Getting started in competitive 40K can be scary for most new players. The idea of going to a tournament and getting beat down for 3-5 games also isn’t exactly an exciting prospect for most new players either. Let’s face it, Warhammer 40K is a complex game. There are a lot of rules interactions, datasheets to memorize and more. If you’re just getting started on your Warhammer 40K journey I recommend checking out my article on starting a Warhammer 40k army first. Today I’m going to focus on the 3 most forgiving armies for new players in competitive 40K.
Now, I want to preface this post by saying just because an army is “forgiving” to new players, doesn’t mean it is easy to master. It simply means the army’s rules are easier to digest and learn for new players without a lot of complicated interactions and without needing to have a super high skill level to play. Think of these as good starter armies for getting into competitive 40K. So, what are the best armies for new players in 40k? Let’s dive in!
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1. Space Marines
Space Marines are the flagship army of the Warhammer 40K universe. Chances are if you’re starting to get into tabletop gaming and Warhammer, then it’s likely a result of seeing some form of marketing for Space Marines. Be it a video game, advertisement, or the giant stand-up promo poster at your local game shop, Space Marines represent the game to the outside world.
GW knows and understands that Space Marines are usually what draws most new players to the hobby in and the rules are a reflection of this making them one of the best armies for new players in 40K. Space Marines can be an easy army to learn and play for most new players, but mastering them can be a difficult task.
Pros
- They all (pretty much) have similar statlines across their datasheets. Most Space Marines units, for example, have a Ballistic Skill and Weapon Skill of 3+ and a 3+ saving throw.
- They don’t have a lot of complex datasheet abilities.
- The Gladius Task Force detachment is a great all-around army detachment that stands the test of time as the game has progressed
Cons
- The army has more datasheets than any other faction making it a challenge to choose which units to build from
- Often starter boxes don’t contain the models and units you want for competitive play (looking at you Space Marines Combat Patrol)
- Space Marines often get one of the first codexes during an edition change, making them a challenge to keep up with power creep as new armies are released over an edition life cycle
Where to start
GW’s Combat Patrol boxes are great ways to get into a faction, however the core Space Marines Combat Patrol is severely lacking for competitive options. That said, there are some good choices out there to start from. The Dark Angels Combat Patrol, is a great place to start as it features useful units that you will find in most general Space Marines units. You can buy this and paint it up as Ultramarines, Iron Hands, or even your own custom chapter without using any of the Dark Angels transfers.
If you want to dive deeper and get into more specific Space Marines chapters, then both the Blood Angels and Space Wolves Combat Patrol boxes feature great units for those factions that are staples in most competitive lists making them both some of the best armies for new players in 40K.
2. Death Guard
Death Guard are currently one of the most powerful factions in Warhammer 40K as of this writing. They have been dominating most events since their codex released in June of this year. While a balance update is likely to hit them pretty soon, they are still a great starter army for new players. This army features durable unit datasheets that are difficult for the opponent to remove combined with strong datasheet abilities.
Pros
- Strong unit datasheets including tough durable units capable of great damage output.
- A simple but powerful Army Rule with multiple strong detachments
- You are less likely to be punished for making mistakes in games
Cons
- The army is generally slower moving than other factions making it play with more of a “grind them down” style
- They can be a challenge to paint because of the various details on the models particularly the Nurgle aesthetic of decay and pestilence
- Their gameplan is often predictable for the opponent in games
Where to start
The Death Guard Combat Patrol is a great starter kit for the faction. In fact, it may be one of the best GW has produced as it features units that are staples in competitive play. It’s an easy starter set to build around giving you a battleline unit with Plague Marines, 3 Deathshroud Terminators, a Chaos Rhino, a Lord of Virulence and a Tallyman. The army can be forgiving because it features tough and durable units that are hard to grind down with great rules built into their datasheets making them one of the best armies for new players in 40K.
3. Adeptus Custodes
The Adeptus Custodes are among the most elite of all armies in the game. This army features tough durable units with 2+ armor saves and 4+ invulnerable saves that have great hard hitting combat power. Custodes can be a difficult army to balance in the game due to this, but offer a pretty easy to pick up and learn army rule, with low model count making them a pretty good starting faction for new players.
Pros
- Simple but effective army rules, detachment abilities and stratagems
- Tough and durable units that hit very hard in the Fight Phase
- Low model count makes them a cost effective way to get into the hobby
Cons
- Limited shooting options for anti-armor forcing them to dip into expensive and difficult to find “Forge World” units or allies like Imperial Knights
- Ultra-elite and low model count means once you start losing units, it’s hard to catch back up
- One dimensional playstyle can make them easy to counter for experienced players
Where to start
The Adeptus Custodes Combat Patrol is a great starter set for the faction. It features staple units like Wardens and Custodian Guard while also featuring one of the most useful characters in their army for 10th edition; the Blade Champion. It’s a great value and easy to build around and expand your force. Adeptus Custodes really make this list because of their cost effective option to get into the game and compete pretty quickly making them one of the best armies for new players in 40K.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to get into Warhammer 40K as a competitive player, you’ll find that Space Marines, Death Guard and Adeptus Custodes are great, cost effective options with generally good army rules and easy to pick-up and learn abilities. As I noted earlier, while these armies may be easy to pick up and learn, they still offer enough complexity to make them difficult to master. You’re not going to pick these armies up and win immediately with them, but they can certainly help with the initial learning curve of getting into Warhammer 40K making them some of the best armies for new players in 40k.
If you’re new to the game or want to improve quickly, grab my FREE eBook: Forging Your Path to Victory: A Beginner’s Guide to Competitive 40K.
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