Allocations make buying tough; learn what time Warhammer preorders go live, how to beat the scarcity game, and the best Games Workshop pre-order times.
If you’ve tried grabbing the latest Warhammer release only to watch it vanish faster than a Dark Eldar Raider at full throttle, you’ve probably run headfirst into the allocation problem. Games Workshop’s stock practices mean new releases sell out almost instantly, leaving hobbyists scratching their heads, hitting refresh, and occasionally rage-building terrain instead of painting.
Let’s break down what’s really happening with allocations, what time Warhammer pre-orders go live, and how you can still score those minis when the scarcity machine cranks into overdrive.
Why Warhammer Allocations Exist
Back in July 2023, Games Workshop’s CEO Kevin Roundtree made a bold claim: everything they make will sell out. Fast-forward a few months and allocations, what GW calls “caps,” started hammering game stores across the globe. Since then, “sold out” has become the default state of play for a lot of products.
What Time Do Warhammer Pre-Orders Go Live?
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “When do Warhammer preorders go live?” They are available at different times depending on where you shop. Games Workshop’s own site typically opens preorders around 1 PM Eastern on Saturdays in the United States.
Independent retailers worldwide often stick to Midnight on the day of release for their launch window, letting players lock in preorders in each country a little earlier.
When Do Pre-Orders Ship?
Preorders have a release or street date, two weeks after they go live. For example, a product available on December 3rd will officially release and start shipping around December 17th. This two-week cycle is consistent across GW’s own site and its retail partners.
This used to be one week long, but two weeks is the standard now for Games Workshop.
Some online stores will ship out preorders to arrive on or around release day, too, which is nice. Now, if you order online at Warhammer.com and have it delivered to your local Warhammer store, it will be waiting for you on the Saturday morning street date.
If not, you’ll basically get it when Games Workshop decides to ship it, which has been a mixed experience as of late.
How to Beat Allocations and Actually Get Your Models
Alright, enough doom and gloom. Let’s talk strategy. Here’s how to actually land the models you want when allocations are tight.
1. Be Ready at Launch
Since Games Workshop’s pre-order time is 1 PM Eastern on Saturdays, and most retailers open at Midnight Eastern, the best chance is to be ready for both. Don’t wait until later in the day.
2. Use Trusted Discount Retailers
We trust these retailers to get you your minis! It’s good to use someone you know delivers, and not try to fight on the secondary market. Every qualifying purchase helps Spikey Bits keep the lights on and the fun going.
Shopping Resources: Get 15% Off or More:
- Mid Atlantic US: Fabricators Forge | Bazooka Games | or | The Rogue Traders |
- Central US: Wargame Portal | Dicehead Games | Noble Knight Games | or | Warpfire Minis |
- West Coast US: Frontline Gaming | Gamers Guild AZ | or | Squad Marks |
- UK: Element Games (UK) | Merlin’s Minis | or | Wayland Games |
- Canada: Fenris Workshop | Tista Minis | Abyss Game Store | or | Kingdom Titans |
- Worldwide: Amazon | eBay | or | Games Workshop’s Store |
3. Watch for Second-Wave Preorders
Some retailers reopen preorders later on Saturday if they secure extra supply. These second-wave slots are not guaranteed, but they’re worth checking.
4. Pre-Order In Person
If you’ve got a friendly local game store, showing up in person can sometimes beat the online crush. Small allocations sell out fast, but some shops hold a few back for walk-in customers.
5. Buy Used Minis
There are always decent used minis out there, you just have to know what you’re looking for! Obviously, this doesn’t work very well for new stuff, but if you want anything that’s not brand-new, learn how to buy used minis here!
6. Consider the Secondary Market (Smartly)
Yes, you can find Warhammer on Amazon and eBay. Just be mindful of pricing and make sure you’re not funding a scalper’s vacation to Ibiza. Sometimes these platforms are the only place to find out-of-print models, so they’re worth keeping in your back pocket.
Final Thoughts: Scarcity Is the New Normal
Allocations aren’t just frustrating. They cost Games Workshop money. Millions in potential revenue are lost each month while players miss out on products they’re excited to buy. And with more players than ever jumping into Warhammer 40k and Age of Sigmar, limiting supply doesn’t just hurt stores, it hurts the hobby.
Warhammer allocations are not going away anytime soon. But by knowing what time preorders go live, where to shop, and how to act fast, you can stack the odds in your favor.
See the Latest 40k Roadmap Here
What do you think about GW’s allocations and finding places where you can actually buy pre-orders?
