The galaxy is burning, the Orks are shouting "WAAAGH!", and a brand new edition of the world's most popular miniatures game is landing this June. Whether you've been painting little plastic soldiers for decades or you've never glued a single Space Marine in your life, Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition is one of the most exciting moments the hobby has to offer.

Here's everything you need to know — in plain English, no jargon.

SO, WHAT'S A "NEW EDITION"?

Every few years, Games Workshop refreshes the rules of Warhammer 40,000 and kicks things off with a big, shiny launch box stuffed with miniatures. It's a bit like a new season of your favourite show: the story moves forward, things get tweaked and improved, and it's the natural moment for new players to hop aboard.

The good news for beginners? 11th Edition is a tune-up, not a reboot. Games Workshop has described it as a streamlining of the game rather than a total rewrite, so it's smoother and friendlier without throwing out everything that came before. If you own older army books (called Codexes), they'll still work.

MEET THE LAUNCH BOX: WARHAMMER 40,000: ARMAGEDDON

The headline event is a boxed set called Armageddon — and Games Workshop is calling it the biggest launch box in the game's history. Bold words, but the contents back it up.

The set pits two iconic factions against each other in a war for the doomed industrial world of Armageddon:

- The Space Marines — genetically-enhanced super-soldiers in power armour, defending humanity against impossible odds.
- The Orks — gloriously chaotic green aliens who live to fight, build ramshackle war machines, and shout a lot.

It's the classic "noble heroes vs. green-skinned mayhem" match-up, and honestly, it's a brilliant introduction to the two most beginner-friendly armies in the game. Want the full lowdown on the greenskins? Read our Orks army analysis — or compare every army in the game in our Warhammer 40k factions guide.

WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE BOX?

A lot. Here's the rundown:

The Miniatures

• Over 60 push-fit miniatures across a dozen brand new kits — a seriously generous pile of plastic to get you started.
• Push-fit means the models click together without glue, so they're ideal if you're just starting out.
• New centrepiece models including the Big Mek Dakkarig — a bonkers Ork walking war-machine — plus fresh Space Marine heroes and the return of the fan-favourite Land Speeder.

Everything You Need to Play

• The new Core Rules book in a handy, easy-to-carry format with quick-reference numbering.
• The Operation Imperator lore book, packed with artwork and the story of the war for Armageddon.
• The Chapter Approved 2026–27 mission deck for setting up balanced, exciting games in minutes.
• The brand new Dominatus campaign deck, which adds a randomised narrative campaign where your units level up and earn upgrades as you play.
• Datasheet cards for every unit, a transfer sheet for Ork clan and Space Marine markings, and a construction guide.

In short: open the box, and you've got two ready-to-go armies and everything you need to start playing. Grab a friend and you're away.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE NEW RULES

Don't worry — you don't need a degree to learn 40k. The 11th Edition changes are mostly quality-of-life improvements designed to keep games flowing:

• Terrain is now the objective. Those abstract objective markers are gone — you'll fight over actual buildings and battlefield features instead.
• A new Detachment Points system for army building — you can now mix and match detachments as your force grows, unlocking more tactical combinations at bigger points levels.
• Smoother combat, with bigger engagement ranges and tidier rules for charging and fighting.
• Better app support to help you build armies and track your games.

It all adds up to a game that's easier to pick up and just as satisfying to master. New to the game entirely? Our guide to the basic rules of Warhammer 40,000 covers the fundamentals.

PRE-ORDER YOURS FROM LOADED DICE

Pre-orders for the Armageddon launch box are live on our website right now. Launch boxes are always in high demand and stock can sell out fast, so don't hang about — secure yours before release day on Saturday 20th June.

Whether you're starting your very first army or adding to a growing collection, this is the perfect moment to dive into the grim darkness of the far future. Not sure Armageddon is the right entry point for you? Our guide to Warhammer 40k starter sets compares every option.

For the Emperor… and, well, WAAAGH!

See you on release day.