Jump to content

Skyclaws! Your verdict on them.


Lars Skywolf

Recommended Posts

Ive got skyclaws in my army list and I want to know what everybody who has used them to give me there verdict and tactic's on them. I think they rock but I know its a matter of opinion and im curious about people experiences with them (using and against). Ive got 2 squads in my army of 5. The first has a Powerfist and Meltagun, and the other has a power weapon and flamer. I use as mobile tank busters and the other as a horde slayer and only 1 squad will have a character to negate the fact that if im too close to the enemy I will forsake my shooting phase and charge my default, the headstrong rule it was called (if somthing like imperial guard, tau or tank heavy space marine armies its the tankbusters, horde slayer if orks or tyranids).

 

Much regards,

Lars Skywolf.

 

P.S: this isn't my real name, its an alias.

Link to comment
https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/208763-skyclaws-your-verdict-on-them/
Share on other sites

Man if you had the word Wolf in your name somewhere it would be awesome...

 

Ultimately in the few games I have used Skyclaws I find them to be well worth their points... I don't give them a character, I don't give them any fancy weapons, I don't deep strike them in... I just point them at the enemy and let them wreak as much havoc as is possible before they die. Usually end up bagging something expensive.

I've found them to be a real hit and miss unit.

 

The inability to stick a jet-packin' wolf guard with them lets them down in a big way, but if you use them primarily as a suicide squad, throwing them at horde units or using them to tar-pit, then they work fine. If you wanna make them just a tad' more effective. Throw a Chaplain in with them for the rerolls.

 

Take em' cheap, take em' choppy (There's no time for I1) and take em' to the front line.

 

Just dont count on them too much.

I have found them to be good as a distraction. 10 of them with 0 upgrades and setting them loose while keeping more than 6 inches away can be hilarious as an opponent tries to get something that won't die to their assault between them and the squishy units.

 

Aside from that the only use I see for them is as a Jump Pack Wolf Lord delivery system with the, imo, mandatory Wolf Priest for the rerolls. While this can hurt, its too much of an eggs in one basket approach.

I often take a small squad of 5 with a Power Weapon and Mark of the Wulfen. They work well when used correctly. Unlike other Codexies' assault marines the Skyclaws don't have the leadership or stats to be front line assault units, but I like them as a flanking or disruption unit. I add a squad when I have some points to fill and they generally perform well as a distraction or to tie up enemy heavy weapons or even support other assaults. If necessary they can also be a suicide squad used to tie an enemy unit up until the rest of the army can reach the foe and finish them off. Whatever they wind up doing they are in short your basic support unit. There for their speed and relatively low cost. I leave the real work to my Blood Claws or Grey Hunters but when I have a small but important task to do or need to buy myself some time the Skyclaws work pretty darn well.
I use my skyclaws in a ten man pack w/flamer, powerfist, and MotW and an attached wolfpriest. That makes them equally able to take on MEQ or GEQ and cause lots of havoc. However, I personally think that five man squads just don't have enough staying power. I originally used two five man squads kitted out similar to the OPs and they generally died horribly. The ten man squad plus priest makes a mess of everything and sometimes even has a couple members alive at the end of the game.
Nice responses from everybody. Thanks for saying I've set it up well. If i was called Skywolf it would be cool but Its not so. I agree that the fact that you cant add a wolf guard a pain in the ass and that skyclaws a hit and miss. I have had several losses lately but I haven't been sleeping lately. So i don't know if its my list or my lack of sleep.

When I run them I usually go wargear heavy. I run with the PF, MoTW, Flamer and attach a Wolfpriest. I think 7 of them with a wolfpriest is plenty but more could be added to taste.

 

If you would like the ability to pop tanks, swap the flamer for a melta and give the priest a combi melta. I think the PF is essential, the motw is awesome. Being able to give them preferred enemy against a certain unit and being fast enough to pick that unit out is a lethal combo.

If you feel thats likely to be a problem you can always choose not to shoot it.

Sure, as with all the other weapons, i just feel that Melta might be a better weapon to have.

See, and I dislike giving them melta because of the BS 3. *shrugs* But of course, your mileage may vary eh?

My army rarely takes to the field without my Skyclaws (10 man, power fist, flamer) and their Wolf Priest is always there to keep the pups in line.

I tend to use them as a counter-attack unit, hanging back until the enemy hit my Grey Hunter's kill zone, then leap forward and claim skulls for Khor... ahh,... pelts for Russ. Yes, that's what I meant.

I love Skyclaws, a ten man pack with Power Weapon, MotW and Meltagun is what I run in games of 1500+ They always get a Wolf Priest and in larger games also a WL with Power Fist/Frost Blade combo, expensive but fun.

 

My Skyclaws have pretty much managed to pop a Transport per game with their Meltagun, spilling their contents for assault, so I definitely prefer it over a Flamer but personal preference. Normally my other elements have taken out the transport

Seeing as TWC are not available as models from GW and I do have a good number of Skyclaws available due to collecting them from older edition models...

 

I'd say use them as a cheap, ten-man unit with whatever upgrades you like, send a Wolf Priest with them (Clearly with JP) and whatever else in WP upgrades you care to take to make them nasty.

 

I tend to find that Fists can work well on the charge with a WP; it's the aftermath that can be a problem. While all that is said however, rerolls on the PFist may work out depending, but not always.

Skyclaws would be one of the best units in the 'dex if they could take a WGL. As it is, they're mediocre in a highly competitive slot.

 

Wait, highly competitive slot? Fast Attack seems like the least competitive slot we have right now.

Depends on how you play it- Wildfire plays heavy on his FA choices, and it works well for him as I hear. If you go for a fast army then units like Dreads and WG are going to be a bit dubious in value while your FA slots will fill up immediately.

 

Landspeeders, Thunderwolves, BC Bikers, are all decent units, and frankly its just hard to beat a Typhoon these days.

 

Of course there is some overlap- the IP on a TWM for instance, or WG Bkers... though they are so horribly over priced its not even funny.

So far I have done a full squad of 10 with powerfist and a WP (I sub mine with WH Serpahim and call them Valkyries; I know how original) and got to say they hit hard. In a tourney I used them against a 28 strong Ork mob. I think I killed some where of 15 or more Orks they broke and they chase down resulted in destroy. Man nothing like seeing a flank open up after that.

Right now I am using TWC, if I wasn't using them I would be putting Skyclaws in all the time. Each there own I guess.

 

Wolflord Bloodstone

Skyclaws would be one of the best units in the 'dex if they could take a WGL. As it is, they're mediocre in a highly competitive slot.

 

Wait, highly competitive slot? Fast Attack seems like the least competitive slot we have right now.

Depends on how you play it- Wildfire plays heavy on his FA choices, and it works well for him as I hear. If you go for a fast army then units like Dreads and WG are going to be a bit dubious in value while your FA slots will fill up immediately.

 

Landspeeders, Thunderwolves, BC Bikers, are all decent units, and frankly its just hard to beat a Typhoon these days.

 

Of course there is some overlap- the IP on a TWM for instance, or WG Bkers... though they are so horribly over priced its not even funny.

 

What he said. FA is almost always the first area that fills up in my lists. I'm always having to make hard choices there, more than any other section.

 

By contrast, unlike most people I'm not terribly fond of the SW Elites section. I thing Wolf Scouts are overpriced and not redundant enough, Iron Priests and Lone Wolves are crippled by not having transport options, and with the current mech-heavy meta Dreads just aren't doing it for me (though I would say they're my favorite of the available Elites options, after a few WG to be parceled out to squads).

Typhoon- 90pts for a heavy bolter and a pair of missile launchers that can get a bead on any target you want, and is absolute murder against hordes and effective against most vehicles.

 

Once you run a pair, youll wonder what you did without them.

I guess it depends really, Thunder Wolves are obiviously better then for the 300 point range, which is what maxed out skyclaws tend to do.

 

That being said, not tried a Typhoon yet, and I imagine the Space Wolves would find it an ideal assignement for those rebelious blood claws. High speed? Check, suicidally Light Armour? Check. High risk missions drawing all sorts of terrible firepower? Check. Sounds a match made in heaven to me. XD

I guess it depends really, Thunder Wolves are obiviously better then for the 300 point range, which is what maxed out skyclaws tend to do.

 

That being said, not tried a Typhoon yet, and I imagine the Space Wolves would find it an ideal assignement for those rebelious blood claws. High speed? Check, suicidally Light Armour? Check. High risk missions drawing all sorts of terrible firepower? Check. Sounds a match made in heaven to me. XD

 

Though it's Grey Hunters (fortunately) who pilot them :yes:

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.