What do you need for your first game of Warhammer 40,000?
Checked against Games Workshop articles dated up to 23 July 2026.
Two small armies, dice, a tape measure marked in inches, a table with terrain on it and the rules. The 11th Edition Starter Set (£126.40, in stock) holds two Combat Patrol armies, two boards and terrain, dice, rulers, a Core Rulebook, a handbook and reference sheets. Add the app for Combat Patrol missions and scoring.
The checklist
| You need | What to get |
|---|---|
| Two armies | One Combat Patrol per player. Each is a pre-set army with a low model count, so there is no list to build. |
| Dice | The Starter Set includes dice. Otherwise a pack of dice is £6.12 (sold out at the moment). |
| Something to measure with | Distances are in inches. The Starter Set includes rulers; our tape measure is £4.94 (sold out at the moment). |
| The rules | The free core rules download, the Core Rulebook in the Starter Set, or the Combat Patrol rules in the app. |
| A mission and a scoresheet | Combat Patrol games can be played in the app's War Journal, which gives each army a mission and tracks the score. |
| A table | The Starter Set has two boards and terrain. Otherwise lay out footprints and scenery: see how much terrain you need. |
Three ways to buy it
| Route | What you add | Total at our prices |
|---|---|---|
| 11th Edition Starter Set: two armies, boards, terrain, dice, rulers, rulebook | The app. Paints when you are ready. | £126.40 |
| Two Getting Started sets (Space Marines and Orks): two armies, 11 paints each, brushes | Dice, a tape measure, terrain, a table | £183.28 with dice and tape |
| Armageddon: two Combat Patrols, a core rules booklet, a mission deck, the Dominatus deck, 17 datasheet cards | Dice, a tape measure, terrain, a table | £164.06 with dice and tape |
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£86.11RRP
£109.00Save 21%Sold out
The Getting Started sets bring paints and a brush, and the Starter Set brings the table. Pick the one that leaves you buying the fewest things afterwards. Two players can share the Starter Set or the Armageddon box. The Getting Started route is two boxes, one for each player.
Your first game, step by step
- Build the models. Getting Started models are push-fit, so there is no glue to buy.
- Read the handbook or the app's Combat Patrol rules before you sit down. The Starter Set Handbook is written to ease you into the game.
- Set the table. Lay out the terrain footprints, the flat shapes that mark where scenery goes, then put the scenery on top.
- Start a game in War Journal. Pick the two armies and the app gives each its mission and keeps score.
- For most models, measure from base to base for charges, shooting range and moves alike.
What can wait
- A codex, until you build past the box: when a codex is worth buying.
- The mission and Dominatus decks, which suit full-size games and campaigns: which deck you need.
- The Combat Patrol Companion (£17.00), a 184-page introductory book that works alongside the app. The Combat Patrol rules in the app are free, so the book can wait.
- Paints: you can play before you paint.
Common questions
Can two people play from one Starter Set?
The 11th Edition Starter Set has one Combat Patrol army for Space Marines and one for Orks, so each player takes an army.
Do I need a tape measure for Warhammer 40,000?
You need something marked in inches. The Starter Set includes rulers, so a first game from it needs nothing extra. Games Workshop's designers say charges, shooting range and moves are now all measured base to base.
Do I need to know the rules before my first game?
You can learn as you go. Read the Starter Set Handbook or the app's Combat Patrol rules first, then keep the app open while you play. It shows your opponent's army rules and datasheets, and it scores the game for you.
Is it normal to feel overwhelmed after your first game of Warhammer?
A first game often runs long, and feeling overwhelmed afterwards is common. Start with a Combat Patrol, which is a small pre-set army, and stop after a few turns if you need to. A second game usually goes faster because you already know the order of play.
Warhammer Community articles: Starter Set and Getting Started contents, 5 July 2026; Combat Patrol, War Journal and Armageddon, 23 July 2026; measuring base to base, 5 June 2026; Combat Patrol Companion, 11 May 2026; Combat Patrol rules free in the app, 23 July 2026; free core rules download, 1 June 2026. Armageddon contents, prices and stock: this shop, read live.