Warhammer can feel confusing when you’re new. There are a lot of boxes, armies, rulebooks, paints, tools, starter sets, and very serious-looking miniatures staring at you from the shelf.
This guide is meant to help you buy Warhammer in Canada, especially if you’re in Nova Scotia, without wasting money or accidentally buying the wrong thing.
The first thing to know is that Warhammer is not just one thing. It is a tabletop game, a miniature painting hobby, a collectible hobby, and a general source of entertainment all wrapped together.
So before buying your first box, it helps to ask one simple question:
Are you mainly here to play the game, or do you just want to build and paint cool miniatures?
Both are perfectly good answers. They just lead to different first purchases.
A Quick Note on Editions
Warhammer 40,000 is currently in 10th Edition, with a new edition on the way. That means some rules, books, starter products, and recommended purchases may change as the new edition rolls out.
For beginners, this does not mean you should avoid starting. Miniatures usually remain useful, and building and painting are still a big part of the hobby. It does mean you should be a little careful about buying rulebooks or codexes right before a new edition, since those are the items most likely to be updated.
If you are just starting out, a starter set, Combat Patrol, Kill Team box, paints, or tools are still sensible places to begin. The main thing to watch is buying expensive rules material that may be replaced soon.
If You Want to Start Playing Warhammer
For someone new who wants to actually play the game, there are a few good starting points.
Quick Comparison: Starter Set vs. Combat Patrol vs. Kill Team
| Entry Point | Best For | What’s Inside? | Price Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory Set | Total beginners who want to try Warhammer and do not own any hobby tools yet. | Miniatures, basic paints, brush, clippers, dice, and simplified rules. | Lowest-cost starting point |
| Starter Set / Ultimate Starter Set | New players who want more miniatures and a more complete first Warhammer 40,000 experience. | More models, rules, and in the Ultimate Starter Set, some terrain. | Higher than the Introductory Set, but still beginner-focused |
| Combat Patrol | Players who already know which army they want to collect. | A ready-to-play force for one faction, usually with several units in one box. | Best value if you are starting a specific army |
| Kill Team | Players who want smaller, faster, squad-based skirmish games. | A specially designed Kill Team squad, usually sold in its own distinct box. | Lower model count, focused purchase |
| Paints and Tools | Anyone buying Warhammer boxes that do not already include hobby supplies. | Clippers, glue, brushes, primer, and paints for your chosen models. | Depends how deep you go |
Starter Sets
Starter sets are usually the easiest entry point if you are brand new.
The Warhammer 40,000 Introductory Set is the least expensive starting option and includes models, dice, paints, clippers, and a brush. That makes it a good first box if you want to try a bit of everything without buying a pile of separate supplies.
From there, the larger starter sets give you more miniatures and more game content. The regular Starter Set includes more models and a rulebook, while the Ultimate Starter Set gives you even more miniatures plus terrain features.
Starter sets are especially good if you are not sure which army you want yet. They let you test the waters before jumping into the deeper end of the hobby.
Combat Patrol
Combat Patrol boxes are one of the best choices if you already have a specific army in mind.
These boxes usually give you a solid group of miniatures for one faction and tend to offer better value than buying the same units separately. They are also designed around the Combat Patrol game format, where one Combat Patrol can be played against another Combat Patrol using specific rules.
That makes them a nice middle ground. You get enough models to feel like you are starting an actual army, but you are not immediately committing to a huge collection.
If you already know you like Orks, Tyranids, Space Marines, Necrons, Death Guard, or another faction, a Combat Patrol is often the place to start.
Kill Team
Kill Team is another great option, especially if you want a smaller, more focused game.
Instead of building a full Warhammer 40,000 army, Kill Team uses specially designed skirmish teams that are sold in their own distinct boxes. These are not usually just regular 40K army units pulled straight from a Combat Patrol. They are built for Kill Team’s smaller, narrative-style battles, where each operative matters more.
Games are played on a smaller table, and you need fewer miniatures to get started. It also gives you a way to explore different factions without committing to a full-size Warhammer 40,000 army right away.
Kill Team is a good fit if you like tactical squad-based battles, smaller collections, and painting a focused group of models instead of a whole army.
Paints and Tools
If you buy an introductory starter set, some basic paints and tools may be included.
But if you buy most other Warhammer boxes, you will usually need tools and paints separately. At minimum, most beginners will want:
- Clippers
- Plastic glue
- A hobby knife or mold line remover
- A few brushes
- Paints for your chosen army
- Primer
You do not need every paint on day one. Start with the basics for the army or models you picked. You can always add more colours later once you know what you want your army to look like.
Codexes and Rules
If you are going deeper into a specific army, you may eventually want the rules for that faction.
Codexes contain faction rules, background lore, datasheets, and army-specific information. They are more important once you are ready to play regular games and build out your army properly.
Because a new edition is coming, beginners should be a bit cautious with rules purchases. Models, paints, and tools are generally safer first buys. Rulebooks and codexes are the items most likely to change when a new edition arrives.
For a brand-new player, I would usually suggest starting with models first, especially if you are still figuring out which army you like. Once you know your faction, then the rules and codex make more sense.
If You Just Want to Build and Paint
Not everyone buys Warhammer to play the game.
Some people just want to build and paint miniatures, and that is a completely valid way to enjoy the hobby. If that is you, you do not need to worry as much about rules, army lists, or what is competitive.
Instead, choose models that look exciting to paint.
That might be a giant monster, a squad of Space Marines, a creepy Death Guard character, a box of Orks, or whatever grabs your attention from across the room.
For painting-only hobbyists, the best first purchase is often:
- One box of miniatures you actually like
- Clippers
- Plastic glue
- Primer
- A small group of paints
- A brush or two
The most important thing is choosing something you are excited to work on. If you think a model looks cool, you are more likely to finish it.
Buying Warhammer in Canada
Buying Warhammer in Canada can be a little different than watching videos or reading guides from the United States or the UK. Prices, availability, shipping costs, and release timing can all vary.
If you are shopping in Canada, it helps to buy from a Canadian retailer when possible. That can make shipping simpler, avoid surprise import issues, and support stores that actually carry the hobby locally.
At WiredVillage Boardgames, we carry a growing selection of Warhammer products, including starter sets, Combat Patrols, Kill Teams, paints, tools, and faction-specific miniatures.
We ship across Canada and also offer local options for customers in Nova Scotia.
Buying Warhammer in Nova Scotia
If you are in Nova Scotia, buying Warhammer locally has a few advantages.
You can ask questions before buying, compare different starter options, and avoid ordering something that does not match what you actually want to do. Warhammer has a lot of similar-looking boxes, and it is very easy for a new player to buy something that is technically cool but not the right starting point.
If you are near Pictou, you can visit WiredVillage Boardgames in store. We also offer options for customers in the Halifax and Dartmouth area.
Warhammer 40,000 Factions
One of the biggest decisions in Warhammer is choosing a faction.
Some people choose based on how the army plays. Some choose based on the lore. Some choose because the models look amazing. For beginners, the look and theme of the army are usually the best place to start. You are going to spend time building and painting these miniatures, so liking how they look matters.
Here are some of the main Warhammer 40,000 factions and collections we carry or may carry at WiredVillage Boardgames.
Space Marines
Space Marines are one of the most iconic parts of Warhammer 40,000. They are heavily armoured super-soldiers with many different chapters, each with their own style, colours, and background.
Popular Space Marine chapters include:
- Space Marines
- Black Templars
- Blood Angels
- Dark Angels
- Deathwatch
- Grey Knights
- Imperial Fists
- Iron Hands
- Raven Guard
- Salamanders
- Space Wolves
- Ultramarines
- White Scars
Space Marines are often a good starting point because they are well-supported, have lots of model options, and are one of the most recognizable armies in the game.
Armies of the Imperium
The Imperium is humanity’s massive, crumbling empire. Not every Imperial army is a Space Marine army, though.
Other Imperial forces include:
- Adepta Sororitas
- Adeptus Custodes
- Adeptus Mechanicus
- Astra Militarum
- Agents of the Imperium
- Imperial Knights
These armies can feel very different from each other. Astra Militarum leans into regular human soldiers, tanks, and military force. Adeptus Mechanicus has a strange machine-cult style. Imperial Knights are giant walking war machines. Adepta Sororitas bring power armour, faith, and flame-heavy battlefield drama.
Armies of Chaos
Chaos armies are twisted, corrupted, and full of personality. They are a great choice if you like darker themes, mutated warriors, daemons, and armies that look very different from standard human forces.
Chaos factions include:
- Chaos Daemons
- Chaos Knights
- Chaos Space Marines
- Death Guard
- Emperor’s Children
- Iron Warriors
- Red Corsairs
- Thousand Sons
- World Eaters
Chaos is a fun area of Warhammer because many of the armies have very strong visual identities. Death Guard are rotting and plague-ridden. Thousand Sons have an Egyptian-inspired sorcerer style. World Eaters are aggressive and brutal. Chaos Space Marines are a broad faction with lots of options.
Xenos Armies
Xenos armies are the alien factions of Warhammer 40,000. If you do not want to play humans or Chaos, this is where things get especially weird and interesting.
Xenos factions include:
These armies cover a huge range of themes. Necrons are ancient robotic skeletons. Orks are loud, chaotic, and full of personality. Tyranids are alien swarms. T’au Empire have a cleaner sci-fi battlesuit look. Aeldari and Drukhari bring fast, elegant, and deadly alien forces.
What Should You Buy First?
If you are brand new, here is the simplest way to think about it:
If you want the cheapest all-in-one starting point, look at an Introductory Set.
If you want a more complete beginner box, look at a Starter Set or Ultimate Starter Set.
If you already know which army you like, look at a Combat Patrol.
If you want a smaller game with fewer models, look at Kill Team.
If you mostly want to paint, pick a box of miniatures you think looks cool and get a few basic hobby supplies.
You do not need to buy everything at once. Warhammer is best built slowly. Start with one good box, build it, paint it, and then decide where you want to go next.
Shop Warhammer in Canada at WiredVillage Boardgames
At WiredVillage Boardgames, we carry Warhammer starter sets, Combat Patrols, Kill Teams, paints, tools, and miniatures for many different factions.
You can shop online at wiredvillagegames.com, visit us in store in Pictou, Nova Scotia, or use our local pickup options in the Halifax and Dartmouth area.
Whether you are starting your first army, picking up paints, or just trying to figure out what all these boxes actually mean, we can help you find the right place to start.
