Warhammer 40,000 is the 800 pound Gorilla sitting at the top of the tabletop wargaming world. If you're a gamer and you're not playing, you should be. If you're on the fence about whether or not to get into the tabletop wargaming, this is the game you want to break in with.
Why?
Glad you asked...
40. Black Templar
Do you like knights? How about guns? Wish you could play an entire army of 8 foot tall super human knights who have guns? I know I did, which is why I built and played a Black Templar army for many years. This chapter of the space marines is unquestionably heroic in their appearance and they have the gear to match. It's only a matter of time before their rules are revisited for 5th edition. In the mean time, they're still a solid army with loads of conversion opportunities and a solid miniature range.
39. Blood Angels
Space marines live a long time, like, a really long time. The ones that don't get killed in battle live well over 300 years. To a Blood Angel that's just getting warmed up. Even the basic Blood Angel can live to be 1000 without breaking a sweat. So what do you do with ten centuries as a soldier in the 41st millenium? A lot of killing apparently, something the Blood Angels do rather well. With a some of the best plastic kits space marines have access to, the Blood Angels are currently top dogs when it comes to an elite power armored force. They're big, they're bad, they're psychic space vampires. Did I mention some of them go crazy and become even bigger and badder? Yeah, apparently that's how they roll.
38. Chaos Demons
Evil? Excellent! Read on.
If you dream of wreaking havoc among the poor souls of a planet, these are your boys, girls, and others. You're actually getting four armies in one, each with their own style. You've got the classic red nasty devil types (Khorne), highly agile speed freaks (Slaanesh), unstoppable hulks of decay and rot (Nurgle), and the quintessence of psychic power and magic itself (Tzeentch). Play up with a pure force of one, go for a two prong attack, mix it up with three, or have a blast and include all 4. Whatever you want, they've got some of the craziest and most otherworldly designs you've ever seen in miniatures, with rules to match.
37. Chaos Space Marines
If you like your evil a little bit more on the human side of things, step right this way. Chaos Space Marines are at an interesting juncture in the 40k universe. Once occupying a single slot alongside demons, they have since struck out to carve their own identity. These dark soldiers carry brands like heretic, traitor, occultist, and renegade. If some or all of these appeal to you, definitely consider this army. You can keep it clean with straight chaos marines or go all the way down the path to ruination with cult troops, chaos sorcery, and demoniacally possessed war machines. You won't find an army in 40k that offers quite so much variety in theme or appearance.
36. Dark Angels
Monks. Robes. Holy Men. Keepers of Knowledge. Gigantic Missile Launchers... wait, what?
The Dark Angels are one of the most secretive and darkest (no pun intended) chapters the imperium of man has to offer. They're steeped in arcane lore, driven beyond all else to hunt down the fallen, marines from ages past who turned to chaos. The current Dark Angel codex was a revolutionary entry for it's time, serving as the bedrock for all subsequent marine offerings. It allows players to take specialist variants of the army, fielding nothing but mighty terminators and dreadnoughts in the Deathwing or an entire force of high speed assault vehicles known as the Ravenwing.
35. Grey Knights
Space Marines are the best humanity has to offer, the heroes of worlds transformed beyond the constraints of their humble origins to become the perfect warrior. What a Space Marine is to a normal man, a Grey Knight is to a space marine. Trained to even higher standards and outfitted with gear that befits commanders of entire armies, even a single Grey Knight is a force to be reckoned with; a psychically empowered super soldier with the resources of the entire imperium at his disposal. Play as the ultimate good guys, the best hope for humanity, the elite of the elite, the Grey Knights.
34. Dark Eldar
How fast do you like to drive?
If your answer involved the words 'rattle', 'impossible', 'cops', or 'on fire', you may have a future with the Dark Eldar. These guys are as fast as it gets, often taking to the battlefield and striking before your opponent has had any chance to react. You are the ultimate aggressor, dictating the terms of the battle, forcing your opponent to react to you, rather than the other way around. They're lithe, deadly killers with a look to match. Freshly redesigned front to back, the Dark Eldar are now as stylish as they are powerful. Plastic sets abound that let you flesh out your force in wicked style. Fast and relentless power is yours.
33. Eldar
The ultimate thinking man's (or woman's) army. Every unit has a distinct appearance and function on the battlefield. You still have speed, but you also have specialized units that excel in their given field. Got an enemy tank that needs sorting out? Why bother with a normal army where you have a single guy per squad who can hurt the tank? The Eldar bring Fire Dragons, every last one capable of turning any armored menace into a hulk of burning slag. It's kind of like the iPhone of 40k armies: there's a troop for that. If played correctly, this army is ready for every situation; annihilating the competition.
32. Imperial Guard
It's all about the guns.
Sometimes you don't really feel like assaulting the interstellar terror on the other side of the board. you just want to lay down a dozen templates and roll countless scores of dice until Mr. Merciless Destroyer is nothing more than smokey swiss cheese. Featuring some of the greatest firepower the current game has to offer, the Imperial Guard has some extra ammunition for any situation. Play the army with all armor and watch as your gigantic warmachines rumble forward, blasting the enemy to. The Imperial Guard also offers great options to the infantry-heavy player, letting you field massive numbers of noble every-day soldiers who together face down the horrors of the universe.
31. Necrons
Remember Terminator? Man, that was an awesome movie, especially the future scenes showing the war between man and machine. The Terminators just kept pushing ahead, wrecking house with the pitiful humans who were trying to stop them and save the day (not a very likely scenario, given just how jacked even the basic terminator was) Now imagine that you can command that army of machines from the dark future. Imagine that in addition to everything that Arnold offered you, you could also gain access to one of the most powerful vehicles in the game, a massive hovering pyramid-like structure that unleashes wave after wave of devastating raw energy. Oh, and if your boys get shot down, there's a 50% chance they just stand right back up like it wasn't a deal. Imagine no more, and welcome to the Necrons.
30. Orks
What's not to love about the Orks? They're big, bad, completely crazy, and did I mention they have cockney accents? These greenskins are several steps of wacky beyond their fantasy cousins, wielding insane technology that only really works because as a race a nascent psykers, they believe it does. They do whatever it takes to get the job done, the job itself being very little more than getting to the next huge fight. Apart from Space Marines, the Orks enjoy the largest variety of plastic kit support, every model characterful and hilarious. In such a dark game, these green skinned psychopaths are a gem of comedic light that lends the entire narrative a certain sparkle. When it comes down to it, Warhammer 40k just wouldn't be the same without it's beloved Orks.
29. Space Marines
What can you say about the iconic warriors of the 41st millennium? They're the first and last thing you see when you play this game. Wildly popular beyond any other army, you'll always be in good company when you're rolling with the finest humanity has to offer. They represent everything that 40k has to offer, bigger than life, powerful beyond all belief, and ready to bring the fight to anyone who stands in the way. They're so important to GW that the company went ahead and developed 4 separate chapters in addition to the dozens of existing official ones to keep the line going, adding new rules, models, and stories for each.
28. Space Wolves
Space Vikings. If you need to keep reading you've missed the point.
Space.
Vikings.
...
In space.
These guys have attitude to spare (but no hair gel, they need the entire supply). With a codex chalk full of pain-dealing options, and an extensive plastic upgrade box, the Space Wolves are a dream for hobbyist and gamer alike. In true 40k style, they blend a wide variety of historical cultures with the dark technology of the far future, resulting in a force of warriors that is truly unique. From their rune covered armor to the gigantic cyber-wolves they ride to the half crazed werewolf-style warriors they roll with, the Space Wolves are the everything you've ever wanted in a norse inspired force that packs a serious punch on the battlefield...
SPACE VIKINGS
27. Tau Empire
Giant robots are awesome; no arguments there. Now throw in an entire force of sleek, streamlined warriors that look like they could fit in the Gundam or Robotech universes and you've got a very unique entry into the 40k game. The Tau Empire opens the door for a lot of sci-fi enthusiasts who would otherwise not have much to get excited over. This is the olive branch that connects the dirty, gothic inspired 40k vision of the future with the ultra clean, modernist alternative. That the story is big enough to hold both is testament to just how much ground this game covers. Beautiful, sleek plastic kits make assembling the force a dream of well engineered design.
26. Tyranids
So far we've only been discussing humanoids, but for the monster movie fanatic in us all, we have the Tyranids. Utterly alien, this army is an essential build for any hardcore H.R. Giger fan. They are a diverse force, able to bring an almost unstoppable weight of numbers down on an enemy, or a force of oversized monsters. The conversion crazy will find a welcome home here, with multiple plastic kits that were designed to fit together in a very organic fashion to create a menagerie of brutal adversaries. Even those who don't want to spend the time to make new beasts will still have plenty of options open to them with the standard issue sets. With more plastic kits than ever, there's never been a better time to join the swarm.
25. Ultramarines
If you've ever heard of or seen Warhammer 40k, then you've most likely seen the Ultramarines. Clad in the iconic deep blues and golds of the second company, the Ultramarines benefit from being the single most representative image of the game. If you join up, you are instantly added to the ranks of some of the greatest players and lore masters of the universe. You will have access to many unique characters, images, as well as video game and movie appearances. You're virtually guaranteed to see your boys front and center. If you are the type who likes getting behind a strong brand, you can't go wrong with these guys.
24. Witch hunters
In a rather unique move for a traditionally male-dominated genre, Games Workshop has created a force that can be exclusively female. The witch hunters epitomize purity, while bringing unstoppable wrath to any who stray from the path of the righteous. Packing fire and sword in equal measure, there isn't much that can stop the sisters of battle once they get rolling. They also have the ability to call upon miracles, divine intervention directly on the table, proving beyond any doubt that they are the favored ones.
23. Movies
Some years ago, the Warhammer community was treated to an opening cinematic to the Dawn of War PC game that transformed our perception of what 40k could be. A fully rendered CG battle that finally did justice to the wars we had been imagining all these years; finally! We watched it again and again, eyes wide with wonder. How amazing it would have been if GW had managed to take such a powerful storytelling technology and leverage it to make a feature length movie...
oh wait, they did that.
22. Comics
Having grown up with the X-Men, it made perfect sense to me when I first heard that Warhammer 40k was getting the graphic novel treatment from Boom! Studios. The larger-than-life attitude of the universe was the perfect setting in which to base a comic-style story. Thankfully, Boom! had their heads screwed on straight and delivered a series of stories that, so far, is absolutely spectacular. Taken from the vantage point of a comic book collector, they make a fine addition to any sci-fi library. As a companion piece to such a deep game experience, these books are fantastic.
21. Video Games
With so many bloody battles and so many visual inspirations, the act of developing a video game for the 40k universe is just too obvious not to do. The surprising part of the experience is the sheer breadth of game types that you will find. Developers give us a range of of ideas and experiences at different levels, offering anywhere from controlling a single warrior through a campaign to entire armies and battles that span the scope of entire continents and even worlds. First person shooter, strategic role playing, and even an upcoming MMO, theres something for everyone in the world of 40k videogames.
20. Books
Warhammer just wouldn't be what it is without the incredible story that ties all it's disparate elements together. While the short stories included in the army codexes are vital to the flavor, the books flesh out the universe as a unified whole. With some serious writing talent behind them, Games Workshop has created an entire library worth of literature on the experience of Warhammer 40k. And better yet, the entire collection is in the process of being moved over to digital publication, so in the very near future we will be able to access the lore of the game anytime anywhere. Throw in audiobooks complete with background sound effects and incidental music and you have more story than you'll know what to do with.
19. Hordes
Sometimes it's just really fun to move a ton of models on the tabletop. Seeing the look on your opponents face when you open the third case of figures to put down on the table is a great moment. It takes a while to hack your way through all that painting, but it always pays off. For the player who really like to have the weight of numbers on his or her side, there are a number of distinct options open to make sure that the battlefield is choked with soldiers, beasts, or worse.
18. Tread Heads
If you're only wish is to take to the battlefield with engines roaring and super heavy cannons ready to shred the enemy, 40k has you covered. Your only difficulty will be choosing between the more traditional heavy armor or the super sleek, high tech, death dealers the universe has to offer. Of course, if this proves to be too difficult a choice, there's always the option to get them all. There's an entire gametype dedicated to letting you play all your tanks at once...
17. Godzilla Fanatics
Warhammer 40k is such a huge game, it has more monstrous creatures than some game systems that have nothing but monstrous creatures. The galaxy is host to demons, aliens, beasts, and mutants of a staggering variety, and if you prefer to bring an army of towering giants, you've come to the right place. Because while there are other games out there where you might be able to find the big boys, only in 40k do you have the opportunity to watch them run rampant and wreak havoc among so many other types of models. There just isn't anything quite like watching a foot tall demon model slam into a hundred tiny humanoids.
16. Robo-Techies
If the giant robots had been limited to just the Tau, then this section would be redundant. However, it would be a mistake to list them as the only source of tech enhanced damage dealers. Gigantic robots and walkers of a variety of origins abound, armed with firepower and close combat gear of a very nasty disposition. Styles span the races with the graceful and elegant wraithlord, massive dreadnought, wicked tomb spider, and insane ork deff dread, not to mention the towering stompa and super-heavy walkers...
15. Terrain Maniacs
If making a scene is your thing, then Warhammer has something for you. Combining the best of gritty industry with a strong gothic style, the terrain kits of 40k and it's cousin warhammer fantasy are easily the best in the business. Once again, GW delivers in terms of scope, quality, and the sheer variety of terrain pieces available to the hobbyist. Such a range of options opens up possibilities for massive conversions, while keeping the price reasonable. Players can even purchase modular plastic game boards for the complete experience. What could have been an obvious oversight turns into a great strength for 40k.
14. Easy to find a game
In such a specialist hobby as tabletop wargaming, a common difficulty to overcome is the social aspect. 40k is a game best enjoyed among friends, and finding a connection with an established community can be the difference between a casual game and a lasting investment. This is where 40k really shines, being at the head of the pack. The odds of finding other 40k players in your area are much higher than some of the smaller specialist games out there. And if you can't find an existing community, there are more than enough resources to help you build one.
13. Battle for Black Reach
One of the hardest things for a new player to do is to try and wrap his or her head around the sheer enormity that is 40k. There are so many things to consider: what books a player needs to play the game, what models comprise a game-ready force, what accessories a player will need, and what to do if they don't know what army they even want to play? GW has all that covered in a single box, the Battle for Black Reach. By purchasing this box, a player has all the rules, models, and accessories for 2 medium sized forces and is ready to play 40k. The models, while easier to assemble than most plastic kits, are of such high quality that the box is still being purchased years after it's initial release for the models alone. This high standard of quality persists for the other elements, from the rulebook to the templates and more. Made for beginners but suitable for veterans, Battle for Black Reach has something for everyone.
12. Plastics Everywhere
Plastic models are just plain better than metal or resin. They're tough, lightweight, flexible, easy to convert, and deeply customizable. With a constantly increasing standard of quality design, plastic molds are rapidly outpacing their cousins. It used to be that you had to choose between the quality of a metal mold or a simpler plastic. Today's plastics have both superior materials and design. GW has plastic boxes available for every one of their armies, and with each update, several old metal kits are replaced. Inside a generation or two, there will be no reason why anyone will have to use a metal model in their army.
11. Deep Roots
It takes a long time to generate this much content; a really long time. GW has had about a quarter century to create everything that exists today, from the stories to the successive generations of models to the massive fanbase to the creative talent that now drives Games Workshop forward. Warhammer 40k is unique in that it was essentially the first of it's kind to build a lasting foundation. It is this foundation that allows it to exist in a class all it's own, with a seemingly endless narrative and a compelling range of content.
10. Never has to be the final frontier
And it is because of 40k's deep roots that the game has the power and flexibility to go almost anywhere. The universe is a big place, and there's always a seat open for you and the story you want to tell. In fact, Games Workshop openly encourages players to contribute, leaving certain points of the story open to interpretation. It is this personal investment in the growing story that keeps many coming back year after year, to see the very thing they helped create become something even more vibrant and spectacular.
9. Worldwide Phenomenon
And these players come from all over the world. Not many games manage to transcend the culture of their origin, but 40k is everywhere. Players from Europe, the Americas, and Asia comprise a massive international fanbase that far outstrips it's humble British origins. The number of warhammer players in other countries varies, but some of the best painters and players have been known to come from countries besides the USA and UK. It's always cool to see a really great paintjob online, only to discover the ensuing discussion is in Japanese. No matter where you hail from, chances are you are living in a 40k country.
8. Gothic Techno
Warhammer 40k has a style all it's own. So often we see visions of the future that are very well polished, literally in some cases. Humanity sails the stars in silvery ships that glow and radiate with energy. The universe is a wide, silent sea, punctuated by tiny deposits of planets and other interests, otherwise a tide of deep blues and purples. In direct contrast, the universe of Warhammer 40k is tumultuous to say the least. Outerspace is constantly boiling over with furious storms and disturbances. The very center of the cosmos swirls with chaos, evil lurks in every corner, and technology is a dark and gritty affair. Humanity exists by the billions, in a state of unending war with countless horrors from beyond the void. The very concept of space itself can hardly be trusted, and one must always be on guard.
7. Ancient Origins
With such a dark setting, it's hard to imagine how such a diverse group of warrior archetypes could have existed or been developed to begin with. For inspiration, we don't turn forward, but rather to the past. Much of the aesthetic value of the Warhammer universe borrows heavily from the warrior cultures of old. Drawing from the beauty of Rome, Egypt, Japan, England, Greece, and many more, the visual style of Warhammer 40k has it's roots in our society, giving it a recognizable and classical feel, while remaining unique. It is a blending of the historic and the fantastic, a world of familiarity, presented in a new light and a fresh perspective.
6. Games Workshop Support
Of course, nothing in the above list matters if GW didn't make supporting the game their #1 priority. They've spent a long time setting up this world for us to play in, and the sheer amount of work that goes into maintaining it would be enough to keep any company busy. But they are constantly expanding their efforts to vitalize the game. Every year players can expect to see 3 or 4 armies updated, old metals replaced with amazing new plastics, and the story continues on. The rules are tweaked and reexamined for the next iteration, grand tournaments are held, and players from the around the world can shop and interact directly with the company via their website. Games Workshop, and all those who share their world, are the single driving force behind the universal experience that is Warhammer 40k.
5. Simplified Rule System
With a game like 40k, the likelihood of the rule system slowing down under it's own weight is a constant threat. However, Games Workshop has done a fantastic job of keeping the core rule system relatively simple and easy to follow. 5th edition was all but universally hailed as a massive upgrade and simplification to the existing ruleset. GW has continued this trend by revamping existing armies to keep gameplay fast and easy to understand, but deep enough to keep players going. As revisions come in, the game gets closer to a vision of an accessible experience that can be enjoyed by novice and veteran alike.
4. Forge World
Rather than let the potential model designs go to waste, GW started an entire company, Forge World, to bring them to life in resin kits. Forgeworld kits comprise some of the highest level of detail as well as some of the wildest and customized items in the game. Forge World also produces their own stories, books, and rules to keep the 40k universe alive and well.
3. Apocalypse
Sometimes with so many great models to collect and paint up there just never seems to be enough points to play everything you want to at the same time. Welcome to Apocalypse 40k. An additional game type, Apocalypse plays just like a game of 40k, but on a much larger scale. Destruction abounds when massive super-heavy class tanks and walkers take to the field. Say goodbye to the force organization charts and say hello to cramming in as many models as you can. You don't even have to worry about what army your models come from. It's all covered in one gigantic book.
2. Planetstrike, Spearhead, Cities of Death, Mission Book
Somewhere in between a standard game of 40k and the madness that is Apocalypse, these further game types keep things fresh. Games Workshop is always hard at work, adding new missions, gameplay variations, and entire new supplemental rule sets to keep 40k growing. If a standard game of 40k isn't what you want, there are tons of different rules to keep you occupied for dozens of games to come.
1. You
One of the greatest strengths of the Warhammer experience is you, the online community. Thousands upon thousands of player congregate in a virtual space to share in stories, ideas, strategies, and collective enthusiasm for the game. No Warhammer player is ever truly alone when he or she is near a computer. There are message boards and community sites for every aspect this game has to offer, and it's growing daily. From internet radio to independent websites to youtube channels to Games Workshop's blog, there's always something new brewing for 40k on the internet.
