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So since a Foot Wolf Lord was basically useless in 7th edition, I never bothered assembling mine. With the new edition's aura buffs, unlimited use combi weapons, and changes in the meta, I was thinking of building him again. So what would be a good loadout for a Wolf Lord on foot? A Power Armor one. Or maybe a WGBL. Currently I'm thinking of giving him a combi weapon and possibly a melee weapon of some kind, or should I not bother with the latter and just keep him cheap?

I could turn him into a wolf priest or a rune priest, but the bitz I got for him makes him very wolf-y, so I'd like to keep him as either a lord or battle leader.

EDIT: Probably would help if I mentioned the rest of my army composition. They're still unassembled but the original idea was to go with MSU squads of special weapon Grey Hunters and 2-3 Long fang squads.

Honestly in your position I think I'd wait for the codex and build him to be good when that lands. There's bound to be some relic weapon that replaces something-or-other, so you'll want your guy to have that thing.

I realise that's quite annoying advice. I've no idea when the book will be I'm afraid.

Kinda figured as much. However I'm unsure on the value of melee weapons on a footslogging lord since he neither has the speed nor the amount of attacks to make the best of it.

At minimum take a Storm Shield so he doesn't die to a stiff breeze.

My favorite is just a thunderhammer. 4 attacks hitting on 3s re-rolling 1s with it is pretty good. Mine regularly mess up tanks and daemon princes pretty effectively.

I don't find the SS to be worth the 15 points

If you have the points, a storm bolter is okay too, but isn't required IMO.

Mine runs with TDA, Combi-plas and a Frost axe as that is what I have modelled and he does pretty well. If I were building him for 8th I would take a TH instead.

SS is less important in 8th as ID has gone and you are paying a lot of points to upgrade a 4++ to a 3++.

I actually prefer to run Bjorn in place of a WL on foot if I have the points as he is fantastic in 8th, brings the same reroll aura as a WL and provides an extra CP. I only bring a WL on foot if I cannot afford Bjorn. I normally march him up the field with a squad of Primaris Hellblasters.

I love the smell of burning Xenos in the morning!

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
At minimum take a Storm Shield so he doesn't die to a stiff breeze.

Storm shields for wolf lords are almost useless since they have a 4+ invuln anyway, they're better with 2 wolf claws or just a thunder hammer, eventually with a plasma pistols. They're a needed equipment for battle leaders though, as they have no invuln.

Footslogging lords are not worthy imho, since lord with jump packs, bike or thunderwolf mount are way better for just a few points more, I'd suggest to convert that model into a wolf priest or rune priest.

I might do a wolf priest then. I have a few of those wolf skull decorations I can use for the helmet and some left over winged statue thingys for a crozius.

For Wolf priests, is there any additional equipment (i.e: buyable upgrades, not conversion bits) I need?

Two wolf claws and call it a day. It's cheap, he's scary in CC and still provides his aura reroll buff.

For a wolf priest?

 MechaEmperor7000 wrote:
For a wolf priest?

. Wolf lord per OP. I go back and forth between the wolf Lord and the Wolf priest. Why I often settle on the wolf Lord with the twin claws is that I can march him behind assault Cannon Razorbacks or castle up depending on the mission where the priest is only good for the fight phase. Just something to consider based on the rest of your list.

what about a single wolf claw and a combi weapon? The majority of my wolves are shooty so him being the only melee-kitted guy might stand out a bit.

 MechaEmperor7000 wrote:
Kinda figured as much. However I'm unsure on the value of melee weapons on a footslogging lord since he neither has the speed nor the amount of attacks to make the best of it.

A footslogging lord with a relic weapon often makes for an excellent bodyguard for powerful ranged units that suck in assault (hellblasters, predators, long fangs) so yeah, I'd wait as well unless you're willing to saw off it's arm and replace it when the codex drops.

I shelved my Wolves as well (at least for buying new mini's, might play the occasional game with what I have already) until the codex drops so I can assemble a semi-competitive army when it does.

I generally run mine with a Jump Pack but I'd probably run a foot slogger the same way - twin Wolf Claws for five attacks at S5 with high rending and re-rolls to wound.

 MechaEmperor7000 wrote:
I might do a wolf priest then. I have a few of those wolf skull decorations I can use for the helmet and some left over winged statue thingys for a crozius.

For Wolf priests, is there any additional equipment (i.e: buyable upgrades, not conversion bits) I need?

I think the only reason to take a priest is if you have TWC. You can actually heal them, unlike most other units, and they benefit from the re-rolls to hit quite a bit. But, i think in order for him to keep up, you should put the wolf priest on a bike.

I don't know that you need to give them any special weapons, as the crozius is about as good as normal power weapons, and he only has 3 attacks, but a hammer probably isn't terrible for him.

What i like the lords, or captains in normal SM, for are their ability to act as a counter punch unit in a shooting MSU style list. They can give things re-rolls to hit until the enemy gets close, then hammer things to keep the shooting elements safe. In a typical list with 4 HQs, i think 2 lords, 1 WGBL, and a rune priest works pretty well. I leave 1 lord with a power or frost sword just for the re-rolls, and the other one with a hammer for the counter punch.

Wolf priest work very well also with wulfen, terminator and even blood claws. His most valuable ability is to give the re-roll to any failed to hit roll making melee units very scary, especially those ones with multiple high strenght weapons, like thunder hammers or axes.

When I include a wolf priest (biker or footslogger) I alway bring at least two melee units, typically TWC and wulfen or terminators. Sometimes even a full close combat oriented list with TWC, wulfen and lots of blood claws. I just give him a plasma pistol if I have some points spared, otherwise I run him stock.

I've also tried ulrik the slayer, who is my favorite SW character, but being almost 50% more expensive than a regular wolf priest is clearly overcosted.

One can't call himself Wolf Lord if he walks on foot. Foot Lord maybe.

 Blackie wrote:

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
At minimum take a Storm Shield so he doesn't die to a stiff breeze.

Storm shields for wolf lords are almost useless since they have a 4+ invuln anyway, they're better with 2 wolf claws or just a thunder hammer, eventually with a plasma pistols. They're a needed equipment for battle leaders though, as they have no invuln.

Footslogging lords are not worthy imho, since lord with jump packs, bike or thunderwolf mount are way better for just a few points more, I'd suggest to convert that model into a wolf priest or rune priest.

Well the 3++ over the 4++ is a 15 point upgrade. To make sure he won't die I can't see how that's not worth the points.

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:

 Blackie wrote:

Slayer-Fan123 wrote:
At minimum take a Storm Shield so he doesn't die to a stiff breeze.

Storm shields for wolf lords are almost useless since they have a 4+ invuln anyway, they're better with 2 wolf claws or just a thunder hammer, eventually with a plasma pistols. They're a needed equipment for battle leaders though, as they have no invuln.

Footslogging lords are not worthy imho, since lord with jump packs, bike or thunderwolf mount are way better for just a few points more, I'd suggest to convert that model into a wolf priest or rune priest.

Well the 3++ over the 4++ is a 15 point upgrade. To make sure he won't die I can't see how that's not worth the points.

Too bad they don't do the TH/SS combo deal this edition. It was a cute attempt to get a discount if you took a thematic loadout...too bad melee sucked.

On a related note, How are Lone Wolves? Or is it just better to straight up take more Wolf Lords considering the Supreme command Detachment is a thing?

Typically i would say lone wolves are not worth it. They cost almost as much as HQ choices, and do a lot less for your army without having re-rolls.

As for the storm shield, you are increasing the cost of the lord by about 15% (assuming he has a hammer as well) to reduce his wounds taken (from weapons with AP values) by 1/3rd. Typically I would say that this is not worth it as an auto include, but possibly is a worthwhile upgrade in one of those odd scenarios where you have like 40 points left over to build a list. That being said, something like a combi-plasma might be better, but ymmv.

For normal space marines, I've been giving my captain the Santic Halo relic for a 3++ and deny the witch, which i like quite a bit. Hopefully the space wolves get something like that when their book drops.

jcd386 wrote:
Typically i would say lone wolves are not worth it. They cost almost as much as HQ choices, and do a lot less for your army without having re-rolls.

As for the storm shield, you are increasing the cost of the lord by about 15% (assuming he has a hammer as well) to reduce his wounds taken (from weapons with AP values) by 1/3rd. Typically I would say that this is not worth it as an auto include, but possibly is a worthwhile upgrade in one of those odd scenarios where you have like 40 points left over to build a list. That being said, something like a combi-plasma might be better, but ymmv.

For normal space marines, I've been giving my captain the Santic Halo relic for a 3++ and deny the witch, which i like quite a bit. Hopefully the space wolves get something like that when their book drops.

Personally I'm hoping for Claws of Morkai V2, my Lord on Thunderwolf with wolf claws that I put so much time in painting (one of my first completely painted models) still needs to make it's tabletop debut (finished him just as the transition from 7th to 8th hit)

Pandabeer wrote:

jcd386 wrote:
Typically i would say lone wolves are not worth it. They cost almost as much as HQ choices, and do a lot less for your army without having re-rolls.

As for the storm shield, you are increasing the cost of the lord by about 15% (assuming he has a hammer as well) to reduce his wounds taken (from weapons with AP values) by 1/3rd. Typically I would say that this is not worth it as an auto include, but possibly is a worthwhile upgrade in one of those odd scenarios where you have like 40 points left over to build a list. That being said, something like a combi-plasma might be better, but ymmv.

For normal space marines, I've been giving my captain the Santic Halo relic for a 3++ and deny the witch, which i like quite a bit. Hopefully the space wolves get something like that when their book drops.

Personally I'm hoping for Claws of Morkai V2, my Lord on Thunderwolf with wolf claws that I put so much time in painting (one of my first completely painted models) still needs to make it's tabletop debut (finished him just as the transition from 7th to 8th hit)

Don't put it past GW to make the optimal Thunderwolf loadout an axe and gun since most people already have claws and TH/SS TWC.

Magnets go a long way on TWC.

I made mine have a jumppack with combi plas and a relic blade. That's as close to footslogging as I'll let him go.

It'll be neat to jump over enemy lines and cut down enemy characters with my own troops crashing their lines

The reason for the foot thing is because this is how the model is. I have plenty of Jump Lords already and so forth. I think I've settled on giving him a Hammer and a Combi Weapon of some sort (so he can contribute to shooting). Part of the reason for the hammer is...because it just looks cool. And it doesn't sound half bad either.

Currently considering making him a rune priest instead. It sounds like a Wolf Priest is better with Terminator Armor and then have him teleport in with the close range stuff (and other terminators).

jcd386 wrote:
Magnets go a long way on TWC.

I know, magnetised mine at the waist - for some reason I always make a mess double pinning the shoulders or have weapons that flop when I single pin with bigger magnets.

 MechaEmperor7000 wrote:
The reason for the foot thing is because this is how the model is. I have plenty of Jump Lords already and so forth. I think I've settled on giving him a Hammer and a Combi Weapon of some sort (so he can contribute to shooting). Part of the reason for the hammer is...because it just looks cool. And it doesn't sound half bad either.

Currently considering making him a rune priest instead. It sounds like a Wolf Priest is better with Terminator Armor and then have him teleport in with the close range stuff (and other terminators).

He won't have strong shooting unless there s gonna be a relic. Like I said, a Storm Shield goes a long way to making sure your buffer doesn't die as fast

Not really, if it's a Wolf Lord it has a 4+Invulnerable save and can't be targeted if you have any models closer than he is unless they're using Sniper weapons that have almost as good a chance of dealing mortal wounds as dealing a wound of any kind.

 Dakka Wolf wrote:
Not really, if it's a Wolf Lord it has a 4+Invulnerable save and can't be targeted if you have any models closer than he is unless they're using Sniper weapons that have almost as good a chance of dealing mortal wounds as dealing a wound of any kind.

And 2 Plasma Shots or 4 Bolter shots is better than protecting your buffing commander when the enemy gets through your meat shields?