The best Combat Patrol to start with is the one you will paint and play. A few boxes are still friendlier for new players on price, availability, and support.
Strong starter picks
- +Space Marines: easy to find sealed and used, with deep comps.
- +Necrons or Tyranids: often stocked after launch waves, with a clear look on the table.
- +Astra Militarum: infantry-heavy; watch for incomplete used kits.
- +Orks: full of character; check fragile bits on used listings.
What to check before you buy
Confirm the current Combat Patrol contents for that faction. Reprints change. Compare sealed all-in vs a used complete-on-sprue deal. If you are in Canada, filter sellers that ship CA so duties do not surprise you.
Next step
Browse armies at /40k/armies, open two or three patrol pages, and set a watch on the one you actually want to build.