How to start playing Warhammer: Age of Sigmar?

At first glance, Age of Sigmar might seem complex, but getting into the game is actually very simple. The core rules and unit profiles are available for free on the official website and in the mobile app, so you can easily check how individual armies work. The system is designed to help newcomers quickly grasp the basic mechanics while offering enough tactical depth to keep experienced players engaged.

You don't need more than a few miniatures, dice, a tape measure, and a table to play your first game. If you want an easy start, starter sets are ideal, as they contain two small armies, rules, and the necessary accessories. They allow you to jump straight into your first skirmish and find out which faction suits you best. The next step is usually getting a themed box to expand your army, and later your own battletome—a manual with detailed rules and lore.

Getting started in practice

The best way to start is by picking up one of the starter sets:

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Introductory Set

This set offers everything needed for a 2-player game and teaches the basics—how to use a gaming mat, a range ruler, and six dice. Inside, you'll find 5 Stormcast Eternals Liberators and 20 Skaven Clanrats miniatures that you can assemble without glue. The box also includes 6 paints, a brush, and a 48-page painting guide.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Starter Set

An expanded starter set for 2 players. The box contains 35 plastic miniatures: on one side, 1x Lord-Veritant with Gryph-crow, 3x Prosecutors, and 5x Liberators for the Stormcast Eternals; fighting against them are 1x Grey Seer, 1x Warlock Engineer, 3x Rat Ogors, and 20x Clanrats. The set also includes a 64-page gaming guide, a double-sided game board, 2 range rulers, 2 reference sheets, and 10 dice.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Ultimate Starter Set

This is a 2-player set with 2 complete armies for the Spearhead game mode.

Spearhead battles take place on a smaller gaming table (usually 30" x 22"), use their own set of simpler rules and missions, and last about an hour. This makes Spearhead an ideal gateway for complete beginners—similar to the Combat Patrol mode in Warhammer 40,000.

The box includes 2 Spearhead armies, rules, and everything needed to play in this fast-paced format. The Vigilant Brotherhood is led by a Lord-Vigilant on Gryph-stalker, while the Gnawfeast Clawpack is commanded by a Clawlord on Gnaw-beast. The set also includes the Spearhead: Fire and Jade manual (144 pages), a double-sided game board, cards, terrain, and much more.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Skaventide

Currently the newest complete set for the game, providing you with 74 plastic miniatures for the Stormcast Eternals and Skaven armies, terrain, and much more for epic war adventures!

What's next?

Had your first few games and want more? It's time to expand your armies and acquire special units. An ideal way is to buy a Spearhead box. It not only lets you play the special simplified mode but also serves as a useful foundation for your army in the full version of Sigmar. Just pick your favorite faction and get started. You can combine different sets and add individual units as you go.

The game rules are a chapter of their own. You can start online on the official website. You will find both the basic Core Rules and rules for individual Spearhead forces and factions. The rules are also available in the official app. If you want everything in one place, get one of the beautiful printed manuals filled with lore.

In Age of Sigmar, the rules are divided into two parts—general game rules that apply to everyone, and faction-specific rules. You will find the latter in a Battletome.

A Battletome is the official manual for a specific army. It contains not only detailed rules and warscrolls (unit profile sheets) but also lore, illustrations, army-building tips, and thematic scenarios. It is a combination of rules and a narrative guide that helps you fully understand how the faction functions in the game and within the Mortal Realms.

Games Workshop is gradually releasing updated Battletomes for the new 4th edition of Age of Sigmar. While the basic warscrolls are free in the faction pack PDFs, the Battletome is an add-on—it provides a deeper look at the faction and the ability to play with greater detail, which you will often use in tournaments or long-term campaigns.

Once you've played your first games, you can decide whether friendly home battles are enough for you, or if you want to start building an army based on point limits and find opponents at events and tournaments. For inspiration and a deeper dive into the world of the Mortal Realms, it's worth picking up official narrative supplements that bring new scenarios and expand your gameplay options.

Age of Sigmar is designed to be accessible and flexible—you can try a few quick skirmishes with friends or immerse yourself in long-term play where every battle is part of a larger campaign.

author Karel Krajča