On Monday, we spoke to a ton of the people who design and paint the models, write the games, and many more besides about their favourite Warhammer miniatures in history. We got so many responses we had to split the article in two – so without further ado, here are more models beloved by the people who make your Warhammer.
The Warhammer Rules Team
Matt: Dragon Princes of Caledor – “When I was a kid my parents brought a 'Citadel Miniatures' leaflet back from their trip to the UK, and for a year it was my only exposure to the wondrous world of Warhammer. Among the miniatures featured on the front was a Dragon Prince, who I naturally assumed must be one of the most important main characters of the setting due to his prominent placement and regal title. It was a bit of a shock when I discovered they were merely heavy cavalry!”
Jimbo: Daughters of Khinerai Lifetakers – “All the throat-slitting elegance of a Witch Aelf but with the added bonus of a pair of wings! The poses display swift and graceful flight, their glistening blades ready to be plunged into their enemies as they revel in the bloody slaughter in homage to their deity.”
John: Castellan Crowe – “As a longtime fan of Warhammer this spectacular model matches all my expectations of that tremendously powerful warrior. I especially love the pose – it screams elite blademaster.”
Duncan: Incubi – “They feature the perfect balance of braced threat with alien majesty, and look dominating despite their slight size compared to other heavyweight warriors.”
David: Heavy Intercessor – “Nothing has ever looked more like an archetypal Space Marine – when they were released they blew me away.”
Richard: Vashtorr the Arkifane – “Few miniatures conjure up such a profound sense of otherworldly dread as the glowing eyes of the Arkifane. Vashtorr represents the darkest excesses of the far future in all the right ways – where the occult meets science – and reminds me of everything I love about Warhammer 40,000.”
James: Chaos Space Marine Lord – “This model conveys so much character within a small silhouette. His triumph over foes both recent and historic, his confident static pose, inviting the next challenger, the winds of war subtly stirring his cloak and tassels. It's an iconic snapshot of a Chaos champion in the 41st Millennium, and (always the clincher) could be painted in so many different ways.”
White Dwarf Team
Lyle: Ghazghkull Thraka – “An oversized Ork in a giant mechanical suit of armour is so authentically Warhammer. The model is such a presence on the table and cuts a mean silhouette. I love how he can be built in two dynamic poses as well.”
Dan: Leman Russ Battle Tank – “Over the years I have probably painted around 20, 10 of which are in my current Astra Militarum army. It has hardly changed since it was first designed and is still going strong to this day. Long may it reign supreme on the battlefields of the 41st Millennium.”
Matt: Captain Lysander – “He's a hulk of a model. I love his stoic, unmovable pose and massive shield. He's also the model that inspired me to first start painting Imperial Fists, which I have now been doing for over 15 years.”
Sophie: Custodes Blade Champion – “There are so many great models that I struggled to choose one, but I decided to go for the Custodes Blade Champion. He's a fantastic addition to the Custodes range, and really inspired me to start a Custodes Shadow Keeper force.”
WarhammerTV Presenters
Nick: Tahlia Vedra, Lioness of the Parch – “My favourite miniature of all time is arriving soon for the Cities of Sigmar range. Just look at this incredible rendition of the giant Manticore, with his wings spread regally wide, as if he’s just landed. And Tahlia herself, a fearless leader, overseeing the march of the Dawnbringer Crusades. It's just utterly, utterly brilliant.”
Emma: Chaos Terminator Lord – “He’s covered in things that made him a painter’s dream – lots of little wires, skulls and chains surrounding it – with lots of room to apply your own mark, especially on that large tattered cape. He had lots of cool weapon options to boot, including a power fist spikier than Abaddon's trophy rack. I'd love to paint another one of these models, so see how far I have come in the past 10 years of painting…”*Adam T: Lion El’Jonson – “At one end of my hobby life is the RTB09 Terminator Captain I got aged 10. At the other is the Lion, which I got at the age of
. He oozes chivalric virtue, every inch the lordly knight of Caliban we've come to know from the lore, and the figure is just so full of character! I went and queued up outside Warhammer World at 6am on the day of the release to make sure I got one.”
Ed: The Arvus Lighter – “This trusty craft embodies my understanding of Imperial flyers; incredibly inefficient with only a slight nod to aerodynamics, and relying on overwhelming force to thrust its blocky body through the sky.”
Simon: Be'lakor, the Dark Master – “I've been a fan of this sinister daemon since he first made a behind-the-scenes appearance as the Dark Master in the classic skirmish game, Mordheim. His eventual debut as a metal miniature remained among the best in the range for years to come, but in his newest, most majestic form, Be'lakor is unrivalled in his dark glory!”
Adam L: Grimgor Ironhide – “This is my favourite character from the World-that-Was. He has so much flavour and awesome lore, and I still remember finally plucking up the courage to paint him. I bought a box of black orcs and a box of normal orcs that I painted as practice before tackling Grimgor!”
Eddie: Cypher – “A characterful model with great presence, dripping in cool details that hint at the wider narrative of Warhammer 40,000 – advanced and ancient weaponry, archaic armour, and that sword... For me, Cypher is the best aspects of the Warhammer 40,000 universe captured in a single miniature.”
Warhammer Community
Andy: Ezekiel – “I’ve been a Dark Angels fan since starting the game in third edition, and the classic Ezekiel epitomises everything great about their models: the robes, the hoods, the huge swords. The pose is also suitably epic; a masterpiece of miniature design that still holds up well decades later.”
Tom: Warhammer Quest Imperial Noble – “This guy was emblematically Warhammer for me as a 12-year-old seeing him for the first time at Games Day ‘95. His patrician bearing, raffish hair, and lethal sabre spoke to something very deep within me. You just know he’s about to swing across the room on a chandelier for no clear reason.”
Charlie: Lictor – “It’s brand new, but this betentacled beastie is already a stand-out favourite for me. The Lictor’s design is classic for a reason, conveying both cold alien intelligence and spring-loaded predatory instincts – and the new kit is an exercise in elegance. There’s a truly mind-boggling range of poses and attitudes to be squeezed out of just two sprues – it’s an absolute masterclass of design, and I can’t gush over it enough. If only they’d let me take more than three…”
Joel: Yvraine – “She’s a milestone for the Aeldari in terms of lore, her Ynnari faction creating newfound hope for her people. I love that her model reflects this new faction whilst also drawing elements from Asuryani, Drukhari, and Anhrathe societies, creating something truly unique – and of course how could anyone resist Alorynis the Gyrinx prowling alongside her.”
Steve: Mephiston –“I’ve been a Blood Angels player since the second edition, and I still remember my excitement seeing the characters being released for the army in White Dwarf, but of that bunch Mephiston always stood out for me with his highly detailed armour that mimics muscle. It was the first time I had seen power armour that was totally different in style from anything else and I loved it. Fast forward several years and seeing the new primaris Mephiston was just as exciting.”
Jon: The Light of Eltharion–- “The clever use of negative space to create the illusion of an empty suit of armour is a fantastic example of the miniature designer’s art. A worthy reinvention of a classic character from the World-that-Was.”
Gadge: Skaven Leader with Warplock Arquebus – “This miniature totally embodies the bizarre pseudo-science of the Skaven and their scavenging nature with its bodged-together armour and warpstone powered rifle. Truly a classic model that helped launch the Skaven faction back in the 80s.”
Rob: Vulkan He’stan – “While he wasn’t the first Salamanders character to get a miniature (that honour goes to Chaplain Xavier) Vulkan He’stan really hammered home the aesthetic for a Chapter that, despite producing masterwork equipment on the regular, never got a chance to flaunt it on the tabletop. He’s got fire, he’s got scales, he’s probably even got a hammer or two tucked away – everything a son of Vulkan needs. Just imagine how good a new Vulkan He’stan would look. Please imagine it, Warhammer Studio. I need it.”
Luke: Eidolon of Mathlann – “I couldn’t quite believe this miniature when I first saw it in person. The lunging Aspect of the Storm has a great sense of motion, but the real magic is how its cloak transitions from regal cloth to crashing wave to a hem of spray that holds the Eidolon up above a menagerie of deep sea creatures. It perfectly sells the superb high fantasy of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, and is an incredible statement of what can be done with miniature design.
Thanks everyone for taking in part and providing a selection of brilliant choices. Tell us what your favourite Warhammer miniature is over on the official Facebook and X/Twitter accounts.
* We hate to break it to you Emma, but that’s 15 years!