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In general, what do low point space marine armies look like? I know they will be very different dependent on the chapter or branch etc, but is there any rule of thumb? These are two 500 space wolf lists I came up with. Please tell me what you think.

HQ- Rune priest, plasma gun, mastery level 2

Troop
5 man grey hunters squad
-pack leader with combi-flamer, melta bombs and frost sword
-flamer
-power fist
- close combat weapons

5 man grey hunters squad (Rune priest goes here)
-plasma gun
-4 close combat weapons

Elite
Dreadnaught
-Hellfrost cannon
-great wolf claw
-heavy flamer
-drop pod

Or

HQ- Rune priest with plasma gun, psychic hood

Troop
5 man grey hunters squad
-pack leader with melta bombs, combi melta
-powerfist
-melta gun
-close combat weapons

5 man grey hunters squad (Rune priest goes here)
-plasma gun
-close combat weapons

5 man grey hunters squad
-flamer
-close combat weapons

5 man grey hunters squad
-melta
-close combat weapons

That's a lot of footslogging going on, first impression.

That Dreadnought is probably going to be semi-competent in a low point game where your opponent won't have a lot to shoot at it, but with everything else footslogging, he can just bring his entire army's shooting down on to it.

I also don't seem to understand the idea behind equipping one GH unit out the nose with upgrades but the others seeming like almost an after thought. Spread it around because if that one unit gets shot to bits, then you have nothing else on the field.

Even in 500 point games, you can still utilize a lot of mobility for your units.

I would definitely try to throw some rhinos in there. Against longer range armies (tau, marines with dev squads, etc.) you're going to lose over half of your army before you get close enough to use that power fist. Wolves excel in close combat, so if you never get into close combat against an enemy that specializes in ranged you're going to get chewed up fast. Either shave off some of those special weapons and take rhinos, or in that second list drop a squad and take rhinos (or razorbacks).

If I sit a dev squad in the back with at least 2 missiles (which I do in 500), you're going to lose a squad before you can shoot them. Throw in a predator or something and that's a lot dead before you get in close enough to use your melta. The dreadnought will be a bit more effective here, but if it doesn't kill everything that can hurt it it'll get wrecked or explode fast.

Thanks for the help. How about this? Any advice will be very appreciated.

HQ: Rune priest, plasma gun

5 man GH squad, with plasma gun, 4 close combat weapons and drop pod (Rune priest goes here)

5 man GH squad, melta gun, pack leader with combi flamer, drop pod

Dreadnaught, hellfrost cannon, great wolf claw, heavy flamer, drop pod

My army goal is to have a drop pod list so I am not very keen on purchasing rhinos.