Your Grimdark Journey Starts Here
Whether you're painting your very first Space Marine or you've got a battle-ready army gathering dust and demanding reinforcements, you're in the right place. Warhammer is a hobby of a thousand rabbit holes — armies, paints, rulebooks, terrain, lore deep enough to drown in — and we've packed the lot under one roof. New to it all? Read on and we'll point you in the right direction. Know exactly what you're after? Skip the preamble and use the buttons below to jump straight to your faction, your paints, or your next big centrepiece — no judgement, we know you've got hobby time to protect.
So… what actually is it?
Warhammer is a tabletop hobby made by Games Workshop. You buy little plastic models, clip them off a frame, glue them together, paint them, then use them to play games against a mate. Some people love the building. Some just paint and never play a single game. Some are all about the battles. There's no wrong way in — and no test at the door.
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
01
Build
Snap it together
Clip the plastic models off their frame and glue them into shape. Loads of starter kits are “push-fit” — no glue needed at all. This bit is oddly relaxing.
Warhammer Tools
02
Paint
Bring them to life
Paint them in any colours you fancy — there are no rules here. Your first model won't be perfect. Nobody's first model ever was, including ours.
Warhammer Colour Paints
03
Play
Get them on the table
Line your models up and play. The rules look scary from outside and are far less daunting than they seem once you get stuck in — and there's a whole community around the game to help you find your feet.
Warhammer TerrainChoose your world
There are two big ways in, and neither is “better”. It really comes down to which one makes you go “ooh, I want to paint that”.
The sci-fi one
Warhammer 40,000
“In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.”
A grim, dramatic far future of power-armoured Space Marines, alien empires and endless war across the galaxy. Bold, iconic, and the most popular way into the hobby.
40K Starter Sets
The fantasy one
Age of Sigmar
“This is the time of turmoil. This is the era of war.”
Mortal realms of storm-forged warriors, undead legions, savage orruks and gods at war. Big, gorgeous fantasy — knights, monsters and magic on a grand scale.
Age of Sigmar Starter SetsWhat you actually need to start
Less than most people think. A starter set does most of the heavy lifting — it comes with the models and a way to learn. Add a few basics and you're properly away.
- 1A starter setComes with models and, usually, everything you need to learn the basics. The single best first purchase.
- 2ClippersTo free the models cleanly from their plastic frame. A cheap hobby pair does the job for years.
- 3Plastic glueFor kits that aren't push-fit. A single pot lasts a very long time.
- 4A few paints + a brushYou don't need the whole range. A handful of colours gets your first models looking great.
You won't be figuring this out on your own
We're not a faceless warehouse. We're a shop in Barry full of people who got into this exactly the same way you're about to. Come in, ask daft questions, watch someone paint, borrow a brush. That's the whole point of us.
- In-store help & advicePop in and we'll walk you through it, no pressure to buy. Visit us
- SprueTube, our hobby communityTutorials and inspiration from people at your level, not just the pros. Visit SprueTube
- Help picking your first kitTell us your budget and we'll build you a sensible starter list, in person or online.
- Staff who actually playAsk us anything. We'd genuinely rather help than sell you the wrong thing. About us
Start here: beginner guides
Not ready to buy yet? No rush. These walk you through the first steps at your own pace.
Warhammer 40k for beginners
How to play, paint and collect — plus which starter set to grab first.
Read the guide → First brushPainting your first miniature
A simple, no-stress method to get a model looking great with just a few paints.
Read the guide → 40k or Sigmar?Which world is right for you?
Sci-fi or fantasy? A quick, honest guide to help you pick your first army.
Read the guide →Common questions from newcomers
Is Warhammer expensive to get into?
Less than most people think. A starter set gets you models, rules and a way to learn in one box — you can make a proper start for around the price of a couple of video games, and unlike a game you finish in a weekend, this one lasts for years.
Do I need to know the lore to start?
Not at all. Plenty of people build and paint for ages before they learn a single bit of the story. There's no test at the door — you can pick the lore up whenever you fancy, or never.
Should I start with Warhammer 40k or Age of Sigmar?
Go with the models you most want to paint — 40k is the sci-fi one, Age of Sigmar the fantasy one. Neither is harder to learn, and the hobby skills carry over between them, so you're never really locked in.
What do I need to buy first?
A starter set is the single best first purchase. Add a pair of clippers, some plastic glue, a few paints and a brush, and you're properly away.
Can you help me get started in person?
Yes — pop into our Barry shop and the team are happy to talk you through the basics, help you pick your first kit and answer any questions, no pressure to buy.
Straight to the good stuff
No hand-holding needed? Pick your game and dive in — or jump straight to a category below.
The sci-fi one
Warhammer 40,000
Space Marines, Tyranids, Necrons and the rest — every kit and codex we stock.
Shop 40K
The fantasy one
Age of Sigmar
Stormcast, Skaven, gods and monsters — armies from across the Mortal Realms.
Shop Age of Sigmar
The 30K one
The Horus Heresy
The civil war that broke the galaxy — Legion marines, tanks and Primarchs.
Shop Horus Heresy
The skirmish one
Kill Team
Small squads and quick, tense games — 40K at its sharpest.
Shop Kill TeamRight then — shall we?
Pick a world, grab a starter set, or just come and say hello. Whatever gets you started is the right first step.
Loaded Dice · 28 Holton Road, Barry, CF63 4HD