Combat Patrol is now free in the Warhammer 40k app, but locking the rules down digitally is a big miss that we’d like to see fixed.
Free Combat Patrol rules in the app sound great until your battery dies halfway through a game. Gamnes Workshop just updated the Warhammer 40k app with full Combat Patrol support inside War Journal, and every rule you need to play is free. So there is no Codex or rulebook taking up space on the table.
GW deserves credit for making the rules free, sure, but the problem is that the app is now the only place to find them. Whether you’re just trying out Warhammer 40k 11th Edition or teaching a friend how to play Orks at the kitchen table, your phone is the reference sheet. That’s not the same as actually having the rules themselves.
Combat Patrol has always been one of the easiest ways into the hobby. For Space Marines or Ork players looking at a current Combat Patrol box, this update makes getting started easier, but we just wish the whole thing didn’t depend on a charging cable.
- Free rules: Every Combat Patrol datasheet, army rule, and mission is free in the app, with no Codex or subscription needed.
- App-only delivery: The rules live in War Journal, making your phone or tablet the rulebook every time you play.
- Current factions first: Only the current core Combat Patrol boxes are supported at launch, while older sets are still waiting.
The “Free” Part Is Exactly What GW Should Be Doing Already
The free rules are an easy win here, with every Combat Patrol datasheet, army rule, and enhancement available in the app at no cost. The update also adds a custom mission for each army to War Journal, letting players track their scores while they play.
For a new player, that removes one of the biggest problems with starting 40k because it was never just the models. It was the pile of rules and the extra cost that came with them. Now, someone can buy one box, open the app, and start playing that afternoon.
Anyone who has bought another version of the same rules every few years can appreciate GW simply giving these away; they got this part right, for sure.
Putting Every Rule Behind the App Is the Miss
The problem is that the rules only live in the app now, and your phone or tablet becomes the rulebook every time you play. At this point, plenty of people are tired of using their phone for everything; sometimes, having the physical rules is just better and can be far easier to let someone read who’s new.
We always said GW should release the rules for free, but also let people buy the books when they want. This forces one option, always, which just isn’t the same if you ask us.
GW has also removed a stack of older Combat Patrol datasheets from the app, and people are already asking whether the boxes sitting on their shelves are still supported or have quietly been dropped. Right now, the answer for older Combat Patrols is murky. Only the current core armies are supported at launch, leaving plenty of older sets waiting for rules.
Rules you cannot print, mark up, or access when the app is down do not feel the same as free rules you can keep.
How to Actually Get Started With Combat Patrol
For anyone starting fresh, the entry point is better than it has been in years. People who bought Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon already have two Combat Patrols, the Ork ‘Ardmob and the Space Marines Assault Force. The app update now also gives both of those armies the rules needed to play.
You can also buy them separately in the Getting Started with Orks and Getting Started with Space Marines sets. The Warhammer 40,000 Starter Set also includes both armies along with enough terrain for a Combat Patrol battlefield. So, right now, it gives you the most complete table in a single box.
GW also has free tutorial content on the Warhammer Academy site for players who need help learning the game. Between those videos and the free app rules, trying 40k costs less than it has in a long time.
Final Thoughts on the Warhammer 40k Combat Patrol App
The plan from here sounds promising. GW says older Combat Patrols will be added later, while new ones will arrive alongside Codexes across the edition. Each new patrol should be added to the app as it releases, so the library will keep growing.
The real question is whether the rules stay free. Free app rules are a strong way to sell a starter format, but that goodwill disappears fast if GW eventually locks them behind Warhammer+ or another paywall.
For now, GW gets credit for making Combat Patrol easier and cheaper to play. But we think it would be even better if you had the option to have a book or PDF download, and not rely on your phone for everything.
🔗 Related Reads:
- Warhammer 40k 11th Edition Rules: Release Date, Detachments + Every Change
- Combat Patrol 40k: Best Boxes Ranked by Value
- 40k Combat Patrol Rules: Free PDFs, Missions and Faction Datasheets
- Combat Patrol’s Future Looks Unclear for 11th Edition
- 11th Edition Launch Lineup: Combat Patrol Companion, Terrain + More
- 11th Edition Armageddon Starter Set Review
- Updated Warhammer 40k 2026 Roadmap and Release Schedule
What do you think about GW putting the Warhammer 40k Combat Patrol app rules behind the app instead of on paper?
Where are the rules for how you score points in a combat patrol game ?