8th edition Space Wolves Codex; review

The Wolf Time is almost upon us. Here we take a look through the 8th edition Space Wolves codex.

[@davedogge2280]

When clicking on this video I got an advertisement for dog biscuits in Spanish, I think even the KZbin algorithm has taken this wolf / dog theme too far.

[@WoffBoot]

"There Are No Wolves On Fenris!" I'm very glad that was the first thing we established. :-)

[@valorthefox]

Leman is not back because he is with fyodor in a dark eldar world.

[@Trowarr]

Nah, he spent too much in Eye of Terror and is now a Chaos Spawn named "Fluffy". And he is a very good boy that like belly rubs! =)

[@valorthefox]

Some how that has sen-... Wait... MAGNUS?!!! IS YOUR NAME MAGNUS!!! -Angry Wolf Noises- (Not a Furry)

[@lemanruss.107]

Im fokin here

[@bigruss2007]

Got it, very funny

[@brigandboy1425]

You mean he's with... The Emperor...

[@commanderdon4300]

So all Space Wolf characters with thunder hammers will still hit on 2+... That is going to tip the balance in their favour in a lot of hand to hand combats.

[@adamcondon5120]

If I'm not mistaken thunder hammers are -1 to hit. That would make it a 3+ to hit. Not a 2+.

[@agsesperez]

he means first round of combat, they get +1 when they charge get charged or heroic intervention so that round the +/- balances out for a 2+

[@ROMANDEDEDEppp]

Broken

[@commanderdon4300]

I think it's going to be really cool for space wolves players, they can build their army with a real personal touch and get attached to their characters, especially if they convert them and make them their own. All while being strong and competitive.

[@WoffBoot]

It was Prospero Burns that featured Bjorn the Fell-Handed. There's a scene at the end when he sees a dreadnought and shudders 'glad that's not me'. Interesting codex. Some of the stratagems sound very characterful.

[@rayisawesoem]

WoffBoot Chronicles #forshadowing

[@Typhoid_Tony]

regards to the lore...the lion has had the same rumour in every dark angels codes so not much has changed with regards to them either

[@SpookyMarine]

B_cereus GW is really ruffling my jimmies with this

[@GeeksWargaming]

Just a little bit excited about his new codex.. great review winters

[@gavinbannister4263]

I think the Carcharodon portion of my Badab project will end up making use of this book rather than the Marine 'dex just not taking any of the out and out wolfy stuff. Forge World certainly haven't been in a rush to give an option for Tacticals with chainswords and the only trade off is being limited to a couple of special weapons in a squad rather than a special and a heavy, Heresy era Tac Veteran loadout, absolutely fine for a Chapter that went into exile before the Codex Astartes was ever ratified.

[@efzmonkey]

Thanks for the review. Even though you're not a native Fenrisian you did us proud.

[@stefanhalvardsson4833]

First of, let me just say I'm loving all the content you provide, truly excellent stuff. Second, when is Paul, his Kabal of the Last Hatred and most importantly, his amazing socks coming back?

[@Haanzer]

Did you say the Blizzard Shield is a 4+ invulnerable now?

[@twilightwyrm]

Yeah, Ven Dread got nerfed pretty bad.

[@pedrovillacorta5454]

Since I have mostly primaris( as in intercessors, hellblasters and aggressors.) would it be a bad idea to use the codex form my army?? I do have terminators and cataphractii terminators but I do want to know if the codex can help much??

[@SilentSooYun]

I'm interested in hearing more of the fluff; how the Space Wolves accepted Primaris, and if Cawl fixed the Curse that prevented them from founding other Chapters

[@Cyphis2501]

Nurgle armies are going to be the hardest hit by the wolves I think as they have a good number of spells and ability's that dish out negs to hit, and lets not look at the speed dif. love the vid keep up the good work and see you over on the DZ !!!

[@ivandejanovic4963]

Thank you winters for answering my questions. I agree that GW maybe made a mistake for not including a special rule for each great company. As for Sven maybe they consider him dead because it was never stated he left the exploding spaceship so they may think that story finished. I am just hoping he is still alive somehow, since he is my favorite wolf lord.

[@brigandboy1425]

The thing that really made me happy about this book (the only thing, really) is the Living Lightening spell and the stratagem "living storm." It's nice at least to have a bit of a buff to my murderball, I think. Beyond that...

[@BaileyBecca]

I don’t play this army but I think their captains are wolf lords the battle leader is the lieutenant equivalent I believe

[@christopherramos5491]

Hey I'm new to 40k you know how you can add 5 more grey hunter for x points each. When adding a wolf guard pack leader to this squad of 10 is he considered part of the 10 or would he make it 11?

[@antonlukkarinen2648]

I will take +1 to wound over +1 to hit any day of the week. Most armies have ways to re-roll hits and Vetetans of the Long War is one of the best Chaos stratagems just because how lethal any unit can become with +1 to wound

[@leanderschuster3196]

Anton Lukkarinen but nothing beats the almighty "stand still and reroll 1s" trait the dark angels so gloriously possess

[@Zilegil]

I guess a way to remedy the lack of bonuses to would would be to spam tons of high strength stuff. Hammernators and assault cannons to help with hordes spring to mind

[@antonlukkarinen2648]

Zilegil While it's not a pure Custodes list, I run (like Chewie) a air wing detachment with 3 Storm Talons with double las and assault cannons. Really helps vs hordes and high wound/toughness units. Im fairly sure they benefit from chapter tactics as well so running them as Raven Guard. -2 to hit is pretty nuts

[@Captain_Idaho]

+1 to hit means SW players don't have to clump around characters who reroll to hit with their auras. More flexible army and independent.

[@gwotaz]

I did not hear anything about the aura side of the saga/warlord traits, this was briefly mentioned on the community site.

[@MrHenningfalk]

they removed it from the codex

[@stevefelten1197]

I am super stoked Space Wolves are my second favorite space marine army...

[@SgtOddballz]

Ah what a awesome bday! I wake up n see the SW video out on my favorite army :).

[@RobbSavag3]

Do warlord traits turn into auras after the saga is completed or did gw typo that? It was previewed on the community page. Thanks Winters.

[@GlenTateyama]

I love this review, nice and clear!...And to the Point!

[@theofficerfactory2625]

Looks like I picked a great time to revitalize my Space Wolf army.

[@MegaBambooboy]

Surely +1 to hit I’d much better? Give everyone hammers/power fists? The additional damage would then be similar to +1 damage depending on who’s getting hit of course

[@colinmack8655]

Winters they did split they formed the ill fated wolf brothers. They did not adopt the codex but did accept downsizing.

[@gustavohernandezavila7679]

With the wolfkin saga, In TWC +1 attack os for the mount or the Warrior??

[@benrobbo2902]

We basically had to wait half a year for tue same thing DA and BA got... russ better come back soon

[@bernardorodero8374]

Whats with the video not featuring any datasheet? Did gw not let you show anything but pictures The important question, do hellblaster have the longfang keyword?

[@Ollaniusperrson]

Wolf's Bane of the HH series is one of the better Bjorn books, hes also mentioned a lot in Scars

[@blueyetuo]

Straw Poll. Wolves or codex Marines?

[@wheresyourcave3412]

Abit disappointed that they don't have the stratagem 'The Lion & The Wolf' that was in the Dark Angels Codex

[@mjela4516]

If you have a Dark Angel unit in your army, you get this stratagem anyway

[@Sarys385]

GW ja making it really hard for me to get into 40k.. I can't decide between Grey knights and space wolves

[@MegaBambooboy]

Samuli385 me too! Leaning more towards SW now as their dec seems to lean heavily on their fluff, which is nice

[@Sarys385]

I have heard that Grey Knights are considered to be one of the worst or even the worst army in 40K. So I guess I should go with Space Wolves or maybe Exorcists

[@benrobbo2902]

Samuli385 space wolves

[@Sarys385]

ben robbo why so?

[@gustavohernandezavila7679]

And..how do the sagas increase when you get the deed of Legends? I supposed some of them turn in an aura, but in the case of wolfkin or majesty?

[@barbarrojaa.c.4761]

Review copies seem to not have the deeds (you can see Winters actually talks about a different Saga of the Bear). But on WHTV stream Majesty was Slay the Warlord

[@NecronNb]

Wow. What an anti-climax. You are right with your comparison to Blood Angels but fact is, +1 to wound is superior to +1 to hit as it makes even scouts able to wound most vehicles on a 4+. BA also have character dreadnoughts, access to Baal predators and generally are just superior. Finally the wolves setup is not really suitable for Primaris. Shame

[@leanderschuster3196]

NecronN00b 82 do you want to complain? I play Dark angels :D

[@barbarrojaa.c.4761]

While for single units the +1 to wound is a bit better (not a great difference) the biggest thing for SW is synergy. Wulfen with a wolf Priest get to reroll everything with this trait, giving a pack of 5 2 extra hits. And this compounds. Units that give full rerolls get a far better improvement. Also our Dreads get the invuln, even if nerfed.

[@Lorddacenshadowind]

Also don't forget that hellblaster can be awesome again with the keen senses strat ignoring all -1 penalties

[@barbarrojaa.c.4761]

Joshua Gilbert they are indeed a very solid choice to as are Long Fangs. Keen senses is an excelent stratagem

[@robskovira5626]

Don't count out the +1 hit to characters. Just give them a thunder hammer. A thunder hammer hitting on 2s at typical strength 8. Hell al the unwieldy weapons are now hitting on normal WS.

[@GrasshopperKelly]

I love my land speeder storms.... stick an assault canon on it too...

[@axaldusteliora2956]

No Succesor Chapter Color Schemes?

[@bringbackthebattleships8933]

the space wolves don't have any successor chapters

[@axaldusteliora2956]

Bring back the Battleships They Have with Primaris It's Possible. They even named one. WolfSpear

[@GrasshopperKelly]

"forces that tank to fall back, and then they can't shoot" a friend of mine tried that on my fellblade the first time he fought it :D hehe nope xD

[@doommouse8588]

So, jaws of the world wolf on fortifications or static units anyone? :D

[@lemanruss.107]

You think i havent returned...welp im here ye milksops

[@Eric-ux4wm]

The real question is where is the codex for my space cats

[@travismcgee3603]

you can't for get at -2 to hit you can spam TH and power fist and hit on 3's most of the time

[@anab0lic]

I dont play 40k but those are some fucking cool models.

[@BackofbeyondTech]

at last for the all father

[@lemmers252]

Orkz orkz orkz orkz were da orkz

[@Zilegil]

Desmond Rodriguez in October. We'll get there

[@SizzleCorndog]

well I'm glad I kept my space wolves army under 2000points before the codex came out

[@harbs613]

Is paul gonna make an appearance again?

[@leonardstdoo9441]

I think Winters said he was doing a campaign with him soon.

[@muratferguson4534]

Black TEmplar deserves Chainsword for Primaris MArines !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dumbcow1]

Black Templars deserve....a LOT. Close combat army...in a shooty dex....reroll charge. WHOA!! Its sad.

[@teospower]

Primaris marines are heresy and should only be used for conversions as casulties and tank-thread grease. Same goes for Robot-Frenchie-Girlyman.

[@richarizardplays9619]

i didn't hear anything about wolf scouts.. are they still elite or troops now?

[@MrHenningfalk]

still elite;(

[@klod184]

+1 to hit or to wound is mathematically the same thing. It only matters what other abilities the unit posesses. Like if you have additional attacks on hit rolls of 6+, you want +1 to hit so it triggers on 5+. If you have double damage on wound rolls of 6+, you want +1 to wound for the same reason. Maybe you have units that already wound or hit on 2+, so you want the opposite.

[@roaldhansen6568]

Not really there is quite a large difference between going from a 6+ to a 5+ to going from a 3+ to a 2+. (100% increase in output for the first but only 25% increase for the later) and since high wound rolls tend to be more common that does leave to wound as a better overall stat. (though + to hit does win out for things like thunder hammers)

[@klod184]

You are correct.

[@robskovira5626]

Mathatically they are the same. but personally I would take the +1 to hit. For your characters who are already hitting on 2s, they are just begging to take things like chainfists, thunder hammers, power fists, etc. Which at that point you're also getting the +1/+2 to wound. Also there seems to be more ways to stack attacks, Warlord traits, relics, Certain Characters' special rules etc. Now there seem to be more ways to nerf units abilities to hit over ability to wound. Psychic powers, stratagems, Army traits (usually for ranged attacks but techinally…) which the +1 to hit rolls would go into cancelling out.

[@klod184]

We just figured out that it's not the same. Read Roald's message above.

[@urliktheslayer]

Finally the 8th edition

[@RedLikeRosie]

IT'S HAPPENING!!!

[@Eric-ux4wm]

Well Wolfie my wolf wolf Wolfie wolf

[@DoctorKalkyl]

WolfWolfWolfWolfWolfWolfWolf!

[@INTCUWUSIUA]

Jaws of the world wolf isn't that great really, you're averaging a 7 on 2d6 so against most units it's 1 wound. Even against the slowest targets like Deathshroud or Scarab Occult terminators you're only getting 3 wounds on average.

[@captainchaos3053]

One of the best armies in the original game have been cut down and made weak by the dilution of the game through moaning and crying of the ultra merino types.

[@Hask79]

4+inv on a Blizzard Shield!!! you've got to be kidding me!!!! What kind of crap is this!! It's a kind of Storm Shield for heaven's sake!!! That nerf has serious hampered the viability of Shield Dreads now, as well as the discusting -1 to hit with the Fenrisian Great Axe. Ffs!! I think i'll stick with my Index.

[@TheBeardedAdmiral]

TBF, the shield was too damn good on an already tanky as heck model, as was the axe. It was obvious a NERF was coming, but bear in mind now the axe has two profiles so it can deal with infantry as well as monsters/tanks. Also the Chapter tactic completely negates the -1 to hit, so it's not even worth acknowledging that exists. So it's one minor NERF, with two glorious buffs.

[@Hask79]

3+ to a 4+ is not a minor nerf and i hope the points value represents this nerf, if that is the case then I would still field Ven Dreads but i won't expect them to accomplish the same affect that i'm used to, I don't think they are overpowered, they can still be taken down in a few turns from mass attacks. I'm aware of the buffs (which are certainly great, no doubt about that) and will, to quite a degree, mitigate the -1 nerf, but it seems a shame that a Chapter Tactic has to 'fix' a problem that wasn't an issue before the codex. I'm aware of the new attack mode for the axe, which I like and have no problem with.

[@eobsps]

Pass the salt

[@twilightwyrm]

What buff are you talking about? A worthless "cleave" and a Chapter Tactic that is useless for either weapon profile, until it goes away the next turn and we are back to the -1 nerf? If they wanted to limit the Wulfen Dread to a 4++, fine, but this is a MAJOR nerf for the role the Ven Dread is supposed to play in a SW army. Know what you are talking about before you get dismissive.

[@Lorddacenshadowind]

Twilightwyrm scythe is a buff, cleave can do D6 damage so its not bad. And since the dread is only 135 with the shield and axe Ven dread with them index is 160 so its probably not that expensive 4++ isn't bad, though I wish it was 3++ as well.

[@robertkraciuk2753]

the wulfen models are way over the top, thats all.

[@shogunmage9036]

Too bad they fucked up the printing of the Codex....

[@ramza813]

Saying a prayer Cannis Wolfborn will be actually useful than being a hunk of metal

[@Nasmr1]

All I heard was wolf wolf wolf wolf wolf wolf wolf wolf wolf wolf wolf wolf wolf and wolf

[@TB-ps6wc]

It's amazing how in 40k space wolves are so boss but in 30k they are lame ducks. #worst30Klegion

[@HankWolfgangKTA]

I was very disappointed with this codex. The strategems were not good enough to make this army competitive.

[@johnminer7894]

f

[@Jeremy-rp3in]

Thanks Winters! I love your reviews, but with that said ... Space wolves are gross

[@sifir7538]

Third