Kill Team Hivestorm: Contents, Factions, Rules, and Buying Guide

Quick answer: Kill Team: Hivestorm is Games Workshop’s boxed launch set for the third edition (2024) of Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team. It includes two brand-new 11-model kill teams (Tempestus Aquilons and Vespid Stingwings), a full Killzone: Volkus terrain set, the Kill Team Core Book, the Hivestorm Dossier, dice, tokens, and mission cards — everything two players need to start playing straight out of the box, aside from glue, paint, and hobby tools.

If you’ve searched “Kill Team Hivestorm,” you’re most likely trying to figure out one of three things: what exactly comes in the box, whether it’s a good starting point for a new player, or whether it’s still the current way to get into the game. This guide covers all three, using verified product information from Games Workshop and established hobby press coverage.

What Is Kill Team Hivestorm?

Kill Team: Hivestorm is a boxed miniatures set for Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team, a skirmish-scale tabletop wargame in which each player controls a small squad — usually 6 to 14 models — rather than a full army. Hivestorm was released as the flagship launch product for Kill Team’s third edition, arriving for pre-order on September 21, 2024, with a full release on October 5, 2024.

The set is built around a narrative conflict on Volkus, a hive city in the Chalnath Expanse, where Vespid Stingwing kill teams (allied to the T’au Empire) strike at the city’s defenses while elite Tempestus Aquilons (Astra Militarum special forces) are deployed to repel them. Both factions in the box are notably mobile and air-capable, giving the set a slightly more advanced, aerial-combat feel compared with some earlier Kill Team starter boxes.

Because Hivestorm launched a new edition, it also serves as the primary vehicle for the updated Kill Team rules — including the current Core Book, which every kill team in the game (not just the two included in the box) now uses.

Read More: https://gamespuma.com/kill-team-shadowhunt/

What Comes in the Box?

Hivestorm is a large box, and its contents are well documented by Games Workshop and confirmed across multiple retailers. Based on official listings, the boxed set includes:

• 1x 112-page softcover Kill Team: Core Book – the full rules for the current edition
• 1x 72-page Hivestorm Dossier – lore, campaign content, and the complete rules/datasheets for both included kill teams
• 22x multi-part plastic miniatures (11 Tempestus Aquilons + 11 Vespid Stingwings)
• 1x Kill Team core token sheet – 92 double-sided tokens
• 1x combined token sheet – 55 double-sided tokens specific to the two included teams
• 36x Approved Operations cards – the current matched-play mission/Tac Ops card pack
• 1x double-sided 762mm x 559mm Killzone: Volkus game board
• 10x six-sided dice
• 14x pieces of Killzone: Volkus terrain
• 1x Kill Team Equipment Pack – a sprue of 30 universal equipment pieces (barricades, ladders, grenades, comms devices, and range markers) usable by any faction
• 20x Citadel 28.5mm round bases, 1x 40mm base, 1x 25mm base

In total, the kit contains 355 plastic components. Some early pre-orders placed directly through Warhammer.com or in a Games Workshop store also came with a free bonus set of 12 wound-counter dial bases, though that was a limited-time pre-order incentive rather than a permanent part of the box.

What’s NOT included

Hivestorm gives you everything needed to play, but a few standard hobby items are sold separately, as with virtually every Games Workshop kit:

• Plastic glue or cement
• Paints, brushes, and other painting supplies
• Hobby knife or clippers for removing models from sprues
• A second copy of the rules if you want each player to have their own book (one Core Book is included)

Included Kill Teams

Hivestorm includes two complete, ready-to-build kill teams, each with 11 miniatures.

Tempestus Aquilons

The Tempestus Aquilons are an Astra Militarum special-forces team of elite Human operatives who insert into combat via grav-chute drops. Their core identity leans toward disciplined, accurate ranged firepower using hot-shot lascarbines and lasguns, backed up by close-range specialists wielding twin laspistols. Key roles in the team include a Tempestor (team leader with tactical support abilities), Marksman-type snipers for picking off high-value targets, and Gunfighters built for aggressive short-range trades. Their identity is best described as an objective-focused, mid-range firefight team that benefits from good positioning and target prioritization — a solid, fairly intuitive team for players new to activation-based skirmish games.

Vespid Stingwings

The Vespid Stingwings are airborne xenos auxiliaries of the T’au Empire, armed with advanced neutron-based weaponry. Their tactical identity centers on mobility: Stingwings can fly across the battlefield, letting them bypass difficult terrain and reposition in ways most Kill Team factions can’t. Specialist roles include stealth-oriented Shadestrike-type operatives that can approach undetected, and general Warriors who deliver ranged damage from unconventional angles. This makes the Stingwings a more mobile, flanking-oriented team, with a slightly steeper learning curve tied to managing flight movement and positioning advantages effectively.

Neither team is presented by Games Workshop or reviewers as objectively stronger — they play differently, and each rewards a different tactical approach. As with all Kill Team factions, competitive balance is adjusted periodically through official errata and balance dataslates, so relative strength can shift over time.

Terrain and Accessories

The Killzone: Volkus terrain included in Hivestorm consists of 14 pieces depicting the ruined, multi-level urban environment of a hive city under siege — a mix of larger stronghold-style structures, ruined walls, and smaller scatter terrain pieces. Reviewers have noted that this terrain assembles quickly compared to some earlier Kill Team terrain sets, with fewer small, fiddly parts and more solid, ready-to-play structures.

On top of the killzone terrain, the box’s Equipment Pack contributes additional physical props any kill team can use as in-game equipment, including:

• Two 3″ and two 6″ range markers
• Ladders and collapsed ladders
• Light and heavy barricades
• Razor wire
• Smoke, krak, stun, and frag grenade markers
• Comms devices and ammo caches

These pieces also work as generic sci-fi scatter terrain for other games in the Warhammer 40,000 range, not just Kill Team.

Rules, Missions, and Gameplay

Hivestorm’s Core Book contains the complete ruleset for the current edition of Kill Team, applicable to every faction in the game — not only the two teams in the box. At a beginner-friendly level, the core structure works like this:

• Turning Points: A game of Kill Team is played over four Turning Points (rounds). Each Turning Point has a Strategy Phase (generating Command Points and using strategic Gambits) followed by a Firefight Phase.
• Activations: Instead of one player moving their whole force and then the other, players alternate activating a single operative at a time during the Firefight Phase. This keeps both players engaged throughout the turn rather than waiting through a long opposing turn.
• Action Points (APL): Each operative has an Action Points Limit, spent on actions like moving, shooting, fighting in melee, using mission-specific actions, or falling back. A typical operative might move and then shoot, or perform two shorter actions, depending on their APL.
• Orders: Before activating, each operative is set to either Conceal (harder to spot and target, but restricted actions) or Engage (full combat capability, but easier to detect), adding a layer of positioning strategy.
• Missions and scoring: The included Approved Operations card pack provides matched-play mission structures — Tac Ops (secondary objectives), Crit Ops, a Kill Op, Primary Ops, and map layouts — used to determine victory conditions across the four Turning Points.

This third edition streamlined several elements from the previous (2021) ruleset — for example, switching from geometric movement symbols to inch-based measurements, standardizing certain weapon statistics across factions, and clarifying terrain and line-of-sight interactions. If you previously played the 2021 edition, the core loop will feel familiar, but virtually every faction — including ones not in this box — received updated datasheets to match the new rules.

Is Kill Team Hivestorm Beginner-Friendly?

Hivestorm is marketed by Games Workshop as the ideal on-ramp into the new edition, and it does include everything two people need to sit down and play a full game. However, it’s worth noting a few practical points for beginners:

• Two full armies, no extra purchases needed to start: Because the box includes two complete kill teams, terrain, a board, dice, and mission cards, two brand-new players can play immediately without buying anything else to play matched-play missions.
• Both included factions are mobile/aerial teams: Some reviewers have pointed out that Tempestus Aquilons and Vespid Stingwings are both more mobility-focused than the average Kill Team faction, which arguably makes this feel a little closer to an “advanced” starting experience than a stripped-down tutorial box, despite functioning as the edition’s flagship starter.
• Assembly and painting are extra steps: As with any Citadel miniatures kit, models need to be assembled (glue not included) and are unpainted out of the box, unless you’re comfortable playing with unpainted or only assembled models.
• A gentler on-ramp exists: Games Workshop has also sold smaller, cheaper entry products (such as a basic two-player Starter Set and an “Ultimate Starter Set”) for players who want a lower-cost or simpler introduction before committing to Hivestorm’s larger scope.

For players who specifically want the two Hivestorm factions, or who want the most complete single-box value (terrain, models, and rules together), it remains a strong option. For an absolute first exposure to the genre at a lower price, it’s worth comparing against Kill Team’s smaller starter products first.

What Else Do You Need to Play?

To get a full game running beyond what’s in the box, most players will eventually want:

• Plastic glue for assembling the miniatures
• Paints and brushes, if you want painted models (optional for casual play)
• A hobby knife or clippers for sprue removal and mold-line cleanup
• Individual faction rules PDFs or app access, if you plan to expand beyond the two included teams — Games Workshop provides free digital datasheets for all currently supported Kill Team factions
• Additional kill teams, sold separately, if you want variety beyond Tempestus Aquilons and Vespid Stingwings

Assembly, Painting, and Hobby Requirements

The 22 miniatures in Hivestorm are multi-part plastic kits, meaning each model is built from several individual pieces rather than being pre-assembled. An assembly guide is included in the box. As with all Citadel plastic kits:

• Models require glue (liquid or gel plastic cement) to assemble — not included.
• Bases are included (28.5mm rounds for most operatives, plus one 40mm and one 25mm base for specific unit types).
• Painting is entirely optional for casual games but recommended for tournament and narrative play communities, where painted armies are often expected.
• The terrain pieces also benefit from basic painting (dry-brushing and washes are common techniques used by reviewers), though they are fully playable unpainted.

How Hivestorm Fits Into the Kill Team Range

Hivestorm isn’t a standalone spin-off — it’s the entry point into the wider, ongoing Kill Team ecosystem. After Hivestorm, the game is supported by:

• Individual kill team box releases for other factions (sold separately from Hivestorm)
• Additional Killzone terrain sets, such as Bheta-Decima (naval/platform terrain) and Gallowdark (claustrophobic ship-corridor terrain), each with distinct tactical environments
• Yearly-refreshed Approved Operations card packs, which update the matched-play mission ecosystem independent of the Core Book
• Free digital datasheets for every supported faction, so players don’t need to buy multiple starter boxes just to access rules for other teams

This means Hivestorm’s Core Book and Approved Operations cards remain relevant to the entire game, even for factions never included in the box itself.

Current Availability and Edition Considerations

Kill Team: Hivestorm launched in October 2024 as the flagship boxed set for Kill Team’s third edition. As of this writing, it continues to be sold by Games Workshop and its authorized retailers as a current product, and it remains the primary route into the current edition’s two newest factions (Tempestus Aquilons and Vespid Stingwings). Pricing has fluctuated somewhat since launch (it launched at $230 / £145 / €280 and has occasionally been discounted by retailers), and secondary-market listings for used or opened copies are also common.

Games Workshop periodically releases new seasonal launch boxes for Kill Team using the same “big box with two new teams” format that Hivestorm established. If you’re considering a purchase, it’s worth checking Games Workshop’s official Kill Team product page directly to confirm whether Hivestorm is still the current seasonal box or whether it has since been supplemented or succeeded by a newer release, since Games Workshop does not always keep older launch boxes in print indefinitely.

Alternatives for New Players

If Hivestorm’s price point, faction choice, or “advanced starter” feel isn’t the right fit, a few alternative on-ramps exist within the Kill Team range:

• Basic Kill Team Starter Set: A smaller, lower-cost two-player set aimed at a gentler introduction to the rules, typically with fewer models and less terrain than a full seasonal box like Hivestorm.
• Kill Team Ultimate Starter Set: Positioned between the basic Starter Set and a full seasonal launch box, offering more terrain and models than the basic set without the premium price of a Hivestorm-style release.
• Individual kill team boxes: For 40k players who already own compatible miniatures or terrain, buying just the Core Book and a single kill team box can be a cheaper way in.

None of these is objectively “better” than Hivestorm — the right choice depends on budget, whether you want the specific Tempestus Aquilons/Vespid Stingwing factions, and whether you already have some 40k terrain or rulebooks on hand.

Comparison Table: Kill Team Hivestorm at a Glance

Feature	Verified Details
Product	Kill Team: Hivestorm
Game system	Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team (3rd edition)
Publisher	Games Workshop
Release date	Pre-order Sept 21, 2024; street date Oct 5, 2024
Included teams	Tempestus Aquilons, Vespid Stingwings
Miniatures	22 multi-part plastic models (11 per team)
Terrain	14 pieces of Killzone: Volkus terrain
Rulebooks	112-page Core Book, 72-page Hivestorm Dossier
Also included	36 Approved Operations cards, 10 dice, dual-sided game board, 147 tokens across two sheets, 30-piece Equipment Pack
Players	2
Launch price	$230 USD / £145 / €280 (subject to change; check current retailer pricing)
Additional supplies needed	Plastic glue, paint (optional), hobby knife
Current availability	Sold as a current product by Games Workshop and retailers as of this writing; confirm on Warhammer.com for the latest status

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kill Team Hivestorm a complete game on its own? Yes. It includes two full kill teams, terrain, a board, dice, tokens, and mission cards — everything two players need for a complete matched-play game, aside from glue and paint for assembly and finishing.

What factions are in Kill Team Hivestorm? Tempestus Aquilons (Astra Militarum special forces) and Vespid Stingwings (T’au Empire xenos auxiliaries), 11 miniatures each.

Is Kill Team Hivestorm good for complete beginners? It’s designed as the launch box for the current edition and includes everything needed to play, though both included factions are relatively mobile, aerial-focused teams that some reviewers consider a step above the most basic starter experience. Players wanting a simpler or cheaper first purchase may want to compare it against Kill Team’s smaller Starter Set first.

Does Kill Team Hivestorm include paint and glue? No. Like all Citadel miniatures kits, plastic glue and paint are sold separately.

Can I use the Hivestorm rulebook for other Kill Team factions? Yes. The included Core Book contains the complete current-edition rules used by every Kill Team faction, not just the two included in the box. Individual faction datasheets for other teams are available for free from Games Workshop.

Is Kill Team Hivestorm still available to buy? As of this writing, yes — it remains a current product from Games Workshop and its retail partners. Because Games Workshop periodically releases new seasonal boxes, check Warhammer.com directly to confirm it hasn’t since been replaced by a newer launch set.

Final Summary

Kill Team: Hivestorm is the third edition’s flagship launch box, pairing two brand-new, mobility-focused kill teams — Tempestus Aquilons and Vespid Stingwings — with a full set of Killzone: Volkus terrain, the current Core Book, and everything needed for matched-play games. It’s a strong, complete package for players who want the two included factions or the most content-dense single-box option, while players wanting a lighter or cheaper introduction may prefer Kill Team’s smaller starter products. As with any Games Workshop release, it’s worth confirming current availability and pricing directly with Games Workshop before buying, since seasonal launch boxes are periodically refreshed.