If you've ever stood in front of a wall of Warhammer boxes and wondered what you actually need to get started, you're in good company. The honest answer is: less than you'd think, but a little more than any single box gives you. This is the shopping list we'd give a mate — 11th edition prices, no upselling you don't need.
The short answer
To go from nothing to a painted army on the table you need five things: some models, a way to get them off the frame, a way to tidy them up, paints and a brush, and the rules. Everything else is nice to have. Every 11th edition beginner box covers some of that list. None of them covers all of it — which is exactly why we put together our Warhammer 40k bundles.
The five essentials
1. Models
Start with a Combat Patrol: the small, ready-made army that 40K is built around for new players. Space Marines and Orks are the two factions in the 11th edition starter boxes, so they're the cheapest way in. Not sure which side you're on? Our beginner's guide to Space Marines is a good place to start.
2. Clippers
This is the one people forget. Every 11th edition starter model is push-fit, so you don't need glue — but the parts still come on a plastic frame, and you need proper clippers to cut them free cleanly. Twisting them off leaves chunks missing, and scissors are worse. Clippers aren't included in the Introductory Set, the Getting Started boxes or the Starter Set.
3. A mould line scraper
Plastic kits have a faint seam where the two halves of the mould met. Scrape it off before you paint and your models instantly look sharper. It takes seconds per model and it's the cheapest upgrade your painting will ever get.
4. Paints and a brush
You don't need fifty pots. A dozen well-chosen colours, a shade to add depth, a texture paint for bases and a decent brush will paint a whole Combat Patrol. The Introductory Set and the Getting Started boxes include paints matched to their models; the Starter Set doesn't include any.
5. The rules
The Starter Set comes with the full Core Rules book, and the Introductory Set's handbook walks you through a small first game. When you're ready for the full thing, our rundown of the basic rules of Warhammer 40,000 will have you rolling dice in minutes.
Nice to have (but not essential)
- A painting handle — holds the model so your fingers stay off the wet paint. Cheap, and you'll use it on every model you ever paint.
- A water pot — any old mug works, but a proper pot is steadier and much harder to confuse with your tea.
- Spray primer — a can of Chaos Black undercoats a whole squad in minutes. Handy once you're painting a lot of models, but you can basecoat by brush to begin with.
- Plastic glue — not needed for push-fit starter models, but you'll want a pot of Warhammer Colour Plastic Glue for most of the kits you buy next.
What each 11th edition box includes — and what it leaves out
| Box | Models | Paints and brush | Clippers and scraper | Rules and battlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory Set | 12 | 6 paints, brush | No | Handbook, playmat, card terrain |
| Getting Started with Space Marines / Orks | 13 / 33 | 11 paints, brush, texture spreader | No | Army guidebook |
| Starter Set | 46 | No | No | Core Rules, game board, 15 terrain pieces |
| Intercessors / Boyz + Paints Sets | 2 / 3 | 6 paints, brush | No | — |
| Paints + Tools Set | — | 13 paints, brush | Yes | — |
Spot the pattern: the Paints + Tools Set is the only box with clippers and a scraper, and it has no models in it. That gap is exactly what our bundles are built to close.
Our 11th edition bundles: everything in one delivery
Every bundle pairs a starter box with the Paints + Tools Set, so clippers and a scraper come as standard, and every one costs around 10% less than buying the parts separately. Pick the one that matches how you want to start:
- Space Marines Painting Taster or Orks Painting Taster — £41.99. Two or three models to find out whether painting is your thing, with 19 paints and the full toolkit.
- Beginner's Complete Kit — £69.99. The Introductory Set plus tools, extra paints and a painting handle: the cheapest way to try building, painting and playing.
- Space Marines Army Builder or Orks Army Builder — £123.99. A full Combat Patrol for the side you've already picked, with 24 paints, the toolkit, a painting handle and a water pot.
- Complete Starter Bundle — £161.99. The Starter Set with the toolkit, a painting handle and a water pot: two armies, a battlefield and the full rules.
- Two-Player Starter Bundle — £197.99. The Starter Set with a full paint and tool kit for each player, so nobody's left waiting for the clippers.
Still weighing up the boxes themselves? Our guide to the 11th edition starter sets goes through each one in detail, and how to build and paint your first 40K army picks up once the box is open.
What you don't need yet
An airbrush, a hundred paints, a carry case, a wet palette, the latest Codex — all lovely, all for later. Paint your first Combat Patrol, play a few games, and you'll know exactly what you want next, which is a much better time to spend the money. When you get there, our pick of the top tools for model makers covers the next tier of kit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need glue for the 11th edition starter sets?
No. The models in the Introductory Set, the Getting Started boxes and the Starter Set are all push-fit, so they click together without glue. You will still need clippers to cut the parts off the frame.
Do the Warhammer 40k starter sets come with clippers?
No. None of the 11th edition starter boxes include clippers. The Paints + Tools Set does, which is why every Loaded Dice 40K bundle includes one.
Does the Warhammer 40k Starter Set come with paints?
No. The Starter Set includes two armies, terrain, a game board and the Core Rules, but no paints or brushes. The Complete Starter Bundle adds 13 paints, a brush, clippers, a scraper, a painting handle and a water pot.
What's the cheapest way to start Warhammer 40k?
The Introductory Set is the cheapest box with models, paints and rules in it. Add the tools you need with the Beginner's Complete Kit at £69.99, or just try painting first with a Painting Taster bundle at £41.99.
Should I start with Space Marines or Orks?
Whichever you think looks coolest — both are strong beginner armies. Space Marines give you fewer, tougher models that come together quickly as a painted force. Orks give you a big horde that's very forgiving to paint.
Buy the box, buy the clippers, paint something badly, then paint something better. That's the whole hobby — everything else is detail.
