Space Wolves (Warhammer 40,000): Army Guide and What to Buy

Space Wolves are a Space Marine chapter from the death world of Fenris, and they suit players who like fast, aggressive armies with plenty of character. They are a good choice if you enjoy close combat, big heroes and a Norse-flavoured look. The easiest way in is the Combat Patrol: Space Wolves box, then add characters and elite units as you go.

What are the Space Wolves in Warhammer 40,000?

The Space Wolves are one of the best-known chapters of Space Marines. They are loyal to the Imperium but fiercely independent, and they follow their own customs rather than the standard codex structure used by many other chapters. Their home world of Fenris is a frozen, brutal place, and the army draws heavily on Viking imagery: wolf pelts, fangs, runes, axes and long-bearded veterans.

Their leader is Logan Grimnar, the Great Wolf. Around him are Wolf Lords, Wolf Priests, Rune Priests and Iron Priests, each with a different job within the Great Company structure. If you are new to the wider game, our Warhammer 40,000 guide explains the basics, and the Space Marines guide covers the wider family the Space Wolves belong to.

How do Space Wolves play?

Space Wolves are an aggressive, close-combat-leaning Space Marine army. They still have solid shooting, but their identity is getting stuck in with durable infantry, fast cavalry and powerful characters. Expect to move forward, use your mobile units to threaten the opponent's flanks and trade blows in melee.

That makes them a forgiving army for newer players who like to be active on the table. They also reward good positioning, because fast units are only useful if they arrive where you want them.

Where should I start a Space Wolves army?

The best first purchase is the Combat Patrol: Space Wolves set. It gives you a usable force in one box, and it is designed to be played as it comes. From there, the following steps work well:

1. Add a troops unit, such as Grey Hunters, to hold objectives.
2. Add a character to lead the force, ideally Logan Grimnar or a priest.
3. Add a transport or fast unit to give the army reach.
4. Add one or two elite units that match how you want to play.

Building in small steps keeps the project manageable and lets you paint each unit before the next one arrives.

Which Space Wolves kits are the core of the army?

Troops

Grey Hunters are the dependable veterans of the chapter and the natural backbone of most armies. Blood Claws are the younger, more reckless warriors, and they suit a hard-charging style. Both are good ways to build up the numbers on the table.

Fast and mobile units

Fenris is famous for its giant wolves, and Thunderwolf Cavalry is the kit that best captures that. It is a striking miniature and a strong centrepiece unit. For something lighter and quicker, the Land Speeder and the Inceptor Squad give you flexible, mobile options. To get infantry across the board, the Space Marines Rhino is a straightforward and reliable transport.

Elite and heavy units

Wolf Guard Terminators are the heavily armoured elite of the chapter. Wolf Guard Headtakers add another close-combat veteran option. For walkers, the Venerable Dreadnought (the Spanish-edition packaging of the kit) and the Wulfen Dreadnought bring ancient warriors and the chapter's wild side onto the battlefield.

Wulfen

The Space Wolves Wulfen set represents warriors whose inner beast has taken hold. They are among the most distinctive miniatures in the range and a good pick if you want something different from standard power armour.

Who are the Space Wolves characters worth knowing?

Space Wolves have an unusually strong roster of named characters, and many players build around one of them.

• Logan Grimnar is the Great Wolf and the figurehead of the chapter.
• Ragnar Blackmane is a Wolf Lord known for his youth and boldness.
• Arjac Rockfist is a veteran champion who suits a Terminator-led force.
• Njal Stormcaller is a High Rune Priest, the army's psychic voice.
• Ulrik the Slayer is an old Wolf Priest and a symbol of the chapter's traditions.

If you prefer generic support characters, the Wolf Priest and the Iron Priest are both useful and give you a flavourful way to lead and support your units. The Space Wolves Primaris Upgrades set is worth a look if you want your newer Primaris miniatures to carry the same wolf styling as the rest of your army.

How do I paint a Space Wolves army?

Space Wolves are traditionally painted in a cool grey armour scheme, often with warm accents such as fur, leather, bone and brass. The look is easy to learn and gives good results with a modest paint collection. Because the armour is a single dominant colour, it also scales well when you are painting a full squad.

If you have never painted a miniature, start with our guide on how to start painting Warhammer miniatures. When you are ready to pick colours, the Citadel and Warhammer Colour paints guide explains the paint types and how they work together. A practical tip: paint one test model fully before you commit to a whole squad.

Which rules and books should I read?

For rules, check the current Space Wolves publication and the core rules for the edition you are playing, since army rules are updated over time. We do not list rules details here because they change.

For background, Bjorn: The Fell-handed (Hardback) is a good way to meet one of the chapter's most famous Dreadnoughts through fiction. It is a natural companion to a Dreadnought model if you want to give your army some story.

Space Wolves FAQ

Are Space Wolves good for beginners?

Yes. Their straightforward, aggressive style is easy to understand, and the Combat Patrol box gives you a ready-made force. The main skill to learn is moving your fast units sensibly so they reach combat when you want them to.

Are Space Wolves different from other Space Marines?

They are Space Marines, so they share a lot of kits and tactics with the wider range. What sets them apart is their culture, their wolf-themed units and their close-combat emphasis. Many generic Space Marine kits, such as the Rhino and Land Speeder, work well in a Space Wolves army.

What is the best first model to buy?

The Combat Patrol is the most efficient start because it gives you several units at once. If you would rather buy a single kit, Grey Hunters or Logan Grimnar are both sensible first choices.

Can I mix Space Wolves with other Space Marine models?

Often yes, and many players do, especially with transports and fast units. How you can field them depends on the current rules, so check the latest publications before building a list.

Do I need to buy every character?

No. Most armies use only a small number of characters at a time. Choose one or two that suit your play style and build the rest of the army around them.

Related guides

• Warhammer at Universe TCG: the complete buying guide
• Warhammer 40,000
• Space Marines (Warhammer 40,000)
• T'au Empire (Warhammer 40,000)
• Thousand Sons (Warhammer 40,000)
• Tyranids (Warhammer 40,000)
• Orks (Warhammer 40,000)
• Citadel and Warhammer Colour paints: the complete guide
• How to start painting Warhammer miniatures