Picking your first Bolt Action army is the best part of getting into the game, and also the part people overthink the most. Here's the good news: every major nation is playable and fun, and there's no "wrong" pick. The best army is the one you're excited to build, paint and push across the table every week.
This guide covers what you need to play, how a Bolt Action army is put together, and what each of the main nations feels like on the table. We've also linked the kits we have in stock so you can go straight from "I want that" to "it's in the mail."
The quick answer
- Want tough veterans and scary tanks? Go Germany.
- Want lots of firepower and great all-round options? Go USA.
- Want huge squads and an army that just keeps coming? Go Soviet Union.
- Want a balanced force, strong artillery and a Canadian option? Go British & Commonwealth.
- Want to charge in and win up close? Go Japan.
- Want something a bit different for early-war games? Go France.
Still not sure? Pick the army whose look you like most. You'll be painting a lot of these little soldiers, so you might as well love them.
What you need to play
- The rulebook. The Bolt Action 3rd Edition Rulebook has the core rules. Nations also have army books with more units and options. If you're not sure what you need for your army, ask us.
- An army. A starter army box gives you a ready-to-go core of infantry and support for much less than buying the pieces one by one. Browse Starter Sets & Box Sets.
- Order dice. Bolt Action uses one order die per unit, pulled from a bag or cup to decide who acts next. It's what makes the game so tense. Find them in Accessories.
- Regular six-sided dice, a tape measure in inches, and a bit of terrain to fight over. Our order dice packs come in several colours.
- Hobby basics: clippers, a hobby knife, plastic glue, primer and paint. Kits arrive unassembled and unpainted.
How a Bolt Action army is built
Most games use a "reinforced platoon." In plain English, you start with an officer and a couple of infantry squads, then add extras like a machine gun team, a mortar, an anti-tank gun, artillery or a vehicle. Everything has a points cost, and you and your opponent agree on a game size before you start.
Game sizes vary from group to group. Around 1,000 points is a common size for a full game, and new players often start smaller, around 500 points, and grow from there.
The armies
Germany
Germany is one of the most popular armies in Bolt Action, and it's easy to see why. You get well-trained infantry with fearsome machine guns, and access to some of the most iconic tanks of the war. The trade-off is that good troops cost points, so you'll often have fewer models than your opponent.
Start here: the Rattenkrieg German Veterans Infantry Starter Army, or add the German Veterans Infantry Platoon to grow your force. For armour, the Tiger I Ausf. E (plastic) and Panzer IV Ausf. B/C/D are crowd favourites. Like the cold-weather look? There's also the Winter Fallschirmjäger Starter Army. See everything in German.
USA
The Americans are flexible and well-equipped, with plenty of firepower in their infantry and a deep range of vehicles. They suit players who like options and steady, reliable units.
Start here: US Rangers make a great core, backed by the M4A3E8 Sherman Easy Eight and an M3A1 Half Track to get your squads into the fight. Browse American / US.
Soviet Union
If you love the idea of a big, loud army, this is it. Soviet squads are large and affordable, so you can flood the table with bodies while your tough tanks grind forward. They're a lot of models to paint, but they look amazing en masse.
Start here: the Soviet Infantry box or the snow-suited Winter Soviet Infantry, plus a T34/85 Medium Tank. Want something heavier? The IS-2 heavy tank is a beast. See Soviet.
British & Commonwealth (including Canada)
The British are a well-rounded force with good infantry, handy light vehicles and some of the best artillery in the game. This is also where Canadian players come in: Canadian forces fought alongside the British in Northwest Europe and use the same kind of kit on the table.
Start here: British & Inter-Allied Commandos for elite infantry, a Universal Carrier, and the 8th Army 25 pounder for big guns. Building Canadians? Add the Kangaroo APC / Priest. The Kangaroo was a Canadian idea, made by stripping the guns out of self-propelled artillery to carry infantry safely in 1944. Browse British.
Japan
Japan rewards players who like to be aggressive. Japanese infantry wants to close the distance and fight up close, and the army plays very differently from the others. Their tanks are lighter than most, so your infantry does the heavy lifting.
Start here: the Special Naval Landing Force, backed by a Chi-Ha Japanese tank (plastic) or a Type 95 Ha-Go light tank. See Japanese.
France
France is a great pick if you like early-war games and want an army you won't see at every table. We carry the French Army starter army.
Pick your army in 5 questions
- Few elite models or lots of cheap ones? Elite: Germany or Commandos. Lots: Soviets.
- Tanks or infantry? Tanks: Germany or the US. Infantry: Japan or the Soviets.
- Shoot or charge? Shoot: the US or Britain. Charge: Japan.
- Who do your friends play? It's nice to have an opponent from the other side, and someone to share army books with.
- What do you want to paint? Grey, olive drab, khaki, or winter whites. Go with your gut.
What your first army costs
A typical first order looks like this:
| Item | Price (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Bolt Action starter army box | from $197.99 |
| Orders dice pack | $34.99 |
| Total | about $233 |
Add the Bolt Action 3rd Edition Rulebook if you don't already have a copy. Add a tank or a support weapon and your order passes $250, which gets free shipping. Full-price orders of $300+ also get a free gift. Prices are as of October 2026 and can change.
Still stuck?
Send us a message through our contact page with what you like the look of and how big you want to start, and we'll suggest a first order.
Ready to buy? Read where to buy Bolt Action in Canada for shipping and pricing details, or browse the full Bolt Action range.
Warlord Minis Canada is an independent retailer of Warlord Games products and is not owned or operated by Warlord Games Ltd. Bolt Action and Warlord Games are trademarks of Warlord Games Ltd.