Here’s the Warhammer 40k Battle For Macragge box set contents list, release date, versions, value, and pricing in our breakdown review!
Few Warhammer 40k starter sets hit that nostalgia button like Battle for Macragge. Released in 2004, the Battle for Macragge release date marked the start of 4th Edition and kicked off one of the most recognizable box sets in hobby history.
Ultramarines took on Tyranids in a cinematic brawl over a crashed shuttle, and for a lot of us, that’s where the addiction began.
This wasn’t just a starter set. It was the box that taught half the community how to paint, play, and glue their fingers together. Battle for Macragge gave players a complete mini experience without needing a huge army or a rulebook thicker than your Codex stack. But it didn’t end there, as GW has released it several times over the years.
What Is the Battle for Macragge Starter Set?
Updated October 22nd, 2025, by Rob Baer with the latest.
The Warhammer 40k Battle for Macragge starter set for 4th edition introduced thousands to the hobby. It came with push-fit Space Marines and Hive Fleet Behemoth Tyranids, a mini rulebook, dice, templates, and a ruler for your first tabletop scraps.
The box itself contained six missions, designed to teach the rules step by step, until you could run a full game on your own.
The Battle for Macragge contents were simple, smart, and fun. Each game felt like a small campaign with Ultramarines trying to survive a swarm of bugs. It was the perfect first taste of 40k and an easy way to hook anyone curious about the setting.
Battle For Macragge: Contents, Release Date, Retail Price
The Battle for Macragge release date was mid-2004 and marked the start of Warhammer 40k’s 4th Edition. It redefined what a starter set could be by packing in everything players needed to play full games right away. It was simple, affordable, and instantly iconic.
The original Battle for Macragge retail price was “only” $50. Two years later, a reprint hit shelves for $75.
Much later, GW rereleased the box as a pre-order MTO in 2023, doubling the price to $150.
Here’s the full Battle for Macragge list of contents:
- 10 Space Marines (Tactical Squad)
- Imperial Pilot Lieutenant Varras
- 10 Hormagaunts
- 6 Genestealers
- 8 Spore Mines
- Crashed Aquila Lander terrain
- Templates, objective markers, dice, ruler, and mini rulebook
GW Brings Back The 40k Battle For Macragge Box Set One Last Time
Yup, years later, GW reissued Battle for Macragge through their Made to Order line at $150. Same models, same missions, same nostalgia, three times the price. It was aimed squarely at collectors who missed it the first time or just wanted that sweet blue-and-bug aesthetic back on their shelves.
Final Thoughts on The 40k Battle for Macragge Box Set
Over two decades later, Battle for Macragge, along with Black Reach, are still remembered as one of GW’s best intro boxes. The rules are outdated, but the vibe is timeless. It was built to teach, to entertain, and to hook new players, and it succeeded across the board.
If you see a box at a convention or on eBay, grab it. It’s one of the best starter sets GW ever made. The models hold up, the missions are still fun, and it’s a slice of Warhammer history worth owning.
The contents may look dated next to today’s kits, but the heart of the box remains unmatched.
Whether you started with it or missed it entirely, Battle for Macragge is the kind of set that reminds us why we fell in love with the Warhammer hobby in the first place.
See the Latest Warhammer Starter Sets Here!
Did you pick this up when it first came out? Or did you grab the box on one of the later releases?
