7 new Old World Battle March army boxes arrive for Cathay, Chaos, Empire, Beastmen, Orcs, High Elves, and Wood Elves. We break down the contents, price, and whether they’re worth it!
Finally, a way into the Old World that doesn’t start with buying 2,000 points of plastic. GW just revealed the full lineup, and it arrives the same week as the updated rulebook and Battle March: General’s Companion.
Battle March is the smaller way to play Warhammer: The Old World, using 400 to 750-point armies and a few rules changes to keep the games working at that size. You still get the movement, tactics, and important charges, but the games are short enough to play a couple on a weeknight. So, if you’ve been following the Old World release roadmap and waiting for an easier place to start, this is it.
Plus, it’s a much smaller commitment than buying the full Old World Core Set to start. I mean, to be fair, GW used the same basic starter approach with the rulebook Core Set pre-order weekend, but now Battle March lowers the cost and model count even more!
- Seven boxes: Grand Cathay, Warriors of Chaos, Empire of Man, Beastmen Brayherds, Orc and Goblin Tribes, High Elf Realms, and Wood Elf Realms.
- The format: 400 to 750 points, with the updated rulebook and Battle March: General’s Companion hitting shelves tomorrow.
- Benefits: This is the cheapest and fastest way into the Old World yet, with one box instead of a full army.
Battle March Is the Cheapest Way Into the Old World Yet
Updated on August 3rd, 2026, by Rob Baer with the new Old World Battle March army box reveals.
Battle March Army Boxes Price & Release Date:
- Battle March Army Boxes Release Date: August 22nd, 2026
- Retail Price (MSRP/RRP): $180 USD. Regional pricing is listed on the pre-order page.
The first two Battle March boxed sets were released with the Separate Warriors of Chaos release wave. The Warriors of Chaos Battle March set includes:
- 1 Sorcerer of Chaos $33.50
- 5 Chaos Marauder Horsemen $45 (half a box)
- 20 Chaos Marauders $90
- 8 Warriors of Chaos $45 (half a box)
- 4 Chaos Knights $45 (half a box)
Here’s how much you save against the $180 box price:
- Total MSRP: $258.50
- Savings Versus Estimated Box Price: $78.50
While the new Grand Cathay Battle March side contains:
- 1 Shugengan Lord on Great Spirit Longma $65
- 20 Jade Warriors $90
- 5 Jade Lancers $45 (half of a box)
- 6 Iron Hail Gunners $22.50 (1/4 of a box)
- 4 Crane Gunner Teams $22.50 (1/4 of a box)
Here’s how much you save against the $180 box price:
- Total MSRP: $245
- Savings Versus Estimated Box Price: $65
5 Other Factions are Still Getting Battle March Boxes Too
Battle March Army Boxes Release Date & Retail Price
- Release Date: TBD, estimated late summer/early fall 2026
- Custodes Support Battle Group Retail Price (MSRP/RRP): $150 (USD), estimated; the Chaos and Grand Cathay are already priced higher at $180 (Regional pricing is listed below).
This is the entry point the Old World has needed since it returned. Battle March uses 400-750 point armies; the updated rulebook and Battle March supplement are here, and each of these five boxes gives you one of the book’s balanced example forces in a single purchase.
So, instead of pricing out a full 2,000-point army before playing your first game, you can just buy one box and put it on the table. Plus, the Battle March rules are available for free as well from Games Workshop
The biggest barrier to starting the Old World has always been the amount of plastic you need before game one, but now these boxes cut that down substantially.
The Empire Box Answers With Gunpowder and Cavalry
The Empire box does exactly what you’d expect. It holds the line, shoots whatever comes near it, and uses fast cavalry to finish the job. Inside you get:
- One Commander of the Empire with great weapon $16 (half box)
- 20 State Troops with a choice of weapons $60 (2/3 of the box)
- 10 Flagellants $41 (half box)
- 10 State Missile Troops armed with crossbows or handguns $30 (1/3 of a box)
- 10 Empire Archers $32 (half box)
- Five Outriders who can alternately be built as Pistoliers $32 (half box)
You get a solid infantry block in the middle, plus two shooting units to punish anything moving toward it. That’s about as straightforward as an Old World starter force gets.
- Total MSRP: $211
- Savings Versus Estimated Box Price: $61
Beastmen Trade Shooting for Speed and Bodies
The Beastmen box goes the other direction becasue there’s barely any shooting here. The army wants to move fast, close the distance, and win in combat. The box holds:
- One Beastman Chieftain with two hand weapons $32
- One Beastman Shaman $32
- 10 Ungors with a choice of weapons $30 (1/3rd of a box)
- 10 Bestigors $45 (half of a box)
- 20 Gors with a choice of two hand weapons or a hand weapon and shield $60 (2/3rd of a box)
- 10 Chaos Warhounds $32 (half of a box)
Twenty Gors is a serious unit at this points level, and the Chieftain is built to get into the fight with them.
- Total MSRP: $231
- Savings Versus Estimated Box Price: $81
The Orc and Goblin Box is a Green Wrecking Ball
The Orcs weren’t going to miss a fight, and their box is built around speed and hitting power. There are barely any foot troops here. You get:
- One Orc Boss on a warboar $24 (half box)
- One Goblin Shaman $32
- One Battle Standard Bearer $23 (half box)
- 15 Orc Boys with a choice of weapons $45 (half box)
- Five Goblin Wolf Riders with a choice of weapons $23 (1/3rd of a box)
- Five Boar Boys with a choice of weapons $35 (half box)
- One Orc Boar Chariot $45 (half box)
Two fast cavalry units supporting a block of Orc Boys gives this starter force plenty of movement. It plays the way an Orc army should.
- Total MSRP: $227
- Savings Versus Estimated Box Price: $77
High Elves Get a Small, Elite Toolbox
The High Elf box is a small elite force built to work with fewer models. It’s for players who want a couple of flexible units instead of a large infantry block. It comes with:
- One Sea Guard High Elf Lord Included in Lothern Box
- 10 Lothern Sea Guard $25 (35 in a box)
- Five Shadow Warriors, who can alternately be built as Sisters of Avelorn $23 (half box)
- Five Ellyrian Reavers $45 (half box)
- One Lothern Skycutter $82
- One Tiranoc Chariot, which can alternately be built as a Lion Chariot of Chrace $45 (half box)
Both kits have two build options, so the box gives you more list choices than the low model count suggests. Which is useful in a starter force.
- Total MSRP: $220
- Savings Versus Estimated Box Price: $70
Wood Elves Close the Set Out With Longbows
The Wood Elves are the surprise fifth box, and their plan is simple. Basically, shoot everything with longbows. The box contains:
- Araloth, Lord of Talsyn $32
- 10 Eternal Guard $45 (half box)
- Five Sisters of the Thorn $45 (half box)
- Four Glade Riders with longbows $21 (1/3rd box)
- Eight Glade Guard with longbows $22.50 (1/4 of a box)
The whole force is built to shoot from range and stay out of trouble. It’s a very Wood Elf way to play and gives new players a different kind of army to learn.
- Total MSRP: $165
- Savings Versus Estimated Box Price: $15 (this box might cost less)
Final Thoughts on Old World Battle March
All five boxes go up for pre-order soon, but the price is still the big question. Battle March only works as an entry point if these boxes cost less than buying the included kits separately, and GW’s recent box pricing has gone both ways.
Price them properly, and this becomes the easiest way to start the Old World. Price them badly, and they’re just five more boxes sitting on the shelf during slow summer demand…
Where to Buy Your Battle March Boxes
Battlemarch Army Box Sets $180 (USA), $215 (Canada), £118 (UK), €145 (EU), ¥22,400 (Japan), $264 (Australia), $304 (New Zealand)
If you want discounts or to dodge out-of-stock headaches, use our retailer guide and grab whichever option works for your region. Links are below.
🔗 Related Reads:
- Warhammer: The Old World Rules and How To Play
- New Warhammer The Old World: 2026 Roadmap and Release Schedule
- Warhammer The Old World Core Set: Review Breakdown
- New Old World Core Set, Battle March Rulebook Pre-Order Weekend
- Warhammer The Old World Warriors of Chaos: 54-Mini Core Box and Dragon Revealed
- Pre-Order Warhammer Old World News and Resources
- All Our Warhammer: The Old World Coverage
What do you think of the new Old World Battle March army boxes, and which faction are you starting with?
