I've been hands-on with all the Warhammer 40K Armageddon Battalions, and here's the one I think you should buy

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It's the end of an era as the current edition grinds to a halt, and it's being given a suitably grand sendoff with a host of Warhammer 40K Armageddon Battalions. But which of the four packs should you get? Which ones are the best value, and the most practical?

I was lucky enough to be sent these kits ahead of time alongside the other releases for the end of the current edition (Return of Yarrick serves as such a good sendoff and makes me excited for what comes next), so I have thoughts about these Warhammer 40K Armageddon Battalions. My personal pick would have to be the Orks, for example; with the Warhammer 40K 11th Edition box set providing an entirely new range of greenskin miniatures, it's a really easy addition that fits a very unique niche for any budding collectors.

Where to buy

Even though you'll be able to buy these packs direct from Warhammer, it's worth checking out indie retailers too; they tend to get chunky 10-20% reductions on the going rate, so are your best bet if you want to get best value. I'd usually recommend trying Miniature Market and Rogue Traders in the US, or Wayland Games and Magic Madhouse in the UK.

Let's dive into it, shall we? Before we start, a quick note: we don't usually get pricing info for pre-release Warhammer products ahead of time, and as I'm writing this before any of the following Armageddon Battalions have a cost attached, I've done my best to tally up the value based on previous, similar items and the fact that combo packs traditionally cost less than all the contents combined. With that in mind, please excuse any discrepancies that may have arisen: I'll amend them as soon as the Armageddon Battalions go on sale!

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Editor's choice

Armageddon Battalion Orks

Personally speaking, the set I'd prioritize would have to be this pack of speedy greenskins. No, it isn't an army in its own right - much like all the other Battalions. However, it's a highly thematic mobile group you can add to an existing army or the Armageddon launch box when it finally drops this June. That's why it appeals to me so much.

Let's start with the latter point. Although we don't know exactly what the Armageddon set is going to include, I'm guessing we're looking more at infantry than vehicular chaos based on the cinematic trailer. As such, there's a gap in the lineup for armor – which this box handily provides.

As for the other check in the tick column, Armageddon Battalion: Orks is one of the most distinct sets in the lineup (save for the Deathwatch pack, maybe). It's a very clear value proposition; want to build a Speed Freeks army to go with returning hero Wazdakka Gustmek, or a mobile wing for your existing force? This is for you.

Based on previous products (like the Maelstrom Battalions), I suspect we're talking around $170 for this pack. Considering how much the contents of this box should cost almost $190 in total, that would mean you're saving a tidy amount by bundling it all together.

Here's a precise total of how much each unit costs individually.

- Deffkilla Trike: $60/£38
- Rukkatrukk Squigbuggy: $60/£38
- x6 Deffkoptas: $69/£42.50

Considering how those units aren't so easy to find these days either, I'd say the Armageddon Battalion: Orks pack is even more desirable. It's certainly a dark horse in this race, anyway.

Armageddon Battalion Astra Millitarum

In terms of all things "new," this is probably the most appealing of the Warhammer 40K Armageddon Battalion box sets. That's because it's the only place you can get the Hippogriff AFV and Centaur RSV at the time of writing. They'll launch separately at some point, of course, but in the short term? It's this or nothin'.

However, they're not the sole reason I'd look into this pack. Actually, I'm not sure they're a good enough excuse for existing Astra Militarum players to buy in, period... and that's because of everything else you're getting here. The box includes a powerful Rogal Dorn tank and Cadian Shock Troops unit, which is all well and good, but fans may have one or both of those as is. With that in mind, veterans would be better off waiting for the Hippogriff and Centaur to go on sale separately if they want to make their money go further (unless they want repeats or don't have either unit, naturally).

So, who is this for? Well, it's one hell of a starter set for anyone hoping to build their first Astra Militarum army (or prepare for the new Steel Legion). It's an incredibly robust backbone upon which to grow a larger force.

As for the value breakdown of this box, it's difficult to say for sure until we have prices for the individual Hippogriff and Centaur. Still, here's how much the other models cost by themselves as a ballpark sum:

- Rogal Dorn: $105/£63.25
- Cadian Shock Troops: $53/£32.50

That's a tidy $158 just for those two items. When combined with how much the newer units are likely to cost (presumably in the region of $40-$60 each), I suspect you're saving a tidy bundle here.

Armageddon Battalion Adepta Sororitas

Much like the Astra Millitarium, this is a solid value proposition for those wanting to kick off a new army. While it doesn't feature any new models, it's a great foundation on which to build a force. You have core troopers in the Sisters Novitiate, some hard-hitting melee warriors via the Repentia squad, and Paragon Warsuit elites that can bring the pain. Oh, and don't forget a Palatine to lead them. That's a mighty fine start.

Again, I doubt it'll do much to set existing fans' worlds on fire. They're likely to have some or all of these as is, so it just doesn't make sense unless you're lacking all the above and want most of them. For newcomers, though? Wow. It's hard to do much better. Add in the squad of Celestian Insidiants from Kill Team: Shadowhunt (which flipped the script on that game to keep me locked in) and you're really cooking.

As with all Battalions, you're saving a tidy amount on the collection too. Here's a breakdown of how much those units normally cost.

- Repentia: $60/£38
- Sisters Novitiate Squad: $64/£38.50
- Paragon Warsuits: $82/£49.50
- Palatine: $39/£25

In other words, I'd jump on this as fast as possible if you're new to the Sisters of Battle. If you're a devotee of the faction, though, I'd probably pass.

Armageddon Battalion Deathwatch

This is a cool Armageddon Battalion, straight up. Actually, there's something about it that tickles my brain just right; it's a full Kill Team (which was first available in Kill Team: Tomb World, for those keeping score) with their Corvus Blackstar transport that they use to swoop into battle.

Who it's for, though? That's a more complicated answer. If you want a brand-spanking new Deathwatch army, it's as good a place to get going as any. Indeed, it's solid value on the whole; the infantry unit is sold in sets of five models for Kill Team, not the 10 seen here. Those troopers are your baseline, leaving you free to build up the force with more exotic units.

What about existing players, then? Eh – it depends. Don't have either product in the box? Great! It's a match made in heaven. Want a Corvus Blackstar and are happy to add more troops to the fray even if you already have the Kill Team? Perfect. Otherwise, you're almost certainly better off buying everything separately. It's a highly thematic box set, but it's one that makes the least sense to me unless you want both items anyway or are starting totally fresh.

Here's how it all breaks down:

- Corvus Blackstar: $96/£58
- Kill Team: $69/£42.50

Don't get me wrong, I love this box set. I've been wanting that Kill Team myself for ages, and the addition of the ship is enough to make me seriously consider making a full Deathwatch army. But the other Armageddon Battalions set my world on fire just that much more.

And there we have it. If I could choose just one of these mighty box sets, it'd be the Orks. The others are cool and all, but the thought of adding a vehicle fleet to the Ork army I want to make in 11th Edition is all too tempting.

What are you going to choose? Shout about it in the comments below!

For more tabletop recommendations, why not drop in on the best board games and the best card games?

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Benjamin AbbottTabletop & Merch Editor

I've been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, but these days you'll find me managing GamesRadar+'s tabletop gaming and toy coverage (I spend my time here handling everything from board game reviews to the latest Lego news). I've also been obsessed with Warhammer since the 1990s, and love nothing more than running tabletop RPGs like D&D as a Dungeon Master.

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