Warhammer 40,000 starter set puts new Lieutenant in cheapest box

The cheapest box in Warhammer 40,000’s new starter ladder is also the first place to get the launch’s freshest miniatures, and that changes how the whole range plays out. The Introductory Set is no longer just the softest entry point for absolute beginners; it is the box with the new Space Marines Lieutenant and the first wave of new Ork sculpts.

Why the smallest box matters first

Games Workshop has put 12 brand-new miniatures into the Introductory Set. The lineup includes the new Space Marines Lieutenant, five Intercessors, an Ork Nob, and five Boyz, which means the cheapest starter box carries the launch’s debut characters and troops rather than leftovers from the bigger sets.

That makes the Introductory Set unusually attractive for anyone who cares about first-run sculpts. If you only want the latest Lieutenant for a display project, or you want the new Ork bodies before they appear elsewhere, the entry-level box suddenly becomes the sharpest product in the wave. It is also the most forgiving way to start, because the hobby load is lighter and the box is designed to get models on the table quickly.

What each box gives you

The Introductory Set is built for the very new and the merely curious. Alongside the 12 miniatures, it includes six paints, an introductory book, folding card terrain, and a game mat, so the box covers the first build, the first paint, and the first few learning games in one hit.

The main Starter Set sits one step up the ladder and is the broadest value play if you want to move from learning to playing proper games. It contains two complete Combat Patrol armies, Space Marines and Orks, plus the Core Rules book, 15 pieces of unpainted terrain, a double-sided board, range rulers, dice, and a Starter Guide.

Then there are the Getting Started with Space Marines and Getting Started with Orks boxes. Each one includes a full Combat Patrol, an introductory guide, a starter paintbrush, and 11 paints, so they are the most practical choice if you already know which side you want to collect and paint first.

Which box fits which kind of player

For brand-new players, the Introductory Set is the easiest on-ramp and the least intimidating purchase. The smaller model count, the six paints, and the included terrain and mat make it the cleanest route from sprues to first game without demanding a big commitment on day one.

Returning hobbyists get a different kind of value. If you already know the rules, or you still have dice and terrain from an older edition, the Getting Started boxes may be the most efficient restart because they bundle a Combat Patrol, paints, a brush, and a guide around one faction. If you want a fast return to full matched-play style setup with a friend, the Starter Set gives you two armies and the core infrastructure in one purchase.

Veterans are the wildcard audience, and this launch is built for them too. Even a seasoned collector has a reason to look at the smallest box before the bigger ones, because it carries the new Lieutenant and the launch Ork sculpts.

A quick way to think about the ladder is this:

• Introductory Set: best for the first step, and now the first access point for the new minis.
• Getting Started boxes: best if you already know your faction and want paints and a brush with your Combat Patrol.
• Starter Set: best if you want the widest game-ready package and two full forces in one box.

Why Games Workshop built the launch this way

The new edition is a hobby onboarding ladder that pulls players from first build to first paint to first game. The launch is backed by faction-specific paint and tools bundles, a Combat Patrol: Battlezone terrain package, and Battlefields: Armageddon, a ready-painted terrain set with a matching battle mat.

Earlier Warhammer 40,000 edition launches used tiered beginner products too, including Introductory, Starter, and Ultimate Starter sets during the 10th-edition cycle. This time, the cheapest box is also the debut venue for the new headline miniatures.

The new edition was officially revealed at AdeptiCon on March 26, 2026, and the launch campaign has revolved around Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon, the Space Marines-versus-Orks boxed set centered on the war world of Armageddon. Games Workshop also used the later preview cycle, including the June 26 Big Summer Preview, to showcase the starter wave and ready-painted terrain as the release window opened up.