It can be overwhelming to know where to start in Warhammer 40k and Age of Sigmar. We have compiled beginner guides to every army and faction from the universe. They will cover basics in play mechanics and in how to paint them.
Whether you’re pulled towards the righteous zeal of the Adepta Sororitas or the relentless march of the Death Guard, we’ll give you some insights into their backstory and playstyle.
Our practical painting tips have been tailored to each army, in order to help bring your chosen miniatures to life on the battlefield.
Hopefully our guides will help you in your decision of which faction to choose and start in your Warhammer journey.
Warhammer 40k
Warhammer 40,000 is a grim, dystopian sci-fi universe where humanity battles various alien races and chaotic entities. You need to understand the best strategy for your chosen army to win the day.
Age of Sigmar is more of a high-fantasy focused on magic and heroic battles. The gameplay is often based around individual heroes and mythical creatures being at the forefront.
Warhammer 40k Factions
There is a lot of choice when it comes to Warhammer 40k armies (we understand how overwhelming this can be). To break this into a more digestible manner, we’ll first look at the main armies. There are four of them:
Warhammer Age of Sigmar
Warhammer Age of Sigmar is a high-fantasy tabletop game with a magical element.
Age of Sigmar has more simplified rules, which can be perfect for beginners to the game.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar Factions
The armies are grouped into four factions:
Tips for Getting Started in Warhammer
It can be hard to know where to begin, so we have provided below some general points so you can get started and enjoy playing Warhammer.
Playing Warhammer
Warhammer has two incredibly entertaining tabletop wargames: Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar. They both have distinct settings — one is set in a grim sci-fi universe and the other in a vibrant fantasy realm filled with magic.
Both games need strategy, creativity, alongside a narrative-driven gameplay, with a deeply rich world.
What You’ll Need to Start Playing Warhammer
- 40k or Age of Sigmar Minatures
- The Rulebook: The core rulebook is vital to understand how to play your chosen game. This will teach you the game, but also lore, and army guidelines.
- Dice: You’ll need a standard six-sided dice for gameplay, along with measuring tools like a ruler or tape measure.
- Battle Mat or Terrain: Some kind of playing surface, ideally with terrain features that enhances the aesthetic and strategic elements of the game.
- Codex or Battletome: Each army has a specific codex (40,000) or battletome (Age of Sigmar). These detail unit stats, abilities, and lore.
Painting Warhammer
Many players would say that the painting of your Warhammer miniatures is the most rewarding aspect of the game as it that allows you to express creativity and personalize your army in your own way. We’re always blown away by the skills shown by players in how they’ve crafted their models.
Whether it’s the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000 or the magical realms of Age of Sigmar, your models bring your characters and game to life, so it’s important to get it right.
What You’ll Need to Start Painting Warhammer
Aside from the models themselves, a water pot and paper towels, the following is a basic list of things we’d recommend getting to help you start up:
- Paint: The most needed bit of equipment. It can be hard to know where to begin with choosing colors and we’d say don’t stress too much at first – choose what you like! Brands such as Citadel, Vallejo, and Army Painter are probably the best to go with.
- Brushes: Get a set of brushes in different sizes as finer brushes are good for detail work and larger ones for base coating.
- Palette: A palette will help you mix colors and keep your paints workable.
- Primer: This gets your models ready and allows better paint adhesion so you can enhance details better.
- Sealant: This protective varnish can safeguard your painted miniatures from wear and tear during gameplay.
How Beginners Can Learn More About Warhammer
There is such a deep lore in Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar to delve into. Understanding the universe more isn’t essential, but it can deepen how you play (and enjoy) the game.
Each one is filled with incredible stories, complex characters, and intricate histories that will bring your tabletop battles to life. We’d recommend exploring the content available to help you choose who you want to play as and what you enjoy. There are vast amounts of books, audiobooks, tv shows and games to enjoy. We’ll cover a lot of them on this site!
Best Ways to Explore Warhammer
If you’ve got this far into exploring Warhammer, then you’re probably delving into the vast universe already. However, the best ways we found to explore and learn about the lore were the following:
- Core Rulebooks
- Codexes and Battletomes
- Novels and Anthologies
- Online Resources (Fan Sites and Forums)
- Audiobooks and Podcasts
- Warhammer Video Games
Start with what interests you and focus on the factions or characters that intrigue you most to keep your expanding your knowledge. There are also lots of fantastic communities you can join. Participate in online forums or local clubs to discuss lore and share recommendations or go to one of the many fantastic events.
