You can play like it’s 1993 with the new Warhammer Kill Team starter set, but I’m not sure if you should

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Coincidentally, this is the Warhammer Kill Team starter set that I’ve been excited about for the past few weeks not this edition’s starter set doesn’t at all – and now I look like an idiot. That’s because Games Workshop has just unveiled a true starter box for the current version of the game, and it’s a throwback to the 1990s.

It bears the very catchy name ‘Kill Team Starter Set’ and includes two hard-to-find squads, introductory rules, tokens, dice and MDF terrain. Yes, that’s right; we party like it’s 1993 with push-fit landscapes, just like in the second edition of Warhammer 40K. This is apparently to make setting up a session as easy as possible.

I respect that. Being able to play during lunch is a luxury normally reserved for the best board games, not wargaming. Likewise, the two factions included here – Angels of Death Space Marines and Plague Marines – are no longer easy to obtain. They were indeed released through the blind-box ‘Heroes’ series, so getting a full set of both would set you back quite a bit.

I’m also excited about the accessible MDF site because it lowers the barriers to entry always a good thing. Actually, I’d love to see Games Workshop make a full range of this stuff.

But if I’m honest, I can’t help but be a little disappointed.

Don’t get me wrong – I like the principle. I appreciate that this makes sense from a cost/expense perspective for Games Workshop as well, as they haven’t had to spend time or resources on new models. I also suspect it will be at least slightly more affordable thanks to that slim rulebook and 2D landscape. In other words, it should be the easiest and cheapest way to try what I think is one of Warhammer’s best games.

However, part of me remains cold.

It’s not even that I’m not the target audience. Rather, I’m not sure these groups are the best introduction to the Kill Team theme. Astartes and Chaos Space Marines are always a welcome sight, and the models are quite handsome. Yet this game is about the most elite, high-character agents, not regular troops you’d find on a 40K battlefield (even if the “ranks” in this case are super soldiers). You could tell me this is a 40K starter set and I would believe you. Actually, me to have a starter set from years ago with a very similar setup. Part of me had hoped for a unit like the Tempestus Aquilons from Kill Team: Hivestorm or the new space hobits revealed for Warhammer Day. The latest Kill Team Starter Set is another good example, thanks to the heavy metal Death Korps of Krieg and Ork Kommandos.

The recycled Kill Teams and unnamed default setting (or so I assume – it doesn’t seem to tie in with the final season) make it seem less… I don’t know, thoughtful? I’ve come to associate Kill Team with incredible thematic design that takes you into a grand story, and I’m not sure this will give newcomers the same experience that made me fall in love with this game.

Hey, maybe I’m wrong, I sure hope so. But in the meantime, I’d probably refer beginners to Hivestorm. Although on the pricier end of the spectrum, sharing with a friend gets you hugely evocative Kill Teams, the full rules, special scenarios for a new warzone, 3D plastic terrain that can also populate your Warhammer 40K games, tokens , dice and accessories to enhance gameplay. The value here is impressive, and you can currently get Hivestorm for less – that’s it $192.50 at Amazon instead of the full MSRP of $230 at this time. Meanwhile, British fans can pay £123.99 at Zatu instead of € 145.

Kill Team: Hivestorm | $230 $192.50 at Amazon
Save $37.50 – It doesn’t list the full MSRP for this deal, but it should be almost $40 more expensive than here. That’s an excellent price for something that has literally only just been released.

Buy it if:
✅ You want to receive the new edition
✅ You are new to Kill Team

Don’t buy it if:
❌ You prefer to wait separately for the core rules

Price check:
💲 Miniature market | $195.99
💲Warhammer | $230

⭐ UK price: £145 £123.99 at ZatuView offer

These types of discounts should start rolling in quickly over the course of 2024 Black Friday board game deals. New to the hobby and want to know what to look out for? Check in with what Warhammer 40K starter sets are suitable for you.