Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hello all,

I'm new to this forum and to 40k as well so I am relatively inexperienced with the game as a whole. I recently started collecting space wolves and wanted to base on army around the Great Company of Bjorn Stormwolf, who judging by his description would probably go decked out full termie armor, thunderhammer, stormshield and saga of the bear. To fill in the character of the rest of the force will be vindicators, long fangs, grey hunters and the like.
I've seen a lot of armies on here with the rune priest, but very little with wolf lords; so my big question is this:
are wolf lords viable in semi competative to competative play and what sort of lists and equipment loadups work best with them?

Most Wolf Lords that I see are on Thunderwolves. It really does seem to be the best bang for your buck. Canis is a good Wolf Lord to use against infantry and MCs, but he's only S5 so he can't really hurt heavy vehicles, even with rending. If you're taking a Thunderwolf, take a Thunder Hammer as well IMO.

If you want a Terminator armoured Wolf Lord, Logan is a better option (although very pricy)

Well, Cheese is right about the Thunderwolves, they're generally the most common and often the deadliest, particularly for only 5pts more than terminator armour. and yeah Canis can be VERY good against infantry/elite's, however as he said, struggles against armour. As such usually run Canis with thunder wolves (Thunder Hammer), to compensate this.

However I disagree about his Logan comment, I think Logan is often simply too expensive (despite his undeniable advantages) to be used regularly. I think Wolf Lords can work in a semi-competitive environment. They can be VERY deadly, but this also means very costly, generally, I'd try to kit them up like you have, with the ability to kick LOTS OF ASS, however try to keep them below 200pts. Generally, they'd be an almost meteor of destruction and limited in use and cost effectiveness, but will often take anything thrown at them (particularly with a retinue).

I think TDA, TH/SS does fit with Bjorn Stormwolf, however Saga of the Bear is v. expensive (although good) and I imagine a SS will largely work towards instant death weapons getting through and will keep him cheap-ish. Then give him some buddies (Wolf Guard, Grey Hunters), chuck him at the enemy and watch the destruction! He's too expensive for tournies but will be deadly in semi-competitive games. so yeah, by all means, use him!

Personally, for JFF games, i run a 195pts Lord, with TDA, 2x Wolf Claw, Saga of the Warrior born. (as Erik Morkai), although very pricey, he does rip any infantry to pieces.

Oh and your comment of "I've seen a lot of armies on here with the rune priest, but very little with wolf lords", although true (and Rune Priests are often more cost-effective), many armies on here shouldnt be used as guidelines IMHO, make your own and run with it I say!

The funny thing is that Wolf Lords on Thunderwolves are like the best Daemon Princes of the previous CSM codex. Wolf Lords are more expensive than the DP's used to be, but they got a 3+ invulnerable save, possibly a 2+ armour save and can be made completely immune to instant death. The strength and amount of the attacks can be the same, either S10 with fist or S5/6 with the wolf claws/frost blades.

So if you want a Daemon Prince that can hide in a unit of 5 Thunderwolves in the beginning for safety and leadership 10, and then charge to a different target than the TWC because he can destroy units on his own, take the ~225p Wolf Lord.

Unfortunately I don't have the money to buy and convert even several thunderwolf cavalry, so for now thats out of the question.

I do have canis wolfsborn, a dreadnaught, several 10 man squads of grey hunters kitted out with plasma guns, MotW (and rhinos) and a 5 man squad of wolf guard terminators to accompany my pimped out wolf lord.
should I mount up the HQ in a LR redeemer, add a few members and put them in a crusader or have them slog across the board on foot? Is it worth adding wolf guard to my grey hunter squads at the expense of a plasma weapon? Any tips you can offer this bloodclaw is appreciated.

Bjorn_Stormwolf02 wrote:Unfortunately I don't have the money to buy and convert even several thunderwolf cavalry, so for now thats out of the question.

I do have canis wolfsborn, a dreadnaught, several 10 man squads of grey hunters kitted out with plasma guns, MotW (and rhinos) and a 5 man squad of wolf guard terminators to accompany my pimped out wolf lord.
should I mount up the HQ in a LR redeemer, add a few members and put them in a crusader or have them slog across the board on foot? Is it worth adding wolf guard to my grey hunter squads at the expense of a plasma weapon? Any tips you can offer this bloodclaw is appreciated.

I always mount up in land raiders, its (imo) the best way to keep mobile and stay resilient/immune to enemy firepower untill you are ready to wreck-face in assault.

Grey hunters special weapon vs wolf guard comes down to the role they fill in your army, do you use them as close range fire-support or as an assault element?

If you use them as an assault element give them the Banner of Win, MotW, and a Wolf Guard with a special CCW (Power wep, Power Fist, or Thunderhammer imo) if you have the points you can also give a standard Grey Hunter a power wep as well.

If you use them for fire-support stick with all grey hunters and run them cheap, with the only upgrade being their transport and the 2 special weps.

I was thinking of using them mainly in an assault role so my HQ hammer unit had support. I was thinking of using blood claws instead but grey hunters are more versatile and can switch to fire support if I am not likely to win a head on assult.
I have two wolf guard in power armor, both carry plasma pistols and one carries a frost blade while the other has a powerfist. I know they are pricey but those plasma pistols are very nice vs MEQ's and heavy armored targets
if I run a 5 man strong group of termies and the wolf lord in a redeemer what should my weapons loadout be? Assualt cannon or heavy flamer? All close combat weapons or should I keep the storm bolters in there?

Wolf lord with a belt of russ & powerfist, in a squad of fenrisian wolves. Best way to field a wolf lord, IMhO.

My point is; A TWC squad is killy enough. A wolflord wont make them any tougher efficiently, and he doesnt add anything special. Massed str4 attacks + wolf lords str10 attacks synergise much better, IMhO.

Bjorn_Stormwolf02 wrote:I was thinking of using them mainly in an assault role so my HQ hammer unit had support. I was thinking of using blood claws instead but grey hunters are more versatile and can switch to fire support if I am not likely to win a head on assult.
I have two wolf guard in power armor, both carry plasma pistols and one carries a frost blade while the other has a powerfist. I know they are pricey but those plasma pistols are very nice vs MEQ's and heavy armored targets
if I run a 5 man strong group of termies and the wolf lord in a redeemer what should my weapons loadout be? Assualt cannon or heavy flamer? All close combat weapons or should I keep the storm bolters in there?

I'd recommend, that for close range support for your Lord and Termies, that you give them MotW, Standard, 2x special weapon and a rhino. This means that they will excel in rapid-fire range, shooting apart enemy units and then holding their own (and more with MotW and Standard) in assault. IMO this is the best way for Grey Hunters to be used.

As for your Wolf Lord and Guard, I'd definately put them in a LR (Redeemers are my personal preference - good mixture of firepower/assault capability, the LRC is mainly assault capability but has anti-infantry firepower, whilst the standard LR is more durable and has better firepower but is less suited for assaults). If your Lord has a TH/SS, I'd recommend a heavy flamer (i cant imagine your WG getting to do too much shooting, so for 5pts this is a steal) and some Wolf Claws, whether you have more TH/SS's or shooting is your call, but I'd focus on CC personally.

But yeah, it's a sound tactic. Good Luck