Space Wolves for Ard Boyz

Hey Adam,

I've been reading your blogs for a while now and am impressed with your techniques for list building. I am not new to 40K but have only adopted Wolves since the new codex.

I am preparing for Ard Boy's here in the US and am taking Wolves for the first time. I have a couple of lists I am debating over and was wondering if you wouldn't mind looking them over for me and giving me some feedback?

Thanks
Brian

Hi Brian, thanks for getting in touch. We play a little differently in the UK compared to you chaps in the US it seems. Here it's about value for points and where you are it seems to be about smashing face with power units and enormous armies crammed into a small playing space -but I'll see what I can do.


Brian's Space Wolves for Ard Boyz

Wolf Lord in Terminator Armor 220pts
Belt of Russ, Saga of the Bear, Wolftooth Necklace, Frost Weapon

Njal Stormcaller 270pts
Runic Terminator Armor

Rune Priest in Terminator Armor 140pts
Chooser of the Slain, Wolftooth Necklace, JoTWW, Living Lightning

Wolf Guard Pack #2 520pts
10x Wolfguard in PA, 10x Storm Bolters, 3x Power Weapons, 1x Power Fist
Landraider Crusader w/ Multi Melta

Wolf Guard Pack 1: 230pts
Wolf Guard for GH's come from here, plus Terminator w/Cyclone Missile Launcher for Long Fangs #1, and 1x Wolf Guard in PA for Long Fangs #2

Grey Hunters Pack 230 pts.
10-Man 2x Plasma Gun, 1x Power Weapon, Wolf Guard w/ Power Fist, Combi-melta, Melta Bombs
Drop Pod w/ Deathwind ML

Grey Hunters Pack 225 pts.
10-Man 1x Plasma Gun, 1x Melta Gun, 1x Power Weapon, Wolf Guard w/ Power Fist, Combi-melta, Melta Bombs
Drop Pod w/ Deathwind ML

Grey Hunters Pack 205 pts.
10-Man 1x Plasma Gun, 1x Melta Gun, 1x Power Weapon, Wolf Guard w/ Power Fist, Combi-melta, Melta Bombs
Drop Pod

Long Fang Pack #1 170pts
2x Lascannon, 3x ML
Squad Leader with Bolt Pistol and CCW

Long Fang Pack #2 170pts
2x Lascannon, 3x ML
Squad Leader with Bolt Pistol and CCW

Vindicator 120pts
Dozer Blade

My plan is to drop the pods empty to contest objectives, place turrets and cover between me and my opponent. The Wolf Guard and Wolf Lord ride in the LR, the Long Fangs set up in cover, and the rest footslog. - Brian

My Thoughts
Based on what people were saying about Adepticon the Imperial Guard Leaf Blower list is incredibly common in the US and combined with the apparent lack of scenery, it's the stand tournament list.

Here in the UK we go for mechanised lists and tend to steer away from Drop Pods because the army is quite predictable and can easily give away Kill Points.

However, if you're likely to come up against Leaf Blower lists, you need to hit them hard, fast and with the numbers to deal with them and soak up the damage.

So, if you've got your heart set on drop pods, I'd lose the Long Fangs, get more Grey Hunters and give everything as much melta as possible and launch straight in there!

And if you're going to pour hundreds of men in, be sure to take Logan Grimnar. Not only is he great for leading Long Fangs with lascannons out of a drop pod, he gives everyone in 18" +1 attack, which will be really important if you're doing a clustered drop pod assault. He's also much better than the expensive Wolf Lord you currently have in your list.

Finally, I'd never take a unit of Wolf Guard in power armour. It's terminator armour or not at all! Otherwise their upgrades simply aren't cost effective.

The Vindicator's not a bad choice and can be a frustrating distraction of your enemy is frantically fighting off a horde of Space Wolves. Just be careful how close you fire to your own troops!

CONCLUSION
So in summary, if I knew was going up against The Leafblower and was generally playing high point games with crowded tables, I'd take Logan Grimnar leading lascannon armed Long Fangs in a drop pod, joined by a WolfGuard in terminator armour with cyclone, combi melta and chainfist.

Then I'd have as many units of 9 Grey Hunters with melta gun, mark of the wulfen, wolf standard, powerfist and Wolf Guard with powerfist and combi-melta in a drop pod.

Any Wolf Guard units would be in terminator armour and equipped with all manner of combi-meltas and combi-plasmas. If the table is as cluttered as I imagine, long ranged weaponry will be the last of your worries when your Space Wolves blanket the board.

Finally, I'd strip the Deathwind Launchers off the drop pods to pay for as many men as possible!

Then you just need to brush up on your Drop Pod tactics and splitting your force into two halves.

Remember that your army list is only half the battle. You can have the most devastating army in the game, but if you don't know how to play it, you're in trouble.

So it's:
Melta guns galore.
Logan and Long Fangs for fire power on the move and devastating long ranged fire after you land.
Rune Priests for casting nice Jaws Of The World Wolf lines through enemy infantry and Murderous Hurricane for big units of infantry.
Master drop pod tactics: Going first or second, where to land, what to land and how to reinforce.

By using as many units as possible in combination with the Drop Pod Assault rules in a high points game, the Space Wolves can dominate the middle of the board and turn the game into a close ranged blood bath -which is what they excel at!

I hope that helps Brian, and good hunting!

What do you guys think?