Warhammer 40k miniatures aren’t collectible like Pokémon or Magic cards; here’s how limited releases, re-releases, and demand affect their value and availability.
The Warhammer 40k Miniatures Hobby Is Not Collectible
Warhammer miniatures hold a unique place in the world of tabletop gaming. Unlike Pokémon cards or Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer miniatures are not created with the intent of being collected for value or rarity.
Instead, they offer something much different to fans—strategic gameplay, creative modeling, and immersive narratives set in universes like Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar.
We’ll look at why Warhammer miniatures don’t fit into the “collectible” category, shedding light on the nature of their production, availability, and value compared to true collectibles.
The Core Difference: Game Function Over Collectibility
One of the key distinctions between Warhammer miniatures and traditional collectible items like Pokémon cards or Magic cards is their primary function. While cards in those games are often sought for rarity or power level in gameplay, Warhammer miniatures serve primarily as game pieces, not collectibles.
Their purpose is to be assembled, painted, and used in tabletop battles, where the value lies in the hobby experience rather than rarity or resale value. This is mainly because the meta (and allowable datasheets) in Warhammer switch faster than a jack rabbit outrunning your car.
This means that by the time you buy, build, and paint a unit, they might have already fallen out of the meta… or even worse, gone to Legends and out of the game.
This is not to say that certain miniatures don’t experience temporary surges in demand. However, Games Workshop has a different approach when it comes to production. Unlike Magic: The Gathering’s “Reserve List,” which guarantees that certain cards will never be reprinted, Games Workshop does not implement such restrictions on their miniatures.
Finite Shelf Life of Products
Warhammer miniatures are produced with a finite shelf life. Games Workshop often releases new models or updates older ones as the game evolves. As a result, some miniatures may even be considered outdated shortly after release if newer versions or updated rules render them less competitive on the tabletop.
This rapid cycle of updates, driven by new game editions or rulesets, means that certain miniatures may no longer hold the same appeal in gameplay after a while.
This contrasts sharply with Pokémon cards, where rare cards can maintain or even grow in value over time, simply due to scarcity and high demand from collectors. Magic cards operate in a similar way, with many rare or powerful cards becoming prized possessions. Warhammer miniatures, by comparison, are more transient in their market presence.
“Limited” Releases Aren’t Truly Limited
Games Workshop often markets certain miniatures as “limited” releases, creating the appearance of exclusivity. However, as many seasoned players and hobbyists have noticed, these limited releases are rarely truly gone for good.
Games Workshop frequently monitors the secondary market and will re-release miniatures through methods like Made to Order (MTO) programs or as part of bundle sets, much like the re-release of the Space Marine Heroes in the new Kill Team starter that came back to meet the ongoing demand.
A key frustration for many fans is that Games Workshop doesn’t provide advanced notice when they plan to re-release older models, launch new MTO programs, or introduce new boxed sets. This uncertainty often leaves hobbyists with difficult decisions, sometimes feeling forced to pay inflated prices on the secondary market for models they believe may never return.
Then, out of nowhere, Games Workshop will surprise the community with a re-release of a previously “limited edition” model, causing the market value to drop and leaving those who paid a premium feeling frustrated. The Kill Team Starter is the perfect example, as some people paid upwards of $80-$100 for just the Nurgle Sorcerer from Space Marine Heroes 3, and now… it’s getting relaunched in a box as a non-limited model.
This lack of communication can create a cycle of speculation, where collectors pay high prices for rare or limited-run models, only to see them reintroduced later at standard retail prices. For this reason, it’s wise to approach the secondary market with caution.
Paying a higher price upfront for a rare miniature may not be necessary, as there’s always a chance that Games Workshop will bring it back through MTO or in a new bundle release.
This strategy ensures that fans can still acquire older models without resorting to inflated prices on the secondary market. While some might argue this reduces the rarity or collectibility of specific miniatures, it speaks to Games Workshop’s approach to accessibility—ensuring that most players can access the miniatures they need for the game.
However, for those caught in the cycle of paying secondary market premiums, it can be a frustrating experience.
Value Tied to Demand, Not Rarity
When it comes to Warhammer and 40k miniatures, the value of a model is almost always tied to demand, and that demand is often influenced by gameplay rather than rarity (even though almost all new releases seem limited, as GW’s CEO promised all new releases would continue to sell out). If a particular model or unit performs well under the current ruleset, demand will spike, but this value is always temporary.
Games Workshop’s tendency to balance the game with new rules, codices, or entirely new editions means that a model that is in high demand today might be far less appealing after a rule change.
Moreover, some models are region-locked or available only through certain paywalls, which might create temporary scarcity. However, these factors rarely translate into long-term collectibility in the way that limited-run cards in Magic or Pokémon do.
Instead, the price and desirability of a Warhammer miniature fluctuate based on gameplay trends, often driven by the latest tournament-winning lists or narrative scenarios.
Collect Warhammer For The Love, Not For Collectible Value
One of the best pieces of advice for any Warhammer hobbyist or fan is to invest in the models they love—whether for gameplay, painting, or narrative reasons—rather than expecting them to increase in value over time because they are “collectible.” Warhammer is a hobby built on passion, creativity, and storytelling. The enjoyment comes from crafting your own armies, exploring the lore, and playing epic battles.
The beauty of Warhammer lies in the flexibility and customization of its models, which means they are often valued for their aesthetic and emotional connection to the hobbyist rather than any monetary worth. No, Warhammer miniatures are not collectible, not by any means.
Final Thoughts: Warhammer Miniatures Are Not Collectible
While there are moments of hype and demand that might mimic the collectible card game world, Warhammer miniatures should not be viewed as collectible investments. Games Workshop’s business model, with frequent re-releases and product updates, ensures that the value of a miniature is more connected to its utility on the tabletop and the satisfaction of the hobby than any potential for resale.
The key takeaway is simple: until something changes, Warhammer miniatures are tools for creative expression and strategic gameplay, not rare collectible items meant to sit untouched on a shelf.
Warhammer 40k Factions Explained: A Complete Guide to Every Army
What do you think about how GW really doesn’t have true collectible Warhammer miniatures?
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, 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 models made of both pewter and resin.
