Pre battle think tank for game vs Bugs

[TheUnlikelyGamer84]

So my buddy is coming over tomorrow for a 2k game vs his Nids tomorrow. I’m looking for some ideas for battle against him as it’s been a while since I played against bugs. Last we played at the beginning of 9th, he favored big bugs with a few gribblies for support. The Swarmlord, 2 hierodules, Neurothrope, hive guard, and Dimachaeron to name a few. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Space Wolves) [94 PL, 1,983pts, 6CP] ++

 

+ Configuration +

 

**Chapter Selection**: Born Heroes , Space Wolves Successor, Whirlwind of Rage

 

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

 

Detachment Command Cost

 

+ Stratagems +

 

A Trophy Bestowed [-1CP]

 

Relics of the Chapter [-2CP]: 2x Number of Extra Relics

 

+ HQ +

 

Chapter Master [8 PL, 155pts, -1CP]: Chapter Command: Chapter Master, Frost Weapon, Hunter, Jump Pack, Lightning Claw (Pair), Stratagem: Warrior of Legend, The Imperium's Sword, Warlord

 

Librarian [7 PL, 140pts, -1CP]: 2. Murderous Hurricane, 4. Instincts Awoken, 5. Storm Caller, Boltgun, Chapter Command: Chief Librarian, Force sword, Jump Pack, Psychic Mastery, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter, The Armour of Russ

 

Primaris Chaplain on Bike [7 PL, 140pts, -1CP]: 4. Mantra of Strength, 6. Canticle of Hate (Aura), Benediction of Fury, Chapter Command: Master of Sanctity, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter, Wise Orator

 

+ Troops +

 

Assault Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 105pts]

. 4x Assault Intercessor: 4x Astartes Chainsword, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Heavy Bolt Pistol

. Assault Intercessor Sgt: Heavy Bolt Pistol, Power fist

 

Assault Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 115pts]

. 4x Assault Intercessor: 4x Astartes Chainsword, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Heavy Bolt Pistol

. Assault Intercessor Sgt: Heavy Bolt Pistol, Thunder hammer

 

Infiltrator Squad [6 PL, 130pts]: Helix gauntlet

. 4x Infiltrator: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Marksman bolt carbine

. Infiltrator Sergeant

 

+ Elites +

 

Judiciar [5 PL, 85pts]

 

Redemptor Dreadnought [9 PL, 185pts]: 2x Storm Bolters, Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon

 

Redemptor Dreadnought [9 PL, 185pts]: 2x Storm Bolters, Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon

 

Wulfen [8 PL, 194pts]

. Wulfen Pack Leader: Wulfen Frost claws

. 4x Wulfen w/ thunder hammer & storm shield: 4x Storm Shield, 4x Thunder Hammer

 

Wulfen [8 PL, 194pts]

. Wulfen Pack Leader: Wulfen Frost claws

. 4x Wulfen w/ thunder hammer & storm shield: 4x Storm Shield, 4x Thunder Hammer

 

+ Fast Attack +

 

Cyberwolves [1 PL, 15pts]: Cyberwolf

 

Cyberwolves [1 PL, 15pts]: Cyberwolf

 

Cyberwolves [1 PL, 15pts]: Cyberwolf

 

+ Heavy Support +

 

Eradicator Squad [7 PL, 155pts]: Heavy melta rifle

. Eradicator

. Eradicator Sgt

. Eradicator with MM: Multi-melta

 

Eradicator Squad [7 PL, 155pts]: Heavy melta rifle

. Eradicator

. Eradicator Sgt

. Eradicator with MM: Multi-melta

 

++ Total: [94 PL, 6CP, 1,983pts] ++

 

Created with BattleScribe

 

My plan

I am using my Space wolves Successors with Whirlwind of rage and born heroes. Double exploding 6s is the name of the game. My main plan is to prep for my counter charge in anticipation of my opponents assault. I’ll stay back trying to hold objectives where able. If able I’ll use the Rune priest to protect my units for a turn with storm caller and the -1 to hit strat. Later, if able, I’ll try to utilize nullzone against things like the swarmlord. Intercepting the dimachaeron with a squad of Wulfen may be warranted. I have three ways to make opponent fight last. The Judiciar , armor of Russ, and murderous Hurricane. Additionally, I have 2 ways to fish for 6s to hit and in the Chapter master and Chaplain. I also plan to utilize cyberwolves to lock down my deployment and keep out cheeky deepstrikes from lictors or rippers.

Edited April 22, 2021 by TheUnlikelyGamer84

[Karack Blackstone]

So my buddy is coming over tomorrow for a 2k game vs his Nids tomorrow. I’m looking for some ideas for battle against him as it’s been a while since I played against bugs. Last we played at the beginning of 9th, he favored big bugs with a few gribblies for support. The Swarmlord, 2 hierodules, Neurothrope, hive guard, and Dimachaeron to name a few. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Space Wolves) [94 PL, 1,983pts, 6CP] ++

 

+ Configuration +

 

**Chapter Selection**: Born Heroes , Space Wolves Successor, Whirlwind of Rage

 

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

 

Detachment Command Cost

 

+ Stratagems +

 

A Trophy Bestowed [-1CP]

 

Relics of the Chapter [-2CP]: 2x Number of Extra Relics

 

+ HQ +

 

Chapter Master [8 PL, 155pts, -1CP]: Chapter Command: Chapter Master, Frost Weapon, Hunter, Jump Pack, Lightning Claw (Pair), Stratagem: Warrior of Legend, The Imperium's Sword, Warlord

 

Librarian [7 PL, 140pts, -1CP]: 2. Murderous Hurricane, 4. Instincts Awoken, 5. Storm Caller, Boltgun, Chapter Command: Chief Librarian, Force sword, Jump Pack, Psychic Mastery, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter, The Armour of Russ

 

Primaris Chaplain on Bike [7 PL, 140pts, -1CP]: 4. Mantra of Strength, 6. Canticle of Hate (Aura), Benediction of Fury, Chapter Command: Master of Sanctity, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter, Wise Orator

 

+ Troops +

 

Assault Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 105pts]

. 4x Assault Intercessor: 4x Astartes Chainsword, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Heavy Bolt Pistol

. Assault Intercessor Sgt: Heavy Bolt Pistol, Power fist

 

Assault Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 115pts]

. 4x Assault Intercessor: 4x Astartes Chainsword, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Heavy Bolt Pistol

. Assault Intercessor Sgt: Heavy Bolt Pistol, Thunder hammer

 

Infiltrator Squad [6 PL, 130pts]: Helix gauntlet

. 4x Infiltrator: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Marksman bolt carbine

. Infiltrator Sergeant

 

+ Elites +

 

Judiciar [5 PL, 85pts]

 

Redemptor Dreadnought [9 PL, 185pts]: 2x Storm Bolters, Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon

 

Redemptor Dreadnought [9 PL, 185pts]: 2x Storm Bolters, Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon

 

Wulfen [8 PL, 194pts]

. Wulfen Pack Leader: Wulfen Frost claws

. 4x Wulfen w/ thunder hammer & storm shield: 4x Storm Shield, 4x Thunder Hammer

 

Wulfen [8 PL, 194pts]

. Wulfen Pack Leader: Wulfen Frost claws

. 4x Wulfen w/ thunder hammer & storm shield: 4x Storm Shield, 4x Thunder Hammer

 

+ Fast Attack +

 

Cyberwolves [1 PL, 15pts]: Cyberwolf

 

Cyberwolves [1 PL, 15pts]: Cyberwolf

 

Cyberwolves [1 PL, 15pts]: Cyberwolf

 

+ Heavy Support +

 

Eradicator Squad [7 PL, 155pts]: Heavy melta rifle

. Eradicator

. Eradicator Sgt

. Eradicator with MM: Multi-melta

 

Eradicator Squad [7 PL, 155pts]: Heavy melta rifle

. Eradicator

. Eradicator Sgt

. Eradicator with MM: Multi-melta

 

++ Total: [94 PL, 6CP, 1,983pts] ++

 

Created with BattleScribe

 

My plan

I am using my Space wolves Successors with Whirlwind of rage and born heroes. Double exploding 6s is the name of the game. My main plan is to prep for my counter charge in anticipation of my opponents assault. I’ll stay back trying to hold objectives where able. If able I’ll use the Rune priest to protect my units for a turn with storm caller and the -1 to hit strat. Later, if able, I’ll try to utilize nullzone against things like the swarmlord. Intercepting the dimachaeron with a squad of Wulfen may be warranted. I have three ways to make opponent fight last. The Judiciar , armor of Russ, and murderous Hurricane. Additionally, I have 2 ways to fish for 6s to hit and in the Chapter master and Chaplain. I also plan to utilize cyberwolves to lock down my deployment and keep out cheeky deepstrikes from lictors or rippers.

You're going to want some Eliminators for some hard hitting shots.

 

If not Elim's maybe some LC LF's, five in total, and some other anti heavy model ranged, and of course melee.

 

WG with lots of TH's is going to be needed, and some GH's with BG, BP, CSwd to tie up his tinies will only aid you.

 

BGV might not be able to hit hard enough, however it might be enough if they're blades get enough charge bonuses.

 

Double 6's is great on paper, just remember, you and your dice will need to Roll said 6's to ever matter. It would seem a 50/50 at best shot to shoot for dice shenanigans!

[TheUnlikelyGamer84]

Thank you for the input. I already have two squads of Eradicators with heavy melta for taking out big stuff and Wulfen with thunder hammers do you think I need more? I used the eliminators before but they don’t work great against big bugs or tyranids in general from my experience. I also have the two redemptors that shoot and punch well. The double 6s is no gimmick I assure you. Wulfen always counts as being in assault doctrine. So they will always have double exploding 6s. The Reroll ability of the chapter master and the litany of hate for the chaplain allow me to Reroll anything that’s not a 6 so that I may get more 6s. Since I’m hitting on 2s anyway when I charge, its always better than just rolling once and hoping for the best. I have played 5 games so far with the double 6s and they are amazing. Edited April 22, 2021 by TheUnlikelyGamer84

[XeonDragon]

Consider a Whirlwind or Thunderfire cannon to whittle away at his hive guard (who ignore LOS). If nothing else, it might make them fire on it in the first round or two, instead of firing on your big melee threats as they race up to smash bugs to bits :)

[TheUnlikelyGamer84]

Consider a Whirlwind or Thunderfire cannon to whittle away at his hive guard (who ignore LOS). If nothing else, it might make them fire on it in the first round or two, instead of firing on your big melee threats as they race up to smash bugs to bits :)

Hmm I’ve never tried a whirlwind. Can’t it also use a stratagem that makes opponent fight last?

[XeonDragon]

 

Consider a Whirlwind or Thunderfire cannon to whittle away at his hive guard (who ignore LOS). If nothing else, it might make them fire on it in the first round or two, instead of firing on your big melee threats as they race up to smash bugs to bits

Hmm I’ve never tried a whirlwind. Can’t it also use a stratagem that makes opponent fight last?

 

 

Yes. yes it can!  

[TheUnlikelyGamer84]

[XeonDragon]

he may hate me as I’ll have 4 ways to do that with the whirlwind in the list.

 

Then do it :) In all seriousness, Hive Guard are one of the best non-LOS shooting units in 40k, period. If he gets the double-fire psychic power going, they can seriously do some damage before you can reach them. A whirlwind gives you at least a chance to draw their fire away from more important target, or, if it ignores it, at least plink away some wounds from them before you get your melee units to mince them into 'nid slushy. They are toughness 5, 4+ so run some mathhammer as to which launcher is best against them. Good luck!

[Tokugawa]

 

 

he may hate me as I’ll have 4 ways to do that with the whirlwind in the list.

Then do it :) In all seriousness, Hive Guard are one of the best non-LOS shooting units in 40k, period. If he gets the double-fire psychic power going, they can seriously do some damage before you can reach them. A whirlwind gives you at least a chance to draw their fire away from more important target, or, if it ignores it, at least plink away some wounds from them before you get your melee units to mince them into 'nid slushy. They are toughness 5, 4+ so run some mathhammer as to which launcher is best against them. Good luck!

If the nids player just have 1 super smash monster(dimacheron?) to upgrade, he would possibly also use the adaptive upgrade on hive guards, and make them ignore AP-1/-2. Which means threat from your whirlwind mostly neutralized. Edited April 23, 2021 by Tokugawa

[TheUnlikelyGamer84]

He may but last time he used his adaptive physiology to upgrade a heirodule and or a flyrant.

[TheUnlikelyGamer84]

So the game went really well my Wolf Successors won 78 to 32. Game was actually over on turn 4 when I killed the last of his units but we tallied up the 15 pts of primary I would have gotten turn 5. Was not a high scoring game for primaries. I took oath of moment, bring it down, and thin the ranks. His army consisted of Heirodule, 60 gaunts, Mawloc, trygon, tervigon, 3x carnifex, old one eye, toxicrene, Lictor and 3 pyrovores. My many ways to make him fight last really hurt his army. Even though he charged first turn I blunted the attack hard and killed the heirodule. My counter charge turn 2 wiped 3 fexes, old one eye, and the toxicrene. I can’t speak highly enough about the double exploding 6s. Between bestial rage and instincts awoken I was able to put the chapter master and the bladeguard into super doctrine turn 2 and make chop suey of some bugs. The chapter master alone with his Reroll ability on himself and instincts awoken got 8 attacks before rerolls and after managed 4 6s and only a single 1. This brought him to 15 attacks and rerolls for the claws put 11 unsaved wounds (22dmg) on old one eye. The game got even better from there. I was surprised my buddy didn’t bring hive guard this time. I will probably not bring a whirlwind again. It did no damage at all. And I ended up not needing to use it’s strat to make him fight last.

[Karack Blackstone]

What will you take instead?

 

What will add to your list?

 

And how did the Eliminators do?

[TheUnlikelyGamer84]

I didn’t use eliminators which is good as he had mostly big T7 bugs. I took eradicators though and they killed a carnifex, trygon prime and a tervigon. I will move stuff around and add a second redemptor back to the list.

 

I could make my Wulfen unit into 1 larger unit instead o two smaller ones and with leftover points slide in the second dread.

 

Also as a talking point. Some people have asked in the past why I like taking assault intercessors. It’s simple, transhuman physiology and the sheet number attacks they can get. Blood claws can fill the same roll but don’t get access to transhuman. Although they could take a terminator. Not sure on the math of what’s better.

Edited April 25, 2021 by TheUnlikelyGamer84

[Tokugawa]

Whirlwind is not there for killing anything; melee marine chapters bring it for the strike last strategem. Since Wolves has plenty of strike last tricks, and they are more effective than a whirlwind, if you need to remove something from your list, the whirlwind would be the first choice.

[TheUnlikelyGamer84]

I forgot to add the Assault Intercessors are the only unit in the space marine dex that can fight twice. So a unit that had savage strike and bestial rage or instincts awoken on them could fight again with those buffs still active. So with this and transhuman I will choose them over my old blood claws every time.