Buying for a Warhammer fan? Start here

Buying a gift for someone deep in the Warhammer hobby can feel like walking into a foreign country where everyone's shouting about primers and edge highlighting. The good news: it's actually one of the easier hobbies to buy for, because it's got so many entry points — models, paints, books, tools, dice, storage — at every price. The trick is matching the gift to where they are in the hobby, not guessing at a specific unit they may already own three of.

This guide walks through the safest, most-loved gift options by budget and by hobbyist type, so you can pick something they'll be genuinely chuffed with rather than something that quietly goes on the shelf. We're a tabletop shop in Barry, South Wales, and these are the things we actually reach for when someone comes in asking "my partner's into the little army men, what do I get them?"

First, work out what kind of Warhammer fan they are

"Warhammer" isn't one hobby — it's several stitched together, and different people are in it for different reasons. Getting this right is 90% of a good gift. If you're not sure which faction they collect, our guide to the 40K factions is a handy way to match colours and symbols to an army name.

The painter

Some hobbyists barely play a game at all — they're in it for the painting. For them, the models are miniature canvases. If your person spends more time at a desk with a brush than rolling dice, lean towards paints, brushes, and hobby tools rather than more plastic to add to the pile.

The general (the gamer)

Others live for the tabletop battles — list-building, tactics, the thrill of a well-timed charge. These players value new units for their armies, rulebooks, dice, and anything that makes game night smoother. If they talk about "their army" by faction name, they're a gamer.

The collector / lore fan

And plenty of people love the universe itself — the grimdark stories, the characters, the sheer scale of it — as much as the models. For them, novels, art books, and iconic character models land brilliantly, even if they never field them.

The complete beginner

If they've mentioned wanting to get into it "one day" but never taken the plunge, you can be the person who gives them the push. A starter set is the single best gift here, and our guide to the best starter sets walks through picking the right one.

Best gifts under £25

You don't need a big budget to get something they'll love. This is the sweet spot for stocking fillers, secret santa, and "just because" gifts.

• A pot or set of paints. Citadel and other ranges do small paint sets that are perfect for topping up a collection. Even a seasoned painter always needs more of the workhorse colours — you can rarely go wrong with a shade or a contrast paint. Browse our paints range if you're not sure where to start.
• A good brush. A quality synthetic or Kolinsky sable detail brush is something many hobbyists won't splash out on for themselves but will use every single session.
• Dice. A nice set of themed dice is a lovely, low-risk gift — every gamer wants dice that feel like theirs, and you genuinely can't have too many.
• A single character model or small kit. A named hero or a small unit box is affordable and gives them something fun and self-contained to build and paint.
• A paperback novel. Black Library puts out a huge range of Warhammer fiction. A well-chosen novel is perfect for the lore lovers.

Best gifts £25–£60

In this range you can get something with a bit more heft — a proper centrepiece for a gift.

• A larger unit or squad box. A full multipart kit gives a gamer real value for their army and a painter plenty to sink their teeth into.
• A paint set with brushes and tools. Bundled hobby sets that pair a spread of paints with the basics are ideal for someone building out their kit.
• A hardback art or lore book. These are gorgeous, coffee-table-worthy things that make a collector's day.
• Storage or transport. A foam case or figure carrier is the unsexy gift that hobbyists are quietly thrilled to receive — protecting an army they've spent months painting is a real relief.

Best gifts £60 and up

For a big occasion — a birthday, Christmas, or "you clearly love this so let's go big" — these are the crowd-pleasers.

• A starter or boxed set. The best value in the whole hobby. A two-player starter box gives models, rules, and everything needed to play, often at a serious discount versus buying separately. It's also the perfect way to get someone started — see our starter set guide for picking the right one.
• A large centrepiece model. A big dramatic kit — a dreadnought, a knight, a monster — is the sort of showpiece a hobbyist would love but might not buy themselves.
• An army box or battleforce. These bundle a themed force at a discount and are a dream gift for a committed gamer building a specific faction.

The safest "can't go wrong" options

If you're still nervous about picking the wrong thing, three gifts are almost impossible to mess up:

A gift card. We're honest enough to say it: if you genuinely don't know their faction, their edition, or what's already in their pile of shame, a gift card lets them get exactly what they want. It's not a cop-out — it's the considerate choice for a hobby with this much variety.

Paints and brushes. Consumables. Everyone runs out, everyone needs more, and nobody is upset to receive them.

A starter set for a beginner. If they don't play yet but want to, this is the gift that actually changes things.

What to avoid buying

A couple of gentle traps to sidestep. Try not to buy a specific army unit blind — if you get the faction wrong, or they already own it, it's an awkward return. Stick to universal gifts (paints, tools, dice, gift cards) unless you know their army for certain. And be a little wary of very cheap non-official paints and brushes as a main gift; they can be a false economy that puts a beginner off. When in doubt, ask us — we do this all day and we're happy to steer you.

Frequently asked questions

I don't know anything about Warhammer — what's the single safest gift?

A gift card, followed closely by a set of paints or a good brush. All three sidestep the risk of buying a duplicate or the wrong faction, and they're things every hobbyist uses regardless of what they collect. If you know they're a total beginner who wants to start, a two-player starter set is the standout choice.

How do I find out which army they collect?

The easiest way is a casual question — "what's your army called again?" usually gets an enthusiastic answer. Failing that, glance at their painted models: the colours and symbols identify the faction. If you can't check without spoiling the surprise, play it safe with a universal gift like paints, dice, or a gift card rather than guessing at a specific unit.

Are starter sets actually good value, or just for beginners?

Both. Starter and boxed sets bundle models, rules, and dice together at a real discount compared to buying the contents separately, so even an experienced hobbyist can find them worthwhile — especially two-player boxes, which are a cheap way into a second army. For an outright beginner, they're the best possible first purchase.

What's a good gift for someone who paints but doesn't play?

Lean into the craft side: quality brushes, a spread of paints (shades and contrast paints are always welcome), hobby tools like a sharp knife or files, and a single interesting model to paint as a project. Painters value good tools and fresh colours far more than another army box.

Can you help me choose if I'm still stuck?

Absolutely — that's what we're here for. Pop into the shop in Barry or drop us a message with a rough budget and anything you know about their hobby, and we'll point you at something they'll love. We'd genuinely rather help you get it right than have you guess.