What’s in the Death Guard Combat Patrol?
The Death Guard Combat Patrol box is one of the best-value starter sets for anyone who wants to command Nurgle’s plague-ridden warriors on the tabletop. Here is a full breakdown of everything you get inside the box [VERIFY — box contents may change with new editions]:
- 1x Typhus — The Host of the Destroyer Hive himself. Typhus is one of the most iconic named characters in all of Warhammer 40,000. He is a Terminator-armoured Lord of Contagion who brings devastating psychic abilities and melee prowess to the battlefield. His presence alone buffs nearby Poxwalkers, making them even more dangerous.
- 7x Plague Marines — The core infantry of any Death Guard army. Plague Marines are disgustingly resilient, benefiting from Disgustingly Resilient saves that let them shrug off wounds that would fell lesser warriors. The kit comes with a wide range of weapon options including plague knives, boltguns, a plague belcher, a blight launcher, and various champion upgrades.
- 30x Poxwalkers — These shambling hordes of plague zombies form the expendable screen for your elite units. Thirty Poxwalkers is a substantial number — enough to form two full-sized units that can hold objectives, screen charges, and overwhelm opponents through sheer weight of numbers. They hit harder when Typhus is nearby.
- 1x Biologus Putrifier — This support character carries vials of deadly blight grenades that supercharge nearby Plague Marines. He turns your already-lethal Plague Marines into grenade-lobbing terrors, making every unit within range significantly more dangerous at close quarters.
In total, you get 39 models in the box — a solid foundation for a Death Guard army that covers your HQ, elite infantry, and screening units.
How Much Is It Worth?
The Death Guard Combat Patrol retails at approximately £85 / $150 USD [VERIFY current pricing]. Let’s break down what these units would cost if purchased individually:
- Typhus: ~£22 / $38
- Plague Marines (7): ~£35 / $60
- Poxwalkers (30 — two boxes of the separate kit): ~£50 / $80
- Biologus Putrifier: ~£22 / $38
Total individual value: approximately £129 / $216 [VERIFY — prices change regularly]
That means you are saving roughly £44 / $66 compared to buying everything separately — a saving of around 34%. This makes the Death Guard Combat Patrol one of the better value boxes in the range, especially considering that Typhus alone is a significant chunk of the price.
If you shop at independent retailers who offer 15-20% discounts on GW products, you can often pick this box up for around £68-72, making the value even more impressive.
Is the Death Guard Combat Patrol Good?
Rating: 8/10
The Death Guard Combat Patrol is an excellent starting point for new players and a genuinely competitive Combat Patrol force. Here is what makes it stand out:
Strengths:
- Typhus is a powerhouse. Getting a named character of this calibre in a starter box is fantastic. He is a legitimate competitive pick and an incredibly fun model to paint and play.
- 30 Poxwalkers is the right number. Many armies need large screening units, and getting a full 30 Poxwalkers in one box saves you from buying multiple separate kits.
- Everything synergises. Typhus buffs Poxwalkers, the Biologus Putrifier buffs Plague Marines, and the whole army works as a cohesive force right out of the box.
- Very beginner-friendly. Death Guard are one of the most forgiving armies to play. Your models are tough, your game plan is straightforward (walk forward, grind them down), and mistakes are less punishing because your units simply refuse to die.
Weaknesses:
- Slow movement. Death Guard are notoriously slow. You will struggle to reach distant objectives quickly, and faster armies can run circles around you if you are not careful with positioning.
- No vehicles or heavy firepower. The box is entirely infantry-based, which means you lack anti-armour options and long-range shooting.
- Painting 30 Poxwalkers is a marathon. While individually they are simple models, batch-painting 30 of them can feel like a slog.
How to Play the Death Guard Combat Patrol
Playing the Death Guard Combat Patrol is all about grinding your opponent down through sheer attrition. You are not going to outmanoeuvre anyone — instead, you will outlast them. Here is a turn-by-turn guide to getting the most from your force:
Deployment
Deploy your Poxwalkers in two units of 15, forming a screen across your deployment zone. Place Typhus behind the Poxwalker screen where he can buff them with his aura abilities. Position your Plague Marines centrally with the Biologus Putrifier attached or nearby. Your goal is to create a wall of bodies that slowly advances while your elite units deliver the killing blow.
Turn 1
Advance everything forward. Your Poxwalkers should push toward the midboard objectives, acting as a living shield for Typhus and your Plague Marines. Do not worry about losing Poxwalkers — they are expendable. Use any psychic abilities Typhus has to debuff enemy units or buff your own. The key is board presence; get onto those objectives early.
Turn 2
By now your Poxwalkers should be contesting midboard objectives. Use Typhus to charge into weakened enemy units — his melee output is devastating. Your Plague Marines should be in rapid-fire range or preparing to charge. The Biologus Putrifier should be buffing your Plague Marines’ grenades. Focus fire on the biggest threat to your objective control.
Turn 3-5
This is where Death Guard excel. Your Disgustingly Resilient saves mean you are still standing when other armies would be tabled. Continue grinding. Hold objectives with whatever Poxwalkers remain, use Typhus as a melee wrecking ball, and let your Plague Marines clean up. By Turn 4, many opponents will have exhausted their offensive output against your resilient units, and you can capitalise on the attrition advantage.
Key Tactical Tips
- Never spread too thin — your slow speed means you cannot recover from overextension.
- Use Poxwalkers to absorb charges meant for your Plague Marines.
- Typhus should always be near Poxwalkers to buff them and near the enemy to use his formidable melee attacks.
- Trade Poxwalkers for time and objectives — they are there to die so your real threats survive.
Painting the Death Guard Combat Patrol
Death Guard are one of the most rewarding armies to paint, especially for beginners. Their corroded, plague-ridden aesthetic means that “messy” painting actually looks intentional and thematic.
Recommended Colour Scheme
The classic Death Guard scheme uses:
- Armour: Death Guard Green spray as a base, layered with Ogryn Camo and highlighted with Krieg Khaki.
- Trim and details: Balthasar Gold for the trim, washed with Agrax Earthshade.
- Fleshy bits: Bugman’s Glow washed with Carroburg Crimson for exposed flesh and tentacles.
- Rust and corrosion: Typhus Corrosion technical paint followed by Ryza Rust drybrush. This step alone transforms your models.
- Slime and goo: Nurgle’s Rot technical paint in the recesses and on boils. This is what makes Death Guard truly disgusting.
Painting Tips
- Start with the Poxwalkers — they are great practice models and very forgiving of mistakes.
- Use washes liberally. Agrax Earthshade over everything creates instant depth.
- Batch paint Poxwalkers in groups of 10 to avoid burnout.
- Typhus should be your showpiece model — save him for last when your skills have improved.
For more detailed painting guides, check out our Death Guard army hub.
Expanding Beyond the Combat Patrol
Once you have painted and played with your Combat Patrol, you will want to expand. Here is a roadmap to building a competitive Death Guard army:
Path to 1,000 Points
Your Combat Patrol gives you a solid core. To reach 1,000 points, consider adding:
- Plagueburst Crawler — Your first vehicle, providing much-needed long-range firepower and anti-armour capability. This is arguably the single best unit in the Death Guard codex.
- Deathshroud Terminators — Elite melee bodyguards that can protect Typhus and absolutely demolish anything they touch in combat.
- Lord of Virulence — A ranged-focused HQ option that complements Typhus’s melee focus.
Path to 2,000 Points
For a full-sized army, continue adding:
- A second Plagueburst Crawler (they are that good)
- Blightlord Terminators for a durable midfield anchor
- Foul Blightspawn to deter enemy charges
- More Plague Marines to fill out your troop slots
- A Rhino to get your Plague Marines to the midfield faster
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Death Guard Combat Patrol good for beginners?
Absolutely. Death Guard are widely considered one of the most beginner-friendly armies in Warhammer 40,000. Your units are extremely durable, which means mistakes in positioning and target priority are less punishing. The game plan is simple — walk forward, hold objectives, and grind your opponent down. The models are also forgiving to paint, as the grimy aesthetic suits imperfect brush strokes.
Can you play a full game with just the Combat Patrol box?
Yes. Games Workshop has designed specific Combat Patrol game rules that let you play balanced games using just the contents of your Combat Patrol box against another Combat Patrol box. These games use smaller boards and simplified missions, making them perfect for learning the game. You can also use the models in standard matched play, though you will want to expand to reach the typical 1,000 or 2,000 point threshold.
What paints do I need for the Death Guard Combat Patrol?
At minimum, you need: Death Guard Green spray, Rakarth Flesh, Balthasar Gold, Leadbelcher, Bugman’s Glow, Agrax Earthshade, Typhus Corrosion, Ryza Rust, and Nurgle’s Rot. Games Workshop sells a Death Guard paint set that covers most of these. You can also find the exact paints recommended on the Citadel Colour app, which provides step-by-step guides for every Death Guard unit.
What should I buy after the Death Guard Combat Patrol?
A Plagueburst Crawler should be your first purchase after the Combat Patrol. It fills the biggest gap in your force — long-range anti-armour firepower — and is one of the strongest units in the entire Death Guard range. After that, Deathshroud Terminators and a second Plagueburst Crawler will round out a very competitive 1,000-point force.
Are Death Guard competitive in Warhammer 40,000?
Death Guard regularly appear in competitive tournament lists, though they tend to sit in the mid-tier of faction rankings. Their durability makes them very consistent — you will rarely get completely blown off the table — but their slow movement can be a liability against very mobile armies. In casual and semi-competitive play, Death Guard are excellent. Their straightforward game plan rewards good fundamentals and they punch above their weight in the hands of a patient player.