Which Warhammer 40,000 Faction Should You Start With?

Choosing your first Warhammer 40,000 army is exciting—and a little overwhelming. With dozens of factions, thousands of years of lore, wildly different playstyles, and some of the coolest miniatures ever made, it's easy to get stuck wondering if you're about to make the "wrong" choice.

Here's the good news:

There isn't one.

Every Warhammer 40,000 faction can win games. Every army has passionate fans. Every collection starts with a single miniature.

So instead of asking, "What's the strongest faction?", ask yourself:

"Which army makes me excited to build, paint, and put on the table?"

Let's look at a few ways to find your perfect faction.

Rule No. 1: The Rule of Cool

This is the advice nearly every veteran hobbyist gives for a reason.

If you look at an army and immediately think:

"Those guys are AWESOME."

That's probably your faction.

You'll spend far more time building, painting, reading about, and admiring your army than you will actually rolling dice with it. A faction you genuinely love will keep you motivated long after the latest tournament rankings have changed.

Maybe it's the towering armor of the Space Marines.

Maybe it's the endless alien tide of the Tyranids.

Maybe it's giant walking cathedrals carrying enough weapons to level cities.

Choose what makes you smile.

The rules change.

Your favorite models don't.

Choose a Playstyle You'll Enjoy

Every faction has its own personality on the tabletop.

"I want to overwhelm my opponent."

If your dream is flooding the battlefield with an endless tide of warriors, look at:

• Orks

• Tyranids

Orks charge into glorious mayhem with enthusiasm that borders on contagious.

Tyranids consume entire worlds beneath an unstoppable living swarm.

Both armies reward aggressive players who love controlling space and forcing opponents to react.

"I want brutal close combat."

If you want your army charging straight into the enemy and leaving chaos behind, consider:

• World Eaters led by Khârn the Betrayer

• Chaos Daemons

These armies don't politely ask permission.

They sprint across the battlefield looking for glorious melee combat.

If your favorite phase is the Fight Phase, you'll feel right at home.

"I want precision and tactics."

Maybe you'd rather outthink your opponent than overwhelm them.

Consider armies like:

• Adeptus Astartes (Space Marines)

• Aeldari

• T'au Empire

These armies reward positioning, planning ahead, and making smart decisions.

Instead of relying purely on numbers or brute force, they often succeed by being exactly where they need to be at exactly the right moment.

"I want huge monsters."

Some players don't want twenty little models.

They want one gigantic centerpiece.

If that's you, look at:

• Imperial Knights

• Chaos Knights

There's something unforgettable about placing a towering war machine on the table and watching everyone stop to admire it.

"I like a challenge."

Some people enjoy winning despite the odds.

The Astra Militarum is famous for ordinary humans standing against galaxy-ending horrors.

No superhuman genetics.

No ancient alien technology.

Just courage, tanks, artillery, and enough determination to hold the line.

Victories with the Imperial Guard often feel especially earned.

Let the Lore Pull You In

Warhammer 40,000 isn't just a game.

It's one of the richest fictional universes ever created.

Sometimes the story chooses your army for you.

Here are just a few examples.

Space Wolves

Imagine Viking warriors in powered armor.

The Space Wolves value courage, loyalty, feasting, brotherhood, and charging directly into impossible battles.

They're heroes—but heroes who refuse to fit neatly into anyone else's rules.

Blood Angels

Beautiful.

Noble.

Tragic.

The Blood Angels strive to protect humanity while battling a terrible curse buried deep within their own bloodline.

They're among the Imperium's greatest heroes while constantly fighting the monster inside themselves.

Their story is one of sacrifice, redemption, and impossible duty.

T'au Empire

While much of the galaxy is trapped in endless hatred and ancient grudges, the T'au believe different species can work together toward a shared future.

They're technologically advanced, highly coordinated, and rely on disciplined ranged combat rather than charging into melee.

Their philosophy makes them one of the most unique factions in the setting.

Every faction has stories like these.

You'll find ancient rivalries, unforgettable heroes, heartbreaking tragedies, impossible victories, and enough novels to keep you reading for years.

Don't Chase the "Best Army"

One of the biggest mistakes new players make is buying whichever army currently wins the most tournaments.

Here's the problem:

Rules change.

Balance updates happen.

New editions release.

The strongest army today may be middle-of-the-pack six months from now.

Meanwhile, the army you genuinely love will still be sitting proudly on your shelf.

Buy the faction you'll still enjoy years from now.

Space Marines Give You Room to Grow

One reason Space Marines remain the most popular beginner army is flexibility.

You can paint an established Chapter like the Ultramarines, Dark Angels, or Blood Angels...

Or invent your own.

Create your own colors.

Write your own history.

Name your heroes.

Design your own Chapter symbol.

You're not just collecting an army.

You're building a story that's uniquely yours.

Don't Worry About Making the "Wrong" Choice

Here's another secret experienced hobbyists know:

Very few players stop at one army.

Your first army teaches you the hobby.

Your second army explores something different.

Your third army...

...well, that's when you realize shelf space is becoming a problem.

Your first purchase doesn't lock you into one path forever.

You'll learn.

Your tastes will change.

You'll discover new factions.

That's part of the fun.

The Best Games Happen Across the Table

The miniatures are incredible.

The lore is unforgettable.

The painting is relaxing.

The strategy is endlessly rewarding.

But years from now, what you'll remember most are the people.

The impossible dice rolls.

The heroic last stands.

The stories everyone still laughs about.

The friends you made while pushing tiny plastic soldiers across a table.

Warhammer 40,000 has always been more than a game.

It's a community.

Find an army that excites you.

Make it your own.

Then find good people to play with.

Everything else will follow.

Ready to Start Your Warhammer Journey?

Whether you're still deciding between factions or you've already found "the one," we're here to help.

At Monkey Llama Games, we love introducing new hobbyists to Warhammer 40,000. We can help you compare factions, choose your first models, find the paints you'll need, and answer the questions every beginner has.

Every veteran hobbyist started exactly where you are now.

The only thing left is to choose your first army—and start building your own legend.