Space Wolves could rise to the top of the pile in 6th edition if the leaks and rumours are true.Considering how easy tanks will be to hit and damage thanks to their size and the new multiple-glancing/penetrating hits rule, we could see mechanised armies becoming a thing of the past.
With reduced cover saves and vehicles more susceptible to being shot at, the game could essentially go back to 4th edition when shooting at something actually killed it. But more important than that, our armies consisted of a variety of units, many of which were on foot.
So that leaves one question - who has the best basic troops in the game? Well, we do of course!
Priced at the same points as a regular Space Marine, Grey Hunters have counter-charge, extra close combat weapons and access to the Wolf Standard, Mark of the Wulfen, more special weapons, all while being led by a very affordable Wolf Guard.
The only other unit which can even come close are Chaos Space Marines and even they are more expensive once you add on all the upgrades.
Rise of the Plasma Gun
With the rumour that Rapid Fire weapons will allow you to stand still and fire twice at long range, the humble bolter has not only become brilliant, but so has the plasma gun.
I knew Games Workshop had included 2 plasma guns in the Space Wolves box for a reason! We also have access to a plethora of plasma pistols too. But how worthwhile they are will remain to be seen.
But if the game goes back to something similar to 4th edition, then drop podding your Space Wolves right into the thick of the fighting and plasma gunning everything to death could become an excellent option once again.
How Safe is it to Slog Forward on Foot?
We've talked about footslogging Space Wolves in the past, but I'm sure you'll agree that paying 35pts for a Metal Box to hide in has been invaluable throughout 5th edition.
But what would you do if all your Rhinos simply exploded on Turn 1 once we start playing 6th edition? Is it still worth those 35pts?
From personal experience (my Rhinos explode all the time), it tends to be the shooty armies that blast my transports apart and I have to footslog it across the board anyway.
If I'm not fighting a shooty army, then the enemy tends to be faster than my Space Wolves and comes steaming straight towards my lines.
In the first instance, all my Grey Hunters end up running forward en mass to reach the enemy anyway. In the second instance, my Space Wolves army has to play defensively in order to fend off Battlewagon Orks, crazed Blood Angels or Chaos Daemons.
So thinking about my past games, having a mechanised force hasn't really benefited me at all...other than the few times when my transports have simply refused to die. But we can't base our tactics on pure luck alone.
With this in mind, I have taken my current army and tweaked it in anticipation of 6th edition.
5th edition Space Wolves ArmyRune Priest: Jaws/Lightning
Wolf tail talisman
Wolf Guard Terminator with combi-plasma, power sword
Wolf Guard Terminator with combi-melta, power sword
Wolf Guard Terminator with combi-plasma, wolf claw
Wolf Guard Terminator with combi-melta, chainfist
Wolf Guard Terminator with storm bolter, power sword, cyclone missile launcher
--> Land Raider
Wolf Guard: Combi Melta, Powerfist
7 Grey Hunters: melta, wulfen, standard
--> Rhino APC
Wolf Guard: Combi Melta, Powerfist
7 Grey Hunters: melta, wulfen, standard
--> Rhino APC
Wolf Guard: Combi Melta, Powerfist
7 Grey Hunters: melta, wulfen, standard
--> Rhino APC
Landspeeder: Multi Melta and Heavy Flamer
Landspeeder: Multi Melta and Heavy Flamer
5 Long Fangs: 4 Missile launchers
--> Razorback APC with Twin Linked Lascannon
5 Long Fangs: 4 Missile launchers
--> Razorback APC with Twin Linked Lascannon
6th edition Space Wolves ArmyHere you can see that just by dropping the Rhinos and Razorbacks I'm able to boost each Grey Hunter pack from 7 to 10 and purchase another pack of Long Fangs. I was also able to exchange the Land Raider for another pack of Grey Hunters with plasma.
Meanwhile I've chosen to keep the Landspeeders to speed up the flanks and the Wolf Guard Terminators have now been fitted with combi-plasmas. Because if they can get off 2 shots at range 24", they will be an awesome unit for mid ranged fire as well as close combat.
Rune Priest: Jaws/Lightning
Wolf tail talisman
Wolf Guard Terminator with combi-plasma, power sword
Wolf Guard Terminator with combi-plasma, power sword
Wolf Guard Terminator with combi-plasma, wolf claw
Wolf Guard Terminator with combi-plasma, chainfist
Wolf Guard Terminator with combi-plasma, power sword, cyclone missile launcher
Wolf Guard: Combi Melta, Powerfist
10 Grey Hunters: 2 melta, wulfen, standard
Wolf Guard: Combi Melta, Powerfist
10 Grey Hunters: 2 melta, wulfen, standard
Wolf Guard: Combi Plasma, Powerfist
10 Grey Hunters: plasma melta, wulfen, standard
Wolf Guard: Combi Plasma, Powerfist
10 Grey Hunters: plasma melta, wulfen, standard
Landspeeder: Multi Melta and Heavy Flamer
Landspeeder: Multi Melta and Heavy Flamer
5 Long Fangs: 4 Missile launchers
5 Long Fangs: 4 Missile launchers
5 Long Fangs: 4 Missile launchers
CONCLUSION
This is just a 'finger in the air' Space Wolves army list for 6th edition, but with tanks getting toned down and cover saves too, I believe we'll see a lot more footslogging Space Marine lists. This should give us an edge because the Space Wolves are the best counter-defensive Space Marine army in the game.
If we're out gunned, we can run forward and hack the enemy apart in close combat.
If we're out fought, we can play defensively using our guns to whittle down the enemy before counter-charging and using our Wolf Standards to make them wish they'd never reached our lines.
As always, good luck and good hunting!
11 comments:
February 27, 2012 at 7:48 PM
It's 100% pure conjecture given we do not know all the details and I wouldn't accept leaks until about a 2~3 weeks out (you know, those totally not planned leaks made by not GW to not create hype and not create more sales, those leaks).
If so, the rise of the Thunderwolves may be greater (good timing for models).
Long Fangs, with only a 5+ cover save, will need to be numerous and cheap(er). Meaning basically how we all run them, missiles and more missiles.
However, the rise of the heavy bolter may come back in just applying absurd amounts of wounds. While you march forward, 5xHB into your grey hunters would be more disastrous than a few krak missiles! (and frags should do minimal if you are playing your "horde" properly).
Going to be interesting. They ONLY thing I would say is that every recent release of armies has included new and awesome vehicles (that are also very expensive). GW likes money. Thus, why would they cause everyone to stop buying their awesome vehicles?
February 28, 2012 at 1:48 AM
That's right, this is pure conjecture.
It's an article about what may be and the potential rise of the plasma gun in light of the Rapid Fire rumours.
I'm sure GW has already figured out how to keep selling us the big stuff. No matter how much people may complain about them, they seem to have finally nailed this 'retail' business of theirs after 25 years, lol.
February 28, 2012 at 7:19 AM
I also wish that all those plasma weapons in the sprues were there for a reason, however consider the WG terminators box full of thunder hammers, storm shields and wolf claws...
Selling vehicles in addition to infantry has proven to be a good financial move for GW, they will still be important in 6th edition I'm afraid.
February 28, 2012 at 8:35 AM
'Space Wolves could rise to the top of the pile in 6th edition if the leaks and rumours are true.'
Because they've fallen so far from the top now?
lol!
February 28, 2012 at 10:56 AM
While we talk in terms of "what may happend in sixth", and especially wishlisting a use of plasmaguns I really feel one can wish GW does something to make blood claws on the same level as grey hunters (be it even that our hunters get worse). I just dont get how they think at the moment with the same pricing on them.
(forgive my english)
February 28, 2012 at 12:01 PM
I for one am really hoping that vehicles will get toned down.
Although I'm as guilty as any other wolf lord, collecting space wolves shouldn't be about having 5 or 6 identical boxes, it should be about collecting savage heroes that each have a saga worth telling!
February 28, 2012 at 1:00 PM
.. Whats this "and the new multiple-glancing/penetrating hits rule"?
I know they will an Evasion (EV) value. but I havnt read about the rule you mentioned.
February 28, 2012 at 8:43 PM
Adam, wasn't trying to be mean :P
I still use plasma guns quite a lot in my battles, when points allow. Two PGs popping out of a hatch of a rhino to work light armor or elite infantry has served me quite well. A PG squad on the top of an objective has served me well, too.
I have drifted away from the LC+TLPG Razorback as I find the TLLC w/ 5man troops with PG x2 on the home objective has been working great for me.
Melta is overrated in my books. I bring one or two per list given I maximize long fangs, have lone wolves with TDA/SS/CF, and Thundercav w/ S10 Thammers.
I don't keep up on the rules leaks, though. I read some of the sixth leak and they were just so poorly worded or some conflicting just by existing, it's no where near done.
I am holding off my purchase of Necrons to see what 6th will bring as I don't want to do my mass FA13 wall if it means it all falls to poop!
February 28, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Wolf Guard: Combi Plasma, Powerfist
10 Grey Hunters: plasma melta, wulfen & standard x4 = Carnage ! ! !
February 29, 2012 at 12:05 AM
Wolf Guard: Combi Plasma, Powerfist
10 Grey Hunters: plasma melta, wulfen & standard x4 = Carnage ! ! !
March 1, 2012 at 10:41 PM
I read through the leaked "rule book" that came out round new years. I don't think that these rules will be the final draft or even resemble them.
GW has moved towards making the game simple and straight forward, the move from 2nd to 3rd ed showed that the game was about trying to make it more inclusive and easy to pick up for beginners. Also it meant that combat didn't take an hour to work out :p
I see the "new" rules as a move backwards that would increase the amount of time wasted in questioning rules about which AV value you should get, slowing down the game and killing the buzz for new players.
All that being said, I do think vehicles will get nurfed in the next edition to force all the mech lists players to have to change their armies up(not saying GW is all about the money but they are a business). I do also think we will be seeing plasma come into it's own again and there will be some changes to how certain aspects of shooting will run.
The list itself is good and I've seen similar at 1500pts lists. The only thought is that would it not be better to have a squad of 2 plamsa in a "second wave"? Since they would form ranks, shoot and in the new rules get to make two shots at 24"
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