New to Warhammer, or coming back after years away? This is our start-here page: which game to pick, the best starter boxes, what paints and tools you need, the video games that are a great way in, and all our news in one place. We keep it updated.
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Last updated November 3, 2026. Prices and boxes change often, so check Games Workshop or your local store before buying.
Step 1: pick your game
| Game | Setting | Best first box |
|---|---|---|
| Warhammer 40,000 | Sci-fi, the biggest game | A Combat Patrol for your army |
| Age of Sigmar | Fantasy, big battles | A Spearhead box |
| Kill Team | Sci-fi, small squads | A Kill Team starter or one team |
| Necromunda | Sci-fi gang warfare | One gang box |
| The Old World | Classic rank-and-file fantasy | An army box |
Not sure? Our full beginner guide walks through each one: How to start Warhammer in 2026: the best starter sets.
Step 2: get a good-value box
The big Christmas boxes are usually the best savings of the year. They give you a lot of models for less than buying each kit on its own:
- All seven Warhammer 40,000 Christmas Battleforces for 2026, and which one to skip.
- All six Age of Sigmar battleforce boxes, including the one with Nagash.
- Horus Heresy Battle Group boxes if you want the 30K era.
- Tomb Kings: Host of Nehekhara for The Old World.
Step 3: paints and tools
You don't need much to start: clippers, a hobby knife, glue, a primer, a few brushes and a handful of paints.
- Warhammer Tone Pro explained: the new 150-paint range and how its 5 tones work.
- Best magnifying lamps for miniature painting: your eyes will thank you on small details.
- Golden Demon 2026 winners: for inspiration from the best painters in the world.
Step 4: play a campaign
Narrative campaigns are where Warhammer gets really fun: your army gains experience, scars and stories from game to game. See a real game in our Ultramarines vs Tau battle report, and keep track of your own campaign with our logbooks:
Warhammer video games: an easy way in
Many people discover the hobby through the video games first.
- Dawn of War IV: out December 3, 2026 on PC, early access from November 30.
- Total War: Warhammer 40,000: everything we know.
- Total War: Warhammer III beginner's guide: best starting factions.
- Rogue Trader beginner's guide: your first hours.
- Dawn of War: Definitive Edition guide: which faction and campaign first.
Gifts for a Warhammer fan
Buying for someone else? Our Warhammer gift guide covers paints, tools, armies and games at every budget.
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Latest Warhammer news
- White Dwarf 530: Adeptus Custodes, Khazalite Holds and Grombrindal
- Khazalite Holds: the full range
- Age of Sigmar October 2026 rules update
- Kill Team October 2026 update
- Necromunda House Orlock
All Warhammer news: holywizy.com/blog/warhammer.
My take
Don't try to buy everything at once. Pick one army you love the look of, get one good box, paint a few models, and play a small game. Warhammer is a hobby you grow into over years, and the best part is the army that slowly becomes yours.
WIZY Blog is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Games Workshop.
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Sources
- Warhammer Community warhammer-community.com
- Games Workshop games-workshop.com
Written by the WIZY creator
A lifelong gamer and Warhammer painter from Calgary, Canada, and the maker of the Crusade Journal and the WIZY RPG game. I write about games, hardware, Warhammer and crypto in plain English, and I check every fact against its source.
