If you’ve been playing Spearhead for a while and really enjoying it, there’s a moment that almost everyone reaches sooner or later. The games are flowing, you’re comfortable with your army, and suddenly you start thinking: “I’d love to try Age of Sigmar… but 2000 points feels like a massive jump” . That feeling is completely normal.
I saw this first-hand after a recent Spearhead league game. The match was fun, competitive, and engaging, and afterwards my opponent said she’d love to expand her army and start Age of Sigmar properly. The problem wasn’t enthusiasm. It was uncertainty. She didn’t know what the next steps looked like, how much she needed to buy, or whether she was ready for something that seemed so much bigger.
This article is for players in exactly that position. If you’re wondering how to move from Spearhead to Age of Sigmar, the good news is simple: you don’t need to jump straight into the deep end. You grow into it, one step at a time.
Spearhead → Age of Sigmar: The Simple Next Steps
If you’re enjoying Spearhead but the jump to 2000 points feels intimidating, start here. This is the smooth path that gets you more games with less stress.
Step 1: Start at 1000 points
Don’t jump straight to 2000. 1000-point games feel complete, play faster, and help you learn without overload.
Step 2: Add one unit at a time
Expand gradually. Add a unit you like, play a few games, then add the next. Less stress, more confidence.
Step 3: Use affordable upgrades
Keep it cheap and flexible: buy second-hand (eBay), trade locally, or grab another Spearhead box for your army.
Step 4: Move to 1500, then 2000
Once 1000 feels comfortable, go to 1500. Only aim for 2000 when it feels exciting, not intimidating.
The goal isn’t to rush. The goal is to get more games in, learn naturally, and enjoy the hobby without feeling overwhelmed.
If you’re still deciding which Spearhead to expand from, our Spearhead Tier List breaks down how each army performs and which ones transition most smoothly into full Age of Sigmar.
What Spearhead Has Already Prepared You For
One of the biggest misconceptions about Spearhead is that it’s a “starter mode” you eventually leave behind. In reality, Spearhead already teaches most of the skills that matter in Age of Sigmar.
If you’re comfortable playing Spearhead, you already understand turn structure, objective timing, movement, positioning, combat sequencing, and trading units. You know when to push, when to hold back, and how to score points rather than just chase kills. Those fundamentals don’t disappear when the points increase.
What changes in Age of Sigmar isn’t the core game. What changes is layering. More units, more interactions, and more choices. Spearhead strips away noise, not skill. That’s why so many players feel confident in Spearhead but nervous about expanding. They underestimate how much they already know.
Age of Sigmar is essentially the same game as Spearhead but with different strategies to score and many more units to control throughout the battle.
From Spearhead to Age of Sigmar: What to Do Next
The biggest mistake players make when thinking about Age of Sigmar is assuming there’s a single correct next step. There isn’t.
You don’t graduate from Spearhead. You don’t suddenly “switch” to Age of Sigmar. You simply start adding layers when you feel ready.
Most importantly, you do not need to start at 2000 points.
A much healthier and more enjoyable progression looks like this:
- Start at 1000 points
- Move up to 1500 points
- Only then build toward 2000 points
Starting at 1000 points is a sweet spot. Games feel complete without being overwhelming, and you get meaningful decisions without drowning in rules. Once that feels comfortable, 1500 points introduces depth and flexibility without bloating the game. By the time you reach 2000 points, it feels exciting rather than intimidating.
Players who follow this progression tend to get more games in, learn faster, and stick with the hobby longer.
How to Expand Your Spearhead Army into Age of Sigmar (The Smart Way)
When expanding from Spearhead, the key is resisting the urge to “finish” your army all at once. Those who rush out and buy a load of different units often come to regret that decision when they end up wanting other units all together. Age of Sigmar armies are never really finished, and treating expansion as a gradual process makes it far more enjoyable.
A good approach is to add one unit at a time and play games between each addition. This lets you learn new rules naturally, rather than trying to absorb everything in one go. Each new unit teaches you something, whether that’s a new role on the battlefield or a new interaction to think about.
You don’t need a perfect list. You don’t need an optimised build. What you need is familiarity, and that comes from repetition and play, not planning spreadsheets. At the end of the day AOS and Spearhead are both about having fun first, so focus on what you enjoy and like as units.
Playing Spearhead and Want to Try Age of Sigmar? Start Here
The biggest change when moving from Spearhead into Age of Sigmar isn’t how the game plays, it’s freedom. In Spearhead, your army is fixed for you. In Age of Sigmar, your army can be whatever you choose it to be.
That freedom is exciting, but it’s also what makes the jump feel overwhelming. The easiest way to manage it is by using the Warhammer Age of Sigmar app.
When you open the app, you’ll see a “Start Here!” screen with three options. For now, choose the free version. You don’t need a subscription to build a single army list, and that’s all we need at this stage.
Once inside, ignore the rules and lore sections for now. They’re useful later, but not necessary yet. Tap Storm Forge at the bottom of the screen, then press the plus (+) button to create a new army.
You’ll be asked to select a Grand Alliance (Order, Chaos, Death, or Destruction), then your faction within that alliance. After that, the app will show you a selection of battle formations. These work a lot like Spearhead Battle Traits, except in Age of Sigmar you get to choose them rather than having them assigned automatically. You can tap the information (i) icon to see what each one does, or simply select the default option to keep things simple.
Next, choose the current ruleset for the year, then set your points limit. While most games are played at 2000 points, it’s strongly recommended to start at 1000 points, move to 1500, and only aim for 2000 once you’re comfortable.
With that done, name your army list and press Create Army.
From here, you’ll build your list by adding heroes and units. Every army has one General, chosen from your heroes, and units are organised into regiments, which determine your number of drops during deployment. Having fewer drops lets you choose who goes first, while having more gives you a re-roll on priority. It’s not something to stress over early on, but it’s useful to be aware of.
Add the models you own, or ones you’re considering. The app will flag Legends units, which are usually excluded from competitive play but perfectly fine for friendly games.
Once your list is built, that’s it. You’re ready to play.
You don’t need to optimise. You don’t need to know every rule. You just need games on the table. That’s how Spearhead naturally grows into Age of Sigmar.
Affordable Ways to Grow Beyond Spearhead
Expanding into Age of Sigmar doesn’t have to be expensive, and it definitely doesn’t need to happen all at once.
One of the best value options is buying another Spearhead box for the same army. These boxes are usually excellent value, give you more unit variety, and often take you a long way toward a solid 1000 or 1500 point force. They’re also designed to work well together, which keeps things simple.
Second-hand models are another great option. Sites like eBay are full of core units, heroes, and partially built armies at a fraction of retail price. Many players sell models simply because they’re changing factions or trimming collections, not because anything is wrong with them.
Local clubs are also an underrated resource. Trading, borrowing units for test games, or buying from other players can save money and help you experiment before committing.
This isn’t about being cheap. It’s about being sensible. You shouldn’t feel pressured to spend heavily just to find out whether you enjoy larger games.
Common Mistakes When Expanding Beyond Spearhead
Almost everyone makes at least one of these mistakes when moving beyond Spearhead, and that’s okay.
Some players buy too much too quickly and feel overwhelmed by unbuilt models. Others jump straight to 2000 points and find games exhausting rather than exciting. Many chase competitive lists before they’ve learned what they actually enjoy playing.
None of this means you’re bad at the hobby. It just means you went too fast. Slowing down, playing smaller games, and letting experience guide your choices makes the entire process far more enjoyable.
Spearhead Isn’t a Tutorial, It’s a Parallel Way to Play
It’s important to say this clearly: Spearhead is not a lesser version of Age of Sigmar. Do not give up on Spearhead when you start AOS, the game mode is still brilliant and a great way to have shorter games, introduce friends to Warhammer and play a fun well balanced game.
It’s a complete, valid format in its own right. Some players expand into larger games. Others stay with Spearhead indefinitely. Both are correct choices.
Age of Sigmar isn’t something you have to move into. It’s something that’s there when and if you want it.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Rush
If you’re enjoying Spearhead, you’re already doing Warhammer right.
Starting Age of Sigmar after playing Spearhead isn’t about jumping to 2000 points or learning everything at once. It’s about growing at your own pace, keeping the game fun, and staying excited rather than stressed.
If you can play Spearhead, you can play Age of Sigmar. The only real difference is how quickly you decide to take the next step.
And there’s no rush at all. If you want to check out more of our Spearhead content, best place to start is here: Spearhead Tier List.
