Fenrisian Wolf Pack

[brainwashed]

I played a game last night with my new Fenrisian Wolves in a 15 strong large pack that were advancing ahead of a 15 strong Blood Claws Pack led by a Wolf Priest. All the marines were on foot walking behind the wolves.

 

While it looked awesome on the table, the wolves were not very effective for me in assault due to their lack of resiliency once committed against vanilla marines and the way that they can extend ahead of the Blood Claw pack. In the future I will follow up with a supporting unit more quickly so that they are not alone in an assault for more then a single turn.

 

For the roughly 100 points I think I would have rather had Wolf Scouts with a melta gun infiltrating instead, but I want to try them again.

 

How do you you guys use the Fenrisian Wolves? Is it as an expendable speed bump unit or for something more?

[Rybnick]

I've yet to use them in an army, but I have plans to use them as a screen for my TWC. On paper it seems like a good idea at least.

 

I'm actually just starting out with my SW army (just primered up my first two GH packs last night), but I have a list using Fenrisian Wolves as bullet screens for my TWC that I will play with Proxies this weekend.

[WG Vrox]

You use them somewhat how you did, but as you mentioned they are not a stand alone unit especially against marines. Best to either use them as a screen the whole way or to send them as fast as they can move to a specific target that you know they have a chance to win such as ranged scouts or a ranged tau, eldar, IP... unit.

 

A screen for the long fangs is a great way to utilize them as well.

[brainwashed]

Versus Marines the using the them as a screen for Thunder Wolves that can move as fast would be ideal. Thunder Wolf Cavalry has the "Cavalry" rule with the long 12" assault and can assault as far and won't need to let the smaller wolves stand on their own in an assault for any extended period.

 

For my next list versus marines I think Scouts would be a better choice for the points as I am not running the Thunder Wolves. ...that said perhaps I should be if I want to keep running the smaller wolves?

 

The more I think about it the more I feel that the Fenrisian Wolves need to have an army built around them more then mine is. It might be time for me to head back to Army Builder and see if I either want to get more fast units to assault with them or if I want to replace them with Wolf Scouts.

 

It's going to be a hard decision.

[Rybnick]

What does the rest of your lsit look like BW? Is it entirely on foot?

[Kassill]

I'm thinking of running them with a Thunderlord + 2 more Fenriesian Wolves for added wounds at ranged, and extra attacks in CC.

[brainwashed]

What does the rest of your lsit look like BW? Is it entirely on foot?

 

My list right now looks like this at 1500 points:

 

Wolf Priest - Rozarius and Bolt Pistol, Melta Bombs

 

(15) Blood Claws on Foot - 2 Flamers and a Power Fist

 

(10) Grey Hunters in Rhino - 2 Melta Guns, Power Fist, Wolf Standard

 

(5) Grey Hunters in Razorback with Lascannon and TL Plasma Turret - Plasma Gun, Plasma Pistol, Power Fist

 

(5) Grey Hunters in Razorback with Lascannon and TL Plasma Turret - Plasma Gun, Plasma Pistol, Power Fist

 

(5) Long Fangs - two Lascannons, two Missile Launchers and a Plasma Cannon (this will change to three ML's and 2 LC's)

 

(1) Dreadnought - Plasma Cannon and Storm Bolter with Dreadnought CCW

 

(15) Fenrisian Wolves

 

(1) Lone Wolf - Twin Wolf Claws, Melta Bombs

 

My plan was to run the Fenrisian Wolves up under the over watch of the heavy weapons of the Long Fangs, followed closely by the Blood Claws and Wolf Priest as well as the Lone Wolf who will run out to hit a target of opportunity. Ideally the Grey Hunters would run along side the Blood Claws supporting as much as possible, or would all go out to seize an objective together for mutual support.

 

At 1850 I'm thinking of dropping the Dreadnought and adding three Thunderwolf Cavalry and 3-5 Wolfguard with Power Fists and Combi-weapons (depending on points) to join the Grey Hunters in Razorbacks and Blood Claws on foot for added punch.

[Rybnick]

The 1850 list you proposed at the end of your post is pretty close to what I'm testing out for my 1850 list.

 

Are you set on running the Blood Claws on foot? You could easily rearrange a few things and add in a Landraider Crusader for them and the Wolf Priest to ride around in. Maybe something like this:

 

Wolf Priest - Rozarius and Bolt Pistol, Melta Bombs, Wolf Tail Talisman

 

(3) Wolf Guard - 2 Combi-Plasma, 2 Wolf Claw, Power Fist

 

(5) Grey Hunters in Razorback with Lascannon and TL Plasma Turret - Plasma Gun

(5) Grey Hunters in Razorback with Lascannon and TL Plasma Turret - Plasma Gun

(10) Blood Claws - 2 flamers

 

(4) Thunderwolf Calvary - Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield, Melta Bomb

(15) Fenrisian Wolves

 

(5) Long Fangs + Squad Leader - 2 Missile Launchers, 2 Lascannons

Land Raider Crusader - Extra Armor, Multi-Melta

 

That should be 1499 on the nose, You lost a scoring unit but gained a nice delivery system for the Blood Claws and added Wolf Guard leaders for your BC's and GH's. I changed some of the wargear up a little on your squads but you can easily juggle points back into whatever you like. As far as strategy wise The fenrisian wolves provide cover saves to the TWC calvary and the TWC provide the LRC and Razorbacks with cover (at least I think a TWC model is big enough to give a LR cover).

 

Bumping the list up to 1850 there are a lot of options, you could add another 4x ML long fang pack and another GH pack in Razorback and still have a few points left over to play with.

 

Those are just my thoughts on making your list a little more Fenrisian wolf friendly, I might be way off (like I said I just started SW :)) but to me it seems fairly competitive.

[brainwashed]

The 1850 list you proposed at the end of your post is pretty close to what I'm testing out for my 1850 list.

 

Are you set on running the Blood Claws on foot? You could easily rearrange a few things and add in a Landraider Crusader for them and the Wolf Priest to ride around in. Maybe something like this:

 

Wolf Priest - Rozarius and Bolt Pistol, Melta Bombs, Wolf Tail Talisman

 

(3) Wolf Guard - 2 Combi-Plasma, 2 Wolf Claw, Power Fist

 

(5) Grey Hunters in Razorback with Lascannon and TL Plasma Turret - Plasma Gun

(5) Grey Hunters in Razorback with Lascannon and TL Plasma Turret - Plasma Gun

(10) Blood Claws - 2 flamers

 

(4) Thunderwolf Calvary - Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield, Melta Bomb

(15) Fenrisian Wolves

 

(5) Long Fangs + Squad Leader - 2 Missile Launchers, 2 Lascannons

Land Raider Crusader - Extra Armor, Multi-Melta

 

That should be 1499 on the nose, You lost a scoring unit but gained a nice delivery system for the Blood Claws and added Wolf Guard leaders for your BC's and GH's. I changed some of the wargear up a little on your squads but you can easily juggle points back into whatever you like. As far as strategy wise The fenrisian wolves provide cover saves to the TWC calvary and the TWC provide the LRC and Razorbacks with cover (at least I think a TWC model is big enough to give a LR cover).

 

Bumping the list up to 1850 there are a lot of options, you could add another 4x ML long fang pack and another GH pack in Razorback and still have a few points left over to play with.

 

Those are just my thoughts on making your list a little more Fenrisian wolf friendly, I might be way off (like I said I just started SW :cuss) but to me it seems fairly competitive.

 

It's tempting to try that, but I would need to get the Crusader as well as the Wolves. I don't own either right now.

 

If I keep the Blood Claws on foot and run them behind the Fenrisian Wolves, do you think a Drop pod full of 4 Combi-Melta + Chainfist/Powerfist terminators and a single Thunder Hammer Storm Shield Terminator would be effective? I won those models.

 

But then I only would have a single HQ. Maybe I should drop my Lone Wolf and tweak more options to free up points for a Wolf Lord or WG Battle Leader or Arjac to join the Terminators in the Drop Pod?

 

I'm trying to keep this list atypical for the Space Wolves and not run Thunderwolves or many Long Fangs if I can help it. I love the way the Fenrisian Wolves and Blood Claws on foot look on the Table as well and would like to keep them if possible and still be effective.

[hendrik]

give the wolf priest saga of the hunter and keep the screen;)

[muadib02]

If you squeeze saga of the wolfkin into your army the make a great unit with which you can fix enemy units, and then charge in with something else for support.

[dswanick]

I have, on occasion, used a Fen.Wolves pack as a 40pt ablative screen for my Long Fangs. They can foil a charge from Outflanking and Deep Striking units and can provide a "through units" 4+ Cover save without giving one to the Long Fangs target.

[brainwashed]

Hendrik, If I use Saga of the Hunter is there a way to infiltrate both the Blood Claws that the Wolf Priest join as well as the Fenrisian Wolves? I might get into a situation where the Blood Claws are infiltrating up and can't be supported.

 

muadib02, I actually just made this change to my army list last night and added Saga of the Wolf Kin to the Wolf Priest. I think that's a solid way to make the Fenrisian Wolves more solid. For some reason I had the misunderstanding that the Wolf Priest couldn't take a Saga. I think I had it in my mind that I was running him as Ulrik, and couldn't change his wargear. I just added that and that's going to make a huge difference.

 

dswanick, that's a good idea actually. But how can a screening unit not provide a cover save to the Long Fang's target? Maybe we are playing it wrong but if the screening unit provides a save for when a friendly unit is being fired upon through it, doesn't it also conversely provide a screen when friendly units are shooting through it?

[the jeske]

Wolfs are very good for bubble beating your razors/long fangs with those big bases and movment is always before shoting you can always adjust the LoS for the long fangs to shot , plus they are cheap too . wolfs dont work [not enough points] at 1500 but your not playing that so it is cool . using them as assault elements ? nah . too easy to kill and not enough hiting power[remember they dont have frags] and if someone makes them test Ld there is a good chance they will run . better cover for TWC are rhinos and LR anyway and you do need a LR if you want to use BC. not that you should want to use them as GH outperform them every time [lower cost, totem , no need for priest . with priest just as good etc ].

[DanPesci]

I like to use a squad or two as counter attack units.

 

I dont use them as screens because at ld5 theyre too easy to scatter with shooting/tank shocks..what i prefer to do is keep them behind my grey hunter line, then use them to charge units that get close to the grey hunters - the wolf unit if it struggles then has a unit of grey hunters to back them up if needs be

 

Especially if you put one with a WGBL on thunderwolf (or lord if you have the points) with SS/WC, with saga of wulfkin.

 

I5 and the extra attacks from the WGBL/Lord can be devastating, especially against marines. (45 I5 attacks at WS4 S4 + the lords attacks)

 

Ive used this unit against a mates deathwing army and managed to wipe out 3 units of terminators with it for the loss of like 2 wolves. (albeit, he hadnt set his terminators up the greatest..but still)

[brainwashed]

DanPesci, That sounds like a great idea. I've been changing my list around, and have dropped my Lone Wolf (sadly) and the Razorbacks, then filled out one of the Grey Hunter Packs to 9 and dropped the other.

 

This gave me enough points to squeeze in Wolf Scout, some Wolf Guard for a Terminator with a Cyclone Launcher to join the Long Fangs, a Lord on a Thunder Wolf and Saga of the Warrior Born, and 3 Thunder Wolves. Then I gave the Wolf Priest Saga of the Wolf Kin. Maybe I should repost a high level write up of the list?

 

I was thinking of still leading the army with the Fenrisian Wolves and Blood Claws but have the Lord Join the Fenrisian Wolves, and use the Thunder Wolf Cav unit as Counter Charge or plug holes where the line collapses.

 

I want to use the Grey Hunters conservatively as well as a little defensively because I am low on scoring units and if I have a huge hammer coming at the opponent supported by the Long Fangs and Wolf Scouts their options are going to be minimized and they will be reacting to the Space Wolves army instead of carrying out their plans. At least that's my hope.

 

I really want to avoid going with the usual mechanized Razorback/Land Raider list if I can help it at all. I've played lists like that since 3rd edition and they they are great, but I'd like to keep this list to run as many units unique to Space Wolves as possible. I want it to be to be a killy army, but but at the expense of loosing it's flavor if that makes sense. I'm just trying to learn how to keep the crunch but run as many cool flavorful units as possible. I'm really lamenting the loss of the Lone Wolf and am trying to find way to fit that guy back in.

[hendrik]

Hendrik, If I use Saga of the Hunter is there a way to infiltrate both the Blood Claws that the Wolf Priest join as well as the Fenrisian Wolves?

you're focussing on the wrong part of the saga :)

 

"Saga of the hunter, the character has the ability to outflank and the stealth rule."

this chap improves the coversave that your bloodclaws get from the fenrisian wolves into a 3+ instead of the 4+ :P

 

giving the wolf priest saga of the wolfkin is also viable option!

[brainwashed]

Hendrik, If I use Saga of the Hunter is there a way to infiltrate both the Blood Claws that the Wolf Priest join as well as the Fenrisian Wolves?

you're focussing on the wrong part of the saga :)

 

"Saga of the hunter, the character has the ability to outflank and the stealth rule."

this chap improves the coversave that your bloodclaws get from the fenrisian wolves into a 3+ instead of the 4+ :P

 

giving the wolf priest saga of the wolfkin is also viable option!

 

Ah ha... That's huge!

[brainwashed]

I've changed my list quite a bit and have decided to run Thunderwolf Cavalry to back up the Fenrisian Wolves, and added a Wolf Lord on a Thunderwolf who has Saga of the Warrior Born, but I'm tempted to give him Saga of the Bear instead.. added Saga of the Wolfkin to my Wolf Priest as well as some more Wolf Guard and some Wolf Scouts to try to push the enemies deployment closer to mine and the wave of my Wolves coming his way.

 

I posted the list in the army list section here. If you could give me some feedback on the theme or selections I'd appreciate it.

 

Thanks, this has been an interesting thread and I've learned quite a bit on how to run the Wolves!