Fólkvangr: Space Wolves vs Space Wolves

It's training day as the primaris face the firstborn...

Space Wolves vs Space Wolves!

This one's a special occasion - not only do I get to host Monkey for his first game of gardenhammer, but he's agreed to get me in training for a super-competitive match coming up, so the gloves are coming off!

Space Wolves - The Hrungnir Pack

Aggressors, Eradicators, Inceptors, Assault Intercessors - this is as tough a list as I could manage, which has somehow devolved into an MSU-style army. Everything here is packing firepower, or serious combat punch, or both. And yet, there isn't anything that costs more than 200pts, which makes me feel able to spread out and sacrifice units if needed.

The idea is for the Intercessors to rush objectives, while the characters and Redemptor stay around the Gravis infantry as a mobile castle. The Inceptors give some much-needed mobility and the Hellblasters offer a little anti-elite (they're not really strong enough to be anti-tank - I'll just have to punch the armoured stuff).

I also make them a Successor Chapter (or, in my eyes, these Primaris replacements aren't fully integrated yet). Hungry for Battle gives +1 to Advance and Charge - which should speed me up, since almost everything in my army has assault weapons - and Whirlwind of Rage gives an additional hit on 6s, which should compensate for the fact that I'm bringing lots of power fists and thunder hammers, but have given up my +1 to hit.

• Fróði, Primaris Wolf Priest (HQ) (Warlord)
  Absolver Bolt Pistol, Crozius Arcanum, Master of Sanctity 
  Warlord Trait: Aura of Majesty
  Warrior of Legend: Wise Orator
  Litanies: Litany of Hate, Catechism of Fire, Canticle of Hate
• Thorolf, Primaris Rune Priest (HQ)
  Psychic hood, Runic sword, Bolt Pistol
  Powers: Null Zone, Psychic Fortress
• Hallbjorn Rubber-Axe, Primaris Battle Leader (HQ)
  Master-crafted power axe and Special issue bolt carbine
  Relic: Armour of Russ
• Squad Rask, 5 x Intercessor Squad (Troops)
  Auto bolt rifle, 1 x Power fist
• Squad Leif, 5 x Intercessor Squad (Troops)
  Auto bolt rifle, 1 x Power fist
• Squad Brynhild, 5 x Assault Intercessor Squad (Troops)
  Astartes chainsword, 1 x Thunder hammer, Heavy bolt pistol
• Squad Herja, 5 x Assault Intercessor Squad (Troops)
  Astartes chainsword, 1 x Thunder hammer, Heavy bolt pistol
• Honoured Brother Víðarr, Redemptor Dreadnought (Elite)
  Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Icarus Rocket Pod, 2 x Storm Bolters
• Squad Kettil, 5 x Aggressors (Elite)
  Auto Boltstorm Gauntlets/Fragstorm Grenade Launcher
• Squad Arnolv, 5 x Aggressors (Elite)
  Flamestorm Gauntlets
• Squad Sigrdrifa, 4 x Inceptor Squad (Fast)
  2 x Assault Bolters
• Squad Gunnr, 3 x Inceptor Squad (Fast)
  2 x Plasma Exterminator
• 1 x Cyberwolf (Fast)
  Teeth and claws
• Squad Heimkell, 5 x Hellblaster Squad (Heavy)
  Assault Plasma Incinerator
• Eradicator Squad Surtr, 3 x Eradicator Squad (Heavy)
  Melta rifle
  
  

Points: 2000 | Level: 105 | Battle-forged + Battalion - A Trophy Bestowed - Warrior of Legend: 10 CPs

Space Wolves - The Rout of Nivag Troshvik

A mix of old and new Space Wolves here, with plenty of punch, durability and invulnerable saves. The Wolf Lord is a beast, carrying two warlord trait and at the head of a devastating Thunderwolf pack.

Backing him up are four big squads of Grey Hunters, Blood Claws and Wolf Guard, some armour transportation, and a couple more squads of Intercessors, Assault Intercessors and the Invictor Warsuit. Whatever happens, it looks like we're in for a high body count.

• Nivag Troshvik - Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf (HQ) (Warlord)
  Storm shield, Thunder hammer
  Warlord Trait: Hunter
  Warrior of Legend: Resolve of the Bear
  Relic: The Armour of Russ
• Njall, Primaris Battle Leader (HQ)
  Master-crafted power axe and Special issue bolt carbine
  Hero of the Chapter: Wolfkin
  Relic of the Chapter: The Wulfen Stone
• 5 x Intercessor Squad (Troops)
  5 x Bolt rifles, 1 x Astartes chainsword
• 5 x Assault Intercessor Squad (Troops)
  Astartes chainsword, Heavy bolt pistol
• 10 x Blood Claws (Troop)
  Wolf Guard Pack Leader: Storm bolter, Storm shield; Pack Leader: Power fist, 1 x Flamer, 8 x Bolt Pistols & Chainswords
• Hei-Mann and Yfir-Handleggr - 10 x Grey Hunters (Troop)
  Wolf Guard Pack Leader (Combi-melta, Frost sword), Pack Leader (Power axe), 1 x Melta gun, 7 x Boltguns, 8 x Chainswords
• 10 x Grey Hunters (Troop)
  Pack Leader (Power sword, storm bolter), 1 x Power sword, 1 x Plasma gun, 8 x Bolt Pistols & Boltguns
• Invictor Tactical Warsuit (Elite)
  Fragstorm Grenade Launcher, Heavy bolter, Incendium cannon, Invictor fist, Twin ironhail heavy stubber
• Wolf Guard (Elite)
  Pack Leader (Power fist, storm bolter), 1 x Pair of Lightning claws, 2 x Astartes Chainsword & Storm shield, 1 x Power sword & Storm shield, 2 x Astartes Chainsword & Storm bolter
• 4 x Thunderwolf Cavalry (Fast)
  4 x Storm shield , 3 x Thunder hammer, 1 x Power Axe
• Drop Pod (Transport)
  Deathwind launcher
• Impulsor (Transport)
  2 x Storm Bolters, Ironhail Heavy Stubber, Shield Dome 
• Rhino (Transport)
  2 x Storm bolters
  
  

Points: 1996 | Level: 109 | Battle-forged + Battalion - Relic of the Chapter - Warrior of Legend: 10 CPs

Mission and Deployment

We're going very competitive - playing the Grand Tournament 2020 Ascension mission. It's the standard primary objective game, with a neat secondary (that we both took) to award an increasing number of points for holding the central one.

There was also a rule that disallowed any units to deploy outside of their deployment zone, but we removed that, as it only penalised Monkey.

Stylus' secondary objectives were:

• Ascend - The mission objective - if you control the centre objective at the end of the turn, score VP equal to the current battle round. With an additional 1 VP if the warlord is within range.
• Warrior Pride - Score 3VP if two or more Space Wolves are within Engagement Range or have completed a charge move this turn.
• Linebreaker - 4VP for having two units in the enemy deployment zone at the end of the turn

Monkey's secondary objectives were:

• Ascend - The mission objective - if you control the centre objective at the end of the turn, score VP equal to the current battle round. With an additional 1 VP if the warlord is within range.
• Warrior Pride - Score 3VP if two or more Space Wolves are within Engagement Range or have completed a charge move this turn.
• Heroic Challenge - challenges were issued and accepted: 5VP for killing Stylus' warlord, an additional 5VP if he is killed in melee, and an additional VP if he is killed by Monkey's warlord.

I set up both squads of Aggressors centrally, with the three characters and Redemptor at their back, and the Eradicators on top of the building to their right.

One squad of Intercessors and Assault Intercessors take the left flank, while the other pair take the right. The Inceptors got into deepstrike, and I pay 2CP to put the Hellblasters and Cyberwolf into Outflank using the Cunning of the Wolf stratagem (I have my eye on Linebreaker, which seems worth the outlay of 1CP and a 15pt unit).

Monkey deploys his Thunderwolf pack behind a building on his right flank, with one unit of Grey Hunters and Intercessors behind the central ruins. The Rhino filled with Blood Claws also parks centrally, while the Impulsor with the Assault Intercessors and Battle Leader goes on the left flank.

The Drop pod goes into deepstrike, carrying Hei-mann's Grey Hunters. The Wolf Guard also start the battle in the skies.

The Invictor Warsuit pushes ahead up the left flank, warming up its incendium cannon as it eyes both packs of my Intercessors.

I win the roll-off for first turn and we're away!

Space Wolves (Stylus) - Turn 1

In the Command Phase waste no time in buffing my central mob of Aggressors. The Wolf Priest's Catechism of Fire gives the Eradicators +1 to wound (as if they needed help getting any more deadly), and the Redemptor uses Wisdom of the Ancients to throw out a bubble of reroll 1s to hit.

In the Psychic Phase, I continue the theme with the Rune Priest's Psychic Fortress, giving everything a 5++ invulnerable save.

But before that happens, my pack of Aggressors steam upfield. I roll poorly for my advances, so even with my Successor trait boosting their move, the Flame Aggressors just fall short of nabbing the centre objective. No matter - it's in the later turns when that will come up with big money.

My Intercessor squads push along the flanks. On the left, the Assault Intercessors also fall short of grabbing their objective, and the regular Intercessors spread out across the crater to screen out any deepstrikers.

The right-hand Assault Intercessors use the chemical drums for cover, and the regular Intercessors jump behind the pipes for a barricade. Both are in range of the Invictor Warsuit. With power weapons in both squads, I reckon I could take it in melee, although it may not be around that long.

Sure enough, the Eradicators take aim and, although their shooting isn't the best, their melta rifles still manage to strip the Invictor down to its last wound. This prompts both Intercessor squads to start lobbing grenades and firing small-arms at it - and the last heavy pistol shot finds a leaky fuel line and the Warsuit is gone.

I do wonder if I should have risked the Incendium cannon and charged the suit, because that was my only means of scoring this round. I'm only holding my home objective and I end the turn with a goose egg for points.

Aside from the Redemptor plinking off one of the Grey Hunters, everything else is out of range, so that's my turn done.

Objective secured: none

Space Wolves (Stylus) 0 : 0 Space Wolves (Monkey) 

Space Wolves (Monkey) - Turn 1

As expected, Monkey's response is an aggressive one. The Drop Pod lands between the centre and right objectives, and Hei-Mann's Grey Hunters spill out. The Intercessors move across the ruins to support them, and the Impulsor drives up to block off my Assault Intercessors from supporting the pipeline defenders.

In the Assault Phase, Hei-Mann's Grey Hunters charge into my Intercessors, cutting them all down before they have a chance to reply - score one for the firstborn.

The Rhino carrying the Blood Claws races for the centre, then does a handbrake turn on the objective. The Grey Hunters at the back remain still and open up on the flame Aggressors, bringing down one of them.

The real action is on the left flank. The Wolf Lord is able to advance and charge into the Assault Intercessors, thanks to his Hunter trait, and then uses Pack Hunters to bring the rest of the Thunderwolves with him.

The whole pack of Assault Intercessors are broken apart before Nivag even gets a chance to swing. That's two whole units of Intercessors gone without reply and my flanks are looking very shaky.

Objective secured: Warrior Pride (3), Ascend (1)

Space Wolves (Stylus) 0 : 4 Space Wolves (Monkey) 

Space Wolves (Stylus) - Turn 2

Time for some counterpunching. On the right, my Assault Intercessors skirt around the Impulsor, preparing to bring some vengeance to Hei-Mann's pack. In the centre, my Aggressors move as close as possible to the blocking Rhino, having once again been buffed by the Catechism of Fire and Litany of Hate (an aura to reroll all melee hits) and Psychic Fortress.

I did contemplate Psychic Fortress for the Rune Priest, but he would need to get right under the muzzles of the Thunderwolves for that to take effect, and he wasn't feeling that brave.

To deal with the flanking Thunderwolves, I advance my last squad of Intercessors directly in front of them. While they're going to be charged and destroyed, it means the Thunderwolves won't be able to use their full speed to get around into my castle, so I can turn to face them.

I think this is a clever move but, as we shall see, it very much was not.

And to hit the Thunderwolves in the rear, I bring in the Hellblasters and plasma Inceptors in from deepstrike. All this valuable plasma will either have to be ignored, or the assault force turned around the deal with it - they also happen to be scoring me Linebreaker this turn.

At least I thought it was a good plan until the plasma marines open fire. I wasn't mad enough to overcharge, thank the AllFather, because their shooting was appalling. Even with the Stormshields on the unit, 40 x plasma shots should have done a lot better than killing just one Thunderwolf (and he was the one with the power axe - his thunderhammer brothers just shake their heads).

Speaking of things that won't die, my aim was to crack open the Rhino and then have the Aggressors hose down the Blood Claws as they spilled out. The Eradicators take it down to a single wound, and then nothing else in my army - from the Redemptor to every pistol I could find - could chip away that last one. In the end, I admit defeat and have the flame Aggressors massively overkill it. The boltstorm Aggressors fire over their heads and take away a couple of the backline Grey Hunters.

At least the Assault Phase can't go wrong: both squads of Aggressors, plus the Battle Leader and the Wolf Priest, make it into the Blood Claws (some of the rolls were low, but my +1 trait helped me out there).

My Assault Intercessors make it into Hei-Mann's pack and I'm feeling good about these attacks - until disaster!

I've made the unforgivable mistake for a Space Wolves player and forgotten that the original chapter trait allows any unit to Heroically Intervene. And I've just placed my Intercessors in front of the Thunderwolves. Not only that, Nivag himself can heroically intervene 6" with the Counter Charge stratagem, so I've really doomed the unit.

Sure enough, they're overwhelmed, duly mugged, the the Thunderwolf assault is already encircling me. I'm afraid there were no pictures of that, because it's hard to hold a camera and kick yourself at the same time.

As a consolation, the flame Aggressors pulverised the Blood Claws in a single strike - without the Space Wolves +1 to hit trait, I was only hitting on 4+, but with their Whirlwind of Rage additional hits for every 6 rolled, it more than balanced out. Monkey wasn't even able to interrupt because the Battle Leader's Armour of Russ meant the Blood Claws had to fight last (not that they lived that long).

A much more evenly-matched brawl had kicked off on the right hand objective, My Assault Intercessors were fighting first and took out three marines, but with two wounds apiece, the Grey Hunters weren't going down easily. They fought back and felled one Assault Intercessor, and with an objective at stake, I spent 2CPs on Honour the Chapter to fight again, cutting down three more.

When the dust had settled (and trust me, picking out which Space Wolf was which was not easy), we had exactly the same number of objective secured troops on the objective, which neutralised it.

On the positive side, I may not have many objectives, but I was racking up the secondaries (getting a bonus point for my warlord being on the central objective).

However, my left flank had caved in, and the Thunderwolf juggernaut was about to power through my back line.

Objective secured: Primary (5), Linebreaker (4), Warrior Pride (3), Ascend (2+1)

Space Wolves (Stylus) 15 : 4 Space Wolves (Monkey) 

Space Wolves (Monkey) - Turn 2

We're not even in the Assault Doctrine and the noose is tightening. Sure enough, Monkey's Thunderwolves and warlord continue their mad charged around the battlefield, eyeing up charges into the Eradicators, Aggressors and a seriously-isolated Rune Priest (who was now wishing he'd charged away with the rest of the pack).

The Grey Hunters on the back objective stay put, readying their bolters. Hei-Man and his surviving Grey Hunters fall out of combat, leaving the Assault Intercessors open to be shot and charged by the oncoming Intercessors.

The Impulsor, still carrying its crew of Assault Intercessors and Battle Leader, close up the gap between the generators. And to close the lid, the Wolf Guard descend onto my back line. At this point, I decide it's worth 2CP for my Eradicators to shoot them with Auspex Scan (since the Dreadnought's Wisdom of the Ancients is still in effect) and manage to take out two of their storm shields.

From the backline, the Grey Hunters manage to fell and wound another flamer Aggressor, while the Intercessors knock off a couple of my Assault Intercessors. They subsequently charge into them and remove all but the Pack Leader, who swings back with his thunder hammer and takes out two of the opposition.

All of the other small arms fire - as well as everything on the Impulsor - is directed at my isolated Rune Priest. He does his best to weather the storm, but falls to the last shot, which opens up my Aggressor pack to a charge at the same time that the Psychic Fortress collapses.

And then the big assault - the pack splits and the Wolf Lord charges the Eradicators (that I'd foolishly nudged close enough to the edge of the building to be charged - I did it to get into Wisdom of the Ancients aura). The Thunderwolves charge into the boltstorm Aggressors and Battle Leader, leaving the Redemptor Dreadnought feeling bypassed and a bit left out.

And then fate deals a cruel blow. The Thunderwolves find themselves fighting last, due to the effects of the Battle Leader's Armour of Russ. With ten power fists, additional hits on 6s, the Wolf Priest's hit rerolls, the Battle Leader's wound rerolls, even storm shields don't save the entire pack from being wiped out and then some.

It doesn't get any better: the Wolf Lord whiffs a number of his attacks against the Eradicators, only killing one of them. This is the worst possible result, as it allows me to remove the only one keeping the unit in engagement range, freeing up the squad to fire back in my turn.

The Wolf Guard also fail their charge against the Redemptor. Maybe they saw how the luck was running.

What had appeared to be a crushing blow has inexplicably been destroyed, and the old school Space Wolves are now decidedly on the back paw.

Objective secured: Primary (5), Warrior Pride (3)

Space Wolves (Stylus) 15 : 12 Space Wolves (Monkey) 

Space Wolves (Stylus) - Turn 3

I got very lucky with that last turn, so what better way to show my gratitude than to drop the hammer?

The remaining Assault Intercessor breaks from combat with the Intercessors and ducks behind a generator. Both Hellblasters and plasma Inceptors advance onto the left hand objective, which is also the only place they can get shots on anyone.

The flame Aggressors move to push Hei-Mann's squad off the right objective, the Wolf Priest stays on the central objective - having put Catechism of Fire on the boltstorm Aggressors, who move down to engage the rest of the flanking force.

I also need to drop the rest of my troops, so the bolter Inceptors come down to engage the Grey Hunters, while the lone Cyberwolf slinks into the enemy deployment zone (securing another 4VPs for Linebreaker).

The shooting phase begins well as the two remaining Eradicators hold their nerve and evaporate the warlord that charged into them. All the plasma gunners on the left flank open up into the Wolf Guard, leaving two left. These are cleared away by the Redemptor's guns, and he even managed to try and overhead shot with the Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon to pick off a couple of Grey Hunters.

The rest of the Grey Hunters are shot to pieces by the assault bolters of the Inceptors, and the flamer Aggressors fire jets of promethium over the heads of Hei-Mann's pack to incinerate two more of the Intercessors.

That leaves the Aggressors looking at the Impulsor, and with +1 to wound from Catechism of Fire, I feel the weight of fire could work for me here. They do a great job, bringing the tank down to a couple of wounds, which are finally shot away by the Wolf Priest himself.

The Assault Intercessors and Battle Leader all disembark safely, only for the squad to be immediately charged by the Redemptor, who rolls an number of 6s and generates so many hits the squad is wiped out to a man.

The flame Aggressors finish up by charging into Hei-Mann's pack, losing one of their number to the melta overwatch, but having enough punch left to despatch the squad.

It was one of those rare turn where everything worked out as well as it possibly could have done, and was devastating to Monkey's army, which is reduced to a Battle Leader, a Pack Leader and Drop Pod.

Objective secured: Primary (10), Linebreaker (4), Warrior Pride (3), Ascend (3+1)

Space Wolves (Stylus) 36 : 12 Space Wolves (Monkey) 

Space Wolves (Monkey) - Turn 3

There may not be much to play for, but Vlka Fenrika never gives in, and there are 10VP up for grabs if my warlord is slain in melee.

The Battle Leader attempts a couple of pot-shots, then vaults the pipework and charges all the way around to attack from behind (anyone would think he didn't want my Battle Leader's Armour of Russ involved in the fray).

It's a brave effort, but the invulnerable save keeps the Wolf Priest alive on a single wound, who strikes back and takes a couple off the Battle Leader.

Elsewhere, the last Pack Leader leaves his objective and charges into the Aggressors, only to disappear behind a wall of overwatch flame.

Objective secured: Primary (5)

Space Wolves (Stylus) 36 : 17 Space Wolves (Monkey) 

Space Wolves (Stylus) - Turn 4

There's only the duel left, and it's only right for the Battle Leader to finish it (I had to also charge in the Aggressors to get my Warrior Pride VP, but they were purely spectators).

Axes clashed, but the charging Battle Leader proved the faster and cut down his opposite number.

Objective secured: Primary (15), Linebreaker (4), Warrior Pride (3), Ascend (4+1)

Space Wolves (Stylus) 62 : 17 Space Wolves (Monkey)

Space Wolves (Stylus) - Turn 5

With only the Drop Pod left on the field, and all the objectives in my hands, it just became a totting-up exercise (luckily the Drop Pod was still there, as it gave me something to charge and claim more Warrior Pride VPs).

It turned out that I'd maxed the other two secondaries (and scored as much as it was possible to get with Warrior Pride), plus maxing out the primaries. Plus we both get 10VP for painted armies.

Full disclosure: I later realise that I couldn't have used Cunning of the Wolf on the Cyberwolf, as it only applies to Infantry, but by that point, I don't think it would have stopped me maxing out Linebreaker, which was its only contribution to the battle.

Objective secured: Primary (15 - max), Linebreaker (3 - max), Warrior Pride (3), Ascend (4 - max)

Space Wolves (Stylus) 97 : 27 Space Wolves (Monkey)

Victory to the Space Wolves!

Locker Room and a Cup of Mjod

Ouch - that became very brutal very quickly. I guess the mission played to my strengths here, given I had to take and hold the centre, and could do so with a very durable, shooty, punchy castle that could benefit from a lot of overlapping auras.

I was a bit careless with my Intercessor squads on the flanks, an although they were meant to be expendable, I'll need to be more careful about positioning. The reserves didn't manage a great deal - although it was nearly over by the time they arrived. They were able to lend fire support, and gain some easy VPs, so I won't write them off yet.

I did like the Wolf Priest as the heart of the army, and with Wise Orator, his litanies become much more dependable (although I still failed them a few times!). I also really like keeping the Redemptor back - previosuly I would barrel him forward, but he now has the firepower to lend support, and Wisdom of the Ancients to compensate for not having a Lord's rerolls. And if anything gets into your back lines - there's a Redemptor waiting for them.

As a whole, although the game was intended for competitive practice, it was a bit more ruthless than I like to play. Ultimately, I feel Monkey got robbed somewhat - he played a very aggressive push that just slipped at the final cut. When I saw myself encircled by Thunderwolves, I thought the game was up. But the Armour of Russ shenanigans (and 'Fight Last' tricks seem to be getting more common in this edition) and the will of the Dice Gods made it otherwise.

Either way, it was great to get out in the sun and throw some dice, and to face such a classic old school Space Wolves army. I'll have to arrange another game of gardenhammer (because judging by my record, I clearly have home field advantage!)