It’s been about nine months since the latest and greatest edition of Warhammer 40,000 was launched upon the galaxy, and getting started with the game has literally never been easier. Between Starter Sets, Combat Patrols, and even a magazine, there’s a plethora of ways to take your first steps into the 41st Millennium. Here’s the breakdown.
1. Starter Sets
The Warhammer 40,000 Starter Sets are the very best and most cost-effective way to get your game on. There are three of them, each designed around a different experience.
If you’re an absolute Warhammer novice, the Recruit Edition is a great option. It contains two starting armies – a Space Marines Lieutenant and a squad of Assault Intercessors to pit against a Royal Warden, Warriors, and Scarabs for the Necrons.
Alongside these models, you get a playmat, range rulers, dice, and a step-by-step guide to getting started in your first games. The box tray is even designed to be used as a piece of terrain to enhance your games.
Once you’ve mastered the basic rules and got the hang of your Space Marines and Necrons, you can expand your forces with the Elite Edition.
This set includes powerful reinforcements for both the Space Marines and Necrons. The former get a Primaris Captain, more Assault Intercessors, and speedy Outriders. The ancient aliens bring along an Overlord, more Warriors and Scarabs, plus a trio of deadly Skorpekh Destroyers accompanied by a Canoptek Plasmacyte.
Another gaming mat allows you to play larger games, and the Elite Manual gives you a wider overview of the game and universe, along with expanded rules for you to use with your new models. Again, the box tray doubles up as terrain, but if you want even more of that, you should check out the Command Edition.
This jam-packed box includes all the models from the Elite Edition, plus a set of plastic terrain that represents an industrial wasteland, including pipeways and ruined buildings. All of it fits on the sturdy card gaming board in the set, and you’ll find out how to make best use of it in the softback rulebook, which includes all the Warhammer 40,000 core rules.
Two armies AND a battlefield in a box – the Command Edition is the ultimate way to get playing. Plus, it’s easily combined with the Command Edition Battlefield Expansion Set to make battlefields for even larger games.
2. Getting Started With Warhammer 40,000 Magazine
If you just want to dip your toes into the Warhammer 40,000 hobby and see what it’s all about, check out the Getting Started magazine.
This 88-page publication gives you an introduction to what Warhammer 40,000 is, the universe and factions, and the pillars of the hobby – building, painting, and playing.
The two models included – a Space Marine Assault Intercessor and a Necron Warrior – are exclusive to this magazine, and let you try out the basic rules on a small scale. They’re also perfect for your first go at painting – grab a Space Marines or Necrons paint set (which also include extra models) and get going.
3. Codex and a Boxed Set
Okay, so maybe you like the look of the game, but it’s not Space Marines or Necrons that are drawing your interest. What do you do? Easy – head to the Warhammer 40,000 website, where you’ll find an overview of every faction in the game, along with their characterful sub-factions. When you know which is for you, grab their codex and a box of models. Combat Patrol and Start Collecting! sets are the perfect way to kickstart a collection.
There are Start Collecting! boxes for most of the game’s factions, each containing a mix of models that forms a great core for an army. Whether you want to harness the martial might and powerful battle tanks of the Astra Militarum, haunt the battlefield with Aeldari Ghost Warriors, or summon hordes of Daemons to the table, these are your starting points.
A few factions have Combat Patrol boxes instead – these are a literal army in a box, designed to fit perfectly into Combat Patrol games of around 500 points or a power level of 25. Each includes an HQ choice, a Troops choice and some specialist units that showcase how the army fights, giving you not only the perfect way to play small games, but a great foundation on which to build your galaxy-conquering force.
Pair these boxes up with your chosen army’s codex and a copy of the rules- and background-packed Core Book and you’re ready to forge your legend in the grim darkness of the far future.
How did you take your first steps into Warhammer 40,000? Let us know on Facebook, and remember that the guide above also works if you already play Warhammer 40,000 and want to start a new army – head to the Games Workshop webstore to see the options.