The Mortal Realms await at We Love Collectibles (WLC)! Warhammer Age of Sigmar, a tabletop wargame of high fantasy battles, plunges you into a world of gods, monsters, and epic conflicts. From celestial warriors to hordes of greenskins, the realms are a tapestry of magic and war.
This guide will show you how to get started, whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned gamer looking for a new challenge. We’ll explore starter sets, individual units, and essential hobby supplies to get you building, painting, and playing in no time.
Interested in Warhammer 40,000 instead? – We’ve got a similar guide in our blogs for newcomers and beginners wanted to take their first steps, as well as recommendations of entry-level products that you can get from us, at WLC – Want to Play Warhammer 40k?
Introduction to Warhammer Age of Sigmar (4th Edition)
The game is currently in its 4th edition, launched in 2024, which has brought significant changes to the ruleset and gameplay, streamlining and enhancing the experience for both newcomers and veterans. This edition emphasises narrative-driven scenarios and allows players to create their own stories within the expansive lore of the Mortal Realms.
Core Gameplay
At its heart, Age of Sigmar involves commanding armies of miniature figurines across a beautifully decorated battlefield. Players take turns moving their units, casting spells, unleashing special abilities, and engaging in combat. The outcomes of these actions are determined by dice rolls, adding an element of chance and excitement to every game.
Battles are fought over objectives, with victory achieved by holding key locations and completing “Battle Tactics”—short-term goals that add strategic depth to each game.
Features of 4th Edition
The 4th edition of Age of Sigmar introduces several key changes that enhance the game:
- Regiments: Army building now revolves around the “Regiment” system, where each Regiment consists of a Hero and up to three supporting units. The General’s Regiment can include up to four units. This provides a more structured and thematic approach to army composition.
- Unit Types: The distinction between Battleline, Behemoth, and Artillery units has been removed, simplifying army construction and allowing for more diverse army compositions.
- Magic: The magic systems have been consolidated, with new “Manifestations” replacing Endless Spells and Invocations. Players now gain access to entire spell and prayer lores. This streamlines spellcasting and creates more dynamic magical effects on the battlefield.
- Terrain: Terrain rules have been simplified to five core types: Cover, Impassible, Obscuring, Places of Power, and Unstable. Additionally, faction terrain is introduced as a new feature, which has health and can be destroyed.
- Underdog Mechanic: 4th edition introduces an “underdog” mechanic, giving players who are behind a chance to even the odds.
- Characteristic Changes: The Wound characteristic is now called the Health characteristic.
Game Structure
Battles are played in rounds, with each player taking a turn per round. A turn now consists of seven phases:
- Start of Turn Phase: Where certain abilities or effects are triggered.
- Hero Phase: Where Heroes use their special abilities and cast spells.
- Movement Phase: Where units move across the battlefield.
- Shooting Phase: Where ranged attacks are resolved.
- Charge Phase: Where units attempt to engage the enemy in close combat.
- Combat Phase: Where close combat is resolved.
- End of Turn Phase: Where end-of-turn effects are resolved.
The Battleshock phase has been removed from the turn sequence. The player who finishes setting up their army first decides who takes the first turn in the first round. In subsequent rounds, a priority roll determines turn order, adding another layer of strategic decision-making.
Diving into Age of Sigmar
For beginners, this can be overwhelming, and there are many resources online to help you learn the rules, and get playing – however, let’s take a look at some perfect introductory products for newcomers. Each, offering a taste of the Age of Sigmar universe and gameplay without a large initial investment.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar – Introductory Set
The Warhammer Age of Sigmar Introductory Set is the perfect gateway into the game. This box is designed specifically for newcomers, providing everything you need to learn the core rules, dive into the lore, and begin building and painting your very first miniatures. Inside, you’ll discover a clash of two iconic factions: the noble Stormcast Eternals and the insidious Skaven.
25 Push-fit Plastic Miniatures: A Battle in a Box: These easy-to-assemble miniatures require no glue, meaning you can get straight to the action. This set sets the stage for a thrilling conflict between:
- 5x Stormcast Eternals Liberators: Celestial Warriors Forged Anew
- 20x Skaven Clanrats: A Tide of Fur and Filth
48-Page Handbook: Your Guide to the Mortal Realms: This essential handbook is your key to unlocking the world of Age of Sigmar. Within its pages, you’ll find:
- Simplified rules to get you playing quickly.
- Intriguing lore that sets the stage for your battles, introducing you to the history and inhabitants of the Mortal Realms.
- Step-by-step guides to assembling and painting your miniatures, turning plastic into miniature works of art.
The Battlefield and the Tools of War: The set also includes everything you need to play your first games:
- A double-sided gaming mat (measuring approximately 30″ x 22.4″) provides a ready-made battlefield, depicting two distinct terrains for varied gameplay.
- A 12″ range ruler ensures accurate measurements for movement and attacks.
- Six six-sided ‘D6’ dice to determine the outcomes of actions on the battlefield.
Painting Supplies: Bringing Your Miniatures to Life
The included painting supplies allow you to immediately start personalising your forces:
- A Citadel Colour Starter Brush, designed for miniature painting.
- Six Citadel Colour Paints: A carefully selected palette to get you started:
- Kantor Blue (perfect for Stormcast armor)
- Retributor Armour (for those gleaming gold details)
- Leadbelcher (for metallic weapons and armor)
- Rakarth Flesh (ideal for Skaven skin tones)
- Khorne Red (a classic color for details and accents)
- Steel Legion Drab (a versatile basecoat for various elements)
Warhammer Age of Sigmar Paints and Tools Set
If the Stormcast Eternals have captured your imagination, the Warhammer Age of Sigmar Paints and Tools Set offers a fantastic way to start building and painting these iconic warriors – at a cheaper price point than the larger introductory set. Or is a great set to pick up if you’ve already got some Stormcast Miniatures to paint and build!
This set provides a selection of paints specifically chosen for painting Stormcast Eternals – with a few more included than the introductory set, with technical and shade paints as well. You’ll also get a few helpful tools to start you off:
- Citadel Starter Brush
- Citadel Starter Clippers
- Citadel Mouldline Scraper
However, it does not include miniatures – as alternative entry product you can pick up Warhammer Age of Sigmar Stormcast Eternals Paint Set which include fewer paints, but three miniatures instead.
Warhammer Getting Started with Age of Sigmar
At WLC, we recommend the ‘Getting Started with Age of Sigmar’ magazine for absolute beginners. This affordable magazine offers an introduction to the rich lore and background of the Mortal Realms, an overview of different factions, core gameplay concepts, painting guides, and more. It also includes two push-fit miniatures, giving you a physical starting point for your collection.
This product is perfect for absolute beginners who want to immerse themselves in the Age of Sigmar universe and get a taste of the miniatures before investing in larger sets.
Building Your First Army (Stormcast Eternals and Seraphon)
Once you’ve grasped the basics, you might be itching to build a more substantial force. Here are two excellent starting points:
Warhammer Age of Sigmar Seraphon Aggradon Lancers
The Seraphon are reptilian warriors from the stars, riding ferocious beasts into battle. The Aggradon Lancers are a powerful cavalry unit, capable of charging through enemy lines with devastating force. This box provides a great starting point for a Seraphon army, offering a fast and aggressive playstyle.
This set offers a range of personalisation possibilities for Modellers and hobbyists:
- Six distinct head variants
- Three interchangeable shield designs
- Adaptable tail configurations
- Modular armour plate options
- Decorative feather embellishments
Tip: Seraphon models tend to take contrast paint very well, due to all the sculpted scales and recesses. Additionally, techniques such as dry-brushing can quickly get models painted and ready to play!
Warhammer Stormcast Eternals Dracothian Guard
The Stormcast Eternals Dracothian Guard are elite warriors who ride majestic dracoths into battle. These powerful units are both resilient and deadly, capable of taking on even the toughest foes. This box provides a visually stunning and powerful addition to any Stormcast Eternals army.
This set makes a great addition to some of the entry level, and introductory products, listed above if your intrested in further expanding your growing army fo Stormcast Eternals.
Greenskins & Grotesqueries
For those drawn to the more chaotic and unconventional factions of the Mortal Realms, these products offer a unique and exciting hobby experience.
Warhammer Gloomspite Gitz
The Gloomspite Gitz are a horde army of goblins, troggoths, and squigs. They are known for their unpredictable tactics and chaotic energy.
- Rockgut Troggoths: These hulking brutes are tough and resilient, capable of shrugging off even the most powerful attacks.
- Stabbas: These goblin hordes swarm their enemies, overwhelming them with sheer numbers.
- Squig Herd: These bouncing, toothy creatures are unpredictable and dangerous, capable of causing chaos on the battlefield.
Exciting New Orruk Releases!
The Orruk Warclans are receiving significant new releases in early 2025, making this an excellent time to start collecting these brutal warriors.
- New Battletome: This updated book features new rules, lore, and gameplay content for both Ironjawz and Kruleboyz.
- New Models: Including the Hobgrot Slittaboss hero unit and new Orruk Manifestations endless spells.
- Faction Terrain: The dual-build Bossrokk Tower/Skaregob Totem provides thematic terrain for your Orruk armies.
- Rules Updates: Including a new Big Waaagh! Army of Renown, updated battle traits, artifacts, spell lores, and Anvil of Apotheosis rules.
- Spearhead Content: Rules for playing Ironjawz in the new quick-play Spearhead format.
This influx of new content makes the Orruk Warclans an exciting and dynamic army to collect and play.
Looking for something in particular, come down to our store in Westwood Business Park, Margate – if your local, you can enquire about specific products from Games Workshop that’ll we’ll be able to get in stock for you.
Citadel Brushes (Medium Layer, Small Layer, Small Base):
High-quality brushes are crucial for achieving impressive painting results. Citadel brushes are specifically designed for painting miniatures, offering excellent control, precision, and durability. Investing in a good set of brushes will make a noticeable difference in your painting. These three brushes are a great starting point for any painter:
- Medium Layer Brush: Ideal for applying basecoats to larger areas of your miniatures and for layering highlights on raised surfaces.
- Small Layer Brush: Perfect for painting fine details, such as eyes, insignia, and edge highlights. This brush allows for precise application of paint in tight spaces.
- Small Base Brush: Designed for painting larger areas like bases and terrain. Its broader bristles make it efficient for covering ground quickly.
Connect with WLC: Your Collectibles Hub in Kent
At We Love Collectibles, we stock all sorts of collectibles and products, while we do focus on Pokémon, we have recently expanded into Lego products, Warhammer, Loungefly Bags and more – we’ve got everything for both the kids & adults in their shared hobby of collecting!
- Join our discord for card showcases, updates, trading and join our growing community!
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Whether you’re visiting our store at Westwood Business Park, Margate, or browsing online, you’ll always find something to excite your inner collector. And remember, use code FAMILY5 at checkout for a 5% discount on your next purchase!
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