This article is part of the New Player Series but is applicable to anyone looking to branch out into a new warband (which should be all of you!)

If you’re brand new to the game, a common question you might be wondering is ‘what warband should I start with’? To help with this I have compiled a list of warbands that are best choices for new players based on how easy they are to learn, but today I want to touch on perhaps a more important way to choose a warband, and that’s the #VIBES.

I’ll start by saying that switching warbands and picking up a new thing to play with is a SUBSTANTIALLY easier thing to do in Warhammer Underworlds than it is in many other miniatures games, especially the ones GW makes. We use fewer models, they do not have to be painted, and your warband has a fixed composition so you won’t worry about ‘choosing the right units from the codex’ or what have you. Most of the variation in playstyle and power comes from universal cards, which means you can pick up a new warband without too much trouble – and choosing ‘wrong’ won’t burn you as bad as some sad soul who dropped thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on a Necron army they hate, for example.

That said, you will still benefit from choosing something that suits you, that you enjoy, and that follows the ‘rule of cool’ if you want to have a good time and stick around for the long term.

I want to caution you against taking whatever warband is ‘good’ or ‘meta’ just because it’s strong. New cards come out, new rules updates are published, and things get re-released with new warscrolls; whatever is currently the top dog may not stay that way for long. In addition, you might not actually enjoy them either due to playstyle, appearance, back story, or the sour look people give you when you say you’re playing the competitive flavor of the week. Once they’re ‘nerfed’ and less competitive, you might not enjoy them very much at all.

If you really just enjoy winning and don’t care what you’re playing, then that’s fine too. I hope you have fun running on the treadmill of meta churn and trying to stay on top – but don’t be surprised if it burns you out. You can see who is the current king of the competitive scene by checking out the Nemesis Statistics Project.

Let’s get back on topic. How ‘should’ you choose a warband to play? Simple: follow the Rule of Cool.

If you think the warband is ‘cool’, then you should play that one. Whether it’s how they look, what their lore might be about, or the tricks they have available to them on their warscroll, if it makes you say ‘dang, that’s wicked cool’, then try that one. Don’t worry about whether they’re competitively strong, and remember that might change down the road anyway. The rule of cool is the best rule in the world, because it’s entirely your opinion and no one can really influence on your choice.

If you want to take a look at the warbands available in the game to see what catches your eye, check out The Spent Glory Warband Master List. You can also find some lore and mechanic ‘why is this cool’ breakdowns on the Underworlds Underground Podcast. Reading or listening to things that cover the warband you’re building and gearing up to play can help you build some excitement and make for a better experience starting out. I also have an older poll that covered ‘the most fun warbands to play’ that might assist you.

If you can’t decide on what to choose because one faction has better lore, the other has better models, and a third has better mechanics, there’s no law that says you have to pick just one thing to play. As I mentioned up above, Underworlds makes things way easier to bounce between, and I personally float between warbands butterfly-like every week or two.

There is something to be said about locking in on a specific team and getting really good with them. I strongly believe you can win with nearly any team if you practice enough and learn the intricacies of what tools you have available. Should you find yourself caught between a few warbands, I would suggest choosing whichever one has the coolest models and the best ‘look’ on the table. You’re going to spend a lot of time with this warband; it might take you hours or even weeks to paint them if you decide to be perfect about it, and each game you play will be another hour or so starting at the backside of your miniatures. If you think they look bad, you won’t be as engaged or have as much fun. If you think they look super awesome, that time is going to be more rewarding.

If you’d like to borrow some inspiration from others, Spent Glory hosts a Love Letters series in which members of the community share the warbands they have fallen for and what makes them special. Feel free to check those out, and once you’re smitten with your own warband and want to tell the world about your love, don’t hesitate to reach out and give me a Love Letter to post for the world to read, especially if it’s something that other people aren’t talking about these days.

Every warband has something awesome about it. Every player likely can find a warband that really sings to them. Whatever you’re playing, and why-ever you think they’re rad as hell, I hope you enjoy spending glory in the Underworlds!