The warriors of Fenris have long stood apart among the Adeptus Astartes, not just for their savagery and style, but for their rich, narrative potential.
As the Space Wolves Codex Supplement prepares to drop, Crusade players are in for a feast worthy of the Allfather. Si, our resident skjald and Space Wolves superfan from Warhammer TV, has been on the trail of mighty beasts and bold deeds, and he’s here to tell us all about the glory-hungry Crusade rules for the Sons of Russ.
A Pack’s Journey: From Blood Claws to Legends
Few things in Crusade are as thematic as watching your warriors grow over time, and the Space Wolves lean fully into that idea with the Pack Bonded and Tempered by the Grey Beards requisitions. After a battle, you can remove a unit of Blood Claws or Grey Hunters and spend Honour points to upgrade them—transforming eager cubs into grizzled Grey Hunters or elite warriors like Wolf Guard Headtakers or Terminators. The best part? Their experience, battle honours, and scars carry over, and they even gain XP faster thanks to their storied lineage.
If your warriors need a bit more seasoning, the Tempered by the Grey Beards requisition allows you to replace an old battle honour with a new, more fitting one—trading youthful brashness for a more refined Space Wolves upgrade. In gameplay terms, this lets you tailor units to reflect their evolving battlefield role while keeping their unique identity.
Deeds Worthy of Saga
Characters in your Crusade force can go beyond simply climbing the command ladder. They can earn titles and reputations through Deeds of Making. Maybe your Battle Leader took down a Carnifex single-handedly—time to crown him a Beast Slayer, gaining the ability to re-roll wound rolls against Monsters and Beasts. If your dice hate you during Out of Action tests, make your Wolf Priest cheat death itself with the Death Cheat upgrade. As long as he survives, you can re-roll two failed casualty tests for friendly Infantry or Mounted units after a battle.
Eventually, your greatest heroes might ascend even further. After an Oathsworn Campaign, any Legendary character who has already been promoted can become a Warrior of Legend. This grants them a new Deed of Making without using up a Battle Honour slot—perfect for solidifying them as mythic-level battlefield juggernauts.
The Lone Wolf’s Vow
Not every tale ends in triumph. Sometimes, all that’s left is vengeance. If a unit suffers a Devastating Blow and has reached at least the Blooded rank, you can replace it with a Lone Wolf—a solitary Battle Leader who stalks the battlefield with grim purpose. The Lone Wolf gains the Oath of Vengeance, allowing them to re-roll melee Hit rolls—and Wound rolls too if targeting a Monster or Vehicle. As they accumulate scars and deeds, they can take on Lone Wolf Battle Scars, which further define their tragic path.
They can become a Pack of One, scouting ahead with infiltration and speed but no Objective Control. They might seek An Honourable End, charging headlong into battle with increased risk but burning intensity. Or they might simply cling to life with Vengeance Before Death, shrugging off wounds with a 5+ Feel No Pain and refusing to retreat no matter what.
And when that Lone Wolf finally falls in a blaze of glory? You can spend a single Requisition point on A Glorious Death, spreading their legend through your force. Every Space Wolves unit gains 2XP, and you receive 5 Honour points as their saga is sung around the hearth.
More Than Just Carnage
These rich Crusade rules don’t stop there. Space Wolves also get unique Agendas, Battle Traits, Relics, and fully themed Oathsworn Campaigns that provide a true sense of progression and story. Whether you’re climbing the chain of command or collecting scars like trophies, your force becomes more than just an army—it becomes a living saga.
So sharpen your frost axe, raise your mjod, and prepare to carve your own legend across the stars. The Space Wolves Army Set, packed with new models and that all-important Codex Supplement, goes up for pre-order this Saturday.
There’s no time like now to join the Hunt. After all, sagas don’t write themselves.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
