Which Warhammer starter set should you actually buy?

Games Workshop has just released five new starter sets for Warhammer 40,000, and choosing between them can feel overwhelming if you're new to the hobby. Each box is designed for a different entry point, from curious beginners to committed players ready to dive in with a friend.

The Two-Player Starter Set: Best for Learning Together

If you have someone willing to jump into the hobby with you, this is the set to consider. It includes two complete Combat Patrols, one Space Marine army and one Ork army, so neither player feels shortchanged. You also get battlefield boards, terrain, the full core rulebook, a handbook, quick reference sheets, dice, and transparent rulers. You can open this on a Friday night and be rolling dice within 20 minutes.

Games Workshop recommends splitting the cost with a friend, and that's solid advice. However, be honest with yourself about the temptation to keep both armies. The hobby has a reputation for accumulating unpainted plastic in cupboards. If you're disciplined, splitting makes sense. If not, you might end up with a second army gathering dust.

The Introductory Set: The Smart First Step

If the full starter set feels like too much commitment, this is where most people should start. It includes a Space Marine Lieutenant, five Intercessors, an Ork Nob, and five Ork boys, a play mat, card terrain, a ruler, dice, six paints, and a starter brush. The deliberately small game teaches the basics without overwhelming you with 30 different unit types.

The 48-page handbook is particularly valuable. It doesn't just explain rules—it offers a tour of what Warhammer actually is, covering collecting, painting, gaming, and the universe behind it. This is guidance that most beginners never receive. These are also brand-new sculpts unavailable elsewhere. If you're already deep in the hobby with multiple armies, this isn't for you. If you've always wondered what the fuss is about, this box is exactly what you need.

The Paint Sets: Simplifying a Bewildering Choice

Games Workshop offers two separate paint sets: one for Space Marines and one for Orks. Each includes two models and exactly the paints needed to paint them in classic color schemes. The Space Marine set gives you Ultramarines blue and gold. The Ork set provides the Goff black look.

Walking into a Warhammer shop and seeing an entire wall of Citadel paints is genuinely intimidating for beginners. Base paints, layer paints, contrast paints, shades, dry paints, and airbrush paints all line the shelves, and nobody explains what any of it means. These sets eliminate that confusion. You get exactly what you need and nothing you don't.

The Hobby Set: Build a Proper Foundation

Unlike other boxes, this one contains no miniatures. Instead, you get 13 paints chosen for fundamental color choices, a starter brush, plastic clippers, and a mold-line remover. These are the core tools you'll use every time you build or paint.

Most people skip this on their first purchase and borrow tools from the kitchen drawer instead. But having proper equipment makes a real difference. Clipping parts correctly and removing mold lines prevents damage when transporting and playing with your finished models. It's like buying a decent toolbox before starting DIY—not glamorous, but you'll be grateful once you begin.

The Getting Started Set: For Players with Resources

This sits between the introductory and full starter sets. It includes a full Combat Patrol of push-fit miniatures, 11 faction-specific paints, a paintbrush, a texture spreader, and a faction beginner's guide. There's no rulebook, dice, or terrain because the assumption is you have access to these elsewhere through a friend, gaming club, or local Warhammer store.

This approach keeps costs down and lets you focus on building your army. If you're starting with a community of players, there's no need to duplicate shared resources. Games Workshop has already confirmed this range will expand to other factions, so waiting for your preferred army might be worth it.

Finding Your Path Forward

The real strength of this new lineup is the clear progression. Start with the introductory set and love the game? Move to the full starter set for bigger armies and complete rules. Finish those first games and decide Space Marines or Orks aren't your style? Buy a Combat Patrol for the faction that actually excites you.

The most important advice: buy the army that makes you want to open the box, not the one YouTube says is strongest this month or the one your mate claims is easiest to paint. Rules change, editions change, and the competitive meta shifts constantly. But if you genuinely love the models and their lore, you'll enjoy building and painting them years later.

If you're sitting alone deciding which set to buy and aren't completely sure Warhammer is for you, grab the introductory set. It costs less than a second mortgage and gives you enough to discover whether you enjoy building, painting, and playing. If someone will learn with you, the full starter set offers unbeatable value.

For the first time in years, Warhammer has a clear path into the hobby for newcomers. There's a route in, a route forward, and a route that doesn't expect you to understand the difference between a codex and a Combat Patrol before you've painted your first model.