Quick Question Regarding Dire Wolves...

[Kulver]

Hello all, I'm building up my VC army from scratch and debating how to fill up my core. Right now I'm pretty sure it will just be a mass of zombies as not much in that section is going to do anything beyond providing a massive tarpit. And, nothing says tarpit to me like 200 plus mindless, shambling dead meat sacks. However, I was wondering if anyone has tried to run an all dire wolf core? They would be in far fewer numbers than zombies (I would need 80 to fill my core) but vanguarding and the possibility of first turn charges to tie up my enemies blocks while my heavy hitters come in on the flanks (likely in turn 2) is tempting. Of course, the attraction to this could just be from years of playing dwarfs and my excitement over the prospect of having something move fast.

 

[Blutsauger]

I think you'll find that many wolves will really choke the board up too much.

 

[Alabaster427]

I did that once. I think that I ran 11 units of 5-6. It really did clutter the board at 2500 points. Granted, they kept the enemy units I didn't want to fight at bay, but they also kept me from moving anywhere. I have thought about reducing the number of units and increasing their size but that would reduce their own mobility, however, they would be able to disrupt.

 

[Kulver]

I had been considering fewer large units (probably 4 or so) but I see what you mean about reduced mobility and clutter. Thank you for the replies.

 

[John Rainbow]

I think it is certainly doable and could be very good. Choking up the board is not a bad thing at all, especially in matchups against lists like DE with Witch core, etc that you want to avoid. The problem with VC core is that you cannot flee so cannot make use of double flee moves like for instance Lizardman skink spam can do so well. This makes using an all wolf core much more difficult. You also need to be able to 'see' the game several turns ahead and plan accordingly such that you don't block up your own CC units and can get them into the right place when you need to.

It certainly isn't impossible but it requires a lot of though about what is going to happen in the game and second guessing your opponent's moves. I think it could really work very well though if you can pull it off.

 

[Skittelz1981]

Ive reduced my wolfpacks to either 3x5, 2x5+1x10 or 5+10 and sometimes even 2x5

but idd in certain tailored lists, fielding 4 or more units can be good. ofc it depends on how large the game is and what enemy you face.
Throwing 5 wolfpacks against a classic WoC list is going to annoy the hell out of him

 

[Bounce]

Another way of looking at it is to use a unit of dire wolves in the same way as a unit of 20 zombies.
In combat both units will only last 1 round but wolfies are cheaper so they make good speed bumps to then allow your other units to get the flank. I probably wouldn't take to many of them overall as you just end up losing a lot of units for little gain if you don't do it right.

 

[HERO]

I've been experimenting with 3x-4x Dire Wolves in my lists, but I wouldn't pay with less than 2. They're just fantastic speed bumps for dirt cheap.

Just remember that although they have Vanguard, they are NOT Fast Cav!

 

[Banat]

And that vanguards cannot charge on the first turn.

 

[Alabaster427]

And that vanguards cannot charge on the first turn.

...ONLY if they vanguard move; otherwise, they can. Additionally, if you go second, they can charge after they Vanguard on the first turn.

 

[Skittelz1981]

...ONLY if they vanguard move; otherwise, they can. Additionally, if you go second, they can charge after they Vanguard on the first turn.

This! most imporant information

 

[najo]

You don't want to charge with them if redirecting. You move up, angle and then let your opponent charge them and then waste their turn over running or reforming. Otherwise you are wasting your wolves.