Warhammer 2025 Christmas Battleforces – The Smartest Way to Start (or Supercharge) an Army

Every holiday season, Games Workshop drops a wave of limited seasonal Warhammer Christmas Battleforce boxes for both Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Age of Sigmar. These bundles combine multiple kits that work together on the tabletop and cost less than buying each box separately—making them the most efficient way to start a new army or add real power to the one you already play.

What’s in the 2025 Wave?

This year’s lineup features seven Warhammer 40,000 Battleforces and four Age of Sigmar Battleforces. Each one assembles into a tight, theme‑driven core that actually plays well together—rather than a random grab‑bag of units. You’ll see a centerpiece leader or monster, a backbone of troops or elite specialists, and synergistic support that turns a box into a ready-made detachment or regiment block.

Why Battleforces Are Ideal for New Players

• Instant Core: You’re not guessing what to buy first. A Battleforce typically covers HQ + key units + tools in one go, so you can build a functional 500–1,000‑point force (40K) or a strong Spearhead into larger games (AoS).
• Guided List‑Building: The mix mirrors how the faction wants to play (melee hammer, gunline, monster mash, cavalry strike, etc.). That makes your first upgrades obvious.
• Better Value: Seasonal pricing is lower than buying kits one by one, so your first army costs less and hits the table faster.
• Paintable Centerpiece: A leader, monster, or distinctive unit in each box gives you a “showpiece” to stay motivated through assembly and painting.

Why Veterans Love Them for Expansions

• Efficient Unit Blocks: You often get a duplicate or complementary unit you already wanted (e.g., another dreadnought, cavalry, or monster) plus supporting tools in the same carton.
• Multi‑Build Options: Many inclusions have alternate builds in the sprues, letting you tailor loadouts or fill a different battlefield role than your existing models.
• Project Cohesion: The curated mix pushes a clear theme—perfect for a new sub‑detachment or an Age of Sigmar regiment with a unified look.

Warhammer 40,000 Battleforces (2025) – At a Glance

Best for New Armies

• Iron Halo Strike Force (Space Marines) – A Captain leads Company Heroes, Sternguard Veterans, Hellblasters, and a two‑dreadnought combo (Ballistus for ranged punch + Redemptor for midfield brawling). Fastest “all‑rounder” start for 40K with durable units and simple upgrades.
• Farsight Cadre (T’au Empire) – Commander Farsight anchors a battlesuit‑heavy strike team with a Riptide, Broadside, and three Crisis Suits—a surgical firepower shell that scales cleanly into bigger suits and Pathfinders.
• Krieg Siege Platoon (Astra Militarum) – A trench‑war “starter army in a box”: Lord Commissar, Krieg Command Squad, 20 Death Korps Troopers, Combat Engineers, and two Artillery Teams for board control and indirect fire.

Best for Expanding Collections

• Blissbound Warband (Emperor’s Children) – Fulgrim with Flawless Blades and Noise Marines gives Heretic Astartes collectors a premier HQ plus melee and sonic firepower in one themed hit.
• Hellforged Warband (Chaos Space Marines) – Lord Discordant, Venomcrawler, Obliterators, Havocs, Legionaries, and a Rhino—a perfect “tech‑horror” tool kit to deepen an existing CSM force.
• Cthonian Prospect (Leagues of Votann) – Brôkhyr Iron‑Master, Thunderkyn, 10 Cthonian Beserks, and the Kapricus vehicle—adds elite muscle and mobility to any Kinhost.
• Crusher Stampede (Tyranids) – Monster mash: Neurotyrant with Screamer‑Killer, Tyrannofex (or Tervigon), Haruspex (or Exocrine), and Maleceptor (or Toxicrene). Great for veterans who want a second wave of big bugs.

Why these 40K picks work: “New army” choices include a reliable leader, core shooting/melee units, and an anchor threat; “expansion” picks give specialists and multipurpose kits that fill gaps in mature collections.

Age of Sigmar Battleforces (2025) – At a Glance

Best for New Armies

• Skryre Warpswarm (Skaven) – Arch‑Warlock, 20 Stormvermin, and a suite of Clans Skryre weapon teams: Ratling Warpblaster, Warplock Jezzails, Acolyte Globadiers, plus a Warpspark Weapon Battery that can be built as Warpvolt Scourgers, Ratling Guns, or Warpfire Throwers. A lethal “mad science” core that plays like classic Skaven.
• Outcast Spitegrove (Sylvaneth) – Drycha Hamadreth, a Spirit of Durthu (or Treelord/Ancient), 15 Spite‑Revenants (or Tree‑Revenants), and 20 Dryads. Great for a forest‑ambush playstyle with big centerpiece models.

Best for Expanding Collections

• Lances of the Crimson Keep (Soulblight Gravelords) – Prince Vhordrai on Revenant Draconith, 10 Blood Knights, and Fell Bats. A premium cavalry spike—ideal if you already run skeleton blocks or grave guard and want a fast, elite hammer.
• Dankhold Rampage (Gloomspite Gitz) – Dankhold Troggboss (or Dankhold Troggoth), 6 Rockgut Troggoths, and 3 Fellwater Troggoths. A brutal troggoth wall—perfect to thicken a Trugg‑led army with high‑toughness brawlers.

Why these AoS picks work: Starter picks provide leader + battleline + signature threats for a cohesive Spearhead path; expansion picks pour elite punch into armies that already have their objective‑holders.

How to Choose the Right Battleforce for You

1) Pick Your Playstyle First

• Want a balanced “teach me the game” force? Space Marines (Iron Halo) or Sylvaneth (Outcast Spitegrove) give forgiving units and clear roles.
• Prefer decisive alpha strikes? T’au (Farsight Cadre) or Soulblight cavalry (Lances of the Crimson Keep) deliver fast, high‑impact turns.
• Love big monsters? Tyranids (Crusher Stampede) or Gitz (Dankhold Rampage) scratch the “centerpiece” itch.
• Enjoy toolbox lists and tricks? Skaven (Skryre Warpswarm) and Chaos Space Marines (Hellforged Warband) are full of lethal utility.

2) Plan Your First Add‑On

• 40K: After a Battleforce, add a Combat Patrol or a specialist/HQ kit that amplifies your theme (e.g., Apothecary Biologis for Marines, Pathfinders for T’au, Lictors/another big bug for Tyranids).
• AoS: Move from Spearhead to bigger games by adding a Regiment‑sized unit (e.g., more Dryads or Blood Knights) or a support hero to unlock faction rules at larger points.

3) Think Hobby Workflow

• One‑box/one‑week goal: Build and prime everything; fully paint the hero + one unit.
• Batch paint the rest: Keep sub‑assemblies simple; use a speed recipe you can repeat across multiple units.
• Reward yourself: Finish with the monster/dreadnought—your showcase piece.

Value, Savings & Seasonality

• Bundled savings: Battleforces are priced lower than purchasing kits individually, so you capture value immediately.
• Seasonal release: These are holiday boxes with limited availability each year; plan ahead for pre‑order weekends.
• Resale & flexibility: If a unit doesn’t fit your plan, many are popular trade fodder—especially elite troops, cavalry, or big monsters.

Painting & Hobby Tips for Big Box Projects

• Prime by sub‑type: One color for infantry, another for monsters/vehicles to speed batch steps.
• Three‑step pop: Base → shade → edge highlight. Reserve fancy techniques (OSL, weathering) for the centerpiece.
• Transfers & decals: Gloss > decal > softener > matte for a painted‑on look—great on tanks, dreadnoughts, and shields.
• Terrain touch: A quick basing recipe unifies a multi‑kit box. Desert, ash wastes, or forest bases tie squads together visually.

Link to Shop

Shop Warhammer 40,000 – New & In‑Stock

Shop Warhammer Age of Sigmar – New & In‑Stock

FAQs – Warhammer 2025 Christmas Battleforces (tap + to expand)