2025 gift guide for Miniature Wargamers (Warhammer 40k, Conquest, etc.)

Hey War Gamers! Tired of trying to explain to your family what gifts to get you for the holidays and birthdays? we understand your pain, so we created a guide that you can send or share to your friends and relatives that breaks down different ideas, with links included. Simply copy the link, add a quick list in the message of the games you play, and let the guide handle the rest.

Dice:

Dice are a great cost efficient way of upgrading a players army without knowing the ins and outs of their army. You could go for matching colors of their faction, matching symbols, or even just adding to their collection. There's a huge selection of dice to choose from, however a "brick" of 12mm dice is what the industry standard has become.

Starter set:

Most tabletop war games have starter kits that make it easy for players to dive into the game or a new faction. Some games like Conquest by Para Bellum even have 2 player starter sets that allow you to start two separate factions or play it with a friend. These are typically a higher investment, however they are also typically the most efficient buy in for players to get playing.

Expansion pack

Each tabletop war game has different types of character, army or faction expansions,so be sure to know which army the gamer in your life plays, and it would be helpful to know which units they already have to avoid duplicates. I'd highly recommend asking if there's a unit or expansion they are looking forward to releasing. There's even books that contain special or updated rule sets, and army rule sets. Check out the latest Boarding Actions expansion if they play Warhammer 40K.

War Gaming Tools

Many tabletop war games use a variety of deployment, measuring and tracking tools. most use us just a standard measuring tape, however i do recommend you try and search for compact ones like the one I linked, as bulky ones are difficult to manage while playing without accidentally knocking miniatures over. Deployment markers are also used in most tabletop games, although they may vary. We have a couple different 3d printed versions here. Another useful and cost effective tool that most war gamer's use are wound counters. Although writing it down on paper is doable, its so much more convenient to just spin a wheel when a player has either scored points or the round has changed. You can get our colorful 3d printed ones here.

Hobby case

Many war gamer's have quite a few miniatures they need to transport, and store. Sometimes it can be annoying and difficult to do depending on the size of the army or the shelving that's available. I definitely recommend looking into a system that does both, like this personal army combat kit. This is definitely a premium gift, however its worth the value considering the amount of time and money that's invested typically in to an army.

Hobby Tools

Whether you're new to hobbying or a veteran to the industry, hobby tools are always needed. You can upgrade your gamer's tools or simply add a tool to their collection. Here's a simplified breakdown we've already done for people just getting into the hobby with a brief breakdown of the basic tools. A wet pallete, paint brushes, clippers, and glue are all basic necessities, but you can upgrade their basic tools to something more advanced and premium like these Tamiya clippers. A game changer to my hobby space was actually this hobby light by Game Envy.

Dice Tray

A dice tray is a really convenient way to keep the table clear of any accidental rolls, especially during games like Warhammer 40K where upwards of 20 dice can be rolled at once. The Gamer's Haven has a pretty awesome selection of locally made dice trays showcasing some eye catching art. Check them out in person to get the full effect.

Event Entry

Although some Gamer's are just in it for the hobby side, most get through the hobby portion to eventually get their models on the table for a chance at an epic battle. Most of these battles lead to or are part of some sort of tournament or tournament circuit which typically have entry fees. Show your gamer that you are excited for them to play by prepaying for one of their events, or alternatively put credit on their account so they can enter a tournament when its convenient for them.

Gift Certificate/Store Credit

Contrary to popular belief, getting a gift certificate for a war gamer/ hobbyist may be one of the most thoughtful gifts you can get. It can be extremely difficult to know exactly what your gamer is missing, or what they are excited for without spoiling anything. Giving them the option to get exactly what they want in the order of priority that's most important to them, is giving them flexibility, while still accomplishing the task of exciting them. So if you are unsure, this is the best way to fulfill your gamer's needs. 

Hopefully this guide helps you nail down some thoughtful gifts for the gamers in your life. Happy Holidays!