If you're a hobbyist, you probably remember the absolute chaos surrounding the warhammer christmas boxes 2023 when they finally dropped last year. Every December, Games Workshop releases these massive "Battleforce" boxes, and honestly, it's basically the Super Bowl for people who enjoy painting tiny plastic soldiers. These boxes are famous for offering a massive discount—usually somewhere between 30% and 40% off the retail price—which makes them the perfect excuse to start that new army you've been eyeing or to finally add that center-piece monster to your existing collection.
Looking back at the 2023 lineup, it was a pretty wild mix. We had some massive heavy-hitters for Warhammer 40,000 and some really thematic bundles for Age of Sigmar. Whether you were hunting for a Primarch or just wanted a pile of dinosaurs, there was a lot to dig through. Let's take a trip down memory lane and see which of these boxes actually lived up to the hype and which ones might still be worth hunting down on a dusty hobby store shelf today.
The Heavy Hitters of Warhammer 40,000
The 40k side of the warhammer christmas boxes 2023 release was arguably one of the strongest we've seen in years. Usually, these boxes feel like a "clearance sale" of stuff Games Workshop has too much of, but 2023 felt different. We got some brand-new kits and high-demand units that people actually wanted.
World Eaters: Exalted of the Red Angel
This was the "poster child" box of the year. If you wanted to start a World Eaters army, this was basically a "cheat code." It featured Angron himself—a massive, terrifying Daemon Primarch—alongside ten Khorne Berzerkers and six Eightbound. Considering Angron alone costs a small fortune, getting him with two of the most essential units in the army for a bundled price was a steal. It sold out almost instantly everywhere, and for good reason. It's rare to see a "box mascot" model like a Primarch included in these Christmas deals.
Astra Militarum: Cadian Defence Force
Then there was the Guard box. If you like tanks, this was your dream. It came with two Rogal Dorn Battle Tanks, which are the big, chunky centerpieces of a modern Guard list. You also got twenty Cadians and a Command Squad. It was a very "flat" box in terms of variety, but in terms of gameplay power? It was incredible. Two Rogal Dorns on the table is enough to make any opponent sweat, and having those extra bodies for objectives is never a bad thing.
Leagues of Votann: Defenders of the Ancestors
The "Space Dwarves" got some love too. This box was particularly great because the Leagues of Votann are still a relatively new faction with a limited range. The box included a Hekaton Land Fortress (the big bus), a Sagitaur, some Einhyr Hearthguard, a Grimnyr, and ten Hearthkyn Warriors. It was basically a "combat patrol on steroids." For anyone looking to jump into Votann, this was the single best entry point the faction has ever had.
Age of Sigmar: Magic, Monsters, and Mayhem
Over on the Age of Sigmar side, the warhammer christmas boxes 2023 leaned heavily into the "cool factor" of big models. While 40k felt very tactical and unit-heavy, AoS felt like a celebration of the gorgeous sculpts that the fantasy side of the hobby is known for.
Seraphon: Primordial Starquake
The Seraphon had just received a massive range refresh earlier in the year, so seeing them get a Battleforce was a pleasant surprise. This box was packed with the new Saurus Warriors, Aggradon Lancers, and the Slann Starmaster. It even threw in a Bastiladon for good measure. If you like the idea of lizard-people riding dinosaurs while casting cosmic spells, this box was a dream come true. It was visually stunning and offered a great variety of models to paint.
Soulblight Gravelords: Vengorian Court
For the vampire fans, the Vengorian Court box was a Gothic masterpiece. You got the Vengorian Lord (which can also be built as Lauka Vai), some Blood Knights, Skeletons, Dire Wolves, and Fell Bats. It wasn't the most "competitive" mix of units, but as a hobby project, it was top-tier. The Soulblight range has some of the best aesthetics in the game right now, and this box captured that "shambling horde led by monsters" vibe perfectly.
Slaves to Darkness: Warhorde of Eternus
You can't have a Warhammer Christmas without some Chaos Warriors. This box featured Eternus, Blade of the First Prince, along with some Chaos Knights, Chosen, and Ogroid Theridons. It was a very "elite" box—not a lot of models, but the ones you got were big, mean, and incredibly detailed. It was perfect for anyone who wanted to add some heavy hitters to their Chaos army without painting a hundred tiny cultists.
Why Everyone Was Panicking About Stock
If you were trying to buy any of the warhammer christmas boxes 2023 during the actual launch window, you know it was a bit of a nightmare. The "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out) was at an all-time high. Because these boxes are a limited run, once they're gone, they're gone for good.
Games Workshop usually does a pre-order window, and within minutes, the most popular boxes—specifically the World Eaters and the Astra Militarum ones—were showing as "out of stock" on the official website. This led to a lot of frustration in the community, with people complaining about scalpers putting the boxes on eBay for double the price before the day was even over.
Thankfully, many local game stores (LGS) got their own stock, and if you were lucky enough to have a good relationship with your local shop, you might have been able to snag one. It's a good reminder for this year: always check your local stores first rather than relying solely on the main website!
Are These Boxes Still Worth Finding?
It's been a while since the warhammer christmas boxes 2023 were the "new thing," but you can still find them if you look hard enough. Some of the less "meta" boxes, like the Ossiarch Bonereapers or the Tyranid Swarm box, occasionally pop up on the secondary market or in the back of a hobby shop.
If you happen to find one at its original retail price, is it worth it? Absolutely. Even if you don't need every single model in the box, the discount is usually so steep that you can sell the units you don't want on a resale site and basically end up with the rest of the box for a massive bargain.
For example, the Tyranid box (Spearhead Force) was a bit controversial because many players already had those models from the Leviathan launch box. However, for a brand-new player who missed Leviathan, it was a goldmine. It all depends on where you are in your hobby journey.
Final Thoughts on the 2023 Season
Looking back, the warhammer christmas boxes 2023 release was one of the better years for the community. We had a great mix of factions, some truly iconic models, and a value proposition that's getting harder to find as prices continue to rise.
Whether you managed to finish painting your World Eaters yet (we won't judge your "pile of shame") or you're still looking for that elusive Seraphon box, 2023 gave us a lot to talk about. It set a high bar for future releases, and honestly, I'm just hoping the next batch of boxes is half as good as the ones we got last year. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a Rogal Dorn tank that's been sitting half-primed since last December that really needs some love.