Here is a look at the five best alternative Warhammer 40k 10th Edition army list builder apps and programs to replace Battlescribe.
Updated November 14th, 2024, by Rob Baer with new information and links to relevant content. If you are looking for the best free and paid army builder programs for 10th edition Warhammer 40k, be sure to check our review article here.
One other thing to mention is that there isn’t much point in paying for Battlescribe. From all indications, the developer stopped working on it long ago. As Battlescribe’s data maintainers are quick to point out, the developer gets all the money from the payments. In contrast, the incredible team who updates all the data for the app does not make a dime from all their hard work!
WH40k List Builders You Need To Know
When it comes to building the perfect Warhammer 40k army list, Battlescribe has long been the mainstay for players. However, with many hobbyists seeking fresh options, there are some exciting alternatives that bring new features and functionality to the table. Here are four of the best Battlescribe alternatives for building your ultimate 40k list:
- Phalanx Tools
- Quartermaster
- Battle Forge (in Warhammer 40,000 app)
- Newrecruit EU
- Rosterizer
WH40k List Builders & The Battlescribe Situation
Historically, Battlescribe has been the go-to tool for many Warhammer players, offering a lot of functionality and a large community that helps keep unit data up-to-date. But, as the game evolves, so do the needs of its players. More folks are starting to seek a Battlescribe alternative—one that might be easier to use, offers better visuals, or simply adapts faster to the latest edition.
Enter the world of alternative 40k list makers! These fresh tools offer new ways to organize and optimize your army lists. Some come with added features like streamlined interfaces, faction-specific recommendations, and better points tracking—all while keeping things nice and clear.
1. Phalanx Tools
Phalanx Tools is a fresh face with some solid features, designed to be as flexible as a guardsman on leave. It offers a straightforward, no-fuss interface, making 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 pre-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 while it might be a little while until this comes to fruition, things are looking good, and it is worth checking out.
Especially if you know how to code, you could help get the project moving along to completion so we all could benefit from an alternative Warhammer 40k army builder alternative app! You can check it out by clicking here Phalanx Tools.
2. Quartermaster
Quartermaster has been in the game for a while, focused on flexibility across multiple wargames. This app offers easy access to many army-building options, keeping your list neat and organized like a veteran sergeant’s kit.
- Pros: Works offline, supports multiple wargames, and has customization galore.
- Cons: Limited official support; requires some manual data updates; site may be down.
For those who play more than just 40k, Quartermaster is a versatile tool. Just be prepared to do a bit of manual work to keep things current. This is an iOS replacement that doesn’t use the same data format, so while it’s not compatible, you can use this to build your rosters on iOS.
They have forms for factions that are also updated by the community, so if you want to help, you definitely can, and if you’re looking for an alternative, you might as well download it and give it a shot! As of this writing, it appears to be down, but you can check it out by clicking here: Quartermaster. to see if it is live again.
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 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. New Recruit EU
New Recruit is a community-driven tool that’s quickly gaining traction, particularly in Europe. This web-based list builder covers Warhammer 40k and 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.
5. Rosterizer
Finally, there’s Rosterizer—a newer alternative option to Battlescribe that’s easy to learn and packs in enough options to keep any list builder happy. Rosterizer has a clean layout and an intuitive approach to list creation, making it a breeze for both new and seasoned players.
- Pros: User-friendly, excellent for quickly building a list, sleek interface.
- Cons: Smaller community; some features still in development. The site may also be down.
Rosterizer is an evolving tool, but it already offers a great experience, and, best of all, it’s simple. For those who want to jump into list-building without reading a manual, it’s worth a try.
As you can see, they already have some sample lists built, which is good for their development. Keep an eye out, and hopefully, soon, we’ll see full list-building capabilities on there! You can get all the details on this app by clicking here on Rosterizer. Recently, however, it seemed like the site was down.
In conclusion, while Battlescribe has served us loyal Warhammer 40k players well, it’s clear that the tides of technology are shifting. With a range of fresh alternatives like Phalanx Tools, Quartermaster, Battle Forge, and Newrecruit, there are plenty of exciting new options to help you craft your ultimate army list.
Whether you’re looking for a straightforward interface, a community-driven spirit, or the latest data straight from the source, there’s an alternative Battlescribe Warhammer 40k list builder out there for everyone.
See All the Free & Paid Warhammer 40k: List Builder Apps Here.
What’s your favorite alternative 10th Edition Warhammer 40k army list builder app program to Battlescribe? Which of the others have you tried?
About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
