Warhammer 40,000 is one of the most popular tabletop miniature games in the world, and it's been a staple of hobby shops like ours for decades. If you've been curious but aren't sure where to begin, this guide will walk you through the basics — choosing a faction, picking up a starter set, getting your first models painted, and taking your first steps into the game.
Fair warning: this is a hobby that has a habit of becoming a proper obsession. You've been warned.
What Is Warhammer 40K?
Warhammer 40,000 is a science-fantasy wargame set in a grimdark far future where humanity fights for survival against alien races, chaos forces, and threats from within. Players collect, build, and paint miniature armies, then use them to fight tabletop battles against opponents using a set of rules.
There are two sides to the hobby: the modelling and painting (which many people enjoy entirely separately from playing), and the actual game itself. Some people play competitively. Others just enjoy building and painting beautiful miniatures. Most end up somewhere in between.
Choosing Your First Faction
Warhammer 40K has a large number of factions — armies with their own models, playstyles, lore, and aesthetics. Choosing your first faction is one of the most personal decisions in the hobby, and honestly, the best advice is: pick the one you think looks coolest.
That said, here's a brief rundown of some popular starting factions:
Space Marines
The poster army of 40K. Power-armoured super-soldiers of humanity. Space Marines are the most popular faction by a wide margin, which means there's an enormous amount of model choice, lore, and community support. If you're not sure where to start, Space Marines are a safe bet. There are also numerous sub-factions (called Chapters) with different colour schemes and identities, so you can make them your own.
Orks
Orks are boisterous, anarchic aliens who live for fighting. Their models are chunky, characterful, and quite forgiving to paint. The army tends to involve a lot of models but compensates by being less technically demanding to assemble and paint. Great choice if you enjoy the comedic side of 40K's universe.
Necrons
Ancient skeletal robots awakening from millions of years of sleep. Necrons have a distinctive metallic aesthetic and are often recommended for beginners because their armour is relatively straightforward to paint to a good standard. They also have a strong presence in the current game.
Tyranids
An alien hive mind consuming everything in its path. Tyranid models are organic, alien-looking, and come in large numbers. If you prefer painting biological creatures over armour and machinery, these might appeal.
There are many more factions to explore. Browse our full Warhammer 40K range for inspiration.
Starter Sets: Where to Begin
Games Workshop produces starter sets specifically designed for beginners, and they're the best value entry point into the hobby. These typically include:
- A selection of models from two opposing factions
- Dice, rulers, and tokens needed to play
- A simplified rulebook
- Assembly instructions
The current entry-level options change with each edition of the game, so check our Warhammer 40K starter sets page for what's currently available. Starter sets give you two playable forces at a much lower cost than buying individual boxes, and the simplified rules let you learn the game without wading through the full rulebook immediately.
What Paints Do You Need to Get Started?
Warhammer models are supplied unpainted, and painting them is a large part of the appeal. Games Workshop's own Citadel paints are designed specifically for their models and are what most beginners start with.
Essential Citadel Paint Types
- Base paints — Thick, opaque paints designed to cover plastic quickly. Your first coat on any model.
- Shade paints — Thin washes that flow into recesses and add depth and shadow. Agrax Earthshade and Nuln Oil are used by almost everyone. A single coat of shade over a base paint makes a huge difference to how a model looks.
- Layer paints — Thinner paints for building up highlights and adding detail once your base and shade are dry.
- Contrast paints — Relatively new and excellent for beginners. One coat does the work of base, shade, and basic layer in a single pass. Results vary by model but on many figures they're genuinely impressive for the effort involved.
For your first army, you don't need dozens of colours. Figure out what colours your chosen faction uses, buy those base paints, pick up Agrax Earthshade and Nuln Oil, and you have enough to get your models looking presentable. Add more colours as you need them.
Tools You'll Need
Beyond paint, you need a few basic tools:
- Plastic glue (not superglue — proper polystyrene cement for plastic models)
- A hobby knife for cleaning up mould lines
- A cutting mat
- A couple of paint brushes — a medium brush and a detail brush to start
- A palette or old plate for mixing paint
You don't need an airbrush, fancy wet palette, or expensive light source to begin. Start simple, and upgrade your tools as the hobby grows on you.
Your First Steps in the Game
Once you've got some models assembled, the best way to learn the game is simply to play it — ideally against someone else who's learning, or someone patient who'll walk you through it. The beginner rules in starter sets simplify things considerably, and most experienced players are happy to teach.
Games Workshop also produces a free app (Warhammer 40K app) which includes the core rules, army building tools, and is regularly updated.
Our shop in Newark has a good community of Warhammer players, and we can often point you toward local gaming groups if you want to find opponents.
How Much Does It Cost?
Warhammer has a reputation for being expensive, and it's not entirely undeserved — collecting a full army can run into hundreds of pounds over time. But getting started doesn't have to be costly:
- A starter set gives you a playable force for a fraction of what individual boxes would cost
- A basic set of 10-15 Citadel paints will cover your first army
- You can play perfectly good games with 20-30 models to start
The hobby grows at your own pace. Nobody expects a completed 2,000-point army on day one.
Browse our Warhammer 40K starter range and full Warhammer 40K collection to find the best starting point for you.