Warhammer Christmas Battleforces – Are They Good Value This Year?
Warhammer Christmas Battleforces – Are They Good Value This Year?
Every holiday season, Games Workshop drops limited‑run Warhammer Christmas Battleforces—big boxes that bundle popular units at a discount. If you’re hunting value, starting a new army, or rounding out an existing collection, this guide explains how the 2025 bundles stack up, who each box is best for, and a simple checklist to decide whether a Battleforce is the right buy for you.
What Are Battleforces (and Why They Matter for Value)?
Battleforces are once‑a‑year bundles that package multiple kits around a clear theme—typically anchored by a centerpiece unit or character—at a lower price than buying the kits separately. They’re designed to be starter accelerators or collection multipliers, and they usually go up for pre‑order late in the year in limited quantities. Translation: the right box can save you money and hobby time, and give you a tightly focused list to paint over the winter.
2025 Warhammer 40,000 Battleforces (7 Boxes)
1) Blissbound Warband — Emperor’s Children
- Theme: Slaanesh elites led by a Daemon Primarch.
- Headline units: Fulgrim (Daemon Primarch of Slaanesh), 6 Flawless Blades, 6 Noise Marines, plus a transfer sheet.
- Why buy: A character‑led centerpiece army in a box; ideal if you want to jump straight into Emperor’s Children with current sculpts.
2) Cthonian Prospect — Leagues of Votann
- Theme: Kinhost expedition with heavy exo‑suit support.
- Headline units: Brôkhyr Iron‑Master with Ironkin Assistant & 3 E‑COGs, 3 Thunderkyn, 2 Cthonian Earthshakers, 10 Cthonian Berserks, and a Kapricus Defender/Carrier vehicle, plus transfer sheets.
- Why buy: One‑purchase path to a tough, shooty Votann core with new‑range synergy.
3) Crusher Stampede — Tyranids
- Theme: Big‑bug onslaught.
- Headline units: Neurotyrant (+2 Neuroloids), Screamer‑Killer, Tyrannofex (alt build: Tervigon), Haruspex (alt: Exocrine), Maleceptor (alt: Toxicrene).
- Why buy: Massive monster density; superb kit flexibility via multiple alt builds.
4) Farsight Cadre — T’au Empire
- Theme: Signature battlesuit strike force.
- Headline units: Commander Farsight, Riptide, Broadside, 3 Crisis Battlesuits, 8 drones, transfer sheet.
- Why buy: All‑killer, no‑filler suit lineup—great Combat Patrol upgrade path.
5) Iron Halo Strike Force — Space Marines
- Theme: Elite infantry plus dual dreadnoughts.
- Headline units: Captain, Company Heroes, 5 Sternguard, 5 Hellblasters, Ballistus Dreadnought, Redemptor Dreadnought, extra SM head sprues and transfer sheets.
- Why buy: Consistent Marine value with two dreads and flexible elites—easy to slot into any Chapter.
6) Hellforged Warband — Chaos Space Marines
- Theme: Fast, spiky mech‑monstrosities with heavy support.
- Headline units: Lord Discordant on Helstalker, Venomcrawler, 2 Obliterators, 5 Havocs, 10 Legionaries, Rhino, transfer sheets.
- Why buy: Immediate threat saturation; excellent core for any legion paint scheme.
7) Krieg Siege Platoon — Astra Militarum
- Theme: Death Korps trench specialists and artillery.
- Headline units: Lord Commissar, Krieg Command Squad, 20 Death Korps Troopers, Combat Engineers, 2 Artillery Teams with multiple weapon options, transfer sheet.
- Why buy: Infantry‑and‑guns starter in one hit; easy to expand with tanks.
2025 Age of Sigmar Battleforces (4 Boxes)
1) Skryre Warpswarm — Skaven
- Theme: Mad‑science weapon teams with elite bodyguards.
- Headline units: Arch‑Warlock, 20 Stormvermin, Ratling Warpblaster, 3 Warplock Jezzails, 5 Acolyte Globadiers, Warpspark Weapon Battery (build as Warpvolt Scourgers, Ratling Guns, or Warpfire Throwers).
- Why buy: All the fun Skryre toys in one box; flexible artillery builds.
2) Lances of the Crimson Keep — Soulblight Gravelords
- Theme: Vampire cavalry spearhead.
- Headline units: Prince Vhordrai on Revenant Draconith Shordemaire, 10 Blood Knights, 3 Fell Bats.
- Why buy: Cohesive, fast list identity; low model count with elite punch.
3) Dankhold Rampage — Gloomspite Gitz
- Theme: Troggoth monster mash.
- Headline units: Trugg, the Troggoth King, Dankhold Troggboss (alt: Dankhold Troggoth), 6 Rockgut Troggoths, 3 Fellwater Troggoths.
- Why buy: Big, durable models; fun to paint and quick to table.
4) Outcast Spitegrove — Sylvaneth
- Theme: Drycha‑led forest spirits.
- Headline units: Drycha Hamadreth, Spirit of Durthu (alt: Treelord/Treelord Ancient), 15 Spite‑Revenants (alt: Tree‑Revenants), 20 Dryads.
- Why buy: Strong hero + anvil + infantry blend; alt‑build flexibility keeps the box fresh.
Are the Christmas Battleforces Good Value?
Short answer: Yes—if the box aligns with your plan. GW confirms each Battleforce is priced lower than the component kits; historically, savings land in the “meaningful” bracket for most regions. But the best value is the one that avoids shelf‑sitters and duplication you won’t use.
The 60‑Second Value Checklist
- Centerpiece included? Named hero, big monster, or vehicle you actually wanted.
- Duplicates you’ll field? Two of a good unit = great; one keeper + one shelf‑sitter = wasted value.
- Alt builds? Kits with multiple options (Tyranid monsters, Skryre Battery) raise long‑term value.
- List identity: Does the box instantly create a coherent playstyle (e.g., Farsight Cadre, Crimson Keep)?
- Expansion path: Can you hit 1,000–2,000 points elegantly with 1–2 extra kits?
- Paint & time: Low model count + big pieces can be a better “value” if you’re time‑poor.
Best Picks by Player Type (2025)
Starting a New 40k Army
- Space Marines — Iron Halo Strike Force: Two dreadnoughts + elite infantry = a rock‑solid, generalist core that scales into any Chapter.
- T’au — Farsight Cadre: “Suit city” out of the box; perfect if you like mobile shooting and elite tools.
- Astra Militarum — Krieg Siege Platoon: Infantry, engineers, and artillery teams—everything you need for boots‑and‑guns Guard.
Expanding an Existing Collection
- Chaos Space Marines — Hellforged Warband: Lord Discordant + Venomcrawler + Obliterators spike threat quickly; few wasted dupes.
- Tyranids — Crusher Stampede: Multiple monsters with alt builds keep duplicates fresh and flexible.
- Leagues of Votann — Cthonian Prospect: Great if you’ve committed to the new Cthonian kit family; excellent suit/vehicle blend.
Age of Sigmar Standouts
- Soulblight — Lances of the Crimson Keep: Vhordrai + 10 Blood Knights is an immediate, high‑impact game plan with a low model count.
- Skaven — Skryre Warpswarm: Extraordinary toolbox value—Stormvermin bodyguard plus multiple weapons teams and flexible artillery builds.
- Gitz — Dankhold Rampage: A table‑ready monster parade; minimal assembly time relative to model count.
Who Should Skip (or Think Twice)?
- Already own the centerpiece? If you’ve got the exact hero/monster, check resale appetite or consider a different box to diversify.
- Wrong list identity: If you prefer hordes, the elite cavalry/mounted boxes won’t feel efficient—and vice versa.
- Transport/storage: Monster‑heavy boxes are awesome—but measure your case space before you commit.
Points‑on‑Table Efficiency (Practical View)
If you want to hit game‑ready levels fast, look for low‑model, high‑impact Battleforces (e.g., Crimson Keep, Iron Halo, Crusher Stampede). They convert into 1,000‑point lists with very few extra purchases. On the other hand, toolbox boxes (e.g., Skryre Warpswarm, Hellforged Warband) shine for experienced players who enjoy tailoring lists across many missions.
Painting & Hobby Value
- Fewer big models: Great for beginners or time‑poor painters (Troggoths, Dreadnoughts, Tyranid monsters).
- Clean sub‑assemblies: Big kits reward varnish/OSL—add quick win effects for a “Christmas to table by New Year” challenge.
- Alt‑build depth: Consider magnetizing options (Tyranid monsters, Skryre Battery, Tau Battlesuits) to future‑proof the box.
When (and How) to Buy
- Pre‑order window: These boxes arrive late in the year and are limited—decide your first choice and a backup.
- Budget planning: Prioritize the box that aligns with your 2026 goals; it’s better to finish one focused collection than chase FOMO.
- Group buys & splits: If a friend wants half the contents (e.g., spare infantry or duplicate kits), you can reduce your cost further.
FAQs – Warhammer Christmas Battleforces (tap + to expand)
Yes in headline terms—the bundle price is lower than the sum of the kits—but it’s only “real” value if you’ll build and field most of what’s inside. Avoid boxes where half the sprues won’t see the table.
Iron Halo Strike Force (Space Marines) is the most broadly useful; Farsight Cadre is also highly cohesive if you want a suit‑heavy T’au start.
Lances of the Crimson Keep (Soulblight) and Dankhold Rampage (Gitz) both deliver elite impact with fewer minis to paint.
Consider another box, or plan a split with a friend. Centerpieces carry a lot of a Battleforce’s value—duplicating them can erode the deal.
They’re limited seasonal runs and popular—decide your pick early and have a backup choice in case your first option goes quickly.
They’re optimized for value and theme, not the current meta. That said, boxes like Hellforged Warband, Iron Halo, and Skryre Warpswarm provide strong, flexible cores.
Prime close to your scheme, batch paint in tens, use targeted washes, one bright edge highlight, and simple basing (sand → tan drybrush → tufts). Magnetize alt builds before priming.