Swiftclaw Bikers?

[Bonsai Monkey]

Hello,

 

I have a doubles comp coming up at my club soon and was thinking about taking a squad of bikers to supliment a few greyhunter/razorback units?

 

My question is should I max out the unit (ie-10 bikers with AB) or keep it relatively small? Does having such a large unit mean they struggle because of it?

 

Thankyou in advance as I have no experience with bikers of anytype in any army?

[Wulfebane]

Well.. they're Blood Claws on bikes, and the general rule of thumb for BC is more is more, versus less is more. Their low WS/BS means you need the body count to come out even. Either that or ally with an army that has standard marines on bikes instead.

[Hfran Morkai]

You'll want a "leash" so a WP on bike would be nifty.

 

Littlebitz has had a lot of success with Swiftclaws if I recall.

[MeatGrinder]

Littlbitz used to field loads in his lists, two packs I think. I like them with a wolf priest for preferred enemy. And a WG for more attacks and a bs4 melta/plasma shot. Give them flamers and a fist and field 4/5 of them and an attack bike with a HB for extra wounds and shots.

 

Theyre great for supporting drop podding troops, because anyone who charges your GH gets countercharged. I think the general consensus(or so Ive seen) in the competetive scene is that they are a little overcosted, and that to make the most of them you need to combine them with something else to really get their moneys worth. Theyre not front line troops, theyre support squads, dont send them in alone, get them to support other charging units, or doublecharge with both squads for a whole mess of attacks.

 

I moved away from using them in my lists, I found that razorback GH did the support role for my pods much better.

[Lord Ragnarok]

I'm not sure how well it will work but I plan on supporting my DPing GH's with a swiftclaw pack with attack bike and a WL and Rune Priest

[Bonsai Monkey]

Cheers for everyone coming back.

I will be able to get a practice game in before the comp so will try out a maxed squad and also learn how to play with them!

The points level is restrictive so no WGPL's but will def go with the WP to lead the unit.

Cheers again.

[Ghostwolfalpha]

I like to use them to back up my Thunderwolf Cavalry, as the TWC are already bullet magnets. When they hit the line, the bikes come up from behind cover and smash them to pieces. I wouldn't give them any other gun then a Flamer, but cheap is good for these guys, you need them to beat face, not lay down fire. I agree with the fist and a combi weapon/wolf claw pack leader does well.

[Gondlir the Wandbearer]

I sometimes use a smallish pack with flamers and an attack bike as a general harrassment unit; they're more durable than scouts and more mobile than Lone Wolves in that role.

If I have points left over, I might spring for a powerfist in there. I generally don't bother with a leader, since they're fast enough to mostly find their way to whatever target they need and hard enough to pretty much waste anything that's fast enough to try to draw them away.

[Ragnars Claw]

Here is 'bitz tactica on bikes, it's a good read:

 

http://space-wolves-grey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/swiftclaw-tactica-part-1-by-ted-nagel.html?m=1

[Bonsai Monkey]

Well I tried them out and they did well although I didnt really try them with much aggression more with control and carefully picking off stragglers. I will hopefully be able to have another practice and will go all out to see if there charge can blunt attacks and make the opponent charge tactics etc. Just to see there limits (even if they die horribly, atleast I will know not how to play them).

 

Rerolling one's from the WP is just brilliant, without it I dont think combat would have been as succesful, although it seemed wasted with the shooting because of twin linked?

 

I will say that massed flamers can hurt you alot though..... I will be avoiding them the next time.

 

Cheers to everyone again.