New to the Space Wolves!

[BadgersinHills]

Hi all. 

 

Bought the Space Wolves codex and a Pack yesterday. Looking forward to starting the Wolves, whom I've despised for a while as a Thousand Sons fan, but reading War of the Fang made me like them a lot. The Emperor's Gift made them seem pretty cool, but looking at painting logs here on the Bolter and Chainsword inspired me to start. I already bought a Pack box years ago but sold a lot of the bits. I've got lots of MKIV and MKIII fellows lying around so I'll kitbash them with the Pack box to get some more models in my force.

 

Tactics wise, I like the look of a Saga of the Wolfkin warlord with Wulfen Stone and 15 Blood Claws in a Crusader. Probably not the most effective idea but I like that they can put out a lot of pain. Any advice on this department? 

 

Lore, they might be M38 or so, so I can have my custom Wolf Lord, but I'll probably not go through with this idea. Thinking of a counts as Wolf Lord, these Wolves being survivors of a campaign and then stranded far from Fenris, that they've elected a leader who'll have the stats of a Wolf Lord. I'll think about this some more. 

 

Glory for Russ! 

Edited April 5, 2020 by BadgersinHills

[Rune Priest Jbickb]

With the lost company fluff it's pretty easy to gin up a custom lord. Especially if you are avoiding primaris.

 

I would reccomend a stormwolf over a crusader if you are going to try that route, faster, hard to hit and same transport cap with equal or better guns. At a similar points cost (a bit pricier). And if you support it with a rune priest with jump pack you can make it -2 to hit, instead of stock -1. Either way its alot of eggs in 1 basket so support is key.

 

Also welcome brother, even if you are a traitorous witch

[PeteySödes]

I’m glad you’ve recognized your failing and seem to be striving to correct it.

 

Wolves are pretty flexible lore wise despite what it looks like. Meaning if you wanted to choose a GC you liked you still very easily could make a custom lord. This could represent a different time as you say, a particularly noted and trusted leader, or whatever else you wanted and nobody should look at you sideways.

 

...well except your old dusty traitorous crew but who cares about them. ;)

Edited April 5, 2020 by PeteySödes

[BadgersinHills]

@Jbickb: Ah, thanks for the advice. Stormwolf looks like an air brick so I'll find a proxy or go for the Crusader because dakka is the best.

 

@Petey: Thanks mate! I've been taking a lot of inspiration from your Storm Stalkers so thanks are in order. :)

 

Also, I said I would be starting Space Wolves, but not that I'd be quitting the Thousand Sons..... mwahahahha. (I don't have a Thousand Sons 40k army so there's nothing to quit haha) 

[Karhedron]

Also, I said I would be starting Space Wolves, but not that I'd be quitting the Thousand Sons..... mwahahahha.

Playing both sides? How very Tzeentch.

Edited April 5, 2020 by Karhedron

[BadgersinHills]

Hope it's alright if I can use this thread to ask a few questions about tentative list building. I'm a complete newbie to 40k, never played a game but I've some knowledge of 8th. 

 

Would 5 Wolf Guard terminators with Storm bolters, storm shields and an assault cannon along with a Landspeeder with Assault cannon do work for clearing chaff?

 

Are two Wolf Lords, a Wolf Priest and an Iron Priest too many characters? The Wolf Lord and Priest would be a smash build.

[Cpt.Danjou]

There is a discussion of how to build a space wolf army right now, as we just got the new rules. A four HQ, plus six troops, army will probably be the norm, but how a normal competitive variant is up for debate. Some would say that having two Wolf lords is not fluffy, but not a big problem, the wolf priest has been buffed recently and on paper looks crazy good, just give him a jp so he can move quickly. Our terminators have been buffed and many of us consider to take them in the future, I have always loved our terminators with storm shields. You could consider giving a couple of them thunder hammers, and then even the bigger things will be scared of them.

I can't say anything about the land speeder as I never take them, I have two, but I consider them to weak and not point efficient. 

 

When I build armies, I always think of every units main task is. Are they there to take care of chaff, or heavies? How will they do that or get where they are supposed to be? Are they going to get their points back or are they just glorified shields for other units? My razorbacks have never gotten their points back, as transports rarely do, but by Russ they are essential for my Bjorn. How will they survive? A smash lord is good, but will he get into close combat without any dedicated support?

 

 

Edit for spelling.

Edited April 7, 2020 by Cpt.Danjou

[Karhedron]

Some would say that having two Wolf lords is not fluffy

Personally I wouldn't see it as a problem. 40K battles often represent key engagements in larger battles so it would not be uncommon to find 2 Wolf Lords fighting together if both of their GCs were fighting the same enemy. "Saga of the Beast" even has an example of Ragnar Blackmane and Erik Morkai fighting side by side on Ceibhal.

[Karhedron]

Would 5 Wolf Guard terminators with Storm bolters, storm shields and an assault cannon along with a Landspeeder with Assault cannon do work for clearing chaff?

They certainly have the firepower for chaff clearing. What I find useful is comparing the amount of firepower they put out similarly priced alternatives to see how good they are. The Terminator squad you describe will cost 155 points, has 22 shots at 24" range, can enter from Reserves and has 10 T4 wounds with a 2+/3++ save. One change I would suggest is putting a Power Fist or Thunder Hammer on the Pack Leader so you have some threat in melee as well. You still have 4 Storm Shields to catch heavy weapons fire.

 

For comparison, a Redemptor Dreadnought with HOGC/OGC and Storm bolters is a very similar cost, has 26 shots and 24/30" range and has more wounds and toughness but poorer armour. It has better melee capability.

 

Similarly costed options give similar firepower so what you need to consider is how the different options synergise with the rest of your army. If you are already running lost of tanks then the Dread might be the better option to overload your opponent's anti-tank capability. On the other hand, you may decide that ability to come in from reserves behind your enemy's lines is more valuable. The units you describe are certainly viable so you need to decide how they fit together in the context of your list.

[Cpt.Danjou]

 

Some would say that having two Wolf lords is not fluffy

Personally I wouldn't see it as a problem. 40K battles often represent key engagements in larger battles so it would not be uncommon to find 2 Wolf Lords fighting together if both of their GCs were fighting the same enemy. "Saga of the Beast" even has an example of Ragnar Blackmane and Erik Morkai fighting side by side on Ceibhal.

 

 

I have run two wolf lords in several matches, one Gravis primaris and a TDA one, claiming that the gravis one is a Wolfguard but as good as an ordinary Wolf lord, getting around the fluff is not that hard with a little imagination. I rarely meet armies that are fluffy anyhow, one of my main opponents play a Sam Hainn army without bikes or vipers.  :) Or the triple DP Death guard list.  When playing competitive most fluff goes out the door, but when we play story driven campaigns/games I always try build fluffy variants.

 

@BadgersinHils Space wolves are not bad in the chaff clearing department, Intercessors, Aggressors, and even Grey hunters are good options for that in medium range, Blood claws are very good at clearing chaff in melee, and so are Grey hunters and Intercessors are no push overs in cc either when it comes to chaff. TDA marines are good at taking care of the heavies like Knights, monsters, and vehicles even if they are the stock ones with pf and sb, even if not optimal. Are they buffed by a character they become even better, lord, wolf priest or WGBL are the usual suspects for that. My tda lord is always running together with at least five other termies. 

Another "chaff" clearing unit is Long fangs with launchers, who also can take out armour, in my last match a squad of LF severely crippled a knight the first round, and in round two turned a squad of poxwalkers to dust. I find that Launcher Fangs are versatile. but others may think plasma or laser cannon fangs are better.

 

Here is my take on Land speeders, expensive paper planes, even the Imperial guards flash lights are a danger to them. The only reason I would take them is if I wanted a brigade and needed to fill out the last fast slot, but somehow I take Fenrisian wolves for that, when looking for cheap fast slots, they cost a third compared to a AC LS. The amount of shots an AC land speeder has is not enough, nine shots, six hits, and four wounds on T3 models and probably one save, next round there is no more Land speeder. Sure they can take an objective easily with their speed, but due to their fragility that rarely happens.

[BadgersinHills]

The two Wolf Lords wouldn't be Wolf Lords fluff wise, one being the elected leader of the detachment and the other being a Lone Wolf type figure who is a master at combat and thus I thought the Lord stats would represent him well.

 

 

 

Some would say that having two Wolf lords is not fluffy

Personally I wouldn't see it as a problem. 40K battles often represent key engagements in larger battles so it would not be uncommon to find 2 Wolf Lords fighting together if both of their GCs were fighting the same enemy. "Saga of the Beast" even has an example of Ragnar Blackmane and Erik Morkai fighting side by side on Ceibhal.

 

 

I have run two wolf lords in several matches, one Gravis primaris and a TDA one, claiming that the gravis one is a Wolfguard but as good as an ordinary Wolf lord, getting around the fluff is not that hard with a little imagination. I rarely meet armies that are fluffy anyhow, one of my main opponents play a Sam Hainn army without bikes or vipers.  Or the triple DP Death guard list.  When playing competitive most fluff goes out the door, but when we play story driven campaigns/games I always try build fluffy variants.

 

@BadgersinHils Space wolves are not bad in the chaff clearing department, Intercessors, Aggressors, and even Grey hunters are good options for that in medium range, Blood claws are very good at clearing chaff in melee, and so are Grey hunters and Intercessors are no push overs in cc either when it comes to chaff. TDA marines are good at taking care of the heavies like Knights, monsters, and vehicles even if they are the stock ones with pf and sb, even if not optimal. Are they buffed by a character they become even better, lord, wolf priest or WGBL are the usual suspects for that. My tda lord is always running together with at least five other termies. 

Another "chaff" clearing unit is Long fangs with launchers, who also can take out armour, in my last match a squad of LF severely crippled a knight the first round, and in round two turned a squad of poxwalkers to dust. I find that Launcher Fangs are versatile. but others may think plasma or laser cannon fangs are better.

 

Here is my take on Land speeders, expensive paper planes, even the Imperial guards flash lights are a danger to them. The only reason I would take them is if I wanted a brigade and needed to fill out the last fast slot, but somehow I take Fenrisian wolves for that, when looking for cheap fast slots, they cost a third compared to a AC LS. The amount of shots an AC land speeder has is not enough, nine shots, six hits, and four wounds on T3 models and probably one save, next round there is no more Land speeder. Sure they can take an objective easily with their speed, but due to their fragility that rarely happens.

 

 

Thanks for the advice! Good to see that Terminators have some use. I have some Dark Vengeance terminators I'd like to convert to the Wolves. 

Long Fangs seem pretty interesting! I was thinking 5 or 10 of them in a drop pod on turn 1, to get Devastator Doctrine and deploy in an unexpected position where they can hurt the enemy. Even if they don't, the threat of them would perhaps force my opponent to reconsider movement in a way where other parts of the army could come in and cause hurt. 

 

 

Would 5 Wolf Guard terminators with Storm bolters, storm shields and an assault cannon along with a Landspeeder with Assault cannon do work for clearing chaff?

They certainly have the firepower for chaff clearing. What I find useful is comparing the amount of firepower they put out similarly priced alternatives to see how good they are. The Terminator squad you describe will cost 155 points, has 22 shots at 24" range, can enter from Reserves and has 10 T4 wounds with a 2+/3++ save. One change I would suggest is putting a Power Fist or Thunder Hammer on the Pack Leader so you have some threat in melee as well. You still have 4 Storm Shields to catch heavy weapons fire.

For comparison, a Redemptor Dreadnought with HOGC/OGC and Storm bolters is a very similar cost, has 26 shots and 24/30" range and has more wounds and toughness but poorer armour. It has better melee capability.

Similarly costed options give similar firepower so what you need to consider is how the different options synergise with the rest of your army. If you are already running lost of tanks then the Dread might be the better option to overload your opponent's anti-tank capability. On the other hand, you may decide that ability to come in from reserves behind your enemy's lines is more valuable. The units you describe are certainly viable so you need to decide how they fit together in the context of your list.

 

 

Thanks! I'll definitely consider that, especially since there are so many options especially with the new PA. I think the flexible deployment is really important for me, so I'll go for the termies. :) 

 

[BadgersinHills]

Hey all, here's my first draft for a list. Using mostly models I own, any suggestions on how to fill this out to a 1000 points. Thinking perhaps a Wolf Lord with Wulfen Stone or Wulfen with Thunder Hammers and Storm Shields, or maybe both.

 

Space Wolves

 

 

HQ- 

Bjorn the Fell Handed - 172 points.

Wolf Priest with JP and Power fist - 99 

Saga of Majesty

Canticle of Hate

 

 

Troops- 

 

5 Grey Hunters with chainswords, one plasma gun. 89 points

Wolf Guard Pack Leader, Storm shield and storm bolter. 

 

5 Grey Hunters with chainswords, one plasma gun. 89 points

Wolf Guard Pack Leader, Storm shield and storm bolter. 

 

5 Grey Hunters with chainswords, one plasma gun. 89 points

Wolf Guard Pack Leader, Storm shield and storm bolter. 

 

Elites - 

 

Wolf Guard Terminators, 1 assault cannon, and power fists 

Wolf Guard Pack Leader with power sword  and storm shield - 212 points