Weekly Waffle #432 – Wolf Scout Pack Leader is the One Who Gives the Orders
22nd August 2026
The Mojo
For this week’s weekly waffle I’ve been working go the wolf scout pack leader. And I’ve been really enjoying myself. It’s helped that i’ve been off work this week so have had a little bit of extra time to get some hobby in. In between the jobs that have needed doing at home and I’ve been avoiding. But this week has been a good balance.
And I’ve even used some of that precious hobby time to set myself up for success in the coming weeks. Getting some more minis prepped so that I can make the most of the hobby time I get over the next few weeks.
So what have I actually got completed this week.
On The Work Bench
Continuing with the Wolf Scout squad this week is the Pack Leader, the one who actually tells the Gunner and the Trapmaster what to do. Assuming they’re listening, which with Space Wolves is never guaranteed.
I’ve stuck with the same recipe I used for the Gunner and the Trapmaster, so if you’ve been following along the last couple of issues you’ll know the drill: same base coat, same shading approach, same overall dark, weathered Phobos look I’ve settled on for the pack. I wanted the squad to read as a unit on the table rather than three separate experiments, and I think keeping that consistency has paid off.
Where this one differs a bit is the pack markings. Because he’s the one giving orders, I wanted something on the model that visually says “leader” at a glance across the table, without repainting the whole scheme. So whilst the shoulder pads have stayed with the yellow accent, and I’ve kept the split on the left knee pad to carry the theme further. The right knee is now yellow but with red and black markings. It’s the colour change that is different with the rest of the pack running black and white markings, so having his pop in red and black marks him out as something different the second you look down at the table. I don’t think it’s too showy but it clearly marks him as being different from the rest of the pack.
I’d like to say that this was some sort of long thought out design idea but to be honest it happened by chance. I’ve used the transfer sheet that comes in the Combat Patrol box and there just weren’t enough of the same design. There were five of the black and white and five of the red and black. But I’m working on seven minis so they can’t all be the same. So the idea is that the command staff have red and black. Hence the pack the pack leader being the first of these. And I’ll let you either guess or wait to see how gets the second.
I quite like the idea of building this out further as my collection grows, different accent colours for different roles, so the whole thing reads as more than just “some marines.” But that’s a project for another week.
But what do you guys think? And if you do like it you can check more of my Space Wolves over in the Gallery Section.
(Pictures here)
Tactical deep dive
The Lore Bit
If the Gunner is the one who solves problems with a plasma burst and the Trapmaster is the one who solves problems before they happen, the Pack Leader is the one who decides which problem gets solved first. Wolf Scout packs operate deep behind enemy lines with no back-up and no room for hesitation. That means someone has to hold the pack together when instinct and Fenrisian temper start pulling everyone in different directions. Fittingly, Pack Leaders don’t lead through speeches, they lead by being the first ones into the fight and the last ones standing, apex predators by reputation as much as rank.
The Stat Line
Treat exact numbers as a snapshot, always double-check current points and rules against the app or your box’s dossier before you build a list around them.
APL: 3 | Move: 7″ | Save: 3+ | Wounds: 13
Weapon ATK HIT DMG WR
Plasma pistol (standard) 4 3+ 3/5 Range 8″, Piercing 1
Plasma pistol (supercharge) 4 3+ 4/5 Range 8″, Hot, Lethal 5+, Piercing 1
Power weapon 5 3+ 4/6 Lethal 5+
Lupine Guile: Once per battle, after rolling off to decide initiative, if this operative is in the kill zone, you can re-roll your dice.
Grizzled Veteran: The first time this operative would be incapacitated during the battle, it’s not incapacitated, has 1 wound remaining and cannot be incapacitated for the remainder of the action. All remaining attack dice are discarded (including yours if this operative is fighting or retaliating). You cannot use the Counterattack firefight ploy or inflict damage as a result of the Savage Fighters strategy ploy at the end of that action.
Faction Rule Interactions
Where the Pack Leader really earns his keep is inside your Elemental Storm. He’s already carrying a genuine melee threat with that power weapon, and Frost Weapons faction equipment sharpens it further. While wholly within your Storm, his power weapon specifically gets bumped to Lethal 4+, stacking on top of the Lethal 5+ it already has baseline. Add Tempestuous Wrath giving him Balanced on his melee weapons whenever he’s in (or was in) the Storm, and he’s not just able to fight, he’s built to win fights he probably shouldn’t be in. Lupine Guile rounds him out nicely too, giving you a free re-roll on the initiative roll-off before the battle’s even started.
Tactics Corner
The obvious temptation with the Pack Leader is to hold him back and play it safe, but his rules actively push the other way. Grizzled Veteran means the first hit that would take him off the table doesn’t, he shrugs it off with 1 wound left and keeps swinging for the rest of that action, so he can afford to commit to fights other Leaders would sensibly avoid. Combine that survivability with the Storm buffs to his power weapon, and he becomes a genuine answer to tougher enemy operatives, not just a support piece standing behind the rest of the pack. The one caveat: that safety net only fires once per battle, so don’t get complacent and throw him into everything, treat Grizzled Veteran as your one big gamble, not a standing insurance policy.
The Verdict
With the Gunner, Trapmaster, and now the Pack Leader all painted to the same scheme, the squad’s really starting to feel like a proper pack rather than three loose models on a shelf. On the table he’s turned out to be more front-line brawler than I expected going in, Grizzled Veteran and the Storm synergy make him someone you actually want leading the charge rather than hanging back barking orders from a distance.
Have you got a system for marking out squad roles on your minis, or do you just rely on remembering who’s who? Let me know in the comments.
The Wrap Up
That’s all I have for you this week. With the Gunner, Trapmaster, and Pack Leader all done, the Wolf Scout pack is really coming together. I’ll be plugging away to keep things going this week so I should have another operative for you again next week. Until then, keep safe and I’ll see you all back here next Saturday.
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