How to Start a Warhammer Collection on a Budget — Complete 2026 Guide
Warhammer has a reputation for being expensive — and it's not entirely undeserved. A fully painted, competitive 2,000-point army can run into hundreds of pounds. But here's what new players often don't hear: you don't need to spend hundreds to get started, and the hobby genuinely rewards patience and planning.
This guide shows you exactly how to start a Warhammer collection on a budget in 2026 — covering the cheapest entry points, smart buying strategies, free painting methods, and how to grow your collection without breaking the bank.
Step 1 — Choose the Right Game First
Before buying anything, decide which Warhammer game you want to play. Games Workshop makes several systems, and they have very different costs and time commitments:
- Warhammer 40,000 (40K) — Sci-fi setting, most popular game worldwide. Large model range, massive community. Starting costs: moderate to high.
- Warhammer Age of Sigmar (AoS) — Fantasy setting, streamlined rules. Often cheaper entry point than 40K with Vanguard starter sets.
- Warhammer: The Old World — Classic fantasy system relaunched in 2024. Regiment-based, requires more models but regiment pricing can be efficient.
- Warhammer Underworlds — Skirmish game with pre-built warbands of 3-6 models. The most budget-friendly option. A single warband costs £25-£35 and gives you a complete, competitive experience.
- Kill Team — 40K skirmish game requiring only 5-15 models. Much cheaper than full 40K while using the same models.
Budget tip: If you're strictly budget-focused, start with Warhammer Underworlds or Kill Team. You'll spend far less upfront and still get the full Warhammer hobby experience.
Step 2 — Pick a Beginner-Friendly Faction
Some armies are genuinely cheaper to collect than others. The key factors are model count (fewer, bigger models = cheaper), how widely available secondhand models are, and whether starter deals include your faction.
Budget-friendly 40K factions:
- Space Marines — The most popular faction with the widest range of starter sets, bundled boxes, and secondhand availability. The Combat Patrol box is excellent value.
- Tyranids — Large, multi-part kits with versatile builds. Good secondhand market.
- Death Guard — Smaller model count (heavily armoured), excellent starter set value.
Budget-friendly AoS factions:
- Stormcast Eternals — Always included in starter sets. Massive secondhand supply drives prices down.
- Nighthaunt — Ghost models look fantastic with simple painting techniques. Often cheap secondhand.
- Skaven — Horde army that rewards bulk buying, with efficient regiment boxes.
Our guide to the best Warhammer army for beginners in 2026 covers faction selection in much more detail, including playstyle and complexity comparisons.
Step 3 — The Cheapest Entry Points into Warhammer
Combat Patrol Boxes (40K)
Games Workshop's Combat Patrol boxes are specifically designed as starter sets for each 40K faction. They typically contain 20-30 models (enough for a small game) at a discount of around 20-30% compared to buying individually. At roughly £85-£95 per box, they're the most cost-effective way to start a 40K collection.
Vanguard Boxes (Age of Sigmar)
The AoS equivalent of Combat Patrol. Each Vanguard box includes a battleline unit, a hero, and some specialist troops — everything you need to play a starter game. Priced similarly to Combat Patrol.
Starter Sets
Games Workshop regularly releases two-player starter sets that include two small armies, a rulebook, dice, and templates. These give the best value per model of any official GW product. Watch for the Recruit Edition or Starter Set if you have a friend also getting into the hobby — split the cost, each take an army.
Warhammer Underworlds Starter Set
At around £35-£45, the Underworlds Starter Set is the cheapest way into Warhammer full stop. It includes two complete warbands, terrain, cards, and rules — self-contained and genuinely fun.
Step 4 — Secondhand Models
This is the biggest budget tip of all: the secondhand Warhammer market is enormous and perfectly normal to use.
Where to buy secondhand Warhammer:
- eBay — The largest marketplace. Search for specific units, job lots (bulk collections), or painted armies you can strip and repaint.
- Facebook Marketplace / Facebook Groups — Local pick-up means no postage costs. Warhammer buy/sell groups are active and well-moderated.
- Reddit (r/Miniswap, r/Warhammer) — Community trading with clear reputation systems.
- Local gaming clubs — Veterans often have boxes of old models they're happy to pass on cheaply or free.
Job lots (bulk collections of mixed models) are particularly good value. Expect to pay £1-£3 per model for unpainted plastics, and even less for painted models you plan to strip and repaint.
Step 5 — Budget Paints and Primers
You don't need to buy the full Games Workshop Citadel paint range. A beginner only needs:
- A primer — Grey Seer, Wraithbone, or Chaos Black spray are the GW options. Army Painter sprays are cheaper and equally effective.
- Base colours — 5-8 paints covering your main colours: armour, skin, cloth, metal, and a contrast or wash.
- A shade/wash — Nuln Oil (black) or Agrax Earthshade (brown) is transformative on any model. One pot goes a long way.
- A drybrush colour — Lighter than your base, for quick highlighting.
Budget alternatives: Army Painter, Vallejo, and Scale75 all make excellent paints at competitive prices. Many experienced painters prefer Vallejo for their price-to-quality ratio.
Check our full Warhammer 40K painting guide for beginners for step-by-step painting techniques that work even on a tight budget.
Step 6 — Build Slowly and Strategically
The biggest mistake new Warhammer players make is buying too much too fast. The golden rule is: don't buy your second unit until you've built and painted your first.
Why? Because unpainted plastic is a silent morale drain. A backlog of grey plastic kills enthusiasm faster than anything. Build one unit. Paint it. Play a game. Then buy more.
A sensible starter purchase plan:
- Month 1 — Combat Patrol or Vanguard box (£85-£95)
- Month 2 — Core paints and brushes (£30-£40)
- Month 3 — One additional unit (£25-£35)
- Month 4 onwards — Expand based on what you enjoy playing
Total first-month investment: around £115-£135 for a complete hobby experience. This is genuinely the cheapest way to start Warhammer while still having enough models to play.
Step 7 — Free Resources
Games Workshop offers a surprising amount of free support for new players:
- Warhammer 40,000 Core Rules — Available as a free PDF download from the GW website
- Warhammer TV YouTube channel — Free painting tutorials for every skill level
- Wahapedia — Community resource with army rules (not official but widely used for learning)
- Local gaming clubs — Many run beginner nights where you can try the game with borrowed models
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying the most expensive army first — Some factions (Custodes, Sisters of Battle) require fewer but more expensive models. Resist the temptation until you're committed to the hobby.
- Impulse buying lots of different armies — Focus on one faction until you have a playable force.
- Skipping primer — Paint won't stick properly without it. Don't skip this step.
- Buying cheap brushes — Cheap brushes destroy your enthusiasm. Spend £5-£10 on a decent Kolinsky brush. It will last years.
- Buying a full rulebook immediately — The free core rules PDF is sufficient for most games. Buy the hardback when you're certain you're in the hobby for the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to start Warhammer?
The cheapest way to start Warhammer is with a Warhammer Underworlds or Kill Team starter set (around £35-£45), giving you a complete experience with minimal models. For full 40K or AoS, a Combat Patrol or Vanguard box (£85-£95) is the best value entry point.
How much does it cost to start Warhammer?
A realistic budget starter for Warhammer 40K is around £120-£150 — covering a Combat Patrol box (£85-£95) and a basic paint set (£30-£40). Warhammer Underworlds is cheaper at around £35-£50 total.
Is Warhammer worth the money?
For hobbyists who enjoy modelling, painting, and strategy gaming, Warhammer offers enormous value. The hobby can last decades, and many players spend less per month than people who play video games.
Can you buy Warhammer secondhand?
Absolutely. The secondhand Warhammer market is huge and completely normal. eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Reddit's r/Miniswap, and local gaming clubs are all excellent sources for discounted models.
What Warhammer army is cheapest to collect?
Space Marines (40K) are typically cheapest thanks to the massive secondhand market. In AoS, Stormcast Eternals are similarly affordable. Skirmish games like Kill Team and Underworlds are cheapest overall.
Start Your Warhammer Journey at Access Models
We stock a wide range of Warhammer starter sets, paints, and hobby supplies at Access Models — with expert advice to help you choose the right entry point for your budget and interest. Don't be intimidated by the hobby. Every veteran player started with one box of plastic.