Wolverine is the best there is at what he does, and often, that's save the X-Men's bacon. He's nowhere near the team's most powerful member, but he is one of its toughest and most skilled. This has allowed him to come in clutch for the team many times, as he can survive things other members can't and has the experience to figure out how to save the day when the chips are down.
Over the years, there have been multiple times when Wolverine was the main factor in the X-Men's victories. He's carried the team on his back plenty over the years, all the more impressive because of how small he is.
10 X Lives Of Wolverine Sent Wolverine On A Time Traveling Mission To Save Xavier
Wolverine has saved the X-Men many times over the years, but the most recent is one of the most important. X Lives Of Wolverine, by writer Benjamin Percy and artists Joshua Cassara and Federico Vicentini, saw Xavier and Jean Grey help Wolverine travel through time. They do so to stop Omega Red from assassinating Xavier or his family in the past using Mikhail Rasputin's reality-altering powers and the stolen Cerebro Sword.
One can argue that since the rest of the team weren't there, Wolverine wasn't carrying them, but he literally made sure the team existed by saving past Xavier and his ancestors. That definitely counts as carrying.
9 During The Post-Avengers Vs. X-Men Era, Wolverine Carried The Good Name Of The X-Men On His Shoulders
After Avengers Vs. X-Men, mutants around the globe were regaining their powers, but the Phoenix Five's more villainous actions made the race look bad. Cyclops escaped incarceration for killing Xavier and started a "terrorist" group of X-Men, and the general public wasn't happy about any of that. At this time, Wolverine had his work cut out for him leading the Jean Grey School and did a better job than expected.
Wolverine worked with the Avengers and kept his X-Men as heroic as possible, doing his best to give mutants a good name in a world where they were being more negatively perceived than ever. He carried the team's reputation and kept it from going too deep in the mud.
8 Wolverine Pretty Much Saved The Day From Magneto In X-Men (Vol. 1) #25 Before Being Grievously Injured
One of the most famous Wolverine moments came from X-Men (Vol. 1) #25, by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Andy Kubert, when Magneto ripped the adamantium out of him. However, before that moment, Wolverine was actually the only member of the X-Men to make a dent against Magneto, who had been smacking around the team pretty hard up until that point.
Wolverine grievously injured Magneto and was going in for the kill when Magneto's adamantium ripping attack happened. Even that injury helped the X-Men, though, as it gave Xavier a chance and the impetus to mind wipe the villain.
7 Wolverine's X-Force Adventures Saved The X-Men Behind The Scenes Numerous Times
Wolverine's X-Force is one of the most dangerous mutant teams of all time. Cyclops and Wolverine formed the team to head off threats to the Decimation diminished mutant race before they could strike. Wolverine's X-Force was a secret for a time, but they saved the X-Men more times than anyone on the team except Cyclops ever knew.
Wolverine kept it going for a long time, constantly keeping the X-Men safe from the shadows with X-Force. That even extends to the Krakoa era, as Wolverine is X-Force's most successful operative, keeping the country safe from threats that no one even realizes exist.
6 Wolverine And A Rookie Rogue Saved The X-Men From Viper And Silver Samurai At His Wedding
Wolverine has had a lot of lovers. One of the most important was Mariko Yashida. The two almost got married, but their wedding was poisoned by Viper. Only Wolverine and a young Rogue weren't affected, and the two had to work together to save the team. Wolverine was a friend of Carol Danvers and didn't like Rogue for draining the future Captain Marvel's powers, and Rogue was very green at the time.
Taking place in Uncanny X-Men #172-173, by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, the two were able to work together despite their differences. Rogue followed Wolverine's lead, and they were able to foil Viper and Silver Samurai's plans.
5 House Of X #4 Had Wolverine Save The Day
House Of X #4, by writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Pepe Larraz, saw Xavier and Magneto send a team of X-Men to the sun orbiting Orchis Forge facility to destroy the base's Mother Mold. The anti-mutant organization was ready for the team, brutally slaughtering them. In the end, only Wolverine and Nightcrawler remained to save the day.
Nightcrawler teleported the two of them into space where Wolverine could cut the last support strut to the Mother Mold, dropping it into the sun before he died. Wolverine's sacrifice saved the X-Men and Krakoa, helping the mutant race to survive into the bold new Krakoa Era.
4 Uncanny X-Men #161-167 Saw Wolverine Saving The Team From The Brood
The Brood have long been one of the gravest threats to the X-Men. One of the team's most iconic clashes against them occurred in Uncanny X-Men #161-167, by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum. The team is captured by the Brood, and Wolverine is the only one able to resist them because of his healing factor.
Hunting down the Brood, Wolverine is able to free his teammates, giving them a fighting chance against the aliens. Without Wolverine, the Brood would have destroyed X-Men, but he came through when the X-Men needed him the most.
3 Uncanny X-Men Annual #11 Had Wolverine Defeating The Nigh Omnipotent Horde
Chris Claremont had Marvel's longest run on a title in its history and chronicled many of Wolverine's save the day moments. One of the coolest came in Uncanny X-Men Annual #11, written by Claremont and artist Alan Davis. Horde attacked the X-Men, a nigh-omnipotent monster that destroyed the team quickly.
Horde was able to kill Wolverine as well, but his blood hit the crystal that gave Horde his power. Wolverine regenerated from a drop of blood, gaining tremendous power, and saved the rest of the team. He defeated Horde and resurrected the others before giving up his godlike power.
2 Wolverine Saved The X-Men From Operation: Zero Tolerance In Wolverine (Vol. 2) #115-119
Operation: Zero Tolerance is one of the best forgotten X-Men stories. The team is captured by an anti-mutant government agency, and their fate is revealed in Wolverine (Vol. 2) #115-119, by writer Larry Hama and artist Leinil Yu. Wolverine, thought dead by Operation operatives, is taken to the incinerator but escapes, cutting through the guards.
He was able to free the X-Men, giving the team a fighting chance against Operation: Zero Tolerance's Prime Sentinels. The team would have never been able to escape without him, and even later, he carried the team through later battles against the Prime Sentinels.
1 Wolverine Trounced The Hellfire Club And Freed The X-Men In Uncanny X-Men #133
The Dark Phoenix Saga is one of the X-Men's most iconic stories. The story all began with a battle against the Hellfire Club, with the Inner Circle handily defeating the team with the help of a Mastermind controlled Phoenix. Using his mass controlling powers, Harry Leland sent Wolverine into the sewers, leaving him for dead at the end of Uncanny X-Men #132. They'd all learn differently.
In Uncanny X-Men #133, by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, Wolverine snuck back into Hellfire Club headquarters and proceeded to carve up the Club's soldiers, freeing the X-Men. It was the first time Wolverine saved the X-Men singlehandedly, and it remains the most iconic.