How to Start a Wargame Miniature Army on a Budget

How to Start a Wargame Miniature Army on a Budget

Building a wargame army sounds expensive. Walk into any hobby store, pick up a single box of ten plastic soldiers, and you are already down $40-60. Multiply that by five or ten units, add a rulebook, dice, terrain, and paint — suddenly "getting started" costs more than a gaming console.

It does not have to. This guide shows you how to build a complete, painted, tabletop-ready wargame army for under $200 using smart choices in scale, material, and sourcing.

What Is a "Wargame Army" Anyway?

In miniature wargaming, an "army" is your collection of models that follows a specific faction list. Games like Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, Star Wars: Legion, and Bolt Action publish army lists with minimum and maximum model counts. A typical starter army ranges from 20 to 60 models, depending on the game and faction.

The trick is not buying everything at once. It is buying in phases that let you learn the rules, practice painting, and expand naturally.

Phase 1: Pick Your Game and Faction ($0)

Before you spend a cent, decide two things: which rules system, and which faction within it. This choice dictates every purchase that follows.

Budget-Friendly Game Systems

Game Starter Army Size Cost to Start Why It Is Budget-Friendly
One Page Rules (Grimdark / Age of Fantasy) 20-30 models $0-30 Free rules, 3D-printable models
Frostgrave 10 models + warband $20-50 Small warbands, generic fantasy
Stargrave 10 models + crew $20-50 Sci-fi equivalent of Frostgrave
Kill Team / Warcry 5-10 models $40-60 Uses a single box as a full team
Warhammer 40K Combat Patrol 25-30 models $150 Boxed starter with rules + dice

Faction Selection Tip

Pick a faction that shares models across multiple units. For example, in 40K, Space Marines use the same tactical marine bodies for troops, elites, and characters — you can kitbash and repaint duplicates instead of buying new boxes.

Phase 2: Get the Rules Free ($0)

Most wargame companies now publish free core rules online: - One Page Rules: Completely free PDF - Warhammer 40K: Free core rules PDF (GW website) - Age of Sigmar: Free core rules PDF - Star Wars Legion: Rules reference free on Atomic Mass website

Download and read them before buying anything. You will know exactly what models you need and what equipment they can legally carry.

Phase 3: Source Your Miniatures Smart ($50-100)

Option A: Second-Hand Market

Platform What You Will Find Typical Price
eBay Painted/unpainted lots, single units 30-60% off retail
r/Miniswap (Reddit) Direct trades and sales 40-70% off
Facebook hobby groups Local pickup, bulk lots 50% off or better
Local game stores Boneyard/bargain bins $1-5 per model

Pro tip: search for "poorly painted" lots. A bad paint job drops the price by half, but a bath in Simple Green or isopropyl alcohol strips the paint in an hour. You get a clean model for half price.

Option B: 3D-Printed Alternatives

The rise of 3D-printable wargame models has changed the budget landscape. Instead of $50 for a box of ten plastic soldiers, you can buy a digital STL file for $5-10 and print as many as you want.

For players without a printer, print-on-demand services and custom miniature shops now sell affordable unpainted resin miniatures at $2-5 each. At Minis Forge, we offer budget tabletop miniatures starting at $4.99, fully 3D printed and ready to paint.

Option C: Starter Boxes

Most wargame companies sell starter boxes that include two small forces, dice, a ruler, and a starter rulebook. Split the box with a friend and you each get a playable army for $40-75.

Phase 4: Essential Tools ($20-30)

You do not need a $200 airbrush setup to start. Here is the bare minimum:

Tool Purpose Budget Pick
Brushes (size 0, 1, 2) Base coating, details, dry brushing $8-12 set
Acrylic paints (8-12 colors) Base + highlights + wash $15-20 starter set
Plastic glue or super glue Assembly $3-5
Primer spray (black or white) Base coat adhesion $8-10
Side cutters Removing models from sprues $5-8
Palette (old ceramic tile) Mixing paint Free

Total tool investment: $20-30. Everything else is a luxury upgrade.

Phase 5: Paint Your First Model ($0, just time)

Do not paint your entire army at once. Paint one model from start to finish using this sequence:

  1. Assemble and prime — black or white spray, thin even coat
  2. Base coat — paint every surface its base color
  3. Wash — thin dark paint into recesses for instant shadow
  4. Dry brush — light color over raised edges for instant highlight
  5. Basing — glue to a base, add sand or flock, paint the rim

This five-step method takes 2-3 hours per model and produces tabletop-quality results. Paint five models, and you will be faster. Paint twenty, and you will develop your own shortcuts.

Phase 6: Expand Gradually ($10-20 per month)

Once you have a painted starter force of 10-20 models, add one unit per month. Buy what your army list needs, not what looks cool in the store window. A slow, disciplined expansion keeps your hobby spending under $20/month.

Sample Budget Breakdown: $150 Total

Item Cost
20 unpainted resin miniatures (3D printed) $40
10 second-hand eBay models (stripped and repainted) $30
Brushes + paints + primer + glue $30
Rulebook (free PDF + printed at library) $5
Basing materials (sand, flock, PVA glue) $10
One character/hero model (commission or premium) $35
Total $150

You now have 30+ models, painted, based, and rules-ready. That is a full army for the price of one AAA video game.

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Summary

  1. Pick a free or low-cost rule system
  2. Download the free rules before buying anything
  3. Buy second-hand or 3D-printed models to cut costs 50-70%
  4. Start with $20-30 in basic brushes, paint, and primer
  5. Paint one model completely before batch-painting the rest
  6. Expand at $10-20/month to stay under budget

Your first wargame army does not need to cost a fortune. It needs patience, smart shopping, and a willingness to learn as you paint.

Minis Forge Studio — Custom hand-painted collectible statues & 3D printed miniatures, made to order.

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