Help make my bike list tactically sound

[Jagdwulfe]

First let me say I have very limited 40k experience. I've only played a dozen or so times in my life, mostly back in Rogue Trader and second edition and I always played Eldar.

Most of my GW experience has been with Epic (again mostly first and second edition and always Eldar) and Necromunda.

I just (re)started my gaming hobby and have always been partial to Space Wolves lore wise.

Tactically and aesthetically I favor speed and close combat and especially love bikes.

As such, I intend to pack as many bikes into my list as I can. Fluff n stuff, I suppose I'll be doing a Bjorn Stormwolf force. (It is Bjorn isn't it? Don't have my codex on hand...).

I'd like a core of 2-3 bike squads. 10 each plus attack bike and WG battle leaders...

I haven't read enough to determine their gear yet.

I've seen a lot of posts about how weak our bikes are and whatnot so, any advise, other than "scrap this lame plan", would be greatly appreciated.

Ideal gear, best units to support such a force etc.

 

Would it be best to balance it out with some short units or go all out drop and deep strike and focus on getting as much as I can in close?

 

I'm not planning any tournaments or anything. Just local gaming groups 'friendly' games.

 

"Shooty" units. Not "short" units

[dropped my axe]

You could count 2 bike squads as ws which will improve them a lot and make them troops! all u need to do is make a cheap captain and that's your allies that's what I did works well so far

[Chalx the grey]

Just to throw in some ideas if you want to stay pure Wolves, I run a squad of bikers led by a Wolf Priest in runic armor with MBs, and I keep the rest of the squad on the cheap with a flamer and heavy bolter assault bike.

 

 

It is a great flanking-harassing unit and they go through scout-type infantry like a knife on butter. Fearless, rerolling 1s, and the IC´s power maul is perfect for instakilling T3 commanders. In these days of Tau - Eldar - IG they can do work and with the added chance of hitting vehicles with all the grenades.

 

I would in any case stay away from Wolf Guard leaders since the bike upgrade is expensive, unless you are going all out with an assault unit with Lord, because they don´t make for good leaders... Usually they will be picked out and your Swift Claws will be left headstrong, which isn´t good.

 

It´s a fun unit, hardly broken in any regard so good for friendly games. You could make another similar one led by a rune priest for support, maybe smaller and JAWing around.

[Frater Cornelius]

Okay, in case you care about competitiveness, you would be be allying with scars for Khan and his shenanigans. But that is only half as manly as playing wolf bikes. Here's a couple tips and a sample list that I would play (if I'd ever play bikes, which I currently don't, because I prefer people riding beasts and giant robot suits )

Avoid running small units. Sure, they are T5, but a Plasma shot will still ruin them. I would recommend running at 5-6 in a squad with attack bike. For extra manliness, attach a Rune Priest on bike to them for Divination. Usually, I'd only run mastery level 1 for prescience to reroll hits.
Since your guys do not have scout, I would turbo-boost the first turn so that you can get that 4+ cover save and charge the next turn. White scars and Dark Angels outperform you in terms of dakka, but they will be no match for your claws in melee when buffed by a priest.

Since you want bikes, your other units need to be fast, or else they risk getting isolated and ganked. Drop pods will do nicely, but personally I like rhinos. Here's a neat trick. Move 12'' with bikes, then Turbo-Boost another 6'' (not the full distance). Rhino will drive 12'' and move 6'' flat-out and park right in front of the bikes to block line of sight and spare them a turn of being shot so that they can chop the enemy next turn.

As mobile support you could also get skyclaws to get to those pesky tanks or long range support to power fist/krak grenade them or those cheap Land Speeders, which are also very thematic. Alternatively, if you want to be super manly, get Thunderwolf Cavalry (my personal fave).

*************** 2 HQ ***************

Rune Priest
- Space Marine Bike
- Divination: Prescience
- - - > 135

Rune Priest
- Space Marine Bike
- Bolter
- Divination: Prescience
- - - > 135

Rune Priest
- Space Marine Bike
- Melta Bombs
- Divination: Prescience
- - - > 140


*************** 2 Troops ***************

10 Grey Hunters
- Plasma Gun
- Plasma Gun
- Power Axe
- Wolfs Standard
- 1 x Mark of the Wulfen
+ - Rhino
- - - > 235 Points

10 Grey Hunters
- Plasma Gun
- Plasma Gun
- Power Axe
- Wolfs Standard
- 1 x Mark of the Wulfen
+ - Rhino
- - - > 235 Points


*************** 3 Fast Attack ***************

6 Swiftclaw Bikers
- Melter
- Power Axe
- Attack Bike with Multi Melta
- - - > 215 Points

6 Swiftclaw Bikers
- Melter
- Power Axe
- Attack Bike with Multi Melta
- - - > 215 Points

6 Swiftclaw Bikers
- Melter
- Power Axe
- Attack Bike with Multi Melta
- - - > 215 Points

Should be around 1525 points or so. When going up to 1850, just add more troops or maybe drop pods with Wolfguard with combi weapons.

The 3 rune priests go with a bike squad each to counteract Headstrong, give them Ld10 and give them Prescience for massive carnage. I've given them a power axe for those ap2 moment and since it's cheaper than a fist and gives you the extra attack for your pistol. Meltas are to kill AV13 walkers or Landraiders. Everything else can be taken down with krak grenades (with rerolls to hit of cause).
The two 10man GH are for holding objectives and midfield duty. They can also help in an assault, since they can punch quite a bit with banner, wulfen and the mandatory axe. Didn't have point to add a pack leader, but I guess the opponent will be too busy on trying to take down claws. If you play 1850, you can add a pack leader for Ld9.
Only thing you lack is long ranged support. Again, you can add those if you increase point limit, but in the end, you should be in melee by turn 2, so it shouldn't matter all that much.

Sure, might not be the most competitive, but that's a start at least. And hell, it should be loads of fun running this.

Hope this helped.

[DanPesci]

i wished i liked the bike models more....that list looks properly good fun!

 

Some good advice above, im pretty sure that there was a bike tactica i saw for space wolves somewhere too...although may have been back in 5th...will link if i can find it

 

 

 

also, welcome to the forum!! Has been a long time since i played any epic or necromunda! :D

[Frater Cornelius]

i wished i liked the bike models more....that list looks properly good fun!

 

Just slap some Chaos Knights from Warhammer Fantasy on biker bases, attach some bolters to the side, give them context sensitive weapons and call it a day.

[Jagdwulfe]

Thanks for the welcome and the replies. Good advice.

 

Immersturm, I like your ideas. That definitely sounds like a solid start. As you say, I shall indeed be playing them as manly as I can ;-) I'd like to avoid relying on allies.

 

DanPesci, Yeah, it's been a long time since I've played much of anything. Moved to Japan about 12 years ago and just got caught up in the work work work and family track. But I'm gonna try to make some time to get it going again. For one thing, my son is 7 now and I'm hoping to get him interested... live in gaming mate FTW!  ;-)