The cheapest way to start Warhammer 40,000 (beginner's buying guide)
The cheapest sensible way into Warhammer 40K is one faction's Combat Patrol box, plus glue, clippers, and the free core rules. Here's the whole plan and what it costs.
SprueSentry strategy commentary, not official rules. Games Workshop updates points and rules regularly — always confirm against the current official rules and your latest dataslate before a game.
Getting into Warhammer 40,000 looks expensive until you know the one box to buy first. This is a practical, no-nonsense buying guide: what to get, in what order, and how to keep the cost down.
SprueSentry tracks live prices across stores, so wherever this guide points you, check the linked page for the current cheapest listing. Prices and box contents change over time — always confirm before buying.
The short answer
Buy the Combat Patrol for the faction whose models you like most. A Combat Patrol is a single-army boxed force curated to be playable out of the box, and it's the cheapest curated way to start — cheaper per model than buying the same kits separately. Add glue and clippers, download the free core rules from Games Workshop, and you're playing. Browse every faction's Combat Patrol and its live price on the 40K boxes page.
Step 1 — pick a faction you like the look of
Rule one of not wasting money: buy the army you'll actually enjoy painting. Don't start with a faction because it's cheap or 'good' — start with the models that made you want to play. Skim the 40K armies to see each faction's range and vibe, then read its how-to-play guide to check the playstyle suits you before committing.
Step 2 — buy that faction's Combat Patrol
The Combat Patrol is your foundation: a leader, some troops, and a heavier unit, all one faction, at a discount versus the individual kits. It's a legal small army for the Combat Patrol game mode, so you can play immediately. A popular, beginner-friendly example is Combat Patrol: Necrons — but pick your faction's. Set a price alert so you catch it at its lowest.
Step 3 — the cheap bits you also need
- Plastic glue + clippers — a few dollars; don't skip the clippers.
- The core rules — free to download from Games Workshop; you don't need to buy a rulebook to start.
- Paints — optional to play, but part of the hobby; a small starter set covers a Combat Patrol.
That's genuinely it to get a playable, painted-ish force on the table.
Step 4 — grow cheaply with a Battleforce
Once you're hooked, the best value expansion is a seasonal Battleforce box (usually a Christmas drop) — several kits bundled at the biggest discount Games Workshop offers all year. Buy individual kits only when your list needs a specific unit. See how the boxes compare in Combat Patrol vs Spearhead vs Battleforce.
How to keep the whole thing cheap
- Buy sealed secondhand. A sealed Combat Patrol on the used market is often well below retail — SprueSentry tracks sealed listings alongside new stock.
- Set price alerts and wait for a dip rather than paying full price on impulse.
- Don't buy ahead of your painting. Unbuilt boxes are wasted money; buy the next box when you've finished the last.
- Split a Battleforce with a friend if you only want half the contents.
Common questions
What's the single cheapest box to start Warhammer 40K?
Your faction's Combat Patrol. It's the cheapest curated, playable starting force and costs less than buying its kits individually. Check the live price on the box's page and consider a sealed secondhand listing to save more.
Do I need to buy the rulebook to start?
No. The Warhammer 40,000 core rules are free to download from Games Workshop. A Combat Patrol plus glue and clippers is enough to start playing the Combat Patrol game mode.
Is it cheaper to buy secondhand?
Often, yes — a sealed box on the used market frequently beats retail, and built/painted armies can be cheaper still if you don't mind someone else's paint. SprueSentry tracks sealed, on-sprue, and painted listings so you can compare.
How much does a starting army cost?
A single Combat Patrol plus basic hobby supplies is the entry point; exact prices shift with each edition and season, so check the live price on the box page. A Battleforce is the cheapest way to expand once you're committed.
Written by SprueSentry with SprueSentry editorial (hand-authored, research-grounded), grounded in the cited sources — original commentary, not Games Workshop rules text.