Starting Warhammer 40K without going broke
Every "getting started with Warhammer" article says the same thing: buy a starter set. And they're right — it's genuinely the best value GW offers. But most of those articles stop there, and the reality of building a playable army on a budget is more nuanced than "just buy the box."
Here's what actually getting into 40K looks like when you're watching your wallet.
Pick your army before you buy anything
This sounds obvious but people get it backwards constantly. They buy whatever looks cool at the store, then realize they've got half a Tyranid army and half a Space Marine army and neither can field a legal list. Pick one faction. Commit to it for at least your first 1,000 points. You can always start a second army later — everyone does, it's basically a running joke in the community.
How to pick: look at the models, read some lore, check if the faction's rules suit your playstyle (aggressive? defensive? lots of shooting? melee?). Don't pick based solely on competitive strength — the meta shifts every few months and your $500 army doesn't shift with it.
The $150-200 starter path
For most factions, you can get a playable 500-point army for about $150-200 at discount retailer prices. Here's the typical path:
A Combat Patrol box ($127-150 at discount) gives you a solid core — usually an HQ unit, a couple troops choices, and maybe a vehicle or monster. That's 500-ish points right there, enough for small games.
Add one more kit ($35-60) to round out your list or give yourself options. For Space Marines, that might be an upgrade sprue or a second troops box. For Tyranids, maybe a Zoanthrope box.
If your faction doesn't have a Combat Patrol you like, buy a Start Collecting box on eBay (the older equivalent) or piece together an army from individual kits — but this usually costs more.
What you actually need besides models
The models are the expensive part, but you also need: a rulebook (borrow one or use Wahapedia), dice ($5), a tape measure ($3), and something to transport your models in. Skip the official GW carrying cases — a $15 craft storage box with pluck foam works fine.
For painting: don't buy the $200 GW paint mega set. Get 5-6 colors that cover your army's scheme, a can of primer, and two decent brushes. Army Painter and Vallejo are cheaper than Citadel paints and work just as well. Total painting setup: $30-40.
Where the real savings are
Compare prices across retailers before every purchase. A $60 kit at GW might be $51 at a discount store — save $9 on every box and it adds up fast over an army. That's what GrimDealz tracks: the lowest current price across 10+ authorized US retailers, updated every 4 hours.
Over a typical 2,000-point army, buying at discount vs. GW retail saves you $80-150. That's a whole extra unit or two.