Space Wolf Brigade thoughts

[Karhedron]

At the moment we only have a few Stratagems available so there is no big call for CPs and I typically find 6-7 is adequate at the 1500-2000 point level. However all the new codices have shown that there is a lot of synergy to be had so I have started thinking ahead for when our codex drops and we get a tasty selection of fantastic stratagems available to us (not like I'm getting my hopes up or anything ).

 

This was spurred by the new Blood Angels codex where people are struggling to fit a Brigade into 2000 points whilst still retaining sufficiently potent units to actually leverage those CPs in battle.

 

Now we have a great advantage here in that we can take a humble 15 point Cyberwolf as a Fast Attack choice meaning that we can fill the FA requirements of a Brigade for just 45 points. We have access to decent Heavy and Elite units while Grey Hunters still rate as one of the best Troop units in the game IMHO and are even better now that they are down to 13 PPM. With this in mind, I wanted to see what sort of Brigade I could knock up for Space Wolves at 2000 points. This list is biased slightly based on my models but could easily be adapted.

 

 

138 HQ Njal Stormcaller

90 HQ Wolf Priest

140 HQ Wolf Lord in Terminator armour with Combi-plas and Frost Axe

 

97 Troop 5 Grey Hunters w melta gun and Leader with power axe + Banner

47 Wolf guard with combi melta and power fist

114 Razorback with Twin assault cannons and storm bolter

97 Troop 5 Grey Hunters w melta gun and Leader with power axe + Banner

47 Wolf guard with combi melta and power fist

114 Razorback with Twin assault cannons and storm bolter

89 Troop 5 Grey Hunters, plasma gun and Leader with power sword and plasma pistol

89 Troop 5 Grey Hunters, plasma gun and Leader with power sword and plasma pistol

89 Troop 5 Grey Hunters, plasma gun and Leader with power sword and plasma pistol

89 Troop 5 Grey Hunters, plasma gun and Leader with power sword and plasma pistol

 

15 Fast Cyberwolf

15 Fast Cyberwolf

15 Fast Cyberwolf

 

82 Elite Lone wolf with Frost sword

82 Elite Lone wolf with Frost sword

82 Elite Lone wolf with Frost sword

 

165 Heavy 5 Hellblasters

181 Heavy 5 Long fangs with plasma cannon, 2 Missile Launchers, Lascannon

115 Heavy Whirlwind

 

1992 Total

 

The Lone wolve are not optimal and the list is definitely infantry-heavy but it looks like a decent starting point. The wolf Guard could be trimmed from the Hunters in the Razorbacks to save some points that culd be better spent elsewhere for example.

 

So, does this look viable? Or like the BAs, do we lose too much punch in filling out a Brigade to make it worthwhile at 2000 points?

[Karack Blackstone]

Hello, some hopefully thought provoking ideas and questions.

 

if you find the thought fun of proceeding with this list, then, by all means, please, do just that!

if you want the 9 Command Points (CP) from a Brigade, do you think your MSU approach has enough bodies to proceed, to victory?

If you can get by with two Battalions, might that be enough CP?

 

I hope these help you.

[Kasper_Hawser]

Actually I think 2 Battalions for a total of 9 CPs, plus Bjorn for another CP, should be adequate enough. So far if I run one battalion with 6 CP, I find myself running out by Turn 3, so I think a couple of battalion just for CP rerolls and the odd counterattack/morale pass is enough.

 

Otherwise you'll have a lot of troops with no transports, and likely giving up 1st turn.

[patchestheclown]

The brigade you have lacks much of any long range anti-tank, your one long fang pack is oddly equipped and will get picked on during the first turn and every casualty hurts them. Your list also seems a little split in its purpose, its mostly footslogging but the 2 razorback squads don't fit with that especially as you'll want those meltas to get close to the enemy so they should be moving aggressively, which will leave the rest of your army behind. You also have a TDA lord but no other deep-strikers, I assume he will just walk around but he is also ideal to babysit the hellblasters, but then his TDA is wasted as he wont be getting stuck in. The priest is also interesting because the only models he can heal are the hellblasters or the other characters.

 

I'd recommend dropping the TDA on the lord and just keeping him nice and cheap, I'd give all your Long Fangs lascannons and probably drop the whirlwind or the hellblasters for a second squad of Long Fangs all with lascannons (missiles could work to for krak and frag variety) I'd give your plasma hunters the transports rather than the melta and I would be tempted to replace your two melta squads with some smaller bloodclaw packs, these guys + the priest can put out some serious damage and the sarge or WG leader can take a fist to give some melee AT. 

 

Since the cyberwolves and lone wolves don't add too much to your army I personally don't think going for the Brigade will be worth it. I think 2 battalions will serve you much better since you don't have to deal with those "tax" units

 

just my 2 cents

[Kasper_Hawser]

To be fair, Cyberwolves make a very cheap "Deep Strike Deterence" for just 15 points a pup. Depending on enemy list, they can prevent any backfield assassinations, and even if there are no deepstrikers, they can sit on objectives while everyone surges forward. If foot slogging, they also make cheap bodyguards for the character and fairly fast too.

 

Back to OP, the brigade list is sadly lacking in anti-tank, long range punch, speed and endurance. Lone wolves if you want to use them, put them in terminator armour to deepstrike and run intereference.