Which do you prefer and why?

[jjfelber]

Thunderhammer or Powerfist?

 

What do you see as the pros and cons of each?

How do you use them?

 

 

Example:

9GHs take 1 PF and they are joined by a TH wolfguard.

 

or

 

I never take a PF in a GH pack because you only get one attack.

I take a PF on a wolfguard for the 2 attacks.

[MaveriK]

Chainfist! ... oh wait, err I mean Thunder Hammer

[Godhead]

I have a hard time justifying the points for just one attack in the second round of a combat with just a greyhunter or bloodclaw. So I never take a fist on those guys.

 

I typically just take fists on the packleaders. if you take a TH/combi weapon or th/ss then you've made a 3+ (or 3++) model with only 1 wound really expensive. I justify not taking the hammers by using the extra points for the combi weapon which lets the whole GH pack be a bit more versatile.

 

I will take TH's over a fist everytime on a TWC or IC simply because they gets lots of attacks and then they can be used against nasty multiple wound things like Hive Tyrants etc and after the 1st round of combat, you'll get to attack either simultaneously with those units or before them with the non hammer models which could theoretically finish a combat before the hammer is needed again. Hammers on these units are good vs vehicles too as it will shake them even if it doesn't destroy them.

[slmellon]

Cant say never take PFs with the GHs...Have you ever gone toe to to with a Wraithlord only to have your WG w PF killed first round? And then get the rest who cant do anything to the Wraithlord desimated because the are stuck in? Its fifteen points I'm willing to spend.

[Chapter Master Ignis Domus]

Thunder Hammers are better than power fists in every way. They have the same bonuses and detriments, plus have their initiative 1/shaken rule. I wouldn't take the power fist on hunters unless they aren't being joined by a WG with TH. Sure the Thunder Hammer is a bit pricy, but it is worth it in my opinion and plus the Wolves's thunder hammers look cool.

[Grey Mage]

I prefer powerfists because I can take them on GHs.

 

On WG its a tossup, depends on the points I have, but a single thunderhammer is never a bad idea just for the cool factor.

[Grimtooth]

Powerfists are always in my GH packs. I can't dictate what is going after my GH packs when they are on an objective or tasked with holding a flank, my opponent will do that. On several occasions it is the powerfist GH that is finishing of the Tervigon/Trygon Prime/Wraithlord/Dread in close combat where otherwise it would have been the waste of a GH pack against an enemy I could not wound.

 

Now as far as the one con that many people point out for the powerfist, I think that obly having 1 attack in subsequent rounds of combat is made moot because of our Counterattack special rule. You get two attacks when you charge and a high chance of two attacks when getting charged. Combined with use of a wolf standard (which should always be present) my powerfists always seem to be the extra wounds at the end of combat that push me over for a sure win in close combat.

 

Thunderhammers have their own place in my game. As I never use WGPL in my GH packs, they are not there nor when I use my BC (WGPL with dual WC). I only use TH in WGTDA packs, Thunderlord, Lone Wolf builds, and some TWC builds. Those are my heavy hitters, character/montrous killers, that when a thunderhammer is present, it will cause some wounds, but also serve a utilitarian role of srunning the mob to I1.

[Wispy]

honestly it's a question of style. Sometimes I'll spend the extra points just so a model looks cooler.

[Wildfire]

I'd only take a TH in a SW list if I had a few extra points, or if I had an extremely tough character. 95% of the time, a powerfist is plenty.

[Logain the Ranger]

Doesn't anyone put a Mark of the Wulfen on their powerfist in their Grey Hunter squads? It positively wrecks enemies.

[Grey Mage]

Doesn't anyone put a Mark of the Wulfen on their powerfist in their Grey Hunter squads? It positively wrecks enemies.

No, it really doesnt.

 

Because you cant use the PF if you do- so you just added 25pts to the price of a model without increasing its effectiveness one iota.

[WG Vrox]

For a WG who is joining a geared up wolf scout unit I like the combi-melta / TH. Just gives me the added securtity he can take on anything that maybe in the back field, best for Nids and IG.

 

For a WG who has joined a GH squad in a Rhino the PF is the most point effective.

 

For a IC there is no substitue for a SS/TH. I have made the arguement in the past and will continue to do so that loosing Init-5 is worth the extra Str and effect the TH offers. Arjac being the king of said combo.

 

If a WG is in TDA then always the CF option.

 

I never take a GH with a PF always MotW instead. If I plan to put the GH unit into CC right away, such as in a DP or LR then they are joined by a WG in TDA with Combi-Melta and Chainfist. Never a TH or PF.

 

A Lone Wolf I would go with a TH over a PF unless in TDA then always a CF.

 

Vrox

[Orphus]

Thunder Hammer, for forcing enemies to strike at I1 the turn after.

If it's a matter of points then PF but if points arn't an issue then TH is better. Of course taste can come into it to; you might not want the guard lugging the hammer around but it's really down to whatever feels right.

Just to clear the MotW bit up, the model with the mark does not get benefits from any close combat weapons so no D6+1 fist attacks, although he does get rending. And with rending it is possible to hurt/remove weapons off those stronger beasties.

[Grey Mage]

Perhaps thats what he meant, but it doesnt look like it. And its not like you can switch between the two..... :s.

[Gerwulf]

Cant say never take PFs with the GHs...Have you ever gone toe to to with a Wraithlord only to have your WG w PF killed first round? And then get the rest who cant do anything to the Wraithlord desimated because the are stuck in? Its fifteen points I'm willing to spend.

 

How can the WG be singled out? You should have enough buffer GH so the WG dies last...

[the jeske]

maybe he plays 5GH+WG in razors and always gets mulit charged by WL tailored for hth.

[Valerian]

Thunderhammer or Powerfist?

 

What do you see as the pros and cons of each?

 

Pros for Thunderhammer:

 

1. Stun Effect (against vehicles and Wounded models that you don't kill)

2. Look Cool

 

Cons for Thunderhammer:

 

1. Costs 5 points more

 

How do you use them?

 

I use a mixture of both throughout the army. It is my policy to have at least one high-strength SCCW in every unit (with the exception of Long Fangs). They kill everything better than Strength 4 weapons, and there are many enemy units that S4 won't even scratch.

 

1. My four Grey Hunter packs each have a Hunter with a Power Fist.

2. My Swift Claws pack has a model with a Power Fist.

3. My two Long Fangs packs do not have a model with a Power Fist, but I ensure I keep other units close enough to support them.

4. I've got 11 "new" Wolf Guard, and of those two have Chain Fists (in TDA), one has a Power Fist (in PA), and two have Thunderhammers (in PA), while the rest have a mixture of regular CCWs, Power Weapons, and Wolf Claws.

 

Since Wolf Guard can be assigned however I like prior to the game, I've tried to build them such that I have maximum flexibility. Often, this means that my footslogging Grey Hunter packs will have both a Power Fist and a Thunder Hammer in the unit, giving me 5x Strength 8 attacks on the Charge or Counter-Attack, which I am perfectly happy with. Am I concerned that a the Grey Hunter only gets a single attack after the first round of combat? No, not one bit; +1 Power Fist attacks each round of combat is much better than +0 Power Fist attacks, especially against MEQs and other armies with good Toughness and Armor Saves. These weapons cause Instant Death on most multi-Wound models, and many more kills thoughout a game than a standard CCW - against the right opponents they will almost always be well-worth the 25-30 point investment. Additionally, in larger units, they are easier to hide and protect, allowing them to last throughout the game.

 

 

Regards,

 

Valerian

[DV8]

Cant say never take PFs with the GHs...Have you ever gone toe to to with a Wraithlord only to have your WG w PF killed first round? And then get the rest who cant do anything to the Wraithlord desimated because the are stuck in? Its fifteen points I'm willing to spend.

 

 

Cant say never take PFs with the GHs...Have you ever gone toe to to with a Wraithlord only to have your WG w PF killed first round? And then get the rest who cant do anything to the Wraithlord desimated because the are stuck in? Its fifteen points I'm willing to spend.

 

How can the WG be singled out? You should have enough buffer GH so the WG dies last...

 

1. A Power Fist is 25 points, not 15.

2. If it's a single unit that small, and the Wolf Guard is dead, then it's a moot point about being stuck in because you're unit is dead.

3. If you managed to have multiple units locked by a Wraithlord and you only have one Power Fist that dies/died so quickly, I think you have other bigger problems than being stuck in with a Wraithlord that you can't hurt.

 

 

DV8