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Hi, trying to begin W40k, wondering which armies were the cheapest possible (I hate the economic state of my country) beside GK (I hate thoses shinny pseudo-paladins). And of thoses armies, which build is the more efficient (and less costly)

From what I hear, playing a Nidzilla arm is cheap. It's a few models for a hefty price, not a ton of models for a moderate price.

It's cheaper, is what I'm trying to say.

Realistically, the cheapest army is the one you like the most. (I know, it sounds cheesy) If your first army is one you absolutely love, you will probably not find yourself looking for something new in a couple years' time. Take the time to look through army fluff and some of their specific rules. Make sure your first choice is the best, it's a measure twice cut once idea.

IG and Orks might run you a little more than most armies, simply because of the amount of men you'd need to feild.

The problem with Nidzilla is that even though you have few models, those models are expensive. And Nidzilla still requires some smaller bugs - new Nidzilla moreso than old.

You're looking at Hive Tyrants, Trygons and Tervigons. All of which cost about twice what a regular squad costs. So say you have 3 Trygons, a Hive Tyrant and a pair of Tervigons. You could buy about 5-6 infantry squads for another army (or 3-4 Marine squads since they're rather pricey now), which is the bulk of the army.

Add to that you'll likely be still putting in 4-6 Hive Guard, which could get you 3-5 transports or other tanks, plus 5-6 boxes of Termagants for your initial broods to make the Tervigons troops, plus spawn, and you're looking at well, just being the equivalent price of another similarly sized army.

Tyranids aren't cheap, and you can't really make them cheap by going Nidzilla.

The most cost effective army is the one you can get second hand. Ask around.

I thought canada was doing better off than other places.

Anyways, good advice so far. Your favorite army won't feel as expensive, and there are ways to build armies for cheaper, like getting stuff second hand and learning to be good at conversions. For example, I'm currently building 9 lascannon heavy weapons teams. Were I to buy them at face value, it would cost me $135. Instead, I'm using bitz orders and regular cadians to accomplish the same feat for $90 because I'm good with a hobby knife. If, in the future, I want to run 9 autocannon teams, instead of plonking down another $135, that same feat would be $0.

As for which are cheaper in general, they tend to be "force concentration" armies - armies that rely on a small number of elite units to hammer into one part of your opponents stuff and achieve local superiority. There are several power armies that do this, like GK, BA, and CSM. This feat can also be achieved with eldar and tyranid if you're so desiring of those armies. Basically, just stay away from guard, tau, witch hunters, and most (but not all) builds of orks, and you'll probably be fine.

To repeat the warning, though, no sense spending a lot of money on an army you don't like if you could have spent just a little more for one that you do.

Orks are remarkably cheap due to their presence in the starter set. If you spend some time combing ebay you can get them for less then a dollar each.

Ailaros wrote:I thought canada was doing better off than other places.

It is... GW charges us a lot more than the US for minis though, it's a huge piss-off.

If you plan on buying 100% new, a GK Draigowing is the cheapest you'll get - 3 boxes of GK Terminators, a couple autocannon Dreadnoughts and Draigo will get you a 2000pt army.

If you wanna buy used, you can get a 2000pts+ Space Marines army for <$300 with ease.

I hear doing a Wraithguard spam list these days is pretty cheap even for new players




Kind Regards,
Vladsimpaler

Squidmanlolz wrote:Realistically, the cheapest army is the one you like the most. (I know, it sounds cheesy) If your first army is one you absolutely love, you will probably not find yourself looking for something new in a couple years' time. Take the time to look through army fluff and some of their specific rules. Make sure your first choice is the best, it's a measure twice cut once idea.

IG and Orks might run you a little more than most armies, simply because of the amount of men you'd need to feild.

Well, you could have 3 LR executioners and half half your army right there. lol If you play tanks spam guard it might be a little less expensive.

Andilus Greatsword wrote:

Ailaros wrote:I thought canada was doing better off than other places.

It is... GW charges us a lot more than the US for minis though, it's a huge piss-off.

If you plan on buying 100% new, a GK Draigowing is the cheapest you'll get - 3 boxes of GK Terminators, a couple autocannon Dreadnoughts and Draigo will get you a 2000pt army.

If you wanna buy used, you can get a 2000pts+ Space Marines army for <$300 with ease.

Well I just put those GK items into a GW shopping cart plus the respective codex and that puts you at $294 USD directly from Games Workshop.

Find a FLGS that doesnt charge the GW prices and you are looking at about $225 for a full GK army.

(Damn why did I figure that out for you... Now I want a GK army if thats all its gonna cost me.... BLAST.)