The Tau Army Box for Warhammer 40,000 Is the Best Yet

A Warhammer 40,000 army box used to be just a collection of haphazard models placed within a somewhat larger cardboard box, and it cost the same as the total cost of all of its parts. Not quite the same ring to it, but more along the lines of “look at all this cool stuff boxes” than army boxes.

I still recall pleading with my parents to buy a box of Tau cars so I could wreck my buddies. I’m positive it had several Hammerheads and Sky Rays—possibly as many as four or five—but I can’t currently locate any proof of it ever being there. It was most likely released around Christmas to sell unwanted stock to impressionable children. If my folks hadn’t been so damn smart, it would have worked.

This occurred in the same era as the Space Marine Battle Company in a Box, which cost an astounding $500 and included nine transport vehicles and 106 Space Marines. Even with the discount, that was still a very high price for a single box of toy troops.

The problem with the Space Marine Battle Company and that Tau box is that they weren’t very good. It was an ineffective army. It wasn’t even a legitimate army in the Tau example. They were meant to be complements, methods of enlarging and improving your forces, even up to several duplicates of the same equipment. Sell more products to those who have already made purchases.


Boxes changed over time from being enormous bait for the company’s whales to being more alluring to new players. As introductory pieces for novices, small, practical forces were priced competitively. Additionally, Games Workshop now neatly bundles each new release for an army into a single, sizable box.

Although Workshop’s new army crates only save you a little money, they have several positive features. First things first: the models. Some of my favorite sculptures Workshop has done in a long time are the new Kroot. Especially the Krootox Rampagers have a lot of speed and momentum, sometimes maintaining their dramatic positions with just one massive paw. The mercenaries needed the entire army recharge, and the War Shaper is the size of a Primaris Marine.

Along with index cards and a special edition Codex, every new release is included in the box. Although the foil plating on the box is gorgeous, the Codexes themselves aren’t worth purchasing. Another improvement over earlier armies is the Kroot box, which encloses the Codex, datacards, and instruction booklet in a card bundle inside the box that is secured with elastic. While it does not enhance the gameplay in any way, it contributes to the new boxes’ luxury sense and validates your purchase. You should feel satisfied with the thing you obtain and receive some wiggle room since you’re paying three figures on toy soldiers.


Everything about the package is done flawlessly. Games Workshop has nailed it all, from the joy of holding such a large box of toys in your hands to the exquisite sculpts and premium feel. While Deathwing Assault was fantastic, the Tau army box is even more impressive.

Furthermore, this force is useful. Even while it’s not the greatest Kroot-only Tau army or the best army you could assemble from the new Tau Codex, this army will probably keep you in your LGS. With the exception of those that haven’t been released yet, of course, you get one of each unit—Kroot Carnivores come in two quantities. Unless you combine them into a single, large unit. You get the idea. Games Workshop has been lacking that synergy between releases and gameplay for a long time, and this box is the ideal complement to the new Kroot detachment in the Codex.


Of course, there is a business rationale for all of this. This is your chance to obtain all the shiny new toys a few weeks before they’re published individually, but it’s not absolutely limited (supply seems to be very high for them). Games Workshop probably borrowed this strategy from TCGs and their prerelease kits. Although I think it preys on FOMO a bit too much, the contents make the purchase worthwhile.

Keep an eye out for army boxes featuring Orks, Adeptus Custodes, and Chaos Space Marines, as well as Genestealer Cults, Adepta Sororitas, and an unidentified Codex that will be released later this spring. an is, if they receive enough units to warrant a whole box. The army boxes from 40K are becoming better, so I’m forward to see what comes next.