Starter Guides

Bolt Action 3rd Edition: Choosing Your First WWII Army

By Chapmen Games · June 17, 2026 · 2 min read

Bolt Action Panzer IV plastic tank kit

Bolt Action 3rd Edition is Warlord Games' definitive 28mm World War II tabletop game — and one of the most welcoming historical wargames you can pick up. The rules are quick to learn, the models are widely available in plastic, and there's a nation to suit every kind of player. The only genuinely hard part is deciding who to command.

How the game plays

Bolt Action uses an order-dice system: every unit's activation is drawn at random from a bag, so you never quite know whether your move or your opponent's comes next. It creates tense, swingy, cinematic games where holding your nerve matters as much as your army list. Solid infantry, kept in cover and supported by a couple of weapons teams and a tank, is the timeless core of a good force.

Step 1 — Pick a nation that excites you

Lead with the part of the war you find most interesting. Germans field elite troops and superb armour. US forces bring flexible infantry and heavy fire support. Soviets swamp the table with cheap numbers, and the Imperial Japanese reward aggressive close-assault play. There are specialist forces too, from Fallschirmjäger to US Airborne. See what's in stock in our Bolt Action collection.

Step 2 — Start with a starter set or plastic platoon

The fastest route to a playable army is a starter set or a plastic platoon box. A set like Battle of the Bulge gives you the core infantry your force is built around, usually at a far better per-model price than buying units one at a time.

Bolt Action Battle of the Bulge starter set box
A starter set like Battle of the Bulge is the quickest way to a complete, playable platoon.

Step 3 — Add support and armour

Once you have infantry, give them teeth. A couple of weapons teams — an MMG, a mortar, an anti-tank gun — provide fire support, and a single vehicle adds punch and presence. A medium tank like the Panzer IV or a humble Universal Carrier makes a great, characterful first vehicle without dominating a small game.

Step 4 — Get the rulebook

The Bolt Action: 3rd Edition Rulebook contains everything you need, including the full army-building rules. Pair it with the army list for your nation and you're ready to assemble, base and roll for orders. Browse all the books in our rulebooks collection.

A sensible first force

  • A starter set or two plastic infantry boxes of one nation
  • One or two weapons teams for support
  • A single tank or transport
  • The 3rd Edition Rulebook
  • Glue, clippers and paints from hobby supplies

Pick your nation, build around solid infantry, and we'll see you on the table.