According to GW the only way to get deals like the Start Collecting boxes for Warhammer 40k now will be these Combat Patrol Boxes (RIP).
If you haven’t heard, the new Deathwatch and Space Wolves releases for 9th Edition will come with new Combat Patrol boxes which seemed like a new style offering for faction relaunches in 9th Edition. Then GW said on their social media that they would be replacing the current Start Collecting Sets that they introduced back in 2016, at least for Warhammer 40k.
RIP Warhammer 40k Start Collecting Boxes…
The new Combat Patrol sets are designed for new players to the factions just like the current Start Collecting boxes, but they seem to be marketed as a quick way to get a small force on the table and playing some small games right away.
So how do they stack up to the current start collecting sets, well, the price point is higher for one. Let’s take a look at the future of bundles for Warhammer 40k.
Combat Patrol Boxes – Deathwatch: $140
The Combat Patrol kits are an entire army in a box. As the name implies, each one contains a complete Combat Patrol-sized force of 25 Power or 500 points. That makes them perfect for getting started with the smaller-sized games of Warhammer 40,000, which are full of fast-paced action and a great way to learn the rules for your new army.
Basically, each of the boxes come with 500 points. Nothing too crazy, about a similar amount of points in the old style, start collecting boxes. This can help you get started on a new Deathwatch army or add to your existing forces. Let’s look at everything you get:
- 10 Intercessors: $60
- 3 Aggressors: $50
- Primaris Lieutenant with Power Sword: $35
- Primaris Apothecary: $35 (currently out of stock)
- Deathwatch Upgrade Sprues $14 (at least one included)
Total MSRP: $194
Total Value: $54
Not a terrible value, but if you don’t want or need the characters, it doesn’t really save you any money. $84 of the kit value comes in the way of two characters and an upgrade sprue, so if you have them already, this probably isn’t worth the pickup.
Now let’s compare it to the current Deathwatch Start Collecting Set.
Back In Stock For a Limited Time!
Start Collecting Deathwatch: $95
- Watch Captain Artemis $30
- 2x five-man Death Watch Marines $38 ea. ($76 total)
- Venerable Dreadnought/upgrade sprue $59+$14= $73
Total MSRP: $179
Total Value: $84
Compared to the new Combat Patrol box which is $45 more at the register you get about $30 LESS value in that bundle that the current Start Collecting set. That is assuming you only get one Deathwatch upgrade sprue and not two, then it would be closer to par, just with a higher retail price.
Space Wolves Box: $140
Combat Patrol sets are also ideal as a base for building a larger army. So, once you’ve played a few games at Combat Patrol level, you can easily expand to an Incursion-sized force and beyond.
Just like the Deathwatch box, this one comes with 500 points. It also includes a 5 man unit that can right now only be bought in ten-man increments. Let’s see the value in this box.
- 10 Intercessors: $60
- 5 Reivers: $35 (Normally $60 for 10)
- Invictor Warsuit: $60
- Primaris Space Wolves Lieutenant: $35
- Space Wolves Upgrade Sprue $14 (previous price when sold separately)
Total MSRP: $204
Total Value: $64
With this kit only having one character, the value comes more in the units. For starting an army, this is a way better value than the Deathwatch one.
Overall not a bad value for either as the previous Start collecting boxes had roughly $80 in value inside each for a $90 to $100 retail price. If you need every one of the units in the sets, it can save you some cash for sure. If you’re just getting into either faction, it is a quick way to get 500 points in one buy.
Let’s see how it stacks up to their Start Collecting box that is just over a year old…
Start Collecting Primaris Space Wolves (2019) $95
- Ten-man Primaris Intercessors $60
- 3x Primaris Aggressors $50
- Primaris Battle Leader $35 We’ve only ever seen this guy out of the Tooth and Claw set but based on normal character pricing, we’re going with $35.
- two upgrade sprues to make everything Space Wolfy. $14 for 1 $26 total
Total MSRP: $173
Total Value: $78
So once again it looks like for $45 more at the register, the Combat Patrol box will net you about a $15 LOSS in value for this faction, assuming there is only one Space Wolf upgrade sprue included in the set.
Overall it seems like this Space Wolf set may be very similar value-wise to the Deathwatch one, perhaps even close to the same value as the Start Collecting Set itself depending on the number of upgrade sprues. If you get past the higher retail price upfront, this could bode well for future Combat Patrol offerings, as it seems like these box sets are here to stay.
Currently, the 40k Start Collecting Space Wolves (Primaris) and Deathwatch boxes are no longer listed for sale on Games Workshop’s site (RIP), so if you see them in the wild, it may not be a bad purchase for building either of those two armies.
What do you think about the value inside these starter sets? Time to press “F” for nearly 5 years of Start Collecting boxes?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at the Las Vegas Open, each of which attracts thousands of players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the 2011 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament. He was even featured for his painting in issue #304 of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf Magazine.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
