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 DreadBall's miniature requirements.

What Is DreadBall?

DreadBall is Mantic Games' science fiction sports tabletop game. Think high speed fantasy football, but set in a galaxy spanning corporate league of aliens, robots and humans. Competing in armoured arenas for fame, prize money and their corporation's bottom line. It was first released via Kickstarter in 2012 and is now in its second edition, while a brand new standalone spin-off, DreadBall: All-Stars, launched on Kickstarter in March 2026.

This guide covers both:

• DreadBall 2nd Edition: Current standard league game (Mantic Games).
• DreadBall: All-Stars: The new, more streamlined standalone game (March 2026)

All-Stars is a standalone game. If you are brand new to DreadBall, these are two separate entry points with different team sizes, rules and miniatures.

Edition and Version Overview

DreadBall 2nd Edition
Publisher: Mantic games
Release: 2018 (Kickstarter-funded)
Rules format: 210-page hardback (also available as a PDF)
Players: 8 players on the pitch (6 active + 2 substitutes)

Notable changes from 1st edition - Agility added as a new stat; revised slam/dodge rules; updated team rosters

DreadBall All-Stars
Publisher: Mantic games
Release: 17 March 2026 (Kickstarter funded)
Miniatures: Pre-assembled 
Players: 5 players on the pitch 

Notable changes from 2nd edition - Faster pace than 2nd edition; card-driven player abilities; standalone product. Does not require 2nd edition rules

How Many Miniatures Do You Need?

For most new coaches, the standard number of miniatures per team starting roster is the practical starting point, and most official Mantic team boxes are designed to provide this.

DreadBall 2nd Edition
Minimum legal team: 
Standard starting roster: 8  (6 on pitch + 2 substitutes)
Expanded league roster: Up to 12
Optional Giants (Big Guys): 1 large model
Optional MVPs: 1–2 additional models

DreadBall All-Stars
Minimum legal team: 5 
Starter box: 4 teams of 5 miniatures each (20 total)
All-Stars team expansion: 5 miniatures per additional team

Player Positions

DreadBall 2nd Edition Positions
Three core player positions and teams are built from a combination of these roles.

Most official Mantic team boxes provide a starting mix of the positions available to that specific race. Note that not all three positions are available to every team, some races lean heavily into one or two roles which define their playstyle. For example:

• Veer-Myn (rat features): Striker-heavy teams with very fast movement
• Forge Fathers (space dwarves): Slower Guard-heavy teams, harder to knock down
• Humans (Trontek 29ers): Balanced teams with a mix of all three positions
  

Giants

Some teams have the option to add a Giant, a very large powerful player (similar to a Big Guy in Blood Bowl). Giants use an oversized model and are sold separately.

• Miniatures needed: 1 Giant model (optional)
• Suggested timing: Add after a few games, once comfortable with the core rules
  
  

MVPs (Most Valuable Players)

MVPs are named star players who can be temporarily hired for games, similar to Star Players in Blood Bowl. They have unique named models and special abilities.

• Miniatures needed: 0–2 per team, depending on league rules
• Suggested timing: Optional, not needed to start playing
  
  

DreadBall All-Stars Player Positions

All-Stars simplifies the position system. Each team of 5 miniatures has players with individual named stats and a unique special ability printed on their player card. There are no generic "Guards" or "Jacks". Every model in All-Stars is a distinct, named character with their own card. The teams confirmed for All-Stars at launch include:

Jets: Lightning-fast speed-focused
Juggernauts: Heavy, physical slam-focused 
Painkillers: Chaos-style mix from Plague and Marauder
Krakens: Unknown at time of writing (check Mantic website)
RBN Ryders: Unknown at time of writing (check Mantic website)

Mantic has confirmed seven teams total for their All-Stars Kickstarter, with more details released throughout the campaign.

Player Statistics

DreadBall 2nd Edition Stats
Stats are listed on a shared Team Card kept beside the pitch, there are no individual player cards. Every player in DreadBall 2nd Edition has the following stats on their team card. 

DreadBall All-Stars Stats
All-Stars uses a different card based stat system. Each miniature has its own individual stat card showing the following stats, there is no shared team card.  

• Move stat
• Sprint stat (separate from Move)
• Special Ability (unique)
• An activated face - flipped when the player has taken their action

The game uses a dice pool mechanic, players roll a number of dice equal to their relevant stat, looking for results of 4+ to succeed.

Starter Products: What to Buy First

DreadBall 2nd Edition

DreadBall All-Stars

Recommended "Bare Essentials" Miniature Lists

Starting with DreadBall 2nd Edition
This setup gives two players everything they need to start. The starter set typically includes two contrasting teams (one faster, one more physical) to illustrate the game's range of playstyles. The full rules are available as a FREE digital download from Mantic Games directly, no physical rulebook required.

• DreadBall Kick-Off! starter box (2 teams, resources to play immediately)
• DreadBall 2nd Edition Rulebook (digital)

Joining an Existing DreadBall 2nd Edition League
This is the minimum required for league play. Check with your league organiser whether Giants and MVPs are permitted before buying additional miniatures. Our sources don't explicitly confirm whether this box contains a physical printed rulebook or a digital download code. But either way, rules are included in the box.

• One official team box of your chosen race (8 miniatures)
• 2nd Edition Rulebook 

Starting with DreadBall All-Stars

• All-Stars starter box (4 teams, arena, resources to play immediately)
• No additional rulebook purchase required, rules are in the box
  
  

Official Expansion Path

Make your game your own, but once you have your starting team typical expansion steps within the official Mantic Games arena could include the following exciting adds:

• A second team: Switch teams, lend one to a friend, or try a different playstyle.
• Giant: Choose the appropriate mini (or maxi!) for your chosen race
• MVPs: Named star player minis for league inducements and special events
• Add team expansion packs as/when available post-Kickstarter
  
  

All-Stars Kickstarter (March 2026)

All-Stars represents a significant evolution of the DreadBall brand. The game was designed by Jervis Johnson (also the designer behind Blood Bowl) and Alessio Cavatore, it is described by its designers as playing like "a full-contact version of NBA Basketball". Faster and more score-heavy than a traditional fantasy football game.

Key facts confirmed at the time of the Kickstarter launch:

• 7 teams total in the first wave
• Each teams consist of 5 pre-assembled plastic minis, no assembly required
• 4 different arenas with different game modes
• Battle Royale mode (up to 6 players)
• Championship mode with legacy cards
• Starter Pledge includes 4 teams and 2 championship packs

This guide covers the official Mantic Games range for DreadBall 2nd Edition and DreadBall: All-Stars. Information is hoped to be correct as of April 2026. For the most current product info visit manticgames.com.