Which Warhammer 40,000 starter set should you buy first?
On your own, the Getting Started with Space Marines box (£86.11) is the easiest start: a Combat Patrol force plus paints and a brush. If you'd rather have a different army, buy its Combat Patrol (£86.11).
If two of you are starting together, the 11th Edition Starter Set is £126.40 (RRP £160.00): two armies, battlefield boards, terrain, dice and the Core Rulebook.
What's in each box
Contents are Games Workshop's own descriptions. Warhammer 40,000 is now on its 11th edition.
| Box | Best for | What's in it | Our price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Set (11th Edition) | Two players, or one player who wants both armies | Two Combat Patrol armies, one for Space Marines and one for Orks, plus battlefield boards, terrain, dice, rulers, the Core Rulebook, a starter handbook and reference sheets | £126.40 RRP £160.00 in stock |
| Getting Started with Space Marines (11th Edition) | One player who wants paints in the box | A full Combat Patrol force, 11 paints, a brush, a texture spreader and a faction booklet. Push-fit models, so no glue needed | £86.11 RRP £109.00 in stock |
| Combat Patrol (one box per faction) | One player, or adding to an army later | One faction's starting army in a single box | £82.95 to £86.11 RRP £105.00 to £109.00 |
| Introductory Set (10th Edition) | Trying the hobby without buying a full army | Miniatures, clippers, brushes, a few paints, dice and a short rules handbook. It's the 10th Edition box | £33.58 RRP £42.50 in stock |
Starter Set or Combat Patrol?
Buy the Starter Set when two people are starting together. One box gives both sides, the boards and the rules, so nobody needs an opponent who already owns an army.
Buy a Combat Patrol when you're on your own or your friend already has models. You get one faction, ready for small games, and you can add kits later. The Combat Patrol rules are in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 app, and the Combat Patrol Companion (£17.00) is a 184-page book of introductory guides for new players.
What a first army costs
A first Combat Patrol (£86.11), the Combat Patrol Companion (£17.00) and the 10th Edition Paints and Tools set (£21.73; sold out at the moment) come to £124.84 if you buy all three. The Starter Set on its own is £126.40 and already includes the rules.
The Introductory Set and the 10th edition
The Introductory Set we list is the 10th Edition box. At £33.58 it costs the least of the boxes on this page, and it includes tools, paints, dice and a handbook as well as the miniatures.
Starter boxes in stock now
Common questions
What is the best Warhammer 40k starter set in the UK?
For two players, the 11th Edition Starter Set at £126.40: two Combat Patrol armies, boards, terrain, dice and the Core Rulebook. For one player, a Combat Patrol or the Getting Started box.
What should I buy first to start Warhammer 40k as a complete beginner?
The Getting Started with Space Marines box (£86.11). It has a Combat Patrol force and 11 paints, and its models are push-fit. If you'd rather choose your own army, buy that faction's Combat Patrol.
How much does it cost to start a Warhammer 40k army in the UK?
A Combat Patrol, the Combat Patrol Companion and the 10th Edition Paints and Tools set (sold out at the moment) total £124.84 here. The Starter Set is £126.40 on its own.
Is the Warhammer 40,000 Introductory Set worth buying?
As a cheap trial, yes: it's £33.58 and includes tools, basic paints, dice and a handbook. It's the 10th Edition box, though.
Box contents: Games Workshop, via Warhammer Community, 5 July 2026.