Best Warhammer starter set 2026: every game compared

Warhammer 40,000

Warhammer 40,000 is in its 11th edition. For two people starting together, the Starter Set is the one to get: a Combat Patrol for each side, the rules and a gaming board, so you can play straight away. The Introductory Set is a cheaper taster with a handful of models, paints and a brush. If you already know which army you want, skip the starter sets and buy that army's Combat Patrol instead. How to start 40K cheaply ›

Box	Cheapest	Shop
Warhammer 40000: Introductory Set TasterEverything you need to start playing Warhammer 40,000	£36.75 25% off RRP	Gaming Frome
Warhammer 40000: Starter Set Two-player starterEverything you need to start playing Warhammer 40,000	£120.00 25% off RRP	Gaming Frome
Warhammer 40K Start Collecting! Necrons (2018) One army plus paintsNecrons kit for Warhammer 40,000	£46.75	Out of stock
Warhammer 40K Start Collecting! Orks One army plus paintsOrks kit for Warhammer 40,000	£48.86	Out of stock
Warhammer 40K Start Collecting! Primaris Space Wolves One army plus paintsSpace Marines kit for Warhammer 40,000	£51.00	Out of stock

Age of Sigmar

Age of Sigmar's starter sets come with Stormcast Eternals and Skaven. The Starter Set is the best value for two players; the Introductory Set is the taster. Spearhead, the smaller way to play, needs just one Spearhead box per player, which makes it the cheapest way into the game. How to start Age of Sigmar cheaply ›

Box	Cheapest	Shop
Age of Sigmar: Introductory Set TasterEverything you need to start playing Age of Sigmar	£33.00 25% off RRP	Gaming Frome
Age of Sigmar: Starter Set Two-player starterEverything you need to start playing Age of Sigmar	£54.00 22% off RRP	Lvl Up Gaming
Warhammer Age of Sigmar Harbinger Starter Set Two-player starterEverything you need to start playing Age of Sigmar	£55.25 15% off RRP	Marionville Models
Warhammer Age of Sigmar Extremis Starter Set Two-player starterEverything you need to start playing Age of Sigmar	£92.00 20% off RRP	Imps Gaming
Warhammer Age of Sigmar Start Collecting! Stormcast Vanguard One army plus paintsStormcast Eternals kit for Age of Sigmar	£48.00	Out of stock

Kill Team

Kill Team is played with a handful of models a side on a small board, so it's the cheapest Warhammer game to collect. The Starter Set has two kill teams and everything needed to play; after that, a single Kill Team box is a whole army. Every Kill Team box ›

Box	Cheapest	Shop
Kill Team: Starter Set Two-player starterEverything you need to start playing Kill Team	£55.60 20% off RRP	Lvl Up Gaming
Kill Team: Starter Set, Orks v Guard Two-player starterEverything you need to start playing Kill Team	£57.38	Out of stock

The Old World

The Old World is the big rank-and-file fantasy game. A core set is the way in; most people then build their army from its battalion and unit boxes. How to start The Old World cheaply ›

Box	Cheapest	Shop
Warhammer the Old World: Fantasy Battles in the World of Legend Core Set Two-player starterEverything you need to start playing The Old World	£118.50 21% off RRP	Kirton Games

Middle-earth

The Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game's starter boxes come with the rules and two forces from the films. It plays well with small armies, so a starter box goes a long way. How to start Middle-earth cheaply ›

Box	Cheapest	Shop
War of the Rohirrim: Battle of Edoras Two-player starterKit for Middle-earth	£98.00 32% off RRP	JustPlayGames

Necromunda, Blood Bowl and more

Games Workshop's other games each have a core box with everything for two players.

Box	Cheapest	Shop
Necromunda Skirmish: Core Set Two-player starterEverything you need to start playing the game	£76.88 25% off RRP	Gaming Frome
Legions Imperialis: The Horus Heresy Core Box Set Two-player starter	£96.49 28% off RRP	JustPlayGames

Questions

Which Warhammer starter set is best for a beginner?

For two people starting together, a game's Starter Set: it has two small armies, the rules and a board. On your own, pick the army you like the look of and buy its Combat Patrol (Warhammer 40,000) or Spearhead (Age of Sigmar). Kill Team is the cheapest game to collect if you want something smaller.

Are the starter sets cheaper at independent shops?

Usually. UK independent shops often sell Games Workshop boxes at 15 to 25% off the RRP; this page shows the cheapest in-stock price we've found, checked every hour.

Do I need paints and glue?

Models come unbuilt and unpainted. You'll need clippers, plastic glue and some paint; the Introductory Sets include a few paints, and our paint chart shows cheaper brands that match Citadel colours.

Is an older starter set still worth buying?

The models are the same and still usable. The rulebook inside will be out of date, but the core rules for the current edition are a free download from Games Workshop, so a cheaper previous-edition box can be a good deal.

Every starter set, cheapest first · Cheapest way to start each army · Warhammer gift ideas · Paint conversion chart