Blitz Bowl Miniatures Guide: What You Need to Play

Blitz Bowl is Games Workshop's faster, more accessible take on fantasy football. Six players a side, a game done in under an hour, and everything you need in one box. Whether you're brand new to tabletop gaming or a seasoned Blood Bowl coach looking for a quicker format, this guide covers every edition, what's changed, and how to get started.

Anarky Creations
- 15 Jun 2026

Blitz Bowl Miniatures Guide: What You Need to Play

This article is part of the Anarky Creations Fantasy Football Tabletop Guide series. Start with our hub overview article for a quick comparison of all major fantasy football tabletop games, or jump straight in below for everything you need to know about Blitz Bowl's miniature requirements. This article refers to the Ultimate Edition Season 2 (2024) unless otherwise stated.

Blitz Bowl lives in the same universe as Blood Bowl the Warhammer Fantasy world where sport has replaced war as the preferred method of settling differences between races. Not everyone wants to manage eleven players. Sometimes six players feels enough, and so is a faster game. That's exactly what Blitz Bowl was built for.

Think of it as the amateur circuit: scrappy six-player teams, a compact pitch, and a crowd that wants goals, blocks, and chaos - ideally all three at once. A full game plays out in 30 to 45 minutes, everything you need comes in one box, and the push-fit miniatures snap together without glue.

Release: Ultimate Season 2 (2024)
Rules format: Softback rulebook
Players: 6 vs 6 players on the pitch

 

What Is Blitz Bowl?

Blitz Bowl is a two-player tabletop sports game published by Games Workshop. Each coach fields six players on a compact double-sided board, scoring points through touchdowns and by completing challenge cards. It shares its miniatures and universe with Blood Bowl but plays as its own distinct game. Faster, simpler to learn, and friendlier on the wallet.

 

How Does It Play?

Each turn you take three actions, split however you like across your six players. Actions include running, blocking, throwing, marking an opponent, sidestepping, standing up, or bringing a player back from the dugout.

The twist that makes Blitz Bowl its own game is the challenge cards. Three cards are always face-up beside the board, each with a different objective: score a touchdown, knock a player down, take possession, land on a trapdoor. Complete one after your action and you claim it for points plus a free bonus play printed on the reverse. It keeps both coaches thinking ahead, not just reacting.

Scoring is straightforward:

  • Touchdown - 4 points
  • Challenge card claimed - 1–2 points plus a bonus play
  • First to be 10 or more points ahead at the start of a turn wins

 

Editions at a Glance

Blitz Bowl has had several releases since 2017, each refining the core game. Here's a quick summary:

Edition Year Included Teams Team Cards
Blitz Bowl (original) 2017 Humans & Skaven  Limited
Blitz Bowl: Season 2 2020 Updated teams  Expanded
Ultimate Edition 2022 Orcs & Dwarves  23 
Ultimate Edition Season 2 2024 The Rampagers (Orcs) & The Cannoneers (Dwarves)  25 

 

What's in the Box?

The Blitz Bowl Ultimate Edition Season 2 contains everything two players need and the miniatures are push-fit! No glue or painting required, just snap components together.

  • 12 push-fit miniatures - 6 Rampagers (Orcs), 6 Cannoneers (Dwarves)
  • Double-sided game board
  • Challenge card deck
  • 25 team cards covering the full Blood Bowl roster
  • Dice, tokens, dugout boards, and rulebook

 

The 25 Team Cards

This is Blitz Bowl's best-kept secret. The box includes team cards for 25 Blood Bowl teams, meaning any models you already own can be fielded straight away. One sprue from any standard Blood Bowl team box gives you exactly six models: a complete Blitz Bowl roster. If you're already in the Blood Bowl hobby, your existing collection doubles up as a Blitz Bowl expansion at no extra cost.

 

Blitz Bowl vs Blood Bowl

BLITZ BOWL BLOOD BOWL
Players per team 6  11 
Game time 30–45 mins  90–120 mins 
League play No Full league system
Entry cost £35–40 all-in  Higher
Beginner-friendly Yes Steeper learning curve

 

 

Getting Started

Pick up the Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition Season 2 from Games Workshop, your local game store, or online retailers at around £35–40 RRP. In the US it's available exclusively through Barnes & Noble. Everything two players need is in the box. If you want to expand then any Blood Bowl team box adds a new six-model roster using the team cards already included.

 

 

Blitz Bowl Miniatures Guide: What You Need to Play

Anarky Creations
- 15 Jun 2026

This article is part of the Anarky Creations Fantasy Football Tabletop Guide series. Start with our hub overview article for a quick comparison of all major fantasy football tabletop games, or jump straight in below for everything you need to know about Blitz Bowl's miniature requirements. This article refers to the Ultimate Edition Season 2 (2024) unless otherwise stated.

Blitz Bowl lives in the same universe as Blood Bowl the Warhammer Fantasy world where sport has replaced war as the preferred method of settling differences between races. Not everyone wants to manage eleven players. Sometimes six players feels enough, and so is a faster game. That's exactly what Blitz Bowl was built for.

Think of it as the amateur circuit: scrappy six-player teams, a compact pitch, and a crowd that wants goals, blocks, and chaos - ideally all three at once. A full game plays out in 30 to 45 minutes, everything you need comes in one box, and the push-fit miniatures snap together without glue.

Release: Ultimate Season 2 (2024)
Rules format: Softback rulebook
Players: 6 vs 6 players on the pitch

 

What Is Blitz Bowl?

Blitz Bowl is a two-player tabletop sports game published by Games Workshop. Each coach fields six players on a compact double-sided board, scoring points through touchdowns and by completing challenge cards. It shares its miniatures and universe with Blood Bowl but plays as its own distinct game. Faster, simpler to learn, and friendlier on the wallet.

 

How Does It Play?

Each turn you take three actions, split however you like across your six players. Actions include running, blocking, throwing, marking an opponent, sidestepping, standing up, or bringing a player back from the dugout.

The twist that makes Blitz Bowl its own game is the challenge cards. Three cards are always face-up beside the board, each with a different objective: score a touchdown, knock a player down, take possession, land on a trapdoor. Complete one after your action and you claim it for points plus a free bonus play printed on the reverse. It keeps both coaches thinking ahead, not just reacting.

Scoring is straightforward:

  • Touchdown - 4 points
  • Challenge card claimed - 1–2 points plus a bonus play
  • First to be 10 or more points ahead at the start of a turn wins

 

Editions at a Glance

Blitz Bowl has had several releases since 2017, each refining the core game. Here's a quick summary:

Edition Year Included Teams Team Cards
Blitz Bowl (original) 2017 Humans & Skaven  Limited
Blitz Bowl: Season 2 2020 Updated teams  Expanded
Ultimate Edition 2022 Orcs & Dwarves  23 
Ultimate Edition Season 2 2024 The Rampagers (Orcs) & The Cannoneers (Dwarves)  25 

 

What's in the Box?

The Blitz Bowl Ultimate Edition Season 2 contains everything two players need and the miniatures are push-fit! No glue or painting required, just snap components together.

  • 12 push-fit miniatures - 6 Rampagers (Orcs), 6 Cannoneers (Dwarves)
  • Double-sided game board
  • Challenge card deck
  • 25 team cards covering the full Blood Bowl roster
  • Dice, tokens, dugout boards, and rulebook

 

The 25 Team Cards

This is Blitz Bowl's best-kept secret. The box includes team cards for 25 Blood Bowl teams, meaning any models you already own can be fielded straight away. One sprue from any standard Blood Bowl team box gives you exactly six models: a complete Blitz Bowl roster. If you're already in the Blood Bowl hobby, your existing collection doubles up as a Blitz Bowl expansion at no extra cost.

 

Blitz Bowl vs Blood Bowl

BLITZ BOWL BLOOD BOWL
Players per team 6  11 
Game time 30–45 mins  90–120 mins 
League play No Full league system
Entry cost £35–40 all-in  Higher
Beginner-friendly Yes Steeper learning curve

 

 

Getting Started

Pick up the Blitz Bowl: Ultimate Edition Season 2 from Games Workshop, your local game store, or online retailers at around £35–40 RRP. In the US it's available exclusively through Barnes & Noble. Everything two players need is in the box. If you want to expand then any Blood Bowl team box adds a new six-model roster using the team cards already included.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many miniatures do I need to play Blitz Bowl?

Just 6 models per side so 12 in total for a two-player game. The Ultimate Edition Season 2 box includes all twelve push-fit models straight out of the box, so no additional purchases are needed to get started.
What teams are included in Blitz Bowl Ultimate Edition Season 2?

The current edition includes two named teams: The Rampagers (Orcs) and The Cannoneers (Dwarves). Both are push-fit snap-together models requiring no glue or painting.
Can I use my Blood Bowl miniatures in Blitz Bowl?

Yes one sprue from any standard Blood Bowl team box gives you exactly six models, which is a complete Blitz Bowl team. The box includes 25 team cards covering almost every Blood Bowl team.
How does Blitz Bowl differ from Blood Bowl?

Blitz Bowl is a self-contained, faster game - six players per side, 30 to 45 minutes per game. Blood Bowl is a fuller longer game with eleven players. They share the same universe and miniatures but play very differently, with a different feel.
Is Blitz Bowl good for beginners?

It's an easy entry point for Tabletop Fantasy Football. The rules are straightforward, the models are push-fit, and the whole game fits in one affordable box. Most new players are up and playing within an hour of opening it.
Which edition should I buy?

The Ultimate Edition Season 2 (2024) is the current version and the one to buy new. It includes the most team cards (25), updated components, and the full rulebook.
Are the rules different between editions?

The core gameplay is consistent across all editions, but each release has introduced refinements. The Ultimate Edition (2022) made the biggest changes: touchdowns became worth 4 points (up from 3), the "Get on with it" multiball rule was removed, and two new actions were added — Throw Teammate and Foul. The Ultimate Edition Season 2 (2024) kept the same core rules but tweaked the Mark action (players now stop immediately upon marking), updated team rosters and skills, and added optional Random Event Cards that can be shuffled into the challenge deck for extra chaos. The good news: all editions are broadly compatible, so older cards and rules tend to work fine with the current rulebook.
Can I upgrade my older edition rather than buying the new box?

In most cases, yes. The core rules changes between editions are relatively minor and GW has made updated rules available. If you own an older edition, the main things you'd be missing are the updated team cards and the new Random Event Cards — the rest of the rulebook changes can simply be played as house rules. Many veteran players don't bother upgrading at all and just incorporate the new rules into their existing games. If you want the new Orc and Dwarf named teams (The Rampagers and The Cannoneers) or the updated board, that's the main reason to pick up the new box.
Can I use proxy miniatures in Blitz Bowl?

For casual home play, absolutely — the box itself encourages it. The included team cards cover 25 different Blood Bowl teams, and the rulebook assumes you'll use whatever models you have to hand. Many players use their existing Blood Bowl miniatures, 3D-printed models, or even tokens for teams not in the box. For competitive or tournament play the rules vary by event organiser, but Blitz Bowl is far more relaxed about proxies than Blood Bowl's official GW tournament circuit. As always, check with your TO before an event — and make sure different positional players are distinguishable from each other.

F.A.Q

How many miniatures do I need to play Blitz Bowl?

Just 6 models per side so 12 in total for a two-player game. The Ultimate Edition Season 2 box includes all twelve push-fit models straight out of the box, so no additional purchases are needed to get started.
What teams are included in Blitz Bowl Ultimate Edition Season 2?

The current edition includes two named teams: The Rampagers (Orcs) and The Cannoneers (Dwarves). Both are push-fit snap-together models requiring no glue or painting.
Can I use my Blood Bowl miniatures in Blitz Bowl?

Yes one sprue from any standard Blood Bowl team box gives you exactly six models, which is a complete Blitz Bowl team. The box includes 25 team cards covering almost every Blood Bowl team.
How does Blitz Bowl differ from Blood Bowl?

Blitz Bowl is a self-contained, faster game - six players per side, 30 to 45 minutes per game. Blood Bowl is a fuller longer game with eleven players. They share the same universe and miniatures but play very differently, with a different feel.
Is Blitz Bowl good for beginners?

It's an easy entry point for Tabletop Fantasy Football. The rules are straightforward, the models are push-fit, and the whole game fits in one affordable box. Most new players are up and playing within an hour of opening it.
Which edition should I buy?

The Ultimate Edition Season 2 (2024) is the current version and the one to buy new. It includes the most team cards (25), updated components, and the full rulebook.
Are the rules different between editions?

The core gameplay is consistent across all editions, but each release has introduced refinements. The Ultimate Edition (2022) made the biggest changes: touchdowns became worth 4 points (up from 3), the "Get on with it" multiball rule was removed, and two new actions were added — Throw Teammate and Foul. The Ultimate Edition Season 2 (2024) kept the same core rules but tweaked the Mark action (players now stop immediately upon marking), updated team rosters and skills, and added optional Random Event Cards that can be shuffled into the challenge deck for extra chaos. The good news: all editions are broadly compatible, so older cards and rules tend to work fine with the current rulebook.
Can I upgrade my older edition rather than buying the new box?

In most cases, yes. The core rules changes between editions are relatively minor and GW has made updated rules available. If you own an older edition, the main things you'd be missing are the updated team cards and the new Random Event Cards — the rest of the rulebook changes can simply be played as house rules. Many veteran players don't bother upgrading at all and just incorporate the new rules into their existing games. If you want the new Orc and Dwarf named teams (The Rampagers and The Cannoneers) or the updated board, that's the main reason to pick up the new box.
Can I use proxy miniatures in Blitz Bowl?

For casual home play, absolutely — the box itself encourages it. The included team cards cover 25 different Blood Bowl teams, and the rulebook assumes you'll use whatever models you have to hand. Many players use their existing Blood Bowl miniatures, 3D-printed models, or even tokens for teams not in the box. For competitive or tournament play the rules vary by event organiser, but Blitz Bowl is far more relaxed about proxies than Blood Bowl's official GW tournament circuit. As always, check with your TO before an event — and make sure different positional players are distinguishable from each other.

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