If you’re wondering what’s next after the Armageddon box, here’s what to buy for Orks and Space Marines, what to skip, and when to wait for new minis.
For Space Marines, that answer is pretty forgiving. Primaris is Primaris, and most modern Marine kits slot together cleanly whether they came from a starter, Battleforce, Combat Patrol, or whatever bundle box your local game store has. Orks are a different beast these days because the new Armageddon models point toward a fresher design direction, which makes older kits feel a lot riskier if you’re trying to build an army that won’t look half-retired by the next preview.
So the smart move for adding to either side of the Armageddon box is simple: Marines can expand pretty freely, while Orks should buy newer kits and wait for GW to show more of the next release wave before going too wild.
Built the Space Marines from Armageddon? Here’s what to grab next.
Space Marines are the easy half of the Armageddon follow-up plan because there isn’t much visually to match when it comes to the models. The current Primaris range is already pretty unified, so you don’t need some special Armageddon-specific kit to keep the army looking right.
That makes any solid Space Marine bundle worth considering, especially if you can still find one of the Christmas Battleforces. Those boxes are usually the overall best way to add real army weight without buying every unit one kit at a time. If your Armageddon force needs more bodies, more punch, or just enough plastic to start feeling like a proper collection instead of a starter army, a discounted (or even slightly more expensive) Battleforce is still one of the better things to add next.
The regular Space Marines Combat Patrol is a bit more awkward. It’s mostly the old push-fit starter models from 10th Edition Leviathan in a new wrapper, and because it’s direct-only, it might not be the thing your local store can easily get for you. That doesn’t make it useless, but it does make it less exciting unless you specifically want those models or find a massive deal on the box.
Don’t Ignore Other The Chapter “Specific” Combat Patrols
The sneaky value with Space Marines is that several “chapter” Combat Patrols are not as locked down as they look if you dont play that chapter. A box may have Dark Angels on the label, but most of the plastic inside can still be perfectly usable generic Space Marine material.
The Dark Angels Combat Patrol is a good example. The whole box works just fine for broader Space Marine armies; there isn’t anything “Dark Angels” specific model-wise in it.
Overall, for the Armageddon expansion, Dreadnoughts and elite infantry are probably the safest add-ons. They add presence, durability, and threat without simply turning the army into another wall of power-armor bodies. In a way, the starter set gives you the base of an army with a few more decisions to make.
Orks Are Legally Required to Buy More Dakka After Every Starter Set: Here’s What You Have to Buy Now
Orks are where the buying advice gets more complicated because the newer models suggest GW has a clearer design direction in mind. That’s great for the faction, but rough on anyone staring at older kits and wondering whether they’re about to buy something that gets replaced in the next wave (and doesn’t quite look the same either).
The safest rule is to stick with newer Ork releases, especially kits from roughly the last five or six years. Ghazghkull is still an easy recommendation. He’s modern, massive, and instantly gives an Ork army the kind of centerpiece that makes an army stand out on the table.
Wazdakka also makes sense if you’re leaning into the newer Armageddon energy, and the Armageddon Battalion from the Return of Yarrick wave could be a strong buy if you can find it at a reasonable price. It fits the theme, adds bulk, and doesn’t feel like you’re gambling on ancient back-catalog plastic.
Older Ork Kits Are the Trap Until Wave Two Arrives
New bikes teased in a terrain video.
The kits to be careful with are the older Ork releases that already look out of step with the newer range. If a model feels undersized, dated, or suspiciously overdue for a refresh, it’s probably not where your hobby money should go right now.
That goes double for anything rumored to be re-released. Buying those kits before GW previews the next Ork wave is asking to get bonked by the teaser hammer. GW has already made it clear that more Orks are coming after Armageddon (and even showed new Bikes when they showed off the pre-painted terrain), so patience is probably worth more than another impulse box at this point.
None of this means you should stop building Orks. It just means buy like someone who knows the green tide is mid-upgrade. Stick to the modern kits, grab the obvious heavy hitters, and let GW reveal what’s next before loading up on older units that may be one announcement away from looking ancient.
Final Thoughts: Buy for the Army You’ll Still Want After the Preview
The best post-Armageddon purchase probably isn’t the flashiest box on the shelf. It’s the one that still feels smart when GW rolls out the next preview, and everyone at the shop starts rethinking their lists. That’s the real danger zone after a big starter: buying for the excitement of the release instead of the army you’ll actually want to build three months from now.
Space Marine players can get away with more impulse shopping because the range is broad, modern, and forgiving. Ork players don’t have that same safety net right now, not while the faction looks like it’s getting a proper glow-up.
So, build with a little patience. Grab the kits that make your army better today without boxing you into yesterday’s range tomorrow. Armageddon is the spark, and the smartest hobby money is getting stuff you won’t regret when Wave Two starts krumpin’ wallets.
đź”— Related Reads:
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- New Ork Armageddon Datasheets: Warboss, Bigboss, Bannernob, Painboy + Weirdboy
- New Ork Detachments for 11th Edition: Three Wildly Different Builds
- Big Mek Dakkarig Rules: New Ork Walker Brings Heavy Dakka
- New Land Speeder Rules: 14″ Move + Updated FLY in 11th Edition
- Warhammer 40k 11th Edition Rules: Big Reveals, Rumors + Predictions
What do you think you’ll be buying next for Space Marines and Orks after Armageddon?
