Could the Wolf Standard be the best investment you ever make in your army? How about the best investment of points in the entire game? Let’s have a look at what the Wolf Standard is all about and what it can do on the battlefield that no other buff/bonus or power can!The Fluff
All the Space wolves great companies have a these priceless relics and it’s the Grey Hunters that get to carry these symbols of power into the battlefield. There are many types and designs, each depicting a glorious aspect of the space wolves history. The one thing that is common to all wolf standards is the symbol of strength is represents to those who walk in its shadow
On the battlefield
The Wolf Standard enables you to re roll all ones in an assault phase.
So this can be all rolls to hit, to wound, armour and invulnerable saves that any member of the unit has to make. This is for the entire Assault phase. So it also entitles you to re roll any 1’s that you roll for difficult terrain, consolidation and ATSKNF saves. Even how many attacks your Grey Hunter with the Mark Of The Wulfen gets!
All this for 10 points!
You can even use it to take down vehicles! Re-rolling 1’s on the damage chart could be the most under used aspect of the Standard. You can tag 3 or 4 vehicles with a nice multi assault, using the banner to turn dice into damage. Of course, you have to get there in one piece first.
When and where?
The codex states that the benefit of the standard applies to the ‘next assault phase’. So this should tell you that you declare its use after the shooting phase has ended but before you start moving your models in either assault or as a reaction move. But as long as you declare its use before the ‘round of combat’ has started, then you should have no problems (that’s how the UK independent GT has ruled it anyway).
I always make a point in using my Wolf standard at the first available opportunity. It makes more sense to use it when the pack is at its strongest. That doesn’t mean you can’t try to engineer where and when your squad is going to strike. As Adam has said before, claim the middle ground – it’s where we excel. We don’t mind bringing the fight to the enemy and are equally capable when being assaulted. As long as we end up in a close combat. We don’t mind either way!
Squeezing out every last drop of value!
I like to go big with my Grey hunters. I like to make sure that the unit is at least nine or ten strong. So that’s 8 Grey Hunters with all the upgrades, plus a combi-melta and power fist Wolf guard and more often than not a Rune priest. This gives me plenty of close combat punch that when combined with the wolf standard, can even kill off Assault terminators before they get to swing.
I opt for this load out as I have to find the points for my TWC and ThunderLord. But the inspiration came from an Idea I had when I first got my hands on the book. I envisioned having Arjac Rockfist and a runic armoured Wolf lord in a squad of Grey hunters. Arjac is an absolute beast with his five attacks on the charge. He hits on three’s and wounds on two’s versus most things. Combined with a wolf banner he gets to re roll half of his missed swings and gets to re roll the ones he invariably rolls to wound. That’s pretty powerful.
The wolf lord is the other one who excels. He should have a Storm shield and a frost weapon of some kind. He also hits on 3’s (re rolling half the misses) and wounds on 3’s vs Marines equivalent (re rolling half of those). Add your favourite saga to taste.
Combined with the other 8 or so Grey hunters in the squad, this can make a mess of anything. Think of it this way. You are striking at three initiative steps, 5, 4 and 1 – each can easily take out 3 or 4 enemy models on there own and stops the opponent from stacking the power weapon attacks all onto one or two models.
But it gets even better! Having 2+ saves in a squad really helps the unit survive (It reminds me of the old Wolf tooth necklace, nostalgia fans!). Failed 2+ saves get re rolled in combat and your invulnerable save gets a boost! (You re-roll half the failed invulnerable saves!) It makes for one hell of a deathstar unit.
There are many combinations available. What has worked for you guys? Do tell the rest of us. We like a good story…
29 comments:
March 16, 2011 at 2:10 PM
I think its one of the best investments you can make in a rhino full of Grey Hunters but I wouldn't take it on a razorback.
I was also pleased with how the indy GT ruled, I've never come across an opponent who demanded it should be rolled in the shooting phase but its nice just to know before next week.
March 16, 2011 at 2:25 PM
As has been pointed out the banner applies for the entire assault phase. This also includes difficult and dangerous terrain tests to see if you reach your opponent.
March 16, 2011 at 2:37 PM
You forgot the ones rolled for leadership test as well
March 16, 2011 at 3:05 PM
You can't ever roll a one for a leader ship test because its 2d6
March 16, 2011 at 3:08 PM
Can you post your army list (or at one that you have been experimenting with)? Your description sounds very similar to the elements I like to include in my lists (big GH squads, Thunderlord with SS and FB), so I'd like to see how you put it together.
March 16, 2011 at 3:38 PM
Does IC really get the bonus of the wolf standard? I mean arjac is clear, he is an (special) attached wolf guard, but a wolf lord?
I mean a chaos lord does not get furios charge when he joins Khorne berzerker neither.
Is there any rule which makes this point clear?
March 16, 2011 at 3:57 PM
I think you mean the runic charm in regards to being able to re-roll 1s for saves.
March 16, 2011 at 4:03 PM
@duke, a wolf standard allows you to reroll all ones so I'm not sure of your point
March 16, 2011 at 6:50 PM
Simo Has it right. leadership tests are 2 dice added together so the result can never be a 1.
Markdynna - I will post my list if people would like to see it. Maybe after the UKGT (I would not want to give people the heads up before a big event! Besides Adam and Alex are coming and I want to be the top Space wolf at least :D )
Duke or Earl - that's the one. He is referring to the old wargear that allowed you to ignore 1 the first wound (or something like that)
Oliver - Yes mate. The wording is 'A unit that includes the wolf standard my re roll all ones in the assault phase'. Independent characters that are joined to a unit of Grey hunters count as being part of that unit.
March 16, 2011 at 7:05 PM
Gotta love the banner. For me the standard, wulfen and meltagun are obligatory in grey hunter squads. I agree there's no point with razorback teams but then I never use them.
The wording is "all models in that unit..." so since ICs are considered part of it I don't see why not. I've always done it with the Rune priest or wolf priest and no-one's complained. Gotta say I'm interested in the wolf lord idea.
March 16, 2011 at 7:18 PM
If only the Thunderlords could sneakily join the Grey hunters just before a charge. That would be a little bit awesome :D
March 16, 2011 at 8:11 PM
The only problem is that in an assault, "independent characters are always treated as a separate single-model unit, even though they have joined the unit."
In other words, from the point where models are moved into assault, until assault results are determined, they are a separate single model unit and would be ineligible for the bonus since they are a separate unit from the Grey Hunters using the wolf standard.
But Arjac against a MC or IC with a Wolf Standard is just dirty.
March 16, 2011 at 8:26 PM
My rune priests Force weapon wounds a crisis suit. I roll a psych test to banish the alien and of course snake eyes, no wait! Standard saves the day!
March 16, 2011 at 9:29 PM
Doesn't work on any leadership based tests (Including Psychic Tests) as you can only re-roll 1's not snake eyes in the case of 2D6 based tests as that counts as a roll of 2.
It does however work when say you attach Ragnar to a unit of Grey Hunters and roll a 1 (on a D3) for the extra attacks, something i've been reaping the benefits of recently :D
March 17, 2011 at 3:32 AM
IC's only count as a seperate unit in close combat in reguards to allocating attacks. In all other respects they are part of the unit. Including getting the reroll from the standard.
Study the BrB pp49.
And runic charms allowed one failed armour save to be re-rolled per game and they couldn't be used with an invulnarable save. They were still awesome on termies for 5pts though.
March 17, 2011 at 5:49 AM
must agree with @brad wether or not a charecter counts as a part of the unit, since your unit is also allowed to use the characters leadership, wich they couldn't do if he didnt count as a part of the unit in an assult
March 17, 2011 at 8:22 AM
If what Kelly said was true, then many of the special characters' unit-wide abilities won't work. Like Ragnar's +D3 assault bonus.
Then his bonus will only apply to him alone and not the other models in the unit. which is pretty silly.
March 17, 2011 at 11:39 AM
Still no Glorious stories of how the wolf standard has made you awesome!
I remember rolling 7 2's for armour saves once... damn standard...
March 17, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Well, Kelly is blatantly wrong. Case closed.
March 17, 2011 at 1:27 PM
The leadership test rolls of one do have to rerolled at gt cause neil kerr told me that and he is kinda running it
March 17, 2011 at 1:57 PM
Q. Does a Wolf Standard allow Leadership test
results to be re-rolled?
A. No, as it is impossible to roll a ‘1’ on 2D6 –
when making a 2D6 result you must count both
dice as a single roll, not address them
individually.
This is from the GW faq (which ALWAYS trumps ours - yes ours - I am also on the committee and had a hand in the wolf part. I will remind Neil of this if he has not yet read this :D
March 17, 2011 at 5:34 PM
Thanks Jay! Of all the ways to game the Wolf Standard, Arjac and a Wolf Lord had never occurred to me. I'll definitely give that a try after I paint up an Arjac model. For extra fun, consider moving the Lord to a second Grey Hunter unit to utilize their Wolf Standard in a subsequent turn! Dirty...
March 17, 2011 at 7:12 PM
March 17, 2011 at 7:29 PM
What about the opponents turn?
RAW wound mean you´d have to announce the use of the standard in your opponents movement phase - before he declares charges. A sneaky opponent might just say "you activated the wolf standard for this assualt phase? I´m not gonna charge you.."
Thoughts?
March 18, 2011 at 7:04 AM
Just read it and duly noted Mike.
Our interpretation regarding when it is activated still stands as it does not interfere or clash with anything GW has yet to publish.
As for the anonymous poster; if I have said that in the past it was simply as I was not aware of the GW ruling and I am not totally infallible - as much as I sometimes like to think I am ;-)
GW's official in print rules and rulings still take precedence over the GT FAQ unless SPECIFICALLY stated.
March 18, 2011 at 1:02 PM
I usually try and have 3-4 GH units and each have wolf standards and the friends i play against hates when I pop them in an assualt and i try and use them as soon as possible for then that is an extra guy i can take a wound on without having to risk powerfists or MotW. I do realize though that sometimes doing so leaves me out in the open for my oppenents trun.
March 21, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Sorry. Temper, caffeine. Lesson learned.
March 21, 2011 at 1:28 PM
Popping the Standard defensively is probably one of the best uses for it if im honest. I should have mentioned that :D
Counter attack + re roll 1's = awesome :D
Thx for clarifying Neil :D
July 1, 2011 at 1:31 AM
Standart is awesome.
Squad with Rune Priest + WG with fist + 8 grey Hunters wwhich have MoW and Standart alowes me to kill Assolt terminators of BT on their charge ))))
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