It turns out that last year's Warhammer 40K Space Wolves Army Set is one of the most popular Warhammer army sets ever made, so the question is: where the hell can a self-respecting Space Marine fan get their hands on it?
During Games Workshop's half-year financial report, CEO Kevin Rountree called it out as the best-selling army set yet (as spotted by our friends over at Wargamer). Considering how stuffed to the gills it is with very cool shit, I'm not surprised. Unlike some boxes from recent years, the Space Wolves Army Set was a legitimately strong foundation for the faction; it had the major battleline units you'd need for any core Space Wolves force, a couple of heroes to lead your troops, and an elite squad to round things off. When you throw a special edition Codex into the mix for far less than it would all cost separately, this Warhammer 40K release was an absolute steal. I was able to go hands-on with it at the time and can confirm that it was a fantastic set that converted me faster than a Fenrisian wolf can howl at the moon – and I wasn't even that bothered by Space Wolves beforehand. But can you still buy it?
Unless you're willing to pay significantly over the odds, no. It's available for an eye-watering $379.99 from Amazon rather than the usual $230, for example, and is closer to $300 on eBay (though it's much more reasonably-priced in the UK, weighing in at around £160ish via eBay). However, that doesn't mean all hope is lost. While the box set may have been lost in the warp like the chapter's Primarch, there are other ways to build up a Space Wolves collection that's at least respectable. Namely, the Combat Patrol.
You can still get this one for $170 via Games Workshop directly, or $173.89 at Amazon. Meanwhile, UK fans can secure it for £97.50 at Amazon (which is ever so slightly less than RRP, and a great offer all-round considering it's out of stock in many places across the pond).
Wondering what kind of Space Wolf army to field? Check out our handy guide on Space Wolves detachments, ranked from best to worst.
This offer on the smaller force doesn't provide as much bang for buck, and you aren't getting all of the new units. Nonetheless, it's still reasonably priced considering how hard it is to find – and because the majority of models are new.
Besides giving you an army you can field right from the get-go in the streamlined, faster-paced Combat Patrol game type, it's also an excellent start for a larger force. Add in some Gray Hunters for $53.99 at Miniature Market rather than $62.50, or those elite Headtakers for $58.65 via Amazon, and you're beginning to build an army to be feared.
OK, it won't be nearly as cost-effective as the army set. But seeing as that's long gone now, it might be the best option we have to accrue a similar force.
For more tabletop recommendations, why not check out the best board games or the best tabletop RPGs?
