Malifaux Core Box vs Starter Box: Which Should New Players Buy First?

Quick answer

Buy a Malifaux Core Box first if you already know the faction you want to play and want a complete, thematic crew led by a named master. Buy a Starter Box first if you want the lowest-risk entry with two small crews, a rules manual, and everything two players need to learn together. If you are buying for one person, the Core Box is usually the better first purchase.

Malifaux Third Edition sells two kinds of entry products, and they are not interchangeable. A Core Box gives you one full crew built around a master. A Starter Box gives you two small crews plus the rules you need to play immediately. The right first purchase depends on whether you are buying for one player or two, and whether you already know which faction you want to commit to.

This buying guide breaks down the practical differences, the trade-offs, and the decision rules that matter at the table. You will also see how individual Malifaux miniatures can extend either box later, so your first purchase does not lock you out of anything.

What a Malifaux Core Box actually gives you

A Core Box is a complete starter crew for one faction. It includes a master, their totem, and a set of themed models that share keywords and synergies. You get a playable force out of the box, but you still need the Malifaux Rules Manual or the free rules to learn the game. Core Boxes are the standard recommendation when a player has already decided on a faction and wants to start collecting that crew seriously.

The trade-off is focus. A Core Box commits you to one faction and one play style. If you are not sure whether you prefer Resurrectionists, Neverborn, or Outcasts, a Core Box is a bigger first step. If you do know, it is the most efficient way to get a real crew on the table.

• Best when you already know your faction.
• Includes a master and a themed crew, not the full rules.
• Easier to expand later with faction-specific boxes.

What a Starter Box actually gives you

A Starter Box is designed as a two-player learn-to-play product. It typically contains two small crews, a rules manual, and the tokens and decks needed to run a game. It is the lowest-friction way to try Malifaux, because you and a friend can split the contents and each keep a crew. The crews are smaller and less flexible than a Core Box crew, but they teach the core mechanics without overwhelming you.

The trade-off is depth. A Starter Box crew is not a full tournament-ready force, and it may not include the master you eventually want to play. Many players use a Starter Box as a demo set, then buy a Core Box once they pick a faction. That is a sensible path if you are still deciding.

• Best when two people want to learn together.
• Includes rules and components for immediate play.
• Smaller crews mean less list-building freedom.

How to choose without wasting money

Start with one question: who is playing? If two people are splitting the box, a Starter Box is almost always the better first buy. If one person is starting a collection, a Core Box gives more long-term value because every model belongs to the faction you will keep building. Buying a Starter Box first and then a Core Box is not wasteful if you actually use the Starter Box to teach the game, but it is an extra step if you already know what you want.

Second question: do you care about the master? Core Boxes are built around specific masters and keywords. If a particular master is the reason you want to play Malifaux, buy that Core Box. If you just want to push models around and learn the rules, the Starter Box is enough.

• Two players: Starter Box first.
• One player with a chosen faction: Core Box first.
• Unsure about factions: Starter Box, then Core Box.

Where individual Malifaux miniatures fit in

Both entry boxes are starting points, not complete collections. Once you have a Core Box, you can add individual Malifaux miniatures that share your crew's keywords. For example, a Guild or Arcanists player might add Malifaux Third Edition: Remade and Reforged to bring in Augmented and Freikorps models. An Outcasts player might add Malifaux Third Edition: The Bad Omen as a Versatile warning piece. These are optional upgrades, not requirements.

The key is keyword overlap. Models that share a keyword with your master slot into your crew more smoothly. Models without that overlap can still be used, but they may not benefit from the same synergies. Check the keyword on any single miniature before you buy it as an addition to a Core Box crew.

• Add models that share your master's keyword.
• Versatile models can fit multiple crews.
• You do not need every expansion to start playing.

Decision rules for your first Malifaux purchase

• Rule 1: Buy for the number of players: If two people will share the box, buy a Starter Box. If one person is starting a collection, buy a Core Box. This single question resolves most of the decision. Two players = Starter Box. One player = Core Box.
• Rule 2: Buy for a known faction: If you already know you want Guild, Resurrectionists, Neverborn, Outcasts, or another faction, buy that faction's Core Box. Do not buy a Starter Box just to save money if you will immediately buy the Core Box anyway. Known faction = Core Box first.
• Rule 3: Buy for a known master: If a specific master is why you want to play, buy the Core Box that contains that master. Starter Box crews are generic learning tools and may not include your chosen master. Specific master = that Core Box.
• Rule 4: Buy for learning, not for completion: Neither box is a finished collection. Plan to add individual Malifaux miniatures later, ideally ones that share your crew's keyword. Do not buy expansions before you have played a few games with the core crew. Start small, expand by keyword.
• Rule 5: Buy for assembly reality: All Malifaux miniatures in these boxes are 32mm heroic scale, supplied unpainted in high-quality plastic, and require preparation and assembly. Budget time and tools for cleanup and glue before your first game. Assembly time is part of the purchase.

Malifaux miniatures that work as first additions

• Malifaux Third Edition: Remade and Reforged: Faction: Guild / Arcanists / Outcasts. Keywords: Augmented, Freikorps. Contents: Charles Hoffman, Inventor; Metallurgist; Von Schill, Iron Heart. Miniatures are 32mm heroic scale, supplied unpainted in high-quality plastic, and require preparation and assembly. A good example of a multi-faction box that adds two commanders and a support model. If you already own a Guild, Arcanists, or Outcasts Core Box, this expands your options without starting a new faction.
• Malifaux Third Edition: The Bad Omen: Faction: Outcasts. Keyword: Versatile. Contents: The Bad Omen. Miniatures are 32mm heroic scale, supplied unpainted in high-quality plastic, and require preparation and assembly. A single Versatile Outcasts model that can slot into many Outcasts crews. Useful if you want one flexible addition rather than a full new box.
• Malifaux Third Edition: Old Hob: Faction: Resurrectionists. Keyword: Versatile. Contents: Old Hob. Miniatures are 32mm heroic scale, supplied unpainted in high-quality plastic, and require preparation and assembly. A Versatile Resurrectionists model that fits a range of crews in that faction. A practical pickup if you started with a Resurrectionists Core Box and want another option.
• Malifaux Third Edition: Alternative Nekima: Faction: Neverborn. Keyword: Nephilim. Contents: Alternative Nekima. Miniatures are 32mm heroic scale, supplied unpainted in high-quality plastic, and require preparation and assembly. An alternate sculpt for a named Neverborn model. Choose this if you want a centerpiece model for a Nephilim crew, not as a stand-alone starter.

Which box fits you?

Best for

• A single player who has chosen a faction and wants a complete themed crew.
• Players who want to build toward a specific master and keyword.
• Anyone ready to assemble and paint miniatures as part of the hobby.

Not for

• Two friends who want to learn together on a budget; choose a Starter Box instead.
• Players who are completely undecided about faction; a Starter Box is a lower-risk first step.
• Anyone who wants pre-painted, ready-to-play miniatures; Malifaux miniatures require preparation and assembly.

If you are buying for yourself and you know your faction, start with a Core Box. If you are buying for two players or you are still exploring, start with a Starter Box and add a Core Box once you pick a favorite. Either way, plan your next purchase around keyword overlap so every model you add has a place in your crew.