What do I need to start the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game?
The simplest start is the War of the Rohirrim: Battle of Edoras starter set. It is £114.55 here (RRP £145.00) and is in stock. One box holds both armies, the rules manual and a playmat.
The other route is a Battlehost (a boxed set of plastic miniatures for one army) plus the Rules Manual plus one Armies book.
Starting with Battle of Edoras
The Battle of Edoras set is a complete start. The forces of Rohan face the Hill Tribesmen of Dunland, with 28 Rohirrim in the box and the rest Tribesmen. What it holds:
| Part | What is in it |
|---|---|
| Miniatures | 56 all-new plastic miniatures, with mounted and on-foot versions of four heroes from the film. |
| Rules | A 176-page rules manual for the new edition, a Scenarios and Profiles booklet and a quick reference guide. |
| Table | A 3 foot by 3 foot double-sided paper playmat and two classic Rohan Houses. |
| Extras | Dice and range rulers |
Starting with a Battlehost
If you would rather start with one army, choose a Battlehost. Games Workshop's 2022 sizes were Minas Tirith 33 miniatures, Mordor 32 and Isengard 48. Battlehosts suit players expanding an army, starting a new one or playing for the first time, according to Games Workshop.
A Battlehost does not include the full rules. For those the next step is the Rules Manual, which contains everything from magic and chariots to siege games. You also need one of the supplements that carry the profiles and army lists:
- Armies of the Lord of the Rings covers the heroes and villains of the film trilogy and The War of the Rohirrim.
- Armies of the Hobbit covers the characters from The Hobbit trilogy.
- Armies of Middle-earth adds more units from across Middle-earth.
The Minas Tirith, Mordor and Isengard Battlehosts hold characters from the Lord of the Rings films, so the Lord of the Rings supplement is the match.
| Route | What you buy | Our price |
|---|---|---|
| Starter set | The Battle of Edoras set. | £114.55 |
| One army | Minas Tirith Battlehost | £48.19, sold out at the moment |
| Plus the rules | Rules Manual | £29.23, sold out at the moment |
| Plus the profiles | Armies of the Lord of the Rings | £32.79, sold out at the moment |
| The three together | The Battlehost route | £110.21 |
Which route to take
Most first-time buyers should take the starter set. It holds both armies and the rules in one box, the models are new sculpts, and you can play your first game with a friend, as Rohan against Dunland.
The Battlehost route is for you if you already know your side or want the classic Gondor, Mordor or Isengard look. The Rules Manual and Armies book stay useful as you grow.
Try it first with the free Quickstart rules
Games Workshop publishes free Quickstart Rules for its Battlehosts. They give you starter profiles and the rules for a first game, and teach moving, shooting and fighting. The Rules Manual is the next step for everyone.
Common questions
Is the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game part of Warhammer?
It is made by Games Workshop and sold alongside Warhammer, but it is a separate game set in Middle-earth. It has its own Rules Manual and army books, and its miniatures are a different range.
Do I need the Rules Manual to play the Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game?
Yes, for the full game. It holds the complete rules, from magic to siege games. The Battle of Edoras starter set includes it, and the Battlehost boxes do not.
Which Middle-earth Armies book do I need?
Match the book to your models. For the Minas Tirith, Mordor and Isengard Battlehosts, that is Armies of the Lord of the Rings.
Battle of Edoras contents: Warhammer Community (Games Workshop's news site), 22 September 2024. New edition and supplements: Warhammer Community, 8 August 2024. Battlehost sizes: Warhammer Community, 7 and 22 August and 7 September 2022. Quickstart rules and the path to the Rules Manual: Warhammer Community, 9 September 2026. Prices and stock: this shop, read live.