Warhammer 40K: Combat Patrols & Starter Forces

Games Workshop is talking shop about Combat Patrols and showcasing some example starter armies.

It’s a new edition and it’s a great time to start a new force – or relearn how to play an old one. Smaller games are great for that. They are also handy if you don’t have a ton of play space or are short on time. The new Combat Patrols are designed to take around an hour with a Power Level of 50 – that’s 25 Power Level per player. GW has more details today and also a look at one of the new missions.

via Warhammer Community

Remember, with a Combat Patrol, the battlefield is at least 44″ x 30″ (which is two of the Kill Team boards next to each other). That also means each player will have 3 CP to start and gain one CP a turn. That doesn’t give you a ton of CP to choose detachments – but it’s only 25 Power Level anyhow so you’re probably using a Patrol Detachment:

While you are going to have to pay the CP cost to field the Patrol Detachment, remember the Command Benefit – you’ll recoup those spent points. Now, how about we look at some sample army lists?

Sample Combat Patrols

Games Workshop has provided a few lists as examples. If you’re planning on getting the Indomitus Box then you’ll be able to build the Necrons or Marine list day one!

If you wanted to play a different force, why not pick up a Start Collecting! Box because those are also great options – and these Combat Patrol are build from their respective boxes:

For the Ad Mech, GW started with the Start Collecting! Box and added 3 Kataphron Destroyers. That’s a pretty simple load-out and it’s perfect for a Combat Patrol.

This Chaos List is basically built from their Start Collecting! Box – no other changes.

This is the Genestealer Cult Start Collecting! Box with the Jackal Alphus and Genestealers added. That’s a pretty quick build and play list right there!

Combat Patrols offer a slice of Warhammer 40,000 for when you are short on space, time, or models. If you’re looking to learn a new army, relearn an old army, or perhaps learn a new edition Combat Patrols are perfect games to play!

What do you think of the Combat Patrols and those sample armies?

Author: Adam Harrison

Writer, Editor, Texas Native, and now Tex-Pat, Adam covers all things Tabletop Gaming. Which includes Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, D&D, Board Games and everything else that involves dice, boards, cards and a table. A hobbyist, player, and collector of miniatures and games, Adam's current obsession are his Death and Chaos Armies for Age of Sigmar, his Blood Angels and Tyranids for 40k, an expanding collection of Marvel: Crisis Protocol minis, and his ever growing Arkham Horror: The Card Game Collection.