Best HQ Space Wolf HQ

[Erebos]

Hi all,
I've just started a SW army and have ordered the SW pack. I was wondering which HQ I should convert with some spare parts. Is there a particular HQ that is good to start with? I was thinking of making a Wolf Lord but I like the sound of a Rune Priest.

Thanks in advance.

[Jarl Deathwolf]

Wolf Lords are best at close combat, most commonly set up on a Thunder Wolf Mount. 

 

Rune Priests are very good at bolstering the packs they are with, and have the added bonus of being easy to convert out of spare parts. I'd say make a Rune Priest.

[skeletoro]

Rune priests are generally considered to be the best value for the points spent. If you've just started then the choice is even easier! Who wants to sink over 200 points into a wolf lord in a 1000 point game? :P

 

Wolf Lords on Thunderwolves are easily top tier melee characters. They may not quite make the "top 5 most powerful" list, but they're close. But you really have to pay for it, through the nose. Probably not worth worrying about until at least 1500 points. IMO.

[Rune Priest Jbickb]

And, fun fact, in the ten man space wolf pack you can actually may 12 guys with the simple purchase of 2 leg bits and 2 backpacks from a bits service

[Khine]

Wolf priests are actually fairly good value for points instead of a rune priest, if you want a melee orientated character. As they come with a 4+ invunerable save and give the unit they are with preferred enemy [unit type] ( Ie, Unit type Infantry, which also includes jump infantry). Can get one without much need for upgrades for 100pts, a bit more if you want a 2+ armour save.

 

[skeletoro]

Wolf priests SHOULD be all that. But against marines... oof.

[dswanick]

I second Khine, here.

 

Wolf Lords are our Cadillac HQ, who specialize in killing everyone in melee.

Wolf Priests and Battle Leaders are our budget HQs. Wolf Priests are tuned to killing weenies (particularly non-MEQ type weenies) while Battle Leaders can be tuned for killing MEQ or ICs.

Rune Priests are (in my opinion) not leaders but support. They can bring some long-range firepower to your army as well as their defensive/buff powers but I keep holding out the hope the GW will rewrite their FOC to require an army to have a true Warlord,instead of allowing Psykers and other support HQs( to fill that role.

[Roma]

A trend you may notice, especially with this codex is that "support" HQ's are the best.

General consensus:

 

Rune Priest is the best normally (because he hands out buffs from divination, storm caller, etc)

Wolf priest is good (because he gives units stealth, preffered enemy, and outflanks them. Again buffs)

And then the wolf lord (because he is purely a killing machine. Why not just buy more grey hunters instead? They kill just as well, but also have bodies, are scoring troops, have guns, etc).

 

For the same reasons, logan grimmar is a popular HQ (as he gives out buffs like candy, and unlocks Wolf Guard as troops).

While ragnar blackmane isnt a very popular HQ as he is mostly just a killing machine.

[dswanick]

Yep, and one GW missed a golden opportunity to reverse with the Warlord Traits system. It should have only applied to true Warlords (Wolf Lords, Battle Leaders, Captains and Chapter Masters, Company Command Squad Commanders, Cannonesses, Autarchs, etc...)

[Erebos]

Thank you everyone! I was going to ignore the Wolf priest at first but now I'm not so sure...

[Fenric]

A trend you may notice, especially with this codex is that "support" HQ's are the best.

General consensus:

Rune Priest is the best normally (because he hands out buffs from divination, storm caller, etc)

Wolf priest is good (because he gives units stealth, preffered enemy, and outflanks them. Again buffs)

And then the wolf lord (because he is purely a killing machine. Why not just buy more grey hunters instead? They kill just as well, but also have bodies, are scoring troops, have guns, etc).

For the same reasons, logan grimmar is a popular HQ (as he gives out buffs like candy, and unlocks Wolf Guard as troops).

While ragnar blackmane isnt a very popular HQ as he is mostly just a killing machine.

How does Wolf Priests give a unit stealth and outflanking? Must have totally missed out in that case

Nvm the saga but does he give that to his unit as well?

[Squark]

A trend you may notice, especially with this codex is that "support" HQ's are the best.

General consensus:

Rune Priest is the best normally (because he hands out buffs from divination, storm caller, etc)

Wolf priest is good (because he gives units stealth, preffered enemy, and outflanks them. Again buffs)

And then the wolf lord (because he is purely a killing machine. Why not just buy more grey hunters instead? They kill just as well, but also have bodies, are scoring troops, have guns, etc).

For the same reasons, logan grimmar is a popular HQ (as he gives out buffs like candy, and unlocks Wolf Guard as troops).

While ragnar blackmane isnt a very popular HQ as he is mostly just a killing machine.

How does Wolf Priests give a unit stealth and outflanking? Must have totally missed out in that case

Nvm the saga but does he give that to his unit as well?

Both rules take effect as long as at least one model in the unit has them. But I believe it does actually give it to them.

Incidentally, every one of the Wolf Priest's Special Rules (Preferred Enemy, Fearless, Stealth, and Outflank) apply to a unit as long as at least one model in the unit has them. So even though units from an allied detachment don't get the rule themselves, they still get the benefit. Something to keep in mind if you're looking for some gouda* for your guard blob.

*Which is to say, slightly cheesy. Guard blobs do not need all four of those rules. Seriously, it's stupid when they have all that.

[Roma]

mnnnn, grey hunters+lysander+wolf priest. MUST TRY

[Way1and]

Seeing as you're just starting your army, I'd go with a Rune Priest in Runic armor. 120 pts. Done.

 

1. You can convert him with whatever melee weapons you have left over in the GH box (Rune Weapon is Codex Specific and therefore doesn't need to be WYSIWYG)

 

2. CHEAP! Good bang for the buck and leaves you plenty of points left over - even at 750! - to throw in a couple of GH pack (must have!) and maybe some Long Fangs or whatever floats your boat...

 

3. Versatile! As your collection gets bigger and your games get larger, you can kit the same model out with all sorts of wargear to fulfill a variety of roles, including close combat.

[Ghostwolfalpha]

A Wolf Priest in runic armour is easy as pie to make out of a standard box, rune priests take a bit more, but are still not hard. The rune priest is probably the better choice, as he offers the most options and utility.

[Erebos]

So if I do take a rune priest what should I arm him with? A power axe?

[skeletoro]

Runic weapons are all the same in terms of stats. They're AP3 and use the wielder's strength at initiative (just like a power sword). However, they can look like a sword, axe, hammer, staff... whatever you like.

 

GW probably intended runic weapons to have variable rules, but it's not what they wrote in the rulebook, sadly.

[Ghostwolfalpha]

Since they are all the same, axes just look so cool on SW, unfortunately the GH box only has a twohanded axe, so the sword would be easiest.

[Cooperman15]

Actually runic weapons are not all the same (AP3,etc.) I thought they each took the stats of the weapon It represents but made it a force weapon...? I'm pretty sure this is how it works bc grey knights all have different force weapons.

 

Force axe AP2 I1

Force sword AP3 I user

Force staff AP4 +2Strength I user

[sigvals redfist]

grey knights do have the ability to model and get the bonuses from their modeling choice, but all space wolve runic weapons have the user strength and ap 3, because they are special force weapons

[Khine]

Actually runic weapons are not all the same (AP3,etc.) I thought they each took the stats of the weapon It represents but made it a force weapon...? I'm pretty sure this is how it works bc grey knights all have different force weapons.

 

Force axe AP2 I1

Force sword AP3 I user

Force staff AP4 +2Strength I user

All Grey Knight force weapons are unusual force weapons besides the hammer. They have their own codex specific traits but are all Ap3.

 

Our Runic weapons are also unusual force weapons because we have the "wound daemons on a 2+" special rule. Making them all ap 3 at users strength. Besides Njals staff that is specifically Faq'd as being a Runic 'force' staff, making it Ap4 +2 str concussive.

[dswanick]

Besides Njals staff that is specifically Faq'd as being a Runic 'force' staff, making it Ap4 +2 str concussive.

By RAI anyway. By RAW, a "Runic Staff" is still [S user / AP 3 / I user / Melee, Concusive, Force, Wounds Daemons on a 2+] so Njal's weapon is the same. Go, go GW bad rules-writing and illinformed FAQ writers. :lol:

GW really needed to FAQ a stat block for Runic Weapons,just like they did for Frost Weapons. (And they still need to fix Frost Weapons).

[Khine]

Besides Njals staff that is specifically Faq'd as being a Runic 'force' staff, making it Ap4 +2 str concussive.

By RAI anyway. By RAW, a "Runic Staff" is still [S user / AP 3 / I user / Melee, Concusive, Force, Wounds Daemons on a 2+] so Njal's weapon is the same. Go, go GW bad rules-writing and illinformed FAQ writers.

GW really needed to FAQ a stat block for Runic Weapons,just like they did for Frost Weapons. (And they still need to fix Frost Weapons).

I didn't think it got the 'concussive' rule since it as you've put it is an unusual force weapon?

But yeah, your right.

Question though. Some in my meta believe force staves to be two-handed and don't get an extra attack for having a second close combat weapon. True or false?

[Grey Mage]

Rune Priests- cheap, useful buffs, good psychic defense.

Its hard to argue with them being the best, the go to, the great and powerful SW HQ.

Wolf Priests are good when you need durability on the cheap, want your Bloodclaws to accomplish something worthwhile, or lack a solid assault unit and want something... just in case. For the 20pts to give him Runic Armor you have probably the best durability per point in the codex for HQs.

WGBLs arent great for anything in particular, but they are good when you need a champion style unit to face off against enemy HQs. Probably the least used SW HQ honestly.

Wolf Lords... when you want a Daemon Prince to tremble, you take this guy, with a mount, a frost weapon, and the invulnerable save of your choice. Saga of the Warrior or Bear, to taste. Hes worth his points, but they are ALOT of points.

Bjorn the Fellhanded deserves a good mention IMHO. Hes one of the only ways in any version of the game to just... get... an extra objective. Have him moon the enemy, and then take him over. Hes a dread with a 5++. Hes great if you need to go first for an alpha strike... if the damn lucius pod was something you could take in any old game hed be in every DP army I made over 1500pts.

Njal seems useful, but Ive heard mixed results about him. He and Ulrik... I just havent playtested enough. Maybe 2 games each since the new IG book came out.

Cant say as I like Canis Wolfborn.

And... Ive never used Ragnar. Not even once. My bad.

Logans good though, with his great equipment and choose your own special rule. I like him alot. WG as troops opens up a whole new way of playing the army too... and so hes invaluable for the codex. But, that being said, hes very much a character whos personal preference or not in the end.

Besides Njals staff that is specifically Faq'd as being a Runic 'force' staff, making it Ap4 +2 str concussive.

By RAI anyway. By RAW, a "Runic Staff" is still [S user / AP 3 / I user / Melee, Concusive, Force, Wounds Daemons on a 2+] so Njal's weapon is the same. Go, go GW bad rules-writing and illinformed FAQ writers.
GW
really needed to FAQ a stat block for Runic Weapons,just like they did
for Frost Weapons. (And they still need to fix Frost Weapons).

I didn't think it got the 'concussive' rule since it as you've put it is an unusual force weapon?

But yeah, your right.
Question
though. Some in my meta believe force staves to be two-handed and don't
get an extra attack for having a second close combat weapon. True or
false?

False. There is nothing in the force stave profile that says its two handed. You can one hand a staff- see gandalf and certain martial artists for details.

As noted however, Runic Weapons are Unusual Force Weapons, and so S: as user and AP 3. The FAQ changes this... but not everyones on board with that. Either way though, its one handed.

[dswanick]

And... Ive never used Ragnar. Not even once. My bad.

I belive some penance is in order here. There is nothing so priceless as the look on your bug opponents face when his tricked-out, Iber-brood of Genestealers charges your Grey Hunter pack led by Ragnar and gets wiped out, to the body.