Ratgeber
How to Start Warhammer 40,000 Without Overspending
Warhammer 40k has a reputation for being expensive — it doesn't have to be. A realistic starter path, what you can skip, and how to pay less for every box.
Verfasst vom Miniheist-Team · Veröffentlicht 11.07.2026
Warhammer 40,000 has a reputation as an expensive hobby, and if you walk into a store and buy everything a new player is "supposed" to have, it will be. But most of that cost is optional, and almost none of it needs to be paid up front. With a bit of patience and a plan, you can get from zero to a painted, playable force for far less than the sticker shock suggests.
Start smaller than you think you need to
The single biggest money-saver in this hobby is a boring one: buy less, later. Most new players quit or switch factions within their first year, and the most expensive version of that story is the one where you bought an entire army first. Start with one box. Build it, paint it, push it around a table. If you still love it, buy the next box — and by then you'll actually know what you want.
A good first purchase is a starter set or a Combat Patrol box. Both give you a coherent group of models designed to work together, which beats cherry-picking individual kits based on what looks cool on the shelf.
What you actually need — and what stores will push
Here is the honest minimum for getting started:
- Models: one starter box or Combat Patrol, not three.
- Clippers and plastic glue: the two tools you genuinely cannot skip.
- A primer spray and a handful of paints: enough for one colour scheme, not a full rack.
- Rules: the core rules for most modern editions are typically available as a free download, so check before paying for a rulebook.
What you don't need yet: cases, movement trays, an airbrush, terrain, dice sets in your faction's colours, or the deluxe edition of anything. Stores — quite reasonably — will present all of this as essential. It isn't. Every one of those purchases is better made after a few months, when you know what you'll actually use.
Buy from independent retailers, not just direct
This is the part many newcomers simply don't know: most Warhammer boxes are sold by a wide range of independent retailers, and they typically price below the recommended retail price — often meaningfully so. Buying every box direct at full RRP is the most expensive possible way to build an army. The exceptions are direct-only kits and some brand-new releases, but for the bread-and-butter boxes a beginner needs, an independent store is usually the cheaper route.
Compare before every purchase
Prices for the same box can vary a lot between retailers, and they move around over time. That's exactly what a price comparison site is for: look up the box you want, see what every tracked retailer charges right now, and check the price history chart on the product page to see whether today's price is genuinely low or just normal. If a box isn't urgent, waiting for a better price is often rewarded — popular kits come around on discount regularly. Deals cluster around new-release windows and seasonal sales, but good prices appear all year as individual shops clear shelf space, which is why checking every time beats relying on the calendar.
Also glance at the Heist Score, our 0–100 deal rating that weighs the discount against the product's own price history. A high score means the current price is actually unusual, not just marketed as such.
Grow your army in small, deliberate steps
Once you're past the starter box, the budget-friendly pattern is simple: decide what your force needs next, buy that one thing at the best available price, and paint it before buying more. A pile of unpainted boxes is the hobby's most common regret — it ties up money and turns painting into a chore. One box at a time keeps both your wallet and your motivation healthy.
Second-hand is also worth mentioning: the miniatures community trades constantly, and assembled or part-painted lots often sell well below the price of new boxes. It's not for everyone — stripping paint takes effort — but it can stretch a budget a long way.
The short version
Buy one box, not an army. Skip the accessories until you need them. Never pay RRP without checking what independent retailers charge first. And before every purchase, spend thirty seconds comparing prices and reading the price history — over the life of an army, those seconds add up to real money.
