Warhammer: The Old World Core Set Review Calls It Best Way Into the Game
Games Workshop has put its first true two-player starter box behind Warhammer: The Old World, and it lands with all-new Chaos Warriors sculpted for the first time specifically for the game. The Old World Core Set went up for pre-order on July 4, with a general release date of July 18, 2026, carrying a recommended retail price of £150 in the UK, €190 in Europe and $240 in the US, according to hobby outlet Tale of Painters, which received an early review copy.
The set pits a brand-new Warriors of Chaos force against the Armies of Grand Cathay, the faction Games Workshop introduced to the range only last year. It is the first dedicated two-player box since Warhammer: The Old World relaunched more than two years ago, following earlier single-army Core Sets built around Tomb Kings and Bretonnia.
54 Miniatures Split Between Two Fresh Battle March Armies
Games Workshop’s own product listing confirms the box includes 54 plastic miniatures for the Armies of Grand Cathay and Warriors of Chaos, an updated hardcover rulebook with revised rules, a Battle March game mode, and new artwork. Trade outlet ICv2, citing the manufacturer’s announcement, further itemised that haul as an Aspiring Champion on a Daemonic Mount, and Aspiring Champion with Battle Standard, 16 Chaos Warriors, 4 Chaos Knights, a Gate Keeper on a Cathayan Warhorse, a Gate Keeper with Battle Standard, 20 Jade Warriors, 5 Jade Lancers, and a Cathayan Grand Cannon with Ogre Loader and 3 Crew.
That is fewer models than Games Workshop’s previous Old World starter boxes, but reviewers note the trade-off is deliberate. Tale of Painters points out that 54 miniatures are included, noticeably fewer than the previous Tomb Kings (93 models) and Bretonnian Core Sets (76 models), though those were a touch pricier and, aside from a single new centrepiece model each, consisted entirely of older sculpts. This time, the outlet notes, the Warriors of Chaos miniatures are completely new, while the Cathay models were released only last year.
Battle March Mode and a Revised Rulebook Headline the Extras
Beyond plastic, the box carries a fully updated core rulebook. Games Workshop’s own preview described the format as designed so players can begin their journey in the World of Legend with the new Core Set, packed with the rules, accessories and miniatures two players need to get started with Warhammer: The Old World. Wargamer’s hands-on review adds that the rulebook folds in post-launch errata that dials back the power of wizards and movement-blocking “vortex” spells, nerfs poisoned weapons, and makes infantry blocks more survivable and more likely to win combat.
The headline rules addition is Battle March, a smaller-scale format aimed at newcomers. Tale of Painters, which received an early copy, reports the rulebook’s biggest addition is almost certainly the inclusion of the new Battle March format, the 400 to 750 point small-scale play format for Warhammer: The Old World, complete with all the rules, a starter scenario, and 6 map layouts.
GamesRadar+ and Wargamer Call It the Easiest Way In Yet
Early reviews are broadly positive on the set’s job as an entry point, even as they flag the game’s notorious rules density. GamesRadar+ concluded the box is “your best route into the game by a long, long way” because, besides providing everything needed to play, it also includes two “Battle March” armies that are small enough to be manageable for first-time generals. The same review cautions that the ruleset is also pleasingly crunchy and in-depth, though that does mean far more complexity than you’d find in other wargames.
Wargamer’s review frames the release in similar terms, noting that two years after GW launched Warhammer: The Old World, it’s finally bringing out a two player Core Set, and that buying the bundle is simply the cheapest way to get the revised rulebook, starter armies, booklets, dice and playmat that come inside it. Tale of Painters, meanwhile, zeroed in on the sculpts themselves, arguing the new infantry represents what Warhammer: The Old World needed — a true starter set, anchored by spectacular new Chaos Warriors and Knights that draw confidently on the aesthetic of the classic 1990s range.
Where the Value Actually Sits
Hobby site Spikey Bits ran the individual component prices against the $240 box cost and found the numbers stack up in the buyer’s favour, reporting itemized MSRP comes out to about $400, putting savings at roughly $164 versus the box price. The same review notes the two forces are built to be an even fight out of the box, since GW points matched both sides of the box, so you can play balanced games right from the beginning.
Not every element earns praise. Tale of Painters flagged a handful of rough edges in its unboxing, including that the gaming mat printed on paper rather than the sturdy cardboard found in other starter sets, and that there are only 4 base poses across 16 Chaos Warriors due to duplicated sprue layout.
Availability for Australian and New Zealand Hobbyists
Games Workshop typically distributes new Old World releases through its own retail stores and independent stockists across Australia and New Zealand alongside the UK and US launch window, meaning local players wanting to see stock or regional pricing should check with a nearby Warhammer store or the official Games Workshop online storefront closer to the July 18 street date. With Grand Cathay only a year old as a faction and the Warriors of Chaos getting their first Old World-specific sculpts, the Core Set gives the local scene’s two-player pods and club nights a fresh, matched pair of armies to build around without hunting down older Warhammer Fantasy Battle kits secondhand.
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