A Beginner’s Guide to Warhammer: The Old World – Choosing Your First Army

If you’ve been thinking about starting Warhammer: The Old World, the first big decision is choosing an army. With so many different factions, playstyles and miniatures available, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

The good news is that there is no single correct choice. Some armies favour disciplined infantry and artillery, while others rely on cavalry, monsters, magic or overwhelming numbers. The best starting army is usually the one whose miniatures, background and general style appeal to you most.

This guide will introduce the main supported factions, explain the newer Battle March format and help you find a sensible starting point for your first army.

What Is Warhammer: The Old World?

Warhammer: The Old World is a fantasy tabletop wargame built around ranked regiments, carefully planned movement and decisive charges. You assemble and paint an army before commanding it across the battlefield against another player.

During a game, you will need to think about:

• How your regiments are positioned
• When to charge or hold your ground
• How different units support one another
• Protecting vulnerable flanks
• Using characters, shooting and magic effectively
• Managing the movement of large formations

It is a methodical game where planning matters, but unexpected dice rolls and dramatic combats ensure that battles still produce plenty of memorable moments.

Is Battle March a Good Place to Start?

Battle March is now one of the most approachable ways to begin playing Warhammer: The Old World.

It is designed for armies of between 400 and 750 points, allowing you to learn the game with a smaller collection before committing to a much larger force. You still get the movement, formations, charges and tactical decisions that define The Old World, but games use fewer units and can be completed more quickly.

A Battle March force can also become the foundation of a larger army. Once you understand how your initial units work together, you can add cavalry, artillery, monsters, characters or additional regiments to suit the kind of army you want to build.

Bomran currently lists Battle March armies for the Empire of Man, Beastmen Brayherds, High Elf Realms, Wood Elf Realms and Grand Cathay. These boxes are particularly useful if you want a coherent group of miniatures rather than choosing your first units individually.

Choosing Your First Faction

There is not a universally best faction for beginners. Every army teaches different parts of the game, so it is better to think about what you would enjoy collecting and how you would like your army to behave on the battlefield.

Empire of Man

The Empire of Man offers infantry, cavalry, artillery, missile troops, characters and magic. This variety makes it a good choice if you want to experience several different parts of the game within one army.

Its units work best when they support one another, making the Empire a natural choice for someone who enjoys combined-arms tactics and classic fantasy miniatures. You can learn more in our complete Empire of Man guide.

Orc and Goblin Tribes

Orc and Goblin armies offer large infantry units, cavalry, chariots, monsters and plenty of character. They are ideal if you enjoy building a varied army that feels energetic and unpredictable.

The range also gives you considerable freedom to create a themed force around Orcs, Goblins, mounted units or a mixture of everything.

Dwarfen Mountain Holds

Dwarfen armies are known for dependable infantry, excellent armour, powerful shooting and impressive war machines. They are slower than many other factions, so positioning your units carefully is particularly important.

They are a satisfying option if you like the idea of forming a strong battleline and forcing your opponent to come to you. Our Dwarfen Mountain Holds guide explores their units and character in more detail.

High Elf Realms

High Elf armies combine skilled warriors, cavalry, magic, chariots and impressive monsters. Their units can be highly capable, although you will normally have fewer models than an army built around inexpensive troops.

They suit players who enjoy precise movement, carefully selected combats and an elegant fantasy aesthetic.

Wood Elf Realms

Wood Elves favour mobility, archery and choosing their battles carefully. Their army can include swift Elven warriors alongside forest spirits and other woodland creatures.

They are a good fit if you enjoy movement, ranged attacks and outmanoeuvring an opponent rather than meeting every enemy head-on.

Kingdom of Bretonnia

Bretonnia is the natural choice for anyone drawn to knights, heraldry and dramatic cavalry charges. Knights provide much of the army’s striking power, while Men-at-Arms and Peasant Bowmen offer valuable support.

Timing and positioning remain important because even powerful cavalry can struggle when a charge is poorly planned. Read our introduction to the Kingdom of Bretonnia if this sounds like your kind of army.

Tomb Kings of Khemri

The Tomb Kings march to war with ranked Skeletons, chariots, animated constructs and powerful undead rulers. Their individual units have distinct jobs and become much more effective when the army works together.

They are an excellent choice if you love ancient Egyptian-inspired imagery and want an army with a very different character from the living factions. Our Tomb Kings of Khemri guide provides a closer look at the faction.

Warriors of Chaos

Warriors of Chaos field heavily armoured fighters, dangerous cavalry, powerful characters and terrifying monsters. Their armies often contain fewer but more imposing units than a large horde force.

They are well suited to players who enjoy resilient troops, close combat and the darker side of Warhammer’s fantasy setting.

Beastmen Brayherds

Beastmen armies combine aggressive infantry, ambushing units, fast-moving war beasts and monsters. Their movement and deployment options reward players who enjoy applying pressure from unexpected directions.

They have a wild, untamed appearance and are a strong choice if you want an army that looks completely different from the ordered forces of the Empire or Grand Cathay. You can explore the faction in our Beastmen Brayherds army guide.

Grand Cathay

Grand Cathay combines armoured infantry, missile troops, cavalry, artillery, celestial magic and imposing characters. The army rewards players who keep their units coordinated and think carefully about how different parts of the force support one another.

It is one of the newest ranges in The Old World and now has a much broader selection of units than when it was first released. Our complete Grand Cathay guide will help you learn more about the faction.

What Do You Need to Play?

Your precise requirements will depend on your chosen army, but most players will need:

• An army of Citadel miniatures
• The current Warhammer: The Old World rules
• The appropriate army-list publication
• Dice
• A tape measure
• Templates and gaming accessories
• An opponent and a suitable battlefield

Forces of Fantasy contains the principal army lists for several traditionally heroic factions, while Ravening Hordes covers forces including Orc and Goblin Tribes, Warriors of Chaos, Beastmen Brayherds and Tomb Kings of Khemri. Grand Cathay has its own army publication.

Arcane Journals provide additional background and army-building options, but they are supplements rather than the basic starting point required for every player.

If you want to explore smaller games, the Battle March: General’s Companion expands the format with additional scenarios, campaign material and other options.

Always check the latest official Games Workshop FAQs and updates when building an army, particularly before attending an organised event.

How Should You Build Your First Army?

Start with a manageable group of miniatures and learn how those units work before expanding. Battle March armies are useful for this, but you can also begin with a character and a couple of units from your preferred faction.

When you are ready to expand, think about what your army is currently missing. You might want a faster unit for attacking flanks, ranged troops to pressure the enemy, a durable regiment to hold ground or a character who complements the units you already own.

Most importantly, choose miniatures you will enjoy assembling and painting. Rules and points can change, but an army whose appearance and background you genuinely like will remain rewarding.

Explore Warhammer: The Old World at Bomran

Bomran stocks a growing collection of Warhammer: The Old World armies, individual units, books and hobby supplies. You can order online or visit our shop in Corringham, Essex, if you would like to see the range or talk through the available options.

Whether you want the discipline of the Empire, the charging knights of Bretonnia, the ancient legions of Khemri or the coordinated armies of Grand Cathay, there is no need to build everything at once. Start with a faction you love, learn with a smaller force and allow your army to grow naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Warhammer: The Old World suitable for beginners?

Yes. The game has considerable tactical depth, but starting with a smaller Battle March force allows you to learn movement, formations and combat without managing an enormous army.

What is Battle March?

Battle March is a format for games using armies of between 400 and 750 points. It provides a more compact way to play while retaining the central mechanics and character of Warhammer: The Old World.

Which Old World faction is easiest to start?

There is no single answer because each faction teaches different skills. Empire of Man offers broad variety, Dwarfen Mountain Holds provide resilient units, while Warriors of Chaos can build an army around a smaller number of powerful models. Your preferred miniatures and playstyle should guide the final choice.

Do I need an Arcane Journal?

Not necessarily. Arcane Journals add background and additional army-building options, but the principal faction rules are found in the appropriate main army publication.

Can a Battle March army become a larger army?

Yes. A Battle March force can provide the foundation of a larger collection. You can add further units once you understand how the starting force plays and know which aspects you would like to develop.