It looks like GW has resurrected their Start Collecting boxes after years in the grave with the new Arks of Omen Boarding Patrol boxes.
When the Arks of Omen Boarding Patrol boxes first came out, there were only two (Space Marines and CSM), and we just weren’t sure how far GW would take it. But now, they are on track to very quickly get every single faction a box! In the past few weeks alone, they have released 11 (at the time of writing, this number will go much higher soon).
If you just started playing Warhammer 40k, you might not even remember the Start Collecting boxes that were first released in 2016. They were sort of smaller versions of Combat Patrols (and at a lower price) and were a way to get into an army. They often had an HQ, some troops, and an elite unit.
Now, however, that description sounds familiar to something else, the new Boarding Patrol boxes.
At this point, the new boarding patrol boxes feel like they are either the successor to Start Collecting boxes or their official replacement. We’re just not sure which quite yet.
Arks of Omen Boarding Patrol Boxes the New Start Collecting Boxes
Before we dive into the everything on the new boxes, let’s do a quick recap of the Start Collecting boxes.
They originally sold for $90, but obviously, over time, the price raised up to $110 (which is at least the current price for some of the new Boarding Patrol boxes) for all the armies. Some of these had really great value inside, and as of this writing, there are only two left you can still buy for 40k (one is technically the AoS version and only $95 for Slaanesh).
By the name, these were meant to get a force on the table quickly. At one point, every faction had one of these boxes, and people really seemed to like them. We’re not exactly sure why Games Workshop did it (maybe just to get people excited again about new boxes or to keep up with price increases), but they moved to Combat Patrols back in 2020. Then the Start Collecting boxes started to slowly phase out over time…
Another clear indicator that these new Boarding Patrols boxes may be a comparable product to the Start Collecting ones is that they have a similar SKU prefix and pricing, which you can see here in GW’s latest price increase spreadsheet.
Combat Patrols Take Over
Since 2020, the Combat Patrols have essentially replaced the Start Collecting boxes. They started out at $140, but with the recent price increases, they will now be $160 each. GW slowly released their new combat patrols at first, but every time a new codex came out, they released a combat patrol, and the start collecting boxes seemed to go by the wayside.
In contrast, the release of the Boarding Patrols box sets has been very different, and a much more blitz approach from Games Workshop in the months leading up to what many assume will be 10th Edition 40k in the summer of 2023.
However, before we move further, it’s important to note that these don’t have a ton of overlap with the Combat Patrols. So, perhaps intentionally, you could buy both and have a wide range of units.
Let’s look at one of the most recent boxes. On the left is the Drukhari Combat Patrol, and on the right, their Boarding Patro. As you can see, you could buy both boxes and have somewhat of an interesting force. Obviously, you would need to buy some more raiders and venoms, but the only thing that overlaps is the Incubi.
This product mix is a good example of how both of these box sets are structured by faction. Meaning you could combine them, save some cash, and have a decent starting force. So, that’s definitely a plus for hobbyists looking to start or grow an army.
New Warhammer 40k Boarding Patrol Boxes
Now, we finally get to the boarding patrols, and they really seem to be predecessor to Start Collecting boxes. There are three main things to look at here:
- Price: The price of the Space Marines box is the same as the start collecting boxes. However, some of the boxes with bigger value are going for $125, so while they might be the spiritual successor, the price will not always be the same. At this point, we’ve only seen three boxes with actual prices; two are $125, and only one is $110. So at this point, they are shaping up to be more expensive; our best bet for the prices are just looking at the value inside.
- Contents: The contents are similar to the start collecting boxes, and as discussed above, different from most of the Combat Patrols.
- Timeline: Every 2-3 years, GW seems to revamp these starter bundle boxes. The start collecting boxes lasted about three years (maybe a little more), the combat patrol boxes started in 2020, and finally, the boarding patrol boxes showed up in 2022-2023. So, they may be more similar to the start collecting boxes than combat patrols, but it fits in perfectly with the timeframe for revamping their starter bundle box offerings.
One last thought to leave you with. GW hasn’t taken away the Combat Patrols yet. However, who knows with 10th edition coming, we might see Combat Patrols go away, and Boarding Patrols taking over instead of just being a supplement to them.
We don’t really see why GW would do this with the contents being so different, but we wouldn’t put anything past them at this point even if it does not make sense to consumers.
Click Here For Warhammer Going Super Cheap on eBay
These sellers have all sorts of deals, sometimes daily, on Warhmmaer 40k, Age of Sigmar, Necromunda, Horus Heresy, and more.
Be sure to click on each seller below to see the best deals right now!
Click Here To Shop the Top 100 Warhammer Best Sellers on eBay
Do you like the new boarding patrol boxes, and do you feel like they are the successor to start collecting boxes, or their official replacement?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby Group, or our new Discord server, and make sure you enter the latest monthly giveaway for FREE today!
Get ad-free access to our hobby videos, a monthly drop of miniatures, and support some of the best creators out there for as little as $6 a month on Patreon!
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
Bio: Virginia restless, miniature painter & cat dad. He blames LEGOs for all this, as there was something about those little-colored blocks that started it all. Spikey Bits sprung from Rob staying motivated to hobby on his backlog of projects, while sharing his knowledge with others during the early blogging era.
LEGO maniac and scale model hobbyist in the 80s turned miniature wargamer and trading card player ever since. He’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition), but Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and minatures made of pewter and resin.
