How to Build Your First Blood Bowl Team (Updated for the Third Season Edition)

Whether you're brand new to Blood Bowl or a returning coach dusting off your dice for the new edition, building your first team can be a thrilling yet challenging experience. With Games Workshop's Third Season Edition now on shelves, there's never been a better time to jump in. The new boxed set comes loaded with everything you need to play, including two headline teams, a hardback rulebook with updated rosters for every team, dice, a double-sided pitch, and handy new status markers that make it clear at a glance who's Prone, Stunned, or mid-Blitz. This guide will walk you through the essential steps of creating your Blood Bowl team and getting ready for your first match.

What's New in the Third Season Edition?

If you played the previous edition, the good news is this is still the game you know and love. The rules team focused on cleaning things up rather than reinventing the sport:

• Two new teams. The Brionne Barons bring Bretonnians to the tabletop for the first time, with high-armour Dauntless Knights, scrappy Squires, and hard-hitting Grail Knights. Facing them in the box are the Nehekhara Nightmares, marking the return of the Tomb Kings as a fully supported team.
• Passing simplified. Wildly Inaccurate Passes and Deflections are gone. Throws are now Accurate, Inaccurate, or Fumbles, and more players across the board have usable Passing Ability, so it's not just your Thrower slinging the ball anymore.
• SPP for throwing teammates. Yes, your Troll can now earn Star Player Points for launching a Goblin downfield, and the Goblin earns them for being thrown. Glorious.
• A cleaner Kick-off Table. The Officious Ref is gone, and the table has been reworked to be less punishing and more fun.
• New Devious Skills category. Skills like Dirty Player and Sneaky Git now live in their own category, which some players (looking at you, Goblins) get as Primary access.
• Secure the Ball. A new action that lets low-agility teams reliably scoop up a loose ball when no opponents are nearby. A huge quality-of-life change for bashy teams.
• Brawlin' Brutes. Many of the bashiest teams now earn 3 SPP per casualty in league play (and only 2 per touchdown), which means your Black Orcs and Khorne players will skill up doing what they do best.
• Rosters match the box. Positional limits have been rebalanced so that, with a few exceptions, one team box gives you everything a roster allows. No more buying a second box just to field your full complement of Blitzers.

1. Choosing Your Blood Bowl Race

The first and most important decision is selecting your team's race. Every roster was reviewed and rebalanced for the new edition, so even veteran coaches are relearning old favourites. Here's a quick rundown:

Amazons: Agile and versatile, Amazons have Dodge on many players, making them harder to knock down. They're good at avoiding tackles but lack high strength.

Black Orcs: Tough and powerful, Black Orcs excel at grinding down opponents. They're not the fastest, but they dominate in close combat, and the new Brawlin' Brutes rule means they skill up fast in leagues.

Bretonnians: The newest team on the pitch. Dauntless Knights with high armour and a haughty attitude, supported by Squires who do the dirty work. Their Grail Knights are punishing Blitzers with the new Steady Footing skill, which can keep them upright when they'd otherwise hit the turf. High-risk, high-reward, and dripping with style.

Chaos Chosen: Known for their strength and potential, Chaos teams start with fewer skills but can develop into powerhouses over time.

Chaos Dwarfs: A blend of strength and agility, Chaos Dwarfs combine tough Dwarfs with faster Hobgoblins and the brute strength of Bull Centaurs.

Chaos Renegades: A diverse team with access to many skills and player types. They offer a unique challenge but can be unpredictable.

Dark Elves: Fast and agile, Dark Elves are excellent at both passing and running plays. They're tougher than other elf teams but still relatively fragile.

Dwarfs: Tough, durable, and slow, Dwarfs excel in grinding opponents down. Their Block and Tackle skills make them great at taking down agile teams.

Elven Union: Highly agile and capable of making stunning plays, but they're fragile and can struggle against bashy teams.

Gnomes: One of the newer additions to the sport, Gnomes are a trickster team through and through. Illusionists, Beastmasters, loyal woodland animals, and a pair of Altern Forest Treemen make for a team that wins through misdirection rather than muscle. Challenging, but endlessly entertaining.

Goblin: Goblin teams are chaotic, fun, and tricky to play. They rely on secret weapons and crazy plays, and with Primary access to the new Devious Skills, they're sneakier than ever.

Halflings: Weak but surprisingly fun, Halflings rely on Treemen for strength and hope for the best. Great for players who enjoy a challenge and unexpected moments.

High Elves: A more resilient elf team, High Elves combine agility with decent armour. Their rules are available as a free PDF for the new edition, so classic collections are still league-legal.

Humans: A well-rounded team, great for beginners. They offer a mix of speed, strength, and agility, making them versatile on the pitch.

Imperial Nobility: A blend of finesse and resilience, they have skills like Fend and Stand Firm which make them tricky to play against.

Khorne: An aggressive, bashy team that benefits enormously from the new casualty-focused SPP rules. High potential but few starting skills, making them challenging to master.

Lizardmen: Combining powerful Saurus blockers with speedy Skinks, Lizardmen can dominate both bashy and agile teams if played correctly.

Necromantic Horror: With a mix of Werewolves, Ghouls, and Zombies, this team combines speed and strength with unique regeneration abilities.

Norse: Known for their aggression, Norse teams start with the Block skill on many players, allowing them to brawl effectively from the get-go.

Nurgle: A slow, tough team with disturbing skills that disrupt opponents. They excel at controlling the pitch and shutting down agile teams.

Ogres: Featuring mighty Ogres and fragile Snotlings (or Runts, if you prefer punting them), Ogre teams rely on brute strength and hope that their big guys perform when needed.

Orcs: Strong and durable, Orcs excel at bashing their way through opponents. They're slower but can take hits and dish out serious damage.

Skaven: Extremely fast and agile, Skaven can score quickly. However, they're fragile and can struggle if they get into a brawl.

Snotlings: A chaotic, low-cost team with many secret weapons and quirky players. In the new edition their Pump Wagons are no longer Secret Weapons, so fielding a wall of contraptions is a genuine game plan.

Tomb Kings: Back and fully supported in the Third Season Edition. A slow but powerful team anchored by high-strength Mummies, relying on careful positioning and brute force. The Nehekhara Nightmares in the new boxed set are a great entry point.

Underworld Denizens: A mix of Goblins, Skaven, and a Troll, this team combines agility with a bit of bash but can be unpredictable.

Vampires: A unique team with powerful Vampire players who need Thralls to support them. High potential, but Bloodlust keeps things interesting.

Wood Elves: Known for their agility and speed, Wood Elves are excellent at dodging and scoring touchdowns but have lower armour, making them more fragile.

Tip: If you're unsure which race to pick, start with Humans or Orcs for a balanced learning experience, or grab the Third Season boxed set and try Bretonnians and Tomb Kings straight out of the box. The box is genuinely the best-value way into the game right now.

2. Understanding Team Roles

Every Blood Bowl team is made up of different player types, each with a specific role on the field:

Linemen: The backbone of your team, often cheaper and less specialized. They can hold the line and take hits.

Blitzers: Your main attackers, combining speed and strength to hit hard and move quickly.

Throwers: Skilled at passing the ball and crucial for setting up plays. That said, with the improved Passing Ability spread across more players in the new edition, don't be afraid to let someone else make a desperation throw when the situation calls for it.

Catchers: Fast and agile, they're your go-to players for scoring touchdowns.

Big Guys: Powerful, high-strength players like Trolls or Ogres, who can dominate on the field but are often unpredictable. And now they earn SPP for hurling teammates downfield, so they're pulling double duty.

Tip: When starting, aim for a balanced team with a good mix of player types, rather than focusing too much on any one role. One nice thing about the new edition: a single team box now covers your full roster of positionals in almost every case.

3. Managing Your Starting Budget

You still start with a treasury of 1,000,000 gold pieces to build your team, but be aware that player costs have shifted for many rosters in the new edition, so old netlisted builds from the previous season won't always add up anymore. Grab the new rulebook (or your team's updated roster) and do the math fresh. Here's how to allocate your funds wisely:

Players: Invest in essential positions like Blitzers and Throwers. Most starting teams will field 11 players, but consider adding a 12th if your race is prone to injuries (Skaven and Wood Elf coaches, you know who you are).

Re-Rolls: These allow you to reattempt a failed roll and are incredibly valuable. Aim for 2-3 re-rolls when starting, and remember they're much cheaper at team creation than they are to buy later.

Apothecary: Helps prevent serious injuries to your key players. If your team is fragile, consider budgeting for one, though many coaches skip it at creation in favour of an extra re-roll and pick one up after the first match winnings come in.

Dedicated Fans, Assistant Coaches, and Cheerleaders: Optional extras that can pay off as your team progresses.

Example starting shape (Human): 4 Blitzers, 2 Throwers, 2 Catchers, 3 Linemen, and 3 Re-Rolls has long been a classic Human build. Check it against the new roster costs before your league kicks off, and trim a re-roll or swap a Catcher for a Lineman if the numbers have moved on you.

4. Developing a Strategy

Your strategy will depend on the strengths and weaknesses of your chosen race:

Bashy Teams (e.g., Orcs, Dwarfs, Black Orcs, Khorne): Focus on eliminating opponents and controlling the pitch. The Brawlin' Brutes rule rewards you handsomely for casualties in league play, and the new Secure the Ball action means low-agility teams can finally pick up a loose ball without praying to Nuffle.

Agile Teams (e.g., Wood Elves, Skaven): Use speed and agility to avoid contact, dodge tackles, and score quickly.

Balanced Teams (e.g., Humans): Adapt to the opponent's strategy and exploit their weaknesses.

Trickster Teams (e.g., Goblins, Gnomes, Snotlings): Lean into chaos. Devious Skills, secret weapons, and thrown teammates won't win every game, but they'll make every game a story.

Tip: Practice makes perfect. The meta has been genuinely shaken up this edition, so even copying a veteran's list won't carry you. Play a few games with your team to discover what works best for you.

5. Learning the Skills

Skills play a vital role in Blood Bowl and can drastically improve a player's effectiveness. Some essentials:

Block: Reduces the chance of your player being knocked down when blocking, making it a must-have for Blitzers.

Dodge: Great for Catchers and agile players, this skill allows you to avoid tackles.

Sure Hands: Helps Throwers pick up the ball more reliably.

Mighty Blow: Ideal for bashy teams, this skill increases the chances of injuring your opponent, and pairs beautifully with the new casualty-based SPP rewards.

Devious Skills: The new category housing the underhanded stuff like Dirty Player and Sneaky Git. If your team has Primary access to these, fouling just became part of your development plan.

Tip: Focus on developing your players' skills over time as they earn Star Player Points, and remember the new sources of SPP: throwing teammates and being thrown both count now.

6. Preparing for Your First Match

With your team built and your strategy in place, it's time to hit the pitch. A few final tips:

Read the Rules: The Third Season rulebook has been rewritten with consistent terminology and a new Keyword system, so it's the easiest edition yet to learn from cover to cover.

Use the Markers: The new status markers in the boxed set are a small thing that makes a big difference, especially once your team is painted and you don't want to lay miniatures on their faces.

Stay Flexible: Be prepared to adapt your strategy as the game unfolds. Blood Bowl is unpredictable, and even the best-laid plans can go awry.

Have Fun: Blood Bowl is as much about storytelling and epic moments as it is about winning. Enjoy the experience and the camaraderie of the game.

Ready to Start Your Blood Bowl Journey?

Wandering Adventures has everything you need to start your Blood Bowl adventure, from the new Third Season boxed set to team boxes, paints, and accessories. Visit us in-store or online to find the perfect miniatures for your new team, and keep an eye on our events calendar for league play and tournaments.