How do I choose a Warhammer 40,000 army when I do not feel strongly about any faction?
Stop choosing a faction and choose one box. Pick the three models you would most like to paint, buy the smallest of them, paint it, and see whether you want another. Price will not break the tie, because Combat Patrol boxes here are £82.95 to £86.11 whichever army you pick.
What to do, smallest test first
- Write down three models you like the look of, whatever army they belong to. You will spend a lot of your hobby time building and painting, so choose plastic you like looking at.
- Cross off anything that clashes with your time. Games Workshop describes Tyranids and Orks as swarming factions, and says the lower model count of Space Marines lets you assemble and paint quite quickly. If time is short, cross off the swarms.
- Look at painted models up close. Models feel different in a shop or at an event than magnified on a website. Ask us what we have on the shelf, or visit a local club.
- Buy one squad and paint it. A unit of ten or fewer models is a good size: paint it, and buy more only if you enjoyed it. If the squad you want is gone, pick another squad from the same army.
- Play one free game. Combat Patrol rules in the Warhammer 40,000 app are free, so you can try a small game with a borrowed or friend's army before spending more.
- If two armies still tie, flip a coin. Notice your own reaction when it lands. If you feel disappointed, that is the army you wanted.
Buying once you have a shortlist
| You want | Buy | Cost here |
|---|---|---|
| The smallest test | One squad box from any army | £23.31 for Ork Boyz, £32.79 for Assault Intercessors |
| One army in a single box | A Combat Patrol (a pre-set army with a low model count) | £82.95 to £86.11; 2 of the 26 Combat Patrols we list are in stock |
| Two armies and a first game | The 11th Edition Starter Set: two Combat Patrol armies, Space Marines and Orks, with terrain to play on | £126.40 (RRP £160.00), in stock |
Habits that stall the decision
Do not choose by rules. Points and rules change every few months, so do not pick an army because someone online says it is strong this month. Do not buy three armies to compare: painting one unit from each costs a few boxes, while an army of each costs a lot more and leaves unpainted plastic. Do not read about lore for weeks. Reading a book or watching battle reports is a fine way to choose, but stop when you start repeating yourself and go and paint a model.
Common questions
Is it a bad reason to pick an army because I like how it looks?
Looks are a good reason, because you will look at the models for months. Choose the ones you would happily have on your desk for a long time.
Can I change army later if I pick wrong?
You can change army at any time, and a single painted squad is not a big loss. The hard one to leave is an army you bought in bulk before painting any of it.
Should I choose the same army as my friends?
Only if you would pick it on your own. Two players with the same army is fine, but picking something different gives you a more varied game.
Swarm and lower model count wording: Warhammer Community (Games Workshop's news site), 3 October 2023. Combat Patrol rules free in the app and Starter Set contents: Warhammer Community, 23 July 2026 and 5 July 2026. Player advice: Reddit r/Warhammer40k threads, 2026. Prices, counts and stock: this shop, read live.