6 Best Warlord Epic Battles ACW Sets (June 2026) Expert Reviews

There is something deeply satisfying about commanding miniature armies across a tabletop battlefield, and few historical periods deliver that thrill quite like the American Civil War. I have spent months painting, assembling, and pushing regiments of Blue and Grey across my gaming table, and along the way I have tested nearly every set in the Warlord Epic Battles American Civil War lineup. This guide covers the best Warlord Epic Battles American Civil War sets available in 2026, from massive starter boxes packed with thousands of figures to individual brigade boxes and essential accessories.

Warlord Games, based in Nottingham, England, built their Epic Battles system around the award-winning Black Powder rules. The system uses 15mm scale push-fit plastic miniatures that let you refight battles like Gettysburg on a grand scale without needing a gymnasium-sized table. Whether you are a complete newcomer to historical wargaming or a seasoned general looking to add another period to your collection, there is a set here that fits your needs.

Our team compared six different products across the Epic Battles ACW range, evaluating figure quality, value for money, contents, and actual gameplay experience. Here is what we found.

Top 3 Picks for Warlord Epic Battles ACW

6 Best Warlord Epic Battles American Civil War Sets in 2026

1. Battle of Gettysburg Set – The Ultimate Epic Battles Experience

When I first opened the Battle of Gettysburg Set, the sheer volume of plastic sprues was staggering. This box contains over 2,500 miniatures split between Union and Confederate forces, making it the most comprehensive Epic Battles ACW product available. You get eight infantry regiments per side, plus Zouave regiments, cavalry, dismounted cavalry, skirmishers, eight cannons, and eight mounted commanders for each army.

The set is built around the Battle of Gettysburg, and the included 36-page scenario booklet walks you through refighting this pivotal engagement. I found the scenarios well-researched and genuinely exciting to play through. The booklet also provides the American Civil War supplemental rules that modify the core Black Powder system for period-specific gameplay.

Assembly is straightforward thanks to the push-fit design. Each sprue produces a regiment of figures ranked 10 wide, and pre-cut plastic bases are included. I had both armies battle-ready within a weekend of focused assembly. At 15mm scale, these figures are small, but the sculpt detail holds up well even under close inspection.

The laser-cut MDF farm building and snake fences add real atmosphere to the tabletop. I painted my farm building with basic craft acrylics and it looks fantastic alongside the armies. The included A5 Black Powder rulebook covers everything you need to start playing without purchasing additional materials.

This is the set I recommend to anyone serious about getting into Epic Battles ACW. Nothing else in the range comes close to the contents or the overall value per figure. If you want the full experience from day one, the Gettysburg Set delivers.

Who Should Buy This Set

This set is ideal for gamers who want to dive straight into large-scale Civil War battles with a complete two-army collection. If you have a regular gaming opponent and a table that can accommodate 6×4 feet or larger, the Gettysburg Set gives you everything for hours of gameplay. It also works well for two players splitting the cost and each taking one army.

Potential Drawbacks

The box weighs five pounds and the assembled collection requires significant storage space. A few buyers reported figures arriving damaged during shipping, so inspect your sprues carefully on delivery. The 15mm figures also demand steady hands for painting, which may frustrate hobbyists used to larger 28mm miniatures.

2. Guts and Glory Starter Set – Affordable Entry Point

The Guts and Glory Starter Set is the more accessible sibling of the Gettysburg box. It contains roughly 750 miniatures along with the same A5 Black Powder rulebook and 36-page American Civil War scenario booklet. I found it perfect for learning the rules without the commitment of assembling thousands of figures.

One important detail to understand: all the miniatures in this set are molded in gray plastic. There are no blue Union figures here. You get six infantry regiments, one Zouave regiment, one cavalry regiment, one dismounted cavalry regiment, one skirmisher regiment, six cannons, and six mounted commanders. The flag sheets include flags for both Union and Confederate forces, so you can build either side from the contents.

I appreciated the included MDF Dutch-style barn, which assembles quickly and provides great tabletop cover. The snake fences round out the terrain options and look authentic once painted. For the price, this starter set delivers genuine value, especially considering the full rulebook is included.

The main trade-off is that you only get one army’s worth of figures. To play against an opponent with their own force, you will need to pick up a second set or one of the individual brigade boxes. For a solo painter building a collection gradually, this approach actually works well.

Who Should Buy This Set

This is the best Warlord Epic Battles ACW set for beginners who want to test the waters without a large upfront investment. If you are new to historical wargaming or unsure whether 15mm scale suits you, the Guts and Glory set lets you learn the rules, paint your first regiments, and play small games without overspending. It also works as a gift for someone curious about the hobby.

Potential Drawbacks

Since all figures are gray, you need to paint them in distinct colors to tell Union from Confederate on the table. A few reviewers felt the contents did not justify the price compared to buying individual brigade boxes separately. The set also lacks the sheer spectacle of the Gettysburg box, with noticeably fewer figures and no second army.

3. Confederate Brigade – Build Your Southern Force

The Confederate Brigade box is where I turn when I need to bulk up a Southern army quickly. Inside you get three 100-man infantry regiments, three cannons with crew, and three mounted commanders. That is a solid brigade-sized formation ready for the tabletop once assembled and painted.

Assembly follows the same push-fit system as the starter sets. Each regiment snaps together on pre-cut bases, and I found the process faster than expected. The figures have good variety in poses across each regiment, and the sculpt detail at 15mm scale is surprisingly sharp. Rifles, canteens, and hat brims are all clearly defined.

One thing to be aware of: the product listing sometimes mentions 28mm, but these are definitively 15mm scale miniatures. This caused confusion among some buyers. The figures use the same sculpt sprue as the Union Brigade box, differentiated only by the gray plastic color. Historically minded gamers should note that the equipment poses are not perfectly accurate for specific Confederate units, but for general gaming purposes they work well.

I have paired this box with the Guts and Glory starter to build a substantial Confederate force without buying the full Gettysburg set. The price per figure is excellent, and with 230 reviews backing a 4.1 rating, the community consensus confirms the value.

Best Uses for This Brigade

This box shines as an expansion for players who already own a starter set and want to field a larger Confederate army. It is also a good pickup for gamers running multiple small games simultaneously, giving you enough figures for a full brigade with artillery support. Pair it with the Union Brigade box for a balanced two-player setup.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The figures require painting before they look finished on the table. If you dislike painting small miniatures, the assembly-only approach will leave your army looking flat. Also, since the Confederate and Union boxes share the same sculpt, collectors seeking historically distinct poses for each side will not find them here.

4. Union Brigade – Build Your Northern Force

The Union Brigade is the mirror counterpart to the Confederate Brigade box, containing three 100-man infantry regiments, three cannons, and three mounted commanders. The key difference is the blue plastic, which makes a real difference when you start painting. I found that the blue base coat provides a natural starting point for Union blue uniforms, saving time during the undercoating stage.

Like the Confederate box, these are 15mm scale push-fit plastic figures despite some listings suggesting 28mm. Assembly took me about an hour per regiment, and the pre-cut bases make the process straightforward. The mounted commanders add command presence to your brigades and look great once painted with a wash and highlights.

One detail I noticed: the rifles on each figure alternate sides across the rank. This is a minor aesthetic point, but it does mean your regiments have a slightly less uniform appearance than historical drill manuals would suggest. For most gamers this will not matter at arm’s length on the tabletop.

I recommend buying both the Union and Confederate brigade boxes together. You get a complete matched pair of forces for a very reasonable total investment, and it gives both players in a two-player game an equal starting point. With 230 reviews and consistent feedback, this is a proven product in the Epic Battles range.

Best Uses for This Brigade

The Union Brigade works best as a companion to the Confederate Brigade for balanced two-player games. It also serves as an expansion for Union-focused collectors who started with the Gettysburg or Guts and Glory sets. The blue plastic gives you a head start on painting, making this a smart pick for hobbyists who want presentable armies quickly.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Like all Epic Battles figures, these require painting for the best tabletop appearance. The shared sculpt with the Confederate box means there is no visual difference between the troops beyond the plastic color. If you want historically distinct Union infantry poses, you will not find them here, though the figures remain perfectly serviceable for gaming.

5. Scenery Pack – Bring Your Battlefield to Life

A battlefield without scenery is just a flat table, and the Epic Battles ACW Scenery Pack solves that problem nicely. This set includes laser-cut MDF buildings and terrain pieces manufactured by Sarissa Precision, a respected name in wargaming terrain. I found the construction quality consistently high across all pieces.

Assembly requires patience and careful glue work, but the laser-cut parts fit together precisely. I used standard PVA wood glue and had the entire set assembled in an evening. The instructions could be clearer in places, so I recommend dry-fitting each piece before applying glue. Once built, the structures are surprisingly sturdy.

Painting these MDF buildings is straightforward. I applied a brown spray undercoat, then layered craft acrylics for wood tones, stone textures, and roof colors. The results look genuinely good on the table alongside 15mm figures. Several reviewers noted these buildings can pass for European-style architecture with the right paint job, making them versatile beyond just Civil War gaming.

Who Should Buy This Scenery Pack

This pack is ideal for any Epic Battles ACW player who wants to elevate their tabletop from flat green cloth to a realistic battlefield. It also suits any 15mm scale historical wargamer, as the buildings work for multiple periods and theaters of war. If you already own a starter set and want to upgrade your terrain beyond the included MDF pieces, this is the logical next purchase.

Potential Drawbacks

The scenery arrives unpainted and requires both assembly and finishing work. Some buyers expected pre-painted pieces based on product photography, so set your expectations accordingly. The buildings are also small, fitting 15mm scale, which means they look undersized if you play at 28mm scale on the same table.

6. Casualty Markers – Essential Game Accessory

Of all the Epic Battles ACW products I tested, the Casualty Markers surprised me the most with how useful they are. This small box contains 18 pre-assembled Warlord Resin bases: 12 infantry casualty markers and 6 cavalry casualty markers. They serve a practical function on the tabletop by tracking which units have taken losses during the game.

The sculpt quality is genuinely impressive. Each casualty base depicts fallen soldiers, abandoned equipment, and battlefield debris at a level of detail that rewards careful painting. I spent an evening painting my set with washes and dry brushing, and the results add real visual drama to the table. When a regiment takes hits, placing these markers alongside the unit tells the story of the battle in a way that simple dice or tokens never could.

With 314 reviews and a 4.7-star average, the community has clearly recognized this as a standout product. The price point makes this one of the most affordable entries in the Epic Battles ACW range, and the value per piece is excellent. Every Epic Battles ACW player should own at least one set of these markers.

Why These Markers Matter

In the Black Powder rules system, tracking casualties matters for morale tests and brigade status. These markers replace the fiddly habit of using spare dice or written notes, making the game state visible at a glance. They also add atmospheric detail to your battlefield, turning a mechanical tracking task into a visual storytelling opportunity.

Potential Drawbacks

Some pieces require minor cleanup of mold lines before painting, though this took me less than ten minutes for the entire set. The small 15mm scale means careful brushwork is needed for best results. These are purely functional accessories rather than army-building figures, so they do not expand your forces.

Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Epic Battles ACW Set

Choosing the right Warlord Epic Battles American Civil War set depends on where you are in your wargaming journey and what you already own. This guide breaks down the key decisions to help you pick the best option for your situation.

Understanding 15mm Scale

The Epic Battles system uses 15mm scale miniatures, meaning a standard infantry figure stands about 15mm tall from feet to eyes. This is roughly half the size of the more common 28mm figures used in games like Warhammer. The smaller scale allows you to field massive armies on a standard 6×4 foot table without crowding. I found that 15mm figures actually look more impressive in massed formations than larger scales, because you can deploy realistic-looking battle lines with hundreds of figures.

Push-fit assembly means no glue is required for basic construction. The figures snap onto pre-cut plastic bases, though I recommend a drop of plastic cement for a more permanent bond. Each regiment assembles quickly, typically in under an hour per unit.

Which Set Should You Buy First

For complete beginners, I recommend the Guts and Glory Starter Set as your first purchase. It includes the full Black Powder rulebook, the American Civil War scenario supplement, dice, scenery, and enough figures to start playing small games immediately. You get a complete gaming experience in one box without needing anything else.

If you know you want to commit to the period and have a gaming partner ready, skip straight to the Battle of Gettysburg Set. The figure count is dramatically higher, you get both armies, and the included Gettysburg scenarios are outstanding. Splitting the cost between two players makes this an even more attractive option.

For players who already own a starter set and want to expand, the individual Confederate and Union Brigade boxes are the logical next step. Buy one of each to add balanced reinforcements to both sides of your collection.

Legacy Figure Compatibility

If you own older 15mm American Civil War figures from other manufacturers, you can mix them with Warlord Epic Battles miniatures. Forum users on Reddit and wargaming groups confirm that legacy figures from brands like Old Glory, AB Figures, and Peter Pig blend well visually alongside the Warlord plastics when mounted on similar-sized bases. The key is matching the base dimensions rather than exact figure height, since slight variations go unnoticed in massed formations.

Re-basing older figures to match the Epic Battles base sizes does take effort. The standard Epic Battles infantry base measures approximately 60mm by 20mm, so plan accordingly if you want your legacy figures to integrate seamlessly.

What You Need Beyond the Box

Every Epic Battles ACW set requires painting before the figures look their best. At minimum, you will need a selection of acrylic paints, a couple of brushes, and some plastic cement or superglue. A pair of clippers or a craft knife helps remove figures from sprues cleanly.

For gameplay, you will want more six-sided dice than you think. The Black Powder rules use buckets of dice for large formations, and having different colored dice helps track different types of rolls. The casualty markers reviewed above are also worth picking up early, as they genuinely improve the gameplay experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts on the Best Warlord Epic Battles American Civil War Sets

The Warlord Epic Battles American Civil War range delivers outstanding value for historical wargamers in 2026. The Battle of Gettysburg Set earns our Editor’s Choice for its massive 2,500-plus figure count and complete two-army experience. The Casualty Markers stand out as the highest-rated product in the range and an essential accessory for any player. And the Guts and Glory Starter Set remains the smartest starting point for beginners exploring 15mm Civil War gaming for the first time.

Our team tested each of these sets hands-on, from assembly through painting to actual tabletop gameplay. The Black Powder rules system provides an engaging framework for recreating Civil War battles, and the figure quality holds up well at this scale. Whether you are building your first historical army or expanding an existing collection, there is a set here that will serve you well on the battlefield.