Your First Steps into a Vast Wargaming Universe
You’ve seen the stunning miniatures online, heard friends talk about epic battles, or walked past a vibrant store display. The world of Warhammer is captivating, but the sheer scale can be overwhelming. Where do you even begin? How do you go from a box of plastic sprues to commanding your own army on the tabletop?
This feeling is completely normal. Warhammer isn’t just a game; it’s a multifaceted hobby involving collecting, building, painting, and playing. The question “how to play Warhammer” really means “how do I start and enjoy this entire experience?” This guide breaks down that journey into clear, manageable steps, focusing on the two main games: Warhammer 40,000 (the futuristic sci-fi setting) and Warhammer Age of Sigmar (the high-fantasy setting).
Choosing Your Battlefield: 40k or Age of Sigmar?
Your first major decision is which universe calls to you. Don’t get bogged down in complex rules at this stage. Choose based on the aesthetics and stories that excite you the most. You’ll be spending dozens of hours with these models, so pick the army you think looks the coolest.
Warhammer 40,000 is a grimdark science fiction universe. Imagine Gothic cathedrals in space, superhuman Space Marines, alien hordes, and endless war. It’s a setting of eternal conflict where there is only war. The technology is advanced, the threats are cosmic, and the atmosphere is heavy and dramatic.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar is a mythic fantasy universe of gods, monsters, and magic. It’s a realm of high adventure, where celestial Stormcast Eternals battle against the forces of Chaos, Death, and Destruction across magical landscapes. The models are often more dynamic and the lore is about rebirth and cosmic struggle.
Finding Your Army Within the Game
Once you’ve chosen a game, you need to choose your army. Games Workshop produces “Combat Patrol” boxes for 40k and “Vanguard” boxes for Age of Sigmar. These are perfect starting points. They contain a roughly balanced, playable force for a smaller version of the game, often at a discount compared to buying the models individually.
Visit the official Games Workshop website or a local hobby store and browse the model ranges. Do you love the sleek, ancient robots of the Necrons? The relentless fungal tide of the Orks? The noble, reanimated skeletons of the Ossiarch Bonereapers? Your army is your protagonist in this story. Choose the one that sparks your imagination.
The Three Pillars of the Hobby: Build, Paint, Play
Playing the game is the final act of a rewarding process. The hobby is built on three interconnected pillars, and engaging with all three is deeply satisfying.
Building Your Miniatures
You’ll start with a box of sprues—plastic frames holding the model parts. You’ll need a pair of hobby clippers (nippers) to cut parts from the sprue, and a hobby knife or file to clean up the leftover bits called “mold lines.” Plastic glue is used to fuse the parts together permanently.
Take your time. Dry-fit parts before gluing to see how they join. Follow the instruction booklet included in the kit. Building is a peaceful, almost meditative part of the process where you see your army take physical form.
Painting Your Army
This is where your force gets its identity. You don’t need to be a master artist. Start simple. The basic process is: undercoat, basecoat, wash, highlight.
First, spray the assembled model with a primer or “undercoat” paint. This helps subsequent paints stick. Black, white, or grey are common choices. Then, apply your main colors—this is the basecoat. Next, apply a “wash” (a thin, watery paint) like Agrax Earthshade or Nuln Oil. It flows into the recesses, creating instant shadows and depth. Finally, do a simple “highlight” by lightly brushing a brighter color on the raised edges.
Start with a single squad or a hero model. Practice this basic sequence. You will improve dramatically with each model you paint.
Learning the Core Rules of Play
The full rulebooks are large, but the core gameplay loop is elegant. A game is played over a series of battle rounds. Each round, players take turns activating units to perform actions. The key phases are:
– The Command Phase: You gain resources and issue orders to your units.
– The Movement Phase: You move your models across the battlefield, measured in inches.
– The Shooting Phase: Your ranged units can attack enemies they can see.
– The Charge Phase: You declare which units will attempt to move into close combat.
– The Fight Phase: Units in close combat swing their weapons and attack.
– The Battleshock Phase: You test to see if weakened units flee from the fight.
Games are won by completing objectives, not just destroying the enemy. You might need to control a central point, retrieve an artifact, or hold more objectives than your opponent at the end of the round.
Gathering Your Essential Tools
You don’t need a huge investment to start. Beyond the models and glue, here is a basic toolkit:
– Hobby Clippers: For removing parts from sprues.
– Hobby Knife: For cleaning mold lines and minor adjustments.
– Plastic Glue: For assembling plastic models.
– Brushes: A standard-sized brush (like a Size 1 or 2) and a smaller detail brush.
– Paints: A starter set from brands like Citadel, Vallejo, or Army Painter provides a good range.
– Play Surface: A 44″ x 60″ area is standard. A dining table or a sheet of plywood works.
– Terrain: Use books, cardboard boxes, and homemade structures to create cover and interesting battlefields.
– Tape Measure: One that shows inches is essential for movement and ranges.
– Six-Sided Dice: You’ll need a lot of them, often 20 or more.
Your First Game: Keeping It Simple and Fun
Do not try to play a full 2000-point game with all the advanced rules on day one. That’s a recipe for confusion and frustration. Start small and focused.
Play a “Combat Patrol” sized game (for 40k) or a “Vanguard” game (for Age of Sigmar). These use the models from the starter boxes and simplified rules to teach the core flow. Alternatively, play an even simpler game with just a few units per side. The goal of your first game is not to win, but to understand the sequence of phases: move, shoot, charge, fight.
Ignore special abilities, stratagems, and complex faction rules for now. Just move your models, roll some dice to shoot and fight, and see how the basic mechanics feel. Celebrate the small victories—a successful charge, a lucky dice roll that takes out a tough enemy.
Where to Play and Find Community
You don’t have to hobby alone. Your local Games Workshop store or independent game store is the best place to start. Staff are usually happy to give advice, and many stores host beginner game nights or painting workshops.
Online communities are vast and supportive. The Warhammer subreddits (r/Warhammer40k, r/ageofsigmar), forums like DakkaDakka, and countless YouTube channels offer tutorials, battle reports, and inspiration. Watching a short “battle report” video can make the rules click far faster than reading them.
Common Beginner Hurdles and How to Overcome Them
It’s normal to hit points of frustration. Here’s how to navigate common sticking points.
Analysis Paralysis: The lore is huge, with dozens of armies. You might worry about picking the “wrong” one. Remember, there is no wrong choice. Rule of cool always wins. The rules and power levels of armies change over time, but a model you love is forever.
Painting Anxiety: Comparing your first model to a professional’s display piece is unfair. They have painted hundreds of models. Your goal is “battle-ready”—a fully colored, based, and shaded model that looks great on the tabletop from three feet away. That is an achievable and proud standard.
Rules Overload: The core rules are free to download from the Games Workshop website. Don’t memorize them. Have the PDF open on a tablet or phone during your first games. Look things up as you go. It’s a reference tool, not a test.
Expanding Your Force and Knowledge
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you can deepen your hobby. Explore your army’s specific codex or battletome to learn their unique rules and lore. Add a new unit to your collection that complements your existing force. Try a new painting technique, like wet blending or using contrast paints.
Gradually increase the points value of your games. Introduce one new advanced rule at a time, like your army’s special stratagems or faction traits. The hobby grows with you.
Embracing the Endless Journey
Learning how to play Warhammer is not about reaching a finish line. It’s about embarking on a creative and social hobby that can last a lifetime. The joy is in the process: the quiet focus of building, the satisfaction of seeing your color scheme come to life, and the shared narrative of a close-fought game with a friend.
Start with a single box that excites you. Build it, paint it to the best of your current ability, and arrange a small, simple game. Every expert was once a beginner holding their first unpainted Space Marine or Stormcast Eternal, wondering the same thing you are right now. Your journey into the worlds of Warhammer starts with that single, simple step.
