Players interested in tabletop games would've heard about Warhammer 40K. Moreover, players of games such as Dawn of War and Total War: Warhammer will likely be familiar with their parent games, WH40K and Warhammer Fantasy, respectively. For newcomers, the Warhammer franchise revolves around a tabletop wargame, where players control miniature "armies" in a battlefield for dominance. In Warhammer 40K, players control one of many factions for control over the galaxy.
Moreover, this grimdark sci-fi wargame spans not just rulebooks, but various supplemental material and even novels. Additionally, the game involves choosing factions, buying and painting miniatures, as well as reading a ton of lore. However, for newcomers, just how does one learn Warhammer 40K the fast way?
10 Familiarize Yourself With The Core Rules
Players of WH40K usually come in two variants - the painters, and the fighters. Most players start as the former, as many unit designs do tend to be intriguing, depending on the faction. Players who start building their armies and want to play them become fighters, and they soon begin to understand the appeal of WH40K as a wargame.
Players interested in doing battle with their armies should always familiarize themselves with the Core Rules. Thankfully, Games Workshop has a quick guide that explains what players need to know in navigating the battlefield. These core rules include moving and fighting, how to use psychic powers, shooting and charging, and other essential steps in battle.
9 Choose A Faction You'll Love, Get The Codex
One of the most underrated tips new players receive when playing the game is faction choice. After all, it should be ideal to choose a faction that's generally "strong" throughout, right? The thing is, that factor shouldn't be what solely determines a player's faction choice. Warhammer 40K has more than 20 factions, all of which have unique looks, units, lore, and tactics.
Remember, WH40K isn't a cheap hobby. Players need to be dead-set on the faction they want as they'll spend a lot of time buying and painting their units, as well as playing with them. Who cares if the Ultramarines are Smurfs? Players with a preferred faction should consider getting their Codex, as this book has all the additional data necessary to maximize the units they buy.
8 Create Battle-Forged Armies
When an army is Battle-Forged, it means they're part of a Detachment or a specific group. Depending on the faction, Detachments pertain to armies organized in such a way that complements their particular skills. In WH40K, units have a battlefield role (e.g., HQ, Troops, Fast Attack) that can work in-sync with others in a Detachment.
Completing a Detachment's requirements will make an army Battle-Forged, which allows them to use Strategems. Players should purchase units according to Detachments they want to form, so they're battle-ready regardless if they play competitively. Battle-Forged armies also reward Command Points (CP), which players can use to aid their armies in battle.
7 Make An Army List
Army lists help players fight on level playing grounds. After all, not all players have the resources to purchase multiple WH40K units, so they most likely play with different variations of limited rosters. The game levels the playing field by ensuring battles make armies follow set "points," which all units have. Gamers can choose their units simply to fit the point total, but players who make army lists have an edge. After all, these lists help them make plans exactly how their faction units will face their opponents.
Army lists can come in the form of wish lists or simply a list of units a player has. However, army lists can also comprise of special skills, strategies, Detachments, and other data players may need as a reference to what they want to do with their units in battle.
6 Take Note Of Faction, Mission Stratagems
Players duking it out with their armies can spend their CPs to use Stratagems that can aid their troops. Most battles allow the use of three basic Strategems: re-roll any dice (Command Re-Roll), attack after an enemy charge (Counter-Offensive), and passing a Morale test (Insane Bravery). Moreover, players can only use them a limited number of times in a match.
Interestingly, players can generate more CP by spreading their army across different Detachments. Additionally, various factions offer additional Stratagems players can use. Earlier, it's mentioned that players should choose a faction they want to play with, and these Stratagems give players an idea of how these factions "fight" battles. These mechanics can change now that the 9th Edition of this acclaimed sci-fi wargame is on the way.
5 Choose Units By How They Help The Army
Players choose units for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the purchase is based on looks, or even with the skills they offer. However, players should choose units depending on how they aid the army and the strategy as a whole. Players can do this by identifying the unit's main role and how they get to fulfill this purpose.
For instance, assault units shouldn't be just strong. Rather, players have to consider how these units get into the battlefield and run away if they have to. More importantly, this unit has to be the most economical choice in the army, especially if players are aiming to achieve certain Detachments. If players follow these tips, they'll end up not just with a cost-efficient army, but an army where everyone has a role to fulfill.
4 Equip Wargear According To Purpose
Aside from unit choice, wargear choice can be a deciding point in any battle. One can say WH40K appeals to a lot of players thanks to this flexibility, as no one unit is confined to a single weapon. This variability makes units very customizable, capable of filling roles as the situation provides.
Players ideally want units to be able to do a wide variety of attacks. However, this might not be the most efficient choice. Instead, try to make units particularly efficient with what they do. For instance, units players intend to be anti-tank should have anti-tank weapons. For instance, Dreadnaughts can stop most tanks with lasscannons (anti-tank) but become anti-infantry with assault cannons.
3 Make Sure Units Have Defined Targets
Detachments and unit formations remain integral in WH40K due to the many scenarios that can happen in combat. When done correctly, Detachments should give players a degree of flexibility when fighting various units. However, players themselves should have the initiative to make sure their units have a loadout that can take down enemies they're meant to face. This factor maximizes the points players have allocated to that particular unit.
For instance, anti-tank units should focus on tanks, while infantry should focus on taking down the enemy mob. This strategy, albeit basic, may rid your opponent of their essential units much faster.
2 Always Think You're Going Second
Players who go first usually go gung-ho, as there's the impression of having the advantage. This move can be costly, as this leaves first-turn players vulnerable for counters the enemy commander will be implementing next turn. In order to avoid this confusion, players going first should think they're going second anyway.
This strategy means deploying units in preparation for another turn. For instance, these moves include defending key assets, placing weaker units out of sight, and placing assault units in cover. This strategy is akin to focusing on defending the base early on in a sci-fi game. Moreover, this strategy also lets players move towards achieving their core formation much faster and, most importantly, in a safer manner.
1 Strike Hard Fast
Battles can get frightening when the enemy has a few powerful units at their disposal. However, WH40K players can do what's called an alpha strike, or an early decisive strike, that aims to cripple the enemy offensive. This strategy simply means that player units should focus on removing integral units of the opponent as fast as possible so their army won't get the benefits those units provide. Easy targets include heroic units and powerful tanks that can otherwise decimate your infantry.
In situations where eliminating a big target is risky, an alpha move can be in the form of separating enemy units to eliminate them separately.