This glossary covers every major term, abbreviation, and piece of jargon used in the Warhammer hobby — from AP (Armour Piercing) to WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). Whether you are a new player trying to understand what your opponent is talking about, a returning veteran catching up on new terminology, or a casual fan making sense of online discussions, this reference has you covered. We have included terms from Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, and the broader hobby community.
The Warhammer hobby has developed an extensive vocabulary over four decades of gaming, painting, and community discussion. Some terms are official Games Workshop terminology, others are community-created slang, and many have evolved from their original meanings over time. This glossary is alphabetical, comprehensive, and written in plain English — no prior knowledge required.
A
AP (Armour Piercing): A weapon characteristic in Warhammer 40,000 that reduces the target’s armour save. AP -1 means the target’s save worsens by 1 (e.g., a 3+ save becomes a 4+). Higher AP values make weapons more effective against armoured targets.
AoS (Age of Sigmar): Games Workshop’s fantasy wargame set in the Mortal Realms. The successor to Warhammer Fantasy Battles, launched in 2015. Often abbreviated in online discussions and community forums.
Anvil: A tactical term for a durable unit designed to absorb enemy attacks and hold a position. Used in the “hammer and anvil” strategy, where the anvil holds the enemy in place while the hammer (a hard-hitting unit) strikes them.
Alpha Strike: A strategy focused on dealing maximum damage in the first turn, often through shooting or charges before the opponent can respond. Alpha strike armies aim to cripple the enemy before they can fight back effectively.
Army List: The complete list of units, wargear, and options that a player brings to a game, built within the points limit and army construction rules. Often abbreviated as “list.”
B
Battleshock: A morale mechanic in Warhammer 40,000 where units below half-strength test in the Command phase (2D6 against their Leadership) to see if they remain combat-effective. A Battle-shocked unit has an Objective Control of 0 and can’t be targeted by your Stratagems, and in 11th Edition it stays Battle-shocked until it passes a later test. Age of Sigmar dropped battleshock in its 4th Edition.
BL (Black Library): Games Workshop’s publishing division, producing novels, short stories, and audio dramas set in the Warhammer universes. Named after the Black Library in the Aeldari Webway.
Bits: Individual components from model sprues, used for conversions and kitbashing. “Bits box” refers to a collection of spare components accumulated over time.
Blob: A large unit of infantry models, typically 20-30+, used as a durable objective-holding or screening force. “Blobbing up” means running large units rather than multiple small ones.
Bubble Wrap: Using cheap, expendable units to surround and protect more valuable units from charges or deepstrike attacks. The expendable units create a protective “bubble” around the key units.
C
Castle/Castling: A strategy where a player groups their units in a tight defensive formation, usually in a corner or behind terrain, maximising overlapping auras and buffs. Common with shooting-heavy armies.
Chaff: Cheap, expendable units used for screening, objective holding, or sacrificial roles. The opposite of elite or expensive units.
Codex: A faction-specific rules supplement for Warhammer 40,000 containing datasheets, special rules, Stratagems, and background lore for a specific army. Age of Sigmar equivalents are called Battletomes.
Conversion/Convert: Modifying a model from its original design, either by combining parts from different kits (kitbashing) or sculpting new elements with modelling putty (green stuff). Conversions range from simple head swaps to complete scratch-built models.
CP (Command Points): A resource in Warhammer 40,000 used to activate Stratagems — special tactical abilities that provide bonuses during specific phases of the game. CP management is a key skill for competitive play.
Crusade: A narrative game mode in Warhammer 40,000 where players build up their army over a series of linked battles, gaining experience, battle honours, and upgrades.
D
Daemon/Demon: Warp entities in Warhammer 40,000 or Chaos entities in Age of Sigmar. GW uses the archaic spelling “daemon” to distinguish their IP. The four main types correspond to the four Chaos Gods: Bloodletters (Khorne), Plaguebearers (Nurgle), Daemonettes (Slaanesh), and Horrors (Tzeentch).
Datasheet: The rules card for a specific unit, containing all its stats, abilities, weapons, and keywords. In modern 40k, datasheets are the primary source of unit rules.
Deepstrike: Deploying a unit from reserves directly onto the battlefield during the game, rather than starting on the table. Units typically deepstrike by teleportation, drop pod, or similar in-universe method. Rules usually prevent deepstriking too close to enemy models.
Detachment: An army construction framework in Warhammer 40,000 that provides specific rules, Stratagems, and enhancements based on how you want your army to play. Different detachments suit different playstyles.
DR (Damage Reduction): An ability that reduces the damage characteristic of attacks against a model. A model with DR 1 reduces each attack’s damage by 1 (to a minimum of 1).
Dry Brushing: A painting technique where a brush loaded with a small amount of paint is lightly dragged across raised surfaces, depositing paint on edges and textures. One of the fastest and most effective techniques for highlighting terrain and textured surfaces.
E–F
Edge Highlighting: A painting technique where thin lines of lighter paint are applied to the edges of armour panels, cloth, or other surfaces to create contrast and definition. The most common highlighting technique for miniatures.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions): Official documents published by Games Workshop that clarify rules questions and errata. FAQs are released periodically and are essential for competitive play.
FLGS (Friendly Local Game Store): A local hobby or game store where players buy models and play games. Sometimes abbreviated as LGS. Supporting your FLGS is encouraged in the community as they provide essential gaming space and community hubs.
FNP (Feel No Pain): A community term for abilities that allow a model to ignore wounds on a dice roll (e.g., “each time this model would lose a wound, roll a D6; on a 5+, that wound is not lost”). Named after the classic ability from earlier editions.
Forge World: A subsidiary of Games Workshop that produces premium resin models, typically larger or more specialist than standard GW kits. Forge World models are generally more expensive and more detailed, and their rules are published separately.
G–H
Green Stuff: A two-part epoxy modelling putty (Kneadatite) used for sculpting, gap filling, and conversions. Comes in yellow and blue strips that are mixed together to create a mouldable putty that hardens over several hours.
GW: Games Workshop, the company that produces Warhammer. Based in Nottingham, UK.
Hammer: A hard-hitting unit designed to deliver devastating charges or shooting attacks. Used in the “hammer and anvil” strategy alongside a durable anvil unit.
Horde: An army or unit composed of many cheap models, overwhelming the opponent through sheer numbers rather than individual quality. Ork Boyz, Skaven Clanrats, and Tyranid Termagants are classic horde units.
HQ: Headquarters — a category of unit in older editions that included a force’s leaders and characters. The HQ slot was removed in 10th Edition 40k and has not returned in 11th, but the term persists in community discussion.
I–K
Invuln (Invulnerable Save): A saving throw that cannot be modified by AP or Rend. Invulnerable saves represent protection beyond physical armour — force fields, supernatural reflexes, divine protection, etc. Often abbreviated as “invuln” or “invuln save.”
Kill Team (KT): A Warhammer 40,000 skirmish game where players control small teams of individual operatives rather than full armies. Games are faster and use fewer models than standard 40k.
Kitbash: Building a model by combining components from multiple different model kits. Kitbashing is a core hobby skill that allows players to create unique characters, units, or conversions that are not available as standard models.
L–M
LGS (Local Game Store): See FLGS. A retail store that stocks hobby products and typically provides gaming tables and community space.
Line of Sight (LoS): A rule determining whether a model can see (and therefore shoot at) a target. Different editions handle LoS differently — some use “true” line of sight (if you can physically see the model, you can shoot it), while others use abstract systems based on unit height and terrain rules.
Magnetizing: Drilling holes in models and inserting small magnets to allow weapon options to be swapped without gluing. Magnetizing allows a single model to be equipped with different loadouts for different games, saving money and maintaining flexibility.
Meta: The current competitive environment — which armies, units, and strategies are dominant at any given time. “The meta” changes with balance updates, new codex releases, and tournament results. “Meta-chasing” means constantly changing your army to match the strongest current options.
Mortal Wounds (MW): Wounds that bypass normal saving throws (including invulnerable saves in some systems). Mortal wounds represent attacks so devastating that no armour or protection can mitigate them. They are one of the most powerful damage types in the game.
N–O
Narrative Play: A style of Warhammer focused on storytelling and thematic experiences rather than competitive balance. Narrative games often use special scenarios, campaign rules, and house rules to create memorable stories.
Netlisting: Copying an army list from the internet (typically from a tournament-winning player) rather than creating your own. Netlisting is common in competitive play but sometimes criticised in casual contexts as lacking creativity.
NMM (Non-Metallic Metal): A painting technique that creates the appearance of metallic surfaces using non-metallic paints. Instead of using silver or gold paint, the painter uses greys, whites, and colours to simulate reflections and light on metal surfaces. Considered an advanced technique.
OBJ (Objective): An objective marker on the battlefield that players must control to score victory points. Objective play — moving units to control objectives — is central to modern Warhammer strategy.
OSL (Object Source Lighting): A painting technique that simulates light being emitted from a source on the model itself — a glowing sword, a plasma weapon, a torch. The painter adds coloured highlights to surfaces that would be illuminated by the light source, creating a dramatic visual effect.
P–R
Pile In: A small move (typically 3″) that models can make toward the nearest enemy model during the combat phase. Pile-in moves allow models to engage enemies that are not in base contact and are a key tactical element of melee combat.
Points: The numerical cost assigned to each unit, used to ensure armies are roughly balanced. Players agree on a points limit (e.g., 2,000 points) and build their armies within that limit. Points values are adjusted by GW in balance updates.
Primer/Priming: The base coat applied to bare plastic, resin, or metal models before painting. Primer provides a surface that paint adheres to properly. Available in spray and brush-on formulations, typically in black, white, or grey.
Proxy: Using one model to represent a different unit in a game — e.g., using a Space Marine Intercessor model to represent a Hellblaster because you do not own the correct model. Proxying is generally accepted in casual play but not in tournaments.
Rend: The Age of Sigmar equivalent of Armour Piercing. A weapon with Rend -1 reduces the target’s save by 1.
S–T
SC (Start Collecting / Starter Set): Discounted boxed sets containing a selection of models for a specific faction, designed as an entry point for new players or an expansion for existing armies. Now replaced by Combat Patrol boxes in 40k and Spearhead boxes in Age of Sigmar.
Screen/Screening: Positioning cheap units between the enemy and your valuable units to prevent charges, deepstrikes, or shooting attacks from reaching key models. Screening is a fundamental defensive tactic.
SM (Space Marines): The most iconic Warhammer 40,000 faction — genetically enhanced supersoldiers in power armour. SM is a common abbreviation in online discussions.
Sprue: The plastic frame on which model components are attached in a kit. Components are cut from the sprue during assembly. “On sprue” means the kit has not been assembled.
Stratagem (Strat): A special ability in Warhammer 40,000 that can be activated by spending Command Points during specific phases. Stratagems represent tactical decisions and clever manoeuvres. Each detachment provides access to specific Stratagems.
Thin Your Paints: The most fundamental painting advice in the hobby — adding water or medium to paint so it flows smoothly and does not obscure detail. Thin, multiple coats produce better results than thick, single coats. The meme “two thin coats” originates from this principle.
TT (Tabletop Standard): A painting standard where models are fully painted to a basic, neat level — base coats, a wash, and basic basing. Tabletop standard is the minimum standard expected at most gaming events and represents a clean, respectable paint job without advanced techniques.
U–W
Undercoat: See Primer. The terms are often used interchangeably, though technically an undercoat is the first paint layer and a primer is the adhesion layer beneath it.
WAAC (Win At All Costs): A playstyle focused entirely on winning, often at the expense of sportsmanship, fun, or narrative engagement. WAAC is generally considered a negative label in the community, though competitive play itself is not inherently WAAC — the distinction lies in attitude and behaviour, not army choice.
Wash: A thin, heavily pigmented paint designed to flow into recesses and crevices, creating shadows and depth. Washes (also called shades) are one of the most powerful tools in miniature painting, often described as “liquid talent” for their ability to improve a paint job dramatically with minimal effort.
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get): A modelling convention (and sometimes a tournament rule) stating that a model should be equipped with the weapons and gear it is using in the game. If your datasheet says the model has a plasma pistol, the model should be holding a plasma pistol. WYSIWYG enforcement varies — strict at competitive events, relaxed in casual play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find official rules clarifications?
Games Workshop publishes FAQs, errata, and balance updates on the Warhammer Community website (warhammer-community.com). These documents clarify ambiguous rules, fix errors, and adjust points values. Competitive players should check for updates regularly, as they can significantly change how armies play.
What does “competitive” versus “casual” mean?
Competitive play focuses on optimised army lists, strict rules adherence, and tournament performance. Casual play prioritises fun, narrative, and social interaction, with more relaxed rules interpretation. Most players fall somewhere on a spectrum between the two extremes, and both styles are valid ways to enjoy the hobby.
Why do Warhammer players have so much jargon?
Like any specialised hobby, Warhammer has developed its own vocabulary over forty years. Jargon serves a practical purpose — it allows experienced players to communicate complex ideas quickly. But it can be intimidating for newcomers, which is why glossaries like this one exist. Do not be afraid to ask what a term means — the community is generally welcoming to new players.
What are keywords in Warhammer 40k?
Keywords are the tags printed on every datasheet, such as Infantry, Vehicle, Monster, Character, Fly or a faction name, that other rules refer to. An ability that affects ‘Infantry’ units, for example, only works on units with that keyword. Checking keywords is how you tell which abilities, Stratagems and Leaders can apply to a unit.
What does Ld mean in Warhammer 40k?
Ld stands for Leadership, the characteristic that measures a unit’s morale. In modern 40k it is used for Battle-shock tests, rolled on 2D6 against the unit’s Leadership value; a unit that fails is Battle-shocked, and in 11th Edition it stays that way until it passes a later test. See the Battleshock entry above.
What is the pile of shame in Warhammer?
The ‘pile of shame’ is hobby slang for your backlog of unbuilt or unpainted models, the boxes bought faster than you can paint them. It’s also called the grey tide or plastic mountain. Nearly every hobbyist has one, and plenty of painting challenges and hobby pledges exist just to shrink it.
What does ‘grey plastic’ mean in Warhammer?
‘Grey plastic’ (or ‘grey tide’) means unpainted models, after the bare grey plastic Games Workshop kits are cast in. Players talk about ‘fielding grey plastic’ when they use unpainted miniatures in games. That’s fine in casual play, but many events require painted armies, often a three-colour minimum.
Related Content
- How to Play Warhammer 40k — Complete Beginner’s Guide — learn the core rules of Warhammer 40K
- How Does Morale Work in Warhammer 40k? — Battle-shock Explained — explore another helpful guide
- All Warhammer 40k Factions Ranked — Tier List — see which factions rank highest