Blood Bowl third season starter box is here with Bretonnians and Tomb Kings, but is this what the community wants?
The fantasy football fields are being lined once again, and Blood Bowl is back with a new season box. On paper, it’s got everything fans expect: two brand-new teams, updated rules, accessories, and that chunky hardback rulebook that always looks great on the shelf.
But behind the shiny sprues and clever status markers, this launch has plenty of familiar problems.
A Starter Box That Feels Familiar
The Brionne Barons of Bretonnia square off against the Nehekhara Nightmares in this new set. Bretonnians are the shiny debutantes here, strutting around with Grail Knights, Squires, and a high-risk, high-reward playstyle that makes every match exciting.
On the other side, the Tomb Kings return with their tried-and-true bashy roster. They may lack agility, but Secure the Ball smooths over some of those clumsy moments.
The minis look great. There’s no denying it. But here’s where things get sticky: these are the same Old World factions that launched Warhammer: The Old World not long ago. After the Age of Sigmar community split when that game launched, this choice feels like Games Workshop leaning hard on familiar ground instead of bringing something new to the table.
Rule Updates or Just Another Rewrite?
The rulebook promises clarity, consistency, and small tweaks like better Kick-off Tables and easier-to-track status effects. The new keyword system is handy, and Secure the Ball helps lower-agility teams play the game without face-planting every turn.
But when you cut through the glossy presentation, it’s unclear if the core gameplay has changed in a meaningful way.
Blood Bowl’s last edition hit in 2020, which isn’t ancient history by tabletop standards. We think updating the rules could have been done digitally or through an expansion instead of asking players to buy an entirely new box.
Combined with the steady churn of new editions across Games Workshop’s main games, Age of Sigmar 4th edition just dropped, Horus Heresy had its reboot, and Warhammer 40k is eyeing its next cycle. At first look, many hobbyists are commenting that this release feels more like business as usual than genuine innovation, and we tend to agree.
Price, Paywalls, and Player Patience
There’s no sugarcoating it: price increases and reboots are starting to wear thin. The models may look sharp, but paying for yet another starter set loaded with the same accessories feels like reheating leftovers. Many players are frustrated that “new editions” seem less about refreshing gameplay and more about selling the same content in a slightly different package.
It’s not that Blood Bowl fans don’t want new content. They do. But between the Old World déjà vu, the growing stack of core rulebooks across GW’s games, and the constant pressure of paywalls, patience is running low.
Players are beginning to ask whether these reboots are about improving the game or simply milking the hobby.
Final Thoughts From Us: Blood Bowl Season 3
The new Blood Bowl box delivers sharp models, polished rules, and everything needed to play. It’s a solid entry point for newcomers and a flashy expansion for long-time coaches. Still, we think, for many hobbyists, the bigger story is fatigue.
With Games Workshop leaning on another round of edition churn, the question becomes less about how good the box is and more about how much longer players will tolerate the cycle.
See the New Miniature Release Roadmap Here
