Ambitious rumors are here about the production numbers for how many Horus Heresy Starter Boxes Games Workshop may be making.
From the retailers we have talked to, the sales missteps of the last year by Games Workshop, including the incessant FOMO and paywall releases (think Pariah Nexus, Dominion etc), have made them leary of the upcoming Horus Heresy release.
These rumors come from Faeit212 and obviously, they are rumors so take them with a grain of salt. But with how much GW is hyping this up, we would expect them to actually come out with plenty, but then again there was the Cursed City shortage too so… just something to think about.
Let’s first check out the contents of the box then jump into the rumors and what happened with Dominion.
Possible Horus Heresy Starter Set Box
Thanks to the following exclusive image submitted by a Spikey Bits reader from last summer, we now have more to go off and a better idea of everything in the set. If these are right, this could be a gigantic starter. They kept saying it was huge, so this could be totally correct.
Also just to note, these are all going to be priced in plastic.
- 40 Mark III Space Marines $200 ($50 for 10)
- 10 Cataphractii Terminators $130 ($65 for 5)
- Contemptor Dreadnought $60 (based on the existing kit)
- Characters $50 (based on the Space Marine Characters pack)
- Spartan $100 (drop from resin based on the Repulsor Executioner price)
- Rulebook and other potential accessories (note the absence of any templates…)
Total MSRP: $540
Total Values: if it’s priced in box at $200: $340 / at $300: $240
Whatever the price comes out to be, even at $300 this could really have the value-packed in there. Especially if the price of the Spartan doesn’t drop as we would expect.
Click Here To Get The New First Knight Miniature Bundle!
If they do price this at the $200 mark, it could really bring new players into the game, especially if the rules are coming updated along with it. Plus, with the new plastic Mark VI Marines spotted, this box is looking more and more true.
How Many Horus Heresy Starter Boxes Will be Made?
According to the rumor on Faeit there will be 100,000 of the new Horus Heresy starter sets made worldwide.
Honestly, though the first version of the rumor said one million, which is pretty much an imaginary number, and perhaps may actually sorta disprove this rumor altogether.
Regardless, let’s assume for a second it’s valid, are 100,000 copies of a starter set even a realistic number? Turns out it may be?
When 40k Indomitus hit preorder mid lockdown in the summer of 2020, supposedly there were 35,000 for just here in the states. You may remember those sold out pretty much immediately due to FOMO and secondary market speculation from resellers.
Eventually, Games Workshop put it on MTO and delivered additional stocks before Christmas of 2020- which means that perhaps 70,000 copies of this starter set were available to consumers in the United States that year.
Fast forward to 2021, and amid a drop in consumer confidence, no new release has sold out since Paraiah Nexus. Sales from Dominion forward were reportedly semi-disastrous for retailers who still have those, various 40k army boxes, and starter sets on shelves this spring. Even GW themselves dumped the last of their stock at Adepticon as they sponsored their VIG bags with at least two pallets worth of Dominion Starters.
So while we hope that Horus Heresy re-ignites the hobby passion for a lot of players, and potentially converts tons more to battles in the Age of Darkness, 100,000 copies of this new starter set may be a bit ambitious on Games Workshop’s part after the events of the past year and the state of consumer confidence in their products.
In GW numbers, however, it’s a totally plausible number as they look to hype up this release starting in May with the Horus Heresy open!
But the good news is that if you want it, you should be able to get the new Horus Heresy start set if they do indeed make 100,000 copies!
Either way, new rules and even just one new Horus Heresy starter box set at the bare minimum would be a great thing to see. Here are all the latest rumors on the upcoming rules updates and new models for the Horus Heresy system.
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
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.
