What case do I need to carry a first Warhammer army?
Until your models are painted, the box they came in is enough. When you start carrying painted models, Games Workshop's Stormvault Skirmish Case suits small games such as Kill Team. Its Combat Case suits most Combat Patrol or Spearhead armies.
The Skirmish Case is £31.21 (sold out at the moment) and the Combat Case is £57.28 (sold out at the moment). Other cases work too; the last section lists what hobbyists use.
Which Stormvault case for which army
| Your force | Case | Size, as Games Workshop gives it |
|---|---|---|
| Kill Team, Warcry, Blood Bowl, Necromunda or Underworlds | Stormvault Skirmish Case | 278 x 220 x 41.5 mm. The right size to bag up for an evening game. |
| A Combat Patrol or a Spearhead force | Stormvault Combat Case | 556 x 220 x 41.5 mm, twice the Skirmish Case, in two sections. Ideal for most Combat Patrol or Spearhead armies. |
| A bigger army, or tanks and monsters | Neither | See the last section. |
Pick the one that matches your force.
What is inside, and what it will not hold
Earlier Games Workshop cases had lids with foam inserts. The Stormvault cases are lined with smooth silicone bristles on both halves instead. They flex when you close the case, so a thin spear or a pennant is not squashed or snagged.
The bristles are spaced to hold models on round bases from 25mm to 40mm, and cavalry or bikers on oval bases up to 75mm. Check the base size before you buy. A model on a round base bigger than 40mm will not sit in the bristles, so large monsters and vehicles stay in their box.
The Skirmish Case opens flat on a table, with rubber backing on each half for grip, and four clips close it.
Do you need a case yet?
Not on day one. Unpainted models have no paint to protect, so spend the money on paints and brushes first and keep the models in the box they came in.
Buy a case when you are carrying painted models somewhere, to a friend's table or a club night. If you are weighing a Combat Patrol against a bigger army, our guide to Combat Patrols explains what each holds.
Cases other than the Stormvault ones
You do not have to wait for one of these. On r/Warhammer40k, replies to this question mention hard tool-style cases with foam or magnet trays, storage boxes and rucksack-style cases. Whichever you choose, apply the same two checks:
- Measure your tallest and widest model, base included, against the tray depth.
- Decide how the models will be held: foam, magnets or bristles.
Common questions
Do Stormvault cases use foam?
They use silicone bristles instead. Both halves are lined with them, unlike the older cases with foam inserts, and the bristles flex as the case closes.
Is the Skirmish Case big enough for Kill Team?
It is made for smaller games including Kill Team, Warcry, Underworlds, Blood Bowl and Necromunda. Games Workshop does not publish a model count, so check your own models' bases against the size range.
Will a Stormvault case fit in a rucksack?
The Skirmish Case is 278 x 220 x 41.5 mm, sized to bag up for an evening game. The Combat Case is 556 mm long, so measure your bag first.
Skirmish Case size, bristles and base range: Games Workshop article of 26 September 2023. Combat Case size and wording: Games Workshop's product description, read 29 October 2026. Alternatives: r/Warhammer40k threads, 2026. Prices and stock: this shop, read live.