How do I find someone to play Warhammer 40,000 with?
Start with one friend and a Combat Patrol each, then widen out. Learn the basics at home first. The Combat Patrol rules in the Warhammer 40,000 app are free and the core rules are a free download. Then tell a local club or shop that you are new, and ask for a small game.
Be an easy opponent to say yes to
Bring a small army. Warhammer Community, Games Workshop's news site, describes Combat Patrol as pre-set armies with low model counts and fast, compact games. One box is enough, and the Getting Started boxes add paints.
Use the app. The Combat Patrol rules in the app are free, with a mission for each army and a score tracker. The app also shows you your opponent's army rules and datasheets as you play, so you do not need to know their army. Our page on what the app does covers the rest.
Learn at home. Warhammer Community points beginners to free tutorials on its Warhammer Academy site.
Bring dice and a tape measure, which costs £4.94. Distances are measured in inches.
Where to look for a game
- Someone you already know. One friend with a second Combat Patrol, or two people sharing a Starter Set, is the easiest first game. See how to split a Starter Set.
- A local shop that runs games. Ask which evening suits beginners and whether someone can teach you a small game.
- A club or group chat. Ask at a local shop whether a group meets nearby. Once you find one, post what you own, what size of game you want and when you are free.
- An organised event. The 11th edition Event Companion covers events from small gatherings to room-filling tournaments. Doubles events put two players on each side, so a friend can sit beside you.
- Youth clubs and schools. Warhammer Alliance is a Games Workshop programme that brings young people together to play and paint.
When walking in feels hard
Walking into a shop where everyone seems to know each other can feel hard.
- Phone ahead and ask for a learning game. Having a named person to ask for is better than turning up cold.
- Bring a friend if you can. If you cannot, decide before you go how long you will stay.
- Say what you want: a relaxed game, a small army, an explanation of the rules as you go.
- Warhammer Community says Warhammer is for everyone. If one group does not suit you, try another.
When someone keeps telling you what to do
Other people may watch your game in a shop and offer tips you did not ask for. You cannot stop them watching, so say it early and keep it short.
"We are working it out as we go. If we want help, we will ask."
Common questions
Where can I play Warhammer 40,000 near me?
Look for local shops that run games, local clubs and group chats, and organised events. Young people may find a Warhammer Alliance club at a school or youth club.
How do I ask for a game if I am new?
Say what you own, how big the game should be and that you are learning. For example: 'I am new, I have one Combat Patrol and I would like a relaxed game.'
Is Warhammer welcoming to women and girls?
Warhammer Community says 'Warhammer is for everyone'. A new group can feel hard to join, so take a friend if you can.
Can I play Warhammer 40,000 with a friend who has never played?
The app helps: it runs the Combat Patrol rules and shows both players' army rules and datasheets, so neither of you needs to know them by heart. Start with a Combat Patrol each, or share a Starter Set at £126.40.
What do I do if my opponent keeps correcting my rules?
Ask them to say it once, then check it in the app together. If you want to learn by making mistakes, tell them so before the game starts.
Combat Patrol, the free app rules and Warhammer Academy tutorials: Warhammer Community, 23 July 2026. App features: Warhammer Community, 15 June 2026. Event Companion and Doubles events: Warhammer Community, 12 June 2026. Warhammer Alliance and 'Warhammer is for everyone': Warhammer Community, 10 August 2022. Prices: this shop, read live.