Blood Bowl

Blood Bowl — Fantasy Football in the Warhammer World

Blood Bowl is Games Workshop's legendary fantasy sports game — a darkly comic take on American football set in an alternate version of the Warhammer Fantasy world where the rules of the pitch are suggestions at best, and forward passes and forward thinking are equally rare. First released in 1986, Blood Bowl has delighted players for decades with its unique combination of tactical depth, anarchic humour and spectacular miniatures. It is one of the most distinct and beloved games in the Games Workshop range — and one of the most accessible for players who want a focused, competitive two-player game without the commitment of building a full army.

At Colours of Warriors, we stock Blood Bowl teams, rulebooks, pitches, dugouts and accessories. Visit our store in Pilsen, Czech Republic, or order online with delivery across the EU.

What Is Blood Bowl?

Blood Bowl is a turn-based tactical sports game for two players. Each player coaches a team of fantasy athletes — humans, orcs, elves, dwarfs, skaven, undead or dozens of other races — on a gridded pitch, attempting to score touchdowns while their opponents do everything in their power to stop them. Violence is not just permitted but encouraged, and referees are notoriously bribeable.

The game combines genuine tactical depth with constant narrative moments — a star player knocked out at a critical moment, a goblin somehow scoring the winning touchdown, a catastrophic turnover on the last play. Blood Bowl creates stories with every game, and the league system takes this further still: teams develop between games, players gain skills, suffer injuries and build reputations over the course of a season.

Teams — Which Race to Choose

Blood Bowl offers over 30 playable teams, each with a distinct playstyle reflecting the characteristics of their race. Some of the most popular choices:

Imperial Nobility — the aristocrats of the Old World field a balanced team of skilled throwers, blitzers and reliable linemen, backed by the occasional hired ogre. One of the most well-rounded teams and an excellent choice for new players learning the game. Included in the Second Season Edition starter box.

Black Orcs — big, brutal and slow, Black Orc teams excel at physical confrontation and grinding opponents into the turf. Supported by nimble Goblin Bruiser linemen who compensate for their larger teammates' lack of speed. Also included in the Second Season Edition.

Elven Union — fast, agile and skilled, elven teams play an elegant passing game and avoid confrontation where possible. High skill levels but fragile players who hate taking hits — a high-risk, high-reward playstyle.

Doom Lords — Chaos warriors on the pitch, combining physical power with the unpredictable mutations that the Dark Gods bestow on their favoured players. A powerful team that grows more dangerous as the season progresses and mutations accumulate.

Thunder Valley Greenskins — Orc and Goblin teams that bring raw aggression and surprising cunning to the pitch, with specialist positions like the Troll and Black Orc Blocker providing a formidable physical presence.

Greenfield Grasshuggers and Bögenhafen Barons — two of the many human and halfling team options, each with their own quirks and narrative identity on the pitch.

Beyond these, the range includes Amazon teams, Skaven, Dwarf, Undead, Snotling, Nurgle and many more — each with their own dedicated miniature set, team cards and special rules.

How Blood Bowl Plays

A Blood Bowl match is played over two halves on a gridded pitch. Each player takes turns activating their players — moving, blocking, throwing, catching and fouling. Almost everything involves a dice roll, and the ever-present risk of a turnover — losing your turn when a player fails — keeps every activation tense.

The key special dice are the Block dice — custom six-sided dice used for physical confrontations, with results ranging from knockdowns and stuns to casualties and spectacular crowd pushbacks. Managing risk and knowing when to block, when to dodge and when to simply move is the heart of Blood Bowl strategy.

Matches typically take 60–90 minutes — significantly faster than most other Warhammer games. The compact format makes Blood Bowl ideal for a regular gaming evening.

League Play — Where Blood Bowl Really Shines

Blood Bowl's greatest strength is its league system. Teams are not reset between games — players gain experience and learn new skills, valuable veterans become legends, and injuries can permanently alter a player's profile. A thrower who develops the Sure Hands skill becomes invaluable; a star blitzer who takes a serious injury might retire or play on with reduced statistics.

This means every game matters. A close victory that injures three key players might be a pyrrhic win. A narrow defeat that levels up your best players might set up a championship run. Blood Bowl leagues create genuine stories over a season — the kind of memorable moments that players discuss for years.

The Death Zone supplement provides additional league rules, special play cards and expanded team options for more advanced league seasons.

How to Start Playing Blood Bowl

The best starting point is the Blood Bowl Second Season Edition — it contains two complete teams (Imperial Nobility and Black Orcs), the full rulebook, a double-sided pitch, dugouts, dice and everything needed to play. The rulebook includes profiles for every team released to date, making it the complete reference for the game.

For players who want a specific team, individual team boxes contain 12–16 miniatures with all the positional players and special characters needed for a full squad. Each team also has an optional team-themed pitch and dugouts for a fully immersive match-day experience — we stock Nurgle and Snotling themed pitches.

The Hobby Side — Painting Blood Bowl Teams

Blood Bowl is one of the most rewarding painting projects in the hobby — a complete team of 12–16 unique models, each with their own personality and position. Unlike painting a Warhammer army where consistency is key, Blood Bowl rewards individual character: players have names, back-stories and personalised kit designs.

The team colour scheme is a major creative decision — choosing your team's strip, giving each player a number and adding personal touches like battle damage, mud and grass stains all contribute to the identity of your team. Many Blood Bowl players find the painting process more personal and satisfying than any other Warhammer project.

We stock a full range of paints, brushes and modelling tools suited to Blood Bowl projects, including Citadel Technical paints for mud and weathering effects.

Blood Bowl at Colours of Warriors

We're a specialist hobby shop based in Pilsen, Czech Republic, stocking Blood Bowl teams, starter sets, rulebooks, pitches, dugouts and accessories. Our store at Zbrojnická 116/2 is open Monday to Friday 13:00–18:00 and features a dedicated gaming area and Paint Zone where you can try painting before you buy. We ship across the Czech Republic and the EU.

Questions? Contact us at obchod@coloursofwarriors.com or +420 737 281 727.

Frequently Asked Questions — Blood Bowl

What is Blood Bowl and how is it different from other Warhammer games?
Blood Bowl is a fantasy sports game — American football set in the Warhammer world — rather than a traditional wargame. Two players coach teams of fantasy athletes on a gridded pitch, scoring touchdowns while causing as much mayhem as possible. Unlike Warhammer 40,000 or Age of Sigmar, there are no armies to build — just a team of 12–16 players and a pitch to play on.

How many miniatures do I need to play Blood Bowl?
A standard team has 11 players on the pitch with a few reserves — most team boxes contain 12–16 miniatures, which is everything you need to start. This makes Blood Bowl one of the most financially accessible Warhammer games — a complete team costs approximately €35–45 and provides everything needed for a full season of league play.

How long does a game of Blood Bowl take?
A standard match takes 60–90 minutes — significantly faster than most other Warhammer games. This makes Blood Bowl ideal for a regular gaming evening. Experienced players can complete a match in under an hour.

Is Blood Bowl good for league play?
Yes — league play is where Blood Bowl truly excels. Teams develop between games as players gain experience and skills, suffer injuries and build reputations. A Blood Bowl league of 4–8 coaches playing over a season creates an extraordinary amount of narrative and memorable moments. The Second Season Edition rulebook includes full league rules.

Which team is best for beginners?
Imperial Nobility (human) or Orcs are the traditional recommendations for new coaches — both have balanced rosters that teach the fundamentals of the game without overly complex special rules. Imperial Nobility in particular are the classic beginner team, included in the Second Season Edition starter box for exactly this reason.

Is Blood Bowl part of the Warhammer universe?
Blood Bowl is set in an alternate, comedic version of the Warhammer Fantasy world — the same races, similar aesthetics, but played for laughs rather than grim drama. The miniatures are not directly compatible scale-wise with Warhammer: The Old World or Age of Sigmar, but share the same visual language and lore. Blood Bowl is an excellent entry point into the Warhammer hobby for players who enjoy competitive sports games.