Games Workshop Leaks 11th Edition Space Marine Starter Set

Games Workshop has leaked a new Space Marine starter box. Flashed in the background of a recently released article, the blurry image has led hobbyists to extract the expected contents from the front artwork.

This starter box is essentially a mini version of the Armageddon Starter Box, focused on push-fit models with added extras to get a new player game ready. What is interesting about this box is that it is a solo-faction box, which differs from the 10th Edition Starter Set that included both Space Marines and Tyranids. I think it is fair to assume this means we will eventually see a separate release for the Ork half of the Armageddon box as well.

Let us break down this box's expected contents versus the 10th Edition Starter Set and the 11th Edition Armageddon Box to figure out which is the best deal. For all prices, I used Games Workshop MSRP values to calculate the overall discount of each box.

Important note: I did not include the value of rulebooks or mission cards in this analysis in order to focus more on the value of the models in each box. These are estimates based on today's points values. Some of the new models do not have confirmed points yet, so I used similar units, older Legends profiles, or reasonable estimates.

Comparison

* Estimates were used.

11th Edition Space Marine Starter Box

Points: 425 pts  •  Price: $114 *  •  Points per Dollar: 3.7  •  Discount: -55%

• 5x Intercessors: 80 pts ($32)
• 5x Vanguard Veterans: 100 pts est. (est. $60)
• 1x Captain: 80 pts ($44)
• 1x Librarian: 65 pts ($42)
• 1x Land Speeder: 100 pts est. (est. $65)
• Two paints ($10)

Total MSRP: $253

* Assumes pricing equivalent to the 10th Edition Starter Set.

11th Edition Armageddon Box: Space Marine Half

Points: 720 pts  •  Price: $150 *  •  Points per Dollar: 4.8  •  Discount: -64%

• 10x Intercessors: 160 pts ($65)
• 3x Eradicators: 90 pts ($60)
• 5x Vanguard Veterans: 100 pts est. ($60)
• 1x Captain: 80 pts ($44)
• 1x Librarian: 65 pts ($42)
• 1x Chaplain with Jump Pack: 75 pts ($42)
• 1x Ancient: 50 pts ($44)
• 1x Land Speeder: 100 pts est. ($65)

Total MSRP: $422

* Assumes a $300 retail price, with the Space Marine player either splitting the box evenly with an Ork player or selling the Ork half for roughly $150.

10th Edition Starter Set

Points: 770 pts  •  Price: $114  •  Points per Dollar: 6.8  •  Discount: -71%

• 1x Captain in Terminator Armour: 95 pts ($47)
• 5x Terminators: 170 pts ($69)
• 5x Infernus Marines: 90 pts ($30)
• 1x Winged Tyranid Prime: 65 pts ($44)
• 1x Psychophage: 110 pts ($60)
• 3x Von Ryan’s Leapers: 70 pts ($53)
• 20x Termagants: 120 pts ($96)
• 2x Ripper Swarms: 50 pts ($0)
• Other contents: Softcover rulebook, game mat, reference sheets, range rulers, and 10 dice

Total MSRP: $399

Verdict: Not Bad, Not Great

My initial reaction to this box is that it is underwhelming compared to both the 11th Edition launch box and the 10th Edition Starter Set. I think Games Workshop did a good job curating the contents by selecting some of the best portions of the launch box for newer players. However, the price is not especially compelling if we assume this sells for $114.

Less than 500 points of push-fit models for $114 is acceptable, but it is far from incredible.

If this lands closer to the $70 introductory starter set price point, Games Workshop could really be onto something. At $70, this would arguably be the best entry point into Warhammer 40,000. You could instantly start playing 500-point games with an easy-to-build army, and it would be a strong recommendation for almost any beginner. At $70 this box would have 6.1 points per dollar, a very good value, better than most discount boxes.

My skeptical side believes this will be priced closer to a Combat Patrol, which would make it a pretty rough value proposition. At 425 points (potentially closer to 500 after future points increases), it is not too far off from the amount of points found in a standard 10th Edition Combat Patrol. However, Combat Patrol kits offer significantly more detail and customization options than the starter models in this box, so they should not really be treated the same regardless of equivalent points value.

This also might be a new product category Games Workshop is testing, and the price could fall somewhere between an introductory starter set and a Combat Patrol. Where they ultimately price this box will determine whether it becomes a successful product or gets ignored by most players.

Right now, I do not really see why you would buy this over simply finding the Space Marine half of the starter box on the secondhand market, where it could realistically sell for around $100 to $150 online after release.

Big shoutout to Asupex Tactics and his video on this box, which helped with this article.