Reviews of Stormwolf/Stormfang?

[hardimanm]

So after my first game using the Stormwolf i was left wanting more.  I felt it's shooting was sub par when compaired to its point cost.  I was playing against Deathwing Termies so that maybe the reason its firepower seemed lacking.

 

I want to know what others have thought about it's performace?

 

Yeah/Nay?  The good, bad, and the ugly?

 

 

[Leif Bearclaw]

What weapon loadout did you give it?

 

Admittedly, whatever it's weapon configuration, it's not really a terminator hunter. While I haven't used one yet, it's main strength seems to be with the multi meltas for hunting vehicles (especially flyers) and MCs. It can put out a lot of reliable (twin linked) high S, low AP (for the chance at explodes) firepower. Plus it can at least threaten non Terminator infantry with the AP3 blast.Whichever way you slice it, it's pretty well armed.

[hardimanm]

I used the Skyhammer missle systems, TW Las cannons and the turreted Hellfrost weapon

[Frater Cornelius]

I stopped using it and it isn't in any of my (future and present) tournament lists, of which there are currently 2. Here is the reason: I play Alpha Strike in one list, Hammer and Anvil in the other. AS requires turn 1 damage and HaA requires turn 2 damage and both require turn 1 positioning.

A flyer is too slow for me. He appears turn 2 at best (sometimes turn 3). That is not good enough. The game needs to be done by turn 3. There is too much RNG involved. As for the weapons. I have enough Tank Busters in form of TWC, Bikes and PAWG pods and I am fast enough to ignore most flyers in game.

 

However, this does not mean that it is bad. 2 TLMM, TLLC, TLHC are very strong and this thing can shoot rather well for its point, IF it has suitable targets. But you have to prepared to sacrifice 235 at the very least to make it count. My guess is, if you want to play them, make your list around them. Add reserve shenanigans (like WUD) and play 2 of them (empty, or with only 5 dudes inside) and have them wreck tanks starting turn 2 while your ground forces are mainly for anti infantry and capturing points.

A single one just thrown in there without purpose is pointless.

 

That is my opinion. Build a list around them and have 2 or skip them. They are too expensive to be an auto-include, too specialized to work in every list and too slow for my lists.

[Leif Bearclaw]

That might also be the problem. With the Skyhammer you've essentially got several competing weapon systems. The skyhammer really wants to be light vehicles hunting (AV 12 at the worst), while the lascannon is meant for heavier armour and the helfrost is an intermediate. Your're left with a flyer that wastes a lot of its potential unless you're going for AV10-12, as you don't have the volume of high S to reliably damage AV13/14 (while possible, you can't rely on that one lucky lascannon as much this edition), or the rate of fire/AP to go for infantry. Whereas the Heavy Bolters still have this problem, but at least are better at hitting infantry, and the meltas are great for the AV work (as I said earlier).

[hardimanm]

I stopped using it and it isn't in any of my (future and present) tournament lists, of which there are currently 2. Here is the reason: I play Alpha Strike in one list, Hammer and Anvil in the other. AS requires turn 1 damage and HaA requires turn 2 damage and both require turn 1 positioning.

A flyer is too slow for me. He appears turn 2 at best (sometimes turn 3). That is not good enough. The game needs to be done by turn 3. There is too much RNG involved. As for the weapons. I have enough Tank Busters in form of TWC, Bikes and PAWG pods and I am fast enough to ignore most flyers in game.

 

However, this does not mean that it is bad. 2 TLMM, TLLC, TLHC are very strong and this thing can shoot rather well for its point, IF it has suitable targets. But you have to prepared to sacrifice 235 at the very least to make it count. My guess is, if you want to play them, make your list around them. Add reserve shenanigans (like WUD) and play 2 of them (empty, or with only 5 dudes inside) and have them wreck tanks starting turn 2 while your ground forces are mainly for anti infantry and capturing points.

A single one just thrown in there without purpose is pointless.

 

That is my opinion. Build a list around them and have 2 or skip them. They are too expensive to be an auto-include, too specialized to work in every list and too slow for my lists.

I noticed that you stated your Tournament list.  And that most games are done by turn 3.  We dont play that seriously.  We have a good group of guys that just play for fun and the fellowship of getting together and killing each other's models and beers.

We play very casual games that normally last 4-6 turns. 

I dont need the thing to be a world beater...i just noticed that it was next to useless in my first game...just wanted to make sure this was not the norm

[Frater Cornelius]

Well, in that case, keep using it. It is by no means a bad unit. It is a actually a quite good flyer. I would give it TLMM instead of Skyhammer. Keep trying. After all, one game isn't an indication of anything. If after 10 games it still disappoints you, then drop it. For now, keep trying and see how best to use it.

I have had my Wolf Lord perform miserably the very first game I have tried him. After that he went on a murder streak and every single game he wrecked so many units that people in my store are very well aware of him. So yeah, do not give up so easily

[Crusader Bob]

Still haven't tried mine, i need to finish the army before. I've built it stock, with the heavy bolters. 

I've figured i can use the flexibility of helfrost to make it a jack of all trades transport. If i need to fire at infantry, blast the helfrost and use the bolters, while taking a shot at a vehicle in range with the machine spirit. If i want to take down a vehicle, focussed helfrost and lasers, taking pot shots at stuff with the bolters.

 

Won't win me games, but i'm very casual so doesn't matter much. 

 

Anyway, before making changes i'd try a few more times if i was you, one game is not really a great sample to figure out if a model is very good, very bad or anything inbetween. 

 

Just my two cents

[CatSmasher]

I run two of these, usually one gunship and one transport and I think they are great. I match them with a LR and vindicator so that there is only high armour to shoot. If you run Wolves Unleashed you can ensure the transport comes in, the range they can cover and still shoot compensates for the late arrival. PoTMS lets you drop templates on one target and anti-tank another. They sit low and in some games can get cover from terrain,

 

I like them a lot.

[d@n]

How are people finding it as a transport?

[Frater Cornelius]

Meh, because a charge will take place turn 3 at best. You will be at a numerical disadvantage on the field.

However, it can deliver a bomb right where you need it so if you are setting it up as a killing blow, then it can work very well.

[Spazmonkey]

kind of off topic but i m

just got mine in the post today. so keen to get it in a game and try it out.....

[MalachiOfRuss]

I've tried it in a couple games now and run it with the TLMM every time - it fills a fantastic role as tank hunter in my army.  I was using Wolves Unleashed, brought it in Turn 2 and shot down my opponent's Storm Raven.  I used it once with 15 BC and a WP inside - would have worked great had I not rolled snake eyes for charge distance (oh well).  The other game at 1000 points I put 5 kitted out WGTDA in it and they did some damage.

 

I think it's an excellent, top-tier unit, without a doubt.  I would/will always run it with the MM.  Have it take out the biggest threats and then drop it into hover to deliver the assault unit.  Just be careful when/where you drop it into hover mode.  The first game I did lose it because I positioned it poorly and my opponent was able to win a combat on his turn, consolidate towards it, then move and charge killing it with Krak Grenades and a PF.  That was my mistake, though.

[littlbitz]

Ive been running mine regularly with a kitted out Grey Hunter pack and a Wolfguard Battle leader, using the Wolves unleashed detachment it even occasionally gets to outflank.

 

Took it to the Nova even, was shot down twice all weekend, over 8 games, only once before it could deliver its payload

 

I found its fire power and transport ability a great addition to my force.

[tylerw]

Probably depends on the type of game you're playing: if playing it as a 5 BC transport (for obj sec), or as an armor hunter (multimeltas), the Stormwolf  will probably be really helpful.  It was nice for me last weekend in a highlander tourney - consistently able to threaten expensive units or make inexpensive ones semi-irrelevant between the firepower and the Obj Sec.

[eyeslikethunder]

Ive been running mine regularly with a kitted out Grey Hunter pack and a Wolfguard Battle leader, using the Wolves unleashed detachment it even occasionally gets to outflank.

 

Took it to the Nova even, was shot down twice all weekend, over 8 games, only once before it could deliver its payload

 

I found its fire power and transport ability a great addition to my force.

Have you done a tournament round up yet just checking I have not missed it

[littlbitz]

Not yet, Ive been crazy busy at work.  I approached to tournament as a test field to see 1. what was out there, and 2. see how the new Codex would fare against all the crazyness out there.

 

I found (at least against the armies I faced), that by the time the StormWolf came in, my opponent was so preoccupied with the rest of my army that is was usually ignored.

Going into hover mode was its downfall in one game, but it unloaded its cargo first.

 

In 5 games out of 8, after my large pack was unloaded, I was able to stay in Hover mode and provide good fire support where needed.

 

Using the Wolves Unleashed detachment, and out flanking was quite brilliant, and in one game I was able to come on the board in hover mode, unload, and still let loose with fire power from both my Grey Hunters and the Storm Wolf, the results were effective.

 

I was running a 10 man GH pack with a Plasma Pistol, 2x MG, Power Axe, Standard, Packleader in TDA with a Combi-PG and Thunder Hammer, and a WGBL in TDA with a Combi-PG and 2x Fenrisian Wolves,

[Max_Dammit]

So you feel one is viable?

[Frater Cornelius]

No one said it is garbage. It is a good unit, just 1) not for everyone's taste and 2) not for everyone's list.

But if you feel you can handle it, godspeed to you. You will be wrecking faces.

[littlbitz]

Me? very much so, but I guess it depends on the list. 

A list that is fast, with Bikes and / or TWC that can occupy the enemy it works well with (for me anyway) was a great follow up unit, and the fire power it provides I found to be quite effective.

 

The list I took to the Nova, had quite a few bodies, I had threats everywhere applying pressure, this gave the StormWolf free reign.

In the two games it went down, in one I was losing anyway and my opponent had some free units to bring it down with while it was in Hovermode.

In the other, it was in a dog fight with mulitple fliers (Cron Air-ish list)