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So, looking at Space Wolf Terminators... Compared to vanilla or DA they are 11 points cheaper. (33 each instead of 44.) However, they are all armed with 'Power Weapons' instead of fists. This of course includes Axes. They can also buy Power Fists, but it's 10 points each amd so they're basically as expensive as normal Marines. So the question is... is it worth 10 points to increase their strength by 3? For that matter, considering that they can't buy upgrades for as cheap as other Marines, are they even worth it to take?
It's hard to tell GWs stance on this because when they released the SW codex, power weapons were rather different. (Making these guys a lot better, IMO.) But what's the stance on it now?

Well, the power fist means they can hurt tanks, which is a plus. Also it's the magic number to instant kill most characters at strength 8

Power axes can kill most tanks, given you always hit the rear armour. Fists are more useful against the heavier walkers, MCs, land raiders, monoliths and for IKing multi-wound models. Do you need your terminators to do any of these things? If not then why bother paying extra? If you want a spread of abilities, maybe stick 1 or 2 fists in the squad.

Vanilla termis are only 40 points a pop not 44

I must be thinking of Dark Angel termies then. We do get counter assault too, though, so that helps.

Short answer no. The axe and maul will perform the jobs you need. Attach combi-weapons and you have an awesome unit. SW don't do assault too well, but they do do shooting very well. You have a ghetto stern guard that's harder to kill, has power weapons and throw in PA WG with combis to taste.

I tend to think of it more from a squad perspective rather than a single model perspective. If you upgrade them, you'll get 3 models for 129pts. If you don't, for 132pts you'll get 4 models. Personally I like the sound of the latter more than the former, as I think an extra model is worth more than having increased capacity on less models.

But then it has to be balanced with the rest of your army, if you want them to perform a specific task that requires high strength, you'd upgrade them instead.

Waaaghpower wrote:
I must be thinking of Dark Angel termies then. We do get counter assault too, though, so that helps.

Remember DA terminators get a lot more than just +3 strength for those points. DWA and Vengeful strike alone are pretty nice.

You can also add a terminator to normal squads and have him tank a bunch of shots, dunno which other chapters can do that.

Also keep in mind the SW codex was written long before 6th ed & the change to power weapons.

Also I find the most effective way to run them is a 5 man squad, ONE terminator with CML & Chainfist. Though given the choice I'd pay the 10 pts for a fist over an axe just for the magic ID number.