4. always have at least a couple ablative wound bikers in there. You dont want your special weaps to go down before you get to use them.

 

Other than that, they are able to get into CC turn 2 (turn 1 if someone scout moves near them lol) and are just a great hard hitting unit. adding the IC will give them much more bang. give 'em a try! (dont forget your turbo boost and using cover to avoid casualties from high AP weapons).

[Rommel44]

Thnks for the reply :o But I need another question answered. Having prented out the 5th edition FAQ for the space wolves, it doesn't say anything about the rinos or razorbacks. do we use the rinos point cost in our codex or do we se the new space marine codex point costs instead?

[The_Betrayed_Spacewolf]

learn deutsch or german my friend. its mentioned in their faq and many people believe that since the germans get it we should all get it as well.

[Losman]

I really wanted to use them last edition because rhinos were very undependable in delivering blood claws to the enemy but now that rhino's are much more reliable, and cheaper according to adepticon, the bikes seem less attractive to me at their point cost. Which sucks cause I really like the idea of bearded space marines that look look like they are the imperial equivalent of a hells angels chapter tearin ass toward the enemy. I did buy the models though, just need to put them together. Kind of on the back burner though cause I do not think they are as useful this edition, especially since they don't count as troops. Glad to here OnlyInDeath's comments though, it gives me hope.

[Losman]

Anyone else use bikes, have thoughts on em?

[WG Vrox]

To many points for the payoff, ifyou wanna have some fun and challenege your skills go for it.

 

WG Vrox

[LPetersson]

Anyone else use bikes, have thoughts on em?

 

I use them fairly regularly with great success.

I tend to give them a WGPL at least and usually a HQ unit as well and have them tear up the flank...

It unnerves my opponent and usually distracts them.

[dietrich]

Yes, they're worth it. They won't win a protracted fight against a good melee unit, but if they can either: 1) assault a unit that is poor in melee (even if it's a big unit) or 2) annihilate something on the turn that they charge; they are worth it. Don't assault them into the Death Company and expect good things to happen. Feel free to throw them into BA Devestators though. They're worth it, because they're one of the few things in our list that has an assault range greater than 12 inches, and that is a huge deal. That allows you to control when and where the assault occurs. If you're footslogging, you're going to be assaulted by fast-moving units and will never catch a mobile unit.

[Losman]

Good to know they are working for some people. I will use em once I put em together cause I like the models. I think they are expensive point wise but as has been indicated, they have their uses.

[dietrich]

I've not had good success with BCs in a rhino, because they're limited to a 12-14 inch assault range; disembark 2 inches, move 6, assault 6. That means you have to end your move close to some people that you probably don't want to (like guys with meltaguns, or jump pack troops with meltabombs, etc.). I haven't tried them in a land raider, but that would work too - since with the assault ramp, they have a 20-inch charge range (move 12, disembark 2, assault 6). My problem is that ends up a lot of points in a hurry. Plus, I don't like taking one Land Raider, since it's a huge target.

 

I also run an IC on a bike with the BC bike unit. Since we're required to have so many HQs anyways, it's a good use. I generally field:

 

WG Battle Leader, Bike, Meltabombs, Frag, Frostblade, Bolt Pistol

6 Bikes - Flamer and 2 powerfists

 

The WGBL gets a bunch of attacks at I5 which helps keep the pack alive. I've considered putting a Wolf Priest with Healing Balms and Potions with the unit, since if that saves one bike, it makes its points back.

[Durfast Spiritwolf]

Yep, my wolf priest leads them in a 2K army

[Losman]

Yeah I have thought about the use of HP&B's with a bike squad and it does make sense as they would likely draw a a lot of fire on the first turn. Nice thing is that as long as they survive they will be assaulting in turn 2.

[Master Of Malfeasance X]

I'm not a Space Wolves player, and no space wolf player I know takes advice from anyone... about really anything. But if you ARE feeling charitable and are willing to read this, I can tell you that from the other side of the table, a wolf lord or priest on a bike is terrifying to me, even with berzerkers and fists and force weapons. For some reason that T5, 2+/3+ (artificer and storm shield) are the bane of my existence--a lot of other peoples' too.

 

That said, I have played against them using bike retinues and without the 2+/3+, they're honestly not very viable in 5th ed. Non-scoring, expensive and they're all going to die getting your wolf lord I-get-more-attacks-when-you-charge-me cheatiness to combat which he could have done alone, unwounded.

 

In short: bikes are beautiful with ICs and HQs. Really not for anyone else.

[Ullr Direfang]

i don't like BCB much never had them do real well, the work ok in apoc games. i like a Lord with biker bodyguard <_<