In Defence of the Space Wolves: A Response to

[@twilightwyrm]

Something to note about the Axe Morkai: in lore it is a Power Axe forged by Khorne, NOT a Daemon Weapon like the Black Blade of Antwyr. The Imperium has done this sort of thing multiple times, such as with the STC for the Las-Impulsor now used by the Knight Preceptors.

[@hardlyheroic114]

That's a great point. Also, if the axe was forged by khorne, it might not even have a daemon inside of it. It might just be a spiky axe. I couldn't find a source for whether or not it was a demon weapon so I chose to make the argument that even if it was, it would probably be something weaker. It's totally (well relatively) safer if its not even a daemon weapon.

[@rankcolour8780]

@@hardlyheroic114 Secondary to that is the idea that SW actually all must pass a test vs Chaos temptation before they are allowed to complete the implantation process. Every single one of the hairy buggers has to complete the "Gates of Morkai" test where they are intentionally exposed to Chaos temptation, if they fail they die. If we are all fine with other Chapters specifically making their marines chaos resistant is it too much of a stretch to say the Wolves do the same? It's not as mary sue as some other chapters who are basically immune to possession, it just makes them all tried and tested vs Chaos temptations. Seem pretty do-able for one of the strongest, oldest, powerful marines in a chapter that tests for Chaos resistance to be able to hold a Chaos axe and not instantly flip sides.

[@hardlyheroic114]

@@rankcolour8780 That's true!

[@MistaBaze]

I’m brand new to 40k and I can’t even explain how good it felt to hear someone say something good about the vlka fenryka.

[@hardlyheroic114]

You're welcome! The Vlka Fenryka have really grown on me in recent years and I think they're way more maligned than they should be. This channel is a fierce defender of factions people don't like like Bretonnia, Space Wolves etc.

[@LemanoftheRussIV]

GW will correct the mistakes. Its widely known to everyone, including the company that made them, that the wolf wolf wolf wolf wolf aspect isnt what people want. They are going to get a range refresh. Ive been collecting and playing them since third edition.

[@hardlyheroic114]

@@LemanoftheRussIV I think a lot of people think we're still stuck in warhammer 5th edition.

[@MistaBaze]

@@LemanoftheRussIV I didn’t think EVERYTHING had wolf in but as long as I’m not called a furry or a dog ‘lover’ I’m all for it. Heck I was even thinking about making a chapter that rejected the spacewolves and embraced their mars heritage. Tho I think I’m too green to be making my own chapter 😂

[@rankcolour8780]

I feel like you missed a pretty big beat in your points on the psyk stuff. Psykers and sorcerers are not the same thing. Apart from being given a sanctioned exception, which we learn from Malcador, to continue to use his psyk priests (something which Russ feels is hypocritical) the difference between what the Thousands Sons were doing - which is using pet Daemons to add to their powers - and Russ lads using "the spirit of Fenris" as a way to focus their power is night and day. A big enough difference that the Emperor and Malcador allowed Russ to continue using his psykers after Nikea (see Wolfsbane novel). No matter what us readers think it cannot trump the in-world justification that what they were doing was seen as fine to continue by the highest authority possible on these matters, the Emperor and Malcador. If they say it's not the same we have to assume it's not the same. You don't even need to construct an argument irl to defend that side of things if there is one in-lore.

[@hardlyheroic114]

You make a good point.

[@StoneColdSteel]

Ok the rune priests magic is limited to what 30 marines in his whole chapter and maybe 300 in his whole legion at their height. To put that into perspective I guarantee you there are TRILLIONS of psychers in just the imperial guard alone, especially is there are quintillions of guardsmen spread across the galaxy. I think it’s very reasonable if at most 1000 or so people from that planet have warp power based on their beliefs. When you put it into perspective the rune priests power really isn’t super excessive.

[@crazyscotsman9327]

I do like the idea of the Space Wolves a lot. Like I said in your Bretonia video. I love the idea of good aligned Barbarians. And the Space Wolves are basically that. GW give us good aligned barbarians for AoS and the Old World!

[@hardlyheroic114]

Thank you.

[@cubaj8723]

I think you could argue that Dwarf slayers fit the general barbarian archetype. Don’t wear much clothes, fighting on a death quest, rages (in the case of Norse Dwarf Berserkers). Now wether you want to count the Dwarfs, and slayers especially, as “good” is up to you. But they’re definetly on the side of order.

[@sithyuu7696]

It's true that he is by no means a saint or holy in any capacity, but not villainous or evil either, you could say... he is... Hardly Heroic

[@hardlyheroic114]

I can't believe I didn't think of this joke

[@sithyuu7696]

@@hardlyheroic114 now you have it Mr.Heroic ☝

[@jalejablonsky2396]

This was a reasonable response. This would have been so easy turn into a hate fest but you acted kindly and understanding. Really my only real focus was the Fenris belief in planet thing and the viking historical hit piece. Demon weapons can be explained by saying not all demon weapons are stupidly powerful and 40k likes to play fast and loose with plot armor especially speaking on the space marines since they're the golden child GW loves to spoil. Nice to know we all can be reasonable isn't that right, Twitter?

[@hardlyheroic114]

Contrary to perceptions, I don't actually hate pancreas no work. I'm actually a fan which is why I make these videos.

[@dredgenauryx3382]

I love the Space Wolves as much as I hate them. Seeing as I am primarily a Thousand Sons fan... that's quite a lot... I absolutly despise them for what happened to Prospero and the sons of Magnus... But something about my finnish blood doesn't allow me to not love them...

[@skeith1543]

I mean, the guy hates Bretonnia and Space Wolves like some people Hate my Elves. Don't think I've forgotten the dwarf favoritism from last time. :)

[@hardlyheroic114]

Dying on the hill is what dwarves do

[@skeith1543]

@@hardlyheroic114 and there many more stunties to die still. At the very least, i know that the dwarfs will die out from population loss before the Elves do.

[@clonetf141]

in regards to ragnar fighitng gazghul: ragnar and gazghul were OG nemesis, Yarrick came in later into the mix and because Yarrick is simply a better character, his rivalry with gazh is overhyped, just how the fanbase overhyped his death in being from angron and thinking he and gazh are gonna fight

[@hardlyheroic114]

I think sometimes the fanbase overly fixates on things. Like when they turned a simple polite conversation between Roboute and Yvraine into a romance.

[@crazyscotsman9327]

Allow the Roboute and Yvraine romance. ;) I just want to see the Emperor's head explode when one of his sons gets with an Eldar. @@hardlyheroic114

[@hardlyheroic114]

This might be me, but I don't think the Emperor would care.

[@kingjonstarkgeryan8573]

@@crazyscotsman9327 Please, we all know why the Emperor actually built the webaway project.

[@crazyscotsman9327]

@@kingjonstarkgeryan8573 Ya he wanted them Eldar hotties.

[@akumaking1]

What will you disagree with him on next? Ogres being the happiest in any Warhammer setting?

[@hardlyheroic114]

Their society seems extremely dysfunctional.

[@manaburnt5084]

This 💜 was 💜 perfection. Thank you

[@hardlyheroic114]

You're welcome.

[@ridgerunnersp]

Thank you for that thoughtful reflection. Honestly though, we all know that Space Wolves are just Giga Chad, and the people that hate are salty betas lol. But for real, the only meme more tired than what GW has done to the Wolves is the meme of people who have such strong negative feelings towards the chapter. Yes, I am proudly biased, I started playing them in 3e when they were much less wolfy. Still wolfy to be sure, but not so excessive as they are now. I was away from the game for over 20 years and came back like wth is Wulfen? It feels like someone In the GW creative department came into power, who had a vendetta against the SW. The fact remains though, they are one of the most widely played chapters and GW has financial incentive to cater the the player base. I'm excited to see what we get over the next few years.

[@hardlyheroic114]

I think the future is only going to be brighter for the wolves. They are one of the stronger chapters, and when they get a codex, I'm hopeful it will be a good one. Also lore wise, I think there's a huge amount of potential for them especially with the possible return of Leman Russ.

[@helenbotha6479]

niche video essays my beloved. Good video :)

[@hardlyheroic114]

Thanks!

[@NANA-lq5md]

We all know the first legion is the best.

[@hardlyheroic114]

Dark Angels are cool.

[@discountplaguedoctor88]

There's another reason the Space Wolves suck that Pancreas didn't bring up at any point in his video on why the Wolves just suck: the way they generally behave in 30K. I'm not referring to just the hypocrisy regarding the Warp here, there are so many instances in the Horus Heresy where they do something incredibly stupid (you think Prospero was the only example? It's not!) that the story basically bends over backwards just to appease them and the worst elements of their player base. For one example, there's an incident where some Space Wolves interrupt a meeting between Guilliman and the Lion (basically how Cato Sicarius makes his debut in TTS, but so much worse) and they have the gall to act as if the entire point of a meeting between two Primarchs (basically them mending relations with each other in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy) is absolutely worthless compared to satisfying Fenrisian honor (the reason the Dog in question is screeching about honor basically boils down to 'the Lion kicked Russ's ass in a brawl and the Space Wolves can be pretty sore losers').