Warhammer Game: The Ultimate Guide to the Grimdark Universe
Everything you need to know about the world's most iconic tabletop wargame — from the origins at Games Workshop to the latest editions, factions, video games and community events.
Everything you need to know about the world's most iconic tabletop wargame — from the origins at Games Workshop to the latest editions, factions, video games and community events.
Welcome, Honoured Citizen of the Imperium, to the definitive Warhammer Game guide. Whether you're a seasoned Warhammer Miniatures collector or a curious newcomer drawn by the rich lore of Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar, this is your one-stop resource. Based here in the UK — the spiritual home of Games Workshop — we bring you unique insights, expert strategy, and the latest from the frontline of tabletop gaming.
Warhammer Game began its life in 1983 when Games Workshop Webstore founders Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson sought to create a fantasy wargame that would rival the complexity and depth of role-playing games. What started as a modest set of rules for medieval-style combat has since exploded into one of the most successful game franchises in history.
The original Warhammer Fantasy Battle was a ground-breaking fusion of tactical manoeuvre and RPG-like unit progression. Players fielded armies of Warhammer Miniatures — goblins, dwarfs, elves and men — clashing in a world inspired by European folklore and the works of Michael Moorcock and J.R.R. Tolkien.
In 1987, Games Workshop had an audacious idea: what if the visceral, brutal future of science fiction could be rendered in wargame form? The first edition of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader — a name lovingly referenced in the Warhammer Rogue Trader page — ditched medieval swords for plasma cannons and chainswords, introducing the notorious Grimdark setting where "in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war."
| Edition | Year | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Warhammer Fantasy 1st–8th | 1983–2015 | Rank-and-file warfare, magic phases, battalion units |
| Warhammer 40K 1st–3rd | 1987–1998 | Vehicle design rules, codexes, heavy weapons |
| Warhammer 40K 4th–6th | 2004–2012 | Streamlined rules, new factions like Imperial Knights |
| Age of Sigmar | 2015–present | Round bases for skirmish combat, realm-based narrative |
| Warhammer 40K 9th–10th | 2020–present | Balanced competitive play, Crusade narrative campaigns |
One of the greatest appeals of Warhammer is customisation. Players can collect, paint and field any of the dozens of factions — each with its own lore, play style and tactical identity. Here's our definitive breakdown for 2025.
The Imperium is the largest faction in 40K, a decaying empire that worships the God-Emperor. It includes Space Marines, Imperial Guard (Astra Militarum), Adepta Sororitas, Imperial Knights and the mysterious Adeptus Mechanicus.
Few factions embody the Grimdark setting as perfectly as the Warhammer Necrons. These skeletal, robotic warriors originally appeared in the 3rd edition of 40K and have undergone a remarkable evolution. Necrons are nearly immortal — resurrecting from damage — and armed with Gauss weapons that disintegrate their foes.
In the current edition, the Necron Awakened Empire armylist allows for devastating combo lists using the Moon Drill tunnelling unit and the Nightbringer's damage output. If you're a player who loves relentless, unkillable armies with high-tech weaponry, the Necrons are waiting.
Chaos is the all-consuming enemy of the Imperium. Whether it's the daemonic legions of Khorne, Tzeentch or Nurgle, or the corrupted Space Marines of the Death Guard and Thousands Sons, Chaos armies bring a combination of brutal melee, psychic powers and resilience.
Age of Sigmar (after the end of the Old World) recast everything into Mortal Realms — eight interconnected dimensions. The Stormcast Eternals are Sigmar's golden remade warriors, leading the charge against Chaos. Other major factions include:
Malevolent forest spirits whose trees are their strongest allies — and who can teleport between forests.
Brutal green brutes including the Kruleboyz, whose cover-art positions them as a beginner-friendly fast assault army.
Ethereal, spooky armies that ease movement through enemy units and excel in combat attrition.
You don't need to spend a fortune to start playing Warhammer Game. Here are our top tips for beginners.
When we started our first Warhammer journey, many of us simply grabbed the most visually striking army — then spent months painting it. It's far wiser to choose a faction that matches your play style. Put this at the front of your mind when you browse the Warhammer Store.
Games Workshop has perfected the starter experience. The Ultimate Starter Set includes miniatures for two factions, terrain, dice, and the full core rules. You also get a 30-page mission booklet and the unique Nobleblade weapon piece available exclusively in the box.
Before you can paint the Warhammer Miniatures, you need to clean the sprue gates and mould lines. A pair of clippers and a mould line remover are essential.
The right glue matters. Typically you'll need plastic cement for plastic models and superglue for resin. Prime with Spray Basing for even paint application.
The Warhammer Art on the paint box may look complex, but you only need a handful of base colours and a wash. Citadel Base (your main colour), a Shade (like Agrax Earthshade) and a Layer paint will give tabletop-ready results.
The miniatures themselves are arguably the heart of the hobby. The detail in each cast — from the Emperor's ornate shoulder pads to the weathered armour of the Death Guard — is a tribute to the talent at Games Workshop's design studios. Let's dive into the art and the craft.
The Warhammer Art section of this site showcases the incredible painters who breathe life into plastic and resin. With techniques like NMM (Non-Metallic Metal), wet blending and contrast paints, any model can look like it has stepped out of a painting by John Blanche, Jes Goodwin or Wayne England.
If you prefer to experience the Warhammer universe in digital form, you're in luck. Warhammer Game has inspired an enormous library of video games spanning every genre. Here are the must-plays in 2024–2025.
Set in the End Times of the Old World, Warhammer Vermintide 2 is perhaps the best-selling Warhammer video game ever. This co-op first-person melee combat title puts you in the boots of five heroes — Markus Kruber, Bardin Goreksson, Kerillian, Victor Saltzpyre and Sienna Fuegonasus — as they carve through Skaven and Chaos hordes.
The game shines in its meta progression, class variety and deep melee mechanics. Unlike many shooters, every strike requires actual aim and timing. The animation and sound design — the crack of shattering bone and the hiss of warpfire — immerse you in pure, visceral Grimdark action.
The Warhammer Rogue Trader term refers to one of the most influential works in Warhammer history. But the video game version, developed by Owlcat Games, has revolutionised the RPG genre. You play as a Rogue Trader — an independent adventurer with the Emperor's authority — who can explore the Koronus Expanse, build alliances and make (often morally grey) choices that shape the entire sector.
With Tactical RPG combat based on the Dungeons & Dragons-like d100 rules, it offers a staggering array of strategic options. Character builds are complex enough to delight grognards, and the narrative depth matches a good Black Library novel.
Warhammer Game isn't just a hobby — for many, it's a serious sport. The competitive scene has exploded in recent years, with major tournaments hosted everywhere from London to Las Vegas.
The World Championship at the Warhammer World venue in Nottingham remains the holy grail for competitive players. The Las Vegas Open, COBOL and Atlanta Open are key US events, while the UK's own Thermageddon and Beachhead tournament are club favorites.
Every season, Games Workshop releases an Chapter Approved mission pack that tweaks the datasheets to address balance issues. The current 10th Edition Mission Pack has focused on reducing the dominance of horde armies, improving line-of-sight rules and steadying the victory point flow. As a player, checking the latest balance data is essential — you can find future patch notes in the Warhammer News section.
In Nov 2024, secondary victory conditions changed drastically. Rather than flat "kill units," you now score by controlling specific objectives on turn 3 and 4. Veteran players make a habit of building armies that can score in the opponent's deployment table.
Command Points (CP) can swing a game. Save your rerolls for the critical charge roll on turn 2. Spend extra CP to interrupt in the fight phase if your opponent's champion is about to carve through your warlord.
Some of the strongest lists have a "hammer and anvil" pattern: a tough anvil unit (like a blob of Nectons) holds the middle while mobile hammer units (like Sky-Slasher Cavalry) sweep flanks. Always bring one block to hold and one to fold.
Warhammer is more than a game — it's a global community. In the UK alone, thousands of players gather weekly in clubs, hobby shops and their local community centre. Some of the most welcoming spaces are your local Warhammer Community stores where you can find a practice table and a coach.
If you ever need inspiration for your play space, check out the Warhammer Home page for tips on theme-worthy living-room gaming tables and storage solutions. A good home gaming setup can elevate any event.
Let's talk about the most practical part of the hobby: acquiring your collection. In the UK, you have myriad options — physical stores, online giants, discount stores and the official channels.
If you want the latest releases, exclusive boxed sets and direct-only miniatures, the Games Workshop Webstore is the most reliable. It has everything, and pre-orders arrive before physical stores. The downside? You almost always pay full RRP (recommended retail price).
Many UK independents offer 10–15% off and host friendly local leagues. Stores like Element Games, Dark Sphere and Tabletop Hive are favourites. Don't miss the local gaming store in your town — it's where community events happen, and you can often get second-hand models at a bargain.
eBay is a treasure trove and also your best bet for out-of-print models, old bits and fully painted armies. Also browse the Warhammer Gifts page to find ideal presents for your fellow gaming nut — a cleverly chosen gift can be a massive boost for a pal who just started.
The Warhammer Store category on this site is curated to help you find official products — from core rulebooks to a limited edition codex with gorgeous art covers. Most of these products can be pre-ordered at their release date and delivered to your door.
The Warhammer universe extends well beyond the tabletop. Amazon's announced 40K adaptation and the new cinematic trailers are proof that everything old is new again. For beginners, Warhammer Tv is your gateway — this is the official streaming platform for painting tutorials, battle reports, and lore videos.
If you prefer audio, the Black Library audiobooks — especially the Horus Heresy series — are a must-listen. The voice acting and sound design are staggeringly immersive.
The famous green-silver logo of Warhammer Fantasy has seen several redesigns. Many fans still proudly wear the old logo, yet the latest design, with sharper metallic edges, is superb. You can see every variation of the brand mark at the Warhammer Logo page. It's a small but interesting detail for lore lovers — and a reminder of the plastic "Warhammer" font with a heart in the "u" that marked the 90s era.
You can start with the £30 Recruit Edition set. It includes four miniatures, dice, and the core rules. The primary cost is time, not money — painting takes hours of dedication.
If you like fantasy, choose Age of Sigmar — the rules are lighter and the models are new. If you love sci-fi, get the Warhammer 40,000 Ultimate Starter Set.
No. The base systems and factions are entirely different. However, a few models (like certain Daemons or Knights) can sometimes be used in both games with proper bases, but this is the exception, not the rule.
A standard 1750-point 40K game takes about 3 hours. Age of Sigmar is slightly faster, around 2.5 hours.
For those of you already comfortable with the basics, here are a few advanced concepts to elevate your game. Remember: Warhammer Game is a game of measured decisions, and small advantages compound.
Know the exact distances your units can move, advance, charge and pile in. Skilled players often move their transport to within 1" of an obstacle to create firing lanes, even if the transport itself doesn't shoot.
Instead of trying to destroy a devastating enemy unit, you can screen with a cheap sacrificial unit, so your opponent cannot get into a favourable charge angle without charging that sacrificial unit. Kill the sacrifice and you gain an extra turn of shooting. This is called absorbing the charge.
The correct order of psychic powers and stratagems can change the state of the battlefield. Use your damage buffs before you activate your heaviest shooter, but always measure line-of-sight before you commit, otherwise you could waste a precious CP.
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Warhammer Game in 2025 is bigger than ever. With the live-action Amazon series in development, new codexes every quarter, and the ever-expanding world of the Mortal Realms, there has never been a better time to join the hobby. But remember: Warhammer is a journey, not a destination. Each miniature you paint, each battle you win or lose, each friend you make at the table — all of it weaves into the glorious tapestry of Grimdark history.
We hope this guide has been useful. For daily updates and community features, check out the Warhammer News page. And if you want to see what's new in the physical world, don't forget the Warhammer Home for your own setup ideas. Safe travels in the galaxy, and may the God-Emperor protect you.
"In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war... and great coffee from your local store's vending machine." — Veteran Player Wisdom