Horus Heresy 3e Review: Speaker of the Dead

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars. Chaplain and Apothecary combined makes a unique command choice for the Space Wolves.

Background.

Blood soaked priests of the Cult of Morkai which represent the Fenris death-wolf, it really is a wonder that the Emperor permitted such near heresy given what the Word Bearers already believed in and he sought to wipe out. Regardless, the speaker of the dead combines the role of the Chaplain to prosecute wars with inspiring rites, and also the role of the Apothecary thus serving as a field medic. 

Strengths. 

As befits this dual role, the character comes with both a narthecium and a crozius arcanum. The also have the Medic rule on a 5+ which is fairly standard. They shine in the advanced characteristics department with a cool of 10 and leadership of 9 which befits their station. The rest of the stats are quite good overall. 

Weaknesses. 

There is very little customization beyond what armour they might wear or what bike they might be mounted upon. Otherwise, they are certainly worth their points cost to my mind and want to be played very aggressively. 

Builds.

Speaker of the Dead with Jump Pack and melta bombs (125 points).

I went straight to the jump pack option here, but a foot slogging version is also fine if you have a transport solution.  

Speaker of the Dead in Terminator Armour of your choice, Combi-Flamer (130 points). 

Terminator variation.

Speaker of the Dead on Jetbike with Multi-Melta (150 points).

Getting more expensive here, but the fast movement remains very attractive and the character would presumably be well embedded in a similar squad.  

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Grey Slayer Pack

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded down. The rules are above average. 

Background.

The Space Wolves started to do away with the older Terran way of warfare once the Fenrisians started to be recruited in numbers. The usual disciplined and focused cogs in the wheel that the tactical squad were became replaced with Grey Slayer Packs. More akin to autonomous commands at the squad level, these packs are warbands in and of themselves and expected to take on challenges on their own terms. 

Strengths. 

Standard space marine stat line combined with some upgrade possibilities makes this squad the Space Wolves version of the Tactical Squad or Breacher Squad perhaps (combat shields and not boarding shields - to be clear). 

They have Line (2) and come standard with Fenrisian Axes and Combat Shields which makes them adept for taking on many targets. 

Weaknesses. 

Tactical squads, sure. But you are paying a points cost increase for those axes and shields - even higher than a breacher squad. And that leadership value doesn't exactly inspire. 

Builds.

10 Grey Slayers, 2 plasma pistols, legion vexilla, Huscarl with, thunder hammer, melta bombs (190 points). 

Very much kitted out for close combat duty here with a sting in the shooting from the plasma before charging. Put another plasma pistol on the Huscarl to taste. 

10 Grey Slayers, 2 Power Fists, Huscarl with power fist (200 points).
Triple power fist threat. Tempting to equip the rest with bolt guns and chain bayonets. 

10 Grey Slayers, 2 Hand Flamers, Huscarl with Hand Flamer and Power Fist (175 points)
Lots of fire! Expand to 20 members and get 2 more hand flamers perhaps?

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Deathsworn Pack

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded down. The rules are above average. 

Background.

The Space Wolves dirty little secret. In the background, it is noted that many legions have such dirty little secrets: those marines who have killed too many and grown hollow inside. Some legions love it and will promote them. Others hide them in shame or corral them into certain units to expire as quickly as possible. Yet further destroy them. These marines are the ones that will become Wolfen in 40k, but here in the Heresy that hasn't had enough time to happen yet.

Strengths. 

Two wounds combined with the Ymira class stasis bombs makes for a reasonable close combat squad. Those grenades provide a lower charge roll for anyone going against them - presumably they slow down. 

The ability to add rad and melta bombs in the legacies update make them very strong. 

The Dreams of the Death Wolf special rule allows them to make a final attack before being removed as casualties. This is at S=5 and AP=3 which will create a back blow, and the breaching will only help that. 

Weaknesses. 

I think you should really choose for rad or melta here and get into combat as quickly as possible. Any other use is not going to be a good use of points really. Play them as a destroyer squad, of course.

Beyond this, Leadership of 8 remains an issue here. 

Builds.

10 Deathsworn, Rad Grenades, 2 Thunder Hammers (385points). 

A standard configuration that will do reasonably well. I like the rad grenades, but if you are going for melta and close up tank hunting, I'd recommend just switching them out rather than taking both (same points cost). 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Varagyr Wolf Guard Terminator Squad

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5/5 stars. Rounded down. The rules are sound overall, but the points cost tally up fast. 

Background.

The personal guard of Russ, hand picked, and to a man each a legend in his own right. They forego the right to lead their own squads and no longer seek glory for themselves but lay down their lives for the primarch of the Space Wolves and act where he direct his personal pack.

Strengths. 

Cataphractii style terminators with fear and vanguard (4) that also entertainingly come under Elites for the Space Wolves. The frost axes will also slice through enemies with contempt. 

They come with the Lordsbane special rule which means that if the Thegn survives a challenge, then you get bonuses for the combat resolution per surviving Varagyr. This means that you should always be aiming for large style squads where possible. 

Weaknesses. 

The points cost adds up fast here thanks to the frost axes and suite of special rules. I'm torn about this facet since other terminator squads can do the job better, but by the same token, you are nearly always going to win combat resolution if the Thegn survives his challenger. The sheer lack of customization upon release is very surprising -- now cleared up in legacies. 

Builds.

10 Varagyr (475 points). 

A scary proposition, and a lot of points. Limit it to 5 members if you are playing a smaller points value game.

5 Varagyr, 2 Thunder Hammers, Thegn with grenade harness (275 points).

A more versatile squad. 

5 Varagyr, 4 Chain Fists, 2 Combi-Meltas, Thegn with grenade harness (315 points).

Anti-vehicle. 

5 Varagyr, 4 Power Fists, 2 Reaper Autocannons, Vexilla, Thegn with Frost Sword and grenade harness (335 points).

Multi-purpose squad. 

Salamanders Disintegrator Squad

One completed Salamanders squad armed with disintegrators!

Sure, the colour scheme for the rifles is certainly non-standard, but I think this is a strength. They are easy to pick out on the table top set against bolt gun toting space marines from the same legion. There's also a certain element of "popping" with the complementary colours. 

The contrast paint has also held up well to highlighting and more recess work with Nuln oil too which I am pleased with. Overall, a very nice addition to my Salamanders and shattered legions forces. I'll try to see how they play soon as well. Which is to say, will they blow themselves up before accounting for another unit or not?! 

Horus Heresy 3e Review: Wolf-Kin of Russ

Warpstone Flux Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

3/5 stars. The rules are average. 

Background.

There are no Wolves on Fenris. 

Except the humans who might or might not have mutated into new forms. Freki and Geri are two of the largest versions of them, whatever the Fenrisian Wolves origin. 

Body guards - certainly. Pets? Perhaps. Huge giant creatures that are also intelligent and capable of snapping mortal men in half with their teeth - absolutely. 

Strengths. 

Only Leman Russ can join this unit, and they come with an array of special rules and a nice stat line. 

Geri is that stand out with WS=7, but Freki is also good with WS=5. The latter also has one more attack. 

Their teeth and claws come with breaching and 2 damage to cause some serious carnage. They also have fear, heedless, feel no pain and are fast. 

Weaknesses. 

Loyalist only of course. They are fast at movement = 10, but their advanced characteristics leave them open to statuses. 

Overall.

Think of them as extra wounds for Russ and you are probably doing well. The points cost is reasonable as well, although clearly the saving throws are not superlative.