Warhammer 40K: Top 5 Codex Space Wolves Changes You Need To Know
Goatboy here with the biggest, most important changes you need to know about 40K’s new 10th Edition Codex Space Wolves.
It’s been a wild and crazy few weeks so far and we got another 10th Edition book to talk about as 40K goes into HyperDrive to bring out those new codexes. This time around will talk about the new Space Wolf codex that comes in the new preview box full of angry space Vikings ready to wreck stuff for the Emperor.
As usual, I want to talk about the things I liked from the book. This isn’t a deep dive as we save that for other websites who do it better with a team of great player authors who understand the ins and outs of 40K. I would rather just look at the things that might drive me to start up a Space Wolf army or at the very least dust off my Space Goats.
5 – New Minis Scream Badass Space Vikings
These are some of the best models I have seen for Space Wolves in a long time. In fact they are some of the best Marine models I have had the pleasure to build. These guys look like ancient Viking Space Warriors who are ready to wreck things for the Emperor – with an axe.
The armor has an overall older feel to it, the hair looks like it fits within the model better, and the shield is just great. These are Space Wolf models that feel like Space Vikings instead of some kind of weird Wolf hybrid thing. They look grizzled and tough! It just feels like a good release and everything just has an overall nice feel. Plus there are a ton of tactical rocks the models are standing on which is always a good thing.
4 – Thunder Wolves Are Terrifying – GOOD!
I don’t know if you remember but I came to fame playing my customer Space Wolf Army – Space Goats. If there was something to bring me back to the army it would have to be built upon the backs of Thunder Wolves. The unit didn’t get any updated models and they did lose all their “character” support but they got a heck of a lot scarier.
The new rule they get matches up with the old Character rule of gaining an extra point of damage for their Wolf Guard Weapon. This lets them come in with 4 strength 5, Ap -2, and DM 3 attacks on the charge. This could put out a ton of hurt to the enemy and while we lose character support it does let the unit be a mean little bully.
3 – Wolf Guard Head Takers Seem Interesting
This unit is a neat design as it is a combo unit that becomes two units when you deploy. They haven’t really done this before with a basic unit and only had “split” apart units that utilized a stratagem. The Headtakers are really similar to Blade Guard Veterans with the added ability to “target” an enemy unit and gain Precision and Devastating wounds to their weapons.
They feel like a neat unit and if they stay pretty cheap will see them show up a bit. At the very least just getting more units on the table to utilize with fewer “unit” choices could be a powerful thing.
2 – Iron Priests Can Make Devastating Iron Storm Army
This unit repairs vehicles and also grants all the guns on a vehicle the Rapid Fire 1 rule. That could be a lot more “firepower”; especially with tanks like the Repulsor and the Gladiator. Just imagine a few more Laser shots coming down, more wounds healed on the tanks, and the Space Wolf player howling in the wind as he grabs more dice to pelt you with bullets.
1 – Logan Is Pretty Solid – WOOF WOOF!
I think the biggest issue with Logan, and his new badass model, is how are you going to get him around the tabletop. Are you going to deep strike him in by himself? Are you attaching a bunch of Terminators? Are you going to utilize his giant Bubble of +1 CP to cause all kinds of issues? This is a model that will define a lot of your army and will see if he actually shows up. I love how he looks, the design is good, and I think his utility feels pretty good.
He can work without a Unit but helps make that unit a rough one to deal with. It is interesting to see him shift from such a funky utility piece for chargers and instead become a central area control bully for stopping CP stuff and just being a big fat threat to deal with. Also, the ability to drop units in earlier from reserves could bring about some interesting gameplay.
Codex: Space Wolves 10th Edition – The Verdict
Overall the codex is pretty interesting in how it pushes a “pro” Wolves type of format with a lot of the characters only being able to join Wolf units and a much more robust “unit” selection to push that agenda. I don’t know if it will work out as well as while the Detachments are neat you have to wonder if people just continue to take Stormlance Task Force, dabble in Iron with the Ironstorm Spearhead, or just continue to rock the Gladius Task Force.
It also feels weird to not have a cool Long Fangs unit as well as not seeing an upgraded Bjorn Redemptor body. It is also one of the odd times that a troop Space Marine option doesn’t have a Plasma Gun or Melta Gun for both the Grey Hunters and Blood Claws.
I will be there at the End – for the Wolftime! ~Leman Russ
