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For a completely new hobbyist, the Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Introductory Set is the safest first purchase: it includes push-fit miniatures, six paints, a brush, and tutorial material. Choose the regular Starter Set if you already own hobby supplies and want a larger two-faction introduction. Choose the Ultimate Starter Set when two players specifically want complete Stormcast Eternals and Skaven Spearhead forces with terrain, cards, and the necessary books. If you already want another faction, buy that faction’s Spearhead box instead of accepting Stormcast and Skaven by default. These recommendations are about the experience each box provides, not a claim about the cheapest price or the strongest competitive army.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Introductory Set | A first hobby experience with painting and tutorial games | 25 push-fit models: five Stormcast Eternals Liberators and 20 Skaven Clanrats; six paints, brush, handbook, mat, ruler and dice | Oct 2026 |
| Warhammer Age of Sigmar Starter Set | Buyers who already have paints and tools and want a larger two-faction introduction | 35 push-fit models; 64-page handbook, mat, rulers, reference sheets and dice; clippers and paint supplies are separate | Oct 2026 |
| Ultimate Starter Set | Two players who want complete Stormcast Eternals and Skaven Spearhead forces | 37 push-fit models, four terrain pieces, approximately 30 × 22.4-inch mat, 36 Spearhead cards, 72-page handbook and 144-page Spearhead: Fire and Jade book | Oct 2026 |
| Faction Spearhead box | A collector who already knows which single faction they want | A predefined one-faction force with free current force rules; contents depend on the faction and current product listing | Oct 2026 |
The current official starter guide is available from Age of Sigmar, while the box descriptions are also summarized by Warhammer Community.
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The right box depends on whether you are learning the entire hobby, adding to an existing setup, or deliberately buying two ready-to-play forces.
- Choose Introductory if you need miniatures, paints, a brush and an explanation of the basics in one purchase.
- Choose Starter if you already have paint and brush supplies, are comfortable buying clippers, and want more units than Introductory provides.
- Choose Ultimate if the goal is a proper two-player Spearhead night using Stormcast Eternals and Skaven, including terrain and cards.
- Choose a faction Spearhead if your interest is already focused on one army. A box for the faction you actually want is a better starting point than buying two armies you may not continue.
None of these choices establishes competitive power or guaranteed savings. The practical differences are the included hobby equipment, the number and type of miniatures, and how close the box is to a complete Spearhead game.
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What is in the Introductory Set?
Introductory is the most self-contained option for a first-time hobbyist. Its miniatures use push-off frames, so the included models do not require clippers or glue for assembly.
Miniatures and factions
You receive 25 models: five Stormcast Eternals Liberators and 20 Skaven Clanrats. That gives two visibly different factions to assemble and paint, plus enough variety to teach movement, attacks and basic turns without asking a beginner to build a full collection.
Hobby contents
The box contains six paints—Kantor Blue, Retributor Armour, Leadbelcher, Rakarth Flesh, Khorne Red and Steel Legion Drab—a starter brush, a 48-page beginner handbook, a gaming mat, a ruler and dice. The six-colour selection is intentionally introductory rather than a complete palette for every future army scheme.
What Introductory does not provide
Introductory is a taste of the hobby with tutorial games. It is not the documented pair of complete Spearhead forces supplied by Ultimate. If you later want a structured Spearhead roster, use the current force rules and add the appropriate faction box or miniatures rather than assuming these 25 models form a legal Spearhead by themselves.
What is in the regular Starter Set?
Starter expands both factions, but it assumes that you are bringing your own painting setup. The models are still push-fit, yet they need clippers to remove cleanly from their frames.
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Stormcast Eternals
The Stormcast side includes five Liberators, a Lord-Veritant with Gryph-crow and three Prosecutors. This adds a character and a flying unit to the basic Liberator group.
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Skaven
The Skaven side includes 20 Clanrats, a Grey Seer, a Warlock Engineer and three Rat Ogors. The additional heroes and larger creatures make the force more varied than the Clanrat-only side in Introductory.
Books and gaming accessories
Starter includes 35 push-fit models, a 64-page handbook, gaming mat, rulers, reference sheets and dice. The current official product information lists six dice; a July 2024 Games Workshop preview mentioned ten, so check the actual seller listing or sealed box if an exact dice count matters.
The supply gap
Paints and a brush are not included. You also need clippers to remove the models from their frames. That makes Starter a sensible choice for someone moving up from another miniature game or who already owns tools, but a less convenient first purchase than Introductory for someone starting from zero.
Why is Ultimate different?
Ultimate is the set to buy when the intended activity is two-player Spearhead rather than a short tutorial introduction. It contains the Starter forces plus one additional leader for each faction, completing the documented Stormcast Eternals and Skaven Spearheads.
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Additional models
Ultimate adds a Lord-Vigilant on Gryph-stalker for Stormcast Eternals and a Clawlord on Gnaw-beast for Skaven. The total is 37 push-fit models.
Terrain, cards and books
The current official contents list includes four push-fit terrain pieces, a double-sided gaming mat measuring approximately 30 × 22.4 inches, 36 Spearhead cards, rulers, reference sheets and six dice. It also includes a 72-page handbook and the 144-page Spearhead: Fire and Jade book.
What you still need
Paints and a brush are not listed in the current official contents. Budget for hobby supplies, and plan on having clippers available even though the miniatures are push-fit. The current page’s six-dice listing conflicts with the older ten-dice preview noted above, so do not use an online contents list as a promise of the exact dice count from a particular seller.
What if I want one faction instead of two?
Buy a faction’s Spearhead box when the faction itself is the reason you want to start. A Spearhead uses a predefined thematic force, and Games Workshop provides its force rules as free downloads. The official force finder specifically points to Spearhead: Stormcast Eternals as a boxed Stormcast force; other factions can be chosen after checking their current rules.
Games Workshop describes each Spearhead as a “self-contained force” and says Spearhead is the fastest way to learn and play Age of Sigmar. Those are the publisher’s descriptions, not an independent ranking. Do not combine random heroes and infantry and assume the result is a legal Spearhead: use the roster and restrictions for the named force.
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This route is especially sensible if you already know you want a particular faction’s visual style or lore. It avoids paying for a second army that may never be assembled, while still giving you a defined force for the Spearhead format.
Which paints and tools should you buy?
Match your accessories to what the chosen box omits rather than buying every accessory automatically.
| Purchase | What it contains | Best match |
|---|---|---|
| Warhammer Age of Sigmar Paint and Tools Set | Clippers, starter brush, mouldline scraper and 13 paints | Starter or Ultimate when you need both tools and a broad basic paint selection |
| Stormcast Eternals Paint Set | Three push-fit Liberators, six paints and a brush | Painting-first introduction to Stormcast Eternals |
| Skaven Paint Set | Five push-fit Clanrats, six paints and a brush | Painting-first introduction to Skaven |
| Getting Started With Warhammer Age of Sigmar magazine | 88 pages, one Liberator and one Clanrat | A very small lore-and-model introduction before committing to a larger box |
Introductory already includes six paints and a brush and does not need clippers or glue for its included models, so the Paint and Tools Set is not a mandatory add-on for that box. The two faction paint sets provide fewer colours but include practice models. Neither paint set nor the magazine replaces Ultimate’s two complete Spearhead forces.
How do you keep the rules current?
Use the official downloads index for the current core rules, Spearhead material, faction force rules and corrections: Warhammer Age of Sigmar downloads. The index includes updates marked October 28, 2026, so a printed booklet should not be treated as permanently current.
You do not need to assume that a paid battletome or supplement is mandatory for a first tutorial or a Spearhead game. Download the rules for the force you own, check the latest battle-profile or errata information, and confirm any event-specific requirements with the organiser before attending.
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How should you start after opening the box?
- Inventory the contents. Compare the sprues, books, cards, mat, dice and accessories with the current product description. If a seller’s contents list disagrees with the official page, resolve that before opening the packaging.
- Choose an assembly workspace. Introductory’s push-off frames are designed for a no-clippers, no-glue start. Starter and Ultimate need clippers for frame removal; have them ready before cutting.
- Build a small test group. Assemble a few models from each faction first. This lets you learn the push-fit joins and decide whether you prefer the Stormcast or Skaven painting style before working through every sprue.
- Use the supplied handbook. Start with the sequence in the beginner or Starter handbook instead of jumping immediately into every unit rule. Keep reference sheets beside the mat during the first games.
- Paint for readability, not perfection. Use the supplied colours as a simple base scheme. The objective of the first session is to learn the process; expand the palette later if you continue with the faction.
- Download the current force rules. For Ultimate or a faction Spearhead, check the online rules and updates before the first game so the printed material is supplemented by current corrections.
- Play the tutorial scenarios, then Spearhead. Introductory is designed to teach through simpler games. Ultimate supplies the board, terrain and cards for the fuller Spearhead format, which Games Workshop describes as games of about an hour.
- Expand only after choosing a direction. If one faction holds your interest, buy its current Spearhead or another clearly compatible unit rather than accumulating unrelated miniatures.
What should you verify before paying?
- Exact edition and contents: product pages can change, so compare the listing with the current official contents.
- Tool requirements: Introductory’s included models are designed for push-off assembly; Starter requires clippers, and Ultimate’s current contents do not include paints or a brush.
- Dice count: the current official page lists six dice for Starter and Ultimate, while an older preview listed ten.
- Faction preference: if you want a different army, check that faction’s Spearhead force rules and box before buying a two-faction set.
- Delivered cost: include shipping and any separate paints, brush or clippers when comparing a box with a faction-specific route.
- Rules currency: download the latest force rules and updates rather than relying only on a printed handbook.
- Seller reliability: verify that the listing is sealed, complete and for the edition you intend to buy.
What is the Hachette Spearhead partwork in the United States?
The Hachette collection is a slower subscription-style route, not a one-box replacement. Games Workshop announced a plan intended to build 12 complete Spearhead armies over the run, while Hachette’s US FAQ describes 90 planned issues and availability beginning September 1, 2026.
| Offer term | Publisher-stated amount |
|---|---|
| Issue 1 | $6.99 |
| Issue 2 | Free |
| Issue 3 onward | $14.99 per issue |
| Shipping and handling | $2.50 per issue |
| Premium | Additional $4 per issue |
| Planned run | 90 issues |
These are publisher offer terms checked in October 2026, not a guaranteed future price or a calculated total cost. Review the current US terms at Hachette’s Spearhead FAQ before subscribing. The partwork suits someone who wants a long, recurring collection; it does not provide the immediate, single-box start that Introductory, Starter or Ultimate provides.
How we picked these recommendations
The choices use the distinctions established by the current product descriptions and rules pages:
- Whether the buyer is starting the painting and assembly hobby from zero.
- Whether paints, a brush and clippers are already available.
- The 25-, 35- and 37-model contents of Introductory, Starter and Ultimate.
- Whether the box supplies tutorial material or two complete Spearhead forces.
- Preference for Stormcast Eternals and Skaven versus a different single faction.
- Whether terrain, cards and the Spearhead books are needed immediately.
- The need to check current rules, contents, seller terms and delivered cost rather than rely on an old listing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I split the Introductory Set with a friend?
Yes. It is arranged as a two-faction teaching set, but the sides are intentionally uneven in model count, so do not judge balance by counting miniatures. If both players want the full Spearhead format, plan on moving to the appropriate complete force rather than treating the introductory missions as a finished army list.
What should I buy if I own paints but not clippers?
Starter and Ultimate both require a way to remove models from their frames, so add clippers before assembly. The Paint and Tools Set combines clippers, a brush, a mouldline scraper and 13 paints, but buying it may duplicate colours you already own; a basic clipper purchase can be the more economical supplement.
Can the small paint sets become a complete Spearhead?
No. The Stormcast and Skaven paint sets are painting-first introductions with only a few push-fit models. They are useful practice projects, but you would still need the rostered miniatures in a current Spearhead box or other legal force to play that format.
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Use the dated official downloads page as the current reference and check any listed errata or battle-profile update. For an organised event, follow the organiser’s packet as well, because event rules can impose requirements beyond a casual game at home.
Quick Recap
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