Ever fancied stepping into a universe where strategy meets creativity and imagination meets all-out war? That is what first drew us to Warhammer 40k — commanding armies, building models, and painting miniatures that bring entire worlds to life on a kitchen table.
We also know it looks completely impenetrable from the outside. Dozens of factions, hundreds of paints, a rulebook thicker than a phone directory. That is exactly why we built Loaded Dice: next-day UK delivery, a huge range in stock, and a team of actual hobbyists who will happily tell you which of it you do not need.
The short version for beginners: buy one boxed starter set, paint three colours and a shade onto a single model, and find someone to play with. The rest of this guide shows you how.
In this guide, we will cover:
- What Warhammer 40k is and why it has such a grip on people
- Where to start, how to choose your first army and starter set
- What you actually need to start — and what you can skip
- A step-by-step route into playing your first game
- Where to buy Warhammer 40k in the UK and how to find people to play with
What Is Warhammer 40k and Why Is It So Popular?
Warhammer 40k is more than a tabletop game. It bolts together tactical combat, storytelling and creative craft into one very absorbing hobby.
Players collect and paint detailed miniatures that represent their armies, then fight over objectives on a tabletop battlefield. Every decision matters, and every painted model is a small piece of a much bigger story that is entirely yours.
Here is why it has such staying power:
- A deep universe: a far-future galaxy of humans, aliens and ancient horrors, nearly forty years in the making.
- Creative expression: every miniature you paint reflects your own style. Two people can buy the same box and produce completely different armies.
- Tactical gameplay: every battle rewards careful thinking and clever positioning over lucky dice.
- Community: thousands of players online and in person, most of whom are delighted to teach a newcomer.
At Loaded Dice we try to make the first step easy. Our Warhammer starter sets and paints and tools kits are where most people begin.
Where Should a Beginner Start with Warhammer?
If you are wondering where to start with Warhammer, the honest answer is: with one box, not a whole shelf. There are three sensible routes in:
- You want to try everything first: the Introductory Set gives you a handful of models, a few paints and the basics of playing, all in one go.
- You are starting with a friend: the full Starter Set holds two armies, so you can split it and play straight away.
- You already know your army: a Getting Started set puts a full Combat Patrol force in one faction in your hands.
Not sure which suits you? Our first steps into Warhammer 40,000 guide and the shopping list of what you need to start Warhammer 40k both walk through the choice.
When Was Warhammer 40k Created?
Warhammer 40k launched in 1987 and became one of the most influential wargames ever made, marrying the thrill of strategy gaming to the craft of painting and modelling.
It has run through several editions since, refining the rules and expanding the lore each time. The current 11th Edition arrived in June 2026 and is the most beginner-friendly yet — which, if you have been putting this off for years, is a decent argument for stopping putting it off.
Warhammer vs Warhammer 40k — What Is the Difference?
Both share tactical gameplay and painting, but the worlds are entirely different. Age of Sigmar is high fantasy — magic, monsters, mortal realms. Warhammer 40k is the far future, where humanity clings on in a galaxy that would very much prefer it did not. Same hobby, different flavour. Pick whichever setting you would rather read about, or read our comparison of Warhammer 40K vs Age of Sigmar if you are torn.
Warhammer 40k Lore for Beginners — The Grimdark Universe
The setting is the 41st Millennium, where humanity fights for survival against everything the galaxy can throw at it. It manages to be hopeful, heroic and horrifying all at once.
- The Imperium of Man: a vast, crumbling empire ruled by the God-Emperor, forever at war.
- Space Marines: superhuman warriors bred for battle and loyalty — and comfortably the most popular starting army.
- Xenos: alien species such as Orks, Aeldari and Tyranids, each with their own brutal ambitions.
- Chaos: dark gods and daemons that twist reality and corrupt the weak.
Every faction has its own story, and half the fun is finding the one that speaks to you — our Warhammer 40k factions guide breaks them all down, and our beginner's guide to Space Marines is the place to start if you fancy the poster boys.
What You Actually Need to Start
This is the bit nobody tells you, and it is why so many first boxes end up half-built in a drawer. Models alone are not enough. To get from sprue to painted miniature you need up to five things:
- Clippers to remove parts from the plastic frame. Not scissors, not your teeth.
- Plastic glue — proper polystyrene cement, which welds the plastic rather than sticking it. The 11th Edition starter boxes are push-fit and need none, but you will want it for most other kits.
- A spray primer such as Chaos Black or Wraithbone, so paint has something to grip. Aerosols are excluded from our free delivery threshold, so it is worth knowing before you add one to the basket.
- A handful of paints — you need far fewer than the wall in the shop suggests. Six will do.
- One decent brush and a shade like Nuln Oil, which does most of the heavy lifting on a first paint job.
The good news: the boxed starter sets and 40k bundles exist precisely so you do not have to assemble that list yourself. Buy one box that contains the lot and you will finish your first model instead of shelving it. Our honest shopping list for starting Warhammer 40k breaks it down box by box.
How to Play Warhammer 40k for Beginners
Starting Warhammer 40k looks daunting and then turns out to be five manageable steps.
1. Learn the Basics of the Game
Warhammer 40k is a tabletop strategy game where you command a force of models across a battlefield.
- Movement: position your forces, use cover, control the middle.
- Combat: roll dice to determine hits, wounds and saves.
- Objectives: capture and hold key points to score. Killing things is fun; scoring wins games.
Our guide to the basic rules of Warhammer 40,000 covers the fundamentals in plain English, without the jargon.
2. Choose Your Faction
There are dozens of armies, each with its own lore and playstyle.
- Space Marines are the classic beginner pick — tough, forgiving, few models to paint.
- Necrons are ancient, relentless robots, and very quick to paint to a good standard.
- Orks are chaotic and genuinely funny, ideal if you want mayhem and do not mind painting a horde.
Honest advice: pick the one whose models you like looking at. You will spend far more hours painting them than playing them.
3. Start Small with a Beginner Set
The easiest way in is a Warhammer 40k starter set — models, rules and dice in one box.
There are several rungs on the ladder, and our guide to which starter set is right for you walks through them properly. If you would rather not commit yet, the Introductory Set is the gentlest genuine way to try the whole thing.
4. Paint Your Miniatures
Painting is the part most people end up loving most. It also has the steepest imagined difficulty and the shallowest real one — three colours and a shade will produce something you are pleased with on your first try.
Start with a paints and tools set rather than buying pots individually, and read our guide to the paint types so you know what a base, a layer and a shade each actually do. For a full walkthrough, see how to paint your first Warhammer miniature. One note for newcomers: Games Workshop has renamed its Citadel Colour paints as Warhammer Colour. Same paint, new label, so older guides that say Citadel are still talking about the same pots.
5. Learn the Rules and Practise
Focus on one phase at a time and play a few small games before worrying about army lists. The starter sets include everything you need for your first handful of battles, and the core rules are free to download from Games Workshop — you do not need to buy a rulebook to get going.
Warhammer 40k Starter Sets Explained
Set Type |
What Is Included |
Perfect For |
Introductory Set |
Twelve miniatures (Space Marines and Orks), six paints, a starter brush, dice, a playmat and a beginner's handbook |
Trying the hobby without a big commitment |
Paints and Tools Set |
Clippers, a mouldline remover, a starter brush and 13 Warhammer Colour paints |
Anyone who already has models but nothing to finish them with |
Starter Set |
Two Combat Patrol forces (Space Marines and Orks), game boards, terrain, the full Core Rulebook and dice |
Committing to the hobby, or two people starting together |
Getting Started box |
A full Combat Patrol force for Space Marines or Orks, eleven paints, a brush and an army booklet |
Players who already know which army they want |
Every set from Loaded Dice comes with next-day dispatch and free UK shipping on orders over £65 (aerosols excluded).
How Much Does It Cost to Start Warhammer 40k?
Less than the internet will tell you, if you start sensibly. The Introductory Set is the entry-level box and includes paints, so it is the cheapest way to find out whether the hobby suits you. A full two-player Starter Set costs more, but contains two armies — which is why splitting one with a friend is the single cheapest way into the hobby. Current prices are on the starter sets collection.
The other saving is simply not paying RRP. Games Workshop charges full price on its own website all year round; UK independents typically sell the same boxes for 10–16% less. We published an honest price comparison of the UK Warhammer retailers — competitors named, real figures quoted, including the boxes where they beat us.
Joining the Warhammer 40k Community in the UK
The Warhammer community is one of the most welcoming in the hobby world, and playing against a human beats reading about it.
- Visit our Barry store: 28 Holton Rd, Barry, CF63 4HD. Meet other players, come to events, and get advice from people holding the actual box. Details on our visit us page.
- Join a local club: we proudly support The Ministry of Dice, our local wargaming group in South Wales.
- Connect online: share armies, tactics and paint schemes with players across the UK through Reddit, Facebook and Discord.
Ready to Start Your Warhammer 40k Journey?
Whether you are assembling your first squad or building out a full army, we are here to help.
- Next-day dispatch across the UK
- Free shipping on orders over £65 (aerosols excluded)
- 60-day no-quibble returns
- Store credit on every order through The Chamber
- Advice from real hobbyists, in a real shop
Warhammer 40k for Beginners: FAQs
Where should a beginner start with Warhammer?
With a single boxed set. The Introductory Set is the best taster, the Starter Set suits two people starting together, and a Getting Started set is ideal if you already know your army. Add a paints and tools set if your box does not include them.
What edition is Warhammer 40k on?
Warhammer 40k is currently on its 11th Edition, launched in June 2026 with the Armageddon box — refined rules, the new Detachment Points system, and a streamlined game that is genuinely easier to pick up than any edition before it.
How expensive is it to start Warhammer 40k?
An Introductory Set is the cheapest way in and includes paints. A full Starter Set costs more but contains two armies, so splitting one with a friend halves the cost of entry. Buy from a UK independent rather than at RRP and you will save 10–16% on top.
What are the best Warhammer 40k miniatures for beginners?
Space Marines are the most popular choice for newcomers — durable on the table, easy to assemble, and few enough models that you will actually finish painting them. Necrons are a close second for the same reasons. That said, every faction has its own character, so pick the one you find yourself reading about.
Do I need to buy a rulebook to play?
No. The core rules are free to download from Games Workshop, and every starter set includes what you need for your first games. A physical rulebook is a nice thing to own once you are properly hooked, but it is not a barrier to entry — do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
How long does it take to paint an army?
A first squad of ten models, painted to a tidy tabletop standard, is an evening or two of work once you have the hang of it. A full army is a project measured in months — but that is the point. Most hobbyists are never finished, and would be a bit lost if they were.
Nobody starts Warhammer knowing what they are doing. Buy one box that contains everything, paint three colours and a shade onto one model, and you are in. The rest is just deciding which army to be unreasonable about.
Further reading: picking your first box? Our starter set comparison breaks down what is in each one, our guide to building and painting your first army picks up where this leaves off, and our gift guide for Warhammer fans is the one to send your family in December.
