Fluffly Yet Viable Space Wolves List

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Fenix Reborn

almost 7 years ago

So I think I've come up with a list that feels fluffy, fits in most of the models I really like, but should still have a fighting chance if played well (and decent LoS blocking terrain doesn't hurt either). So here it is:
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++ Battalion Detachment ++
Command Points: 5

- Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf (118 pts): Thunder Hammer 21pts, Storm Shield 15pts
Points: 154

- Rune Priest with Jump Pack (112 pts): Runic Sword/Stave 10pts, Psychic Hood 5pts
Points: 127

Troops

- Grey Hunters (65 pts) -
x1 Grey Hunter Pack Leader: Boltgun, Chainsword, Bolt Pistol
x1 Grey Hunter: Plasma Gun 13pts, Chainsword, Bolt Pistol
x3 Grey Hunters: Boltgun, Chainsword, Bolt Pistol
x1 Wolf Guard Pack Leader Terminator 26pts: Storm Shield 5pts, Stormbolter 2pts
Points: 111

Fast Attack

- Thunderwolf Calvary (120 pts) -
x1 Thunderwolf Calvary Pack Leader: Frost Sword 7 pts, Storm Shield 10pts
x2 Thunderwolf Calvary: Frost Sword 7 pts, Storm Shield 10pts
Points: 171

- Cyberwolves (15 pts) -
x1 Cyberwolf
Points: 15

Heavy Support

- Long Fangs (84 pts) -
x1 Long Fang Pack Leader: Boltgun, Chainsword, Bolt Pistol
x5 Long Fangs: Lascannon 25pts, Bolt Pistol
x1 Wolf Guard Pack Leader 16pts: Chainsword, Storm Shield 5pts
Points: 230

- Whirlwind (70 pts): Whirlwind Castellan Launcher 25pts
Points: 95

Detachment Points: 1140

++ Vanguard Detachment ++
Command Points: 1

- Wolf Priest with Jump Pack (97 pts): Crozius Arcanum, Bolt Pistol
(Relic: Wulfen Stone)
Points: 97

Elite

- Murderfang (170 pts)

- Wolf Guard with Jump Packs (190 pts) -
x1 Wolf Guard Pack Leader: Thunder Hammer 16pts, Storm Shield 5pts
x4 Wolf Guard: Thunder Hammer 16pts, Storm Shield 5pts
x5 Wolf Guard: Stormbolter 2pts, Storm Shield 5pts
Points: 330

- Wulfen (168 pts) -
x1 Wulfen Pack Leader: Frost Claws 15pts
x2 Wulfen: Great Frost Axe 17 pts
x3 Wulfen: Thunder Hammer 16pts, Storm Shield 5pts
Points: 263

Detachment Points: 860
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Total Army Points: 2000
Command Points Total: 9
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I actually don't think having terminator Wolf Guard (instead of regular) with the Grey Hunters is a good expenditure of points, but I really like the look of it and wanted to have Wolf Guard termies featured somehow. Conversely, I wanted a terminator version with the Long Fangs for that extra storm shield wound, but didn't quite have enough points.

The army is fast and everything has a storm shield, so I feel with some decent terrain and strategic deployment, it should have a fair chance against most armies of making contact with enough bodies to do some damage.
Any thoughts about its effectiveness?

3 Likes

Cavalier

almost 7 years ago

I like the list, but I feel like you need 2 good hammer units at least in a combat army. I love the fact that you've got devastators in there, but if I were you I'd try and really beef up the Thunderwolves. If I'm correct doesnt the Wolf Priest have a spell that grants a -1 to hit to units within 6"? If so I'd really beef up that Thunderwolf unit, have the Priest and Jump Pack Wolf Guard rock up together and even sacrifice a detachment and the CP's for an overall stronger list. I think you could downgrade the lascannons to missile launchers on Devs, drop the Whirlwind, and perhaps strip down the Tactical Squads.

The combo of good invulns, penalties to hit on the Wolf Guard + T-Wolves plus the Wulfen outflanking should make a good triple threat. I'd beef up your lord with some tasty relics too, as the heroic intervention of 6" is SICK on Space Wolf heroes.

Anyway great stuff Phoenix, let us know how you do!

1 Like

Luke Barker Mod

almost 7 years ago

Can I feature this list in a future Sub List Analysis video?:)

Luke Barker Mod

almost 7 years ago

Yeah I love the idea of mixing the terminators in with the regular units..looks so cool...and unique to the Wolves. Really love the Wolfguard jump pack unit!...Vicious! for 65pts I think those Grey Hunter units are great value!:) I like the list a lot!

1 Like

Ben

almost 7 years ago

Hey bud. List would look great on the table. Might be short on CP, I gather space wolves are pretty thirsty? How much do you want your grey hunters to do in the game? Are they mainly there for CP/screening? If so strip them down and spend the points elsewhere. I like the fluff with the terminator wolf guard in there and there is value in the 3++. Maybe set up one that way? Whirlwind and long fangs are setting you back 325 points. With an assault based army, would it maybe be worth taking a powerful HQ (Bjorn the Fell handed seems pretty solid) and then using the spare points to add to your wulfen or thunderwolves? Nice point on LOS terrain, my advice would just be to say to your opponent - we need 3 good blockers on the board or this game probs won't be much fun for me! It seems to be the standard now in 8th, lots of LOSB and good cover make for the best games :-) good luck and let us know how it plays!

1 Like

Fenix Reborn

almost 7 years ago

I can say that I am well aware that I'm kind of wasting 36 points having Terminator versions of the Wolf Guard with the GH's, and I'd be saving 99 pts if I dropped them entirely. They're really only in there because I like the look of them. I'm okay with playing an uphill battle, just as long as the climb isn't so steep that I can't win at all.

I should mention that I don't actually own a Space Wolves army yet, the idea was to get feedback from experienced players on whether or not I could expect the proposed list to have a decent chance at winning before I purchase & build & paint all the models. I plan on getting most of the models anyway since I like them all and there's no telling what will be good in the future, but I'm aiming to get a decent playable 2000 point army that I like on the table as soon as possible.

Bjorn is obviously rock solid, but I was kind of seeing if I could make a list that didn't use him. I'm not opposed to him (and I expect he'll show up in a latter build), but was trying things without him first.

The Whirlwind was not my first choice; I just included it so I'd have some survivable anti-horde firepower right from turn 1 that could soften up the enemy for when the heavy hitting stuff got there. However, I take it from the responses, you all thinks it's a waste of points? Well I could drop it, but 95 pts won't get much by itself. Actually, what I dropped to add it to the list was a Wolf Guard Battle Leader which I had paired up with the 3 Fast Attack options in an Outrider detachment for an extra CP. You think that would be more useful? I could then use the extra Cmd pt on Black Death.

- Wolf Guard Battle Leader with Jump Pack (78 pts): Frost Axe 10pts, Storm Shield 5pts
Points: 93

I like Long Fangs thematically and I imagine having something to threaten my opponents heavy gear is important. The idea is to keep them out of line of sight until the opponent moves his big guns into the open to shoot at my assault elements. Then, run them out, use the 'Keen Senses' and 'The Wolf's Eye' strats to boost em, and let the target have it. With 5 lascannon shots hitting on 3's, re-rolling 1's to hit, and re-rolling all wound rolls, I figure most targets should be nearly if not totally dead. And if the opponent keeps his big stuff hidden, then it's probably not shooting my assault units. That's my thoughts anyway.

My thoughts for the GH's is probably what you'd expect. Mechanically wise they're necessary to get the Battalion CP's, and are also helpful for securing objectives. I figure the odd plasma shot doesn't hurt either, but I'm not expecting too much damage from them. Thematically though, I do like them in the force and, as stated, would like to have the Wolf Guard Pack Leader's with them. Preferably terminator versions, but it's not a must. My other option for equipping them was to downgrade the Pack Leader to a regular WG that saves the 10pts from the termie and 2pts from the storm bolter. That's 12pts from each squad. Then I'd drop the 5pt psychic hood from the Rune Priest and give all 3 GH Pack Leaders 13pt plasma guns. That way there'd be 2 plasma guns in each GH squad. The regular WG wouldn't be as visually striking as the termie, but he'd still have a storm shield and could be painted and modeled to stand out.

I would love to have a full squad of TWC, but with points spent elsewhere there was no way to manage it. I have my current 3 equipped for light/medium unit hunting, since the wolves teeth & claws attacks aren't really suited for fighting heavy units. With the frost swords they'll have a minimum of 16 str5 attacks, 7 of which will have -3 ap. I'm not really sure how well they'll function in game at such a low model count, but they're so cool & iconic I just have to have them in the list in some fashion.

Wolf Priest with the Wulfen Stone is meant to hang out with the Wolf Guard turning them into hammer wielding death machines, but can be used to support the Wulfen or TWC as needed. Of course the ideal thing would be to have the WG and the Wulfen hanging out together as well to share bonuses, but that'll depend on the flow of battle.

Cyberwolves are cheap, cool, and flavorful, and can be use to hold objectives or secure line breaker. Just need to keep them out of sight until First Blood is dealt with.

Obvious Rune Priest is obvious.

Wolf Lord on TW is most likely target for Warlord in order to gain Wolfkin Saga for that extra attack.

1 Like

Ben

almost 7 years ago

Yeah I saw something about those long fang stratagem on Frontline Gaming. Looks like they can be pretty brutal! I would still say that you have a more competitive force if you strip down the Great Hunters as opposed to buffing them. Tactical squads do have a place in 8th, buy personally I think they are better using 1 or 2 squads as back line screens/objective holders (if you don't have points for Intercessors) and I wouldn't be buffing them too much when you could have points to spend on more TWC. I can't see them making contact with enemy lines if you only have a squad of 3, unless you're lucky with deployment or your opponent allows you space to use flank stratagem and then you make your 2D6 charge. I also rate scouts very highly, mainly for screening and board control, to give you pockets of space that you can move your elites and characters into. Having said that, I believe SW can only take scouts as elites? Or have I got that wrong?

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Fenix Reborn

almost 7 years ago

Yes, SW Scouts are elites. Only troops are Grey Hunters, Blood Claws, & Intercessors.

'The Wolf's Eye' is a 1cp Long Fangs only strat and lets you choose to either re-roll their hit rolls or wound rolls for a shooting phase. Since they already reroll 1's against a designated foe each round, will typically choose wounds.
'Keen Senses' is also 1cp and can be used on any SW unit to negate all penalties to their hit rolls for that shooting phase. That means the -1 for moving & shooting heavy weapons as well as any defensive modifiers from your target. Really strong.

There is no doubt that the force would be more competitive with bare-bones GH squads; that's not the question.
The question is whether or not the proposed list has a decent chance at victory.
You're probably right about the GH's not getting much of a chance to use their plasma guns. But dropping those only gives me 39 points. Not much I can do with that unless I drop something else.

1 Like

Ben

almost 7 years ago

Hmmm, that combination with long fangs is tasty! Could drop five of those in with multi meltas using the flanking strat and annihilate anything in sight! Reckon that would stand a good chance of one-turning a titan! Average on 5d6 is about 18 I think but you'd potentially be rolling 2 dice for each and picking the highest. Maybe not quite one turning, but combined with a couple of lascannon from the back line... Anyway, that's cheesy. Blood Claws would give you something grey hunters don't (and your list lacks) - the ability to grab objectives in the mid-field, and open up pockets of space that tree up your elites. Not sure what the points are on a blood claw with JP, but I think they would benefit the list. I still think you need more cavalry too, but that is just my opinion :-)

Fenix Reborn

almost 7 years ago

Unfortunately, Blood Claws (as a Troops choice) don't have access to JPs. You'd have to take them as Sky Claws in the Fast Attack slot.

Nice idea with the Melta-Fangs; your opponent would have to screen his stuff well to keep them safe.

1 Like