January pre-order wave focuses on Maggotkin Nurgle kits and 40k MTO

Games Workshop's January wave landed Jan 3, 2026, with the Maggotkin of Nurgle front and center. New releases include a Maggotkin battletome, the Festus the Leechlord boxed centerpiece, several Spearhead boxes such as the Helforge Host and Bubonic Cell, and individual unit kits including Rotswords and Sloven Knights. The wave also carries transfer sheets and other add-ons that will matter for army presentation and conversion work.

Pre-orders were staggered across retailer and regional windows covering the UK, Europe, Australia/New Zealand and North America, following the typical cadence for GW releases. Many of the new items are expected on shelves around Jan 17, 2026, which makes today and the coming week the key moment to lock in kits for anyone planning January or February paint schedules.

Practical buying notes from the release highlight both content and value considerations. Box contents vary from single-character boxed centerpieces to multi-kit Spearhead packs; the wave included a short value and pricing breakdown to compare kits by parts count and model types. If tracking cost per miniature, check the specced contents of each Spearhead and unit box rather than relying on package names alone. Transfer sheets and boxed centerpiece pieces can add display value but may also push the price point higher than a straightforward troop box.

Plan paint and basing work around the kit themes. The Maggotkin parts present clear opportunities for Nurgle textures: pustules, rotting flesh, layered corrosion and thick biological glazes. Apply weathering techniques and multiple varnish effects to capture sickly shine or damp rot. Gross organic bases with mixed media, putty sculpted growths, bits of cork for cracked skin, and glossed resin puddles, will complement the models and make them display-ready. Many of the kits are moderately complex; allow extra time for assembly, cleanup and pinning where larger components meet to avoid stress breaks during painting.

For collectors balancing pre-orders and in-store buys, stagger release timing and occasional Made-to-Order windows mean waiting can sometimes yield better value or access to transfer sheets and special packs. Verify regional preorder windows at your chosen retailer, plan surface preparation and basing materials now, and budget time for different finishing techniques this month. The January wave provides a steady stream of new canvas for painters eager to explore Nurgle’s textures and to refresh 40k rosters with limited MTO options.