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Hi,

I am brand new to the hobby and just bought the Start Collecting pack for Space Wolves. I put together a 500pt list with what was in the box and I am looking for some feedback.

"Deathpack" (500pts)
10x Grey Hunter - 2x Plasma guns
3x Thunderwolf Cavalry - 3 Storm Shields, 2 Chainswords, 1 Frost Axe.
Wolf Lord - Runic Armour - Power Sword, Storm Bolter

Since these are the only models I have I am a little concerned about gluing stuff together only to find out I made some noob mistake. I dont really care about the list being competitive, I just don't want it to suck.

Thanks.

What I suggest you to consider is how you will patch your Thunderwolf Cav. 3+ Inv save from those shields is good, but if they are equiped with frost/chain weapon and pistol they got one additional attack in melee combat. And you will not lack much defence, because the cav is already on 2 wounds each and 3+ normal save.. Also think about what enemies you will face, sometimes it will be better to use flamers instaed plasma guns.

Btw you have a good start. I usually run my wolves with 20 bloodclaws + thunderwolf, priest, long fangs and scouts, but this is more than 500 pts.
In future you may think for long fangs or 3x whirlinds so you can have long range heavy support.

Thanks for the feedback. That makes sense about the cavalry and the storm shields.

About the flamers, unfortunately the kit doesn't come with any, just plasmas. I suppose I could just use them that way but I was trying to keep it all WYSIWYG.

How do most people handle that? This box just doesn't even have enough parts to give all 10 grey hunters bolt pistols and bolters. And would I need to find flamers and meltas as well, I'm guessing I could hit eBay for bits. Just seems odd for the package to come with random scout heads and extra plasma pistols but not flamers and meltas.

Stariian wrote:
Thanks for the feedback. That makes sense about the cavalry and the storm shields.

About the flamers, unfortunately the kit doesn't come with any, just plasmas. I suppose I could just use them that way but I was trying to keep it all WYSIWYG.

How do most people handle that? This box just doesn't even have enough parts to give all 10 grey hunters bolt pistols and bolters. And would I need to find flamers and meltas as well, I'm guessing I could hit eBay for bits. Just seems odd for the package to come with random scout heads and extra plasma pistols but not flamers and meltas.

Oh, I thought that 10 men Hunters box have at least one flamer. Mine had combiflamer and flamer, awkward.
About cav, you can patch shields and when play to just proxy to pistol and sword, but if you wanna keep it what you see is what you get you will need a lot of models and bits or consider magnetise.

Stariian wrote:
Thanks for the feedback. That makes sense about the cavalry and the storm shields.

About the flamers, unfortunately the kit doesn't come with any, just plasmas. I suppose I could just use them that way but I was trying to keep it all WYSIWYG.

How do most people handle that? This box just doesn't even have enough parts to give all 10 grey hunters bolt pistols and bolters. And would I need to find flamers and meltas as well, I'm guessing I could hit eBay for bits. Just seems odd for the package to come with random scout heads and extra plasma pistols but not flamers and meltas.

Maybe check with GW customer support that you got the right bits. Or maybe try and find an unboxing video on youtube to see if you have the same stuff. I was under the impression that you got the same sprues as a normal wolf pack, maybe they have deliberately cut it down so you have to buy more boxes.

 Garrlor wrote:

Stariian wrote:
Thanks for the feedback. That makes sense about the cavalry and the storm shields.

About the flamers, unfortunately the kit doesn't come with any, just plasmas. I suppose I could just use them that way but I was trying to keep it all WYSIWYG.

How do most people handle that? This box just doesn't even have enough parts to give all 10 grey hunters bolt pistols and bolters. And would I need to find flamers and meltas as well, I'm guessing I could hit eBay for bits. Just seems odd for the package to come with random scout heads and extra plasma pistols but not flamers and meltas.

Maybe check with GW customer support that you got the right bits. Or maybe try and find an unboxing video on youtube to see if you have the same stuff. I was under the impression that you got the same sprues as a normal wolf pack, maybe they have deliberately cut it down so you have to buy more boxes.

I checked out the sprues and they are definitely all the correct ones that come with the standard wolf pack. They just don't come with flamers or meltas. I have found some other threads of people complaining about that same thing. I'm sure that more established players have enough bits around so that this isn't an issue, but for me this is all I have to work with. Anyway, this is all getting off topic, I think I am going to look at magnetizing and modeling myself some flamers and meltas so that I can have options. I'll save my complaints about the lack of content in the start collecting box for another time.

Thanks again for the help.

Your starter box is amazing.

40k is introducing turn 1 assault potential, and we as Space Wolves get a slice of that cake.

I personally got another Thunderwolf model, so that I could field the Wolf Lord on one, to go with the Thunderwolf Cavalry. Putting something epic in his hands like a wolf claw (to keep the initiative 5, which is amazing) or the "Black Death" relic for like 9 attacks on the charge.
I will typically field them with Storm Shields, but only on the Characters. When a wound is landed on the unit, if it's on a character it gets a 4+ roll to redirect the attack, 2+ if the char is an Independent Character (the Look Out Sir rule). Worst case, you can always trust the Storm Shield to keep your men alive.
When I field them with Wolf Claws, they go from combat to combat and ROCK whatever they touch if it isn't as tough as terminators... even Monstrous Creatures and HQ choices have but a 3+ save.

The Grey Hunters are potentially the best troop in the game, for its type (3+ save, marine) special rules or chapter tactics not withstanding. With this Formations special rules, rerolling 1's when using plasma is AMAZING! you could, if you chose to, have two plasma rifles, a combi-plasma, and a plasma pistol in that one unit. 7 potential plasma shots at rapid fire range. People always fear charging a plasma squad, overwatch can be deadly.
I use mine in a drop pod, and land where it hurts most hehe

You have definitely spent your money well on this.

From here, you'd have any options available to you, to either field Armour via Vindicators or Razorbacks or drop pods. Speeders. You name it, they'd all need the support this has to offer.

TWC are an "auto-include", and Grey Hunters are a staple.

Looking forward to seeing where you go from here

This looks pretty good! Don't worry about thinking that youre missing parts - you're not. The hunters/blood claws box doesnt come with any special weapons aside from the plasma gun, but thats no big deal bc plas guns are a good loadout for Grey Hunters. It would also be worth giving that unit a combi plas (from the commander/wolf lord kit) and/or a plas pistol.

I would keep storm shields on all the wolves. That 3++ really helps with their survivability. I like to give my unit at least one power fist.

The wolf lord isn't a particularly useful HQ (at least not whilst he's on foot), so I'd be looking at giving him whatever you think looks coolest and/or fits your points limit. ( IF you want to cut down on points itd be worth running him as a battle leader rather than a wolf lord (unless that messes up any formation you might have)). In future I'd be looking at getting a rune priest as you HQ

Welcome to the hobby!

Buddy you can't really complain about box. It comes with two plasmas, yes, but it's got two pairs of lighting claws, two power swords, two axes, two fists, two pairs of shield+thunderhammer. 56 heads, if I counted correctly, storm bolters, bolt pistols, chain swords, lots of goodies. Beautiful kit, I dare say the most beautiful among the SM marine kits! If only I knew how to magnetise (got no tools for that), I'd make some able to change fist/claw/hammer/sword, etc. just because! You can use bits to kit out your wolves some, if you need. You can make rune priest out of the kit, lone wolf, wolf pack leader, etc. I'm gonna get me some more of those kits, they occasionally pop up at ebay for 12 pounds or so. Get one more kit, and there you go, rune priests, lone wolves, wolf guard. Enjoy it.