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I've been reading through my codex and I'm really starting to like the Bane Wolf. It looks like a very fun tank. Now I'm curious if other people use it and if they actually like it or not. I'll divide this into two sections, one for IG players and one for not.

For IG Players
Do you use the Bane Wolf? Why or why not? Is it effective?

For Non IG Players
Do you think they put the hurt on good or is it something pretty to smash open?

Thanks!

It's got a really good AP attack but there are options in the fast attack list that I'd take ahead of it every time.

I played a couple of games with the Bane Wolf and what struck me was that it's not a good idea to have a vehicle that has to get that close to the enemy to do anything (walkers excluded), even if it wounds on a 2+.

I find the Hellhound much more amazing, simply because it can flame stuff from a distance. Sure, you don't get AP3, but you DO get some distance between you and them.

geordie09 wrote:It's got a really good AP attack but there are options in the fast attack list that I'd take ahead of it every time.

What would you prefer and why?


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AlmightyWalrus wrote:I played a couple of games with the Bane Wolf and what struck me was that it's not a good idea to have a vehicle that has to get that close to the enemy to do anything (walkers excluded), even if it wounds on a 2+.

I find the Hellhound much more amazing, simply because it can flame stuff from a distance. Sure, you don't get AP3, but you DO get some distance between you and them.

Perhaps if another unit ran interference? It strikes me as a nice way to kill Space Marines with that AP3 and 2+ wound, but it does worry me they have to get a little close.

I've run it, and it serves a few purpouses very well. The trick is to lean what it CAN do with its own rules, instead of trying to use it as a gimmicky Hellhound.

1) Counter Charge: Nothing messes up that huge line of Khorne Berzerkers rushing at you than a Banewolf template. Also, stick a multimelta on it, and it'll be a decent anti-tank unit while it dashes around prior to moving to meet an oncoming charge. Who cares that it's got a short range when the enemy is coming to you anyway? Meet them head on with your Banewolves, and yeah your Banewolves will die, but they'll take some of the enemy with them.

2) Flank guarding. The Banewolf is fast, second to none excluding the Valkyrie and Vendetta in the IG codex. What puts it one step ahead of the Hellhound in spped is the fact that the Chem cannon is S1 and not just Poisoned 2+. The Banewolf can move 12" fire its chemcannon AND its hull weapon (which if said weapon is a multimelta can be extremely useful). As such, it can be a great guard for the flanks of firing line Guard, or even just guarding the artillery against outflankers.

3) Distraction. People fear the Banewolf. WIth 2+ to wound and AP3, it's something that can make those Long Fangs hiding in cover cower in fear. As such, people will want to make it go away, and with its speed you can happily send your enemies melta chasing after it...which is hopefully far away from your other tanks.

4) Softening up. For me, the Banewolf has a place in both power blob guard, and firing line guard. Not so much in mech vet, except for reason 2 above, and that's not enough. It's value for firing line has been discussed in point 1 and 2, but what about power blob? Here it's best thing is softening up the target before your blob hits. Of course, then you run the danger of killing so many of your enemy that you can't make the charge!

Another key thing to remember about the Banewolf is to not use it against MCs. Yes, its 2+ to wound template is useful, but it's only going to put one wound on it, and will die the following turn in the charge. The Banewolf falls into theme with this guard codex of being ridiculously good at a single job, and you have to play it so reaches that job.

Is it the most competitive unit for what it does? Probably not, but for thinning out large numbers of Marines holding ground its the best...and others know this. Combined with its speed, this tends to mean that the Banewolf has some purpouse in most IG armies.

reason why not to take a banewolf
fast skimmer 12/12/10( 3 TL Lascannon ) 130

It has to be very close to be effective, IMO IG does better at standing a good distance away and shooting wildly

Oooh, sounds like a lot of fun then! I may have to get this going then ^^.


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jdjamesdean@mail.com wrote:reason why not to take a banewolf
fast skimmer 12/12/10( 3 TL Lascannon ) 130

It has to be very close to be effective, IMO IG does better at standing a good distance away and shooting wildly

Yeah, I can see that. But I dont have much for good close quarters, besides a good blob with power fists. Plus it can help against pesky flankers and such....if they dont pop it first, of course.

The 3 Lascannons look nice, but thats only 3 BS 3 shots. Twin linked sure, but thats 3 hits. I could potentially get a lot more and leave the LCs for something that needs a better popping.

Just use a hellhound, the range is better and people don't find it as threatening

jdjamesdean@mail.com wrote:Just use a hellhound, the range is better and people don't find it as threatening

But the Banewolf is faster, a bit more threatening if it can get up close, and every turn they're thinking 'OMG KILL THE THING WITH THE GUN OF MEQ KILLING!! KILL IT NOW!!! ' is one more turn that your artillery or tanks are firing unmolested. And if they're relyingon melta for AT? Well yay they killed the Banewolves! Unfortunately, now you've led their melta on a lovely chase across the board with your speed, and look! Their melta guns are now far far away from your tanks!

More shooting for the Guard!

And remember, not all Guard is long range shooty. Power blob guard works very well too.

To quote from the concurrent discussion on the topic:

Ailaros wrote:As for the bane wolf, never take a bane wolf.

"Hello, my name is Ailaros. I have this weapon which instantly liquefies any infantry it touches, but it has to get within 3" of your troops to be really effective. Please don't immobilize, weapon destroy, or wreck it before it makes it up to your lines. I ask this of you because it will be so easy given that it only has AV12, and will probably need to move out into the open. We agreed you won't shoot at it or assault it with fast units? Great, thanks!"

Well, yes of course. The Banewolf does has lots of problems, and it is in no sense of the word a competitive unit. The Guard have too many other competitive builds to call the Banewolf a competitive unit.

But it does have its own role to fill, and it can be effective in that role. Not to mention, I personally find it a very fun, flavorful unit. I wish the model represented that better, but alas.

It can move quick and it needs to be close. It sounds like the Bane Wolf is either best suited for a quick and furious assault on enemy infantry or to be held back to discourage infantry from comming at you in a certain direction. Or possible as it has been mentioned, to draw their attention away from your other vehicles. Any way you put it, life must be short for their Pilots, haha.

One of my favourite units, ram it full speed into a transport then gas anyone that pops out...

Not the best tactic, and has failed many times.. but heh..

Snarky wrote:One of my favourite units, ram it full speed into a transport then gas anyone that pops out...

Not the best tactic, and has failed many times.. but heh..

I actually tried that in Platinum Devil against Panic's Warbuggies....didn't work out as well as I'd hoped.

ChrisWWII wrote:

jdjamesdean@mail.com wrote:Just use a hellhound, the range is better and people don't find it as threatening

But the Banewolf is faster, a bit more threatening if it can get up close, and every turn they're thinking 'OMG KILL THE THING WITH THE GUN OF MEQ KILLING!! KILL IT NOW!!!

A Banewolf is no faster than a Hellhound. They're both "fast" vehicles.

I'm yet to use a Banewolf since I find it to be a bit risky to get that close. If you put that template over 10 Marines and fail to kill one, it's going to be the guy with the meltagun every time.

I use the bane wolf quite a lot and it is a fun tank to use but dont expect it to survive the game
in fact, due to how close to the enemy it needs to get, it usualy wont make it past turn 3. But that
in its self distracts the enemy's fire from bigger guns so thats not that bad either.

Brother SRM wrote:

ChrisWWII wrote:

But the Banewolf is faster, a bit more threatening if it can get up close, and every turn they're thinking 'OMG KILL THE THING WITH THE GUN OF MEQ KILLING!! KILL IT NOW!!!

A Banewolf is no faster than a Hellhound. They're both "fast" vehicles.

I'm yet to use a Banewolf since I find it to be a bit risky to get that close. If you put that template over 10 Marines and fail to kill one, it's going to be the guy with the meltagun every time.

Well, on paper you're correct. The Banewolf and Hellhound are both vehicles that can move 18" maximum. However, the Banewolf has a slight speed advantage over the Hellhound thanks to its S1 main gun. As a result, with a Banewolf you can move 12" and fire both your main cannon and your hull gun. With a Hellhound, to pull off the same feat, you can only move 6". That is why I refer to a Banewolf as 'faster' then a Hellhound.

I prefer the Devil dog. Melta cannon and multimelta ones are a sure way to get your opponent sweating when its bearing down on them.

Lexx wrote:I prefer the Devil dog. Melta cannon and multimelta ones are a sure way to get your opponent sweating when its bearing down on them.

I guess it would depend if you want anti-tank or anti-infantry.

Very true. I prefer it for the anti tank/monstrous creature hunting. But to be honest the mere fact your fielding melta that can get across the board that fast can make it a very useful distraction. Whatever hellhound type I field it tends to be primary targeted very early in the game.

jdjamesdean@mail.com wrote:Just use a hellhound, the range is better and people don't find it as threatening

I have unfortunate news for you: Hellhounds suck at killing marines. You whack two of them, and then the rest blow up your HH, even with the range bonus. If you play in that mythical group where MEQs aren't 75% of the armies played, I think they could be more easily justified.

The Bane Wolf is a defensive weapon. There's nothing wrong with it, but I wouldn't bring more than one. Vendettas and Valks are just too good.

Vendettas and Valks are autolose vs. all bike marines. No one plays all bike marines? In Chicago they do - the Big Waaagh best general does and he absolutely eats IG lists for lunch with his all space marine biker list. The only thing that will give those bikes pause is a Banewolf. The banewolf sits in your deployment, usually hidden by other tanks and drives up to flame a unit of bikes when they get close and they will get close very soon. It's about the only defense against 30+ bikers turboboosting into your face with their 3+ cover save.

Only a fool looks at the Banewolf and thinks you need to drive it into the face of your enemy. It's designed to keep the enemy from driving into your face with impunity.

DarthDiggler wrote:Only a fool looks at the Banewolf and thinks you need to drive it into the face of your enemy. It's designed to keep the enemy from driving into your face with impunity.

Nice. What I've gathered is the Bane Wolf is a Defensive Weapon or a good deterrnt to some people. Both very sound tactics. As lor Valks/Vendettas, I get the feeling theyre good tank busters and good for dropping men behing enemy lines. I'll have to ponder more...

So, you're going to spend 130 points for a piece of AV12 that just chills around in your back field and hopes to kill marines?

Why not take a basilisk?

Ailaros wrote:So, you're going to spend 130 points for a piece of AV12 that just chills around in your back field and hopes to kill marines?

Why not take a basilisk?

In my opinion, it'd be because a Basilisk is going to be an immediate target of any decent player. A Banewolf on the other hand, might not make it high up on the targetting list if it's sitting silently in the back, not drawing attention to itself. At least, that's how I would justify it.

Not to mention, a Basilisk, especially when firing indirectly does have to account for scatter. A Banewolf will put wounds where you need them right now.

A basilisk will be a higher threat for a reason...

I don't know if it's a good idea to take units just because they're so crappy that they can be ignored.

Ailaros wrote:A basilisk will be a higher threat for a reason...

I don't know if it's a good idea to take units just because they're so crappy that they can be ignored.

For me, I think the Bane Wolf would be taken just because I like the unit. Basilisks seem nice and look like they do some good damage, but they dont seem as fun as running up to a squad of marines and meling them. Just my opinion on the matter. ^^

Sure, I'd imagine it's fun, but I'd also imagine that the desired scenario isn't terribly likely, especially after it's been done to someone once.

Well, I would argue that they're crappy because they're in the wrong situation. Once the enemy is within it's 20.5" attack range (12" movement + 8.5" template) it tends to stop sucking. However, up until anything is within that range, you are correct. It's a waste of space.

However, this hopefully means it will be alive when it can shine. You're right that the Basilisk is the overall better unit, but everyone knows that, and will want the Basilisk dead as soon as they can.

DarthDiggler wrote:Vendettas and Valks are autolose vs. all bike marines. No one plays all bike marines? In Chicago they do - the Big Waaagh best general does and he absolutely eats IG lists for lunch with his all space marine biker list. The only thing that will give those bikes pause is a Banewolf.

My Colossus says hello.

The way to deal with biker lists is to use strategic blocking with chimeras and bubble wrapping. Ultimately, they're just fast marines with T4(5). You take away that 3+ turbo boost cover save, and they die like everyone else. I'm sure it's a tough as nails list, but saying that the Banewolf is the only way to deal with it... not sure I buy into that.