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So I've been rejigging my list a little and I was hoping for some comments. The basic idea will be to have the Invictors up front to cause threat and provide character cover. The dreads, lord on wolf and bikes will charge forward aiming for whatever is most dangerous. The blood claws will also charge forward aiming for objectives. The wolf guard in each unit will have the lone wolf stray played on them if they survive to give some later game punch. The rest of the army will sit back with the other wolf lord and iron priest as a home base camp. Thoughts?


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [59 PL, 8CP, 989pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Battle-forged CP [3CP]

Detachment CP [5CP]

+ HQ +

Wolf Lord [5 PL, 88pts]: Power sword, Storm shield

Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf [7 PL, 132pts]: Saga of the Wolfkin, The Wulfen Stone, Warlord, Wolf Claw (Pair)

+ Troops +

Blood Claws [7 PL, 103pts]
. 4x Blood Claw
. Blood Claw Pack Leader: Chainsword
. Wolf Guard Terminator Pack Leader: Frost axe, Storm shield

Blood Claws [7 PL, 103pts]
. 4x Blood Claw
. Blood Claw Pack Leader: Chainsword
. Wolf Guard Terminator Pack Leader: Frost axe, Storm shield

Blood Claws [7 PL, 103pts]
. 4x Blood Claw
. Blood Claw Pack Leader: Chainsword
. Wolf Guard Terminator Pack Leader: Frost axe, Storm shield

+ Fast Attack +

Swiftclaws [8 PL, 92pts]
. Swiftclaw: Chainsword
. . Bike: Twin boltgun
. Swiftclaw: Chainsword
. . Bike: Twin boltgun
. Swiftclaw: Chainsword
. . Bike: Twin boltgun
. Swiftclaw Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Bike: Twin boltgun

+ Heavy Support +

Long Fangs [9 PL, 194pts]
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Heavy bolter
. Long Fang Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Boltgun and Bolt Pistol

Long Fangs [9 PL, 174pts]
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Heavy bolter
. Long Fang Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Boltgun and Bolt Pistol

++ Vanguard Detachment +1CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [33 PL, 2CP, 666pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Detachment CP [1CP]

+ HQ +

Bjorn the Fell-handed [12 PL, 1CP, 234pts]: Heavy flamer, Twin lascannon

+ Elites +

Invictor Tactical Warsuit [6 PL, 131pts]: 2x Ironhail heavy stubber, Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy bolter, Incendium cannon

Invictor Tactical Warsuit [6 PL, 131pts]: 2x Ironhail heavy stubber, Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy bolter, Incendium cannon

Murderfang [9 PL, 170pts]

++ Spearhead Detachment +1CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [23 PL, 344pts] ++

+ HQ +

Iron Priest [5 PL, 79pts]: Helfrost pistol, Tempest hammer

+ Heavy Support +

Stalker [6 PL, 95pts]: Two Icarus Stormcannons

Whirlwind [6 PL, 85pts]: Whirlwind castellan launcher

Whirlwind [6 PL, 85pts]: Whirlwind castellan launcher

++ Total: [115 PL, 10CP, 1,999pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

First question... how competitive is it where you are playing? If you are anywhere close to what I am playing against, gunlines and just firepower is king; close combat is just about nonexistent and I usually do not make it past turn 3, maybe turn 4 if I am lucky w/ an "assault" based space wolves list. Caveat though, I am an under average dice tosser...

Second, GW hasn't gotten around to it, or just missed it since the new space marine faction traits benefit vehicles, but Space Wolves invictors do not get our faction traits as they are vehicles and warsuits, not dreads. So just a thing to note when using them. I am trying to run three invictors but it is super disappointing they are not hitting on twos in combat.

Third, you need some delivery systems (rhinos, or stormwolves, or razorbacks), if the scene you play at is competitive, you will be wiped out long before combat; so recommend utilizing cunning of the wolf strat on large blobs of blood claws or some primaris units; as far as advancing up the board, your blood claws are just going to be chaff to screen out Bjorn and Murderfang. Bjorn is too good in close combat to sit back, yes it sucks getting the penalty to hit as he moves up, but he can destroy tanks and other big things in one round easily (just don't throw him into storm shields... they'll absorb it all, then kill him). I have been running a chaplain dread and Bjorn w/ lascannons to abuse the character rules. Has helped a little but I am still struggling.

Fourth, forgeworld is where you need to go to give space wolves a fighting chance. Mortis contemptors w/ lascannons, sicarans, and leviathans can help us claw some points out of every game. SW are in a super tough spot right now, we lack firepower and it is incredibly hard to get into close combat; and my experience has been, even if I get into close combat, my opponent will just spread out and hose my close combat units as soon as they are done w/ combat. Wulfen are the best we got, but even then, they need a delivery system.

My advice, craft a list that you can abuse using cunning of the wolf (can be used as many times as you want w/ the only limitations being the tactical reserves and the amount of CP you have); use keen senses every time, and if you have enough CP, use wisdom of the ancients to replace the need for wolf lords and use the extra points for battle leaders and rune priests (psychic phase is necessary for us to get some cover up and deny the enemy the use of psychic abilities). I had mild success against an aeldari list (one of our worst matchups, especially when they bring 5 flyers...) by using cunning of the wolf on a unit of 6 aggressors, 8 hellblasters, and an ancient, w/ a phobos battle leader and smash captain wolf lord deepstriking w/ them. So just food for thought.

Sorry for the long post; but I love the list, super fluffy, just doesn't work in a competitive scene. Your vanguard detachment is worth keeping, long fangs worth keeping, but I'd toy around w/ the rest of the list to exploit cunning of the wolf and then give yourself as much mobility as possible. And good use of storm shields, they're very difficult for opponents to deal w/.

Thanks for the comprehensive post! I agree with what you're saying, CC really is tough at the moment. My other army is nids and I often lose half my force before I even get close enough. Perhaps I would be better going for a more shooty type list, I just love the wolves fluff. I'll have a think and see what I can work out, sadly I don't have the money for forgeworld stuff which is a shame as it's good.

I am 100% with you on loving the space wolves fluff. I play them despite not completely having a chance. the best games I have had is running a double stormwolf, leviathan dread, murderfang, intercessors, and a land raider, w/ rune priest casting cover spells; and then running double leviathans and a bunch of infantry to screen. it's just such an uphill battle. but there are those moments where you get a good game in, like my last game was against death guard, lots of close combat and actually felt like i had a chance IF i had played it better.... hahaha

Are storm wolves and land raiders worth it? I like them but they seem to be a lot of points.

I thought about using drop pods too, especially for Bjorn and murderfang. Have you tried that at all?

 LynxSarnage wrote:
Are storm wolves and land raiders worth it? I like them but they seem to be a lot of points.

I thought about using drop pods too, especially for Bjorn and murderfang. Have you tried that at all?

You are correct that they are a sizeable chunk of the army... and yes I have very mixed feelings on that, but they have the firepower to remove big models. the land raiders are more viable now as they finally got a points drop, so still around 300 points but you're getting a toughness 8, 4 lascannon platform that you can pop keen senses on. the stormwolves are a hit or miss sometimes, kind of a one trick pony since after they get degraded they become very unreliable. plus, in some of my games, i do not get to go first often and if i take two stormwolves, one will get blown out of the sky 1st turn. BUT, that being said, your opponent will focus ALL of their heavy firepower onto a stormwolf, allowing you to do other stuff w/ the rest of your army. so i guess that is a silver lining? but a stormwolf can wreck several vehicles in one volley on top profile.

I have yet to seriously test drop pods out; right now they have only served as a distraction for me really, but then again I do not have the right models put together to seriously utilize a drop pod assault. The drawbacks are that they can only take infantry, no terminator assault squads or wulfen or dreads. to do dreads you'd have to get the dread drop pod from forgeworld, and that is quite a bit of money for an 80 point delivery system (makes murderfang 250 points since I would use him in a dread drop pod). But then you get murderfang 9" away from your opponent w/ re-roll charges first turn, so very useful and forces your opponent to screen you out.

So I went ahead and made a new list just to see what I could get. Decided to go with some non standard raiders because they struck me as slightly more awesome than the standard variants.


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [55 PL, 9CP, 923pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Battle-forged CP [3CP]

Detachment CP [5CP]

+ HQ +

Bjorn the Fell-handed [12 PL, 1CP, 234pts]: Heavy flamer, Twin lascannon

Rune Priest [7 PL, 129pts]: 4. Fury of the Wolf Spirits, 5. Storm Caller, Bolt pistol, Jump Packs, Psychic hood, Runic axe, Saga of the Wolfkin, The Wulfen Stone, Warlord

+ Troops +

Blood Claws [10 PL, 142pts]
. 7x Blood Claw
. Blood Claw Pack Leader: Chainsword
. Wolf Guard Terminator Pack Leader: Frost axe, Storm shield

Blood Claws [7 PL, 78pts]
. 5x Blood Claw
. Blood Claw Pack Leader: Chainsword

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 85pts]: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher, Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor
. Intercessor Pack Leader

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 85pts]: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher, Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor
. Intercessor Pack Leader

+ Elites +

Murderfang [9 PL, 170pts]

++ Spearhead Detachment +1CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [62 PL, 1CP, 1,071pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Detachment CP [1CP]

+ HQ +

Land Raider Excelsior [24 PL, 408pts]: Grav-cannon and grav-amp, 2x Twin lascannon

+ Heavy Support +

Land Raider Helios [20 PL, 295pts]: 2x Twin lascannon

Long Fangs [9 PL, 194pts]
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Heavy bolter
. Long Fang Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Boltgun and Bolt Pistol

Long Fangs [9 PL, 174pts]
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Heavy bolter
. Long Fang Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Boltgun and Bolt Pistol

++ Total: [117 PL, 10CP, 1,994pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

 LynxSarnage wrote:
So I went ahead and made a new list just to see what I could get. Decided to go with some non standard raiders because they struck me as slightly more awesome than the standard variants.


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [55 PL, 9CP, 923pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Battle-forged CP [3CP]

Detachment CP [5CP]

+ HQ +

Bjorn the Fell-handed [12 PL, 1CP, 234pts]: Heavy flamer, Twin lascannon

Rune Priest [7 PL, 129pts]: 4. Fury of the Wolf Spirits, 5. Storm Caller, Bolt pistol, Jump Packs, Psychic hood, Runic axe, Saga of the Wolfkin, The Wulfen Stone, Warlord

+ Troops +

Blood Claws [10 PL, 142pts]
. 7x Blood Claw
. Blood Claw Pack Leader: Chainsword
. Wolf Guard Terminator Pack Leader: Frost axe, Storm shield

Blood Claws [7 PL, 78pts]
. 5x Blood Claw
. Blood Claw Pack Leader: Chainsword

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 85pts]: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher, Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor
. Intercessor Pack Leader

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 85pts]: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher, Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor
. Intercessor Pack Leader

+ Elites +

Murderfang [9 PL, 170pts]

++ Spearhead Detachment +1CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [62 PL, 1CP, 1,071pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Detachment CP [1CP]

+ HQ +

Land Raider Excelsior [24 PL, 408pts]: Grav-cannon and grav-amp, 2x Twin lascannon

+ Heavy Support +

Land Raider Helios [20 PL, 295pts]: 2x Twin lascannon

Long Fangs [9 PL, 194pts]
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Heavy bolter
. Long Fang Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Boltgun and Bolt Pistol

Long Fangs [9 PL, 174pts]
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Heavy bolter
. Long Fang Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Boltgun and Bolt Pistol

++ Total: [117 PL, 10CP, 1,994pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe

Well now you just introduced me to the helios.... which I am very much a fan of... because that is one thing I have struggled w/ is reaching units that are out of LOS. and the heavy bolter on a normal raider is nice, but not useful all the time when I play, a helios launcher would always be useful i believe.

I am hesitant about the excelsior b/c of 400 points. BUT, it really fills a role that allows your support troops to sit back and get all the benefits w/out having to have Bjorn around AND has that 5++ which is quite nice for a land raider.

The one thing i would try to do is see if you can fit a battle leader into the list. Just a bare bones battle leader that you screen out of LOS behind the raiders, the re rolling wound rolls of 1 is just a life saver, and the long fangs are rerolling 1s innately against their chosen targets, so rerolling wounds would really help. I would also run just 3 units of intercessors and drop the BCs (that would give you points for a bare bones battle leader); would you be using the BCs for flanking w/ cunning of the wolf?

It is just a bit of a drag because to survive we can't really make our SW lists... "wolfey"...

Yeah I'm quickly finding that to play wolves you have be less Wolfy then I'd like. I'd love to field a list of thunderwolves and fenrisian wolves but it'd get torn apart at the moment.

Anyway, yes the Excelsior is expensive but one nice thing about it is it's a character. Now I'm not sure if you can give a tank a relic but you could slap on the armour of Russ and then it's got a 4++. XD That said it'd probably be more cost effective to go double Helios and then take a wolf lord for the reroll 1s.

And yes I love the Helios. I'm a massive whirlwind fan but they are a bit flimsy, the Helios combines a lot of good stuff.

Yeah first list I ran was two stormwolves and blood claws in them, along w/ a ton of thunderwolves w/ fists and hammers along w/ a rune priest, wolf priest, and wolf lord. good list hypothetically at first... i thought... then went up against a craftworld flyer list w/ fire prisms... gunline eldar... such a bad matchup for me... it was a slaughter.

sadly you can't put relics on vehicles. there is a general rule that disallows it. I only know this because there was so much talk about iron hands relics going on dreads... but someone pointed out that you can't do that.

i might have to get a couple helios's up and running... maybe get the helios launcher bits from bits of war or a third party site since looks like FW doesn't sell helios anymore.

https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-GB/Land-Raider-Helios-2018

Helios! But yeah I might look at a conversion option. Maybe get some whirlwind turrets from a bits store as the full kit is more than I'd like to pay.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
New list, I kinda like it. Not sure what to do with the last few point...more intercessors?


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [42 PL, 9CP, 770pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Battle-forged CP [3CP]

Detachment CP [5CP]

+ HQ +

Bjorn the Fell-handed [12 PL, 1CP, 234pts]: Heavy flamer, Twin lascannon

Wolf Guard Battle Leader in Terminator Armour [6 PL, 111pts]: Frost axe, Storm shield

+ Troops +

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 85pts]: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher, Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor
. Intercessor Pack Leader

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 85pts]: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher, Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor
. Intercessor Pack Leader

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 85pts]: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher, Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor
. Intercessor Pack Leader

+ Elites +

Murderfang [9 PL, 170pts]

++ Spearhead Detachment +1CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [70 PL, 1CP, 1,181pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Detachment CP [1CP]

+ HQ +

Iron Priest [5 PL, 79pts]: Helfrost pistol, Tempest hammer

Wolf Lord in Terminator Armor [7 PL, 115pts]: Frost axe, Saga of the Wolfkin, Storm shield, The Wulfen Stone, Warlord

+ Heavy Support +

Land Raider Helios [20 PL, 297pts]: Storm bolter, 2x Twin lascannon

Land Raider Helios [20 PL, 297pts]: Storm bolter, 2x Twin lascannon

Long Fangs [9 PL, 209pts]
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Boltgun and Bolt Pistol

Long Fangs [9 PL, 184pts]
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Boltgun and Bolt Pistol

++ Total: [112 PL, 10CP, 1,951pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I found another land raiders of interest, the Achilles. Very much a space wolf style raider.


++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [42 PL, 9CP, 770pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Battle-forged CP [3CP]

Detachment CP [5CP]

+ HQ +

Bjorn the Fell-handed [12 PL, 1CP, 234pts]: Heavy flamer, Twin lascannon

Wolf Guard Battle Leader in Terminator Armour [6 PL, 111pts]: Frost axe, Storm shield

+ Troops +

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 85pts]: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher, Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor
. Intercessor Pack Leader

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 85pts]: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher, Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor
. Intercessor Pack Leader

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 85pts]: Auxiliary Grenade Launcher, Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor
. Intercessor Pack Leader

+ Elites +

Murderfang [9 PL, 170pts]

++ Spearhead Detachment +1CP (Imperium - Space Wolves) [67 PL, 1CP, 1,229pts] ++

+ No Force Org Slot +

Detachment CP [1CP]

+ HQ +

Wolf Lord in Terminator Armor [7 PL, 126pts]: Saga of the Bear, Storm shield, The Wulfen Stone, Thunder hammer, Warlord

+ Heavy Support +

Land Raider Achilles [21 PL, 355pts]: Quad launcher, 2x Twin multi-melta

Land Raider Achilles [21 PL, 355pts]: Quad launcher, 2x Twin multi-melta

Long Fangs [9 PL, 209pts]
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang: Lascannon
. Long Fang Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Boltgun and Bolt Pistol

Long Fangs [9 PL, 184pts]
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang: Missile launcher
. Long Fang Pack Leader: Chainsword
. . Boltgun and Bolt Pistol

++ Total: [109 PL, 10CP, 1,999pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe