Imperial Guard Starter Set: Unleash the Might of the Astra Militarum

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. And in the midst of this endless conflict, the Imperial Guard stands as the stalwart defenders of humanity, countless billions of brave men and women ready to lay down their lives for the Emperor. If you’re eager to join their ranks and command your own army of loyal soldiers, the Imperial Guard Starter Set is the perfect place to begin.

Looking for a different race? We suggest the Chaos Starter Set for Warhammer 40k if you are into a more evil army!

The Astra Militarum: Guardians of the Imperium

The Astra Militarum, also known as the Imperial Guard, stands as the first line of defense against the myriad threats that beset the Imperium of Man. Comprised of the everyday man and women from across the galaxy, the Imperial Guard is a diverse and resilient fighting force, united in their unwavering loyalty to the Emperor of Mankind.

From the disciplined ranks of the Cadian Shock Troops to the rugged survivalists of the Catachan Jungle Fighters, the Imperial Guard encompasses a wide range of specialties and combat doctrines.

These soldiers face the horrors of the galaxy with nothing but their lasguns, flak armor, and indomitable courage, often laying down their lives to protect the citizens of the Imperium from the ravages of xenos, heretics, and traitors.

As an Imperial Guard commander, it is your duty to lead your troops to victory, utilizing every resource at your disposal to outmaneuver and overwhelm the enemy.

Key Takeaways:

• The Imperial Guard Starter Set is an excellent entry point for those looking to start or expand their Astra Militarum army.
• The set includes a variety of essential units, such as Cadian Shock Troops, Armoured Sentinels, a Leman Russ Battle Tank, and a Chimera Armored Transport.
• Customization options allow you to tailor your units to specific battlefield roles and create a unique army.
• Assembling and painting your miniatures is a rewarding experience that brings your army to life on the tabletop.
• Expanding your Imperial Guard army is easy with the wide range of additional units available.

 What’s Included in the Imperial Guard Starter Set?

Let’s dive into the contents of this fantastic starter set:

Imperial Guard Starter Set:  Astra Militarum Combat Patrol

The Astra Militarum Combat Patrol is the perfect starting point for a new Imperial Guard army. This set contains a selection of key units, allowing you to field a Combat Patrol-sized force right out of the box.

What’s in the box: 

• 1 Cadian Command Squad (5 models)
• 20 Cadian Shock Troops
• 1 Armoured Sentinel (can also be built as a Scout Sentinel)
• 2 Ordnance Teams
• Appropriate bases for all models

The set also comes with a Cadian Infantry Transfer Sheet featuring 597 transfers for customizing your models with various regimental heraldry and markings. All models are supplied with their appropriate bases and are ready for assembly and painting.

Imperial Guard Starter Set: Cadian Shock Troops

The backbone of any Astra Militarum army, the Cadian Shock Troops are renowned for their expert marksmanship and unwavering dedication to the Imperium.

This kit includes 10 multipart plastic Shock Troopers, each armed with frag grenades and lasguns. The Sergeant leading the squad can be equipped with either a drum-fed autogun, or a chainsword with a laspistol or bolt pistol.

What’s in the box: 

• 10 multipart plastic Cadian Shock Troopers
• Frag grenades and lasguns for each Shock Trooper
• Options for a Sergeant with a drum-fed autogun, or a chainsword with a laspistol or bolt pistol
• Special weapons: flamer, grenade launcher, meltagun, and plasma gun
• Vox-caster for tactical communication
• Over 20 different heads and numerous cosmetic options
• 10 Citadel 25mm Round Bases
• 1 Cadian Infantry Transfer Sheet with 597 transfers

The set also comes with an array of special weapons, such as a flamer, grenade launcher, meltagun, and plasma gun, allowing you to customize your squad for various battlefield roles. A vox-caster is included for tactical communication. With over 20 different heads and numerous cosmetic options, you can ensure that each squad has its own unique appearance.

Imperial Guard Starter Set: Armoured Sentinel

The Armoured Sentinel is a versatile light walker that provides fast-attack support for your Astra Militarum army.

This highly customizable kit allows you to arm your Sentinel with an autocannon, heavy flamer, missile launcher, multi-laser, or plasma cannon, making it adaptable to any combat situation. You can further enhance its melee capabilities with a poseable Sentinel chainsaw and increase its firepower with a hunter-killer missile.

What’s in the box: 

• 1 multipart plastic Armoured Sentinel kit
• Weapon options: autocannon, heavy flamer, missile launcher, multi-laser, or plasma cannon
• Poseable Sentinel chainsaw and hunter-killer missile options
• Parts to build a Scout Sentinel variant
• 1 Citadel 80mm Round Base
• 1 Astra Militarum Vehicle Transfer Sheet with 475 transfers

The kit also includes options for a Scout Sentinel variant, which sacrifices some durability for increased speed and mobility in certain warzones.

Imperial Guard Starter Set:  Leman Russ Battle Tank

As the primary battle tank of the Imperial Guard, the Leman Russ forms the spearhead of countless armoured columns.

This versatile vehicle can be built with one of seven turret weapons, including a battle cannon, demolisher battle cannon, eradicator nova cannon, executioner plasma cannon, exterminator autocannon, punisher gatling cannon, or vanquisher battle cannon. This allows you to tailor your Leman Russ to specific battlefield roles, from tank-busting to anti-infantry.

What’s in the box: 

• 1 multipart plastic Leman Russ Battle Tank kit
• Turret weapon options: battle cannon, demolisher battle cannon, eradicator nova cannon, executioner plasma cannon, exterminator autocannon, punisher gatling cannon, or vanquisher battle cannon
• Hull-mounted weapon options: lascannon, heavy bolter, or heavy flamer
• Sponson-mounted weapon options: heavy bolters, heavy flamers, multi-meltas, or plasma cannons
• Cosmetic options and parts to build a Tank Commander variant
• 1 Astra Militarum Vehicle Transfer Sheet with 475 transfers

The tank also features a hull-mounted secondary weapon (lascannon, heavy bolter, or heavy flamer) and can be equipped with sponson-mounted guns (heavy bolters, heavy flamers, multi-meltas, or plasma cannons). The kit includes cosmetic options and the choice to build a Tank Commander variant to lead your armoured squadrons.

Imperial Guard Starter Set:  Chimera Armored Transport

The Chimera is a reliable and versatile armored transport vehicle for your Astra Militarum infantry. This multi-part plastic kit comes with various customization options, including a turret-mounted multi-laser, heavy flamer, or heavy bolter, as well as a hull-mounted heavy flamer or heavy bolter. You can also add a hunter-killer missile for extra punch against enemy armor.

What’s in the box: 

• 1 multipart plastic Chimera kit (95 pieces)
• Turret weapon options: multi-laser, heavy flamer, or heavy bolter
• Hull-mounted weapon options: heavy flamer or heavy bolter
• Hunter-killer missile option
• 2 tank commander variants
• Transfer sheet with numerals, sigils, and regimental heraldry (not specified in the product description)

The Chimera’s primary role is to safely transport your infantry across the battlefield, but it can also provide valuable fire support with its varied weapon options.

Please note that paints, glue, and other modeling supplies are not included in these kits and must be purchased separately.

Assembling and Painting Your Imperial Guard

One of the joys of the Warhammer 40K hobby is the opportunity to assemble and paint your miniatures, bringing your army to life on the tabletop. The Imperial Guard Starter Sets comes with miniatures that are supplied unpainted and require assembly. I recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue for a strong bond and Citadel Colour paints for the best results.

When assembling your miniatures, take your time and follow the instructions carefully. Clean any mold lines and fill gaps where necessary to ensure a smooth finish.

Painting your Astra Militarum units can be a fun and rewarding experience, allowing you to create a unique and personalized army.

For painting advice and inspiration, be sure to check out the Squidmar Miniatures where you’ll find helpful tutorials and guides for painting different Astra Militarum regiments and vehicles.

Checkout our guide for the Best Warhammer 40k Paint Sets to get a head start!

Expanding Your Imperial Guard Army

Once you’ve assembled and painted your starter set, you may want to expand your army to take on larger battles. The Astra Militarum range offers a wide variety of additional units to choose from, such as:

• Cadian Command Squads
• Heavy Weapon Teams
• Rough Riders
• Ogryns
• Ratlings
• Valkyries
• Hellhounds

Each unit brings unique skills and capabilities to the battlefield, allowing you to create an army that suits your play style and tactical preferences. At WarhammerUniverse.com, we have a wealth of articles and guides to help you make informed decisions when expanding your Imperial Guard collection.

Playing with Your Imperial Guard Army

With your starter set assembled and painted, it’s time to take your army to the battlefield. The Imperial Guard excel at overwhelming the enemy with waves of infantry and heavy armor. Use your Cadian Shock Troops to capture and hold objectives, while your Armoured Sentinels flank the enemy and your Leman Russ Battle Tanks provide devastating fire support.

Remember to leverage the unique strengths of each unit and work together as a cohesive force. The Imperial Guard may not have the most powerful individual units, but their strength lies in their numbers, discipline, and unwavering loyalty to the Imperium.

If you’re looking for a more in depth guide head over to The Bell of Lost Souls for a more in depth tutorial for the Imperial Guard!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is the Imperial Guard Starter Set suitable for beginners?

A: Yes, the Imperial Guard Starter Set is an excellent choice for beginners. It includes a variety of essential units and provides a solid foundation for building and expanding your army.

Q: Can I use the miniatures in this set for other Warhammer 40K armies?

A: While the units in this set are specific to the Astra Militarum faction, some miniatures, such as the Cadian Shock Troops, can be used as allies in other Imperial armies like the Space Marines or Adeptus Mechanicus.

Q: Do I need to buy additional tools and paints to assemble and paint the miniatures?

A: Yes, you will need Citadel Plastic Glue for assembly and Citadel Colour paints for painting. You may also want to invest in some basic tools like clippers, files, and brushes.

Q: Can I play a game with just the contents of the starter set?

A: While the starter set provides a good selection of units, you may need to expand your army further to meet the minimum points requirement for a standard game of Warhammer 40K. However, you can still use the set to play smaller, introductory games or practice scenarios.

Conclusion

The Imperial Guard Starter Set is an excellent entry point into the world of Warhammer 40K and the Astra Militarum faction. With a diverse range of units, customization options, and expansion possibilities, this set provides a solid foundation for building and growing your army.

Whether you’re a new hobbyist or a seasoned veteran, the Imperial Guard offers a rewarding and challenging experience both on and off the tabletop.