In the deep reaches of the 41st millennium stir chaotic space gods, violent alien species, and the conquering fist of humankind. In Warhammer 40,000 you pick your faction from among 26 options, build and paint your models, and wage an unending war upon the galaxy!
One of the hallmarks of Warhammer 40k is the incredible customization, variability, and personalization that each and every army can have. At Gamers Grove we have everything from bright pink Blood Angels to box-art level Aeldari. Your army, your way, is the 40k way! But how do you pick an army and… how do you even play?
Getting Started
The first thing I recommend to new players is to find the models that appeal to you. You’re going to spend a lot of time building and painting your army so make sure it’s one that you like the look of! When I first started, I spent an unhealthy amount of time scrolling through Google images with the search term coolest 40k models..
Once you’ve got a few armies you like the look of in mind, it’s time to see if you jive with the way they play. This is where I always recommend YouTube. The following channels are excellent resources for catching the vibe of the army you want to play:
Check out these channels and look for recorded games (often called Battle Reports) of your army so you can watch someone play it. If these channels don’t do it for you then searching “[army name] battle report” will pull up many others.
Use this time to familiarize yourself with some of the cool rules your chosen army has and their general playstyle. Can you see yourself playing them? Do their mechanics make your brain tick? Do they look good on the table?
Hobby Night
At Gamers Grove every Thursday is Hobby Night! Players from many different war games hang out and chat about Warhammer while they build and paint models. This is a great time to come and meet the local scene, see what goes into painting/building, and ask for advice from hobby veterans.
Your First Models
If you want to start small, most armies have single-model leader units that sell for $35-$40. You can grab one of these, some paints and a few brushes, then go home (or come to hobby night!) and try your hand at building & painting.
If your first model goes well or if you want to start a bit bigger, every Warhammer 40,000 army has a Combat Patrol box. This is essentially a beginner army comprised of roughly 1/4 the units you need for a full 2000-point army. These boxes are all strong foundations for starting a collection and are priced below what it would cost to buy all the contained units individually.
Gamers Grove sells everything mentioned above at a 15% markdown and, if we don’t have what you need, we’ll order it for you at a 10% markdown.
Supplies
While buying your models you should also grab some paints, some plastic glue, and brushes. If you’re not sure what paints to use, check out the Warhammer Paints app which has example models from every army. The app allows you to organize your projects, catalogue your paint collection, and serves as a loose guide for how to paint (usually box art). There are also a great many painting tutorials on YouTube.
Once you decide which paints you’re looking for, feel free to browse our website or come in store to check out our selection. A few paints I think every painter should have are Citadel Agrax Earthshade, Citadel Nuln Oil, and Pro Acryl Bold Titanium White.
Time To Play!
Once your models are built and you’ve got your Codex with all your rules in it, you can get them on the table! The best way to find a game locally is to join the Gamers Grove Discord and ask for a game. You can also join us on Thursday for hobby night where we often have folks teaching the game to newcomers. We have many local players who would love to introduce you Warhammer 40,000.
Once you’ve got a grip on the rules, you may consider joining one of our leagues! Gamers Grove hosts quarterly 40k and Age of Sigmar leagues that last for 6 weeks. Each week you’re paired up with another league player so you can schedule a time to duel it out on the tabletop.
Wrapping Up
If Warhammer 40,000 sounds like the game for you, Gamers Grove has everything to get you started. From all the product you need to a thriving community ready to welcome newcomers, we have it all! Feel free to stop by the shop to ask questions, meet some friendly faces, and get a feel for the inclusive environment we work hard to curate. Thanks for reading and, as always, we’ll see you at the Grove.
