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Is This The Newest Invincible Unit in 40k?

By Rob Baer | April 21st, 2016 | Categories: Rules Conundrums, Warhammer 40k

heralds of great wolf

Checkout the new “invincible” unit that you can make in 40k that’s making the rounds on the internet lately.

try at home


This article is rated: Do Not Try This On The Tabletop

We not to advocate any of these antics we talk about in here, it’s to educate folks as to what”that f-ing guy” can do, and thusly something you may see on the tabletop.


If you thought the superfriends were cool for Space Marines check this new combo out that’s risen because of an FAQ ruling.

The Heralds of the Great Wolf formation contains a Wolf, Iron, and Rune Priests (which also may include Njal or Ulrik as their respective substitutes – CoTW Pg. 48).

While they are indeed their own squad, and can not leave it because they lose the Independent character rule for the game, they are still powerful units in their own right.

Now where some folks are saying it gets crazy is one of their special rules below:

heralds of great wolf special rule

Note the -1BS when enemies are targeting this unit rule. 

So here’s where it starts to get a little crazy. If you’re playing with the ITC FAQ then checkout these rules changes that were instituted by them:

For ITC format events, The Invisibility psychic power is altered to read: units shooting at the Invisible unit do so at BS1, and hit it in melee on a 5+.

So if Heralds of the Great Wolf are invisible (which let’s face it, that’s not too hard to do right?) while these guys can get hit in combat on a 5+, shooting wise they seem ineligible because they would be at BS1 -1 due to the formation’s special rule.

snap shots special rule

Heck even snap fire in general is at BS1 so that would be affected regardless of the psychic powers.

Combo these guys with some fast moving Thunder Wolves, or just on the side in a psychic friendly army and chances are not only can they deal out some damage in combat (and buff the Space Wolves if you take Ulrik), but they may not get budged at all by shooting as long as invisibility is up.

Just another thing to be aware of when you walk up to the table in the near future perhaps? Either way it may just show that sometimes “changing” the rules may not be such a great idea.

Yeah or Nay on this one?

Top 3 New Formations in 40k Long War Episode 48

About the Author: Rob Baer

 rob avatar face

Rob Baer

Job Title: Managing Editor

Founded Spikey Bits in 2009

Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X

About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.

Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls. 

Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.

Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.

With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.

While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.