Skyclaw question

[The Fenrisian]

Well, I found a 2nd hand assault squad for £7 yesterday in my local store and thought that it was about time I built some Skyclaws for my army. I was just wondering whether it would be preferable to equip them with a powerfist or power weapon? Just wondering what experience people have had with using them. I was looking to use 2 squads of 5 on the flanks to crash into the opponent early on, giving them a meltagun each for anti-armour.

[Spacefrisian]

Have not used them as normal Bloodclaws in Landraiders get faster to the enemy than when they are equipped with jumppack.

[Hfran Morkai]

I run mine with Powerfist and Meltagun.

 

I prefer the powerfist as I take a Wolf Priest with them, offering power weapon attacks whilst the powerfist can deal with the heavy stuff such as monstrous creatures.

 

Meltaguns are fun for popping transports and the assaulting the contents, you just have to hope you roll well.

 

However like any type of Claw I feel a leash is almost a requirement and love the Wolf Priest for what he does.

[MalachiOfRuss]

I'm still holding out hope that the omission of Skyclaws from the Wolf Guard Pack Leaders rule was a mistake. I really like Skyclaws but they're just too expensive to have to put a Wolf Priest with them.

[Wolf Lord Cuneglas]

I love the skyclaws. I just got done playing against some Tau. I run a unit of 6-8 with PF, Melta/MoW, my Wolf Priest had Runic Armour, PP and they did alright tonight, but the usually make opponents move their army around or get surprised with how awesome preferred enemy is with a +2 on the assault squad.

[Niiai]

Eather run them very cheap and DS (if your oponent have long fangs etc.)

 

Or run them big with a power fist and a mark of the wulfen. A power weapon is not so good asv those with good armour usualy have wound alocation and put all the wounds on 1 unit or they are MC's and then you need the fist. In gennreal the fist helps them out a lott and a mark and a fist can also threaten tanks witch is nice. <_<

 

Always take a fist unles you run them as an anti heavy weaponds team squad.

[The Good Ship Naglfar]

Sounds like you made a nice find! I have an irrational love of Space Marine jump packs, so it's always great to see more. Have fun with your new unit.

 

My Skyclaws are set up entirely for anti-infantry charges. The core looks like this:

 

9 Skyclaws with Pistol and Chainsword

1 Skyclaw with Mark of the Wulfen

1 Wolf Priest with Jump Pack

 

At the beginning of the battle I almost always choose "Infantry" as my Wolf Priest's preferred enemy.

 

Against space marines in power armor, they average 45.5 attacks and a little less than 7 kills per charge. Against lighter infantry they can average almost 14 kills. Of course, that's assuming all 11 of them make it into close combat.

 

When I can, I upgrade one Skyclaw with a power weapon or a flamer (no ballistic skill required), but it's a low priority. As anti-infantry/anti-horde, they're already pretty solid. And since every other unit in my army has at least one anti-tank/anti-monstrous creature weapon, I rarely worry about giving my Skyclaws power fists, melta-guns or melta-bombs.

 

I'm also tempted to take 5 Skyclaws as a bodyguard for a jump pack-equipped Rune Priest with Jaws of the World Wolf. JotWW isn't my favorite psychic power, but the extra mobility from a jump pack should help him to set up better lines than he can on foot. In that case, I'd skip upgrading the Skyclaws (well, maybe a flamer). This may be one of those "looks great in my head but plays lousy on the table" plans, but it's got some appeal. I can see it being especially nasty vs Necrons and Orks, but kinda weak elsewhere.

[saphius]

My Skyclaws have never failed me now that I think about it... Need to run them more.

 

I run the unit as follows:

 

8 Skyclaws W/ PF, MoTW, and Flamer

 

Wolf Priest W/ JP, WTT

 

The PF is required in my book. I don't want this unit getting tied up with anything and the additional 3 PF attacks on the charge, re-rolling to hit, against infantry is usually at least 2 to your combat resolution.

 

The MoTW is so worth it. D6+1+2 on the charge - potential 9 rending, re-rolling to hit attacks on the charge from 1 model is awesome. - It's also great for wound allocation should you run into anything really nasty and want him to be a hero.

 

The Flamer is awesome to thin out any unit, but especially Eldar where you will be hitting last and be getting hit on 3's. - Taking out 2 or 3 aspect warriors before your charge is really helpful.

 

I've actually had so much success on the first charge against who I've played - mostly IG, Inq, Orks, and Eldar - that I keep the Wolf Priest OUT of combat the first round if possible. - He can't take any wounds and still makes the unit re-roll to hit. It's the second, third, or counter charge where I let him get in the mix as the unit is usually down a little by this point and it's worth him getting in the Mix.

 

I have contemplated getting a Combi-Wep on the Priest but haven't wanted to put the points into it.

 

I do believe the WTT is worth it on an IC. Especially one leading a unit that will be up on the front lines quickly.