On the 13th of April this year, I decided I wanted to build an aggressive tournament space wolf list. I cracked a thread over on the bolter and chainsword because whilst there is alot of noise there, in amongst it all is a hardened core which provides very solid discussion and it is, as a whole, a much quieter place then some of the larger forums like heresy online. Anyways, the original list was a Canis Wolfborn Thunderwolf spam list with tri-vindicators and no scoring units, just fenrisian wolf spam. It was amusing, if not so competitive. 3 months later, numerous games and numerous revisions later we see the evolution come to a stand still as it formed into what I would call "Taak's Dread Wolves", an unimaginative name that basically includes the two key elements of Dreadnoughts and Thunderwolves. At 1750pts, the list served me for a long time and did quite well for itself. But I haven't, in all this time, posted it outside of the B&C Forum where a very solid 3 page evolving list discussion took place. Indeed, there's a reference in the comments section of Kirby's Blood Rodeo to the list, so in view of Centurion and Event Horizon coming up in the next several months, I think it's time to drag out my Dread Wolves so the rest of you can have a look and discuss.
The original thread can be found here:
And I suggest you all take the time to read through it completely. Don't skip things else you'll be asking things like why did I run a single vindicator in one of the revisions, or why I did this horrendously stupid thing here and there. More importantly however, you'll see how the list developed and why it is at the stage where it is now.
The one key point to remember is that The Dread Wolves are an evolving list. Warhammer 40,000 changes with each new codex or rules revision and as such the list, whilst strong and having the ability to take on all comers - some better then others (ahh balance I love you muchly!), it still has room for improvement. Which is why I like the list so much. It isn't set in stone as alot of these net lists are. Finally, the Dread Wolves stand by two maxims - 1) No special named characters; and 2) No Allies. I have run a cart load of lists maximising the Emperor's Tarot and Callidus Assassin, several with Bjorn the Fell Handed as well to really hammer home the stacked alpha strike advantages, I've seen many power lists centred around named characters, and well, I'm tired of them. I want an army that can stand on its' own two legs without any help at all. So lets move onto the list shall we.
There are 2 Versions of the Dread Wolves I have had finalised since mid-July, and the only difference is the 1st elites slot which is either a Lone Wolf with TDA+SS+CF or a unit of 5 Wolf Scouts with a Meltagun, both clocking in at 85pts. The Lone Wolf gives me a strong unit I am happy to sacrifice every single game, and whilst at 1750pts he isn't as effective due to all the toys we all get in this bracket, people still get freaked out when you run him straight towards the biggest clump of armour around, and he absorbs firepower which should be directed elsewhere, which is important in the list. The Wolf Scouts bring infiltrators so as I can counter Scouting Rushes such as Valkyrie rushes and Blood Angel Predator rushes backed up by DoA forces (Hybrid force, yes, but the speed of Scouting Baal's, Smoke, Drop Pods and smart play can bring in a first turn alpha strike that is supported by a DoA push second turn, so countering the scouting Baals and limiting their immediate effect against you is very useful). This latter version with the Wolf Scouts is the one I have been playing more often with, but in recent months, the list got put on the back burner due to other committments and stupid fun like my 10 model foot list at 1750pts (which will go up soon in the wake of Cryx Cup on the 3rd of January which myself and likely Kirby will be attending).
The list, as it stands is below:
TAAK'S DREAD WOLF LIST (1,750) MK II:
HQ 1a) Rune Priest, Storm Caller, Murderous Hurricane = 100pts
HQ 2a) Rune Priest, Storm Caller, Jaws of the World Wolf = 100pts
Elites 1) 5 Wolf Scouts, BP+CCW, Meltagun = 85pts
Elites 2) Dreadnought, Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer, Wolf Tail Necklace
Dedicated Transport: Drop Pod with Storm Bolter = 160pts
Elites 3) Dreadnought, Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer, Wolf Tail Necklace
Dedicated Transport: Drop Pod with Storm Bolter = 160pts
Troops 1) 5 Grey Hunters, Flamer
Dedicated Transport: Drop pod with Storm Bolter = 110pts
Troops 2) 5 Grey Hunters, Flamer
Dedicated Transport: Rhino with Storm Bolter = 110pts
Troops 3) 5 Grey Hunters, Flamer
Dedicated Transport: Rhino with Storm Bolter = 110pts
Fast Attack 1) 3xTWC, 1xBP+PF, 1xBP+CCW, 1xBolter+CCW = 175pts
Fast Attack 2) 3xTWC, 1xBP+PF, 1xBP+CCW, 1xBolter+CCW = 175pts
Fast Attack 3) 3xTWC, 1xBP+PF, 1xBP+CCW, 1xBolter+CCW = 175pts
Heavy Support 1) 5xLong Fangs, 2xLascannons, 2xMissile Launchers = 145pts
Heavy Support 2) 5xLong Fangs, 2xLascannons, 2xMissile Launchers = 145pts
1750/1750pts
How it all pieces together:
You will note that the Dread Wolves have alot of elements which the internet frown upon. Lascannons in the Long Fang units, minimal troop units in rhinos not razors which would be better suited for them, drop podding suicide dreads, and non-optimised rune priests with no choosers of the slain as well as being non-mech heavy. It is a hybrid list with a difference because it plays like old school tyranids (to my mind and how I ran them, well I have run shooty nids since 3rd edition with 100 termagants base and strength 9 devourer win but still it was a rush in close and then use MC combat strength to advantage so yeah same style heh) where you rush in and as you go you gradually lose a good chunk of the force but once you hit you start doing excessive amounts of damage. The list is all about sacrifice, which is a term and an ideal which hasn't been explored indepth here on 3++ is the New Black nor elsewhere in internet land.
In Summary:
Sacrificial Units are included within an army to achieve a specific purpose where their loss is not an issue to the long term effectiveness of the army in question. At the simplest level, Sacrifical units act to draw fire power from more valuable assets in the army, acting as a bait and distraction. In more complex forms, they also use key strengths to do damage to the enemy, the most common being suicide-melta units in 5th edition army builds.
In teh above list, the Dreadnoughts and the Wolf Scouts and to a lesser extent, the Rhino borne Rune Priests and Grey Hunters are the sacrificial units. They all bring synergy to the list most notably in the form of cover for the advancing Thunderwolf Cavalry but at the end of the day, are all expendable when push comes to shove.
The Dread Wolves work in such a way that your first turn blunts enemy pushes. Drop Podding Dreads are used to seal off enemy fire/movement arcs as well as to suppress some enemy armour/support and to act as a threat which needs to be engaged. The rhino's push up with the aid of Stormcaller to cover the advancing Thunderwolves and to sup[port the dreads assuming they survive. The Long Fangs split fire to suppress enemy armour/fire support. If you've read the linked thread on B&C you'll note the lascannons are in the force because of too many games where str 8 krak missiles just weren't cutting it against even av 10 vehicles - I've had alot of bad luck on dice with the army. As a result, lascannons worked their way in and armour suppression has been much more reliable since.
But, that all said, since July, Blood Angels and Dark Eldar have appeared and brought much more mobility and killing power to the field. Massed posion is gonna be a pain against the Thunderwolves (Alex, we need another game or 4!) but the other elements can mess the DE up well so it could go either way as shooting the TW's instead of the stuff that will roast the DE Infantry and vehicles at range and up close is an issue (hoooray for redundant balance in threats) and Blood Angels bring to the fore alot of Deep Striking and mobile strength 10 threats (damned Libby Sword!). So I think there is room for improvement within the Dread Wolves, particularly with the powers on the Rune Priests.
The Rune Priests are utility characters, able to split off and still provide cover to large portions of the force if the army splits and goes for a pincer movement and this has worked well previously, so Storm Caller is staying. However, Tempests Wrath now steps up to the plate and seems to be an auto-include now in response to BA DoA lists. So one Rune Priest with Storm Caller and Tempests Wrath becomes the utility priest. I haven't taken a chooser as people wanting to infiltrate me are gonna get stomped by Thunderwolves and that works better if they can infiltrate to within my first turn charge range, and other then that there is no need to up the Rune Priests Ballistic Skill.
My thought though is this: Do I still need Two Rune Priests?
Redundant anti-psyker is good, especially in this list which takes a fair wack of skill to run right, and it is oh so easy to kill off one of the RP's, so the second is quite valuable. But could I bring something stronger to the list if I dropped the second Rune Priest?
It'd mean I'd have 100 points to spare and this opens up a number of options.
The most obvious three are to include 1) 2 more Thunderwolves; and 2) add another unit of Missile Launcher armed Long Fangs to the party; or putting a Storm Shield on each Thunderwolf unit to increase their survivability further.
Another option would be to take transports for the Long Fangs purely to provide more mobile cover and movement blocking options for the Thunderwolves. A pair of Razorbacks with Heavy Bolters, whilst not the most efficient weapon, the 5pts extra over the mobile fire platform rhino does bring some anti-infantry firepower to the force with the 20 points left allowing me to add meltabombs once toe ach TW unit as well as the Rune Priest. This would give me the following:
TAAK'S DREAD WOLF LIST (1,750) MK II REVISED List A:
HQ 1a) Rune Priest, Storm Caller, Tempests Wrath, Melta-bombs = 105pts
Elites 1) 5 Wolf Scouts, BP+CCW, Meltagun = 85pts
Elites 2) Dreadnought, Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer, Wolf Tail Necklace
Dedicated Transport: Drop Pod with Storm Bolter = 160pts
Elites 3) Dreadnought, Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer, Wolf Tail Necklace
Dedicated Transport: Drop Pod with Storm Bolter = 160pts
Troops 1) 5 Grey Hunters, Flamer
Dedicated Transport: Drop pod with Storm Bolter = 110pts
Troops 2) 5 Grey Hunters, Flamer
Dedicated Transport: Rhino with Storm Bolter = 110pts
Troops 3) 5 Grey Hunters, Flamer
Dedicated Transport: Rhino with Storm Bolter = 110pts
Fast Attack 1) 3xTWC, 1xBP+PF, 1xBP+CCW, 1xBP+CCW+MB's = 180pts
Fast Attack 2) 3xTWC, 1xBP+PF, 1xBP+CCW, 1xBP+CCW+MB's = 180pts
Fast Attack 3) 3xTWC, 1xBP+PF, 1xBP+CCW, 1xBP+CCW+MB's = 180pts
Heavy Support 1) 5xLong Fangs, 2xLascannons, 2xMissile Launchers
Dedicated Transport: Razorback with Twin-linked Heavy Bolters = 185pts
Heavy Support 2) 5xLong Fangs, 2xLascannons, 2xMissile Launchers
Dedicated Transport: Razorback with Twin-linked Heavy Bolters = 185pts
1750/1750pts
OR
TAAK'S DREAD WOLF LIST (1,750) MK II REVISED LIST B:
HQ 1a) Rune Priest, Storm Caller, Tempests Wrath = 100pts
Elites 1) 5 Wolf Scouts, BP+CCW, Meltagun = 85pts
Elites 2) Dreadnought, Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer, Wolf Tail Necklace, Wolf Tail Talisman
Dedicated Transport: Drop Pod with Storm Bolter = 165pts
Elites 3) Dreadnought, Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer, Wolf Tail Necklace, Wolf Tail Talisman
Dedicated Transport: Drop Pod with Storm Bolter = 165pts
Troops 1) 5 Grey Hunters, Flamer
Dedicated Transport: Drop pod with Storm Bolter = 110pts
Troops 2) 5 Grey Hunters, Flamer
Dedicated Transport: Rhino with Storm Bolter = 110pts
Troops 3) 5 Grey Hunters, Flamer
Dedicated Transport: Rhino with Storm Bolter = 110pts
Fast Attack 1) 3xTWC, 1xBP+PF, 1xBP+CCW, 1xBolter+CCW = 175pts
Fast Attack 2) 3xTWC, 1xBP+PF, 1xBP+CCW, 1xBolter+CCW = 175pts
Fast Attack 3) 3xTWC, 1xBP+PF, 1xBP+CCW, 1xBolter+CCW = 175pts
Heavy Support 1) 5xLong Fangs, 2xLascannons, 2xMissile Launchers = 145pts
Heavy Support 2) 5xLong Fangs, 2xLascannons, 2xMissile Launchers = 145pts
Heavy Support 3) 4xLong Fangs, 3xMissile Launchers = 90pts
1750/1750pts
What are peoples thoughts?
Have a great day,
Auretious Taak.
P.S. Special thanks to Antique_Nova whose opposite view on many things 40k enabled various points to be considered and attended to in the continued evolution of the above list. :) Was it long enough?
