Are any Space Wolves characters worth taking?

[WickedJester1013]

With the vast amount of characters space wolves have, are any of them worth taking?

[PeteySödes]

In what context?

[dice4thedicegod]

Murderfang is amazing if you can screen him until he charges... if you don’t screen him, he dies... but he can kill just about anything

[Karhedron]

Njal Stormcaller is definitely worth taking. He only costs a bit more than a standard Rune Priest but gets some very handy bonuses. The only reason not to take him would be if you want a Rune Priest with Jump Pack.

 

I like Bjorn the Fell-handed. Like Murderfang, he hits like a ton of bricks but he does need something to screen for him as he lacks and Invulnerable save and so relies on Character screening for protection.

[Donkalleone]

All 3 character Dreads are worth taking but need a screen. Krom is the best and cheapest Wl without JP (cheaper than naked reg Wl). He is with 75p ~10-15p cheaper than what his wargear suggest.

Njal is good if you want a Termi Runepriest.

Edited February 22, 2020 by Donkalleone

[WickedJester1013]

Not competing at tournaments level if that adds context. Mostly local or games vs my elder friend. I guess context would be an I serious handy capping myself to bring this character.

[Cpt.Danjou]

I am using the usual suspects, Bjorn and Njal in terminator armour, l and only own one other named character, Arjac. It all comes down to what they bring compared to other things. Bjorn is has always been a beast for me, the character rule, makes him a very hard nut to take down, the trick with him is that you have to use some sort of screen for him, I use the razorback variant as I want something that can keep up with Bjorns 8" movement, others use Wulven shield dreads or just a ven dread with shield as bodyguards. In my last match my opponent had to use all the hard hitting units to take out the razorback, but after it was dead there was a squad of GH body-guarding Bjorn. Getting Bjorn into cc is something I almost always have as priority.

 

Njal is my psychic, good because his +1 on psychic tests and denying rolls, but he is no push over in cc, as he can fan fight in three different phases even in cc makes him really deadly. He usually gets his points back for me. 

 

I have not used Arjac in the 8th but that is because he does not bring anything that other characters bring, for me. I often have either a Termie Wolf lord with saga of the wolfkin and the wulven stone close to my wolf guards, and that is already an overkill when it comes to extra attacks. The re-roll to wound on ones is always nice, but most things are not alive after the initial charge of wolf guards anyhow. 

 

On paper Canis seem nice, but I don't use TWC, so I have never considered him.

 

What about the others? Even though Krom is cheap I don't use him as he does not fit with the style I play, I want a a fast moving character, not depending on a vehicle, terminators and jump pack ones gets into the fray so much faster. Same goes with Ragnar, a bit to slow. I have really never considered Logan, maybe because I do not like the model.

Ulric is nice, but an ordinary priest with a power fist is still cheaper and does the same thing as him, the extra attack and wound is not enough for me, The in bult plasma pistol might be handy, but I have found plasma pistols be a bit meh for their points. The primaris wolf priest is almost the same as Urlic, minus the pp.

Lucas? No idea why I should use him, I don't use enough Blood claws. 

 

That is my take on our characters

[Donkalleone]

Arjac is beast. The -1 to dig and the +1 attack for all WG in bubble is huge in the right list. If we get any stratagems for 3d6 charge or closer deepstrike a hammer and anvil list with him is crazy.

 

On a side note my Arjac killed a knight once.

[Dark Shepherd]

Do you mean named characters?

Njal is the first psyker/rune priest for us to take. Bjorn is the ultimate glass cannon to take out big targets. Arjac is awesome (at deleting characters) but needs transpo

[WickedJester1013]

Yes named characters

And a side note, which character models have aged well and which are worth converting?

[Cpt.Danjou]

The biggest issue I have with our character models today is that they feel a bit small. When I stand Arjac side by side with my Wolf lord in Terminator armour he feels tiny, and he is supposed to be huge according to the fluff.Same goes with Njal in terminator armour. The only reason to get the Ragnar model is because you are a collector and need to have them all. He is probably getting a new model in a couple of mon..yea..decades.  ;) Ragnar is easy to convert from bits, most of our characters are easy to convert just from bits. The only one I think would a bit harder is Logan, specially if you want the sled. The wen dread/Bjorn box is a great buy.

[Dark Shepherd]

Yes named characters

And a side note, which character models have aged well and which are worth converting?

I found the resin characters ie finecast to be not great models so just converted/kitbashed them. Terminator or thunderwolf mounted characters especially easy to do

[ORKILL]

Arjac and Logan can be pretty effective since the price drop. I used them at LVO went 3-3, I played some pretty tough armies.

[WickedJester1013]

What was your list if you don’t mind sharing?

[FormelyKnownAsSmashyPants]

What do people think about Raggie Blackmane and Ulrik. Blackmane, at some point in the future WILL cross the Rubicon so he'll end up with one extra wound and attack, but getting him where he nerds to be will get harder. What about Ulrik, he's got a cool model, how would people field him. In the future, most likely saga of the beast he'll get updated rules to use litanies, and will probably be able to know one extra and recite one extra as he's the the Wolve's equivalent of a MoS.

[Dark Shepherd]

Prmaris Ragnar would have 7 + d3 attacks if he heroically intervened! Shame his sword is not great at wounding

 

He can definitely make a turn 2 charge by footslogging if he has his pet wolves due to their move plus piling in

 

2 x 6 inch moves

1 × d6 advance

2 x d6 charge

1 × 3 inch pile in

Being within an inch of one of the wolves (including base width) being within an inch of enemy to fight is another 3 inches or so

 

Thats 29 inches with average rolls and no rerolls

[Krakendoomcool]

Ragnar has Warhowl too which means he can re-roll charge. Awoo!

[SpiritFox22]

What do people think about Raggie Blackmane and Ulrik. Blackmane, at some point in the future WILL cross the Rubicon so he'll end up with one extra wound and attack, but getting him where he nerds to be will get harder. What about Ulrik, he's got a cool model, how would people field him. In the future, most likely saga of the beast he'll get updated rules to use litanies, and will probably be able to know one extra and recite one extra as he's the the Wolve's equivalent of a MoS.

Honestly I normally cant find a reason to justify using Ulrik over the standard Wolf Priest.  Yes his Aura is nice but I've only ever had luck using him with 14 Bloodclaws and Lukas charging out of a Stormwolf.  While it's stupidly effective it gets to the level of "Delete this unit NOW" levels of fire when pulled off.  Granted 40-42 attacks (I like giving them 2 powerfists when I do this), adding +1 to hit (so hitting on 2's generally), re-rolling 1s, and the Ulrik and you have a very dead thing.

 

But at the same time Ulrik cant take a Jump pack so he cant buff and heal the units that IMO need it like the Thunderwolves or Wolf Guard Bikers which makes what I see as his primary purpose unreliable compared to the standard Wolf Priest.

[Karhedron]

I agree, the problem with many special characters is the lack of Jump Packs which means that they often cannot keep up with the units we want them to be buffing. Sometimes you can put them in a transport but by the time you get to a big blob of infantry, a special Character to lead them and an LRC or Stormwolf, you are getting on to half your points and it really starts to look like all your eggs in one basket.

[Watcher]

Ulrik, Arjac, and Bjorn are my top 3. Bjorn being my number one. The guy can one shot a titan and I've never had a case where he didn't earn more than his points back in a game. He provides a good backline support as well with his reroll ones. However, as mentioned by others above, the biggest frustration is him not having a better armor save or invuln. save.

Arjac has been a heavy hitter as well, I haven't used him nearly as much but he performs very well, especially if you're running anything with the WOLF GUARD keyword.

 

I have found both versions of Logan to be under-performing...exceedingly under-performing. I havent found much use for the basic Logan given his rerolls aren't helpful against how many negative modifiers are present in current gameplay and his combat is meh. It could always be better.

Stormrider is a Distraction Carnifex that dies so dang easy. I have never had or seen a successful game with Stormrider that didn't end with a "I killed Santa Claus" joke.

 

If they make a Primaris Blackmane model, I will definitely consider investing because he is a good character and with his recent point drop, he is a way more viable unit now.

[Guest Triszin]

for the cost, Harald is pretty good. If you needed a Twolf lord

[ORKILL]

@WickedJester1013

Logan

Arjac

Wulfen x8 7x SS/TH
Wulfen x8 7x SS/TH

Wulfen x6 7x SS/TH
Runepriest Jumpack, Axe, Armor of Russ
Wolf Priest Jumpack, Storm Bolter, Powerfist

Eliminators x3 
Eliminators x3

Leviathan Storm Cannon, Heavy Flamers, and Grav
Lucius Drop Pod
Coteaz