Start Here: A Beginner's Field Guide to Warhammer 40,000

So you're interested in Warhammer 40,000. Maybe a friend dragged you into a store. Maybe the video game grabbed you. Maybe you just saw those incredible miniatures online and thought, I want to do that. Whatever brought you here, welcome to the Underhive — and don't panic.

Warhammer 40K is a deep hobby, but it's not as intimidating as it looks from the outside. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started, spend your money wisely, and actually enjoy the process.

What Even Is Warhammer 40,000?

At its core, Warhammer 40K is a tabletop miniature wargame. You build and paint an army of miniatures, then use them to play strategic battles against an opponent on a terrain-filled table. Games are governed by a ruleset (currently 11th Edition, launched in 2026) that uses dice, datasheets, and measurement to resolve combat.

But "tabletop wargame" undersells it. Warhammer 40K is also:

• A hobby — Assembling and painting miniatures is a deeply satisfying craft, and for many people it's the primary draw.

• A universe — The 40K setting is one of science fiction's richest: a galaxy-spanning dark future where a decaying human Imperium fights for survival against alien empires, daemonic gods, and its own corruption.

• A community — Local gaming stores, tournaments, painting groups, online forums, and content creators form a global community of millions.

You can engage with any or all of these pillars. Some people never play a game — they just paint. Others don't care about lore — they just compete. There's no wrong way to do this.

Choosing Your First Army

This is the biggest decision, and there's good news: there's no objectively wrong choice. Every faction in 40K has competitive viability, rich lore, and beautiful models. That said, here's how to choose:

1. Rule of Cool — Pick the faction whose models you most want to paint and look at on your shelf. You're going to spend dozens of hours building and painting these things. Aesthetic passion matters more than any tier list.

2. Lore connection — Read a few faction summaries (our Lore section is a good start). If a faction's story resonates with you, that emotional investment will carry you through the hobby.

3. Playstyle preference — Do you want to drown the enemy in bodies (Astra Militarum, Tyranids)? Hit hard with elite units (Custodes, Grey Knights)? Play a tactical shell game (Aeldari, T'au)? Every faction has a distinct feel.

4. Budget reality — Some armies are cheaper to build than others. Elite armies with fewer, larger models (Custodes, Knights) cost less to get on the table than horde armies that need 100+ infantry models.

Don't stress about competitive viability. The meta shifts every few months with balance updates. The army that's dominant today might be average tomorrow. Pick what you love.

What to Buy First

• Option 1: A Combat Patrol box. These are GW's starter boxes for individual factions — roughly 500 points of models, designed to play small games immediately. They're the best value entry point for any specific army.
  

• Option 2: The 11th Edition Starter Set. If you don't have a strong faction preference yet, the core starter set gives you two small armies, dice, rulers, and a condensed rulebook. It's designed to teach the game from scratch.
  

• Option 3: A single character or squad. If you're primarily interested in the painting hobby, just buy one model or unit that excites you. Learn to build and paint before committing to a full army.

What NOT to buy first: Don't spend $500 on a 2,000-point army before you've assembled and painted a single model. The hobby pile of shame is real, and buyer's remorse hits hard. Start small. Expand as your skills and enthusiasm grow.

Essential Tools and Supplies

You need less than you think to get started:

• Clippers (sprue cutters) — To remove parts from the frame. ~$10.

• Plastic glue — Tamiya Extra Thin or Citadel Plastic Glue. ~$8.

• A hobby knife — For cleaning mold lines. ~$5.

• A starter paint set — Citadel, Vallejo, or Army Painter all make beginner kits. ~$30–$40.

• 2–3 brushes — A medium base-coating brush, a small detail brush, and a dry brush cover most needs. ~$10–$15.

• A spray primer — Black or grey primer to prep your models for painting. ~$15.

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Total startup cost for tools: roughly $70–$90, plus whatever models you buy. It's not free, but it's less than most people assume.

Your First Game

Don't wait until your army is fully painted to play. Unpainted and partially painted games are completely normal, especially for new players. Here's how to get your first game:

1. Find a local store — Games Workshop stores and independent stockists almost always have gaming tables and welcome newcomers.

2. Start with Combat Patrol — The smallest official game format, using ~500 points. Games take about an hour.

3. Use Wahapedia or the official app — For quick reference to your unit datasheets during play.

4. Accept that you'll get rules wrong — Everyone does. The game has a learning curve, and that's fine. Play for fun, learn as you go.

The Hive City Promise

This hobby is massive, and it can feel overwhelming. That's exactly why Hive City exists. We're building a library of content specifically designed to guide you through every stage — from your first sprue cut to your first tournament. Bookmark us, explore the categories, and take it one step at a time.

The Underhive is deep, but the view from down here is worth it.