Here are all the value, pricing, and savings breakdown for the Horus Heresy Starter Box Set, including the plastic Spartan Tank, Contemptor Dreadnought, and…
Now that we’ve seen the price for the new Horus Heresy Starter Set, we have a pretty good idea of the price, value, and savings breakdown for all the models inside!
There is also some intrinsic value as this is the only way to get the Rulebook day 1 and all of the plastic model kits early. It has traditionally taken months for the big summer box sets to come out independently in the past. So, if you want the new models, buy the box or score them on the secondary market.
If you’re getting into the Horus Heresy, this is probably the best way to start. However, you may still want to pick up either of the Legion books as well once you decide on what specific faction of Space Marines you would like to play. Now, let’s check out the value!
Horus Heresy Starter Set Price, Value & Savings Breakdown
While they were technically correct about it being under $300 ($299…), there was still a lot of value inside; let’s break it down!
Warhammer: The Horus Heresy – The Age of Darkness Retail Price: $299
Click here to get yours for less from these retailers: | Amazon | Dicehead Games | Gold Goblin Games | Frontline Gaming | Games Workshop’s Store Link
- 40 Mark VI Space Marines $160 ($80 for 20)
- 10 Cataphractii Terminators $85
- Contemptor Dreadnought $60
- Characters $67
- Spartan $112
- Rulebook $70
Total MSRP: $554 (not counting accessories) Confirmed Box Price: $299
Total Values Versus $299 Box Price: $255 in value
So while the initial price is a little higher than we had hoped (but expected), this has some great value, and you get more than 100% of the box price in value. Plus, you just get so many minis!
New Horus Heresy Starter Set Sprues
The new sprue pics come from GW influencer Tale of Painters
Let’s start with the biggest part of the box (or at least the most numerous), the Marines! This is broken down into four sets of MKVI marines, with each set getting two identical sprues (5 Marines on each sprue) and then one upgrade sprue per 10 minis. The upgrade sprue has a decent amount of extra weapons and heads, but nothing too crazy on it.
The bolters are also attached to the hands, just like the change when they rolled out the MK III and MK IV marines back in 2015/16.
This box to basically just be 4 of the main sprues and two upgrade sprues. The MK III and MKIV boxes are $55 so perhaps these will be discounted to around $100 for essentially two box sets.
Praetor Sprues
These are pretty much what we expected, each grabbing one of the small-sized character sprues. Unfortunately, there are no other weapon options than what they come with.
However, they do have a bare head option and don’t have iconography, so you could paint them up to be whatever legion you like. Which is obviously very cool.
This is about the most you’ll be able to customize with the different head options, but we’re sure you could get some awesome conversions done with the kit!
Terminator Sprues
There aren’t many options in this kit, but you do get the bits for Lighting Claws or bolters and power fists. You also get the option for a heavy flamer and a power sword.
This is the same kit that came in the Betrayal at Calth box and eventually was released separately.
Contemptor Dreadnought
This sprue is awesome because it’s a smooth transition from the resin kit and the terribly posed first plastic one GW did with the previous starter sets.
It has many nice upgrades like ball joints and movable elbow and knee joints! Then for weapons, you get a gravis bolt cannon, a gravis autocannon, a gravis melta cannon, and a gravis lascannon. However, that’s just the right arm. The powerfist can be equipped with a combi-bolter, heavy flamer, plasma blaster, meltagun, or a graviton gun.
Getting this in plastic will be awesome, and it looks pretty sweet!
Spartan Tank
To say this is huge might be an understatement! You know this will be massive and quite the build with six giant sprues. The commander on top can have two different options, and the weapons are basically all covered. Looking at how everything fits together, you should be able to magnetize the kit and future-proof it.
With such a big kit and so many options, we would really recommend magnetizing, if for no other reason than you will get more value out of the kit!
Horus Heresy Special Weapons Packs
It looks like the rumored bits we saw are all coming true and in plastic!
The Mark VI Tactical Squad is one of the most flexible kits ever. It’s the lynchpin of your army – which you need to claim objectives and win games, and with the addition of these new weapon upgrade kits, you can transform it into Legion Tactical Support Squads or Legion Heavy Support Squads to really bring the hurt.
The Special Weapons upgrade set contains 10 meltaguns, 10 plasma guns, 10 volkite calivers, 10 volkite chargers, 10 flamers, and 10 rotor cannons.
This is a ton of weapons, and it’s so nice that you’ll be able to arm your squads with the weapons you want!
Need to kill your enemies from further away? There’s an upgrade kit containing 10 heavy bolters and 10 missile launchers.
Prefer fire, melta, and plasma weapons? There’s an upgrade kit for you! It features 10 plasma cannons, 10 heavy flamers, and 10 multi-meltas.
Getting 10 of each is just so much better than worrying about what you’re arming each model with. Let’s just hope they are easy to magnetize.
Finally, there’s an upgrade kit with 10 volkite culverins, 10 lascannons, and 10 autocannons.
New Horus Heresy Expansion Boxes & Rulebooks Unveiled!
First up are the two Legiones Astartes army books – one for Loyalists and one for the Traitors.* Each book includes the profiles for shared units, from heroic Praetors to armoured Contemptor Dreadnoughts, as well as weapons, special rules, and guides to building your Legiones Astartes army.
The Liber Hereticus contains rules for all nine Traitor Legions, including Rites of War, Primarchs, Legion-specific units and wargear. If you’re of a more Loyalist bent, the Liber Astartes contains the same for the nine Loyalist Legions.
If you’re playing the game, you’ll obviously have to get these rules for the legions.
Got the rules but need some reinforcements? The Mark VI Tactical Squad will also be available separately. This kit is packed with options and makes 20 Space Marines, so you can muster either two 10-man squads or one big 20-man one. Good luck to any enemies who want to shift that.
Prefer older marks of power armour? The Mark III and Mark IV Tactical Squads are getting repackaged into units of 20, making it easier than ever before to fill out the ranks of your Legion.
Forge World Horus Heresy Upgrade Kits Announced
Here are all of the new Horus Heresy upgrade kits from Forge World that have been released for Age of Darkness. Click Here to Read More
Horus Heresy Leviathan Siege Dreadnought: Unboxing & Magnetization
Don’t miss our unboxing, build, and how-to magnetize the new Horus Heresy Leviathan Siege Dreadnought kit from Games Workshop. Click Here To Read More
Horus Heresy New Kratos Tank: Unboxing & Build
Rob is back unboxing the new Horus Heresy Kratos Tank and, most importantly, sees how to future-proof this using modularity and magnetization. He’ll see what it takes to get it ready for the tabletop, show the model’s size, and tell you the GOTCHAS to be aware of when building it! Click Here To Read More.
Here’s the most up-to-date list of new Horus Heresy Rules & Product Leaks. Click on the gallery above to see new Horus Heresy models and rules rumors!
- 4 New Plastic Horus Heresy Starter Box Sets
- All the Horus Heresy New Models & Rules
- Horus Heresy Legion Rules
- Horus Heresy Weapon & Unit Rules
All the Newest GW Model & Rules Previews
Are you still excited about the Horus Heresy Plastic Starter Set Launch Box?
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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 Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 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 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
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.
