Bloodclaw Looking to Spend His Drinking Money!

[BlackSheep]

Brand new wolf player (complete with "new wolf" smell) here. I've been slowly building up my force and I've been looking at the Skyclaws. Now, my army as it stands revolves around 3 long fang packs, Rune Priest (Njal if points are available), and 3-5 Grey Hunter Squads in Rhinos/Razorbacks (usually 2-1 rhino/razor mix). I'm looking to add a little assault punch without resorting to big, expensive, difficult to procure TWC units (plus I think wolves on wolves with wolf claws is one wolf too wolf :P).

 

Anyway, I've been looking at a mini - "ClawStar" so to speak. Skyclaws, Wolf Priest, and a Wolf Lord if points permit. Any ideas on how to run it. So far, I've been thinking:

 

Wolf Priest - jump pack, melta bomb 130

10 SkyClaws - MoTW, power weapon 210

 

Total: 340

 

Now, I've been thinking about what else to run in this configuration. I think a Wolf Guard with PF/JP is in order, but I would also consider a Wolf Lord or Battle Leader. I like the idea of at least one I5 character in there to pounce on inbound Sanguinary Priests/Librarians using Descent of Angels. Of course, I would also love to add the 5 more allowed Skyclaws in there as well, but then we're really pushing points.

 

Any ideas? Preferably I would like to keep it at 500 points or below, but I'm not adverse to pushing it into the 650-700 point range if sufficient justification exists.

[Sarapham]

One little tidbit before the advice comes. You cannot add a Wolf Guard pack leader to skyclaws, and this has not been addressed in any FAQ so no it is not an omission... just a heads up.

[Union.Jack]

I would use swiftclaws instead mate.

 

A friend sent me this tactica written by littlbitz.

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...howtopic=212788

 

I used them at the weekend to great success. My opponent ignored them at first but once they started destroying his force he had to turn everything around to deal with them and I claimed the objectives.

 

Well worth using

[Arez]

One little tidbit before the advice comes. You cannot add a Wolf Guard pack leader to skyclaws, and this has not been addressed in any FAQ so no it is not an omission... just a heads up.

look at the codex page 85.it states there that a Wolf guard can take a jump pack and the only reason a wolf guard would take a jump pack is if he's commanding a skyclaw pack.

[Blacksad]

that would be an HQ choise, namely the wolf guard battle leader. there's a difference with Wolf Guard, whom can be found on page 86, where it is stated that they can only join Blood Claws, Swiftclaw Bike Packs, Grey Hunter, Wolf Scouts and Long Fangs, not Skyclaw Assault Packs

[Forté]

Just checked my codex and standard WG can take jump packs. Just looks like skyclaws was missed of the list in the side box.

[hendrik]

the wolf guard don't join the skyclaws! isn't it obvious promotion to the skyclaws is actually more some sort of disgrace? skyclaws are so unreliable and thick headed no wolf lord would risk losing one of his senior wolf guard to them, he might just die in the process while trying to make the pups obey a direct command. atleast that's how i interpreted it but it's a while since i read their codex entry

[Forté]

I see your point Hendrik. But then why be able to give a WG a jump pack in the first place?

[techmarine Azuris]

Claw deathstar LR crusader 15 BC 2 melta/flamer fist and WP or 14 BC WP WG and fist, WP is a must for those rerolls :tu:

[Sarapham]

I see your point Hendrik. But then why be able to give a WG a jump pack in the first place?

 

So you can make a rediculously expensive Wolf Guard assault squad, because wolf guard are supposed to be able to do everything.

[FenrisWolf]

Expensive WG unit but a much better jump infantry unit than skyclaws.

[Sarapham]

Expensive WG unit but a much better jump infantry unit than skyclaws.

 

Better at attacking.. if you give them even more expensive equipment. However a for a Wolf guard with jump pack you get just over 2 Skyclaws, and a single WG with Jumppack is actually pretty much the same offensively (except against WS<4) as a single Skyclaws the turn they charge, only winning out in the next rounds of combat. And seeing as they die just as easily, except with a Storm Shield which makes them even more expensive and does not help against anti-infantry fire a Skyclaw is a pretty good buy as long as they get a leader of some sorts, preferably a Wolf Priest.

[skoll]

Brand new wolf player (complete with "new wolf" smell) here. I've been slowly building up my force and I've been looking at the Skyclaws. Now, my army as it stands revolves around 3 long fang packs, Rune Priest (Njal if points are available), and 3-5 Grey Hunter Squads in Rhinos/Razorbacks (usually 2-1 rhino/razor mix). I'm looking to add a little assault punch without resorting to big, expensive, difficult to procure TWC units (plus I think wolves on wolves with wolf claws is one wolf too wolf :P).

 

Anyway, I've been looking at a mini - "ClawStar" so to speak. Skyclaws, Wolf Priest, and a Wolf Lord if points permit. Any ideas on how to run it. So far, I've been thinking:

 

Wolf Priest - jump pack, melta bomb 130

10 SkyClaws - MoTW, power weapon 210

 

Total: 340

 

Now, I've been thinking about what else to run in this configuration. I think a Wolf Guard with PF/JP is in order, but I would also consider a Wolf Lord or Battle Leader. I like the idea of at least one I5 character in there to pounce on inbound Sanguinary Priests/Librarians using Descent of Angels. Of course, I would also love to add the 5 more allowed Skyclaws in there as well, but then we're really pushing points.

 

Any ideas? Preferably I would like to keep it at 500 points or below, but I'm not adverse to pushing it into the 650-700 point range if sufficient justification exists.

 

First of all I would like to point out that you sir are now a "wolf in sheep's clothing".

 

Now In all seriousness, I'd go with the blood claws in the land raider myself, or if your really set on the sky claws, do what you have said and for the shiz and giggles add a wolf lord with saga of the warrior born and a frost blade, and watch the bodies hit the floor and the attacks stack.

[Nrthstar]

I think Hendrik is just upset because his lord tried to promote him to lead a Skyclaw pack once.... :rolleyes:

 

They ain't lying though, 15 BC's in a raider with a wolf priest or hell, Ragnar and you have a killer unit. Not one I use, but still a killer unit!

[BlackSheep]

Thanks for the replies. I really wanted to go with Sky Claws so I could use all those Jump Packs I've got laying around. I suppose I could magnetize and switch on at off. The problem with the LR (for me anyway) is the fact that you're putting a minimum investment of 545 points for the WP, 13 BC, and an LRC. Adding in a WL or WGBL with gear bump that up to the 750ish range. Hmm... will think about it. I suppose at the 2000ish range that still leaves me enough to not feel like I'm all eggs in one big basket.

[hendrik]

I think Hendrik is just upset because his lord tried to promote him to lead a Skyclaw pack once.... ^_^

 

They ain't lying though, 15 BC's in a raider with a wolf priest or hell, Ragnar and you have a killer unit. Not one I use, but still a killer unit!

phah nrthstar! grey hunters aren't exactly wolf guard are they? ;) but i've seen lukas join the skyclaws, only to be booted out of them after a day by the great wolf himself! to this day only whispers of what lukas did with the jetpack exist, although logan did have a partially burned down beard that day!

 

more seriously, really, read the entry of the sky claws. these guys are the misfits, the lukas'es-to-be. no wonder no wolf guard trusts them!

[Jonas Stromclaw]

Skyclaws with a Wolf Priest is an excellent unit to have around, especially if you ever want to play some smaller games. I personally like to give them the powerfist instead of the power weapon for MCs or T5 plague marines/bikers. Also, the flamer is a good upgrade as it doesn't roll to hit. Magnetizing the jumppacks just makes it better as you will eventually want to run them as regular claws. Good Luck.

[hendrik]

i'd say that skyclaws could even be used without any leading character, although you'll have to play them somewhat more tacticall. how about having them as a flanking force when your mechanised list rushed forward, or use them as a tarpit unit to halt an opponent squad you need to take care of later. it all has to doo with impressing your opponent, in most occasions(unless you're facing great players) your opponent will concentrate on the what he deems most dangerous threat. say you field these 2 lovely vindicators and a mechanised force of greyhunters etc. a lot of players will try to concentrate most of their firepower on those vindicators giving your skyclaws the chance to sneak up towards the battleline at the same rate your rhinos do. you could even hide them behind the rhinos. once the grey hunters disembark and bring rapid fire death to your opponent your swiftclaws can charge the units they didn't take out or tie up another unit

 

edit: damn, thinking about using skyclaws this way makes me want to field them!

[Araith]

A large pack of Skyclaws with a Wolf Priest is a powerful assault unit, that's for sure. As Jonas Stromclaw said however, I would give them a fist instead of a power weapon. Blood Claws with their two additional attacks on the charge make good use of it. In addition I'd mark one as a Wulfen. If you gear them as an assault unit, go all the way.

 

As regards your thoughts on using other characters to lead the unit instead of a Wolf Priest, I understand your wish for an I5 character. I run a large pack of Swiftclaws in my army and for a time I've had them led by a Wolf Lord with a frost blade in addition to a Wolf Priest. However, with a pack of 10 Skyclaws that all make use of the priest's re-roll, I certainly wouldn't leave behind that old crow. Then I'd rather consider the investment of running both a Wolf Priest and a lord to lead the unit.

 

Another configuration you could consider is one with a simple and cheap pack of 5 Skyclaws, one marked as a Wulfen, perhaps with a flamer. No characters. Runs at 110 points. The unit isn't as powerful as a larger unit is by far, but it's also not meant as an assault force on itself. Such a unit would rather be used to run up behind your Grey Hunters' rhinos and support their elder brethren in combat with its 20+ attacks.

[Eric the Green]

I have loads of fun with my skyclaws. They're a bit of a glass hammer in assault, but their speed allows them to usually pick a nice juicy target to kill. I usually hide them behind my rhino rush until its time for them to strike.

 

I run a wolf priest with them of course. I figure the priest is the only one willing to command such rejects, likely because he feels responsible for the claws he's supposed to train.

 

In a 2k game I once ran skyclaws and blood claws in a land raider, they both had wolf priests, and the ones in the raider had a wolfguard with claw too. It was very killy.