Is the Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard) a good first Warhammer 40,000 army?
Yes, if you like tanks and big blocks of soldiers and can live with painting similar figures many times. Buy one infantry box first, paint a squad, then add a tank and decide. If you want an army on the table quickly, an army with fewer models suits better.
Our Combat Patrol: Astra Militarum is £86.11 (RRP £109.00) and is sold out at the moment.
Who the Astra Militarum suits
The Astra Militarum is the army of ordinary human soldiers, officers, artillery and tanks. Detachments are the rules options you pick for an army.
| You like | Guard fits? | What the army gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Tanks in squadrons | Strong fit | The Armoured Infantry detachment puts Guardsmen in transports, and its Squadron Command rule lets officers give Orders to Leman Russ tanks. |
| Officers shouting Orders | Strong fit | Orders are still part of the army in the eleventh edition; Commissars, Command Squads and Tank Commanders hand them out. |
| Ogryns, snipers or drop troops | Good fit | Two of the detachments revealed in May 2026 are built around Ogryns, Bullgryn and Ratlings, and around Tempestus Scions. |
| Finishing an army fast, or a handful of detailed models | Weak fit | A Guard army needs many infantry, and players call the current Cadian kit slow to build and paint. See the armies that need the fewest models instead. |
A first Guard purchase, in order
- One infantry box. Take Cadian Shock Troops at £26.47 or Death Korps of Krieg at £26.47. Paint one squad from start to finish before you buy anything else.
- One tank. The Leman Russ Battle Tank is £35.16. Add it once the first squad is painted.
- Later, a heavy weapons box. Once the first two are painted, the Cadian Heavy Weapons Squad is £26.47. Games Workshop's January 2023 preview described it as three Heavy Weapons Teams.
Those three kits come to £88.10, against £86.11 for the Combat Patrol, a pre-set force in one box. Separate kits let you pick your own regiment, and they are the way in if the Combat Patrol is gone.
You do not need a book to try a Combat Patrol. The Combat Patrol rules in the Warhammer 40,000 app are free, and Games Workshop says you need no rulebook, Codex or subscription to unlock them.
What catches new Guard players out
- Small parts on every soldier. In a Reddit thread about the current Cadian kit, players said each soldier has a lot of pieces, and that straps and pouches make painting slow. One reply suggested a paint marker for belts and straps; another painted the straps the same colour as the trousers.
- Choosing by rules. Rules and points move every few months. Pick the army you like looking at. How to choose when no army grabs you has a short routine.
What is on our shelf
We list 34 Astra Militarum products, and 9 are in stock. In-stock boxes come first.
Common questions
Why do players call Imperial Guard an expensive army?
Experienced players call Guard one of the more expensive armies because a full force needs many infantry models plus vehicles, not just one box. One infantry box here is £26.47, so each squad adds up.
Is a Leman Russ the first model I should buy?
Buy one infantry box first and paint a squad, then add the Leman Russ at £35.16. A painted squad tells you whether you enjoy the army before you spend on a tank.
Are Death Korps of Krieg easier to paint than Cadians?
One player suggested Krieg as a gentler start, because the gas masks are easy to paint. Neither is quick at squad size, so paint one model from each and keep the one you enjoy.
Detachments and Orders: Warhammer Community (Games Workshop's news site), 16 April, 20 April and 6 May 2026. Combat Patrol rules in the app: Warhammer Community, 23 July 2026. Rules and points updates: Warhammer Community, March to October 2026. Heavy Weapons Squad kit: Warhammer Community, 15 January 2023. Player views: Reddit threads in r/Warhammer40k, October 2025 to September 2026. Prices and stock: this shop, read live.