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So after having a rather vigorous start to the tournament scene this year, I've decided I want to take my wolves further and accept a challenge posed by Goatboy to buid, play and win with a Space Wolves list that was non-traditional (i.e. no long fang spam, Rune Priest shenanigans, Razorspam etc.). With that in mind, I came up with this...now sticking with the theme, what are some areas I could improve?

H.Q.

Thunderwolf Lord
Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield, Runic Armor, Wolf Tooth Necklace, Wolf Tail Talisman, Saga of the Bear, 2x Fenrisian Wolves -290

Thunderwolf Lord
Wolf Claw, Storm Shield, Runic Armor, Wolf Tooth Necklace, Wolf Tail Talisman, Saga of Majesty, 2x Fenrisian Wolves -260

Elites

Wolf Guard 3x
3x Combi-Melta/Power Fist -129

Wolf Scouts 5x
Melta Gun -85

Troops

Grey Hunters 7x
Melta, Mark of the Wulfen, Wolf Standard, Rhino: Dozer Blades -170

Grey Hunters 7x
Melta, Mark of the Wulfen, Wolf Standard, Rhino: Dozer Blades -170

Grey Hunters 5x
Melta, Las/Plas Razorback -155

Grey Hunters 5x
Flamer, Las/Plas Razorback -150

Grey Hunters 5x
Flamer, Las/Plas Razorback -150

Fast Attack

Thunderwolves 3x
Power Fist/Storm Shield, Storm Shield, Storm Shield/Melta Bombs -270

Total: 1849

I was considering dropping the Las/Plas Razorback Squads and taking a 3rd pack of Grey Hunters in a Rhino. With the savings, taking some Typhoon Land Speeders...what do you all think?

Which squad are the wolf guard going to be sitting in, I assume the 2 large GH squads and the wolf scouts? Just trying to figure your plans out.

One thing on the wolf lords, I don't know if this is how it works in other tournaments but in the one I am in atm, if you kill the two wolves you loose half the victory points for the wolf lord, it turns my draws into minor losses in the tourney stakes so I might drop them if I were you and you can stick in a few more grey hunters or a wolf guard.

When it comes to your razorbacks I would go twin linked laz, the re-roll to hit makes it easier to take out those av14 behemoths and to ensure that you are splatting the transports that are on the board since you don't have a large number of missiles spamming the board.
Laz/plaz seems to work best for the BA cos the rhino chassis are fast and you can move 6" and then blast with both guns or move the 12" to make the hits on some terminators with the plasma gun, you can move 6 and fire 1 or move 12 and pop smoke, not as useful for the wolves.

I think you should keep the razorbacks for the above reason, plus one of the super meta loadouts is troops in rhinos and long fangs in lazbacks need to avoid that :p

That thought process of losing the Fenrisians and subsequently half of your VP's for the Wolf Lord doesn't make any sense as they're wargear, not a unit or retinue. Either way I don't have any such issues with the Lords.

As for the voice of Las/Plas, I prefer it for having 3 shots to deal with close in threats as well as affording another weapon destroyed hit before being wrecked.

Also, you are correct on the placement of the Wolf Guard. Figured applying pressure with the Scouts would be boosted by the looming threat of another Melta Gun and a Power Fist.

Well that's what the guy running our tourney says, since they "work like a squad" on the board they cost you the points. I am not for it of course, especially when it bumbs him from a slight lose to a slight win over me.

I see what you mean with the razorbacks, with the need for low ap fire in your army you may get more out of that loadout.

I am tempted to start using wolf scouts myself, people might be foolish enough to ignore them over other more obvious threats like long fangs. I used to love BA scouts back in 3rd ed and have found memories of scouts messing up squads and wolf scouts are the nearest thing to them these days.

Wolf Scouts are priceless in todays game. Manticores and such are such a bane to many armies; however, you can force their deployment in a way such that you can force their hand and make them react to you.

Doesn't look that non-traditional to me but then I suppose I just have seen too many Thunderwolf Lord lists. By the way do you have a link to his post? Can't seem to find it on the interwebs. Curious what the exact 'challenge' is.

Not taking Long Fangs at all wouldn't be that hard to pull off though. I'd stick with TL Lascannons on the Razorbacks like Liturgies of Blood already said for much the same reasons. I'd add that its even more important to be accurate with the shots you got since you are taking out 10-15 heavy weapons by not taking Long Fangs.

I personally think the Storm Shields are overkill on your Thunderwolf Cavalry. 3 Thunderwolves run me 175 points versus your 270 (Wolf Claw and a Meltabomb). With the ablative wounds from the Fenrisan Wolves on your Lords and the screen from the Rhinos you don't need it for protection from shooting. With the Wolf Claw on the one Thunderwolf Lord you got the I5 attacks you need to protect them from most threats in close combat (my WGBL I bring tends to slay 4-5 things/round which is enough to prevent too many wounds landing on my Cavalry unit).

Freeing up 90 points can land you a Predator Destructor or a Multi-Melta toting Land Speeder with change.

At 1850 I generally run 4 units of troops but my squads are larger than yours so you might need all 5. If not you can snag yourself some other useful units there to bring some ranged anti-tank.

Sorry, post is kind of rambling. If you aren't taking Long Fangs, take Land Speeders with Multi-Meltas. They'll pop tanks with ease and your Thunderwolves can handle the rest.

With regards to your Sagas, if it were me I'd be taking Saga of the Warrior Born on the Wolf Claw Thunderwolf Lord and Saga of the Majesty on the Thunderhammer one. With T5 there's not a lot that can ID you so the Saga isn't as cost effective as on a T4 model.

@cowmonaut

My through process on everyone having a Storm Shield is to be able to throw the unit into the jaws of just about anything without fear. I've run them with 2 shield to some success; however, that was usually when they had less counterfire incoming.

As to the Sagas, I have to tell you that Bear and Majesty are must haves. The number of times when a unit of Grey Knights have gotten that one wound through and go to test for Force Weapons is countless. Grey Knights changed the game up for Instant Death. With regards to Majesty, one of the nastiest way to deal with Deathstar units like the one above is tank shocking and morale. One failed check in the wrong place could send you running off of the board into oblivion.

With the number of supporters for going to twin Lazy, I may try it. Additionally, I'll try dropping the fifth troop choice and 1 storm shield for 2 Typhoon Speeders or 2 MM/HF speeders.