Core Rulebook: What You Need to Start Age of Sigmar
By Frontline Gaming | Published: 2026-10-19
Category: Product Reviews
Starting Age of Sigmar? Learn what the core book includes, when you need warscroll cards, and get clear decision rules to begin your first army.
Quick answer
If you're new to Age of Sigmar, the Age Of Sigmar: Core Book is the essential starting point—it contains the full rules, background, and army-building guidance. Warscroll cards are a useful add-on once you've chosen a faction, not a first purchase.
What the Core Book actually covers
The Age Of Sigmar: Core Book is a 288-page hardback that goes beyond the basic rules. It includes the complete ruleset for the current edition, plus extensive lore presented from multiple character perspectives. That makes it both a rulebook and a lore primer, which is ideal if you're coming in fresh and want to understand the Mortal Realms before you build your first list.
The book also includes a gatefold cosmology of the eight realms, which helps you visualize the setting. If you're the kind of player who enjoys narrative context, this hardback is more than just a rules reference—it's a companion that makes the world feel alive.
When you need warscroll cards
Warscroll cards are a separate purchase that serve a different purpose. They give you quick reference cards for each unit in your army, so you can track abilities and stats during a game without flipping through a book. The Blades of Khorne Warscroll Cards are a good example: they're faction-specific and designed for players who have already committed to that army.
If you're just starting, you don't need warscroll cards immediately. You can play your first few games using the core book and the free warscrolls available from the official site. Cards become valuable once you know your faction and want faster games with less bookkeeping.
Decision rules for your first purchase
- If you're brand new to Age of Sigmar: Buy the Age Of Sigmar: Core Book first. It has all the rules and lore you need to learn the game and understand the setting. Start with the core book, not warscroll cards.
- If you already have a faction in mind: After reading the core book, get the warscroll cards for your chosen faction (like Blades of Khorne) to speed up games and reduce rulebook flipping. Cards are a second purchase, not a first.
- If you're on a budget: Use the core book plus free online warscrolls for your first few games. Only invest in cards once you're sure you'll stick with the faction. You can start with just the core book and free resources.
Key products for starting Age of Sigmar
- Age Of Sigmar: Core Book: This 288-page hardback is the ultimate companion to the latest edition of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, offering background information from multiple character perspectives. It's the single purchase that gives you both the rules and the lore, so you can learn the game and the setting from one book.
Age Of Sigmar: Core Book - Warscroll Cards: Blades Of Khorne: Blades of Khorne Warscroll Cards give you the in-game tools to track and manage your army on the tabletop while playing Age of Sigmar. Once you've picked a faction, these cards speed up gameplay by putting unit stats and abilities at your fingertips.
Warscroll Cards: Blades Of Khorne
Who this suits best
Best for
- New players who want a single book covering rules and lore
- Players who enjoy narrative background and world-building
- Anyone planning to play multiple factions and need a general rules reference
Not for
- Experienced players who already own the rules and only need faction-specific unit cards
- Players who prefer digital rules and don't want a physical hardback
