Space Marine Combat Patrols have returned, but there is a catch now: are they permanent stock or just another round of built-in FOMO for 40k players?
Games Workshop has been on a Space Marine kick lately (or always, depending on how you look at it), cranking out new Astartes releases. On top of all recent Ultramarines, Combat Patrol, they made boxes for Salamanders, Imperial Fists, Raven Guard, White Scars, and Iron Hands.
Normally, these sets are the bread and butter of onboarding new players into Warhammer 40k armies. Affordable, self-contained, and designed to be an easy entry point, they’re supposed to be stable stock items.
But now, something feels different…
The “While Supplies Last” Curveball
If you’ve been watching the webstore closely, you’ll see every one of these new Space Marine Combat Patrols released so far carries the dreaded “while supplies last” tag.
That’s not what most of us expected from products meant to kickstart a collection. That’s because these aren’t supposed to be one-off collector’s boxes; they’re meant to sit on shelves for a good stretch, waiting for new hobbyists to snag them.
Instead, GW’s language makes it look like the Space Marine Combat Patrol boxes are being treated more like limited runs. Which raises the question: are these really permanent additions to the product line, or just another short-term push designed to spark urgency?
Currently, the Imperial Fists are sold out, and there is no guarantee that they will be restocked. And honestly, if you ask us, with all the current allocation and stock issues, we wouldn’t expect to see it back for a while, if at all.
Space Marine Combat Patrol FOMO or Factory Backlog?
There are a couple of ways to read the situation. Maybe GW is simply running with the current trend of high-pressure sales tactics, using scarcity to drive quicker purchases.
After all, nothing gets a hobbyist reaching for their wallet faster than the thought of missing out on a favorite Chapter box. You can see the difference in language between the regular Space Marines Combat Patrol box and the Raven Guard one above.
The other possibility is less sinister but just as messy: production limitations. GW might be soft-launching these Combat Patrols under a temporary “limited” label until manufacturing catches up and regular stock levels stabilize. But the company’s lack of transparency makes it easy for players to assume the worst.
Why It Matters for New Players
Here’s the real kicker: Combat Patrols are supposed to be the most straightforward way for a new player to join the game. When everything is flagged as “grab it now or regret it later,” the accessibility angle goes out the window. Instead of easing people into the hobby, it turns into a scalper’s paradise, with newer players left scrambling or overpaying on the secondary market.
For established hobbyists, the frustration is familiar, yet another example of Warhammer 40k starter sets being caught up in the hype machine. For newcomers, it’s a straight-up barrier to entry.
Final Thoughts on Space Marine Combat Patrol Shortages
This isn’t the first time GW has played the scarcity card, and it won’t be the last. But when core entry products like Combat Patrols get swept up in the same sales strategy used for limited edition models and event exclusives, it undercuts their original purpose.
If the goal is to bring more players into Space Marine factions, then making these kits consistently available should be priority one. Not everything needs to sell out in a frenzy. Sometimes, it’s better to let players pick up a box on their own timeline, whether they’re starting a new Chapter or just filling gaps in their collection.
So, are these new Space Marine Combat Patrol boxes truly limited, or just suffering from a bad case of poor labeling? Time will tell.
But right now, it feels like every new product release is being run through the same high-pressure funnel. And that’s a shame, because these kits should be about building armies and welcoming players, not fueling another round of FOMO.
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