A Beginner's Guide to Building a 28mm Dark Ages Warband

By Victrix Limited 28mm miniatures | Published: 2026-10-14

Category: Buying Guides

Build a 28mm Dark Ages warband without wasting money on the wrong figures. Learn starter warband sizes, shield and banner transfers, and how to choose miniatures.

Quick answer

For a first 28mm Dark Ages warband, start with 25–35 figures: one leader, two to three warrior groups, and a small unit of skirmishers. Choose a single historical theme (Saxon, Viking, or Late Roman) before buying figures, then use shield transfers and one banner to give the whole force a consistent look. Buy one box or faction range at a time so your painting and assembly stay manageable.

Choose your theme before you buy a single figure

Dark Ages warbands are defined by their historical setting, not just their figure count. A Saxon warband looks and fights differently from a Viking or Late Roman force, and mixing themes usually creates a force that feels unfocused on the tabletop. Pick one of three common starting points: Anglo-Saxon, Viking, or Late Roman. Each has a distinct look, typical weapon mix, and common opponent, which makes it easier to choose figures, shields, and banners that belong together. If you already own a rulebook or starter set, let its army list guide your first purchase rather than buying random packs that may not fit.

How many figures a starter warband actually needs

Most Dark Ages skirmish rules use small forces, so you do not need a full army to start playing. A practical first warband is 25–35 figures: one leader or warlord, two to three groups of six to ten warriors, and four to six skirmishers with bows, slings, or javelins. That gives you enough variety to learn the rules without painting for months. If you are building toward a larger battle game, plan in multiples of these groups so you can expand later without rebasing or repainting. Buy the leader and one warrior group first, paint them, and only then add the next group.

Shield transfers and banners: the cheapest way to unify a warband

Nothing makes a warband look finished faster than consistent shields and one banner. Hand-painting repeated shield designs is slow and hard to keep uniform, especially across 20 or more figures. Transfers solve that by giving you identical motifs across the whole force. Check the shield diameter before ordering: 14mm round shields are a common size for 28mm Dark Ages figures, but not all ranges use the same measurement. Transfers usually arrive un-cut, so you trim each design yourself; that is normal and gives you flexibility, but it adds a modelling step. Buy one sheet for your main warrior group and a separate banner or standard for the leader.

Match figures, shields, and transfers before you commit

The most common beginner mistake is buying figures, shields, and transfers from different sources that do not fit together. Before ordering, confirm three things: the figure scale (28mm), the shield shape and diameter, and whether the transfer sheet is designed for that specific range. Some transfer ranges are made to fit a particular manufacturer's figures, which removes the guesswork. If a product listing does not state a shield size or a target range, treat that as a limitation and ask before buying. When in doubt, order a single sheet first, test the fit on one shield, and only then buy enough for the whole warband.

Decision rules for your first warband

Rule 1: One theme, one range: Choose Saxon, Viking, or Late Roman and buy figures from a single manufacturer's range. Mixing ranges often creates scale and style mismatches that are hard to fix later. If you cannot decide, pick the theme your main opponent already collects.
Rule 2: Buy 25–35 figures, not 100: A leader, two to three warrior groups, and a few skirmishers is enough to play most skirmish rules. Expand only after the first group is painted and on the table. Painting 30 figures is a realistic first project; painting 100 usually stalls.
Rule 3: Confirm shield size before ordering transfers: Measure your shields or check the product listing for a stated diameter. A transfer made for 14mm round shields will not sit correctly on a larger or differently shaped shield. Order one test sheet first if the size is not clearly stated.
Rule 4: Plan for un-cut transfers: Most Dark Ages transfers arrive un-cut, so you trim each design with a sharp blade. This adds time but lets you place motifs exactly where you want them. Set aside one evening for trimming and applying a full sheet.

Useful transfers for a Dark Ages warband

SAX(WG)3: Saxon shield designs to fit Warlord Games Miniatures 14mm diameter round shields; all transfers, including shield bosses, come un-cut. If your Saxon warriors carry 14mm round shields, this sheet gives you a uniform shield pattern across the whole group, and the included bosses save extra modelling work. Because they are un-cut, budget time for trimming each design.
LIRC(M)2: Late Roman Cavalry designs created to fit Footsore Miniatures Late Roman figures; transfers are supplied un-cut for flexible placement. A good choice if you are building a Late Roman warband around Footsore figures, because the motifs are matched to that range. The un-cut format lets you position each design individually, but it is slower than pre-cut transfers.
SAX(SL)1: All transfers come un-cut; the product listing asks you to view the larger image to see the full product description, and images may not show actual size. Before ordering, check the larger image to confirm the designs suit your theme, and remember that un-cut means you trim each transfer yourself. Do not assume the on-screen size matches the real transfer.

Is this warband plan right for you?

Best for

New players who want a small, playable 28mm Dark Ages force without a huge initial spend
Hobbyists who prefer a consistent, historically themed look across shields and banners
Anyone building a Saxon, Viking, or Late Roman force for skirmish rules

Not for

Collectors who want a single large battle army of 100+ figures immediately
Players who refuse to trim un-cut transfers and want pre-cut designs only
Anyone mixing several historical periods in one warband without a clear theme