Space Pups - Growing a Force in a Tiered Approach

Creating a tiered army list is great for beginners because it really helps you flush out an army without dropping the money needed to create it all at once. In most cases, adapting a tiered army list is generally not a good idea though. When you make a 500pt list and grow it to a 1000pt list, each of these are working with a budget. For example: Something that may be needed in a 500pt list but couldn't be purchased due to going over the 500pt budget, gets replaced with something lesser. However when you grow that force to 1000 points, it doesn't work to swap things out that work, because now you essentially have 2 completely different lists at 500 and 1000pts respectively. Regardless of whether it's a good idea, it's fun to play around with lists and to challenge yourself into working with a budget.



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Space Wolves - 500pts:

HQ:
Runepriest -100pts

Troops:
Grey Hunters x5 -115pts
Melta
Rhino


Grey Hunters x5 -115pts
Melta
Rhino

Heavy:
Long Fangs x5 -165pts
4x Missile Launchers

Razorback w/Heavy Bolter (40pts)
Hunter-killer (10pts)

TOTAL: 495PTS

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This list is obviously lacking. I really wish I could have fit more troops in but there really wasn't the points unless I wanted 2 squads foot slogging. Additionally, after picking up everything, I had 55pts left. It would have been nice to put a land speeder in there, but with the multimelta, that came to 60pts. The Razorback really doens't fit here and I threw the Hunter-killer on there just as another potential anti-tank.


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Space Wolves - 1000pts:

HQ:
Runepriest -100pts

Elites:
Wolf Scouts -85pts
Melta

Troops:
Grey Hunters x5 -125pts
Melta
Rhino
Wolf Banner

Grey Hunters x5 -115pts
Melta
Rhino

Grey Hunters x5 -115pts
Melta
Rhino

Grey Hunters x5 -115pts
Melta
Rhino

Fast Attack:
3x Thunderwolf Calvary -180pts
1x Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield

Heavy:
Long Fangs x5 -165pts
4x Missile Launchers

Razorback w/Heavy Bolter (40pts)
Hunter-killer (10pts)

TOTAL: 1000PTS

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Thunderwolves are a nice inclusion into this list because of how tough they are. I really wish I could have given another one a Storm shield (for wound shananagans) but alas, I was all out of points. This squad will still draw a lot of fire away from the rest of my army. We have plenty of anti-tank but lack a lot of ranged anti-tank which may be this lists largest problem. The only anti-range will be the hunter-killer, 4 missiles, and the rune priest if he decides to take living lightning. The Rune Priest now has an incentive to join the Grey Hunters with the Wolf Banner. I still think this list is pretty solid though.


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Space Wolves - 1500pts:
HQ:
Runepriest -100pts

Elites:
Wolf Scouts -85pts
Meltagun

Wolf Scouts -85pts
Meltagun

Troops:
Grey Hunters x5 -125pts
Meltagun
Rhino
Wolf Banner

Grey Hunters x5 -125pts
Meltagun
Rhino
Wolf Banner

Grey Hunters x5 -125pts
Meltagun
Rhino
Wolf Banner

Grey Hunters x5 -125pts
Meltagun
Rhino
Wolf Banner

Grey Hunters x5 -75pts
flamer

Grey Hunters x5 -75pts
flamer


Fast Attack:
3x Thunderwolf Calvary -180pts
1x Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield

Heavy:
Long Fangs x5 -165pts
4x Missile Launchers


Razorback w/Heavy Bolter (40pts)
Hunter-killer (10pts)

Long Fangs x5 -115pts
4x Missile Launchers

Long Fangs x5 -115pts
4x Missile Launchers

TOTAL: 1495PTS

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Despite the tiered approach, I think this list is rather decent. You have lots of flexibility in the units. A lot of anti-tank. A decent amount of armor. 2 back field holders. This list isn't as efficient as my previous 1,500pt Space Wolf list but it does look a bit more fun to use. Additionally, there are 5pts left that you can throw a melta bomb on a random squad.

Long Fangs are to good to pass up. They are so cheap for what they provide which is why they are included in nearly every list. Thunderwolf are also very good but are very expensive and i'm sure most games they don't see combat but the sheer amount of shots it takes to bring them down is a life saver to the rest of your army. 

The Rune Priest is also a game changer. In the 500pt bracket, he provides utility that few other units in the entire game can provide. The fact that him alone, with Jaws of the World Wolf (as cheesy as that is) can neuter a rival 500pt Tyranid list. Living Lightning with it's unlimited range and d6 str7 shots also provides a light armor destroyer for very cheap especially with it's utility of being able to fire out of a firing point in a Rhino.

In 5th edition, troop choices are the primary choice. I try to include as many as I can. A simple rule of thumb would be 2 troop choices (3 if possible) in a 500pt game, 4 in 1000pt game, and 6 in a 1,500pt game. Obviously, Space Wolves are more survivable than say orkz or Tyranid troop choices so fluff out the squads or add more if possible.