Quick answer
Start with the faction whose box gives you the most playable bodies for the lowest entry cost. For most new players, that means Combat Zone: Take Up Irons (Zoner Gonks) at three miniatures, or Combat Zone: The Ferm (Edgerunners) at five miniatures plus ten character cards. Buy one box, play a few games, then expand into a second faction or a full-body conversion set.
Decide by box size, not by lore
New players lose the most money by buying a faction because the artwork looks cool, then discovering the box does not contain enough models to field a legal gang. Read the box contents before you read the faction story. A three-model box and a five-model box solve different problems: the smaller box is a cheap way to test paint schemes and list building, while the larger box gets you to a full table presence faster.
The Ferm (Edgerunners) box lists five miniatures and ten character cards, which gives you more list-building combinations out of one purchase. Take Up Irons (Zoner Gonks) lists three Zoner Gonk miniatures and the cards needed to add them to a gang, so it works better as a first taste or as an add-on to an existing collection. Neither box is wasted money if you match it to how often you actually play.
Match the faction to your painting and play schedule
If you paint slowly, a three-model box is the honest choice. You can finish a small Zoner Gonk unit in a weekend, get it on the table, and learn whether you enjoy the faction's playstyle before committing to more resin. If you already paint regularly or split hobby time with a friend, a five-model box like The Ferm keeps two people busy and gives you enough variety to run different loadouts.
Count your realistic games per month. One game night a month favors the cheapest single box. Weekly games favor the larger box because you will exhaust a three-model list quickly and start proxying, which slows down learning the actual faction rules.
Use single miniatures to test before you commit
Single Shot miniatures such as Civilian: Discreet Contractor let you add one painted model to a warband or test a paint recipe without buying a full faction box. They are not a faction in themselves, and the catalog does not list a complete gang profile for them, so treat them as a supplement rather than a starting point. Buy one only after you have a core box on the way.
Civilian: Discreet Contractor
Full-body conversion sets such as Combat Zone: Going Metal (Universal Full Body Conversion 1) are an expansion, not a starter. They add cybernetic bodies and FBC cards to a team you already own. If you have not played a game yet, skip them until you know which faction you are keeping.
Combat Zone: Going Metal (Universal Full Body Conversion 1)
Decision rules for your first faction
- Rule 1: Buy the box that matches your paint output: If you finish fewer than three miniatures a month, start with the three-model Take Up Irons box. If you paint weekly, The Ferm's five miniatures will not sit unfinished. Checkpoint: can you finish the whole box within two weeks of buying it?
- Rule 2: Count cards, not just models: The Ferm ships with ten character cards, so it supports more list variation than a three-model box. If your group plays with varied scenarios, more cards reduce repetition. Checkpoint: does the box give you at least two different ways to build the same gang?
- Rule 3: Treat expansions as a second purchase: Going Metal (Universal Full Body Conversion 1) adds cybernetic bodies and FBC cards to an existing team. Buying it before your first faction box leaves you with models you cannot field. Checkpoint: do you already own a playable core gang?
Two starter boxes worth comparing
- Combat Zone: Take Up Irons (Zoner Gonks): Take Up Irons (Zoner Gonks) includes three Zoner Gonk miniatures plus the cards needed to add them to a gang in Combat Zone. It is the lowest-commitment way to try the game, but three models will not carry a long campaign on their own.
- Combat Zone: The Ferm (Edgerunners): The Ferm (Edgerunners) box includes five miniatures and ten character cards. More models and more cards mean more list options from a single purchase, which suits players who expect to play often.
Who should buy which
Best for
- New players who want a cheap, low-risk first purchase and paint slowly
- Hobbyists adding a small Zoner Gonk unit to an existing gang
- Players who want a five-model core with ten character cards for varied lists
Not for
- Players who expect a three-model box to support a full campaign without expansion
- Anyone buying a full-body conversion set before owning a playable core gang
- Collectors who want a complete faction in a single purchase with no further buys
