Dreadnought

[Prototype]

I managed to get a second hand Dreadnought so I was wondering what did you guys think of Dreadnoughts, be it normal, venerable or Bjorn. To be honest venerable and Bjorn look very very expensive for the amount of hurt they can cause :/

 

Thanks

[Rokafort Stonewolf]

Honestly, regular dreads are the way to go if you take them. They're great for tying up enemy units and otherwise being a nuisance, and if they get some assault cannon/autocannon/multi-melta shots off beforehand, bonus. Venerable is imo too expensive, and Bjorn is ridiculous. The problem with our dreads is that they compete for Elites slots with scouts, termis, and now lone wolves and iron priests as well. If you do take dreads, IMO drop pods are the way to go - they're there to be a pain in the ass, after all.

[Ulrickthegrey]

I like Bjorn, he is on the expensive side though. The problem comes from people trying to kill him as fast as they can, or they ignore him (other vanilla marines do, they really hate it when wolves are fearless and get to their lines). So they eat plasma cannon shots.

 

In my first game with the codex, he was assualted by salamander Assualt termies with Vulkan. the combat lasted 5 turns, at the end of it, the whole assualt squad was dead and vulkan was being torn in half. Bjorn defeniatly made his points back in that battle. Now that player swears he will make Bjorn eat multi-metla before he can get within charge range.

[Hfran Morkai]

The reason they were often taken with the old codex is because they were able to be taken as an HQ choice and you had to take one HQ per 750 points, making a dread with four attacks basic and some other nifty rules very tempting for the points.

 

I don't really have a use for them currently outside of apocalypse because as said the elites choices are incredibly valuable to us and I'd rather invest in some more troops.

[WG Vrox]

The DP dread with AC/HF, EA and the all important WTN, then give the DP a dwml is one of the better disruption units you can get. Great for hitting a Dev squad on turn 1 as they are usually in cover, even if the Dread falls, the DP with dwml will either block their line of sight or force them to move due to unit cohesion issues. Take MM if you lack AP, not happy with relying on the one shot though.

 

A often over looked config is the 2 TL-auto cannon config. Pumping out 4 twin linked shots is a sure Transport, MC, Dread, Speeder, ext killer. Can even glance a Pred if you have no other better targets. Often gets overlooked as a target priority and can be very useful in horde lists. Very nice combo with a Vindi as it pops the Tin Cans while the Vindi cleans up the mess that comes out.

 

If I were to take Bjorn I would give him a PC, being able to take 6" off the deviation is a huge benefit and makes him useful on turn 1 which gives him a better chance of getting his points back. Consider running a Iron Priest w 3 servitors behind him for repairs and to ensure a model is always in contact with him. the IP can repair immobilized and weapon repair on a 2+. very nice combo. IP also gives CC support if needed.

 

 

Some thoughts for ya.

Vrox

[Night Runner]

The reason they were often taken with the old codex is because they were able to be taken as an HQ choice and you had to take one HQ per 750 points, making a dread with four attacks basic and some other nifty rules very tempting for the points.

 

I don't really have a use for them currently outside of apocalypse because as said the elites choices are incredibly valuable to us and I'd rather invest in some more troops.

 

I agree. Our other elite choices are more viable gamewise for the points paid. I still like to use one in a Drop Pod simply because I like the figures (my weakness). Personally I would stay away from Venerable Dreads unless playing big games, as Mikal said, since we can't have them as HQ's anymore.

[VorpalDoom]

Fact of the matter is, Dreadnoughts went the way of the Bloodclaws.

 

Changed for the negative, and replaced by better options.

 

 

Dreadnoughts and Bloodclaws now have a niche roll, and are used only in certain circumstances when you want to pull of a certain tactic.

 

ie. Bloodclaws are useful when put into a crusader with a wolf guard, a wolf priest, and maybe another character, to hunt down infantry en masse.

 

 

Dreadnoughts, I think are only useful now when used in a drop pod.

 

Too slow to be put on foot, and eaisly ignored, don't hold enough firepower to draw enormous amounts of fire themselves.

 

Drop Podding them into your enemy's army will keep them busy, especially if it's a venerable Dreadnought.

 

 

If you want a shooty Space Wolf army, Dreadnoughts are actually the only viable way to do that with your Elite slots. Twin-Linked Lascannon+Missile Launcher or a pair of Twin-Linked Autocannons.

 

 

With the lack of an Ironclad, it's an iffy decision. Our Elite slots are already packed with fantastic choices, Wolf Scouts and Wolf Guard, so it's not exactly an easy decision if a Dreadnought is worth it. Some armies just don't have the tools to deal with a dreadnought properly, while others will laugh when they see it, an easy kill.

 

 

 

I, myself, have 6 Dreadnoughts unfortunately, two Ironclad, 1 Venerable, and 3 Standard. I wish they kept the old Space Wolf Venerable Dreadnought, at the very least, the HQ choice option. Alas, Dreadnoughts are overshadowed by superior choices.

 

 

However, if you do decide to run Dreadnoughts, you're almost forced to place them in drop pods, and get 2, or support the single Dreadnought with drop podding infantry.

 

 

If you're taking Logan, I'd say dreadnoughts are a hell of a lot more viable (and fluffy) now, as you're not taking up a slot with Wolf Guard. A bunch of TDA/PA mixed units supported by some hefty Dreadnoughts is pretty intimidating. But, more-so, the Dreadnought will draw lots of fire, keeping your other units less bothered during their advance, so that has an advantage by itself. Wolf Scouts won't do the same thing.

[Wispy]

I am not so much a fan of our Venerable anymore, but I'm a big fan for Bjorn. I know he's expensive, but I also think you get what you pay for!

 

Lots of people are shy about highpoint HQs, but I think as Space Wolves, we should be encouraged to take chances and should not be afraid to run an expensive HQ once and awhile. It helps when we're usually getting what we pay for. ;)

[VorpalDoom]

If Bjorn had:

A Drop Pod option, Extra Armor, and a Wolf Tooth Necklace... he'd be worth his points, even if he had to pay for the Drop Pod. His price is very very steep, and you could get 2 standard dreadnoughts for a similar price. But, I do suppose if you somehow get Bjorn into combat, he will likely crush just about anything he comes across.... but that's a big if. His Side and rear armors are still that of a standard Dreadnought.

 

 

 

I'm in favor of taking expensive HQs, as long as they're equally as powerful. I'd take Bjorn in a heart beat if I had a very strong urge to get a dreadnought along side my 2 scout units and wolf guard.

 

Seems a bit lackluster, I hope there will be a FAQ to get him extra armor & a drop pod option, but I fear that may be asking too much.

[WG Vrox]

Seems a bit lackluster, I hope there will be a FAQ to get him extra armor & a drop pod option, but I fear that may be asking too much.

 

For the price, I was expecting to see EA included, but not even an option hurts. Just the EA would have been enough for me to really want to take him in a competative list as being able to shake off a stunned result would help dramatically in his tactcal play.

 

Vrox