Space Wolves! (Or in my case, Celestial Lions)

Well, I played a game versus Ash this weekend with the new Space Wolves Codex rules (As in the title, I ran my Celestial Lions). We played 2k/each with his standard Chaos Force versus my first list with the pups and it's really a shame we didn't photograph/report it. Very close game with alot of models getting removed, one of those games that reminds you why you play. Anyways, I thought I would share my thoughts on the new dex with a mini-review.

First, fluff/theme/fun factor. This is a great codex for all of the before mentioned. I can see many different builds coming out of the dex with some terrific modeling opportunity all around. Beast armies, pod armies, mech armies, custom Wolf Lords, etc.....it's all in there. Truly a variety of options.

As to the units, until I play more with the dex I'll simply write about what I tried and my experience with those specific units. No theory hammer, this is my reactions to how they performed. Also, I played pod Wolves....so keep in mind the weakness of pod vs. mech. My list(s)

Stormcaller

Wolf Guard w/ 5 Combi-Meltas + 4 dual wolf claws
Lone Wolf
Vanilla Dread w/ Asscannon

GH x 10 w/ flamer/melta, one Mark of Wulfen
GH x 10 w/ flamer/melta, one Mark of Wulfen
GH x 8 w/ melta, one Powerfist

2 Speeders w/ MM/Heavy Flamer
2 Speeders w/ MM/Heavy Flamer

6 Long Fangs w/ Heavy Bolter x 3, MM x 2

All in pods


My thoughts;

StormCaller Special; A bucket of points (270!)...and I lost him. First, I lost a wound to Perils (When you sling two powers each turn, it's bound to happen) and second was to close combat (This was partly my fault in being two aggressive). Still, the guy only has 2 wounds ...so while I think he'll be pretty standard in most Wolf lists...I'm not in complete awe yet. If you do take him, make him a beacon for his passive power...and not much else. Two wounds isn't much to protect a 270 pt investment. Again however, I think he'll be in most 2k+ lists.

Logan; I'm actually quite pleased with Logan. Although he too costs a bucket of points, he gives so much to the army there is strong argument for taking him. Wolf Guard as troops, fairly tough (only 3 wounds though!)...but he performed well in my game. He also grants a vet skill to the unit he's with, so I'm musing about Long Fangs with relentless. Still, only 2k+...as he's not the force multiplier Vulkan is. You can actually make a meaner beatstick from a Vanilla Wolf Lord too....

WolfGuard: Rock solid. 18 pt 2 attacks with 5 pt combis? Yeah, I'll take 10. I ran a melta combi unit with 4 wolf claws buried...and they were my MVPs. Took a unit of Plague Marines + a unit of Zerks and were only finished by a Tzeentch Prince. They'll be a permanent place in my force. However, they can eat points quickly....Thunder/Shield terms are out unless that's all you want to play with. Maybe a couple in the unit...but still a major point sink. Definitely worth musing over and taking.

Lone Wolf: AWESOME! This guy cleaned up in both games I took him. Charge from a unit of Zerks? Still there. Charge from Plague marines? Still there. Next game vs. Tau...unit of crisis unloading on him? Still there. He is an absolute rock and I'll be taking two for my other elites. Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield= 2+ save, 3+ inv, 4+ FNP w/ two wounds, rerolls against MC. All for much less than a Dread. Plus the modeling opportunity.....

Grey Hunters: They were hyped and I think that while they won't live up to the hype...they are solid. Still can't hang with elites/cult troops but they don't simply fold like vanilla marines. After playing them, I think there is no middle ground on these guys. Either go big with Mark of Wulfen, Power-Fist + 2 specials or go small with 5 and a melta. Regardless, they performed solid (much more so than vanilla marines). Counter-Attack isn't a given with Ld 8 but went off reliably enough to plan around....

Land Speeders: Just like vanilla speeders, MM/Heavy Flamer. They still rock.

Long Fangs: Tried them twice and was underwhelmed each time. No wounds to soak up shots, so the first time you allocate you are either risking heavies or your split fire sarg. Keep in mind, I played a pod list....so this may not be completely fair to the Fangs. Given that, this doesn't reduce the wound issue. The 85 point Predator still looks good to me...


Quick summary thoughts; They play like I envision marines should. Pod in, throw some specials around, stand up in hand to hand. This is a much more exciting list/codex than Vulkan/sit in a rhino and melta marines...so I'm pretty hyped. As I stated earlier, this is a quick review...so after a couple more weekends of playing them I'll throw up a more worthy review. Till then.

Ryan