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What’s in the Warhammer 40k Armageddon starter set? The Armageddon box is the launch set for Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition, packing 61 push-fit miniatures (23 Blood Angels-themed Space Marines and 38 Orks), the new Core Rules, and a stack of cards and lore. It costs $295 / £185, with pre-orders live since June 6 and the box hitting stores June 20, 2026.
Below we break down the full contents, work out what the minis are actually worth versus that $295 price tag, and help you decide whether this is the right way into the new edition.
What’s in the box? Full Armageddon contents
The Armageddon launch box contains 61 multipart plastic push-fit miniatures (501 components) spread across roughly 12 kits, plus the full rules package for 11th Edition. Every model is push-fit, so you can build the entire force without glue.
Here’s the complete rundown.
Space Marines (23 miniatures)
The Imperial half of the box is narratively themed around the Blood Angels, who lead the Imperial relief of Armageddon. Importantly, the models themselves carry no sculpted chapter iconography — they’re clean push-fit Space Marines you can paint as any chapter. (The transfer sheet includes Blood Angels, Ultramarines, Salamanders, Crimson Fists, and White Scars markings.)
- 1 Captain with Relic Shield — NEW sculpt; master-crafted power weapon, relic shield, and heavy bolt pistol, in a dynamic action pose
- 1 Librarian
- 1 Chaplain with Jump Pack
- 1 Ancient (standard bearer)
- 10 Intercessors
- 5 Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs
- 3 Eradicators with Heavy Bolters
- 1 Land Speeder
Orks (38 miniatures)
The xenos half is a proper green tide, led by a brand-new walker centerpiece.
- 1 Big Mek Dakkarig — NEW sculpt; a walking weapon platform that carries its mad inventor into battle, armed with chattering blitzkannons and rokkit batteries
- 1 Warboss
- 1 Bigboss
- 1 Bannernob
- 1 Painboy (with 1 Grot Orderly)
- 1 Weirdboy
- 20 Ork Boyz
- 10 Gretchin
- 1 Wartrakk
New sculpts vs returning kits
Games Workshop describes both armies as brand-new push-fit miniatures — even familiar units like Intercessors, Boyz and Gretchin are fresh sculpts rather than old kits. The Big Mek Dakkarig (Orks) and Bigboss are entirely new units, the Eradicators are an existing unit with a new heavy bolter loadout, and the Land Speeder and Wartrakk are modern redesigns of classic kits.
Books, cards, and extras
- 88-page Core Rules booklet (the full 11th Edition rules)
- 114-page hardcover lore book, Armageddon: Operation Imperator
- Chapter Approved 2026–27 Mission Deck (88 cards)
- Dominatus Narrative Campaign Deck (89 cards)
- 17 datasheet cards (one per unit in the box)
- Armageddon transfer sheet — 728 waterslide transfers, multiple chapters
There is no terrain in this box — it’s a pure two-force starter, unlike the smaller “battlebox” style sets that pack scenery.
How much is the Armageddon box worth?
This is the headline question for a pre-order, so let’s run the numbers.
If you bought the equivalent units individually at GW retail (using comparable existing kits as a proxy for the new push-fit versions), the contents come out well north of the $295 box price. The exact figure depends heavily on how you value the two brand-new sculpts, which have no standalone price yet.
| Component | Est. à-la-carte value (USD) |
|---|---|
| Space Marine miniatures (8 kits) | ~$380 |
| Ork miniatures (9 units) | ~$465 |
| Rules, lore book, cards, transfers | ~$155 |
| Total estimated value | ~$1,000+ |
| Box price | $295 |
| Saving | ~$700+ (≈70%) |
Sources estimate total value around $1,077 and savings near 73%. Treat the high end with caution — it leans on premium proxy pricing for the not-yet-released new models, and push-fit kits arguably warrant lower valuations than full multipart kits. A conservative read still lands the contents at well over double the $295 you pay.
Bottom line: even on a cautious valuation, the Armageddon box is one of the strongest value-per-dollar launch sets Games Workshop has ever produced. You’re effectively getting two playable armies plus the full rules for less than the price of one mid-size army bought à la carte.
Is the Armageddon box good?
Yes — and it’s an unusually generous launch set. A few standouts:
- Two complete-ish armies, not starter scraps. With 23 Marines and 38 Orks, both sides are large enough to be the foundation of a real collection, not just a demo.
- Two brand-new centerpiece models in the Big Mek Dakkarig and Captain with Relic Shield — these alone are a draw for collectors.
- Push-fit everything means fast, glue-free assembly that’s beginner-friendly.
- The full 11th Edition rules, so you’re not buying into a stripped-down “intro” ruleset you’ll outgrow.
The main caveats: there’s no terrain, and the box is expensive in absolute terms ($295) even if the value ratio is excellent. It’s a big upfront commitment compared to a single Combat Patrol.
Who should buy the Armageddon box?
Buy it if you are:
- New to 40k and want the definitive on-ramp to 11th Edition with everything in one box.
- A returning player who wants the new rules, mission decks, and both new models in a single purchase.
- Splitting with a friend — one of you takes the Marines, the other the Orks (more on this below).
- An Ork or Blood Angels collector who’d buy the new sculpts anyway.
Maybe skip it if you:
- Only want one faction and have no one to split with — a Combat Patrol is a cheaper single-army start.
- Already own the previous edition’s rules and don’t care about the new models.
How it compares to other 40k starter sets
| Set | Approx. price | Minis | Terrain | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armageddon (11th Ed launch) | $295 | 61 | No | The full new-edition start; two armies |
| Combat Patrol (single faction) | ~$170 | ~15–25 | No | One army, focused start |
| Previous-edition launch box | ~$250 | ~40 | Sometimes | Lower entry price, older rules |
| Intro “battlebox” sets | ~$100–150 | ~20–40 | Often | Smallest, cheapest first taste |
| Compared to past launch boxes, Armageddon is bigger and pricier but delivers a noticeably higher mini count and two new sculpts. For a head-to-head against single-army options, see our best Warhammer 40k starter sets guide. |
What you need to start playing
The Armageddon box is close to all-in-one, but to actually play your first game you’ll also want:
- Glue — not needed for the push-fit models, but handy. (Plastic glue strengthens push-fit joints if you want them permanent.)
- Paints and brushes — the minis come unpainted. A starter paint set covers the basics.
- Clippers and a hobby knife for removing parts from the sprue and tidying mould lines.
- Dice and a tape measure / range ruler.
- A table and some terrain. Since the box has no scenery, grab a couple of terrain pieces or print/proxy some to give your battlefield cover.
New to the hobby entirely? Start with what is Warhammer 40k and our 11th Edition rules changes breakdown.
Both factions at a glance
Blood Angels Space Marines
The Imperial relief force on Armageddon is led by the Blood Angels, the noble sons of Sanguinius known for ferocious close-assault fury. The box’s jump-pack Vanguard Veterans and Chaplain lean into that aggressive, airborne playstyle, backed by tanky Eradicators and a fast Land Speeder. Want the full faction history? Read up on the Blood Angels and the hero of Armageddon, Commissar Yarrick.
Orks
The Orks are a brutal green horde drawn to Armageddon like moths to a flame, here led by the new Big Mek Dakkarig walker and a full court of bosses, a Painboy, and a Weirdboy. They’re a horde army built on numbers, choppy combat, and gloriously unreliable tech. For the warlord behind the invasion, see Ghazghkull Thraka, and our Orks Combat Patrol guide for collecting tips.
Where to Buy the Box
Armageddon is sold on Amazon US by third-party sellers. Check that the listing shows the 11th Edition launch box with 23 Space Marines and 38 Orks.
Price details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.As an Amazon Associate, Warhammer Guild earns from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Armageddon box worth it?
For most buyers, yes. At $295 it contains an estimated $1,000+ of miniatures and rules at à-la-carte prices — a saving of roughly 70% even on a conservative read. If you want both armies, or are splitting the box with a friend, the value is hard to beat. The only reason to hesitate is if you want a single small army, where a Combat Patrol is cheaper.
Is it good for beginners?
Very. Every model is push-fit (no glue required), it includes the full Core Rules plus mission decks, and the two-army format means you can learn by playing both sides. The main beginner gap is terrain, which isn’t included.
Can two people play from one box?
Yes — that’s a core selling point. The box splits cleanly into a 23-model Space Marine force and a 38-model Ork force, each with its own leaders and datasheet cards, so two players can each take an army and battle straight out of the box.
Do I need anything else to play?
Just paints (the minis are unpainted), clippers, and possibly dice, a range ruler, and some terrain if those aren’t in the box. The rules, missions, and datacards are all provided.
Will the models be available separately?
Some already are. In late August 2026 Games Workshop released the Big Mek Dakkarig, Weirdboy, Wartrakk and an Ork Kommand Krew (Bannernob, Bigboss and Painboy) as standalone kits, and more launch-box models usually follow. If you only want one or two models, waiting for separate releases is an option, though you’ll pay more per mini.
Are the Space Marines Blood Angels?
They’re Blood Angels in the story, but the models have no sculpted chapter markings, so you can paint them as any chapter. The included transfer sheet supplies Blood Angels, Ultramarines, Salamanders, Crimson Fists, and White Scars iconography.
Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon has been in stores since June 20, 2026. For the wider edition, see our 11th Edition hub. Prices and contents are based on Games Workshop’s launch listings; retailer prices vary.
Lore: Blood Angels vs Orks: The Lore Behind the Armageddon Box — why the box pits the noble Sons of Sanguinius against Ghazghkull’s Waaagh!.
Where can I find build instructions for the Armageddon box?
Printed assembly instructions come in the box for every kit, covering both the Space Marines and the Orks. Games Workshop also usually offers downloadable build instructions for its kits on its official website, which helps if you lose a booklet. Every model in Armageddon is push-fit, so assembly is glue-free, though clippers and a hobby knife make removing parts much cleaner.
Is Warhammer Armageddon a board game?
No. Armageddon is the launch starter set for Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition, a tabletop miniatures wargame rather than a board game. You build and paint the 61 miniatures, then play on any table using the 88-page Core Rules, a tape measure and dice. There is no board or terrain in the box. It is also unrelated to the 2014 turn-based video game Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon.