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Greetinsg all. I have been toying with an idea for a very fluff based Space Wolves army that will be easy on the pockets. I know this isn't the most competetive list, but my gaming group has banned the use of flyers and most Forge World models/rules. Right now there is a player that is fielding a Deathwing army, an all Blood Company Army, an infantry heavy IG army, and I believe a Necron army with a lot of standard warriors. I was looking for a very CC army (hence space wolves) with a lot of character. I was wondering if this army would be fun to play, or if it would be blasted off the board during turn one. I am trying to stay under 1500 points, but any insight into this list would be greatly appreciated.

LOGAN GRIMNAR

NJAL STORMCALLER
RUNIC TERMINATOR ARMOR

15 BLOOD CLAWS
X2 FLAMERS
LUKAS THE TRICKSTER

6 WOLF GUARD
X2 MELTA BOMBS
X2 POWER WEAPONS
THUNDER HAMMER &SS
PLASMA PISTOL & PW
TWO WOLF CLAWS

5 WOLF GUARD
TERMINATOR ARMOR
TWIN WOLF CLAWS
TWO POWER WEAPONS
HEAVY FLAMER
1 POWER FIST
ARJAC ROCKFIST

Logan Grimnar would lead the 6 man unit of Wolf Guard, while Arjac would lead the other 4 terminator armored Wolf guard. Lukas the trickster is included for some fun, and would be be supported Njal Stormcaller. I have no real tactics for the list as I have yet to play a game of 40k, but I tried to make this list so every squad would be a scoring unit.

Space Wolf is no longer a "very CC" oriented army. Should've played them in 3rd edition. They work best as a mid-range gun line army with some counter charge / defensive type CC units. Bloo claws are not very good, and considering Grey Hunters are about the best (most versatile) troops, I wouldn't consider using the Blood Claws instead. You can't un both Njall and Logan as they both have Saga of Majesty, and the Codex says that's a no-no. This list WILL get messed up bad at 1500 points, if you ask me. This is basically the min-max winning kind of units for SW ATM.

Grey Hunters x10, Wolf Standard, Plasma-Gun x2 (170)

Grey Hunters x10, Wolf Standard, Plasma-Gun x2 (170)

Grey Hunters x10, Drop Pod, Wolf Standard, Plasma-Gun x2 (205)

Grey Hunters x10, Drop Pod, Wolf Standard, Melta-Gun x2 (200)

Grey Hunters x10, Drop Pod, Wolf Standard, Melta-Gun x2 (200)

Long Fangs x6, Missile Launcher x3, Lascannon x2 (170)

Long Fangs x6, Missile Launcher x3, Lascannon x2 (170)

Long Fangs x5, Missile Launcher x4 (115)

Rune Priest (100)

I know it may not be fluffy, but that is what will kick butt, especially with flyers being banned... What units do you have so far, or are you considering buying this army (starting from scratch?) I can give advice on purchasing models, if you want. There are certainly many viable options in the SW codex, but it's apparent (now that the book is getting a bit dated) that Grey Hunters, Long Fangs and Rune Priests are the staple units of any competetive Space Wolf list... Playing just those units is never a bad idea.


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If your group wil allow, you could proxy the drop pods, so that would save a bit of money... Finding the missile launchers can be a pain (as well as the meltas, since they dont come in the SW box anymore) but it's well worth having these models if you wanna get into playing SW right now.

Darn. I didn't realize that you had limits on characters in the same chapter. I was hoping for a very small cc army. Im a big fan of the space wolves in the black library books and thought the one above would be cheap and fun. Would blood angels be a better choice for hand to hand?

Blood angels are the most CC oriented Space marine chapter. That's not to say that Space Wolves aren't capable, but I think that CC marine armies took a rather big hit in 6th edition anyhow. It's rare that you see a Blood Angels army winning any major events / tournaments, not that competetive 40k is where it's at. As you said you are looking to build a flufy & fun force, and if it were me, I rather like Space WOlves. BA... not so much.
If you wan't to use jump pack assault marines, play Blood Angels.
If you want to run Bikes and Terminators, play Dark Angels.
If you want an army that has Grey Hunters (the best troop ever!), Long Fangs, Thunderwolf Cavalry & Rune Priests, use the Space Wolves!
If I was going to run Space Wolves in an elite close combat style, I'd model some Thunderwolf Cavalry using chaos knight horses, with marine upper bodies glued on them, as I don't like the GW TWC models or the idea of wolf riding space marines. Thunderwolf Cavalry are basically like Biker Nobs, so they are nasty CC fast attack selection, and can be run with Thunderwolf mounted Wolf Lords, who are also rather nasty guys. The only real problem, is getting them into CC, without falling to small arms fire, as they only have 3+ saves, albeit T5 and 2 wounds. With a few storm shields and some Rhinos (or better allied Chimeras) to advance behind they are pretty fun.
In fact, I used them to great success in a 199+1 point campaign not long ago.

EXAMPLE SPACE WOLF ARMY (CC oriented) - 1750 points

HQ (265 points)

Wolf Lord, Thunderwolf Mount, Wolf Claw, Storm Shield, Wolf Tooth Necklace, Meltabomb, Saga of the Bear , 2x Fenrisian Wolves

FAST ATTACK (420 points)

Thunderwolf Cavalry x3, Thunder Hammer x1, Storm Shield x1
Thunderwolf Cavalry x3, Thunder Hammer x1, Storm Shield x1

TROOP (810 points)

Grey Hunters x10, Wolf Standard, Plasma-Gun x2, Rhino
Grey Hunters x10, Wolf Standard, Plasma-Gun x2, Rhino
Grey Hunters x10, Wolf Standard, Melta-Gun x2, Drop Pod, Mark of the Wulfen
Grey Hunters x10, Wolf Standard, Melta-Gun x2, Drop Pod, Mark of the Wulfen

ELITE (255 points)

Wolf Guard x5, Terminator Armor x5, Combi-Weapon x4, Cyclone Missile Launcher x1, Power Fist x1, Drop Pod

With this list, the Thunderwolv Cavalry (& lord) will push forward behind the Rhinos. Sometimes, I will even run the Rhinos empty, letting the Grey Hunters foot-slog, just so they are less likely to get shot, allowing them to screen for the cavalry longer. The Terminator squad drops into the center of enemy territory and hits with it's combi-weapons and missiles. They will usually absorb a lot of fire and take the heat off the real threats (all the nasty cavalry). One of the GH drop pod melta units will arrive in the enemy's face as well. In general the Grey Hunters will be a low priority for your opponent, and that's perfect, as they are the ones who need to stay alive to claim objectives. With frag & krak grenades, 2 CC weapons & pistols to shoot and charge, the wonderul wolf standard and maybe a few models with mark of the wulfen, the Grey Hunters can hold their own in close combat as well. If they get tied down, the Thunderwolves can usually come to the rescue! Hope this helpls...

Again, I gotta ask, what models do you have to work with? Do you already have some space marine figs?

At this moment I have 0 40k models. I have been playing Warhammer Fantasy for awhile and have a few armies there, but wanted to try something a little different. So i am basically starting completely from scratch. I decided to play space wolves after redaing prospero burns and the thousand sons black library books. I loved the idea of the battle on prospero. I guess my hang up on CC is the result from playing fantasy, especially with warriors of chaos. I never fired a shot aside from a few javelins and the damage was always minimal. I also like the idea of small elite armies as I tend get more into a game when I can remember that this character or model took down something in the last match (flash back to my Khorne Lord wiping out a unit of Ogres with a slaughtermaster). I am pretty much open to change my ideas, as long as I can pack a mighty punch if/when I get into combat, and it feels like a true sons of russ kind of force.

I think Erik has the right idea for a CC oriented army.

If you want to do logan with Wolf Guard don't get too carried away with wargear because things will get too expensive too fast points wise.

If you want to use blood claws throw in a wolf priest so they can outflank with saga of the hunter.

In your original list if you are more judicious with points and drop Njal you can have a lot more shooty/choppy guys dropping in pods.


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This is not super competitive but a take on Logan and lots of choppy guys which will go a bit farther, a take on your original list but get a lot more to throw at your opponent.

HQ: Logan 275

Elites: Lone wolf - MOTW 35

Troops:

Wolf guard x4, TDA x4, combi plasma x3, PF, WC, pod 197

Logan goes with them

Wolf guard x6, TDA x6, combi melta x4, PF, WC, pod 268

(One goes with grey hunters - with melta gun)

Wolf guard x6, TDA x6, flamer, combi plasma, PF, WC, pod 258

(One goes with grey hunters - with plasma gun)

Grey hunters x 10 plasma x2 MOTW x1 Wolf standard - 185

Grey hunters x 10 melta x2 MOTW x1 Wolf standard - 180

Fortification

Aegis defense line with quad gun - 100

That's pretty solid, but I personally feel like it's tough to win, running Loganwing. Draigowing + Deathwing are both superior ways to get a solid terminator army. AND that's way cheaper to build, considering you can get the cheap termies from the old "Black reach" or the new "Dark vengeance" box sets and play them without having to do a bunch of conversions (since SW termies don't come standard with Power Fists!)


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Regardless, all terminator armies are one trick ponies, and will have a lot of trouble against certain builds. Now that plasma-guns are so in style, termies need to watch out! AP2 is the new black!!!

Just the Dark Angel half of the Dark vengeance box set + a second squad of tactical marines is already 1000 points. Also, the box set has the super convenient mini-rulebook and is now the only way to get the old school green transparent templates, instead of the new stupid looking ones! You could get the set and sell the Chaos half of the army, or just keep it all. it's a great deal, and one of the best ways to get new players into the game, since it has to small balanced armies and lots of short tutorial style games you can play together. It's a very convenient littls package and the cost of the models comes out to be a great deal, compared to buyin individually!!! Or find someone who wants a chaos army, ands split two box sets. That way, one can have all the chaos stuff, the other gets all the Dark Cngel stuff, and each person gets a rulebook, templates and scatter dice!


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Very cost-efficient way to start a marine army!

Just so you know: In the FAQ, they say that you can take unique characters with the same saga. So Njal and Logan are good.

You are correct about the FAQ. From personal experience, I have found that Njal is not worth it. He is way too much for a 2 wound model that is mastery level 2. His staff can possibly do some things but I wouldn't count on it. He knows all the space wolves powers. Big deal. There are only a few that are worth taking anyway. While I like the idea, I have tried him with Logan and found that it just doesn't work. A rune priest with mastery level two is much more efficient even though the second mastery level is still not necessary. Logan and arjac can both be good but are still expensive. They are extremely fun to play with. Space wolves characters are just so much that it hurts the rest of the army. I love the idea, it's just so hard to make work


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Njal is probably one of the worst units in the entire codex for how much he is compared to what he does

The best thing about wolf guard is combis they get them for 5 points max out on these, that's the key to being competative with wolf guard aswell as the heavey flamer for 5points