So you’ve picked your faction. You’re ready to dive into the world of Warhammer, paintbrush in hand, credit card burning a hole in your wallet. But before you start throwing sprues into your cart, let’s take a beat. There are smarter ways to build your first collection – ways that save you time, money, and avoid the dreaded “pile of shame. This guide is all about buying your first Warhammer models with confidence – and making every box count.
Have A Plan Before You Buy
Before you start adding boxes to your cart, it’s worth taking a minute to think about how you actually want your army to play. Are you someone who likes clever positioning, board control, and staying just out of reach? Or would you rather charge headfirst into the fray and overwhelm your opponent in a brutal melee? Most factions have a few different ways they can be played, but leaning into a style you actually enjoy makes the whole experience more rewarding. Even just sketching out a rough idea – fast and mobile, tough and relentless, sneaky and disruptive – can help you make smarter early purchases and avoid ending up with units that don’t really fit the force you’re trying to build. You don’t need a full army list on day one, but having a rough plan means your collection grows with purpose.
Start With A Box Set
The best-value way to begin Warhammer is often Games Workshop’s own starter sets. These are designed to give players a solid force at a discount, helping you get on the battlefield quicker and cheaper. There are a few options for boxes depending on your objectives:
Starter Sets:
These are slightly more narrative boxes put together for the launch of a new edition of the game. They normally come in a few size and price options, with two forces to pitch against each other. They generally include everything you need to play a game, like dice, measuring tools, a rule book and datasheets.
Combat Patrols (40k) or Spearhead (AoS) Boxes:
These are boxes designed to give you a small army you can play right out the box. You can play specific games with these boxes, but they also make an accessible foundation to build a larger army from.
Battleforce Boxes:
These are larger boxes for both Age of Sigmar and 40k that typically get released shortly before Christmas. These always offer good savings on a selection of units and can lay the foundation to an army, or expand an existing force.
Army Boxes:
Released when a new army is launched, they feature the models included in the launch range and their faction codex. They also contain promo materials such as data cards and measuring tools that are styled to the force within. A great way to get a brand new army started quickly, though they can be quickly followed by other releases that could offer more variety.
The major drawback of a box set is that it limits your to specific units. If they fit the structure, meta or narrative of the army you’re planning you can use boxes to get your force off to a great start. If they don’t fit what you want to build you’re better steering clear – don’t get drawn in to buying one just because of a discount.
Don’t Forget Magazines: Alongside the boxes Games Workshop regularly sell subscription magazines that each come with a few models. This trickle of models slowly coalesces into fully formed armies (again often at significant discounts). Like the boxes you’re limited to whats being offered, but it’s a great way to build a first army without collecting an overwhelming pile of shame.
Avoid The Temptation To Go Big, Fast
You may be tempted to buy a full 2000-point army from day one.
Don’t.
Not only is it expensive but you’ll likely end up with units you regret buying, feel overwhelmed by the amount you have to do and get burnt out from the hobby before you’ve even started.
Instead when you begin buying Warhammer models, start small. If a box set doesn’t fit your plans start by planning a few hundred points worth of units. All armies need battle line soldiers and a commander, so that’s often a solid place to start. For T’au you might get a unit of fire warriors, a unit of crisis suits and a cadre fireblade. You’ll have a fun variety of units to paint, and a force that could grown in a number of ways. For Lumineth Realm Lords you could go for a squad of Vanari Auralan Wardens, a Squad of Vanari Auralan Sentinels and a Scinari Cathallar. This gives that classic high elf structure, and is a foundation for the Auralan Battlehost.
Second-Hand Can Be A Goldmine (But Comes With Risk)
The Warhammer second-hand market is booming. Facebook groups, eBay, and community forums are full of deals – some of them are incredible. With careful hunting you can find whole armies, rare old sculpts and cool kit bash models that can give you a really unique force to play with. Buying Warhammer models second hand might save you a fortune, but it isn’t without its drawbacks.
Pros:
- Massive savings.
- Great for finding older kits or rare models.
- Often partially assembled or primed already.
- Ability to get models straight onto the table top.
Cons:
- Some models may be damaged, poorly assembled, or hard to strip.
- Missing parts or instructions.
- Risk of buying more than you’ll ever paint just because it was a “deal”.
- Limited to what you can find, so might not fit your plan.
Always factor in your time as part of the cost. That huge bundle may be cheap, but it might take longer than new models to get up to your standard. Will that motivate or overwhelm you?
Plan Your Purchases Around How You’ll Play
You have a plan for your army and have started working out where you’ll be buying Warhammer models. But how you plan to use them will play a big part in helping you decide what to buy – particularly on the second hand market.
Playing casually with friends? As long as everyone agrees you’ll have the most flexibility. Depending on your preference and whats available you could play older models as proxies for current units, play with unofficial sculpts and ultimately build what looks the most fun.
Joining games at a local gaming store? Probably better to stick with official models, and build your army according more strictly according to the rules. This might make it more of a challenge buying second hand models, as you’ll have to check the models are still legal to use, but all the current box sets will suitable.
Check the Meta… But Don’t Marry It
Meta trends come and go. While it’s fine to read up on strong units or popular builds, don’t fall into the trap of buying the “best” models just because someone won a tournament with them.
Firstly, rules changes happen pretty regularly and the meta changes often while armies take a while to build. Don’t get caught out planning your whole army around one effective unit type to find out that next time rules get updated the models aren’t half as effective as they used to be.
Secondly, the model might be good, but if it’s the least inspiring thing to paint you’ve ever come across, and you’ve got a bunch for your army, you’re going to hate yourself for committing heavily to it. As a beginner you’re much better off finding what you enjoy building and painting, even if its not optimal for competitions.
Finally, there’s always space to add extra meta to your army down the road. Once you have an established force you can tweak and change as you like. As a beginner, focus on building a core army. You can then expand off of this with units that fit the meta as you desire, and can chop and change your list for games as needed.
The golden rule: If you don’t like the model, don’t buy it – no matter how “efficient” it is.
Build in Layers: The Hobby Growth Path
Here’s a simple structure to guide your early purchases:
- Stage 1 – Combat Patrol/Spearhead or equivalent units and rulebook
- Stage 2 – Add a unit or two you love
- Stage 3 – Identify weaknesses in your force (anti-armour, anti-infantry etc) and fill in those gaps
- Stage 4 – Expand Based on playstyle or hobby goals
This path keeps your costs manageable, your army fun and helps avoid burnout.
Watch Out for Hidden Costs
As a beginner it’s important to remember you’re not just buying models – you’re also going to need the supplies to build, paint, transport and play with your new army. These include things like:
- Clippers and hobby knife
- Plastic glue and super glue
- Paints and brushes
- Carry cases
- Dice, measuring tapes and unit markers
- Rulebook and codex
These can add up fast. Some hobby bundles or starter kits include the basics and can save you money up front.
Spend Smart, Build Slow
Warhammer is a hobby that rewards patience and buying Warhammer models patients definitely rewards your wallet. You don’t need to rush – in fact, your bank balance and your motivation will thank you if you don’t.
Pick up a small box. Build it. Paint it. Expand until you have a playable force. Play a few games with friends. Grow from there. That’s the best kind of progress, and the best advice we can give when it comes to growing your forces.
Got any tips for how you went about buying your first models? Any advice for new players wanting to start their army? Let us know in the comments below!
Did you enjoy this article? You could always tip the author with a coffee (or something stronger). If you want to get yourself some new models to start or expand your army, then check out Element Games. They have great deals on a wide range of Warhammer and accessories. Finally, make sure you’re following us on Instagram to stay up to date and get involved in our community!
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