Thunderwolves - what works?

[Godhead]

JCarter, those are my thoughts exactly. I shelled out the points storm shields on all of my TWC, but honestly I don't feel like its needed. With wound allocation I am super happy with just two shields on my TWC (and the one on my WGBL or Lord when i choose to run one) is plenty. I am also hiding my TWC and WGBL behind two Land Raiders. Pick your poison. I have ran my TWC against orks and other space wolves (with ragnar) quite a bit. With the 12 inch charge it's awesome for denying FC. Of course str 10 fists is why I like more than 1 storm shield in my squad.

[Jarl Kjaran Coldheart]

It also helps i never deploy them, but rather hold them in reserves.

THis means they dont always get on till turns 3-4, but their ability to move quickly ensures they get to assault.

 

WLK

[Legacy]

So my guys currently travel with

#1 Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield

#2 Storm Shield & Bolt Pistol

#3 Close Combat Weapon & Bolt Pistol

#4 Close Combat Weapon & Bolt Pistol & Melta Bomb

#5 Close Combat Weapon & Bolter ( I know its one less attack but it’s free and makes the wound allocation work, It’s MAGIC trust me)

 

Used them tonight against the our Battle Brothers bathed in blood. Blood angels got hurt by this thunder wolves load out.

 

I have started using 4 man twc units 1 with fist and ss 1 with storm shield two stock standard (one with melta bomb). I have then been attaching a wgbl with wc and ss with saga of the warrior born and I am in love with this unit.

 

with the squad mentioned by pucadubh and the suggestion of the wgbl in the mix, my total for the thunderwolf squad was 575. They killed a total of 622 points. 1 Priest assault squad baal pred Gabriel Seth 4 out of 5 vanguard.

 

 

 

they made their points back plus 47 points give or take. we were playing kill points to the 2 kill points (twc + wgbl) took 4 kill points!!! I think that is pretty sexy and definately nothing to shake a stick at.

[wolvesoffenris]

Don't forget everyone, that unless you are being fluffy in your WGBL or Lord builds, you should take a Wolf Claw instead of a Frostblade if you are taking a Storm Shield. Especially if you take Saga of the Warrior Born on him. The re-roll to hit or wound is better against any toughness except T7 or T9.

 

For a Wolf Lord vs. MEQ (Hits on 3's and opponent is T4)

 

Belt of Russ + Bolt Pistol + Frost Blade = 4+ invul save 6 attacks base = 3.333333333 kills

Belt of Russ + Bolt Pistol + Wolf Claw = 4+ invul save 5 attacks base = 2.962962963 kills

In this case the Frost Blade is better since it gets the extra attack with the bolt pistol.

 

Storm Shield and Frost Blade = 3+ invul save and 5 attacks base = 2.777777778 kills

Storm Shield and Wolf Claw = 3+ invul save and 5 attacks base = 2.962962963 kills

In this case the Wolf Claw is better since neither gets the extra attack but it can re-roll.

 

 

For a Wolf Lord vs. GEQ (Hits on 3's and opponent is T3)

 

Belt of Russ + Bolt Pistol + Frost Blade = 4+ invul save 6 attacks base = 3.333333333 kills

Belt of Russ + Bolt Pistol + Wolf Claw = 4+ invul save 5 attacks base = 3.703703704 kills (Choose re-roll to Hit)

In this case the Wolf Claw is better since it also wounds on 2+ but it can choose to re-roll to hit.

 

Storm Shield and Frost Blade = 3+ invul save and 5 attacks base = 2.777777778 kills

Storm Shield and Wolf Claw = 3+ invul save and 5 attacks base = 3.703703704 kills

In this case the Wolf Claw is better since neither gets the extra attack but it can re-roll.

 

 

I always take the storm shield because a model that expensive needs the best invul protection he can get and if you take a storm shield, the Wolf Claw is the best choice to deal damage vs. infantry.

[Aeddon]

Thanks for the write-up wolvesoffenris, I'll probably do something like this once I build my WGBL on a TWM.

[pucadubh]

Ok guys. Didn't get to fight the Orks but went up against a destroyer heavy Necron list with Nightbringer. JOTWW nailed the Nightbringer (I wanted the dice to frame that 6) and the Twc ate the troop squad on the objective. They then got tarpitted by the next troop squad for 3 turns ( burned up all my dice luck with the Nightbringer). Anyway I am starting to rethink the need for a Lord or WGBL to finish the combats quicker.

 

Claw with SS and Warrior Born is high in the plan now.

Dropping the TWC with the bolter, 2x Lone Wolves, power weapons on the GH squads and the EA on the Rhinos to pay for it. What do you all think?

 

Any similar experiences out there.

[Wispy]

Generally prefer the look of a Frost Blade in a models hands when he has a storm shield.

[Godhead]

I love the wgbl with claw and sotwb and ss. It saves me a few points at the cost of 1w and 1 attack, but with sotwb, I havent really felt the pinch. I am also a big fan of I5 as well with my TWC. It saves me making a few extra saves when he goes 1st and clears a few guys out.

[pucadubh]

I love the wgbl with claw and sotwb and ss. It saves me a few points at the cost of 1w and 1 attack, but with sotwb, I havent really felt the pinch. I am also a big fan of I5 as well with my TWC. It saves me making a few extra saves when he goes 1st and clears a few guys out.

 

Ah the devil of the fluff, I agree with Wispy in that I love the look of the Frostblade but the math hammer on the claw fares better.

 

I was wondering about dropping to a WGBL and using those points elsewhere but worried that losing the attack would weaken the performance of SotWB. Going from Lord with Frostblade and Belt of Russ down to WGBL & SS is a drop of 2 attacks per turn! What armies have you fought with this guy and can you give a bit more detail on how he performed.

Need to make a decision for next week's match ;-)

[wolvesoffenris]

I always take the Wolf Lord instead of the WGBL. The difference is 30 points for the upgrade and for that you get.

+1 attack - important for Saga of the Warrior Born and in the first round of combat.

+1 wound - clutch, the additional wound keeps him alive and dealing damage 50% longer than a WGBL.

+1 LD - this upgrade cuts the chances of a failed LD test in half, with the Lord the cavalry's chance of failing a LD test 3/36 where as a WGBL would be 6/36

+1 WS - keeps you from having to buy a wolf tooth necklace as there are very few models in the game he won't hit on 3's. A WGBL against Berzerkers hits on 4's.

 

I think it is a pretty good bargain. A WGBL is 30 points cheaper, but I think the upgraded stats are well worth the 30 point difference. Not having to purchase a wolf tooth necklace pretty much makes it a 20 point difference for +1 attack, +1 wound, and half the chance of failing leadership tests.

 

If you really need the points, I understand taking the WGBL, but I always find a way to buy the upgrade. Also, I always take 2 Fenrisian Wolves as wargear for my lord. There is nothing like the look on an opponents face when their uber assaulty IC ends up only in base contact with a wolf and can only kill those two wolves with his power weapon while your squad tears the rest of the enemy troops apart. The Thunderwolf Cavalry, the Wolf Lord (or WGBL) and the Fenrisian Wolves are all separate units in close combat when your opponent is allocating attacks. This can be used to your advantage.

[littlbitz]

I know most of you will scoff at this, but I have been using a unit of 1 and he is working well.

 

He is kitted out with a Frost Blade and a Storm shield and comes in at 105 points.

 

His job is to support the footslogging portion of my army which consists of a large GH pack and 2 Dreadnoughts.

 

When units begin to get a little to close he moves out ahead of the rest and engages them, works way more often than not.

 

Even when my opponent decides that he must die, the amount of shooting required to take him out is typically rediculous and all that gun fire on him is not being spent on the rest of the army.

[pucadubh]

OK so what about this plan vs a Chaos SM Nurgle list

 

Load out a Wolf Lord with SS, TH & SotWB and he travels with

#1 Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield

#2 Storm Shield & Bolt Pistol

#3 Close Combat Weapon & Bolt Pistol

#4 Close Combat Weapon & Bolt Pistol & Melta Bomb

 

They can take a lot of punishment and can kill pretty much anything

[Godhead]

the minus 1 to WS isn't that big a deal since both end up wearing WTN. I have only lost my lord to str 10 fist from orks (4 times)and twice to a tooled up ragnar squad with TONS of power weapons (wg in termi with wc's etc).

 

I was super reluctant to pick the WGBL over the lord for a long time as well. But if you think about it.. when you pick the battle leader you get the saga for free :). He has 4 attacks base lord has 5 so how is he losing two attacks unless you are kitting your lord out with a belt. I personally prefer the shield over the belt. a 2+/3++ has been far better to me than a 2+/4++.

 

What I have played against.

Orks (alot)

Ragnar's company of space wolves (alot as well)

Chaos space marines (oblits and deathguard)

[Mar Bloodaxe]

OK so what about this plan vs a Chaos SM Nurgle list

 

Load out a Wolf Lord with SS, TH & SotWB and he travels with

#1 Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield

#2 Storm Shield & Bolt Pistol

#3 Close Combat Weapon & Bolt Pistol

#4 Close Combat Weapon & Bolt Pistol & Melta Bomb

 

They can take a lot of punishment and can kill pretty much anything

I played a game tonight against Death Guard using a very similar set up to what you have there. I gave my WL Saga of the Beast Hunter to re-roll against the toughness 5 army. He had a Frost blade instead of a Thunder hammer. This configuration worked well. Especially against Typhus. I did have a 5 man unit of Thunder wolves. based on some of the community's posts, I tried using different armaments on my Thunder wolves for wound allocation purposes. Not sure I liked that. I felt...dirty. They did perform well though.

 

I used them in conjunction with Swift claw bikers. I think that is a good balance. The swift claws with a wolf lord leading the way, held up the lines while the Thunder wolves advanced. the enemy had to choose between the character lead bikes who were threatening, or the character lead wolves that were advancing behind.

[Lord Ragnarok]

Hmm that is good to know Mar. I was going to run the bike lord/twc lord army but felt i needed some Rune Priest umph. How many armies have you used with that tactic?

[Mar Bloodaxe]

Hmm that is good to know Mar. I was going to run the bike lord/twc lord army but felt i needed some Rune Priest umph. How many armies have you used with that tactic?

 

I truly wanted the Rune Priest in there, but I was already short on points. The fact that I don't have to take 3 HQ's per 750 points let's me get more bodies on the table. This was my first time using this configuration. I remember reading you talk about doing this and between your ideas and reading Little Bitz's battle reports, I drew my list up from inspirations of his lists. His use of SCB really got me thinking. I know some players aren't down with using the bikes but I feel that if I throw them at a unit, with an attached character, the enemy is really hard pressed to deal with them knowing that the TWC is right behind them.

 

I have enough Mr. Dandy Wolves to do 2 units of TWC. I'm hoping to incorporate the two TWC units with the SCB units. I eventually want to make an all TWC army. That is my goal. I miss the 13th company army I used to run and I think the all TWC army will give me a semblance of that army's feel. I am going to try an iron out a list that I like at 2000 points with bikes, twc, double lords, and a cheap rune priest and see what happens.

[Lord Ragnarok]

Hmm that is good to know Mar. I was going to run the bike lord/twc lord army but felt i needed some Rune Priest umph. How many games have you used with that tactic?

 

Doh! I should have restated my question as above.

[Mar Bloodaxe]

Hmm that is good to know Mar. I was going to run the bike lord/twc lord army but felt i needed some Rune Priest umph. How many games have you used with that tactic?

 

Doh! I should have restated my question as above.

 

Sure. Last night was the first time I have played using this configuration. ;)

[Lord Ragnarok]

Thanks Mar! (starts pushing Mar with a grin into the hobby store and sits him down in front of various stone faced Eldar, IG, Chaos and ork players)

[KaldCB]

I plan to use my thunderwolfs for the first time tomorrow at a 1750 point turnament.

 

Using a fully kitted wolf lord at 295 points, with 5 thunder wolfs with everyone wearing storm shields and one with powerfist at 435 points.

They do cost 730 points, but should be very fun to use.

[flyingwarmonkey]

My Personal Favorite so far is a wolf guard battle leader on a thunder wolf with saga of the hunter,SS,TH, WTN, helps alot against guard players

[Mar Bloodaxe]

My Personal Favorite so far is a wolf guard battle leader on a thunder wolf with saga of the hunter,SS,TH, WTN, helps alot against guard players

 

Saga of the Hunter

Infantry only. Some heroes are famed for their ability to hunt

across an entire continent without a single night of rest. The

character has the ability to outflank and the Stealth rule.

 

WGBL on TWM becomes a cavalry model.

[pucadubh]

I used them in conjunction with Swift claw bikers. I think that is a good balance. The swift claws with a wolf lord leading the way, held up the lines while the Thunder wolves advanced. the enemy had to choose between the character lead bikes who were threatening, or the character lead wolves that were advancing behind.

 

Hiya Mar, how did you move this group forward? If the Wolf Lord leads the way on his own was he not prioritised as a target by some serious weapons? The Lord cannot join any unit except TWC and Fenrisian Wolves while on a Thunderwolf

[Lord Ragnarok]

I used them in conjunction with Swift claw bikers. I think that is a good balance. The swift claws with a wolf lord leading the way, held up the lines while the Thunder wolves advanced. the enemy had to choose between the character lead bikes who were threatening, or the character lead wolves that were advancing behind.

 

Hiya Mar, how did you move this group forward? If the Wolf Lord leads the way on his own was he not prioritised as a target by some serious weapons? The Lord cannot join any unit except TWC and Fenrisian Wolves while on a Thunderwolf

 

I think he had two Wolf Lords. A bike lord and a TWC lord.

[Mar Bloodaxe]

I used them in conjunction with Swift claw bikers. I think that is a good balance. The swift claws with a wolf lord leading the way, held up the lines while the Thunder wolves advanced. the enemy had to choose between the character lead bikes who were threatening, or the character lead wolves that were advancing behind.

 

Hiya Mar, how did you move this group forward? If the Wolf Lord leads the way on his own was he not prioritised as a target by some serious weapons? The Lord cannot join any unit except TWC and Fenrisian Wolves while on a Thunderwolf

Hi. One TWM Lord went with the TWC, the other Lord on bike went with the Swift Claws.