Warhammer 40,000 is now in its 11th Edition, and the starter range has been completely refreshed. Every current box pits Space Marines against Orks, and every one comes with push-fit miniatures you can build without glue. Below we cover each box on sale today, what is inside, who it suits, where Combat Patrol fits in, and what to do about older 10th Edition boxes.
Short version: if you want the cheapest possible first taste, get the Introductory Set. If you want a complete two-player game with terrain, get the Starter Set. If you want the most models and the full launch package, get Armageddon while it is still around. If you already know you want one army, look at a Getting Started box or a Combat Patrol.
Every current 40k starter set at a glance
Games Workshop launched 11th Edition with the Armageddon box in June 2026, then followed it with a family of smaller starter products released on 25 July 2026. Here is how they compare.
| Box | Models | Rules and books | Terrain and board | Paints | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory Set | 12 (6 Space Marines, 6 Orks) | 48-page beginner handbook | Card terrain and a playmat | 6 paints and a brush | Trying the hobby, or a gift for a younger beginner |
| Getting Started with Space Marines | 13 Space Marines | Faction guidebook | None | 11 paints, brush, texture spreader | One player who wants Space Marines |
| Getting Started with Orks | 33 Orks | Faction guidebook | None | 11 paints, brush, texture spreader | One player who wants Orks |
| Starter Set | 46 (13 Space Marines, 33 Orks) | 88-page Core Rules, 88-page Starter Set Handbook, reference sheets | 15 plastic terrain pieces and two fold-out boards | None | Two players who want a complete game in one box |
| Armageddon (launch box) | 61 (23 Space Marines, 38 Orks) | 88-page Core Rules, hardback lore book, mission and campaign card decks, datasheet cards | None | None | The biggest start, splitting with a friend, returning players |
Prices change often and vary by country, so we have not listed them here. The “Where to buy” cards further down show live prices.
Introductory Set: the cheapest way in
The 11th Edition Introductory Set is a small, low-commitment box aimed at complete newcomers. Inside you get a Space Marine Lieutenant with five Intercessors, and an Ork Nob with five Boyz. Warhammer Community describes these as models that first appear in this set. Alongside them you get six paints, a starter brush, a playmat, a set of card terrain, a range ruler, six dice and a 48-page handbook that walks you through building, painting and playing a small game.
Who it suits: anyone who wants to find out whether they enjoy building and painting before spending more, or parents buying for a child. It is the only two-army box that includes paints.
The catch: twelve models is enough for a few small learning games, not a proper army. Think of it as a taster. The good news is that Intercessors and Boyz are core units in both armies, so nothing in the box goes to waste if you carry on.
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.
Starter Set: the complete game in a box
The 11th Edition Starter Set is the box we would point most new pairs of players towards. It contains two full Combat Patrol forces, so each side is a proper, balanced small army rather than a handful of models.
- Space Marines (13 models): a Captain with Relic Shield, a Librarian, five Intercessors, five Vanguard Veterans with jump packs and a Land Speeder.
- Orks (33 models): a Warboss, a Weirdboy, 20 Ork Boyz, 10 Gretchin and a Wartrakk.
- Terrain: 15 push-fit plastic pieces, including large and small Manufactorum Ruins, barricades and objective pieces.
- Boards: two fold-out game boards with building foundations printed on them.
- Books and extras: the 88-page Core Rules, an 88-page Starter Set Handbook, two double-sided reference sheets with each force’s Combat Patrol rules, two range rulers and ten dice.
Who it suits: two people starting together, such as friends, partners or a parent and teenager, or a solo buyer who wants terrain and a board ready to go. Because both forces are Combat Patrols, you can play the Combat Patrol format straight away using the free rules in the Warhammer 40,000 app.
The catch: no paints are included, so budget for a paint set. At the time of writing, we could not find a Starter Set listing on Amazon US with a live offer, so it has no card here. Your local store or the Warhammer webstore is the place to look.
Armageddon: the big launch box
Armageddon is the 11th Edition launch box, released on 20 June 2026. It is the largest set in the range: 61 push-fit miniatures, with the Space Marines themed around the Blood Angels and the Orks led by a brand-new walker, the Big Mek Dakkarig.
- Space Marines (23): Captain with Relic Shield, Librarian, Chaplain with Jump Pack, Ancient, 10 Intercessors, five Vanguard Veterans with jump packs, three Eradicators and a Land Speeder.
- Orks (38): Big Mek Dakkarig, Warboss, Bigboss, Bannernob, Painboy with Grot Orderly, Weirdboy, 20 Boyz, 10 Gretchin and a Wartrakk.
- Books and cards: the 88-page Core Rules, a hardback lore and campaign book (Armageddon: Operation Imperator), the Chapter Approved 2026–27 Mission Deck, the Dominatus narrative campaign deck, datasheet cards and a large transfer sheet.
Notice that the Starter Set forces are a subset of Armageddon. Armageddon adds the extra characters, the Eradicators, ten more Intercessors and the Dakkarig, plus the mission and campaign decks, but it has no terrain or board.
Who it suits: people who want both armies at a bigger size, two friends splitting the box (one takes Marines, one takes Orks), and returning players who want the new rules, the mission deck and the new models in one go. Launch boxes are usually made in limited runs, so if you want one, do not wait too long. Our full Armageddon box breakdown goes through every unit.
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.
Getting Started boxes: one army plus paints
If you only want one side, Games Workshop now sells each Starter Set army on its own as a Getting Started box. Each contains a full Combat Patrol of push-fit models, 11 paints chosen for that army, a brush, a texture spreader for bases and an introductory guidebook for the faction.
- Getting Started with Space Marines: the same 13 models as the Starter Set’s Marine half. This force is called the Assault Force in the Combat Patrol rules. See our Space Marines Combat Patrol guide.
- Getting Started with Orks: the same 33 models as the Starter Set’s Ork half, known as the ‘Ardmob. See our Orks Combat Patrol guide.
These are excellent for a solo buyer: you get a ready-made army and the paints to finish it, without paying for an opponent’s models you don’t want. When we checked, the Orks box had no live offer on Amazon US, so only the Space Marines box has a card.
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.
Combat Patrol: the alternative entry point
Not a fan of Space Marines or Orks? Most other factions have a Combat Patrol box: a small, self-contained army designed for the Combat Patrol game format. You don’t need to write an army list or work out points. You build the box and play. Since July 2026, Combat Patrol rules live in the free Warhammer 40,000 app, with a bespoke mission for each supported force. Our Combat Patrol rules guide explains how a game works.
A few points to know before you buy:
- Not every older box is supported in the app yet. Check the app or our faction guide before you buy, because some boxes still rely on downloadable rules from Warhammer Community.
- Combat Patrol boxes don’t include paints, rules books, dice or terrain.
- Two Combat Patrols make a perfectly good two-player starter. If you and a friend want different factions, this is often better than any starter set.
Two current examples: the new Adeptus Custodes Combat Patrol (released October 2026 alongside the 11th Edition codex), an elite army of just 11 models that is quick to paint, and the Tyranid Assault Brood (2025), built around the Parasite of Mortrex and a unit of Genestealers. Read more in our Custodes Combat Patrol guide and Tyranids Combat Patrol guide, or browse every 40k faction to find one you love.
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.
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.
What about older 10th Edition starter sets?
You’ll still see 10th Edition boxes for sale, both as leftover shop stock and on second-hand sites. They come from 2023 and pit Space Marines against Tyranids:
- Leviathan: the 10th Edition launch box, with Space Marines and Tyranids and the 10th Edition rulebook.
- Introductory Set (2023): five Infernus Marines, ten Termagants and a Ripper Swarm, plus paints.
- Starter Set (2023): Terminators, Infernus Marines and a Terminator Captain against Termagants, Rippers, Von Ryan’s Leapers, a Psychophage and a Winged Tyranid Prime.
- Ultimate Starter Set (2023): the Starter Set forces plus more models (including a Terminator Librarian and Barbgaunts) and Battlezone: Fronteris terrain.
Here’s the honest picture:
- The models are fine. Space Marines and Tyranids are both fully playable in 11th Edition, and these kits are still good miniatures.
- The printed rules are out of date. The rulebooks, handbooks and datasheet cards in these boxes are 10th Edition. Use the free 11th Edition rules and app instead of the printed ones.
- Watch the price. A 10th Edition box is only a good buy if it is clearly cheaper than the current equivalent. Some sellers still ask full or inflated prices for the old Ultimate Starter Set, which is poor value now. That’s why we don’t link any of the old boxes here.
- Check the box art and contents. If a listing shows Tyranids in the starter set, it is the older 10th Edition box, not the current one.
Our 11th Edition rules changes guide explains what is different from 10th Edition.
How to choose your first set
- Not sure you’ll enjoy it? Introductory Set. It’s small, includes paints, and teaches you the basics.
- Two of you starting together? Starter Set. You get two balanced armies, terrain, boards and the full rules.
- Want the most models, or splitting with a friend? Armageddon, while stock lasts.
- Want Space Marines or Orks just for yourself? The matching Getting Started box.
- Want a different faction? That faction’s Combat Patrol.
Whatever you pick, our beginner’s guide to playing 40k walks you through your first game.
What else you’ll need
- Clippers: to cut parts off the sprue cleanly. Push-fit kits still need clipping.
- A hobby knife or mould line remover: to tidy up the faint lines left by moulding.
- Glue (optional): every current starter box is push-fit, but plastic glue makes joints permanent.
- Paints, brushes and primer: only the Introductory Set and Getting Started boxes include paints. Our beginner painting guide explains what to buy first.
- Dice and a tape measure: Combat Patrol and Getting Started boxes don’t include them.
Buying tips
- Independent stores usually discount. Many independent shops sell Games Workshop products below the official price.
- Split a two-army box. Armageddon and the Starter Set both split cleanly into two forces.
- Check marketplace sellers. On Amazon US, most Games Workshop boxes are sold by third-party sellers. Check that the listing matches the 11th Edition contents (Space Marines vs Orks), and compare against the official price.
For more ways to save, see our guide to playing Warhammer 40k on a budget.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Warhammer 40k starter set in 2026?
For most new players, the 11th Edition Starter Set gives the best all-round start, because it includes two full Combat Patrol armies, terrain, boards and the complete rules. If you just want to try the hobby, the Introductory Set is the cheapest option. If you want the largest collection, Armageddon has the most models.
What’s the difference between the Starter Set and Armageddon?
The Starter Set has 46 models, plastic terrain and two game boards. Armageddon has 61 models, including the new Big Mek Dakkarig and extra characters, plus a hardback lore book and mission and campaign card decks, but no terrain or boards. The Starter Set’s two armies are included in Armageddon.
Is there an 11th Edition Ultimate Starter Set?
We have found no 11th Edition Ultimate Starter Set. The Ultimate Starter Set you’ll see for sale is the 2023 10th Edition box with Space Marines and Tyranids. The current range is the Introductory Set, the Starter Set, the two Getting Started boxes and Armageddon.
Can I still use an old 10th Edition starter set?
Yes, the models are fully usable in 11th Edition. Only the printed rules and cards are out of date, so use the current free rules and app instead.
Do any 40k starter sets include paint?
The Introductory Set includes six paints and a brush, and each Getting Started box includes 11 paints, a brush and a texture spreader. The Starter Set, Armageddon and Combat Patrol boxes don’t include paints.
Should I start with 40k or Age of Sigmar?
Pick the setting you like best: sci-fi (40k) or fantasy (Age of Sigmar). Both have beginner-friendly starter ranges. If fantasy tempts you, see our Age of Sigmar starter set guide.
What were the starter sets for older editions of Warhammer 40k?
Every edition launched with a two-army box. 3rd Edition (1998) pitted Space Marines against Dark Eldar. 8th Edition’s Dark Imperium (2017) had Primaris Ultramarines against the Death Guard. 9th Edition’s Indomitus (2020) had Space Marines against Necrons, and 10th Edition’s Leviathan (2023) had Space Marines against Tyranids. These older boxes are still useful for their models, but their printed rules are out of date.
Is the 40k Starter Set enough to play a full game?
It is enough to play complete Combat Patrol games straight away, because each half of the box is a balanced Combat Patrol force with rules in the free Warhammer 40,000 app. For standard 2,000-point Strike Force games you will need to add more units over time. The Starter Set models all remain useful as the core of a larger Space Marine or Ork army.