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Starting Warmachine: Command Starter or Battlegroup Box?
Which Warmachine box should you buy first? If you are considering Orgoth Sea Raiders, the Command Starter offers a force designed for 30-point games. The Battlegroup Box instead gives you Kishtaar and two warjacks as a different foundation for your army. Choose the starter for a defined introductory force, or the battlegroup if those particular models are the reason you want to play.
The names can look similar when you are new to Warmachine. This guide uses two Orgoth sets to explain the choice; other armies have different contents, so always check the exact box.
What is the difference between a Command Starter and a Battlegroup Box?
| Box | What it offers | Consider it if… |
|---|---|---|
| Command Starter | Oriax-led force with a warbeast, a unit and supporting solos; presented by Steamforged for 30-point games. | You want a defined starting force and several types of models to learn. |
| Battlegroup Box | Kishtaar, a Tyrant heavy warjack and a Jackal light warjack. | You want this warcaster and these warjacks as the basis of your collection. |
Our buying advice: pick a small, achievable first project. Buying a larger pile of miniatures is only useful when you know what you want to build, paint and play.
What comes in the Orgoth Sea Raiders Command Starter?
The set includes Oriax, the Soul Slaver; Halexus, the Warlord; a Ravener heavy warbeast; a Grhotten Champion; and the Gnashers unit. Steamforged describes it as a starting force for 30-point games.
This is our pick between these two boxes if your priority is a clear first-game starting point. Check the current model cards and army list in the app before arranging your game.
What comes in the Orgoth Sea Raiders Battlegroup Box?
This box contains Kishtaar, the Howling Silence, a Tyrant heavy warjack and a Jackal light warjack. The warjacks have multiple weapon configurations, so compare their options in the app before choosing your loadouts.
Choose it because you want those models. Do not assume that fewer miniatures means the same points total or the same experience as the Command Starter. Build the list you intend to use and agree on a game size with your opponent.
Do you need a Core Expansion straight away?
We recommend learning with your first force before adding a Core Expansion. The Orgoth expansion offers another warcaster and additional units and support models, giving you more choices when you are ready to build different lists.
Before buying your next box, decide what you want to change: a different leader, more units, or a particular model you would enjoy painting. Check its exact contents and army compatibility. Owning more boxes does not mean every model belongs in the same game.
Where can you get the Warmachine rules?
The official Warmachine app provides the core rules, model rules and army-building tools for free. A subscription is optional; it is not required to access the rules or list-building tools.
Read the rules, explore your chosen army and draft a list before purchasing extra models. Use the current app when checking points and legal combinations, because game updates can change them.
Beginner questions
Why do some listings say “Orgoth Cursebound Command Cadre”?
That is the former name of the Orgoth Sea Raiders Command Starter. Steamforged announced the change in May 2025. Check the specific product rather than assuming every box labelled “Command Cadre” has been renamed or works in the same armies.
Can these two Orgoth boxes be used to build the same army?
Both are sold for Orgoth Sea Raiders. You can choose from their models when planning your collection, but a legal list still depends on the current army-building rules. Do not simply combine every model and assume the result is valid.
Where should a Canadian beginner start?
Compare the Orgoth Command Starter and Battlegroup Box at Toy Snowman, our Montreal-based hobby and collectibles store. The product pages show current pricing and availability. Choose your first force, check its rules, and build from there.
Sources and product checks
Checked November 8, 2026. This guide uses the exact Orgoth products linked above; contents and options differ between armies.
- Steamforged: Orgoth Sea Raiders Command Starter and Core Expansion.
- Asmodee Canada: Orgoth Sea Raiders Battlegroup Box, SFIK-ORG038.
- Steamforged: Command Starter naming update and free rules and app features.