Short answer: Games Workshop revealed seven Warhammer 40,000 Christmas Battleforces on October 19, 2026:
- Space Marines Indomitus Task Force
- Chaos Knights Helhunt Lance
- Orks Armoured Blitzmob
- Space Wolves Champions of Fenris
- Blood Angels Angelus Assault Force
- Chaos Space Marines Cult of Destruction
- Necrons Disciples of the Nekrosor
Prices and pre-order dates aren’t out yet. Last year’s Battleforces cost $265 each. If this year’s match that, each box saves roughly $75 to $155 over buying its kits separately, based on Wargamer’s estimates. Cult of Destruction is the best value on paper, and Indomitus Task Force is the easiest box to start a first army with.
Updated October 24, 2026 · Box contents from Games Workshop’s Warhammer Community reveal · Separate-kit values and points are Wargamer’s estimates · Official prices not yet announced
Who this is for: anyone deciding which Battleforce to pre-order this Christmas, whether you’re starting your first Warhammer 40,000 army, adding to one you already own, or buying a gift for someone who plays. Each box below lists exactly what’s inside, what it’s good at, who should buy it, and what the contents would cost on their own.
What are the 2026 Warhammer 40k Battleforces?
Battleforces are Games Workshop’s yearly Christmas bundles. Each one packs several kits from a single army into one box for less than the kits cost separately. Here are the seven for 2026, ranked by estimated value.
| Box | Est. value | Points | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cult of Destruction (Chaos Space Marines) | $419.50 | 945–975 | Best value |
| Helhunt Lance (Chaos Knights) | $408 | 865–930 | Fewest models to paint |
| Armoured Blitzmob (Orks) | $388.50 | 605 | Fast Ork armies |
| Indomitus Task Force (Space Marines) | $380 | 775 | Brand-new players |
| Disciples of the Nekrosor (Necrons) | $377.50 | 890 | Two showpiece models |
| Champions of Fenris (Space Wolves) | $340.50 | 850 | Terminator armies |
| Angelus Assault Force (Blood Angels) | $340 | 645 | Fans of Dante and the Death Company |
“Est. value” is Wargamer’s total for buying each kit on its own at Games Workshop’s US prices. Points are for the units as Wargamer lists them, so treat both as estimates until Games Workshop publishes official prices.
Every 2026 Battleforce box and what’s inside
1. Chaos Space Marines: Cult of Destruction
Inside: Warpsmith, Defiler, Venomcrawler, 2 Obliterators, 5 Havocs, 3 Mutilators.
What it does: this is the heavy-hitting box. You get two daemon engines, the Defiler and the Venomcrawler, plus Havocs carrying heavy weapons and two kinds of hulking elite infantry. The Warpsmith is a technician who leads the force and keeps those machines running. Games Workshop pitches it as an Iron Warriors army, but the kits work for any Chaos warband.
Who it’s for: Chaos players, and anyone who wants the most stuff for the money. Wargamer puts the separate value at about $419.50, the highest of the seven, and the box comes close to a full 1,000-point army on its own.
2. Chaos Knights: Helhunt Lance
Inside: a Knight Ruinator, which you can build as a Knight Abominant, Rampager or Desecrator instead, and 4 War Dog Stalkers, which can also be built as Brigands or Karnivores.
What it does: one huge Chaos Knight walks up the middle of the table while four smaller War Dogs hunt down targets on the flanks. Every model has build options, so the same box can field very different armies.
Who it’s for: painters who want an army without painting dozens of models. It’s only five models, but Wargamer estimates it at 865 to 930 points and about $408 in separate kits.
3. Orks: Armoured Blitzmob
Inside: Warboss in Mega Armour, a Battlewagon (which can be built as a Gunwagon instead), a Deff Dread, 3 Meganobz and 10 Ork Boyz. The box art says 18 Citadel miniatures.
What it does: it’s built around getting Orks into close combat fast. Games Workshop suggests loading the Warboss and Meganobz into the Gunwagon, or building the Battlewagon so it can carry all 10 Boyz at once.
Who it’s for: Ork players who have wanted a Battlewagon. It’s also a fun first army, since every unit in it heads straight for the fight. Wargamer values the contents at about $388.50.
4. Space Marines: Indomitus Task Force
Inside: Captain in Terminator Armour, Chaplain, Redemptor Dreadnought, 5 Terminators, 5 Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs and 10 Intercessors. The box art says 24 Citadel miniatures.
What it does: a little of everything. The Intercessors hold objectives and shoot, the Terminators and the Captain are tough elite infantry, the Jump Pack squad gets into melee fast, and the Redemptor Dreadnought brings the big guns. Games Workshop describes it as “a versatile core” to build a Space Marines army around.
Who it’s for: brand-new players, and anyone buying for one. Space Marines have the biggest model range in the game, and this box covers every role a starting army needs. Wargamer estimates the contents at about $380 and 775 points.
5. Necrons: Disciples of the Nekrosor
Inside: C’tan Shard of the Nightbringer, Nekrosor Ammentar, 3 Ophydian Destroyers, a Canoptek Doomstalker, 10 Necron Warriors and 3 Canoptek Scarab Swarms.
What it does: two big centerpieces, the Nightbringer and Nekrosor Ammentar, backed by the Necron mainstays: a squad of Warriors, Scarab Swarms, a Doomstalker and burrowing Ophydian Destroyers.
Who it’s for: new and existing Necron players who want the C’tan centerpiece. Wargamer estimates about $377.50 and 890 points, among the highest point totals in the lineup.
6. Space Wolves: Champions of Fenris
Inside: Logan Grimnar, Arjac Rockfist and 15 Wolf Guard Terminators. The box art says 17 Citadel miniatures.
What it does: it’s three squads of Terminators led by the Great Wolf himself and his champion, a slow, very tough force that wins by grinding through the enemy.
Who it’s for: Space Wolves players who want a wall of Terminators. It’s narrow for a first army, since it’s almost all one unit type. Wargamer estimates it at about $340.50, one of the two lowest values in the lineup.
7. Blood Angels: Angelus Assault Force
Inside: Commander Dante, a Blood Angels Chaplain with Jump Pack, a Death Company Brutalis Dreadnought, 3 Sanguinary Guard, 5 Death Company Marines with Jump Packs and a Blood Angels upgrade frame.
What it does: every infantry model drops in from above while the Brutalis Dreadnought charges up the field to draw fire. It’s an all-in melee force led by Dante.
Who it’s for: Blood Angels fans, especially if you don’t own Dante or a Brutalis yet. At about $340 in separate kits and 645 points, it’s the lowest estimated value of the seven.
Which Battleforce should you buy?
- Starting your first army: Indomitus Task Force. It covers every role, and Space Marines have the biggest range of models to grow into. Completely new to the game? See our best Warhammer 40k starter set guide first.
- The most for your money: Cult of Destruction. It has the highest estimated value and the most points.
- Short on painting time: Helhunt Lance. Five models make up nearly 900 points.
- You already play the faction: buy your army’s box. Any of the seven saves money if you’d buy two or three of the kits anyway.
- Buying a gift: if they already play, ask which army before you buy. If they’re new, Indomitus Task Force is the safe pick.
When can you pre-order the 2026 Battleforces, and how much will they cost?
Games Workshop hasn’t announced either yet. It says the boxes will be “available for pre-order soon” and that it will share the date first on Warhammer Community.
- Price: last year’s Battleforces were $265 (£165) each, so expect something similar. That works out to savings of roughly $75 (Blood Angels) to $155 (Chaos Space Marines) against Wargamer’s estimates.
- Timing: hobby sites expect pre-orders in the second half of November. Komanders estimates a window of November 14 to 28, and Spikey Bits suggests November 27, but neither date is confirmed.
- Stock: Battleforces are a seasonal release, so the most popular boxes can sell out. Pre-order the one you want rather than waiting until December.
Independent game stores and online retailers often sell Games Workshop boxes for less than the official price, so check your local store when pre-orders open. We’ll update this page with official prices and dates as soon as Games Workshop announces them.
Shopping for the tabletop gamer in your life? See our best gifts for D&D players.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Warhammer 40k Battleforces are there for Christmas 2026?
Seven: Space Marines, Chaos Knights, Orks, Space Wolves, Blood Angels, Chaos Space Marines and Necrons. Games Workshop says Age of Sigmar and Horus Heresy boxes will be revealed separately.
How much are the 2026 Battleforces?
Games Workshop hasn’t announced prices yet. Last year’s Battleforces were $265 (£165) each.
Which 2026 Battleforce is the best value?
Chaos Space Marines: Cult of Destruction. Wargamer estimates its kits at about $419.50 bought separately, the most of any box.
What’s in the Space Marine Battleforce?
The Indomitus Task Force has a Captain in Terminator Armour, a Chaplain, a Redemptor Dreadnought, 5 Terminators, 5 Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs and 10 Intercessors.
When do the 2026 Battleforces release?
No date is confirmed. Pre-orders are expected in late November, and Games Workshop will announce the date on Warhammer Community.
Sources: box contents from Games Workshop’s New Battleforce boxes revealed for Warhammer 40,000 (October 19, 2026); separate-kit values, points and last year’s price from Wargamer’s Battleforce value breakdown; pre-order date estimates from Komanders and Spikey Bits. Images: Games Workshop / Warhammer Community.
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