Getting Started with Blood Bowl
Skip the wall of rules—meet people, try a game, borrow a team, then dive deeper at your pace.
1) Find Your Community
- Join a Local League: Check our League page to find communities near you.
- Connect on Discord: Kiwi Blood Bowl · Aus Blood Bowl
- Facebook Groups: NZ Blood Bowl Community · Aus Blood Bowl
Community first: You’ll learn faster with other coaches than by studying alone.
2) Try a Game (No Models Needed)
- Demo Night: Ask your local league for a demo—most groups have spare pitches & dice.
- Borrow a Team (League or Tournament): Many coaches lend teams for league nights and even tournaments. Just post in Discord/Facebook and you’ll get offers.
- Try the Video Game: Blood Bowl 3 on Steam is a great way to learn the flow.
Quick start tip: One coached demo game teaches more than hours of reading.
3) Choose Your Team & Paint (If You Want)
Beginner-Friendly Teams
- Humans: Balanced and flexible
- Orcs: Tough and forgiving
- Dwarfs: Durable and straightforward
Teams to Avoid at First
- Goblins: Fragile with lots of trick rules
- Skaven: Very fast but fragile
- Vampires: Complex mechanics (Bloodlust)
Painting your own team: Totally optional to start. Many players borrow a team first, then paint later. When you’re ready, search “Blood Bowl painting guide” on YouTube for step-by-steps.
Tournaments & painting: You can borrow a team for tournaments too—just confirm base sizes and roster in advance.
4) Learn the Basics (When You’re Ready)
- Rulebook & FAQs: Blood Bowl 2020 downloads
- Watch Tutorials: Beginner videos
- Strategy Guides: BBTactics.com
Focus on the core: Movement, blocking, turnovers, scoring. Add the rest later.
What’s Next?
Ready to go further? Explore resources and find games near you: