Well, what can I say about Long Fangs that hasn't already been said. They're awesome and one of the best heavy support units (in my opinion) that Space Wolves can have.
One trend I do notice is that people tend to make their long fang packs as large as possible, with 5 heavy weapons. I disagree with this. I have found that using multiple small packs, with only 2 heavy weapons in each, is actually more effective than 1 large pack, espically at smaller games. At larger points then by all means, take the bigger packs. Most of this article will be talking about games between 1000 points and 1500.
I know what you're thinking, but hear me out. I'll explain what I see as the benefits and drawbacks of both.
A 5 man pack of Long fangs with missile launchers (what seems to be the weapon of choice for most players, myself included) costs 140 points and only takes up 1 heavy support choice. Fantastic so far. Missile launchers are one of the more efficient heavy weapons because they are so useful against so many different kinds of opposing units and armies.
That pack has one pack leader, who allows the rest of the unit to split their fire if you wanted. Great, you can now shoot your missiles at 1 or 2 targets. Theres no way this can be seen as a bad thing, as you have the potential to knock out 2 vehicles a turn from one squads shooting.
Those are the benefits.
The disadvantage is one thats always been with Long Fangs and not with standard space marine devastators-the lack of extra wounds. The first model to die in a long fang pack tends to be the pack leader, which then means that the pack loses its ability to split fire, as well as now threatening your precious heavy weapons.
One way round this is to throw in a either a cheap wolf guard or a terminator wolf guard that is a lot sturdier. To be honest though, I see this as a bit of a waste, because the wolf guards good stat line and access to better weaponary makes me feel like they should be up front where the action is and not babysitting the veteran Long Fangs.
Two 3 man packs of long fangs with missile launchers cost only 130 points. Thats 10 points cheaper, 1 heavy support choice more and 1 missile launcher less. Some of you think "You don't have as many missile launchers, it won't be as good". I'll try my best to explain my reasoning.
Two 3 man packs have a number of things going for them.
One is that your Long Fangs now represent two targets instead of one. That means that your opponent can not wipe them out as easily because he can't focus his units as well on two units as he can on one. However, smaller packs are more fragile, which leads me to my second point.
Three models are a lot easier to get into cover than six. Hopefully, that shouldn't come as a surprise to any one reading this, but it is true. With a smaller pack, you have a lot more options for putting them into cover, which should help them survive a lot more easily.
Another benefit of two packs over one is that they can be spread across the board a little more. What I've noticed from experience is that it is a lot easier to hide from one heavy weapon squad than it is two.
Which leads me onto my last point. Because you have two packs, both of which are able to split fire, you can now threaten 4 targets. This makes your Long Fangs a lot more dangerous now, because those missile launchers can now target double the units that your old pack with 5 missile launchers could.
Now some of you may prefer to be surer of destroying a target, I prefer having the ability to threaten more units.
Now, obviously there are some disadvantages to smaller units. The most obvious is that they are easy to wipe out. It has happened to me and it probably will again. Long fangs are definately not the easiest unit to make surviveable. However, with 2 units, you need to lose both pack leaders before they can no longer split their fire.
One thing that is always a worry is failing morale checks, as you have less models to lose before you take one. The good thing about Long Fangs is they have a decent natural leadership, which should make losing Morale checks reasonably ok.
My last comment, is do what works best for your army. Just because having two packs of three works better for me doesn't mean one pack of six won't work better for you. If I've done nothing more than make you think about giving it a go, then I'll be happy.
Good luck, and may the allfather always guide your aim.
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