Shopping for Space Wolves

[Grimtooth]

We have all seen the posts and a lot of us have posted sugesstions in those posts about the above-mentioned topic. However, it always seems to pop up on a weekly basis so maybe a link is needed in the stickied FAQ (which is also in need of some cleaning up).

 

Now I am going to be writing this topic in terms of efficiency and cost effectiveness of purchases while also trying to put out an army to actually put on the table.

 

So the basic purchase will be the Space Wolves Battleforce;

 

2 Space Wolves Packs

1 Space Marine Scout Squad

1 Drop Pod

 

Good start, but GW in their infinite marketing wisdom really doesn't give you much to put on the table. So to fill it out the next purchases would be the following;

 

2 Space Marine Tactical Squads

2 Space Marine Devastator Squads

 

Now this puts a basic foot slogging force on the table. With the above purchases we are able to easily field the following build;

 

Wolf Lord (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

Rune Priest (same as above)

 

Wolf Scouts (SM Scout squad/SW pack) 2

 

GH x10 meltagun x2 (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

GH x10 meltagun x2 (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

GH x10 plasmagun x2 (SW pack/SM squad)

GH x10 flamer x2 (SW pack/SM squad)

 

Long Fangs x6; ML x3, LC x2 (SW pack/SM squads/Dev squad)

Long Fangs x6; PC x3, HB x2 (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

 

The last Long Fang is completely optional and the bodies combined with the remaining SW and SM bits could easily make a small Wolf Guard retinue for your Wolf Lord. The drop pod can be used with any of the other packs are if you do go with the Wolf Guard retinue, your Lord and WG can drop in where they like on turn 1.

 

PART 2: Expanding your army

 

A lot of time when people on the forums are giving advice to newer SW players, it is based on personal build opinion. The best advice comes from those that tell the newer player to spend some time with the basic SW list to find out what exactly they want. From this point on, depending on what direction you want to go really ends up with just flat purchaes. There is a couple of exceptions:

 

1. Always buy Razorbacks, NOT Rhinos. The price difference is neglible to have the option of running either.

2. Magnetize your Land Raider Crusader. Swapping weapons out is worth the time needed to do it.

 

Can't do much with drop pods, can't do much with WGTDA boxes, can't do much with Preds or Vindi unless you buy the bits separately for Razorbacks and magnetize.

 

Comments, thoughts, critiscm!

[TiguriusX]

If you are on a budget make sure you research the pricing and wait for deals.

 

GW costs the most and the hobby stores usually offer 20% off

 

If you have time watch Ebay auctions and jump on items that didn't generate attention

 

Today I saw a SW Grey hunter pack sell for $15.55 + $5 shipping. GW retail price is $37.25 before shipping. Amazon is 29.75 before shipping.

 

Just to give a rough idea on what you can expect to pay etc.

[Wulfebane]

You might want to mention some and/or scenarios, like "wolf lord and/or wolf priest", etc. Also, would you want to bother making any mention to the other options in the codex, since the intent is for sticky purposes? Options such as lone wolves, twc, land speeders, sky/swiftclaws? I know they may not be the popular route for some, but then again, what's popular for one may not be for another.

 

I'm confused about the "can't do much with WGTDA boxes" comment. Isn't having just 5 TDA wolf guard worth it? I seldom field more TDA than that in a 2000pt or less army. Not to mention all the nice conversion accessories.

 

Also, I agree with TiguriusX. I was fortunate to win 4x SW packs bulk for half the retail price by bidding on Ebay.

 

 

 

Oh, and I'm all for this getting stickied (at which point, I'll just delete this entry).

[Marshal Wilhelm]

Chaos Space marines and Khorne Berzerkers can provide some cool bits for Wolves. As long as you have good amount of both generic and Wolf marine parts to scatter them into, you get more variety in chainswords, chainaxes and bolters. Bolters with delicious belt feeds.... yum.

And cool banner polls for perching something Wolfy on the top of.

 

Just remember to descum those cursed arrows from them, and you add fresh savagery to your force.

 

I'd hazard this is more than at a beginners level, but if people don't know they can branch out, they can conform to an imaginary mould....

 

I'd say this is still cost effective, though the modelling skill is higher.

 

+++

 

Once you start thinking of using Assault marines [for the cool legs and variety in chainswords] you are paying nearly as much for 5 AM as you are for 10 Tacs, and so the cost effectiveness basically halves....

Boo!

 

+++

 

Is the Marine Battleforce worth getting?

15 Tacs - one full squad and combat.

5 Assault Marines

5 Scouts

1 Rhino

 

It costs $AU180, which would be $AU254 if you bought them separately....

Which is a blow-out of some 140%

[red_starrise]

I definitely think the WG Termies are worth buying, esp if they already have AoBR as w/ just a bit off work it gives up to 10 WG/HQ termies or termie bodies & legs are pretty affordable from Battlewagon Bits.

 

The venerable dreadnought is a good kit, again if you already have AoBR it gives you almost all the right arm weapons available in the dex, almost.

 

I'd say if you're wanting to run a swiftclaw heavy force then the Ravenwing Battleforce is a good buy also.

[Levitas]

Just a tip on combining boxes and paint time.

 

If you use only wolf bits they can take almost double the amount of time to paint due to the wolf bling. Combine vanilla marines with the wolf set to keep a wolf flair but cut down drastically on paint time. For HQs and Wolf Guard etc just use all wolf kit to make them stand out. But every single model does not need to look like they just got a buy-one-get-one free at 'Trinkets to go'.

 

I'll also say that throwing in select bits from the berserker and fantasy battle chaos stuff really adds a lot of flair and variety. The major bits sites also do stripped down Rhinos and cheap bikes for a steal compared to GW.

[Valerian]

I definitely think the WG Termies are worth buying, esp if they already have AoBR as w/ just a bit off work it gives up to 10 WG/HQ termies or termie bodies & legs are pretty affordable from Battlewagon Bits.

 

The venerable dreadnought is a good kit, again if you already have AoBR it gives you almost all the right arm weapons available in the dex, almost.

 

I'd say if you're wanting to run a swiftclaw heavy force then the Ravenwing Battleforce is a good buy also.

 

The Wolf Guard Terminator pack is certainly worth buying, but not until you are ready to expand the army. I agree with Brother Ramses that they are probably not justified as part of your starting "core" of a Space Wolves army. Essentially, the only units that you will likely make with the WGT pack box are, obviously, Wolf Guard Terminators, and also Lone Wolves. Both of these units are Elite FOC choices, and certainly worthy of adding to your force once you are ready to expand options from the core of your army, which will be primarily several Grey Hunter packs, and a couple Long Fang packs, with transportation, and an HQ choice to lead them.

 

Valerian

[Marshal Wilhelm]

I'd say if you're wanting to run a swiftclaw heavy force then the Ravenwing Battleforce is a good buy also.

 

Definitely.

You effectively get the ABike for free when you buy the two lots of 3 Bikes, Speeder and ABike in the Ravenwing box, compared to buying them separately.

 

I know Bike lists are not that popular for Wolves, but for those interested in such a force, the Ravenwing box set is definitely the way to do it.

[Valerian]

I'd say if you're wanting to run a swiftclaw heavy force then the Ravenwing Battleforce is a good buy also.

 

Definitely.

You effectively get the ABike for free when you buy the two lots of 3 Bikes, Speeder and ABike in the Ravenwing box, compared to buying them separately.

 

I know Bike lists are not that popular for Wolves, but for those interested in such a force, the Ravenwing box set is definitely the way to do it.

 

If the rumored rules for 6th Edition pan out, folks might start using Swift Claws (and even Sky Claws) a little more than they currently do. The recommendation for the Ravenwing Battleforce is certainly valid, again as an expansion to the core force.

 

V

[Ramza]

Just a tip on combining boxes and paint time.

 

If you use only wolf bits they can take almost double the amount of time to paint due to the wolf bling. Combine vanilla marines with the wolf set to keep a wolf flair but cut down drastically on paint time. For HQs and Wolf Guard etc just use all wolf kit to make them stand out. But every single model does not need to look like they just got a buy-one-get-one free at 'Trinkets to go'.

 

This is the best tip for any new SW players. I recently just purchased a whole bunch of SW kits for a new army and having to paint all of the wolf bling is taking forever! Also another reason for mixing kits is for meltaguns, the SW pack doesn't include melta's only plasma guns.

[WhoaDirty]

I like this thread, but can anyone help out the Loganwing players please? :tu:

 

I picked up a WGT box today and I see that it does not include a CML. Is it recommended to buy one WGT box and one regular SM box of termies and then buy CML bits if I wanted to go heavy on the CMLs?

[hmk17]

CML bits are going to run you a lot.

 

Best option is to convert off of easily obtained missile launchers, like Typhoon Missiles from the landspeeder kit. Those can usually be found in decent bundles for cheap.

[arizonajirt]

It take a long time to paint models made entirely out of of SW pack boxes. I spent about 6 hours the other day painting a Wolf Lord and a TDA Wolf Guard. I then spent about 8 hours the next day painting 5 GH. This army is going to take forever to paint.

[Wulfebane]

It take a long time to paint models made entirely out of of SW pack boxes. I spent about 6 hours the other day painting a Wolf Lord and a TDA Wolf Guard. I then spent about 8 hours the next day painting 5 GH. This army is going to take forever to paint.

 

Potentially, every army can be that way. Depends on your style, skill, and effort. On average, it takes me probably 6-8+ hours per model, including regular Grey Hunters, and then sometimes I'm in the zone and bust out a highly detailed IC in half the time.

[Grimtooth]

We have all seen the posts and a lot of us have posted sugesstions in those posts about the above-mentioned topic. However, it always seems to pop up on a weekly basis so maybe a link is needed in the stickied FAQ (which is also in need of some cleaning up).

 

Now I am going to be writing this topic in terms of efficiency and cost effectiveness of purchases while also trying to put out an army to actually put on the table.

 

So the basic purchase will be the Space Wolves Battleforce;

 

2 Space Wolves Packs

1 Space Marine Scout Squad

1 Drop Pod

 

Good start, but GW in their infinite marketing wisdom really doesn't give you much to put on the table. So to fill it out the next purchases would be the following;

 

2 Space Marine Tactical Squads

2 Space Marine Devastator Squads

 

Now this puts a basic foot slogging force on the table. With the above purchases we are able to easily field the following build;

 

Wolf Lord (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

Rune Priest (same as above)

 

Wolf Scouts (SM Scout squad/SW pack) 2

 

GH x10 meltagun x2 (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

GH x10 meltagun x2 (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

GH x10 plasmagun x2 (SW pack/SM squad)

GH x10 flamer x2 (SW pack/SM squad)

 

Long Fangs x6; ML x3, LC x2 (SW pack/SM squads/Dev squad)

Long Fangs x6; PC x3, HB x2 (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

 

The last Long Fang is completely optional and the bodies combined with the remaining SW and SM bits could easily make a small Wolf Guard retinue for your Wolf Lord. The drop pod can be used with any of the other packs are if you do go with the Wolf Guard retinue, your Lord and WG can drop in where they like on turn 1.

 

PART 2: Expanding your army

 

A lot of time when people on the forums are giving advice to newer SW players, it is based on personal build opinion. The best advice comes from those that tell the newer player to spend some time with the basic SW list to find out what exactly they want. From this point on, depending on what direction you want to go really ends up with just flat purchaes. There is a couple of exceptions:

 

1. Always buy Razorbacks, NOT Rhinos. The price difference is neglible to have the option of running either.

2. Magnetize your Land Raider Crusader. Swapping weapons out is worth the time needed to do it.

 

Can't do much with drop pods, can't do much with WGTDA boxes, can't do much with Preds or Vindi unless you buy the bits separately for Razorbacks and magnetize.

 

Comments, thoughts, critiscm!

 

So I got into an updating mood today and have did the FAQ and linked this article to a new Wolves player to then see that it could use an update as well.

 

So our initial purchase was a Space Wolves Battleforce which got us the following;

 

2 Space Wolves Packs

 

1 Space Marine Scout Squad

 

1 Drop Pod

 

However, we are now lucky to have the Drop Pod Assault being offered from GW which would be;

 

Space Marine Tactical Squad

Drop Pod

 

Instead of just getting the 2x SM Tactical Squads, we can now add in a couple of Drop Pods while still breaking up the wolfed out SW Pack boxes.  Again with the addition of 2x Devastator boxes, with additions of the weapons from the SM Tactical packs, we are now looking at a fairly reliable Drop Pod force with two GH packs using the pods and two packs footslogging it on the board

 

Wolf Lord (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

 

Rune Priest (same as above)

 

 

 

Wolf Scouts (SM Scout squad/SW pack) 2

 

 

 

GH x10 Plasmagun x2 (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad) with Drop Pod

 

GH x10 Plasmagun x2 (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

 

GH x10 Meltagun x2 (SW pack/SM squad) with Drop Pod

 

GH x10 flamer x2 (SW pack/SM squad)

 

 

 

Long Fangs x6; ML x3, LC x2 (SW pack/SM squads/Dev squad)

 

Long Fangs x6; PC x3, HB x2 (SW pack/SM squad/Dev squad)

 

Here is an even better deal if you can still find the SM Megaforce around Ebay or some other online source.  Combine that with a Wolves battleforce and things get very interesting nice and quickly being able to convert almost an entire megaforce over to Wolves and then adding a couple of SM Devastator packs to round yourself out.

[Squark]

The Drop Pod assault package isn't discounted at all, for the record. It just reduces the time it takes to order a tactical squad and a drop pod by ~ a minute.

[Loki-LaughingDeath]

You forgot the command squad to make the Wolf Standard..... sheesh talk about forgetting the basics!

[Blacksad]

when starting off with the terminators, the chaos terminator kit  comes with combi-weapons ;)

[Grimtooth]

The Drop Pod assault package isn't discounted at all, for the record. It just reduces the time it takes to order a tactical squad and a drop pod by ~ a minute.

 

Not saying that it is discounted at all.  This is about shopping for Wolves to build a decent force without buying anything extraneous.  Now that drop podding is the things that allthe cool kids are doing, we are getting it with a SM Tactical squad that allows us to break up the wolfiness of the SW packs and gives us missile launchers, meltaguns, and flamers.  You can get the discounts through online retailers if you want to look at saving money, this is just about making due with the less then optimal box sets that GW produces.

 

You forgot the command squad to make the Wolf Standard..... sheesh talk about forgetting the basics!

 

I do not think the command squad is an optimal buy as it is very heavy on "generic" SM iconography that is a little more hassle to make wolfy then it is worth.  For a quick $4.99/each, I got my wolf standards covered;

 

http://www.thewarstore.com/product27137.html

[Loki-LaughingDeath]

Fair enough, I guess that we have different tastes when it comes to the hobby aspects of our addiction.

[Grimtooth]

Fair enough, I guess that we have different tastes when it comes to the hobby aspects of our addiction.

 

Guess so.

 

For me, there are just too many laurels, non-wolf skulls, and such that are for the chapters that put a high standard on those types of icons as representation of loyalty to the Imperium.  Of course, every single laurel and or non-wolf skull can be shaved off and replaced with fur and or a wolf skull from the SW pack, but I can do it easier and more effective by combining a SW pack and a SM Tactical box while getting the extra weapons, and thus having a pretty decent command squad.

[Loki-LaughingDeath]

I just like the different bits that the command squad allows you to have, besides the basic box for the wolves allows for a ton of possibilities.

[Karack Blackstone]

Just as a note, for those that read this thread down far enough, consider getting the one for one pattern with:

- the Space Wolves Venerable Dreadnought

- and either a Space Marine Dreadnought or a Space Marine Venerable Dreadnought.

 

By doing this, one ends up with enough wolfy bits to reasonably build two Dreadnoughts, and can have a pretty solid number of arms to go around.

Also, please do not glue the Dread arms on! They slide off and back on rather easily, even when painted (can be a tight fit though).

 

SM Dread box includes TLLC, Assault Cannon, DCCW (w/ both HF and SB), ML.

SM Ven Dread box includes a PC, TLLC, Assault Cannon, DCCW (w/ HF and SB).

SW Ven Dread adds a HfC (Helfrost Cannon), and the Dread Axe and Shield. (I don't know all the arms of this Dread yet.)

 

If any of the arms are missing or need further clarification, please let me know, and I shall edit them in.

 

Edit: I had the arms wrong on the SM Ven Dread. Post updated.