Getting Started with Warhammer: A Strategic Player’s Guide

For strategy gamers looking to expand their horizons, Warhammer offers an unmatched blend of tactical depth, rich storytelling, and hobby craftsmanship. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start your journey into the various Warhammer universes.

Want to explore other miniature games first? Check out our guide to the Batman Miniatures Game Starter Set for a different take on miniature warfare.

The Warhammer Universe

Warhammer isn’t just one game – it’s a rich tapestry of interconnected games and stories spanning multiple settings. Let’s break down the major game systems you’ll encounter.

Warhammer 40,000

Set in the grim darkness of the far future, Warhammer 40,000 (40k) is the most popular variant in the franchise. This sprawling science fantasy setting takes place in the 41st millennium, where humanity’s Imperium fights for survival against countless threats. The game centers around large-scale battles, where armies often field dozens of miniatures ranging from basic infantry to towering war machines.

The gameplay system combines strategic depth with narrative excitement. Each battle plays out across multiple phases, from movement and psychic powers to shooting and close combat. Players must master both positioning and timing to succeed. The setting seamlessly blends advanced technology with mystical elements, creating unique tactical opportunities through psychic powers, ancient artifacts, and devastating weaponry.

Age of Sigmar

The fantasy counterpart to 40k, Age of Sigmar brings epic battles to the Mortal Realms. This game system offers:

• More straightforward rules than 40k
• Dynamic, magic-heavy gameplay
• Strong narrative focus with realm-specific rules

Specialist Games

Games Workshop offers several smaller-scale games set in their universes:

• Blood Bowl: Fantasy football with a violent twist
• Necromunda: Gang warfare in industrial underhives
• Kill Team: Small-scale 40k skirmishes
• Warcry: Skirmish combat in the Age of Sigmar setting

For a deeper look at the various board game offerings in the Warhammer universe, check out our comprehensive guide to Warhammer board games.

Choosing Your First Army

Your army choice will shape your entire Warhammer experience. Here’s what to consider:

Play Style Considerations

Your choice of army should reflect your preferred tactical approach. Aggressive armies like the Orks, World Eaters, and Flesh-eater Courts excel at closing with the enemy quickly and winning through overwhelming combat power. These armies reward bold play and careful timing of your charges.

Defensive armies such as the Death Guard and Imperial Fists take a different approach. They create strong firing positions and dare the enemy to come to them. These forces often win through superior positioning and attrition, wearing down the enemy while holding key objectives.

Some armies offer more balanced gameplay options. Space Marines and Stormcast Eternals can adapt to different situations, making them excellent learning armies. They can hold objectives, launch attacks, and respond to various threats effectively.

Elite armies like the Custodes and Ossiarch Bonereapers field fewer models but each unit packs a serious punch. These armies teach you the importance of positioning and unit preservation, as losing even a single squad can significantly impact your battle plan.

For players who enjoy overwhelming their opponents with sheer numbers, horde armies like the Skaven and Imperial Guard offer unique tactical challenges. Success with these armies comes from understanding movement and positioning, using expendable units tactically, and knowing when to commit your forces.

Budget Planning

Start small with:

1. Combat patrol box for your chosen faction
2. Basic paint set and brushes
3. Core rulebook
4. Your faction’s codex/battletome

Recommended Starter Armies

For Warhammer 40k:

• Space Marines: Versatile and forgiving for newcomers
• Necrons: Durable and straightforward to play
• T’au Empire: Strong shooting focus with clear tactical choices

For Age of Sigmar:

• Stormcast Eternals: Durable and straightforward
• Nighthaunt: Aggressive with striking models
• Ironjawz: Simple but effective gameplay

Core Game Mechanics

Whether you’re playing 40k or Age of Sigmar, you’ll need to master these fundamental concepts:

Movement and Positioning

Movement is the foundation of successful Warhammer gameplay. Understanding threat ranges – the distance your units can move and still attack – forms the basis of tactical play. Each army has different movement capabilities, from slow-moving heavy infantry to lightning-fast cavalry and aircraft. Mastering these differences lets you control the flow of battle.

Terrain plays a crucial role in modern Warhammer. Dense cover provides protection for your units while obscuring terrain blocks line of sight, letting you move units safely across the battlefield. Learning to use terrain effectively often marks the difference between victory and defeat. Smart players use terrain to protect valuable units while denying their opponent advantageous firing positions.

Screening is another vital concept to master. By positioning expendable units in front of valuable ones, you can protect your key pieces from enemy attacks. This creates layers of defense that your opponent must work through to reach your important units.

Combat Resolution

Combat in Warhammer follows a structured sequence that creates tension and tactical depth. When attacking, you’ll first make hit rolls to see if your attacks connect. These are modified by factors like skill, terrain, and special rules. A unit of veteran Space Marines hits more reliably than inexperienced Guard troops, reflecting their superior training.

Successful hits then need to wound their target. This compares the attacker’s strength against the defender’s toughness. Anti-tank weapons might wound vehicles easily but struggle against hordes of light infantry. Understanding these relationships helps you assign the right units to the right targets.

The defender then gets armor saves, representing their protective equipment or natural resilience. Some weapons bypass armor with high armor penetration, while others rely on volume of fire to overwhelm defenses. Many units also have invulnerable saves representing supernatural protection or advanced technology that works against any weapon.

Finally, successful wounds are converted to damage, which must be allocated to models in the target unit. Managing damage allocation can help preserve special weapons or important unit leaders, adding another layer of tactical decision-making to the game.

Strategic Elements

• Command points/command abilities
• Stratagems and special rules
• Army-specific mechanics
• Secondary objectives

Beyond the Tabletop

The Warhammer hobby extends far beyond the gaming table:

Video Games

Recent standouts include:

• Total War: Warhammer series
• Space Marine 2
• Darktide
• Vermintide 2

The Black Library

Games Workshop’s publishing arm is called The Black Library and they produce:

• Novel series following popular characters
• Background books exploring the settings
• Campaign books with missions and rules
• Painting guides and hobby resources

Community Resources

• Warhammer Community website
• YouTube painting tutorials
• Local gaming groups
• Online battle reports

Getting Started: Your First Steps

1. Choose your game system (40k or Age of Sigmar)
2. Pick an army that appeals to you
3. Start with a small Combat Patrol force
4. Learn basic assembly and painting
5. Play small-scale games to learn the rules
6. Gradually expand your force

If you enjoy strategic area control in your games, check out our guide to top area control games for more tactical gaming experiences.

Advanced Concepts

Once you’ve mastered the basics, explore:

• List building and unit synergies
• Advanced tactical maneuvers
• Tournament play
• Narrative campaigns
• Conversion and advanced painting

Remember, Warhammer is a hobby journey. Take your time, focus on what you enjoy most, and don’t feel pressured to build a massive army immediately. Whether you’re drawn to the competitive scene, narrative gaming, or the hobby aspects, there’s a place for you in the Warhammer community.

Next Steps

Ready to dive deeper? Consider these resources:

• Your local Warhammer store for demos and painting tips
• Online battle reports to learn strategies
• Faction-specific forums and communities
• Painting tutorials for your chosen army

The Warhammer hobby rewards patience and dedication. Start small, learn the basics, and gradually expand your involvement based on what aspects you enjoy most.

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Looking for more strategic gaming experiences? Explore our guides to historical strategy board games and area control games for more tactical gaming options.