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The Warhammer 40k Christmas boxes for 2023 have been revealed and there’s some really great boxes (depending on what you’re interested in) but which boxes offer the best value? As always, these kinds of things are dependent on whether you would really be buying all of the models in the Christmas boxes separately, but if you are–and many people are starting new armies now–then these are great.

Note: all of these value percentages are based on last year’s $210 price tag. The relative price differences will remain accurate even if the price tag changes due to inflation (likely).

Defenders of the Ancestors

Ah, the Leagues of Votann. Readers of the Wargame Explorer will know how much I love the Leagues of Votann and their Squat brothers. Some people complain about the look of the Leagues and that they don’t seem to really fit into the 40k universe, but I disagree. I think they’re pretty great. They’re still not blue-collar toughs on trikes, but they’re good nonetheless. What do we get in this Warhammer 40k Christmas box for 2023?

10 Einhyr Hearthguard $120

Einhyr Champion $40

Hekaton Land Fortress $115

Grimnyr $45

Sagitaur ATV $65

Total: $385, or a 183% value

Beast Snaggas Stampede

I am not an Ork player, but this really seems to have all of the stuff I WOULD like if I was an Ork player. The Squighog Boyz are a favorite, and the real winner here is the Kill Rig. Mozrog is also a particularly cool model. This seems to be a winning box all around, and the value isn’t bad at all.

Mozrog Skrabad $60

3 Squighog Boyz and Nob on Smasha Squig $65

Painboss Medic $40

10 Beast Snagga Boyz $60

Kill Rig $140

Total: $365, for a 173% value

Cadian Defence Force

Did you know that the British spell “defense” as “defence”? I didn’t until I wrote this. This box is very straightforward, but that’s not a bad thing. You get exactly what you’d need for an Imperial Guard force without anything unnecessary: you can always use two more squads and two more tanks. The big problem I see with this box is simply that Imperial Guard squads are too expensive–but they’re always too expensive. Anyway, if you want it here’s the breakdown;

20 Cadian Shock Troops $100

Command Squad $45

2 Rogal Dorn Battle Tanks $100

Total: $345, or a 164% value.

Space Marines Spearhead Force

This is really a niche Space Marines box, but if you’re a White Scars player, or maybe a Raven Guard player then you’re going to be very happy. It’s a fast attack box, full of the new Jump Pack Intercessors and their Captain. The other models are kind of meh–how many people really like that ATV?–but it could still be worth it if you’re a fast attack Space Marine player.

15 Jump Pack Intercessors $180

Captain with Jump Pack $40

3 Outriders $60

Invader ATV $50

Total: $330, or a value of 157%

Onslaught Swarm

This is a good place to start a Tyranid army, though I’d expect that if you already have a Tyranid army the Hive Tyrant is not going to be as attractive–you’ll probably already have one or two, and that’s all you’ll need. But the Norn Emissary is the big ticket item in the box, and the Hormagaunts are performing well in the meta right now. A good starter box for sure, if not the best value of the bunch of Warhammer 40k Christmas boxes of 2023.

Norn Emissary $115

Winged Hive Tyrant $60

20 Hormagaunts $100

10 Genestealers $55

Total: $330, for a value of 157%

Exalted of the Red Angel

This box is for one reason and one reason alone: to get a bargain Angron. If you’ve already got Angron, this box isn’t for you, and if you don’t have Angron, there’s no better time to get into World Eaters than with this box, as he eats up $170 of the $210–the rest of the box is just gravy.

Angron, Daemon Primarch of Khorne $170

10 Khorne Berserkers $65

6 Exalted Eightbound $120

Total: $355, or a 169% value.