How to Get Into Warhammer 40K | Everything You Need to Know

There’s never a better time to get into a new hobby than at the start of your year, and with 2026 just a few weeks in, Warhammer is calling to us all.  Being the most popular tabletop miniatures game, there’s a great many reasons why you’d choose 40k as your hobby: You’ll always be able to find a game, the models themselves are gorgeous, and as an underrated note, the plastic is by far the best to work with on the market.  Whether your call comes from having heard about the lore, or just looking to relax with a paintbrush in hand, it can be daunting to get into a game that’s been around for 40+ years.  Luckily, Flipside’s got you covered for all aspects of the hobby, and I wanted to spend this week touching on things you might need in order to start out!  As a bonus, I’ll have a chance to talk about my own new project for the year, now that I’ve functionally ‘finished’ my Adeptus Mechanicus army, for now anyways.

First and foremost, you’ll need to pick a faction.  Not to immediately stress you out, dear reader, but in terms of collecting an army practically with intent to play, you need to stick firm to that initial choice.  It’s going to be more cost-effective to have every unit for a given faction (even multiples!) than a ‘complete’ 1000 or 2000pt army of multiple.  Points change, but models are for the most part forever, so being able to adapt and always have the ability to cobble together a list is pivotal!  That being said, if you’re collecting for the hobby aspect, such as building & painting, go right ahead on picking up the coolest models you see. 

Ultimately, you’ll want a faction whose fantasy, in terms of lore and play, appeals to you on several levels.  Don’t pick a faction for whom you love one single unit, but little else—I’ve had a friend realize there’s a maximum to the number of Mandrakes you can run in Dark Eldar, and fall off the faction quickly.

When I say ‘fantasy’, I’m not just referring to the stories that involve those factions.  Although rules will change from edition to edition, Marines will always be all-rounders, Astra Militarum will hybridize between horde and armor, and Eldar will require finesse for high damage.  The broad themes of these armies will carry over, because they’re inextricably linked to how those factions appear in the books.  So, if you’re not keen on hordes of rabble with tricky plots, probably don’t play Genestealer Cults.  If you love playing Wizards & Sorcerers in roleplaying games, maybe look at Thousand Sons or Grey Knights, and so on.

Speaking of the books though, you’ll need a Codex.  While there are digital downloads for updates or units printed after an army’s codex releases, the starting point for every faction is this key book. 

As a bonus, it comes with plenty of lore & art, as well as some painting guides, if ‘just a rulebook’ doesn’t appeal to you; I’ve still got my books from 4th-7th edition, and they’re amazing as reminders of how the game’s changed over the years.

In terms of just getting some models, to see how they feel to work with on the hobby side, there’s little better than the Introductory Set, or for more models, the Starter Set.  While I will contend that Games Workshop has the best plastic on the market (A proprietary polystyrene with a good bit of bend), there’s still a learning curve.  You’ll need clippers, as well as ideally a file and some modeling putty, to ensure the dreaded mold & seam lines don’t show when the model’s ready to be primed.  Warhammer minis come on single-piece sprues, made from 2-part injection molds, so along the line where those molds meet there’s occasionally some extra plastic worth scraping off for a clean finish.  Similarly, if two pieces have an incomplete fit (often flat panels that can be slightly warped), you’ll need to add some extra putty, or even ‘sprue goo’, a 50:50 blend of extra thin modelling glue and spare GW plastic.  File the extra away for a perfect finish, and you’re ready to prime!  The Introductory Set comes with paints & a brush, but fewer minis (letting it be a better gift), but for my money I’d pick the Starter Set—you just get more for your money.

If you’re not interested in just getting a taste of 40k though, and have a specific army in mind, you’re likely looking at a Combat Patrol as your first purchase.  These offer an assortment of thematically-appropriate models at a collective discount, and tend to be around 500pts if you’re looking to get started with friends, and have roughly-even forces.  That’s more of a guideline and not a rule though (cough, Admech, cough), so certainly use an app like New Recruit or the official roster builder when preparing. 

I am of the opinion that it’s okay not to enjoy every part of a faction, and beeline towards a slanted army from the get-go; when I started Adeptus Mechanicus, I knew I wanted the legal maximum of Electro-Priests…for better or worse.  Having played the game since 2010, the best way to kick off an army is often whatever the best-value combo box is—currently Combat Patrols—and a unit/character that really speaks to you.  Add some personal flare to the models you’re buying together, think of which subfaction these models might come from.  They’re yours, and whether you intend for your force to represent a canon group of storied warriors, or fully-customized personal lore, what happens next is entirely up to you.  That’s the beauty of tabletop hobbies: In the end, the bits of plastic in your hand are just a canvas to tell your own stories.

As for me, throughout my life I’ve played Tyranids, Chaos Space Marines, a few Age of Sigmar factions, and currently Admech—what’s next for my journey in 2026?  The answer is World Eaters, those bloodthirsty heretics who want nothing more than a melee scrap.  The thing is though, I’m not much of a Marine guy…so I’ll be playing the Blood Cult detachment, with not a single Berserker or Eightbound in sight.  This is a hobby army for me; I’ve cut my teeth plenty in terms of competitive, with my Admech, and I want a force with whom I can tell more story-driven battles.  To that end, all 80+ Jakhals will be converted…from the Out-of-Print Splintered Fang Warcry Warband.  May Khorne have mercy on my wallet.

There’s a good point to be made though, in looking at a faction and choosing to convert so heavily.  A lot of folks can get shy when it comes to customizing their miniatures, wondering if it affects their legality, or might be too much for a first project; as someone who’s attended dozens of tournaments with Skitarii riding bugs, let me tell you, be not afraid.  So long as you’re doing so in good faith, the vast majority of actual play for 40k will love to see unique spins on the models we all know.  It’s a hobby, not just a game.

Let me close this little welcome kit with a few pieces of advice I’d wished I received back at the ripe old age of 10, getting into the game with wide eyes.  1. Don’t skimp on primer.  I know it can feel expensive, but whether you’re using the actual GW primer or something like a fine Rustoleum, the plastic requires a surface upon which paint can properly adhere.  Varnishing is another story, and is only really necessary if you’ll be travelling with your models.  2. Your community is always your best resource.  Looking for an obscure bit to customize a model?  Want your first game and a little intimidated?  40k people are, especially nowadays, some of the nicest folks you’ll meet at a Local Game Store, and being an active participant in your scene is a wonderful thing.  3. Figure out a travel solution early.  Those models look awesome on your desk, but how are they getting to the game store?  Whether magnets, foam, or a shoebox with tissue paper, know how your models travel before you start building.  You’re putting dozens of hours into building & painting them, beyond even a monetary cost—don’t drop the ball at the five yard line.

With that being said, are there any bits of advice I missed?  Flipside Gaming has everything you’ll need to get started, so certainly check out the products mentioned here!  What else do you want to see me cover for new players in 2026?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!