Tactica - Stormfang Gunship

This edition of the Space Wolves Codex brings to us, brothers, a gift from above. No, seriously, it comes from above. We were given the gift of flight by the Iron Priests, no doubt inspired by Russ himself and the All-Father, to bring death to our foes from the skies. The two aircraft that were bequeathed to us are the Stormfang Gunship and the Stormwolf Transport. Today we will begin talking about the tactics of the Stormfang Gunship and its uses on the battlefield.

                To me there are mainly only two ways to take the Stormfang Gunship: tank hunting and headhunting. The first use, tank hunting, will require the replacement of the ship’s hunter-killer missiles and heavy bolters in favor of twin-linked Lascannons and twin-linked Multimeltas. I affectionately call this variant the Lightning Bolt Pattern as it will fry almost any vehicle quickly and efficiently upon its arrival to the tabletop. Coming in at little over a Land Raider’s cost, the Lightning Bolt Pattern Stormfang is capable of destroying tanks with its twin Mulitmeltas and Lascannon while the use of the Helfrost Destructor can be reserved for clearing out hordes or attacking monstrous creatures. It is a simple variant, but highly efficient at its job. I have yet to be unhappy with adding one to my list as the fire power that it brings to the field is deadly to a wide variety of enemy models. Even if you are fighting an opponent who utilizes large groups of models, the Stormfang is still capable of laying down large blast templates with good strength and ap which have the Helfrost rule. The second variant, which I have dubbed the Hail Storm Pattern, takes no upgrades save for the possible replacement of the Stormstrike Missiles for the twin-linked Lascannon. I feel like this pattern, while having 6 strength 5 shots, is far inferior to the Lightning Bolt Pattern simply because it is outclassed in its role not only by the other Stormfang but also by other units in general. Why take a Hail Storm Pattern when you could take a group of Thunderwolf Cavalry to take out hordes? But, if you need the air support it will do alright at killing ground units with its large blast template and 6 twin-linked strength 5 shots; I feel that if I could replace the Stormstrike Missiles with even a twin-linked Autocannon or another twin-linked Heavy Bolter I would consider this a semi-competitive threat for horde hunting, but as it stands your points are better invested in the Lightning Bolt Pattern.

                Interesting to note about the Stormfang is it has a transport capacity of 6. While this seems like it is too low to be of any concern at first glance, there is one unit that screams “take me” when considering transported units: Iron Priest and Servitors. The Iron Priest and Servitors can be taken to give the Stormfang a pseudo It Will Not Die that is near obscene. For an additional 105 points you can have hull points repaired, weapons repaired, or repair an immobilized result on your Stormfang. This creates a highly defensive and offensive vehicle that is hard to take down unless the enemy has a high number of their own fliers brought to the table or has an abundance of Skyfire units to take it down.

                All-in-all I highly enjoy the Stormfang Gunship and have yet to regret bringing one to the battlefield. When it enters the tabletop I have always had something blown up with its sheer weight of fire and it can consistently place wounds on some of the game’s toughest and most elusive foes. I will later post an idea that I have for the use of a flier-heavy army for your perusal brothers. Till next time brothers and, as always: For Russ, for the Allfather, for the Wolftime.

List Idea - 1850 Dreadnoughts revisited (Champions of Fenris)

 

HQ – Bjorn the Fell Handed with Helfrost Cannon 

                Drop Pod 

Elite – Murderfang 

                Drop Pod 

Elite – Venerable Dreadnought with Blizzard Shield and Fenrisian Great Axe 

                Drop Pod 

Elite – Venerable Dreadnought with Blizzard Shield and Fenrisian Great Axe

                Drop Pod 

Elite – Contemptor Dreadnought with Chain Fist, 2 Heavy Flamers, Mark of the Black Cull 

Heavy Support – Sicaran Battle Tank with Lascannon Sponsons, Ceramite Shielding, Schism of Mars

Heavy Support – Stormfang Gunship with 2 Twin-linked Multimeltas and Twin-linked Lascannon 

Fast Attack – Drop Pod 

Fast Attack – 6 Thunderwolf Cavalry with 2 Power Fists, Power Maul/Sword, 2 Storm Shields

I apologize brothers for the lack of communication; the warp works in mysterious ways and I have just been able to get back to my creation of data slates to benefit the chapter. I bring to you today, my valued brothers of the fang and the sisters of battle, a new means of doing war that is an improvement on the old list. Earlier last year I brought to you my ideas on a Dreadnought heavy list in which we employed our ancient tacticians and warriors to bring death to the foes of the Imperium of Man. Today I bring you a new version of this list.

                Led by none other than Bjorn the Fell Handed, this list sports 5 Dreadnoughts to annihilate the enemy’s army. All of the aforementioned Dreadnoughts are meant to crush the enemy in close combat by sporting either superior defenses (the shield brothers), superior assault capabilities (Murderfang), or a combination of the two (Bjorn and the Contemptor). To bring the mechanical behemoths into close combat, I have selected Drop Pods for each and every one of the Dreadnoughts, the contemptor’s having been purchased in the Fast Attack slot.

 Finally, our Dreadnoughts are supported by a Sicaran Battle Tank, Stormfang Gunship, and a pack of Thunderwolves. The Sicaran Battle Tank pulls double duty with its twin-linked accelerator autocannon that can rip light tanks apart and has a fair shot at downing enemy fliers while having more punch with its dual lascannon sponsons. The best part of this beast of a tank is with this loadout it is resistant to both Haywire and Melta attacks and has the Tank Hunter special rule, allowing it a better chance of demolishing enemy vehicles with its hard hitting lascannons and accurate autocannon shots. The Stormfang Gunship is capable of hunting vehicles (both grounded and flying), Monstrous Creatures (both grounded and flying), and elite troops with its loadout. The Thunderwolf Cavalry are a general purpose hole-puncher. With the combination of Fists, claws, and either a sword or mace depending on your choice of loadout, the group comes in at a whopping 34 attacks on the charge, 10 of which are strength 10 AP 2, and 6 hammer of wrath attacks all while having an improved weapon skill stat due to the Champions of Fenris supplement that we are using for the list. The only question at that point is whether you will bring the sword or the maul to the fight. Swords are able to destroy TEC more efficiently while the maul will place wounds easier across the board and has an easier time removing hull points from vehicles.

This is a simple yet effect list against many opponents, but as with anything can be improved upon. If you have any ideas on how to improve on this list leave me some comments below. If you have an idea of what will work better for the Fang’s war efforts also leave me a comment below and it will be the next list in the making. Till next time brothers and, as always : For Russ, for the Allfather, for the Wolftime.

Tactica - Rune Priests

               

         The Rune Priest, darling of every wolf player’s eye since 5^th edition, has taken a hit in the recent codex with the nerf to his psychic powers (namely Living Lightning and Jaws of the World Wolf) and the new rules for psychic power generation. However, what was once a simple wolf hiding out with Long Fangs or Drop Podding in with Wolf Guard is now a man of many talents. He can choose to sit back and shoot, to launch himself into the fray, or to support a group of his own men through his variable power set. Here are four sample Rune Priest load outs that may find their way onto your table top and into your hearts (or your opponent’s depending on the circumstances). 

Rune Priest – Ironman 

            Master Level 2

            Psychic Hood

            Helm of Durfast

            Bite of Fenris

            Plasma Pistol

            Runic Armor

            Jump Pack

            Any Rune Weapon

Tempestas Power Set

            This set focuses on the quickly moving around the field while firing off lightning bolts, plasma shots, hard hitting bolter rounds, or helfrosted bolter rounds while denying enemy psykers their powers. This set is fairly cheap for what it does and will can be fit into most lists fairly easily. While I do not normally condone the use of Jump Packs ( we wolves fight with our feet on the ground or rooted to thick pieces of metal, not flailing in the air like some pansy Angel). This set is limited though in what can actually be set aside and fly with the priest. Leaving him alone is not advised as he will fall quickly to enemy fire, however, his options are either Skyclaws, which will serve well with flamers and as a charging unit when needed, or Wolf Guard with Jump Packs and possibly combi-weaponry, which can work, but is very expensive and is then not quite as useful as they may seem on paper after the Wolf Guard have blown their combi-load. 

Rune Priest – Incredible Hulk

            Mastery Level 2

            Helm of Durfast

            Psychic Hood

            Armor of Russ

            Space Marine Bike

            Wulfen Stone

            Fangsword of the Ice Wolf

            Rune Staff

Biomancy Power set

This Rune Priest is a beast in close combat, sporting 4 attacks on the charge (possibly more if he attains warp speed) that reroll to hit at STR 5 AP 3 and have both rending and helfrost is silly. The Rune Priest also ensures he goes first every time in challenges with the Armor of Russ giving your opponent a huge negative modifier to their initiative, thus giving him a pretty sizable advantage when fighting opponents.  You will notice that this Rune Priest set takes two melee weapons, and this is to give the priest a nice balance between hard hitting challenge strikes and tank hunting. Rerollable Str 6-9 (depending on the powers rolled of course) are nothing to joke around with while the helfrost and rending of the Fangsword allows the Priest to take on even Monstrous Creatures in some instances. Do not underestimate this HQ’s shooting ability, if you take both of your powers from Biomancy then you will get the primaris for free, and AP 2 shots are always welcome when you get to re-roll to hit and ignore cover with all of your shots.

This set works very well with a group of Wolf Guard on bikes and, if you are willing sacrifice Fleet around 80% of the time (percentages made up, I’m not a numbers guy), Thunder Wolf Cavalry. If it is fast and hits hard then you are in business to bring forth this hulking Rune Priest. I will recommend though that if you are going to take this set then you may want to figure a way to get the Bikes or Thunderwolf Cavalry to be brought from the Champions of Fenris Supplement in order to maximize the damage from the squad itself. Be warned, this set is expensive, but when you make your Rune Priest close in power to a tough named character what do you expect brothers?

           

Rune Priest – Incredible Hulk pt 2

            Mastery Level 2

            Armour of Asvald Stormwrack

Fellclaw's Teeth

Psychic Hood 

            Space Marine Bike

            Krakenborne Sword

            Rune Staff

Biomancy Power set

            While I do not condone this set, I feel obligated to post it just in case this is how your group works. Unlike the basic set, you are now able to ride around in a 2+/4++ it will not die and relentless set of armor. The Krakenborne Sword is an interesting replacement for the combat priest from his Fangsword in that you will always have AP 2 and gain master crafted at the cost of helfrost and rending. The loss of rending isn’t felt as hard as the loss of helfrost is to be honest (since if you were tank hunting you would normally be using your Runic Mace and the Krakenborne Sword has the AP 2 you desire). This set only works if your group allows you to treat the Armor of Asvald Stormwrack as normal armor and not terminator armor. This is something I do not condone since it clearly says it IS terminator armor in the fluff portion, but since it is absent from the crunch portion I have seen cases made for the armor to be allowed on bikes. This set does have one large advantage over its normal codex cousin and that is the warlord trait “Thread-cutter” which allows the priest to re-roll failed wounds, this gets even better when you consider you get to re-roll warlord traits if you don’t like what you get.

Rune Priest – Captain America (the leader set)    

Mastery Level 2

            Terminator Armor

            Helm of Durfast

            Psychic Hood 

            Wulfen Stone

            Rune Staff

           

Divination Power Set

           

            This Rune Priest is ideal for leading groups of Terminators, preferably the Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield variety, into battle. The addition of Prescience to the group makes the group just that much more devastating. In addition the group’s Thunder Hammers become Strength 9 on the charge, making the destruction of most vehicles all but guaranteed on the charge. The set also contains such gems as Misfortune (good for the priest), Scriers Gaze if you are working with reserves, and Precognition for the Psyker himself. Being able to hold an enemy in combat with re-rolls is always good and will give your Terminators more time to hit things in the face.

You will notice brothers that I have placed a Psychic Hood on all of the Rune Priests in this article. This is simply because I like to ensure denying enemy psykers their own psychic powers, namely the accursed Invisibility or any of the Biomancy powers that may make the enemy a threat. If you find that you are running low on points though and that you require those extra points elsewhere, then it is acceptable to remove the hoods from your Priests and allow the rune weapons to be your anti-psyker force. Do you have any other Rune Priest loadouts? If you do, share them in the comments below and lets work together to bring this majestic HQ choice back into service. Good hunting brothers and, as always: For Russ, for the Allfather, for the Wolftime brothers.