In this ongoing series we present an accessible and thematic starting list for each of the 18 Space Marine Legions. Each list utilizes the Age of Darkness starter set as a foundation from which to build a 2,000 point list using as few additional components as possible from readily available official plastic kits.

To build this force yourself you’ll need:

1 Age of Darkness Starter Set
1 Legion Cataphractii Praetor & Chaplain Consul

Call them the VI Legion, the Rout, the Vlka Fenryka, the Wolves of Fenris but whatever you do, don’t call them the Space Wolves unless you want them to call you a poser. Whatever you call them, the Space Wolves are one of the meanest of the 18 surviving space marine legions at the beginning of the Heresy (and they maybe had something to do with why there aren’t still 20 legions but they’re not telling). Space Wolves excel at getting into close combat quickly, firing bolters wildly all the way there and the Age of Darkness box set gives you a great core of forces to build upon. For this list the only additional purchase needed is a Cataphractii Praetor (being utilized as a Pack Thegn here). This list utilizes the Space Wolves unique Rite of War, The Bloodied Claw. Combined with your upgraded characters this force can get across the table with shocking speed and even your lowly tactical marines will hit with a shocking strength.

Like most of our starter series armies, this forces is built around a pair of 20-man strong Tactical Squads, in this case, armed with chain bayonets. Rounding these out is a squad of ten cataphractii terminators in a Landraider Spartan. Each of these squads is backed up by one of your three characters, two of them granting the whole unit the Skirmish ability allowing them to spread out widely to minimize incoming template attacks and improved Cover Saves. Between these abilities your unique advanced reaction, No Prey Escapes the Wolf, the inherent Bestial Savagery bonus for all of your infantry (run, snap shoot, AND then charge!!) combined with your once per game Warlord ability Howl of Morkai and the Bloody Claw once per game from your Rite of War your army excels at moving quickly into position and then performing a truly brutal strike on the game turn of your choosing. Finally a Contemptor dreadnought armed with a gravis lascannon gives you some much needed punch against heavy armor or other dreadnoughts.

The only item you won’t use for this list is the Chaplain Consul packaged with the Cataphractii Praetor but he’ll be great conversion fodder to build another Pack Thegn. It seems to me like you might want to liberally pepper an army with those centurions so having a spare seems handy as you build your force out to 3,000 points and beyond.

++ 1. Crusade Force Organisation Chart (LA – VI: Space Wolves) [1,998Pts] ++

+ Allegiance: +

Allegiance: Loyalist

VI: Space Wolves

+ Rite of War: +

Rite of War: The Bloodied Claw (SW)

+ HQ: [392Pts] +

Centurion [102Pts]: (Pack Thegn) Grant unit the Skirmish Sub-type, Pack Thegn [10Pts]
. Pack Thegn [92Pts]: Artificer Armour, Bolter [2Pts], Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Refractor Field
. . Plasma Pistol [10Pts]
. . Power Weapon [20Pts]: Frost Sword [5Pts]

Centurion, Cataphractii [110Pts]: (Pack Thegn) Grant unit the Skirmish Sub-type, Pack Thegn [10Pts]
. Legion Cataphractii Centurion [15Pts]: Cataphractii Terminator Armour, Chainfist [15Pts], Combi-Bolter, Legiones Astartes (X)

Praetor [180Pts]: Howl of Morkai, Warlord
. Jarl [180Pts]: Artificer Armour, Frag Grenades, Iron Halo, Jarl [10Pts], Krak Grenades, Master of the Legion, Master-craft one weapon [10Pts]
. . Archaeotech Pistol [15Pts]
. . Power Weapon [25Pts]: Great Frost Blade [10Pts]

+ Elites: [1,060Pts] +

Contemptor Dreadnought Talon [195Pts]
. Contemptor Dreadnought [195Pts]: Atomantic Deflector, Combi-Bolter, Gravis Lascannon [20Pts], Gravis Power Fist with in-built ranged weapon

Terminator Cataphractii Squad [865Pts]: Cataphractii Terminator Armour
. Cataphractii [45Pts]: Chainfist [15Pts], Combi-Bolter
. Cataphractii [40Pts]: Combi-Bolter, Power Fist [10Pts]
. Cataphractii Sergeant [20Pts]: Chainfist [15Pts], Combi-Bolter, Grenade Harness [5Pts]
. Cataphractii w/Heavy Weapon (1 in 5) [35Pts]: Heavy Flamer [5Pts]
. . Power Weapon: Power Sword
. Cataphractii w/Heavy Weapon (1 in 5) [35Pts]: Heavy Flamer [5Pts]
. . Power Weapon: Power Sword
. 5x Cataphractii w/Lightning Claws [200Pts]: 5x Pair of Lightning Claws
. Land Raider Spartan [435Pts]
. . Land Raider Spartan [435Pts]: 2x Lascannon Destroyer, Flare Shield [50Pts], Hull (Front) Mounted Hunter-Killer Missile [5Pts], Hull (Front) Mounted Twin-linked Lascannon [25Pts], Legiones Astartes (X), Searchlights [5Pts], Smoke Launchers

+ Troops: [546Pts] +

Tactical Squad [278Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Power Armour
. Legion Tactical Sergeant [10Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Lightning Claw [10Pts], Power Armour
. 16x Legionaries (collective) [192Pts]: 16x Bolt Pistol, 16x Bolter, 16x Chain Bayonet [32Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Augury Scanner [10Pts], Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts], Legion Vexilla [10Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts], Nuncio-Vox [10Pts]

Tactical Squad [268Pts]: Frag Grenades, Krak Grenades, Power Armour
. Legion Tactical Sergeant [10Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Lightning Claw [10Pts], Power Armour
. 16x Legionaries (collective) [192Pts]: 16x Bolt Pistol, 16x Bolter, 16x Chain Bayonet [32Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Augury Scanner [10Pts], Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [12Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts]
. Legionary w/ Options: [22Pts]: Bolt Pistol, Bolter, Chain Bayonet [2Pts], Nuncio-Vox [10Pts]

++ Total: [1,998Pts] ++