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So, I am returning to the Imperium after a long break back to 5th edition. I want to play a shooty SW army, utilizing drop pod tactics. Drop pods have always appealed to me, and I believe the wolves work great with it, considering strong shooting mechanics, and Counter Attack. I am not looking to necessarily play competitive, but I would like to show my fangs while having fun. That being said, I do not yet know the meta of my local store yet. Please advise as you can!

HQ
Wolf Guard Battle Leader - 105
-Bite of Fenris
-Frost Axe
-Runic armor

Rune Priest - 95
-Mastery lvl 2
-Psychic hood
-Combi Plas

TROOPS
Grey Hunters x9 - 229
-WGPL w/ Frost Axe and combi plas
-CCWs
-Meltagun
-Drop Pod

Grey Hunters x9 - 229
-WGPL w/ Frost Axe and combi plas
-CCWs
-Meltagun
-Drop Pod

ELITES
Dreadnought - 150
-Hellfrost Cannon
-Drop Pod

Dreadnought - 130
-MultiMelta
-Drop Pod

FAST ATTACK
Landspeeder - 60
-MultiMelta

The Priest and WGBL hop in with the Hunter squads. Squads drop first turn, set up firing lines/get close to objectives. Once the opponent begins moving vehicles, I can determine where to put the dreads to blow them away. I am not very concerned with anti-air, since 1000pts does not allow for it much. Get cover, shoot, wait for the charge. Land Speeder jets around, causing distraction havoc to vehicles.

As a player just starting in 7th, I would especially appreciate advice in application to how well this army fits the new edition.

I can make a few suggestions. I don't play Space Wolves, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but I do have a friend who plays them regularly.

Plasma pistols are a decent chunk of points for a weapon you'll probably get to fire once, and has a chance to fry your kitted out sergeant. I'd drop them, personally. There are better things you could spend the points on, like frost weapons for instance - always a solid take for the extra strength.

Exchanging the wolf lord for a battle leader could save you a few extra points as well. IIRC he's only superior as far as CC goes, and since you want to focus on shooting that could be some decent savings.

Which detachment are you using? Wolves Unleashed is a good fit since everything is in reserves, though Combined Arms is always good to get objective secured on your Grey Hunters.

Good ideas, and ones I had considered. Switching the wolf lord is probably a good idea at this level, especially considering what you mentioned. And I know PP is pricy, but I figure I need the extra AP vs other MEQ? Maybe it's not worth it, with Gets Hot, but one AP wound can make a big difference.

What I would suggest is should you decide to drop to a battle leader, remember he would only have the invulnerable save from the runic armour, meaning low ap will rip him a new one
Other than that it looks pretty solid, though I'd maybe drop a grey hunter, and take frost axes over power axes

I'd say consider what role you want the pack leader to play and focus on it. If you want someone to fight in challenges and maybe do some damage, go for the frost/power weapons. If you're looking for some extra low-AP shooting, a combi-plasma is cheaper than a plasma pistol, has twice the shots at the same range or one shot at a further range, and is a boltgun otherwise. If you try to do both, you'll probably find the extra points going to waste half the time.

With all the points you're saving on gear and upgrades like those, you'll easily have enough points to fit in another unit. Another drop dread, a smallish GH unit, some landspeeders or something... In any case, you'll be getting more out of those points for sure.

Awesome. I hadn't thought of that. Frost swords and combi is definitely better!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I have revised the list, dropping PP for combi plas all over, upgrading to frost swords, and making the wolf lord a WGBL.
With extra points, threw in a MM land speeder to mess with heads. I think I definitely won some extra presence, firepower and melee strength. I really like it actually...

I love SWs. I started my army back in the early 1990s. However, at this juncture, they are not very competitive. They could have just named the codex: Codex Thunderwolves and been done with it- even the Champions of Fenris just adds +1 to the WS of the Thunderwolves. SW dont shoot very well, from GHs to Dreads, to even Long Fangs- nothing puts out a great deal of firepower cheap. The extra points on the CCW and WG are not worth the points. 7-8 extra attacks in the unit is not worth it for counter attack, a unit that cant beat the GHs will just shoot them a unit that is cc oriented will still charge them and kill them. How many people discuss how OP assault units are? No one, and thats essentially all GHs are, keep the GHs cheap and bare bones especially at a low point level. The units you are taking would all be better served by just taking Codex SMs as your marines could actually get some abilities that help them shoot. If you like Dreads, BA's are probably better. Centurions, Thunderfire Cannons and Storm Talons all put out a decent amount of firepower. Now- if you are just playing SWs because you like their fluff and want to do a drop pod list I would try a few other options.

You have 4 drop pods- in general you want to run odd numbers, therefore I would try to bump up to 5.

I would drop the other dread and pod and instead get 2 lone wolves and you can equip them with combimeltas and in terminator armor. Turn 1 you drop down you 2 units of grey hunters, turn 2 you are rolling for the drop pod with the dreadnought and the 2 lone wolves in termie armor can deep strike in or we can buy them pods.

By attaching your 2 HQs to a squad you are losing out on what little firepower the GHs have, and are only able to take 1 melta in each instead of 2. Personally I would simply take 10 GHs, 2 with melta or plasma. I would then decide to take one or the other HQs. If you really want to use psychic powers (which there isnt much you can take advantage of, and the SW psychic powers are pretty bad- and divination isnt going to help this force much) drop the WGBL and Speeder and put him in another squad or with some WG bikes or a unit of terminators. WG termies arent bad if you keep them cheap. I like combiplasma and a powersword- 38 pts. You could take 3 of them and put the RP in termie armor to teleport in with- giving you 8 combiplasma shots (enough to take down a MC or even side armor on a vehicle).

Or you could drop the RP and instead take a WGBL on Thunderwolf and use the points from the RP and Speeder to add in some fenrisian wolves.

I might suggest

RP- level 2, termie armor -110 (Goes with WG termie unit)
3 WG- termie armor, combiplasma, 2xpowersword, 1xpfist, drop pod - 159
2x10 GH with 2 meltas in drop pods- 390
1x Dread with MM- drop pod - 130
1x Lone Wolf- Combiplasma/wolf claw 65 (goes in drop pod to make use of combiweapon)
1 Drop Pod -35
1x Lone Wolf- combiplasma/ss/meltabomb - 60
Landspeeder with heavy bolter- 50

Also remember to shoot those 5 stormbolters each turn from the drop pods!

This is 999 pts with 5 pods, which given you had said you wanted a drop pod force, I think covers all bases. You put your lone wolf in the fast attack pod so 3 drop down turn 1 and the next 2 roll in turn 2+ and given you can use the wolves unleashed it guarantees one comes in turn 2 and one turn 3. You can use the flexibility of your units, dread, or lone wolves or termies to determine what you want where. The second lone wolf teleports in or you start him on the board and you have a speeder to zip around (Stay at 36inch range for the heavy bolter and stay alive)

The second lone wolf seems weird doesnt he- no weapon. Well, he is essentially a speed bump. He drops down and shoots his combiplasma, then finds the meanest target and gets stuck in. Against vehicles, he uses his meltabomb, against MCs, he uses his meltabomb (a lone wolf with a pfist only has 2 attacks instead of 1 so it isnt a huge deal), against hordes, he just punches a guy a turn but with his low save, he keeps the unit pinned down, he is dirt cheap for this role and with just 1000 pts, he is worth that, especially when he can pin down an expensive unit like necron wraiths for a turn or two if he gets lucky with the SS save. Anyhow, I hope I gave you some different ideas to work with.

IMO, 1000pts is too small to be taking expensive toys. At that level you need to focus on maximum efficiency.


How about:

Combined Arms Detachment
Rune Priest - ML-2, Psychic Hood, Runic Armour - 120

9 Grey Hunters - WGPL w/ Power Axe, CCWs, Melta Gun, Power Axe - 192
Drop Pod - 35

10 Grey Hunters - WGPL w/ Power Axe, CCWs, 2xMelta Gun, Power Axe - 218
Drop Pod - 35

5 Grey Hunters Melta Gun - 80
Drop Pod - 35

Dreadnought - Hellfrost Cannon - 115
Drop Pod - 35

Dreadnought - MultiMelta, Great Wolf Claw/Storm Bolter - 100
Drop Pod - 35

Total - 1000

This gives you 2 extra meltaguns and an extra power axe in each of the larger squads... plus an extra small squad ...and all grey hunters have ObSec
You'd lose some plasma pistols and your Wolf lord (who wasn't very good)


Automatically Appended Next Post:
You can now bring 3 drop pods on turn 1
I'd go with the 2x10man pods, plus the MM dreadnought on the alpha strike, with Mr Hellfrost and the small squad of grey hunters in reserve to react to the situation

I love that list, and considered it actually. But the 2nd HQ lets me do Wolves Unleashed, bringing in a guaranteed reserve every turn after the first 2 pods. Are the extra guns worth sacrificing the guaranteed support?