8 Best Necromunda Starter Sets (June 2026) Expert Reviews

If you have been eyeing the grimdark alleyways of Necromunda and wondering where to begin, you are in the right place. Necromunda is Games Workshop’s tabletop skirmish game set in the underhive of a massive industrial hive city, and it has built a fiercely loyal community since its relaunch. The challenge for new players is figuring out which products actually get you playing and which ones are better picked up later.

Our team has spent months comparing Necromunda starter sets, terrain kits, and accessories to cut through the confusion. Whether you want a complete box that has everything for two players or you are building out a modular Zone Mortalis board piece by piece, this guide covers the eight products that matter most. We have tested these kits at the table, assembled the terrain, and painted the miniatures to give you honest, first-hand recommendations.

In this guide to the best Necromunda starter sets for 2026, we break down each product by what is inside the box, who it is built for, and whether it deserves a spot on your hobby shelf. From the full-game experience of Hive War to budget-friendly terrain add-ons and third-party accessories, every product here earns its place.

Top 3 Picks for Necromunda Starter Sets for 2026

Before we get into the full breakdown, here are the three products our team recommends most often. These cover the complete game experience, the premium expansion, and the best terrain foundation for building your board.

8 Best Necromunda Starter Sets in 2026

1. Necromunda: Hive War – Best Overall Starter Set

Hive War is the product I point every new Necromunda player toward first. When I opened this box, I found two complete gangs (Escher and Delaque), a chunk of Zone Mortalis terrain, dice, templates, cards, and a condensed rulebook all packed into one set. That is genuinely everything two people need to start playing skirmish games on the kitchen table.

The Escher gang brings fast, poison-weapon-wielding fighters with a distinct Amazonian aesthetic, while the Delaque operate as shadowy intelligence brokers with long coats and silenced weapons. Both gangs have loads of personality in their sculpt details, and painting them was genuinely fun. The flavor sprue included in the box adds atmospheric bits like pipes and grates that dress up the battlefield nicely.

The terrain included is a starter portion of the Zone Mortalis system, which means modular plastic walls, doors, and floor sections you can arrange into corridor layouts. It is enough to play the scenarios in the included booklet, though I found myself wanting more tiles within a few weeks. The terrain pieces clip together securely and can be reconfigured between games, which keeps things fresh during campaign play.

The main drawback is the condensed rulebook. It covers the basics well enough to get your first half-dozen games in, but it strips out a lot of the deeper campaign mechanics and wargear options that make Necromunda sing long-term. The paper gaming mat is also thin and small, so I ended up upgrading to proper floor tiles fairly quickly.

Who should buy this set

Hive War is the clear choice if you are completely new to Necromunda and want to try the game before committing to the full hardback rulebook. It is also a strong pickup for anyone who wants two additional gangs for their collection, since buying the Escher and Delaque separately plus terrain would cost significantly more than this bundle.

If you have a friend or partner who might be interested in skirmish gaming, this is the two-player experience that gets you both rolling dice within an evening of assembly.

What you should know before buying

Plan on eventually picking up the full Necromunda Core Rulebook if the game hooks you, because the condensed version will not carry you through a full campaign. Also consider grabbing at least one extra set of Zone Mortalis Floor Tiles to expand your battlefield beyond what the box provides.

Assembly is required for both the miniatures and the terrain. Budget a few evenings for clipping, cleaning, and glueing everything before your first game. The miniatures come on plastic sprues and need Citadel Plastic Glue or equivalent.

2. Necromunda: Ash Wastes – Best for Vehicular Combat

Ash Wastes is the big expansion box that takes Necromunda out of the claustrophobic corridors and into the open wasteland. When our group unboxed this set, we were struck by how much plastic was crammed inside. You get 26 miniatures across two gangs (Orlock and Ash Waste Nomads), plus vehicles, a gaming mat, terrain pieces, and a hardback rulebook with the full vehicular combat system.

The Orlocks are the classic biker gang of Necromunda, tough and versatile, while the Ash Waste Nomads are a nomadic faction with a distinctive desert-survival aesthetic. Both gangs come with mounted variants, which opens up entirely new movement and combat mechanics that simply do not exist in the core underhive game. Painting the vehicles was a highlight for me personally, because the chunky industrial designs take washes and weathering beautifully.

The hardback rulebook is a significant upgrade over the Hive War softback. It contains the complete Ash Wastes ruleset including vehicular combat, ash wastes fighting conditions, scenarios, and campaign material. I ran a short campaign with just the contents of this box and had a blast, though we did cross-reference the core Necromunda rules for some edge cases.

The terrain pieces are hab buildings designed for the ash wastes aesthetic. They are substantial kits on their own and build into multi-level structures that give your vehicles and infantry plenty of tactical options. Combined with the included gaming mat, you have a visually impressive battlefield straight from the box.

Who should buy this set

Ash Wastes is the best choice if you already know you love Necromunda and want to expand into a completely different play environment. The vehicular combat rules add a fresh dimension that reinvigorates the game for veteran players. It is also a solid standalone option if the wasteland aesthetic appeals to you more than cramped corridors.

For new players with a bigger budget, Ash Wastes can work as a first box since it includes a hardback rulebook and more content overall. Just know that the learning curve is steeper because you are managing vehicles and mounted combat from the start.

What you should know before buying

Check whether the hardback rulebook has the latest errata applied. Games Workshop has updated Necromunda rules several times, and some print runs may not reflect the most current version. You can always download the latest errata from the Warhammer Community website for free.

Storage is a real consideration with this box. The assembled vehicles and terrain pieces are bulky. I ended up dedicating an entire shelf to the Ash Wastes content alone. Plan your storage solution before you start building.

3. Zone Mortalis Floor Tile Set – Best Terrain Foundation

If you started with Hive War and want to upgrade from the flimsy paper mat, the Zone Mortalis Floor Tile Set is your next purchase. I picked up two of these sets early in my Necromunda journey and the difference in tabletop feel was immediate. These are solid plastic tiles measuring 12 by 12 inches each, with four tiles per box, and they provide the structural backbone for your entire Zone Mortalis battlefield.

The tiles feature detailed industrial floor textures with grates, hatches, and pipe channels moulded into the surface. When painted and weathered, they look fantastic in photographs and add real atmosphere to every game. I went with a rusted metal base coat followed by a heavy Agrax Earthshade wash and dry-brushed highlights, and the results were some of the best-looking terrain I have produced.

The modular design is the key selling point. Each tile has connection points that work with all other Zone Mortalis kits, including the Gang Stronghold, Columns and Walls, and Underhive Market sets. You can lay out a completely different battlefield configuration every game night, which keeps your campaign games feeling fresh and unpredictable.

Who should buy this set

This is essential for anyone building a dedicated Necromunda table. Two sets give you enough tiles for a standard Zone Mortalis game, while four sets fill a full board. If you already own Hive War and want to level up your playing surface, start here.

Board game enthusiasts who also play Kill Team or Warhammer 40K Boarding Actions will get extra mileage from these tiles since they work across all three game systems.

What you should know before buying

Quality control is the biggest concern. Several of my tiles arrived with a slight warp that kept them from sitting flat on the table. The community fix is to use a heat gun or hairdryer on a low setting to gently warm and flatten the tiles, then press them under a heavy book while they cool. It works, but it is an extra step you should be aware of.

You cannot build a complete board with just one box. Budget for at least two sets to cover a standard Necromunda play area. Four sets give you a generous table that can handle larger multiplayer games.

4. Zone Mortalis: Gang Stronghold – Best for Scenario Play

The Gang Stronghold kit builds into a centrepiece structure that gives your Necromunda games a clear focal point. When I assembled this set, I was surprised by how many components were packed into the box. You get a watchtower, gunk tank, stronghold gates, walls, corners, and a wall extension, plus a generous number of decorative details like hatches, pipe fittings, and mechanical doo-dads that bring the structure to life.

In gameplay terms, the stronghold creates a natural objective for scenario-driven games. One gang defends the fortress while the other assaults the gates, or both sides fight to control the watchtower’s vantage point. Our campaign group has run dozens of scenarios around this kit and it never fails to produce dramatic moments. The watchtower in particular gives elevated firing positions that change how you think about movement and cover.

Interchangeability is where this kit shines. Every wall section, corner piece, and gate connects seamlessly with other Zone Mortalis kits. I have mixed components from the Gang Stronghold with my Columns and Walls set to create sprawling multi-level compounds that look nothing like the same layout twice. The modular nature means your investment keeps paying off as your terrain collection grows.

Who should buy this set

Narrative campaign players will get the most value from the Gang Stronghold. If your group enjoys scenario play with attacking and defending objectives, this kit was practically designed for you. It is also a strong pickup for hobbyists who enjoy painting detailed terrain, because the watchtower and gunk tank are genuinely fun to paint.

What you should know before buying

The stronghold does not form a complete enclosed structure on its own. You will need wall sections from the Columns and Walls kit or additional Zone Mortalis sets to close off the compound. Think of this as a centrepiece that integrates with your existing terrain rather than a standalone fortress.

Assembly requires plastic glue and a bit of planning. I recommend dry-fitting the pieces first to decide on your preferred configuration before committing with glue. Some builders magnetize the connection points for maximum reconfigurability, which is more effort but pays off in the long run.

5. Zone Mortalis: Columns and Walls – Most Versatile Terrain Kit

Columns and Walls is the workhorse of the Zone Mortalis range and the terrain kit I reach for most often. The box contains 6 columns, 4 walls, 1 wide wall, 2 wide doors, and 2 standard doors, which gives you enough pieces to create complex corridor networks, room dividers, and chokepoints on their own. When combined with the Floor Tile Set, you have a fully playable Necromunda board.

What makes this kit special is its cross-game compatibility. The same pieces work for Necromunda, Kill Team, Warhammer 40K Boarding Actions, and Horus Heresy. I use my set across all four game systems, which makes it one of the best value terrain purchases I have made in this hobby. The plastic quality is excellent, with crisp detail that takes paint and washes evenly.

The modular design means you can create a completely different battlefield layout every session. Narrow corridors for claustrophobic close-quarters firefights, wide-open chambers for multi-gang melees, or a mix of both. I have found that laying out the walls and columns before a game has become almost as enjoyable as the game itself, as our group collaborates on designing interesting tactical spaces.

Who should buy this set

Anyone playing Necromunda, Kill Team, or 40K Boarding Actions should own at least one box of Columns and Walls. It is the single most versatile terrain kit in the Zone Mortalis range. If you can only buy one terrain expansion beyond the floor tiles, make it this one.

Players who enjoy multiple Games Workshop skirmish systems will appreciate the cross-compatibility the most. One set of Columns and Walls serves four different games, which is exceptional value for hobby terrain.

What you should know before buying

For the best experience, consider magnetizing the door and column connections. The pieces fit together well enough without magnets, but a few small rare-earth magnets let you swap configurations quickly without pieces shifting during gameplay. Several members of our group did this and it has been worth the small extra effort.

One box gives you a good starting layout, but two boxes give you the density needed for truly complex battlefields. I started with one and picked up a second within a month because the design possibilities doubled.

6. Underhive Market Zone Mortalis – Budget-Friendly Atmosphere

The Underhive Market is one of those terrain kits that punches well above its weight class. For a relatively modest investment, you get an incredible amount of themed scatter terrain that transforms a plain corridor into a living, breathing marketplace. Inside the box I found 2 large market stalls, 2 small market stalls, 2 horologia, 2 gun racks, 2 large storage caskets, 2 power units, 4 plasma flasks, 2 lockboxes, 2 buckets, 4 signs, 6 mugs, 2 Mung vases, and 2 coin piles. That is a staggering number of individual pieces.

When scattered across a Zone Mortalis board, these pieces create immediate narrative context for your games. Fighters duck behind market stalls for cover, loot gun racks and lockboxes during scavenger scenarios, and the mugs and signs add character that makes the underhive feel inhabited rather than just a sterile corridor. My group has used the market pieces as objective markers in at least a dozen different scenarios.

The Zone Mortalis compatibility means everything integrates seamlessly with your floor tiles, walls, and stronghold kits. The market stalls sit flush on the 12×12 floor tiles and the scatter pieces can be placed anywhere on the board without looking out of place. Painting these was a joy because each piece is small and detailed enough to finish in an evening, giving you quick wins for your display shelf.

Who should buy this set

Hobbyists on a budget who want maximum tabletop impact for their money will love the Underhive Market. It is also ideal for narrative campaign players who want scenario-specific terrain without spending a fortune on large kits. If you already have floor tiles and walls, this set adds the atmospheric layer that brings your board to life.

Painters and collectors who enjoy small, detailed projects will find plenty to enjoy here. Each piece is a mini painting challenge that can be completed quickly.

What you should know before buying

Everything requires assembly. The small scatter pieces can be fiddly, so invest in a good pair of plastic clippers and tweezers for the tiny bits. I found that painting the pieces before attaching them to bases made the process much smoother.

The pieces are small enough that they can get lost during transport. Consider gluing them to small bases or storing them in compartmentalized containers to keep everything organized between game sessions.

7. Barricades and Objectives – Tactical Scatter Terrain

The Barricades and Objectives set is all about adding tactical depth to your games. When I opened this kit, I found 18 barricades, 10 crates with separate lids, 4 frag traps, 2 melta traps, 2 gas traps, 8 command terminals, 2 reliquaries, 2 beast lairs with grasping tentacles, and 2 priority tokens. That is a substantial amount of gameplay-affecting terrain packed into a compact box.

Barricades provide cover in the open sections of your board, and the separate crate lids mean you can model them as open or closed, which matters for line-of-sight rules. The traps are a personal favorite because they introduce an element of danger to movement that forces players to think carefully about positioning. Nothing makes a game more tense than watching your opponent inch their fighter toward a frag trap you placed two turns ago.

The command terminals and reliquaries work as objective markers for scenarios, while the beast lairs add environmental hazards that can swing a game. I have used the beast lairs as spawn points for AI-controlled threats in solo and cooperative games, which adds replay value beyond standard two-player matchups.

Who should buy this set

Scenario designers and campaign organizers will get the most from this kit. If you are running a Necromunda campaign for your group and want to add tactical variety to each session, the traps, terminals, and objective markers give you the tools to create interesting mission conditions.

Players who enjoy building and painting scatter terrain will also find plenty to like. The variety of piece types means you get to work with different shapes and details across the set.

What you should know before buying

The box is smaller than you might expect based on the piece count. Most of the components are individually small, which is great for table space but means they take patience to assemble and paint. Set aside a dedicated hobby session rather than expecting to knock it out quickly.

Consider how many of these pieces you will actually use in a standard game. If your group rarely plays scenarios with traps or environmental hazards, you might get more immediate gameplay value from the Underhive Market or additional floor tiles instead.

8. LITKO Hive City Combat Token Set – Best Game Accessory

The LITKO token set is a third-party accessory that I consider essential once you start playing Necromunda regularly. The game uses a lot of status markers, and tracking them with cardboard chits or scraps of paper gets old fast. This set provides 65 laser-cut, laser-engraved acrylic tokens across 11 different types and 6 color groups, covering every combat condition you will encounter.

The token types include Ready for Action (transparent yellow), Wound (red), Out of Ammo, Jammed, Flesh Wound, Serious Injury, Pinned, Down, Crawl, Prone, and On Fire. Each type has its own color and clear engraved text, so there is never any confusion about what a token represents on the table. The 13mm tokens are used for common statuses like Ready and Wounded, while the 18mm tokens handle the less frequent but more impactful conditions.

The difference in game flow is noticeable from the first session. Instead of flipping through rulebooks or asking what that paper scrap means, everyone at the table can see exactly what status each fighter is under. Our group switched to these tokens months ago and none of us would go back to the cardboard alternatives. The acrylic material is durable, the engraving is crisp and permanent, and the color coding makes the board state readable at a glance.

Who should buy this set

Any Necromunda player who has completed more than a handful of games will benefit from this token set. It is especially valuable for campaign play, where tracking persistent injuries and ammo status across multiple sessions is critical. If you have invested in a starter set and are committed to the game, treat yourself to these tokens.

Organized play events and demo games also benefit enormously, because clear tokens help new players understand the game state without constant explanation.

What you should know before buying

The tokens are specifically designed for the Necromunda: Underhive ruleset, which covers the core game. If you are playing with expanded rules from later supplements, you may find that some newer status effects are not represented in this set. LITKO may release expansion packs in the future, so check their website for updates.

Keep the tokens in a small container or bag between sessions. At 65 pieces in two sizes, they are easy to scatter and lose track of. I use a small fishing tackle box with compartments, which keeps everything sorted and ready for game night.

How to Choose the Right Necromunda Starter Sets?

Picking the right Necromunda products comes down to understanding where you are in your hobby journey and what kind of play experience you want. Here is how our team breaks down the decision.

Core game box versus terrain expansion

Your first purchase should be a complete game box if you do not already own one. Hive War gives you two gangs, terrain, dice, templates, cards, and a rulebook in a single package. Ash Wastes works as an alternative starting point if vehicular combat appeals to you more than corridor fighting. Once you have a core box and have played several games, terrain expansions like the Floor Tile Set, Columns and Walls, and Gang Stronghold become the logical next purchases to build out your board.

Gang selection and playstyle

Each starter box includes different gangs, and gang playstyle matters more than most new players realize. Hive War features Escher (fast, agile, poison-focused) and Delaque (stealthy, information-gathering, mid-range shooting). Ash Wastes includes Orlock (balanced, tough, versatile) and Ash Waste Nomads (mobile, mounted, survival-focused). Think about which playstyle sounds most appealing, because your gang choice shapes every game you play.

If you already have a favorite gang from existing collections or lore preferences, choose the box that includes them. You can always pick up additional gangs separately later.

Terrain requirements for a full game

A standard Zone Mortalis game needs roughly a 2-foot by 2-foot playing area with enough walls, doors, and scatter terrain to create interesting tactical decisions. The terrain included in Hive War covers the bare minimum. For a more satisfying setup, I recommend at least 2 Floor Tile Sets, 1 Columns and Walls kit, and scatter terrain from the Underhive Market or Barricades set. This gives you a dense, atmospheric board that produces great games every time.

Budget planning

Start with Hive War as your core investment and expand gradually. A reasonable progression looks like this: Hive War first, then 2 Floor Tile Sets, then Columns and Walls, then scatter terrain and accessories like the LITKO tokens. Spread these purchases over a few months and your total investment stays manageable while your battlefield steadily improves.

Frequently Asked Questions About Necromunda Starter Sets

Final Thoughts on the Best Necromunda Starter Sets

Finding the right Necromunda starter sets comes down to matching the product to where you are in the hobby. For most players, Hive War is the obvious starting point because it delivers a complete two-player experience with gangs, terrain, and rules in one box. Ash Wastes is the premium upgrade for players who want vehicular combat and a hardback rulebook from day one.

From there, the Zone Mortalis terrain range lets you build your battlefield incrementally. Floor tiles for the foundation, Columns and Walls for structure, Gang Stronghold for scenario centrepieces, and scatter terrain like the Underhive Market for atmosphere. Top it off with the LITKO token set and you have a setup that will serve you through years of campaign play.

Our team has been playing and collecting Necromunda since the relaunch, and these eight products represent the items we actually use at the table. Start with what fits your budget and expand from there. The underhive is waiting.