Warhammer Underworlds is one of the most accessible entry points into Games Workshop’s hobby ecosystem. It is a competitive skirmish game for 2 players, played with small warbands of 3–9 miniatures on a compact hex board. Each warband has its own pre-built deck of cards, making it playable out of the box without deckbuilding experience. This guide covers everything you need to know to start playing Warhammer Underworlds.
Accuracy note: Warhammer Underworlds rules, card sets, and seasonal rotations change regularly with each new edition. This guide reflects the game as of mid-2025. Check the GW Warhammer Underworlds page for the current format before purchasing.
What Is Warhammer Underworlds?
Warhammer Underworlds (often called “Underworlds” or “WHU”) is a standalone skirmish game set in the Age of Sigmar universe. Unlike most GW games, Underworlds is designed as a competitive, balanced game with organised play at the forefront — every warband is tested and balanced against all others, which is rare in the GW product range.
Key characteristics that distinguish Underworlds from other GW games:
- Small warband size: 3–9 miniatures per player. You can paint an entire Underworlds warband in a weekend.
- No army building: Each warband comes with its own miniatures and a complete set of cards. You play with what’s in the box.
- Fast games: A full game takes 45–90 minutes. Much faster than full-scale 40k or Age of Sigmar battles.
- Competitive balance: GW actively balances Underworlds for competitive play, issuing FAQs and balance updates regularly.
- Standalone boxes: Each warband box is a complete product. You do not need the core game to play — just a warband and an opponent with their own warband.
How to Start Playing Warhammer Underworlds
Option 1: Buy a Starter Set
The easiest way to start is with a two-player starter set, which includes two warbands, the game board, all necessary dice, tokens, and a rulebook. This gives everything two new players need to learn and play the game immediately. Starter sets are designed as introductory products with simplified card pools that teach the core mechanics before adding complexity.
| Product | Contents | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Warhammer Underworlds | Core starter — 2 warbands, boards, dice, cards | Check price → |
Option 2: Buy Two Individual Warbands
Individual warband boxes are sold separately and each contains a complete warband with miniatures and a full deck of faction-specific cards. Two players can each buy a warband they prefer thematically, then share a game board between them. This approach lets you choose warbands based on the faction or aesthetic you prefer rather than being assigned them by a starter set.
How Warhammer Underworlds Works: Core Rules Overview
A game of Underworlds is played over three rounds. Each round, players alternate activating their fighters — each fighter can move, attack, or perform special actions. After all activations, both players score their objective cards and the round ends. The player with the most glory points (victory points) after three rounds wins.
The Deck System
Each player’s deck consists of two card types: Objective cards et Power cards. Objective cards define how you score points — each warband has objectives suited to its playstyle (aggressive warbands score for taking out enemies; objective warbands score for controlling specific board hexes). Power cards include upgrades for fighters, gambits (one-use tricks), and spells. Playing the right card at the right moment is the core strategic depth of the game.
Dice and Attacks
Underworlds uses custom dice with symbols rather than numbers. Each fighter has an attack profile specifying: number of dice to roll, what symbols score hits (smash, crit, or channel), how much damage each hit deals, and the attack’s range. Defenders roll defence dice to block. The combination of varied attack and defence profiles across warbands creates tactical diversity without complex stat tables.
Board and Hexes
The game is played on a pair of hex board tiles placed adjacent to each other. The specific arrangement of tiles changes each game and is agreed between players — different configurations create different strategic challenges. Each hex fits exactly one fighter. Positioning, line-of-sight, and range are all measured in hexes, eliminating measurement tape entirely.
Popular Warhammer Underworlds Warbands for Beginners
Steelheart’s Champions (Stormcast Eternals)
A classic starter warband: 3 heavily armoured Stormcast Eternals. Durable and straightforward — their high defence and wound values are forgiving for new players learning the game. The objective deck rewards aggressive play and pushing toward the enemy. One of the easiest warbands to learn the game with.
The Farstriders (Stormcast Eternals)
Three Stormcast Vanguard-Hunters — faster and more mobile than Steelheart’s Champions. Ranged attacks and mobility make them a different play pattern from the standard aggressive approach. Good choice for players who prefer a more tactical, positioning-focused game style.
Garrek’s Reavers (Khorne Bloodreavers)
Five Khorne-aligned fighters — fragile individually but numerous and aggressive. Objectives reward killing enemies. Fast games with this warband as they aim to eliminate opposing fighters before collecting points. A satisfying high-aggression playstyle for players who enjoy offensive pressure.
Painting Warhammer Underworlds Miniatures
One of Underworlds’ greatest strengths as a hobby entry point is the miniature count — 3–9 models per warband. This is achievable for any painter in a single weekend, including assembly and basing. Unlike an army-scale project that takes months, an Underworlds warband delivers the satisfaction of a complete, painted collection quickly.
Underworlds miniatures are single-pose push-fit models (most require no glue and no clippers for assembly) with excellent detail levels. They are designed for the display cabinet as much as the gaming table, which makes them rewarding to paint even at a basic level. The small number of models also justifies spending more time per model than you would on a rank-and-file infantry squad.
For painting supplies, see our spray primer guide, brush recommendationset washes guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the core set to play Warhammer Underworlds?
No. Individual warband boxes are complete products — if two players each have a warband and share a game board, you can play without the core starter set. However, the starter set includes the basic board, dice, tokens, and a simplified card pool ideal for learning the game, so it is still the recommended first purchase for new players.
How many players can play Warhammer Underworlds?
The standard game is for exactly 2 players. There are official multiplayer variants, but competitive and casual play is primarily designed around the 2-player format.
Is Warhammer Underworlds different from Age of Sigmar?
Yes — significantly. Underworlds is a separate, standalone game that happens to be set in the Age of Sigmar universe. The rules, miniatures, and game structure are entirely different. An Underworlds warband cannot be used in Age of Sigmar without purchasing additional components and making separate decisions about army construction.
How long does a game of Warhammer Underworlds take?
A full game takes 45–90 minutes for experienced players. Learning games with new players typically take 90–120 minutes as rules are looked up and decisions take longer. Underworlds is significantly faster to play than full-scale 40k or Age of Sigmar, which can run 3–5+ hours per game.
Which is better to start with — Underworlds or Kill Team?
Both are small-scale GW skirmish games. Kill Team (Warhammer 40k universe) is more complex with more tactical depth and a wider range of factions. Underworlds is simpler to learn, faster to play, and has a smaller miniature count per warband. For complete beginners to GW games, Underworlds is the lower-friction entry point. Kill Team is better for players who want more tactical complexity and are already interested in the 40k universe.