Space Wolves Codex Review: Relics of the Fang

Hey everyone, Reecius here again with another Space Wolves Codex review! Today we’ll be looking at the Relics of the Fang.

Rating System

• Competitive: This is a codex entry (unit, stratagem, item, etc.) that has a place in essentially any competitive list built with this faction regardless of unit choices or is the source of a significant force multiplication effect for other units.
• Efficient: This is a codex entry that can stand on its own merit in a matched play list but works best when combo’d up with other units or in specific situations to become very powerful but may not always be seen.
• Situational: This is a codex entry that may not pass as competitive on its own merits but can be made effective in a creative list, as a meta-buster, or in a specific combo or scenario where it ratchets up in power to potentially very high strength but otherwise will not be seen very often.

The Space Wolves have some very solid Relics, some of which are strand-outs.

Relics of the Fang

• Krakenbane Sword:  Replaces the model’s Frost Sword with the following profile: Strength +1, AP-4, 1 Damage.
  • This weapon falls into the good but not great category. If you use it, you will be happy with it but there are more efficient choices, IMO. If you take a pair of Wolf Claws you lose the AP but gain another attack and don’t use your relic. However, the sword does allow you to also take something like a Storm Shield. Efficient.
• The Armour of Russ: Gives the model a 4++ and you may choose one enemy unit within 1″ at the start of the fight phase and make them fight last.
  • The always fight last/first abilities are very underrated. They allow you get so much more mileage out of the fight phase. Slap this on a Wolf Guard Battle Leader or Rune Priest (as they lack an invul save) and go into melee with your other units and you can now stop the scariest unit your opponent has from swinging until you have. Likewise, if a unit charges you, you can slow their momentum quite a bit. For an army that gets stuck in in most games, this is a great choice for a relic. Competitive.
• Black Death: Replaces a Frost Axe with the following profile: Strength +2, AP-2, 1 Damage, +D3 attacks.
  • Again, good but not great. If you choose to use it you won’t be mad you did but there’s just better or similar weapons that don’t take up a relic slot. Further, I’d rather have the Krakenbane Sword if I were looking to take one of the relic weapons. Situational.
• The Helm of Durfast: You can re-roll failed hit rolls for this model’s ranged attacks and you ignore cover.
  • Not bad. Not great, either and certainly the weakest of the relics, IMO. There’s just not a lot of units that can make really good use of this and those that do already generally hit on 2’s re-rolling 1’s to hit so it isn’t likely going to be seen often. Situational.
• The Wulfen Stone: The bearer has a 3″ +1 attack aura that impacts Infantry, Bikers and Cavalry but not Wulfen or units affected by the Wulfen bonuses.
  • This one is amazing and it in conjunction with some of the other bonus such as Saga of the Wulkin, you get some crazy bonuses in melee. This is an all-star Relic and will be by far the most commonly taken. Competitive.
• Frostfury: Replaces a model’s Storm Bolter with the following profile: 24″, Assault 4, Strength 4, AP-1, 2 Damage.
  • As far as the shooting relics go, this is a really good one. The potential damage output is very high and on a Wolf Lord, also going to be very accurate. Not at all a bad choice although you may think twice about it if you have to spend CP to take it or choose between it and the Armour of Russ, for example. Still, a very solid weapon. Efficient.

~We’ll back back soon with more Space Wolf articles!

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Author: Reece Robbins

Reece Robbins, is one of the most respected names in tabletop gaming. He founded Frontline Gaming and the largest Warhammer 40K tournament in the world, the Las Vegas Open. Reece has been playing competitively and covering Warhammer since the 1980s. He has won major events including Adepticon.