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Some of you may have seen my previous list. There was some minor issues with it. So I popped back to the drawing board. So I've attempted to make it a little more resilient whilst remaining slightly themed and keeping to the units I like at the moment. My main opponent is a farsight player, and I am used to losing against him. Either way, let me know what you think....

HQ: Wolf Guard Battle Leader . 205 Points
1 Wolf Guard Battle Leader + Thunderwolf Mount + Runic Armour + Black Death + Wulfen Stone + Storm Shield

HQ: Rune Priest. 140 Points (Warlord)
1 Rune Priest + Mastery Level 2 + Armour Of Russ + Helm of Durfast

Troops: Grey Hunters. 235 Points
10 Grey Hunters + 10 CCW's + 2 Meltaguns + Drop Pod + Wolf Guard Pack Leader with Combi Melta

Troops: Blood Claws. 435 Points
15 Blood Claws + 2 Meltaguns + Stormwolf with Multi Meltas

Fast Attack: Thunderwolf Cavalry. 230 Points
3 Thunderwolves + 3 Storm shields + 2 Wolf Claws + Power Fist

Heavy Support: Stormfang. 255 Points
Stormfang + Multi Meltas + Lascannons

So the theme is simple, using the wolves unleashed detachment. The Lord is scouting forward with his cavalry and when he encounters enemy forces he calls in all manner of hell. Obviously it'll play a little differently. I will need to use terrain to protect him turn one. But then the pod is guaranteed to drop and on turn two at least one flier is guaranteed to arrive.

Thoughts?

To be honest, I don't think you need shields on all the TWC. One up front would do it, and if anything else, one on the Lord as well. I also don't think you need both claws and/or the hammer. S6 on the charge and Rending would put most vehicles/MCs down.

I'm also not sold on the RP's armour, is an expensive investment for far less gain, considering he's there for buffing rather than combat (I'd just deny any challenges).

I'd put the points you save on that lot into another GH with a melta pod.

The concept is solid though.

People keep on about strength 6 Rending. I genuinely think it's a terrible idea to rely on that. It's a 1 in 6 chance you'll rend. It's basically the worst odds you can get in the game.

As for the Shields. Apart from the Lord and the three thunderwolfs, everything starts in some kind of reserve. They MUST survive. So I'm prepared to put the points in it to make that happen. It's pointless spending those points giving the Lord a 3++ when he already comes with a 4++.

Aa for the armour on the priest. It is only a little more than runic, but it gives him an invulnerable save. And he has an axe. So he is initiative 1. So of he does hit a challenge he will be able to bring most characters down to his level. And if he activates his force axe.... It's goodnight.

Just thought I'd explain my reasons and see what you think.

The reasoning is sound for the most part, but I still sick to what I said before.

I think the shield on the Lord is definitely worth it, those 4 around make it a better investment and you really want to keep him safe. It also allows you to tank anything other than S10 with impunity, which will help the survivability of the unit as a whole. I really do think the other shields and the weapons are necessary, but that might just be preference.

Even without Rending, S6 means you glance AV10 (most back armour) on a 4+. With 5 attacks a piece and must vehicles having 3HP, you kill anything but a Land Raider or Monolith with ease.

I see what you're saying with the armour, but I'd homely just turn down any challenges with the RP and hide him at the back. I wouldn't want to risk him against anything likely to kill him before he swings.

Not trying to deter you from building the army you want, just trying to help.

Yeah, I really appreciate all your points dude. I've already cut some stuff out just to increase squad size. I wanted WGPL kitted out in the grey hunter. Hammer and shield. But I sacrificed that for more bodies and I've gone from 15 power armoured dudes to 25.

I also just can't justify the Lord having a shield when he already has a 4++....do you really think the cost of a storm Shield is worth that extra +1 to his save?

I see what you're saying about the priest. But I think it's the best armour for him... And mainly because I want to use the Lord from storm claw as my priest.

Otherwise would you suggest it's mildly competitive?

Why not put some Fenrisian Wolves in there? 16 points get you 2 extra T5 wounds (majority T, that is) and you can laugh when that WK wastes his S10 when you look-out-sir onto them.

As for the Storm Shield on the Lord, I'm on the fence as well. 15 points gets you +1 inv, -1 attack. Not sure that's really worth it, tbh.

Army looks well rounded, just wanted to let you know the pod comes in automatically at the beginning of your first turn, not turn 2. With 2 flyers I would consider dropping points somewhere and adding a landing pad. 1 flyer starts on the table, the other comes in automatically turn 2.

I know the pod arrives turn one.... But what if my opponent has first turn. I don't want them to be able to wipe the wolves out. Then the pod will drop and they'll have turn two shooting at 10 Grey hunters before a flyer turns up. Starts to become a little 'lambs to the slaughter'. I wish I could take a pure drop pod list, but I can't do it. It's just too boring.

As for the landing pad, I thought about it, but points are a little tight as they are. And with wolves unleashed one definitely comes in turn two anyway. And if the other flyer doesn't arrive turn two, it'll definitely arrive turn 3. So all sorted.

It looks like a very cool list.

The only thing I'm worried about is, as you say, that everything will be arriving very piece meal. Really allows your opponent to focus each turn on just one target
You can use LOS and positioning to try to get around this though.... and he's never going to know where anything will come from.
I guess the most obvious tactic AGAINST this list is to keep your army very close together and then it doesn't matter where you come from, you'll still have to go towards all his models at once

I think this is certainly a list that can win games and that you can have fun with. At the end of the day, that's what mattered.

I'm still convinced on the Lord's shield, you actually pay less per wound for the 3++ than TWC. Yes, is not as big of an increase, but I'd want more than a 50/50 protecting my Wolf Lord.

 Paradigm wrote:
I think this is certainly a list that can win games and that you can have fun with. At the end of the day, that's what mattered.

I'm still convinced on the Lord's shield, you actually pay less per wound for the 3++ than TWC. Yes, is not as big of an increase, but I'd want more than a 50/50 protecting my Wolf Lord.

It's where to find the points from though....

Well I would lose the TWC weapons for the most part, maybe keep one claw and one shield. That gives you a lot of points to play with.

I don't know about that.... TWC are notorious and scary, and as such they attract a LOT of attention.
A single SS will fail a save sooner or later. Considering how many points you invest just to have them at all, it doesn't make sense to squander them for the sake of a few 15pt Storm Shields (and they're half price from last codex)

Maybe you could ditch some weapons, but I'd keep the defence


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And with the right positioning, each of these guys that survives is another layer of defence for your Lord

Actually, I think you want the lord up front. With a 2+/3++ and T5 he can absorb alot. LOS anything S10 onto the SS TWC, and the survivability is there. The more points to plough into them, the better they have to do. With proper positioning they'll easily survive the one turn before they hit cost combat.

Yeah, I see what you're saying. But what if you fail a LOS? it's a risk. And is as likely as Rending that people keep banging on about? I'm not prepared to take that risk. So he most definitely won't be upfront. And that's why the other three are keeping the Shields. And the points on the weapons will ensure their success.

The difference between LOS and Rending is that you're only likely to need to LOS one time on one turn. With rending, you have so many attacks that it's a strong likelihood multiple hits will rend. Is why high attacks and rending is far more dangerous or the other.

It's your call, of course, but I'd almost always run the Wolf Lord up front to tank hits and keep your overall damage and durability up.

Yeah I see what you're saying dude. Going to try it as it is for now.

On another note - what powers would people go for on the rune priest? I'm pretty much set on the biomancy tree. He will be in with the 15 blood claws. There's only one that I won't gain every benefit from as his weapon is unweildy, but that still gives him +3 attacks.

OK, need to try and drop 20 odd points I reckon. I think I need the Helm on the rune priest. Found out that it's ignores cover will work on his psychic attacks. And since I'm probably going to roll all on biomancy, I'm liking the idea of some ignores cover smite.....

So, I'm thinking thunder hammer on the TWC down to a power fist, and lose the lascannons on the fang. Thoughts?


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Have edited the original post....

OK, picked up 20 wolf guard today from storm claw... Going to get to building this list if there are no other suggestions. I was looking for some feedback on the rune priest. I'm not sure if the bite of fenris works on him, but it is a cool artifact and I had 10 points spare. What else could I do with those ten points instead? I'm going to use the krom dragongaze model for my priest. I'll change his head to represent the Helm. And I need to decide whether to equip him with a Bolter or pistol on the model. I'm thinking it's a bad idea as I lose an attack...


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I think I'd be better with a pack leader on the grey hunters for slightly better leadership.


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OK, I think I'll drop the bite, and the psychic hood and take a wolf guard pack leader with a Combi Melta. I'll edit op now.

I don't get much time to play these days, so take anything I say as a grain of salt.
I think Rune Priests are better supporting characters these days, than primary combat characters.
My inclination is to gear them more towards buffing and survival than primary melee/combat.
As such, I would suggest divination or tempest spells... but like I said....
My theories are not battle tested

 karlosovic wrote:
I don't get much time to play these days, so take anything I say as a grain of salt.
I think Rune Priests are better supporting characters these days, than primary combat characters.
My inclination is to gear them more towards buffing and survival than primary melee/combat.
As such, I would suggest divination or tempest spells... but like I said....
My theories are not battle tested

I think you're probably right. But I'm trying to remain a little fluffy so I want him to be able to kick butt. And I want to be able to make use of his runic axe.

I'm just not sold on the axe ove the staff, I always go that route personally. That S bonus is nice.