Short answer: Necrons are the best beginner army if you want anything other than Space Marines: simple rules, incredibly durable models and a paint scheme that looks finished after a basecoat, a wash and some glowing green. Start with the Necrons half of a starter set or a Combat Patrol box and you’re playing legal 500-point games within two weekends.
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Why Necrons Are a Perfect First Army
Necrons are ancient, undying robot legions — and mechanically, they’re built for people learning the game:
1. Reanimation Protocols forgive mistakes. Your fallen warriors stand back up. While you’re learning positioning, your army heals your errors. 2. One simple army rule, clean datacards. Fewer nested special rules than almost any other faction — you spend game nights learning 40K, not Necron exceptions. 3. Fastest paint scheme in the game. Silver basecoat + black wash + green accents = table-ready. No faction gets from sprue to tabletop faster. 4. Small model count. Most Necron lists run fewer models than horde armies — less assembly, less painting, less cost per finished game.
Your First 1,000 Points (Simple Starter List)
| Unit | Role | Why It’s Here |
|---|---|---|
| Overlord (or Royal Warden) | Leader, buffs Warriors | Cheap HQ that makes your core hit harder |
| 20x Necron Warriors | Battleline, objective holders | Your durable scoring core — reanimation keeps them alive |
| 3x Skorpekh Destroyers | Melee threat | Teaches aggressive play with a forgiving unit |
| Canoptek Scarab Swarms or Wraiths | Fast screen / speed | Movement-phase learning curve, cheap in points |
| 1x Heavy support (Annihilation Barge or similar) | Ranged firepower | Your first “big gun” — teaches shooting priority |
Point values change with each dataslate — always check the current free points file. The structure (Warrior core + leader + one melee + one fast + one heavy) is durable across updates.
Expansion path: add a Monolith or a C’tan Shard as your 2,000-point centrepiece. One big model per purchase — paint it before the next.
Paint Scheme: The Weekend Army
The famous “one weekend” Necron recipe:
1. Spray black or grey primer 2. Basecoat everything silver (one coat is fine on metal) 3. Wash with black shade — the wash does the entire “depth” job 4. Glow accents: drybrush the weapon coils and eyes in green, add a second lighter pass on the brightest spots
Fifteen models in two evenings, and they look like a proper undying legion. Black-and-green variants, brass trims and rusty “tomb world” versions all come later — the base scheme is genuinely this easy.
Playing Your First Games
- Warriors in the middle. They’re your objectives team — march them up the board and let reanimation punish your opponent’s shooting.
- Shoot the dangerous stuff, ignore the chaff. Necron guns are good; the beginner mistake is wasting them on cheap enemy units.
- Don’t fear melee. Even when Destroyers die, that’s their job — buying time for your Warriors to score.
Common Necron Beginner Mistakes
- Spending huge points on one giant unit too early — learn with a balanced core first
- Forgetting reanimation rolls — it’s the faction’s whole identity; write it on your army roster
- Leaving the Overlord’s buff out of range — keep leaders glued to the Warriors
FAQ — Necrons for Beginners
Are Necrons good for beginners? Yes — arguably the best non-Marine start. Simple rules, durable units and a fast paint scheme make them ideal while you’re learning movement, shooting and objectives.
How much does a 1,000-point Necron army cost? Around $250–350 including paints and tools. The Necrons half of a starter box plus one or two boxes gets you most of the way there.
What’s the easiest Necron paint scheme? Silver basecoat, black wash, glowing green accents. It’s the most famous beginner scheme in the hobby for a reason — fifteen models in a weekend, looking genuinely good.
Necrons vs. Space Marines for a first army? Both excellent. Marines: maximum community support and starter availability. Necrons: better looks-per-hour-of-painting and fewer models to manage. Read our full comparison.
Do Necrons have complicated rules? Their core rules are simple — reanimation is one mechanic, and most units are straightforward shooting or melee. You’ll spend more time learning 40K’s universal rules than Necron-specific exceptions.
What do I buy after the starter box? One Warrior box and one fast or melee box gets you to 1,000 points. Add your first big centrepiece (Monolith or C’tan) as the reward for finishing your paint queue.
Wake the Legion
- 👉 How to Start Warhammer 40K: Beginner’s Roadmap
- 👉 Best Warhammer 40K Starter Set in 2026 (Compared)
- 👉 Space Marines Beginner Army Guide — the alternative
- 👉 How to Paint Your First Miniature: Step-by-Step
The tomb worlds are waking. Your legion is one silver basecoat away from the table. Shop beginner-friendly Necron boxes → (affiliate links)
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