Imperium of Man · Humanity Endures
Armies of the Imperium
Beyond the Space Marines stand the Imperium's countless other defenders — the Guard's endless regiments, the Sisters' burning faith, the Machine Cult's iron legions and the god-machines of the knightly houses. Choose your faction, or browse the full muster of humanity.
Know the Imperium
The Imperium spans a million worlds, ruled from Holy Terra in the God-Emperor's name. It is the largest empire in the galaxy's history — and it is under siege on every front.
Humanity's master sits deathless upon the Golden Throne of Terra, worshipped by trillions. In His name every lasgun fires, every banner marches and every heretic burns.
From endless Guard regiments to golden Custodes and towering Knights, the Imperium fields the widest range of armies in Warhammer 40,000. If you fight for humanity, your banner is here.
The Lore
The Imperium of Man is the largest empire the galaxy has ever known: a million worlds bound to Holy Terra and the God-Emperor who has ruled from the Golden Throne for ten thousand years. It is vast, cruel, crumbling and utterly defiant — beset by traitors, aliens and daemons on every front, and still standing.
Its defence rests on far more than the Space Marines: the numberless regiments of the Astra Militarum, the fanatic Sisters of Battle, the machine legions of Mars, the golden Custodes, the god-machines of the knightly houses and the shadowed agents of the Inquisition. Humanity endures — because these are the armies that refuse to let it fall.
On the Tabletop
No other alliance in Warhammer 40,000 offers a wider spread of playstyles. The Imperium runs from hundred-model Guard gunlines to twenty-model Custodes elites to Knight households you can carry in one hand — horde, elite, mechanised, faith-powered or walker-based, it's all here under one aquila.
That makes this the best place to browse if you know you want to fight for humanity but haven't picked your weapon yet. Choose a faction below — each has its own page with lore, a tabletop guide and its full range of kits.
More about the Imperium range
The vast human Imperium — zealous Sisters of Battle, tech-priests of Mars, golden Custodes and endless ranks of Astra Militarum, all fighting to hold the galaxy together. Choose your faction below.
Hammer of the Emperor
Choose Your Faction
One Emperor, many armies — from disposable millions to golden demigods. Pick a faction to explore its lore, playstyle and full range of kits.
Your Crusade Begins
New to the Imperium?
Start with a boxed set — miniatures, rules and dice in one go. Free UK delivery over £65, same-day dispatch by 3pm on weekdays.
Shop 40K Starter SetsFrequently Asked Questions
The Imperium spans several distinct factions: Astra Militarum's mass infantry regiments, the elite Adeptus Custodes, the faithful Adepta Sororitas, the tech-priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus, towering Imperial Knights, and the covert Imperial Agents. Space Marines chapters are stocked separately in our dedicated Space Marines collection.
Astra Militarum armies use large numbers of relatively cheap infantry, tanks and artillery to overwhelm the enemy through sheer weight of numbers. Adeptus Custodes take the opposite approach — a handful of extremely powerful, expensive models that can shrug off firepower most other Imperium factions can't survive.
Astra Militarum is a popular starting point thanks to straightforward unit roles and lower cost per model, letting new players build a full army affordably. Adepta Sororitas and Adeptus Custodes suit players who prefer fewer, more powerful models and don't mind a smaller starting force.
Yes — Imperium factions can be combined into a single army under current detachment rules, often called 'soup' lists, though single-faction armies built around one detachment's rules are usually more effective. Check the latest Warhammer 40,000 codex for the specific combination rules that apply to each faction.
Yes — we carry Combat Patrol and codex bundles for several Imperium factions, a cost-effective way to start a new army with a matched set of miniatures and rules. Check our Bundles collection for current combat patrol and starter offers alongside the individual kits in this range.
Yes — our Barry, South Wales shop stocks Astra Militarum, Adepta Sororitas, Adeptus Custodes, Adeptus Mechanicus and Imperial Knights kits, alongside the rest of our Warhammer 40,000 range. Browse online for UK-wide delivery or visit in person to see the models before you buy.