Last updated: 31 October 2026. No Warhammer Black Friday 2026 deals have been announced yet. This guide covers what has happened in past years, so you know what to expect. We’ll update it as soon as retailers and Games Workshop confirm their 2026 offers.
Black Friday falls on Friday 27 November in 2026. If you’re hoping to start Warhammer, or add to your army, it’s tempting to wait for the big sales. But Warhammer works a bit differently from most hobbies. Games Workshop itself rarely discounts anything, and the best savings usually come from somewhere else. Here’s how it really works, and how to get the most for your money.
Does Games Workshop Do Black Friday?
In short, not really. Games Workshop doesn’t run a traditional Black Friday sale on its own webstore or in Warhammer stores. Wargamer’s Black Friday hobby guide put it bluntly in November 2025: “Games Workshop doesn’t do discounts.” GamesRadar’s Black Friday Warhammer coverage has said the same thing: the company rarely runs sales in-house, so Black Friday savings usually come from third-party retailers.
What Games Workshop does do at this time of year is release Christmas Battleforce boxes. These are limited-run, single-faction bundles priced below what the kits inside would cost separately. They’re effectively GW’s own seasonal “deal”.
- 2025: Christmas Battleforce pre-orders went live in mid-November, on 15 November 2025 according to Frontline Gaming, a week or two before Black Friday.
- 2026: Warhammer Community revealed seven new Warhammer 40,000 Battleforces on 19 October 2026: Space Marines Indomitus Task Force, Chaos Knights Helhunt Lance, Orks Armoured Blitzmob, Space Wolves Champions of Fenris, Blood Angels Angelus Assault Force, Chaos Space Marines Cult of Destruction, and Necrons Disciples of the Nekrosor. GW says they’re “available for pre-order soon” but hasn’t confirmed a date or prices yet. Age of Sigmar Battleforces have also been shown separately.
Wargamer worked out that the contents of the 2026 40k boxes add up to between £208.50 and £257.50 at normal prices, and noted that last year’s Battleforces sold for £165 / $265. That’s a useful guide to the likely saving, but it isn’t an official price. Wait for GW’s announcement before you budget.
The key point about Battleforces is that they’re limited. In past years they’ve sold out quickly at GW and at independent shops. If one matches an army you want, pre-ordering usually beats waiting for Black Friday.
Where Independent Retailers Typically Discount
The real Black Friday action happens at independent stores and big online retailers. Here’s what has happened in past years. These are typical patterns, not 2026 offers.
Everyday discounts are already the main saving
Many independent Warhammer retailers sell Games Workshop products below the official price all year round. Historically, GW’s trade terms have limited how deeply stores can discount online. ICv2 reported that from 2001, GW’s terms prevented online sales at more than 20% off the list price. GW’s trade terms have changed several times since then and the current terms aren’t public, but somewhere up to about 20% off RRP is still a good rough benchmark for what UK independents typically offer day to day.
That’s why Black Friday Warhammer “deals” are often less dramatic than you’d expect. The shop may already be discounting, and Black Friday adds a little extra on top rather than slashing prices in half.
What Black Friday has actually looked like
- Amazon: In 2023, Wargamer reported around 15% off a range of Space Marine kits on Amazon US over the Black Friday weekend, such as Primaris Intercessors at $51 instead of $60. Amazon deals tend to cover a scattered selection of kits rather than whole ranges.
- UK independents: Wargamer’s 2025 guide pointed to Wayland Games and Element Games as places to find kits “cheaper than normal”. Expect site-wide codes, extra money off over a spending threshold, or a few featured products. The exact offers change every year.
- Hobby tools and non-GW products: This is where the biggest Black Friday percentages often appear. Wargamer’s 2025 guide highlighted a rotary tool at 41% off on Amazon US. Non-GW paints, brushes, tools and other miniature games often see bigger cuts than Citadel kits.
- Video games: Several Warhammer video games were discounted in Steam’s 2025 Black Friday sale, if that’s on your wish list too.
Our where to buy Warhammer cheap guide has a full rundown of reliable stores to check.
What’s Worth Buying on Sale (For Beginners)
If you’re new, Black Friday is a good moment to pick up the essentials. These are the things that give you the most value per pound.
Starter sets
A starter set gives you two forces, the rules and often some scenery in one box, with a big saving compared to buying the kits separately. For Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition, that means the Armageddon launch box and the smaller entry-level sets. Read our Armageddon launch box review and best Warhammer 40k starter sets to choose the right size. For Age of Sigmar, see the best Age of Sigmar starter sets.
Even a modest 10–15% off a starter set is worth having, because you’re discounting a box that’s already good value.
Combat Patrol and Spearhead boxes
Combat Patrol (40k) and Spearhead (Age of Sigmar) boxes are single-army bundles designed to be a ready-to-play small force. They’re one of the best ways to start a specific faction. Check our Combat Patrol rules guide, and our Spearhead vs Combat Patrol comparison if you’re torn between the two games. We’ve also written faction-by-faction reviews, such as Space Marines Combat Patrol and Orks Combat Patrol.
Paints
Paints are consumables you’ll always need, so a discount is never wasted. A paint set is the easiest starting point. See our best budget paint set guide, and our beginner painting guide for which colours you actually need.
Tools
Clippers, a hobby knife, glue and a couple of decent brushes are the core kit. Tools from non-GW brands are where Black Friday percentages tend to be biggest. Our best hobby tools for Warhammer list covers what’s worth buying.
If you’re building an army on a tight budget, read Warhammer 40k on a budget and the cheapest Warhammer army before you hit “buy”.
How to Avoid Bad Deals
A discount is only a deal if you’re getting the real thing, and something you’ll actually use.
Recasts and fakes
Recasts are unofficial copies of GW miniatures, usually cast in resin from a genuine model. They’re often advertised on marketplace sites and social media at prices far below any legitimate retailer. Games Workshop has taken legal action against sellers it says sold counterfeits, though it later dropped some of those cases. Warning signs include:
- Prices far lower than any reputable retailer (well beyond the usual 15–20% off).
- New releases that are “in stock” before their official release date.
- Stock photos lifted from Games Workshop’s site, with no photos of the actual item.
- Sellers shipping from overseas with vague product descriptions, or “resin” listed for a kit GW makes in plastic.
The same goes for unofficial “Warhammer advent calendars” and gift bundles. Spikey Bits has flagged scam calendars before. Our Warhammer advent calendar review explains what’s official.
Old-edition stock
Warhammer 40,000 moved to 11th Edition in 2026, so some Black Friday “bargains” will be retailers clearing old stock. The miniatures themselves are fine; models carry over between editions. But 10th Edition rulebooks, codexes and starter sets with old rules are worth much less, because the rules inside have been replaced. If a heavily discounted box says “10th Edition” on it, buy it for the models, not the rules. Our 11th Edition guide explains what’s changed.
“Was” prices and false savings
Check the official RRP on the Warhammer webstore before trusting a retailer’s “was” price. Also check whether a bundle actually saves money compared to the kits you’d buy anyway. A discounted box you’ll never build is not a saving.
Second-hand bargains
Used and “new on sprue” kits from marketplaces can be great value, but check photos carefully, ask about missing parts, and stick to sellers with good feedback.
Black Friday or Christmas Battleforce: Which Should You Buy?
For most beginners, the order of priority looks like this:
- A starter set if you’re brand new and don’t have an army yet.
- A Christmas Battleforce if one matches the army you want. It’s often the biggest single saving of the year, but stock is limited.
- A Combat Patrol or Spearhead box from an independent retailer’s Black Friday sale if you want a specific faction.
- Paints and tools whenever they’re discounted, because you’ll always use them.
Buying for someone else? Our Warhammer Christmas gift guide and best gifts for Warhammer fans have ideas at every budget.
2026 Update Log
- 31 October 2026: No Black Friday 2026 Warhammer deals confirmed yet. Christmas 2026 Battleforces revealed (19 October), with pre-order date and prices still to be announced. We’ll update this guide when GW confirms Battleforce pricing and when retailers publish their Black Friday offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Games Workshop do Cyber Monday deals?
Not usually. Games Workshop treats Cyber Monday the same as Black Friday and doesn’t discount its own webstore. In 2026, Cyber Monday falls on 30 November. Independent retailers often run their Black Friday codes through the weekend to Cyber Monday, so that’s where to look for discounts on Warhammer kits, paints and tools.
Do Christmas Battleforces come back once they sell out?
Generally not. Battleforces are limited-run boxes, and Games Workshop doesn’t usually restock them once they’re gone. Some independent shops may still have stock for a while after GW’s own allocation sells out, but prices can climb once supply dries up. If a Battleforce matches the army you want, pre-ordering is the safest option.