A player who has decided to start playing Warhammer 40K has a some decisions ahead of them. The biggest of those decisions, of course, is which army to play first. With so many Warhammer 40K factions to choose from, the time and monetary investment it takes to play make it such a tough decision. A player needs to balance what models appeal appeal to them aesthetically, what lore appeals to them mentally, and, obviously, what army is going to destroy the enemy.
Someone that is just interested in the hobby side of Warhammer 40K and really doesn't want to play the game in a competitive sense has an easier choice to make. That person can just pick what models appeal to them and get to work on the modeling and painting. There is a large range to choose from and each army has its own unique aesthetic. Maybe someone is just looking to paint the same 40K army as Witcher star Henry Cavill. All they'd need to do it grab a box of Adeptus Custodes models.
Games Workshop product sales have taken off in the last decade and more so recently during the current pandemic. Warhammer 40K itself, a once barely known game, is starting to become more mainstream. Here are some things any player, old or new, should consider when deciding how to choose an army in Warhammer 40K.
Choosing Warhammer 40K Armies By Model Appeal And Lore
If a player is deciding to pick up tabletop 40K because they have played one of the many Warhammer video game titles, they already know a bit about the lore. For those who haven't played a Warhammer game before, the lore surrounding Warhammer 40K is very rich and expansive. All of the 40K armies have a unique backstory, vicious rivals and deep histories full awesome characters. Deciding what parts of the lore interest a player the most may be a great way to choose an army.
The Imperium is a great place to start when it comes to Warhammer 40K lore. The Imperium faction represents much to experiment with and learn about, from the lowly human conscripts that fill the ranks of Astra Militarum to the genetically enhanced super-soldiers that are the Space Marines. These armies travel across the galaxy purging evil in the name of the Emperor. Here a player can get lost in the universe and play out the space drama that is Warhammer 40K from a more traditional sci-fi narrative.
Whether a casual or competitive 40K player, there is always something new to discover in Warhammer 40K. The fun a player could have commanding a mixture of Space Marines and common infantry troops together is endless. Outside of the Imperium, things start to become more fantastic, unique and foreign. Whether it's the planet-sized Craftworld ships of the Carftworld Aeldari to the endless hordes of Chaos Daemons traversing the Webway that intrigue someone, there is no wrong answer. A player looking to choose an army this way should take a deep dive into the lore and see what Warhammer faction best stands out to them.
Warhammer 40K Armies That Crushes Opponents
Outside of the lore and aesthetic of Warhammer 40K models, there is the game itself. Some players simply find their enjoyment of Warhammer in winning the game. For players who want to play Warhammer without spending a lot of money, it should be said, this is not a cheap way of choosing an army. The game's meta is always changing and keeping up with the current meta is important for making sure players have the best Warhammer team possible. At the time of writing this article, Drukhari are dominant on the competitive scene. However, after the next Games Workshop Warhammer 40K release, that could all change.
Space Marines, seeing as there are so many chapter-specific codices to choose from, tend to stay fairly competitive, so they aren't a terrible option for a player who wants to play Warhammer 40K competitively. Some armies in Warhammer are less fortunate and don't receive as much attention, nor as many updates. A good way for a competitive player to keep tabs on how particular armies are performing in the current meta is by checking the Warhammer 40K ITC rankings.
Most Warhammer armies have the potential to be devastating with the right list and an experienced player at the helm. But there are always a few specific army builds in 40K that seem to win consistently. Chasing these builds is expensive, in addition to being time consuming. Constantly having to assemble, paint, and learn how to play with a new army in Warhammer 40K can be draining. However, some players enjoy that side of Warhammer 40K, and it is exactly the experience they are looking for.
Choosing Your Warhammer 40K Army By Faction
Some players may want to play only one Warhammer 40K army, while for others more than one army may be appealing. Though it may not be the best way for new players to be introduced to the game, it's completely understandable given the array of options. There is one thing that may help a player who's wanting to play multiple armies make the decision easier, and that is allies. Most armies in Warhammer 40K have the option to be allied with armies from their own faction. A great example is when someone who runs a Adepta Sororitas Army (formerly known as Sisters Of Battle) has an army in the Imperium faction, and therefore can ally with any other Imperium faction army. If someone happens to see Space Wolves as a desirable second army, then they can ally without any problem, as Space Wolves are also of the Imperium faction.
What happens if a player ends up choosing 40K armies of different factions like Thousand Sons and Astra Militarum">competitive gaming environment. The player could still play those armies in a casual setting with friends or players who didn't mind them allying across factions. The place those armies can often ally competitively is in pairs tournaments, so a player could always lend a friend an army to see them pair competitively.
Whatever army a person decides to play in Warhammer 40K, they will almost always have a fond memory of their first choice. Even if a player started as a child with Orks and eventually transitioned to Grey Knights in adulthood, they won't forget the Orks they painted and put on the table.