Dark Imperium. If you were around the hobby in June 2017, that name probably carries some weight. It wasn't just another box. It was a massive, heavy-duty shift in how Games Workshop did business. Honestly, the Warhammer 40k 8th edition starter set was the moment the "grimdark" universe finally decided to join the modern world of gaming. It's weird to think about now, but before 8th edition, 40k was basically a sprawling, beautiful mess of "USR" (Universal Special Rules) that required you to carry three different books just to resolve a single shooting phase.
Then came this box.
It was bright. It was streamlined. It introduced the Primaris Space Marines, a move that—let’s be real—absolutely polarized the fanbase at the time. You had people screaming about "lore desecration" while others were just happy to finally have Space Marines that didn't look like squatting toddlers next to a guardsman. Dark Imperium didn't just give us new models; it gave us a reset button.
The Box That Changed Everything
When you cracked open the Warhammer 40k 8th edition starter set, you weren't just getting plastic. You were getting 53 miniatures. That’s a lot. Most modern combat patrols don't even come close to that kind of density. On one side, you had the Primaris: Intercessors, Hellblasters, Inceptors, and those Gravis-armored Captains. On the other? The Death Guard.
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This was the debut of the "new" Nurgle look. We’re talking Poxwalkers, Plague Marines, and the Foetid Bloat-drone.
The value was insane. If you tried to buy those units individually today—well, you can't really buy the exact mono-pose versions anymore—but the equivalent points would cost you a small fortune. Games Workshop used this box as a loss leader. They wanted you in the door. They wanted you to see that 8th edition was "Three Ways to Play." Remember that marketing push? Open, Narrative, and Matched play. It was a simple concept that basically saved the game from its own complexity.
Why We Still Talk About Dark Imperium
So, why are people still scouring eBay for the Warhammer 40k 8th edition starter set in 2026?
It’s the sculpts.
Modern 40k kits are amazing, don’t get me wrong. They’re multi-part, poseable, and covered in gadgets. But there is a specific, chunky aesthetic to the Dark Imperium miniatures that just works. The Lord of Contagion in that set is still, in my humble opinion, one of the best Death Guard models ever made. He’s a walking wall of rusted plate and rot. You can’t get him in the current Death Guard combat patrol. You can’t find him on a solo sprue in most shops. You have to find the box.
The Rulebook Factor
Inside that set was a massive, hardback Core Book. It wasn't the flimsy "getting started" pamphlet you see in some cheaper kits. It was the full-fat, 280-page lore bible. This was the first time we saw the Great Rift (Cicatrix Maledictum) properly explained. For a lore nerd, this was peak content. It set the stage for the Indomitus Crusade and everything we’re playing through now.
It's funny, actually. The rules in that book are technically obsolete now that we've moved through 9th and into 10th edition. But the lore? The art? That stays. The 8th edition book had this specific grim-dark-meets-modern-graphic-design vibe that really defined the "New GW" era.
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The Primaris Controversy
We have to talk about the Intercessors.
Before the Warhammer 40k 8th edition starter set, Space Marines were 28mm "heroic scale." They were short. They had "potbellies" because of how the armor was sculpted. The Primaris Marines changed the silhouette of the game. They were taller, sleeker, and had two wounds.
Two wounds!
At the time, that was a massive deal. A basic troop with two wounds was a nightmare for some armies to shift. It changed the math of the game. If you were playing Orks or Guard, you suddenly had to rethink your entire strategy for killing "the boys in blue."
The Death Guard Side of the Fence
The Chaos half of the box was equally impactful. The Poxwalkers became a meme almost instantly. People were running units of 40 or 60 of these things, just clogging up the board. It was a different time. The Bloat-drone in the box was also a "push-fit" wonder. It showed that GW could make complex, disgusting, organic-looking machinery that you could basically snap together.
How to Find One Now (And Should You?)
Look, finding a sealed Warhammer 40k 8th edition starter set is getting harder. It's been out of print for years. You’re looking at collector prices on the secondary market.
Is it worth it?
If you’re a painter? Yes. Absolutely. Those sculpts are iconic. If you’re a competitive player looking for the "meta"? Probably not. Most of those models have been superseded by newer kits or different weapon profiles. But for a hobbyist who wants a piece of history, or a Death Guard player who needs that specific Lord of Contagion, it’s the holy grail.
Keep an eye on r/Miniswap or local Facebook hobby groups. Often, someone will have half the box sitting in their "pile of shame" (we all have one, don't lie). Buying the halves separately is usually way cheaper than trying to find the whole box intact with the book and dice.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you are hunting for this specific era of 40k, here is the move.
First, verify the sprues. The 8th edition starter miniatures are "mono-pose," meaning they only go together one way. They are easy to identify because they don't have the modularity of the multi-part kits. If someone is selling "8th edition marines" and they have 15 different weapon options, they aren't from the starter set.
Second, don't overpay for the rulebook. The 8th edition core book is a great coffee table piece, but as a gaming tool, it’s a relic. Pay for the plastic, not the paper.
Third, check the "Know No Fear" and "First Strike" sets. These were the smaller, cheaper versions of the Warhammer 40k 8th edition starter set. They contain the same sculpts but in smaller quantities. If you just want a few Plague Marines or Intercessors to paint, these are often hidden gems in the used market and go for much less than the "Dark Imperium" big box.
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The 8th edition era was a turning point. It wasn't perfect, but it gave the hobby the shot in the arm it desperately needed. Whether you love or hate the Primaris shift, you can't deny that the hobby is bigger and more accessible now because of what started in that box.
Final tip for the road: If you do manage to snag the Death Guard half, the Malignant Plaguecaster in that set is one of the most "characterful" models in the range. His "puke-spell" aesthetic is something GW hasn't quite replicated since. Grab him if you see him.