Powerfist Vs. Wolf Claw

[Ghent]

What is everyone's thoughts on Wolf Claws vs. Powerfists on Wolf Guard?

 

I'm getting ready to run a 1,000 point where I've replaced all of my Powerfists with Wolf Claws on them to see how it fairs. Maybe I'm just a fluff junkie, but I feel like I should be using Wolf Claws on my Wolf Guard, yanno?

[Coverfire]

Powerfists get no possibility for an extra attack

Wolf Claw can get an extra attack for +15 points - might have be worth looking into if the second was worth less

 

Powerfists have a better chance to penetrate armour - Glances on AV10 2+, AV12 4+, and land raiders on a 6

Wolf Claw need 6's to glance and cannot hurt Land Raiders or Dreadnoughts (unless immbolised)

 

Powerfists can Instant kill multiple wound with T4 or less

Wolf Claws can't - I don't know of any T2 mulitple wound units

 

Wolf Claw is only 5 points cheaper for much, much less; and it isn't like we have a high enough initiative to worry about striking last.

 

I can understand why Space Wolf players would look for alternatives to the stereotypical c/melta, Powerfist Wolf Guard packleader - in fact I have looked into it myself - but sometimes stereotypes are there for a reason.

[G. A. K.]

I must say:

Well said Coverfire.

 

G

[Ghent]

Excellent points.

 

Looks like I'll be playing around with Thunder Hammers then, just for something a bit different.

[Forté]

How about Frost weapons? Extra point of strength but still striking on initiative value. Same points as the fist though and would need MB for mech but a bit of a change from the cookie cutter WG.

[Spacefrisian]

1 thing against the Wolfclaw: Toughnes 8 and higher.

[dswanick]

How about Frost weapons? Extra point of strength but still striking on initiative value. Same points as the fist though and would need MB for mech but a bit of a change from the cookie cutter WG.

Frost weapons are even worse :

- You are paying the same price as a PF but Str 5 has a lower chance to wound than a Str 4 w/ re-roll (except against Str 8).

- Only if paired with a Pistol does a FW have similar chances to hit vs a WC using its re-rolls on to-hit, and wound against a WC re-rolling to-wounds. And even then, does the +1A and +3I make up for the vastly lower chance to wound (and Instant Death) against the opponents you'll likely face?

[Wysten]

The fisting hand is better, just simply because it gives an answer that strength 4 otherwise couldn't offer.

 

For example, a power fist can instant kill a marine, have a decent chance of damaging a tank, killing independant characters and is very likely to wound if it hits.

 

Wolf Claws can hit more reliably, but is strength 4 and hence less likely to kill a marine in combat, the main difference being is that when the blow hits, you can't instant death and you will find it hard to wound monsterious creatures tanks and so fourth. So it's really that backup duelity that the fist carries with it.

 

If you want though, you could always do wolf claws as power fists, they look more pleasing that way, easpically with the thin points carrying the entire punch behind it being able to rip and tear through anything.

[LPetersson]

And because I can't help but weigh in, my £0.02:

 

In my opinion, each weapon has it's own purpose for which it is superior to the others.

 

Power Fists is for instakilling MEQ characters and lower and also to allow PA troops a chance to damage tanks.

 

Wolf Claws are for killing lots of single wound < MEQ models

 

Frost Blades are for killing lots of single wound MEQ models

 

Frost Blades I would put on ICs rather than on WGs so they get a chance at killing MEQs before they get to hit back on initiative. With a (plasma)pistol you get the +1A and with S5 you wound on 3+.

With wolf Claws you can obviously re-roll to hit or to wound, but I would feel better giving my wolf lord a plasma pistol and frost blade than two wolf claws or a PF...

[MonSTeR]

And because I can't help but weigh in, my £0.02:

 

In my opinion, each weapon has it's own purpose for which it is superior to the others.

 

Power Fists is for instakilling MEQ characters and lower and also to allow PA troops a chance to damage tanks.

 

Wolf Claws are for killing lots of single wound < MEQ models

 

Frost Blades are for killing lots of single wound MEQ models

 

Frost Blades I would put on ICs rather than on WGs so they get a chance at killing MEQs before they get to hit back on initiative. With a (plasma)pistol you get the +1A and with S5 you wound on 3+.

With wolf Claws you can obviously re-roll to hit or to wound, but I would feel better giving my wolf lord a plasma pistol and frost blade than two wolf claws or a PF...

 

This is the correct answer in my book. PF ws WC isn't just a matter of Str8 vs Str4 is just as much a matter of Initiative 4 vs Initiative 1. Sometimes striking at your correct initiative is worth a fortune in points, espectially on ICs with an increased initiative.

[dswanick]

And because I can't help but weigh in, my £0.02:

 

In my opinion, each weapon has it's own purpose for which it is superior to the others.

 

Power Fists is for instakilling MEQ characters and lower and also to allow PA troops a chance to damage tanks.

 

Wolf Claws are for killing lots of single wound < MEQ models

 

Frost Blades are for killing lots of single wound MEQ models

 

Frost Blades I would put on ICs rather than on WGs so they get a chance at killing MEQs before they get to hit back on initiative. With a (plasma)pistol you get the +1A and with S5 you wound on 3+.

With wolf Claws you can obviously re-roll to hit or to wound, but I would feel better giving my wolf lord a plasma pistol and frost blade than two wolf claws or a PF...

 

This is the correct answer in my book. PF ws WC isn't just a matter of Str8 vs Str4 is just as much a matter of Initiative 4 vs Initiative 1. Sometimes striking at your correct initiative is worth a fortune in points, espectially on ICs with an increased initiative.

Treu, but the OP asked about WC vs PF on a Wolf Guard...