Warning: The Warhammer series may contain intense violence, blood and gore, and/or strong language.

Warhammer is a vast franchise, spanning many genres. Its main series/setting is Warhammer 40,000 more commonly known as W40k. Getting into the franchise may be daunting as there is just so much, but there are many different ways to get slowly introduced into the setting. From podcasts to games, there are many sources to find out about this fascinating universe. 

One of the best ways to get a feel for 40k’s setting is by reading one of the many books that Games Workshop (the creators and owners of Warhammer) have published. But there are a few that are a bit more recommended for newcomers. The first book is Hero of The Imperium by Sandy Mitchell. This book follows three of the adventures of the famous hero, Ciaphas Cain. The reason that this book is a great read for newcomers is that there are footnotes that describe certain phrases or references, while staying in the tone of the book. It is also incredibly entertaining to watch Cain get into more and more dangerous situations by complete accident, then be lauded as a hero for something he believes was a stroke of luck. Another great book for newcomers is Horus Rising by Dan Abnett. This is the first book in a series called the Horus Heresy. This book is probably the first chronologically in the setting, and to be perfectly honest, you have to read the second book to understand why it is important. A really fun book to read to get into Warhammer is called The Infinite and The Divine by Robert Rath. It follows a millenia long feud between two really powerful and petty robot skeletons. It has some really funny moments and explains things in a detailed amount that can give newcomers a sense of understanding.

Another great way to learn about 40k is through youtube channels or podcasts. One great podcast that is great for beginners is called Isyander and Koda (their yt channel). In this podcast, Isyander introduces his friend Koda to the setting, and after the first two episodes, each episode focuses on a faction and goes into a bit of depth with them. There are a couple of other great youtubers for newcomers, but the two best are probably Majorkill (his yt channel) and Bricky (his yt channel). Majorkill almost solely focuses on 40k, and his videos are pretty interesting. Bricky on the other hand has only a couple of 40k focused videos, but has one of the best for people who know close to nothing of the setting, this video explains all of the subfactions of the imperium of man, who are kinda considered the main characters/protagonists of 40k. If you want to see how the tabletop is played, I would recommend Play On Tabletop (their yt channel). They play a variety of miniature games, but mostly 40k. If you are interested in the tabletop or just want to see really beautifully painted minis, watch them.

The final way to get into the setting I would recommend for newcomers is video games. There are alot of Warhammer games in general, but a lot of them are quite in depth. If you like games like the og DOOM, I recommend checking out Boltgun, which was heavily inspired by DOOM. it is a bit bloody but at the same time, its quite pixelated. If you enjoy turn based games I recommend Mechcanicus. It’s a fun game that has customizable difficulties, and is a great introduction to two important factions of 40k, the Adeptus Mechcanicum and the Necrons. A great casual mobile game to check out is Tacticus, which is also a turn based game. It is pretty enjoyable and eases you into the lore pretty well. It also got best mobile game of the year last year, which to be honest is quite impressive as mobile games these days are just cash grabs with no real effort put into them. 

All in all, Warhammer 40k is a vast and detailed setting, but has multiple ways to get into it, and quickly take a liking to a particular faction. As you continue you might also get into the tabletop, which is very fun. Just remember, in the dark future of the 41st millennium…

THERE

IS

ONLY

WAR