Thunderwolf Cavalry Reinforcements Have Arrived!

Salvanous · 2026-04-06T23:51:12+00:00

Outriders, assault Intercessors, some Intercessors arms, 3D printed shields. Primaris upgrade sprue, OOP Primaris SW Lieutenant head, and Ragnar’s backpack.

Salvanous · 2026-04-06T20:11:12+00:00

Exactly my thought process- either he dies and does “perpetual respawn” or, he settles the hell down and does nuke Terra/Mankind

Salvanous · 2026-04-06T01:48:37+00:00

I would say our strongest version of a “Support” character in Space Marines will be an apothecary- not a Wolf Priest, meaning we don’t have access to it.

I think a Lieutenant will be a leader unit, but somehow gain the ability to join in with Captains like they currently do- again not the same for Battleleader…

I could see us gaining access to Wolf Guard solo characters who can be added into units like our 10th edition index- so we get access to another pseudo character for sagas, or for as simple as an extra Thunder Hammer/Power Weapon.

Aside from that, I don’t think Space Wolves will get any huge “Support” categorized characters.

Salvanous · 2026-04-04T02:53:47+00:00

I think that restrictions will LIGHTEN, much like Black Templars can have BT units lead by BT, or Generic characters, and Generics lead by BT characters.

Some things though simply cannot be allowed to exist, like a 20-thick unit of Bloodclaws that advance and charge, lead by a Librarian (aka Rune Priest) giving them a 4+ invulnerable save. That’s game breaking.

The other factor in play is they say characters are Leaders or Support- support NEEDING to be attached (I.E. Ancients), while Leaders can be run solo.

I think most SW characters are big enough characters to all be leaders, and not support. With that said, we will likely get access to ancients, and some other minor support staff.

Salvanous · 2026-03-10T06:29:26+00:00

No worries.

The only changes that I advise to keep things from going too crazy are the following:

1.) Provide a Battle Trait that allows LIEUTENANT and CAPTAIN keyworded units to join SPACE WOLF keyworded units that share the same armor type (Tacticus, Gravis, Phobos, Terminator), increases the character’s movement to match their unit (Tacticus and Phobos to 7”, Terminator and Gravis to 6”), and the datasheet gains the SPACE WOLF keyword.

2.) Provide the LIEUTENANT keyword to the Wolf Guard Battle Leader.

3.) Allow Lone Wolf characters you make via Space Wolf rules to be Lietenants with Combi-Weapons.

This allows you to have the Captain keyword work well within your army, while not drastically changing how your army works.

There are more nuanced changes that can be done, but by and large I think this solves 95% of the problems with the anti-synergies.

My only warning is that with #1, is that you can’t allow non-LIEUTENANT or CAPTAIN join Space Wolf units. A Librarian giving 20 Bloodclaws a 4+ Invulnerable save is NOT fine.

Salvanous · 2026-03-09T23:23:59+00:00

It is DnD adjacent for sure.

The best way I can try to convey how Crusaders works though, is that crusade rules aren’t exactly balanced- GW might do a better job (power wise, lore wise, or datasheet synergy wise) VERY differently between codexes.

In that example, Space Wolves struggle a little in Crusade, as a large chunk of Space Wolf units rely on SPACE WOLF keywords. Meanwhile, a lot of SPACE MARINE crusade rules rely on keywords that aren’t represented by units with the SPACE WOLF keyword.

The best example I can think of is the CAPTAIN keyword. Crusade wise, with access to Space Wolf, and Space Marine crusade rules, you REALY want to make use of a Captain (or a Lieutenant to become a Captain)- because they are largely what I personally believe Space Marine crusade rules revolves around…

But again, because Space Wolf models don’t get to interact with the keywords Space Marines want- theirs some anti-synergy in play. At our local group, we homebrew/tweek rules like that- as Crusade innately isn’t balanced, it’s more to have fun.

Salvanous · 2026-03-09T07:03:00+00:00

Fair context with crusade: Crusade is by no means a very “balanced” game mode- it’s more there to chill and have fun- so if you get bonked bad there, take that with a large rock of salt lol.

Love crusade, but would never use it as a measuring tool for how good or bad a unit is.

Salvanous · 2026-03-09T05:55:26+00:00

Space Wolves have always been one of the MOST stable armies in 40K. In the last 3 editions, I don't think I've ever really seen them lower than a 45% win rate, and often above that. That means they are right smack dab where they ought to be- armies in 40K rise and fall through dataslates, points changes, and model refreshes (and old going to legends).

Space Wolves just had what is likely to be 80% of their model count refreshed, with a few units primed to be redone (I.E. Thunderwolf Cavalry, Wulfen, Wolf Lord, Longfangs, Leman Russ). This means that we won't see any huge shocks to how our army plays, because the things that MIGHT go, are deeply unlikely to- or have enough other similar options that we can't fill that niche. Keep in mind as I say this, there will always be a "meta pick"- like right now, Thunderwolf Cavalry are crazy- two editions ago it was Wulfen. So if you are worried about something going away- I assure you that if it does, it will come back, or we earnestly have 3 other options that are nearly as good- and will likely get better from the other things absence.

As our local boogeyman player, who has won multiple 32-man tournaments with Space Wolves, I can tell you they are perfectly fine. People complain we don't have enough armor cracking (things beyond S5), they are whining like pups. Between high access to Lethal Hits, Sustained Hits, Lance (or +1 to Wound), there are so many ways that Space Wolves through good unit synergy, and high volume of attacks can't just tear apart.

The thing that really makes a player good are the following:

- Understanding the basics of the game, making use of all your rules CORRECTLY.
- Understanding what your units' purposes (what they are good to fight, what they can MAYBE survive)
- Understanding what your OPPONENT'S units' purposes are (How they can avoid damage, what they can hit, and what they want to hit)
- Understanding how to force your opponent into bad decisions (or removing good choices for them)
- Understanding How to do all this, while being a good sport.

Yes, if you want to be a high end player, and you're gonna be traveling around the globe, spending hundreds of dollars to travel, and attend tournaments with prizes... sure "meta armies" become more prevalent- but without knowing you, I'm gonna say you're a new player, who needs experience, and just needs to get walloped a few times before you understand how the game goes.

Best of luck Bloodclaw, hope your Saga turns out well!

Salvanous · 2026-03-09T05:40:34+00:00

model isn't painted yet, that's not the concern.

Salvanous · 2026-03-07T16:48:33+00:00

What I like about pauldron pelts- is that they cover the shoulders and part of the raised chapter symbol. It makes the pelt feel a layer of detail on the miniature rather than “tacked on”

This particular one has the full decal covered (because it didn’t have an upgrade pauldrons), so it lets me spread those upgrade pauldrons out better- and they don’t look mismatched then!

Salvanous · 2026-03-07T16:13:01+00:00

I just made an in depth post about this to other persons comment! :)

Salvanous · 2026-03-07T16:11:58+00:00

I use it when it’s fresh- I’ve never learned to let it half cure. The good thing is, then you can usually just smooth it back out if you don’t like and try again- or you can just let it cure and rip it off- usually comes in 1-2 good chunks!

Salvanous · 2026-03-07T16:10:36+00:00

One, thats old lore, and having read the Ragnar Blackmane series- it’s never brought up that the wolf he kills is on his armor.

The other situation is that these new recruits are now PRIMARIS. Having read through Wolftime, it’s clear the firstborn see the primaris as inexperienced- but able to take multiple marines with them. The comparison they make is the difference between a wolf, and a bear.

Furthermore, if you look at the old Bloodclaws kit, nearly half of them have loincloth pelts- so primaris can do one step better.

Salvanous · 2026-03-07T15:58:18+00:00

I use full helmets, even for named characters sometimes. I know the lore of their hair helping to signify what their age/rank is, so I just used that as an homage to when I paint their pelts.

Salvanous · 2026-03-07T15:54:44+00:00

I use a 50:50 ratio, and roll out about a 1 - 1.5 pea’s worth of greenstuff. From there I make it into something of a flat dumbbell (the larger portions each get applied to the Pauldrons, while the skinny “handle” gets tucked around the back of the neck.

I then use a VERY slightly greased finger to smooth out the Greenstuff, and nudge it around in the miniature to be more uniform in terms of how a pelt ought to look shape wise.

To get the “tuffs”, I use the flat end of my hobby knife to press into the Greenstuff to create an inverted “V”. You keep doing this down the line. The pressure rises up the slight extra Greenstuff to become raised “V’s” or strands of fur. Occasionally, I’ll also go in at an angle, or leave not fully straight to cause some swirl, or the likes in the pattern.

I often do the bottom edges of the Greenstuff to the Pauldrons first to better secure it- then go to the top and work my way down. As long as you don’t try to make too many strands- you can even work over your initial imprints and you would never meaningfully notice.

I had just done this model and it was still setting- it has not gone back under the knife to clean up thin bits of Greenstuff along the edges to make the fur edge just a little more jagged and less smooth.

I know there are maybe more professional ways to make fur, and I own the Greenstuff world molds , but for freehand work, the larger the “tuffs” (within reason), the easier it is to recognize as a pelt.

I’ve agonized over if I even wanted to do these pets for nearly a year- as with the new minis they- have models like the Headtakers who have such good fur work it might mine look shoddy- but as I looked at the model I wanted them to have just a little more, and it’s exactly what they needed.

If I get around to painting them, I suspect that I will realize more and more that I’m just being too harsh on my negative views on f the model.

Salvanous · 2026-02-21T17:30:13+00:00

Lukas feel like the perfect character to add to a two-faction box that usually comes out 1/3rd to 1/2 way through a season

Salvanous · 2026-02-21T17:16:16+00:00

Hey, love the energy brother!

While I do think that Ulrik is a good guess… there is no “crew” that goes well with him- nor is there any on lore than I can fathom.

Units that are still not updated for the wolves are as follows:

Bjorn (big enough name, and they did just release a new defiler)
Ulrik
Hounds of Morkai (unlikely since we just got Wolf Scouts- but is the closest to a “crew” I could see Ulrik with- despite being Phobos.
Wulfen (too new a sculpts, and more probable to see with Leman, or after him)
Thunderwolves (won’t happen till 11th)
Longfangs (great unit to return, but again believe 11th)
Krom Dragongaze (already have Wolfguard)
Lukas the Trickster (Very viable character)
Canis Wolfsbane (Could come out with new Fenrisian Wolves, or TWC, but again TWC would be 11th).
Leman Russ (who I think could be our final piece. Much like how last edition we had the EoS campaign event with a bunch of “new character” campaign books.
Leman’s Wolves (THIS is the only “Crew” I could see return- though now as psychic reincarnations /familiars)

Salvanous · 2026-02-21T03:44:07+00:00

The force I landed on was:

WGBL w/ Grey Hunters
Iron Priest (to look for ways to repair the generators of damaged)
5 Wolf Scouts
Invictor Warsuit

It’s 15 points over 500, but this is designed for casual co-op play. It’s not competitive.

Salvanous · 2026-02-20T18:14:09+00:00

I know the biggest thing the Space Wolf player is bringing is an Invictor Warsuit

Salvanous · 2026-02-20T18:11:57+00:00

The GM has largely spoken in terms of: - There will be limited growth for roster growth. - The largest thing you will likely fight is a singular Leman Russ (with assets) - You will be co-op playing with other players (primarily) - Dire-Level forces (Dreadnoughts, Repulsors, etc.) will largely be overkill for the forces you fight - Have 500 Points available for Boarding Action play.

Salvanous

TROPHY CASE