Review: McFarlane Warhammer 40k Space Wolves Grey Hunter
- Mephitsu
- 5 hours ago
- 7 min read
"We are the warriors of Fenris! Forged by ice and fire.”
McFarlane’s Warhammer 40k line has been running since 2020, initially focusing on basic figures along with unpainted ‘Artists Proof’ variants, with more complex figures released as Gold Label Exclusives. In 2024, the line was partially rebranded and with that came figures with increased accessories, decor, a new box design, and a higher price tag. The frequency of releases, compared to other McFarlane lines, was quite high in 2024 following the rebrand, then dropped considerably, with fans now pretty much restricted to one full wave per year. For 2026, that wave arrived in April and featured three new Space Marines, including the first from the Blood Ravens. The wave also included a Space Wolves Grey Hunter and a Dark Angels Sternguard. Sitting alongside the wave was the first Warhammer 40k release in McFarlane’s premium Elite series, with the Blood Ravens Captain Cyrus from Dawn of War.
In this review, we will be looking over the Space Wolves Grey Hunter, who arrives in the new box format with a white base and a large open window, in which the figure and accessories are spread out and displayed against a gloss black inner tray. The Chapter Colour and name is featured on a call-out bar just under the window, and the figure name sits underneath this. The side art of the box features a grey-scale gothic imagery on the right-hand side, where the Chapter and Figure name is repeated. The left-hand side is a blue-hued starmap overlaid with the Space Wolves chapter colour.
The entirety of the back of the box is turned over to artwork, a blown-up image of the Grey Hunter, which is also used on the included collector card. There are no details of the chapter or troop type or the WH40k universe, and the only text is a WH40k logo and the usual copyright and legal notices.
The background information for the figure/Chapter is included on the collector card included in the set. The reverse side of this card also features the same starfield backdrop and the WH40k logo and Space Wolves Chapter badge.
The Grey Hunter is built on the basic Intercessor Marine base that has been in place since the early days of the line. Each armoured part is cast in the grey/blue of the Space Wolves, and is connected at the joints with internal black sections. Detailing is accurate to the profile of an Intercessory Marine, and adorned further with the large sculpted chest emblem picked out on this figure in a bright gold finish. Each shoulder Pauldron is painted in a contrasting colour, the right in red with black teeth marks to represent the markings for one of the Grey Hunter packs.
The other shoulder is a variant piece, complete with a sculpted tied sash with teeth trophies and runes. This is also pitted and scratched within the sculpt, very different from everywhere else, and then painted in yellow. The black Wolf head emblem is sculpted and painted, the design confirming this is a member of Ragnar Blackmane’s Great Company.
The backpack arrives separately in the box, then plugs securely (almost too stiffly) into a socket on the Marine’s back. It too is cast in grey/blue and is more or less identical to prior releases apart from a sculpted Wolf head emblem on the centre circular panel that is then painted in black. The only other decor on the figure’s body is the belt, cast the same as the armour with the buckle left this base colour, and the rest of the belt and pouches picked out in brown.
Our Grey Hunter comes with two head options, the first of which is the basic Intercessor Marine helmet, cast again in blue/grey with painted red eye lenses, a black mouthpiece, and silver components on each side. It slots into the neck peg easily.
It can be swapped with an unmasked head, allowing two different Grey Hunters to be created from one release. This is a much-improved head in terms of realism to previous versions, including the premium Titus release from 2024, and the two sergeants from the 2025 wave. The unmasked head is sculpted scowling with teeth bared. He features a full beard and swept back blond hair with a darker wash to add depth. Skin tone is natural, and features include visible bulging veins and a furrowed brow. The eyes are also much more realistic, and while I cannot say these are printed, they are similar to what we are used to on the Hasbro collector lines. Implanted components on this head sit on the right-hand side and around the back in blue/grey and silver panels.
Wolf Guard head on Grey Hunter Body (right)
Prior to the 2026 wave, the only Chapters with multiple releases were the Ultramarines and Blood Angels. The Grey Hunter is now the second of the Space Wolves releases, and alongside the Wolf Guard from 2024, it is good to see that the base armour colour match is pretty good between the Space Wolves releases, particularly when previously some of the Ultramarines releases, in particular, had variant blue base tones.
Grey Hunter heads on Wolf Guard Body
The way McFarlane is designing these figures also makes parts compatible with each other, so the heads from the Grey Hunter fit the Wolf Guard and vice versa. This opens up wider army-building if you have multiple figures, or allows a different version for display if you were not overly keen on the 2024 headsculpt.
The newer format figures come with a wider range of accessories. As well as two head options, our Grey Hunter also comes with two weapons and a spare left-hand piece. The chainsword dates back to the first waves of 2020, but the decor is more enhanced. The main body of the sword is black, with silver runes and silver on the teeth of the saw blade. There si more silver on the base of the blade section that leads into a gold grip with a red grip handle.
The line continues to have an issue with hand grips, which are far too rigid to accommodate the weapons without significant and excessive force or some heat treatment to open the grip (hot water or a carefully applied hairdryer). The sword will fit in both left and right hands, the left being the most natural. In hand, it can be wielded in neutral or attack positions, but there is weakness in the wrist joints, which can swivel under the weight and in the upper shoulder, which lacks a ratchet and feels extremely loose.
The same applies to the Bolter, a similar weapon from prior releases but with a slight upgrade to align with the Space Wolves chapter, thanks to the addition of a hanging tooth pendant. The weapon also gets enhanced decor, silver and black predominantly, with silver runes on the main body. The ‘tooth’ hanging off the rear grip is painted in black. It fits into the right hand where the trigger finger can just slot into place. The alternative left hand can be brought in here for two-handed positions, supporting the barrel of the weapon.
Articulation has been consistent across the Intercessor base body since launch, and it works out at 17 points in total. These include pinned elbows and knees, and a lack of any significant ratcheting, which results in the looseness of joints, further hampered by such a bulky and heavy body.
Stability is OK in the legs, but moving outside of the base neutral stance can cause balance issues with the weight at the back of the figure, and ankle joints that sometimes don’t quite equalise against that. More dynamic walking or running poses are possible, but you may need to use the included black circular stand with a single peg that connects to sockets on either foot. This standard-sized McFarlane stand looks massively undersized to the Marine, but it does offer a touch more stability.
The upper body has a wide range of movement in the arms, despite how they look, but is lacking in joint stability, with the arms flopping down and not holding position, particularly with the weapons in play. The centre mass has some torso movement across two midriff joints, and the head can articulate on the neck peg to add character.
With the RRP on these increasing more sharply than other lines, the £32 UK RRP still feels more or less in line with the bulk and size of the figure you are purchasing. Alongside these price increases, each wave of the Warhammer 40k line does see a step forward in execution. The 2026 figures certainly see that most evidently in the unmasked headsculpt on this release and on the corresponding Dark Angels Sternguard. Otherwise, what we have is a 6-year-old body that articulates to a reasonable level, but has limitations under its own weight. Weapons being placed into hands remains problematic, and the overall finish lacks the depth and detailing that the WH40k game is known for. The Wolf Guard perhaps needed one further layer of wash to bring out all the beauty of the sculpt.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...