Your guide to the best official and alternative Warhammer 40k army list builder apps and programs out there that will save you time organizing your games.
Updated on September 18th, 2025, by Rob Baer with new information, new 40k army builder apps, and links to relevant content.
With the new edition of Warhammer 40k in full swing, you need reliable 40k army builder apps. Here are our top choices that actually work right now.
So, whether you’re prepping for a tournament, theorycrafting your next crusade games, or just wondering how to build a Warhammer 40k army list in the first place, these are the tools worth your clicks.
Guide to Warhammer 40k Army Builders:
When it comes to building the perfect Warhammer 40k army list, players now have plenty of modern options. These apps all bring fresh features and functionality that make creating and managing your 40k armies faster and easier.
Here are the best Warhammer 40k list builders and rules references out there:
- Newrecruit EU
- Wahapedia
- Battle Forge (in Warhammer 40,000 app)
- Phalanx Tools
- Battlebase
- Oldworldbuilder (For Warhammer The Old World)
| 40k Army Builder | Pros | Cons |
| Phalanx Tools |
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| New Recruit EU |
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| Wahapedia |
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| Battlebase |
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| Warhammer 40k App (Battle Forge) |
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| Oldworldbuilder |
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1. New Recruit EU
New Recruit is a community-driven tool that’s quickly gaining traction, particularly in Europe. This web-based app is a solid Warhammer 40k list builder that works for other games with a no-nonsense design that gets you from idea to army fast.
- Pros: Free to use, community-supported updates, straightforward design.
- Cons: Limited features; community updates can vary in timing.
If you’re on the hunt for a no-fuss way to keep your lists in check without losing accuracy, New Recruit is your new best friend. It might not have all the flashy extras, but it gets the job done like a reliable Swiss Army knife.
Originally whipped up for 9th Age tournaments, it claims it can make sense of those Battlescribe files too—so that’s a bonus! You can check it out by clicking here New Recruit EU.
2. Wahapedia: Free Rules at Your Fingertips
If you just want to know what a unit does without hauling around every codex, Wahapedia is your new best friend. It’s got all the Warhammer 40k rules online for free, neatly organized and updated faster than you can say “reroll ones.”
Just remember, Wahapedia isn’t a true 40k army builder; you can’t build or save lists here. But when you need quick rules references without paying for every single book, it’s hands-down the most convenient tool in the hobby.
3. Battle Forge (in Warhammer 40,000 app)
From the source, Battle Forge is naturally an alternative to Battlescribe built into the official Warhammer 40,000 app. It’s like getting your bolter directly from Mars; official, effective, and with all the latest data straight from Games Workshop HQ.
- Pros: Always up-to-date, GW’s official 40k army builder tool, seamless integration with faction rules.
- Cons: It requires a subscription; it is limited to 40k, naturally.
If you’re all about the latest official rules and a polished interface, Battle Forge is a great choice. The subscription fee might be a bit like tithing to the Emperor, but hey, it’s as official as you can get. You can get it here.
4. Phalanx Tools
Phalanx Tools is a fresh face with some solid features. It offers a straightforward, no-fuss interface, making Warhammer 40k list-building fast without making you dig through endless options.
- Pros: Clean, simple design; easy to navigate; no app download required.
- Cons: Limited customization compared to Battlescribe; not yet as data-rich as other options.
This is an open-source roster editor project to replace BattleScribe by the Data maintainers themselves. This is a cool idea, as the code can be seen, and you can go on and point out things you think are wrong and raise ideas.
Obviously, at this point, this is in alpha, but with the way they are going about it, this could turn out to be very rewarding down the road! They also already have a giant Discord, so it is worth checking out.
5. BattleBase:
BattleBase is a powerful 40k list builder that supports tournament play, CP tracking, and real-time scoring. It’s designed to replace spreadsheets with a streamlined interface for Warhammer 40k army building
Feeling nostalgic (or mildly traumatized) about a past game? Full battle logs let you relive every brilliant play, or hilariously bad decision, after the dust settles. Plus, you can connect with friends, track your personal win/loss records, and hand out some well-earned bragging rights.
And the best part? Even more features are rolling in soon, including tournament support, faction rankings, and full Crusade campaign management. It’s like your whole Warhammer world, streamlined and upgraded.
Related Tool: Old World Builder: Warhammer The Old World App
The free Oldworldbuilder app is built specifically for Warhammer: The Old World, letting you whip up and tweak your army lists anytime, anywhere.
Building an army by points couldn’t be easier. Right now, it’s running as a mobile-optimized website you can slap onto your home screen like an app, with a full Android release coming once the rest of the army data rolls in.
This gem was cooked up by a longtime Warhammer Fantasy fan who also happens to be a front-end developer. So, if you’re ready to simplify your army building without handing over a pile of gold crowns, give Oldworldbuilder a shot.
Final Thoughts on these 40k List Builder Alternatives
Battlescribe had its time, but the future belongs to these new Warhammer 40k army builders. Whether you prefer Battle Forge, Wahapedia, or New Recruit, or the GW app itself, there’s a 40k list builder out there that fits your style.
See The Best Warhammer 40k Armies Right Now
