How would you start a Space Wolf army?

[Merellin]

So, Due to reasons, I'm rebuilding my space wolves almost from the ground up and was curious, How would you build up a space wolf army? What units would you go for to start with?

[Havok13]

I would personally wait until the new codex is out.

[Runefyre]

For your basic troops choice you can't go wrong with Grey Hunters imo, they're quite points efficient (especially after the chapter approved points drop). I'd recommend a mix of special weapons, I've had success with all of them in different situations. don't forget, however, that you must take a 6th dude to be the WGPL to take a combi-weapon in the squad.

[Jorin Helm-splitter]

Well for me personally the first few steps are based on what ever models appeal to me the most. Second I'd look at the marine books that are already out to get an ideal of the direction they are heading in.

 

If you have another army that you can ally them too, I'd take advantage of that and build slow. 

[Gherrick]

For me, it's PAWG in all flavors (stock, with jump packs, and on bikes), then one unit of long fangs and 1-2 units of wulfen. Throw in Bjorn and/or a blizzdread if you want some higher toughness units, and you are styling. I don't see the appeal of using grey hunters when for just a bit more you can have WG with storm bolters and storm shields.

[Wolf Guard Dan]

How quickly do you build, paint, etc.?

 

Honestly, I would wait for the codex to see how we are going to play. Because I REALLY suspect we get Russ. Russ and our Chapter Trait are going to be a game-changer. Even if we don't get Russ whatever Chapter Trait we get is going to dictate how we play.

 

But if I had to I would start with Long Fangs and Fen Wolves. I think they are our most efficient units right now. I think Long Fangs are safe but Fen Wolves may go back up in cost. Add a WGBL to the Fangs and a Rune Priest and Inquisitor to the Fen Wolves.

[Kasper_Hawser]

If I may advise you using the shopping approach, and also bearing in mind current status based on Index.

 

1) You will always need power armoured soldiers. The holy trinty of weapons Melta, Flamer and Plasma still apply, therefore you need Grey Hunters as well as Tactical marines to get special weapons as well as mix and match bits.

2) Rhinos and Razorbacks have proven themselves well in 8th Edition, no longer blowing up when a Lascannon looks at it funny, therefore you will still need your metal boxes.

3) Most HQs are solid buffers, so you'll always need a character or two, one of which is almost compulsory the Rune Priest.

 

so with this in mind, for a starter army I would recommend shopping the following:

 

1) Space wolves starter collecting box for 10 Grey Hunters, a HQ Lord, and 3 Thunderwolves. I hate thunderwolves but in proper hands, they can still be powerful, just not as powerful as before in 7th. The Thunderwolves alternatively can be modelled to be those HQs who can take Thunderwolves, such as Lords and Battle Leaders

 

Bear in mind Grey Hunters only have Plasma special weapons, though it has a very nice assortment of chainswords, handed bolters, plasma pistols and of course, Wolfy bling.

 

2) Oneof those Rhino+ Tactical marines sets, I'm not sure if they're still sold. Those typically have Dark Angels or Blood Angel sprues which you can sell off, but basically you'll want the tactical squad for selection of specials, combi weapons and sprues.

 

With these 2, you got your HQ, 2 squads worth of troops, their transports and a somewhat hard hitting fast unit. You will save a bit of money by taking the two packs above rather than buying separately.

 

Hope this helps your decision.

[Merellin]

Thanks for the helpful posts! ^_^

[WolfPriestBarachiel]

Wulfens and bloodclaws. Ton of buffs rerolls and quite powerfull weapons. I wiped entire squad of Plauge Marines in one charge. +shields and nade launchers are quite good on our beloved feral brothers.

[Kasper_Hawser]

Oh yeah, can't forget the Wulfen. But maybe not yet, build your core of Grey hunters/Claws first. Start adding Wulfen at the 1500 point  mark.

[WolfPriestBarachiel]

I bought wulfens at 1000p. So far they're awesome! Make BC squad without WG leader to make it cheaper and place them near wulfens/set both in "hunt" mode.

[Ishagu]

I'd start with Bjorn as a HQ, and then buy a bunch of Primaris :-)

[WolfPriestBarachiel]

I'd swap primaris with GH. They're the most universal unit in SW army and you just CAN'T go without them.

[Merellin]

How would you recomend equipping Grey Hunters? I'l probably be aiming for 10 man units as I prefer full sized squads. I still have 4 plasma gunners and 3 melta gunners.

[Deadnaughty]

How would you recomend equipping Grey Hunters? I'l probably be aiming for 10 man units as I prefer full sized squads. I still have 4 plasma gunners and 3 melta gunners.

Not much option with them

 

if your going 10. 2 specials, chainswords cause their free, 1 combi on the WG, frost sword if you have spare points and a power axe on the normal sergeant if you really have points to spare.

[Bulwyf]

I agree in theory with waiting until our codex but in practice that could be six to seven months from now. I would go with:

 

Grey hunters at least 2 squads

Bjorn

Wulfen 1 squad at least

wolf guard termies

Arjac to go with those termies

Njarl for psychic defense

[TiguriusX]

Space Wolves have no set style.  You build it how YOU want.

 

You can play hero hammer and load up on HQs

You can play PAWG and flood the board with BCs and GHs

You can play march of the ancients with some unique dreads (Bjorn and axe/shield dreads are amazing)

You can go full wolfy wolf and use Harald and an army of TWC and wolves (fenrisian and cyber)

 

Different wolf lords will have their own style (honestly I love the fluff for each of our wolf lords and how they are all different). 

 

Find your own before you commit to something and have fun above all else

[Merellin]

I like Space Wolves and I like their fluff, Their models have grown on me since I first started. And I do have some space wolf models. But I havent played them in some time and was feeling a bit Meh about them, And I have figured out why. I bought most of them second hand, And they where fully magnetised, Every single model had magnetised arms. Then one day in the gaming club, The box holding all the magnetised arms and weapons was stolen from my bag.. So my entire army is armless.. Thats why I decided to rebuild from the ground up, Using the few models I got myself, And those of the second hand models that has arms as the base.

 

I realy liked using thuderwolf cavalry and always used to have a unit of 5 as the base of my army, With atleast 2 units of Grey Hunters with dual melta or dual plasma. That was what I always had in my army, Other stuff varied. Never managed to nail down a HQ for myself so I mostly ended up using Krom Dragongaze as my HQ as I had gotten that model.

[Bulwyf]

I feel your pain. I had at least 3 to 4k dark eldar in a bag that was stolen from me in a tourney many years back. I do have a DE replacement army but rarely play it because due to the loss of function in one of my hands I can never get the models painted back to my old standard.  Here's hoping your second SW army more than makes up for the loss of the first.

[Merellin]

Thanks. I dident loose the army, Just.. All the arms for almost all the models.. Oh well, This time I'l build it the way I want it and realy make it mine! And no magnetisation!

 

And I'm sorry to hear about your lost models.. Thats horrible..

Edited December 20, 2017 by Merellin

[Gherrick]

I'm a fan of magnets, although I tend to proxy a bit, since getting enough combi's would have bankrupted me. I have had good results using SK storm bolters on my WG bikers, so the SB arm is also holding on to the bike :) Still, SW are so versatile that it can be really rough to have all of the models equipped and/or ranked appropriately. I tend to have all of my PA models painted such that I can use them as BC, GH, and/or WG, depending on need.

[Merellin]

So, I have 2 boxes of Wulfen laying arround and have only built 1 model from them. Should I build both boxes, Or use one box for bits? I'd love to have one of those nice wolf backpacks for a Wolf Lord..

[Kasper_Hawser]

So, I have 2 boxes of Wulfen laying arround and have only built 1 model from them. Should I build both boxes, Or use one box for bits? I'd love to have one of those nice wolf backpacks for a Wolf Lord..

 

For a balanced loadout and for the first box, I normally build 2 with Thunderhammers and storm shields, two with Great Frost Axes, and the pack leader with claws. For the second box, I suggest you try two "naked" as in no weapons but bare claws which are still AP-1, along with either TH/SS or Great Frost Axes. 

 

Lately due to the cost decrease of the Wulfen, I've been toying with the idea of bare bones wulfen who, with 3 attacks @ S5, can possibly hit just as hard without paying too much for the axe/hammer.

 

Most will tell you TH/SS is the way to go, but even with 2, the cost of 5 Wulfen will go up to beyond 300.

[tetsuhau]

Most will tell you TH/SS is the way to go, but even with 2, the cost of 5 Wulfen will go up to beyond 300.

How do you get above 300?! I run mine with leader with claws, 2 with TH/SS and 2 with GFA. 231 points. With the new Strat letting us send infantry on a hunt, wulfen are perfect.

[Kasper_Hawser]

 

Most will tell you TH/SS is the way to go, but even with 2, the cost of 5 Wulfen will go up to beyond 300.

How do you get above 300?! I run mine with leader with claws, 2 with TH/SS and 2 with GFA. 231 points. With the new Strat letting us send infantry on a hunt, wulfen are perfect.

 

 

Oh sorry, that was 6 Wulfen, 2 with hammers, 3 axes and pack leader. with just 5 (2 TH/SS, 2 axes and 1 claw), yeah it was formerly about 280 points, but now is about 230+ points.

 

Wow, looks like we can afford to put more TH/SS now. Still, you buy the TH/SS not for the Thunderhammer, but to tank for multiwound shots. The Axe I believe is still superior in pure killiness except for T8 and above, and in a way is better than claws as well.

 

In either case, always put minimum 2 Th/SS on your Wulfen in a squad. But if you expect them to hit something with them, get a lord near them.