Combat Patrol vs Starter Set: Which Warhammer Box Should Beginners Buy?

If you're just getting into Warhammer, one of the first questions you'll encounter is:

Should you buy a Combat Patrol or a Starter Set?

Both are designed to help new players get into the hobby, but they serve very different purposes. Starter Sets teach you the game from scratch, while Combat Patrol boxes are designed to build a ready-to-play army for regular games.

Understanding the difference can save you money and help you start the hobby the right way.

In this guide we’ll cover:

  • What a Warhammer Starter Set is

  • What a Combat Patrol box contains

  • The key differences between the two

  • Which option is best for beginners

  • When to upgrade from a starter box to a full army

  • Examples of great beginner models to expand with

If you're completely new to Warhammer, you may also want to read our complete beginner guide: How to Start Warhammer

What Is a Warhammer Starter Set?

A Warhammer Starter Set is designed specifically for brand-new players who have never played the game before.

These boxes typically include:

  • Two small opposing armies

  • Simplified rules

  • Dice

  • A game board or play mat

  • Introductory missions

  • Beginner-friendly instructions

The goal of a starter set is simple:

Teach you how to play Warhammer step-by-step.

Instead of overwhelming you with complex rules, starter sets introduce the game gradually with tutorial-style missions.

A great example is the introductory set, which includes:

  • Two small armies

  • Hobby tools

  • paints

  • beginner-friendly instructions

This type of box lets you go from unopened box to first game in a single evening.

You can also explore more beginner options in our guide: Best Warhammer Starter Sets

What Is a Warhammer Combat Patrol?

A Combat Patrol is very different from a starter set.

Instead of teaching the game, Combat Patrol boxes are designed to give you a full playable army in one purchase.

Each Combat Patrol typically contains:

  • 20–40 miniatures

  • A complete faction force

  • Units designed to work together

  • Enough models for the Combat Patrol game mode

Combat Patrol is an official Warhammer format where:

  • Each player uses one Combat Patrol box

  • The armies are balanced to fight each other

  • Games are faster than full 2000-point battles

These boxes are great if:

  • You already understand the basics of Warhammer

  • You want to build a specific faction

  • You plan to expand into a full army later

Combat Patrol boxes are also popular because they often provide excellent value compared to buying units individually.

Quick Comparison: Combat Patrol vs Starter Set

Feature Starter Set Combat Patrol
Designed for beginners Yes Not necessarily
Includes rules tutorial Yes No
Includes two armies Yes No
Includes hobby tools/paints Sometimes No
Designed for learning the game Yes No
Designed for building an army No Yes
Good first purchase Usually Sometimes

Short version:

  • Starter Set = Learn Warhammer

  • Combat Patrol = Build your first army

What Comes Inside a Warhammer Starter Set?

Starter sets are built around teaching the game gradually.

Typical contents include:

Miniatures

Starter boxes usually include two small factions so you can play with a friend.

For example, many Warhammer 40,000 starter boxes include:

  • Space Marines

  • Tyranids

This allows beginners to experience both sides of the game.

If you later want to expand your Space Marine force, great beginner kits include:

These units form the backbone of many Space Marine armies.

Simplified Rulebooks

Starter sets include simplified rules, often presented in:

  • step-by-step missions

  • tutorial scenarios

  • beginner guides

This makes them much easier to learn than the full rulebook.

If you're unsure how complex the hobby is, our guide explains the cost and learning curve:

Is Warhammer Expensive?

Hobby Supplies

Some starter sets include hobby tools like:

  • clippers

  • starter paints

  • paint brushes

For example:

These kits help beginners start painting immediately.

If you're new to miniature painting, see:

How to Paint Warhammer Miniatures

 

What Comes Inside a Combat Patrol Box?

Combat Patrol boxes are built around one specific faction.

Instead of teaching the game, they provide a ready-made army list.

Typical contents include:

Core Infantry Units

These form the backbone of your army.

Examples include:

These units represent elite or thematic troops for their factions.

Support Units

Combat Patrol boxes often include:

  • characters

  • vehicles

  • specialist squads

For example:

These models give the army unique tactical options.

Character Models

Most Combat Patrols include a hero unit that leads the army.

These characters are often the most detailed miniatures in the box.

Which Option Is Best for Complete Beginners?

For most new players:

Starter Sets are the best first purchase.

They provide:

  • everything needed to play

  • clear instructions

  • two factions

  • beginner-friendly rules

You can start playing immediately.

The introductory set is one of the easiest entry points because it includes:

  • miniatures

  • paints

  • hobby tools

  • rules

That means you don't need to buy anything else to begin.

When Should You Buy a Combat Patrol Instead?

A Combat Patrol may be the better choice if:

  • You already understand the basic rules

  • You know which faction you want

  • You plan to build a full army

For example, if you're excited about Chaos forces in Age of Sigmar, you might start with models like:

These can easily expand into a full Chaos army.

Similarly, undead fans might enjoy:

Starter Sets vs Combat Patrol: Cost Comparison

One of the biggest differences between these products is price vs content.

Starter Sets

Starter sets are typically cheaper because they include:

  • smaller armies

  • simpler components

However, they also include extra gameplay materials like:

  • dice

  • rulebooks

  • play boards

Combat Patrol Boxes

Combat Patrol boxes often cost more but include far more miniatures.

They’re designed to provide long-term value for building an army.

Many players consider them one of the best value Warhammer purchases.

Can You Start Warhammer With a Combat Patrol?

Yes — many players do.

However, there are a few challenges:

Combat Patrol boxes usually do NOT include:

  • rulebooks

  • dice

  • rulers

  • tutorial missions

So beginners may need to learn the game from external guides.

Our beginner FAQ answers many of these questions: Warhammer Beginner FAQ

Expanding Your Army After a Starter Set

Once you've learned the basics, the next step is expanding your army with individual miniature kits.

For Space Marines, popular additions include:

  • space-marines-jump-pack-intercessors

  • space-marines-primaris-eliminators

For larger centrepiece models, you might choose something like:

  • tyranids-winged-hive-tyrant

For Age of Sigmar players, another beginner-friendly army option is:

  • seraphon-spearhead

If you're still deciding which faction suits you best, check out: Warhammer Factions Explained

Starter Sets for Age of Sigmar vs Warhammer 40K

Warhammer actually has two major game systems:

Warhammer 40,000

A dark sci-fi universe featuring:

  • Space Marines

  • alien empires

  • chaotic demons

Beginner-friendly models include:

  • Space Marines

  • Tyranids

  • Tau Empire

Warhammer Age of Sigmar

A fantasy setting featuring:

  • undead armies

  • dragons

  • chaos warriors

  • magical gods

A great beginner entry point is the:

This teaches the fantasy version of the Warhammer rules.

When Players Eventually Buy Both

Interestingly, many hobbyists eventually buy both product types.

A common progression looks like this:

  1. Buy a Starter Set

  2. Learn the rules

  3. Choose a favourite faction

  4. Buy a Combat Patrol

  5. Expand the army with additional kits

This path spreads out the cost and makes the hobby easier to learn.

FAQ: Combat Patrol vs Starter Set

Is Combat Patrol better than a Starter Set?

Not necessarily.

Starter sets are better for learning the game, while Combat Patrol boxes are better for building a full army.

Beginners usually benefit more from starting with a Starter Set.

Can two Combat Patrols fight each other?

Yes.

Combat Patrol is actually its own game mode where players use one Combat Patrol each.

These armies are designed to be balanced against other Combat Patrol boxes.

Do Combat Patrol boxes include rules?

Usually no.

They include miniatures but not the core rules or tutorial missions.

Players typically download rules or use a rulebook separately.

Do Starter Sets include everything needed to play?

Most do.

For example the introductory set includes:

  • miniatures

  • paints

  • tools

  • missions

  • rules

Which makes it one of the easiest ways to start the hobby.

Are Combat Patrol boxes good value?

Yes.

Combat Patrol boxes usually provide significant savings compared to buying units individually.

They’re one of the most popular ways to start building a full army.

Can I expand the models from a Starter Set?

Absolutely.

Starter sets are designed so the models can become the first units in a full army.

You can easily add units like:

  • space-marines-primaris-intercessors

  • space-marines-terminator-squad

to expand your force.

Final Thoughts: Should You Choose Combat Patrol or a Starter Set?

Both options are excellent ways to begin your Warhammer journey — but they serve different purposes.

Choose a Starter Set if you want:

  • the easiest introduction to Warhammer

  • step-by-step tutorial missions

  • two armies to play with friends

  • hobby tools and paints included

Choose a Combat Patrol if you want:

  • to build a specific faction

  • a ready-to-play army

  • excellent value for miniatures

  • a foundation for a larger army

For most beginners, the best first purchase is the introductory set, because it teaches the hobby from the ground up.

Once you’ve played a few games and discovered your favourite faction, you can then move on to Combat Patrol boxes and additional Warhammer miniature kits to build your ultimate army.

Warhammer is a hobby that combines strategy, creativity, and storytelling — and the right starting box makes the journey far more enjoyable.

If you're ready to begin, explore our guides:

…and take your first step into the Warhammer universe.