Harken, warriors of Fenris! The howling wind brings tidings of war—and of glory. The Space Wolves Army Set is almost upon us, and with it comes a full-throated, fang-bared charge into the 41st Millennium. As the fire crackles in the Fang’s great hall, Skjald Liam of the Liam Dempsey YouTube Channel shares tales of these storied warriors and the new sagas they shall carve into history.
New Army Rules: Tales Worthy of Song
The Codex Supplement: Space Wolves builds on the core rules from Codex: Space Marines and layers on Fenrisian flavor with two key rules:
- Curse of the Wulfen brings new tactical depth to Wulfen and Wulfen Dreadnoughts. Normally wild and uncontrollable, they can gain Objective Control if guided by a friendly character—letting your berserkers actually hold ground rather than just smash it.
- Sagas are the narrative heart of the Space Wolves Detachments. Each represents a legendary feat—such as slaying monstrous prey or striking with reckless bravery. Achieve the Saga’s conditions mid-battle, and your units gain an upgraded version of the Detachment rule, rewarding both tactical cunning and thematic play.
Three New Detachments, Three New Ways to Howl
Saga of the Beastslayer is Liam’s favorite—perfect for hunting down characters, monsters, and vehicles. Units gain Lethal Hits against these fearsome foes, and if the Saga is completed (by slaying more than half the enemy’s big threats), Lethal Hits apply to everything. Combine this with Wolf Guard Headtakers’ Headhunters ability and you’ve got a unit that melts priority targets.
Saga of the Hunter focuses on mobility and surgical strikes. Stratagems like Thunderous Pursuit and Coordinated Strike let you reposition aggressively, keeping your enemy guessing while setting up devastating charges.
Saga of the Bold is all about heroic defiance and glorious overkill. Characters—and the massive units they lead—gain access to powerful buffs. It rewards leading from the front, preferably with a heroic death in the mix. Or several.
Liam’s Ideal Pack: Headtakers, Blood Claws, and a Howling Wall
Liam’s dream build begins with Wolf Guard Headtakers armed with axes and storm shields, backed by a Wolf Guard Battle Leader. With Sustained Hits 1, rerolls to hit, and Lethal Hits from Beastslayer, this squad is a blender that can decimate elite enemy units. Add the Unbridled Ferocity Stratagem (+1 to Wound) and the Helm of the Beastslayer to reduce incoming AP, and they become both lethal and hard to remove.
Want to double down on thematic synergy? Run them on foot alongside Hunting Wolves. These swift companions boost Objective Control near Characters and split off after deployment to cause chaos on flanks.
Blood Claws Go Berserk (with Help)
The new Wolf Priest is perfect for leading a 20-strong unit of Blood Claws, using Healing Balms to bring back lost models and his Litany of Hate to grant +1 to Wound. Alternatively, Ragnar Blackmane gives rerolls to Wound and lets them charge after advancing. Either way, you’re looking at 80 melee attacks from the unit—and Inspiring Presence makes all those Critical Hits count as automatic wounds.
Bjorn, Terminators, and a Howl to Shake the Stars
Characters are at the core of Space Wolves gameplay, and Bjorn the Fell-Handed shines in Saga of the Bold. His Ancient Tactician ability earns extra Command Points, letting you use powerful Stratagems like Heroic Resolve (damage reduction) and Countercharge (unexpected character charges). He’s a tank, a killer, and a tactical battery all in one.
Of course, no Saga would be complete without Logan Grimnar and Arjac Rockfist. Logan’s Guile of the Wolf forces your opponent to spend extra CP near him, and Arjac’s Foehammer is devastating—Anti-Vehicle 3+, Precision, and a 4+ fight-on-death ability for his unit. Naturally, they belong with Wolf Guard Terminators, forming the core of your army’s shield wall or hammer strike.
From the Fang to the Frontlines
Whether you’re a seasoned Fang veteran or new to the sagas of the Sons of Russ, this release offers deep narrative immersion, powerful mechanics, and gorgeous miniatures. Liam’s advice? Don’t limit yourself. Let your creativity lead you. Build the warband you want to see roaring across the battlefield, and write your saga in bolter shells and broken steel.
The Space Wolves Army Set arrives for pre-order this Saturday. It’s your first chance to get the new Codex Supplement, the stunning character models, and enough howling fury to shake the stars.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
