What should you buy after your first Warhammer box?
Build what is in the box and paint one squad before you buy more. Then buy for the part you enjoyed: building, painting, playing or the setting.
If you cannot say what you enjoyed yet, buy nothing yet. One painted squad will tell you.
Before you spend anything
- Build every model in the box.
- Paint one squad to the end, even if it looks rough. That shows you what you enjoy and what you put up with.
- Play one game. Combat Patrol rules are free in the Warhammer 40,000 app, and the 11th edition Core Rules are a free download.
An unpainted pile grows quickly. One finished squad keeps the next order small and aimed at something you have already used.
What to buy, by what you enjoyed
| You enjoyed | Buy next | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Building | Another box or kit for the same army | You know how the models fit, and a second unit makes the army look like one |
| Painting | A Paints and Tools set: the 10th Edition one is £21.73, and the 11th edition one is sold out at the moment | More colours than the handful in a starter box, plus a spare brush and clippers |
| Playing | A second army once the first has colour on it, so there is someone to play. The 11th Edition Starter Set holds two, at £126.40 | One box gives you one side of the table |
| The setting | The Combat Patrol Companion at £17.00 | A 184-page introduction to the hobby and each army. The rules themselves are in the app |
| Not sure | Nothing yet | Wait until one squad is painted |
Mistakes to avoid
- Starting a second army. A new army puts you back at unbuilt, unpainted models. Add to the first one until it has colour on it.
- Buying for points. Points are the numbers games use to size an army. They moved for many units when the 11th edition arrived, in both directions, and Games Workshop issued balance updates on 30 September and 1 October 2026. Choose models you want to paint, because the numbers will keep shifting.
- Paying for rules you can read free. The Combat Patrol rules and the Core Rules cost nothing, so a book is for lore and artwork.
If you liked painting
Say you liked painting and want some background on the armies too. The 10th Edition Paints and Tools set plus the Combat Patrol Companion come to £38.73. Add a primer and glue if you need them, because the Paints and Tools set has neither.
Where to start looking
Common questions
What else do I need after my first Warhammer miniature?
Clippers, a mouldline remover, a brush, paint and, for kits that are not push-fit, plastic glue. The Paints and Tools sets hold the clippers, mouldline remover, brush and 13 paints. Neither lists a primer or glue.
Should my second Warhammer purchase be the same army or a different one?
The same army, until it has colour on it. A different army starts you again at unbuilt models. Change army only if the first one has stopped being fun to paint.
Do I have to finish painting my first box before I buy another?
You do not have to finish the whole box, only one squad. Finishing that squad shows you which colours, brushes and kits you actually use, so the next purchase is a better one.
Combat Patrol rules in the app: Warhammer Community, 23 July 2026. Core Rules download: Warhammer Community, 1 June 2026. Companion: Warhammer Community, 11 May 2026. Points and balance updates: Warhammer Community, June to October 2026. Paints and Tools contents: our product listings. Prices and stock: this shop, read live.