Since 1986,Blood Bowlhas delighted players as a tabletop game that uniquely blendselves, goblins, and dwarves fromWarhammerlorewith the sport of American football. Game developer Cyanide Studios released the firstBlood Bowlvideo game in 2009, allowing players to build teams from scratch, and compete in league matches set in virtual stadiums. Recently, the developer launched the 3rd edition of the PC and console title, with upgraded visuals, rule changes, andBlood Bowl 3teams based on the revised 2020 edition of the board game.
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While the core fundamentals of the game remain largely the same, severalBlood Bowl 3teams are available for the first time, each with drastically different styles and abilities.Blood Bowlis a somewhat intimidating game to start playing with rule sets and skills that seem complicated at first, but the video game is a great way to practice without experiencing real-world humiliation.Blood Bowl 3coacheswill have to assemble a team that specializes in running and passing the ball, excels defensively, or is a balanced mix of all these skills. Some teams are easier for newcomers to start out with than others, and the followingBlood Bowlteams list takes into account both their overall effectiveness and skills that set players up for early success.
10Imperial Nobility
Imperial Nobility is a relative newcomer to theBlood Bowlfranchise and was one of two teams added to the tabletop game’s 2020 Second Season box set. Veteran players will recognize theBretonnian roots of Imperial Nobilityand these wealthy nobles and crime lords prefer a bruising running game as their signature play style.
The Imperial Nobility are one of the bestBlood Bowl 3teams for moving around maps with ease, but their overall stats are not the most impressive. While the Retainer Lineman are the most common and cheapest players to buy, they are held back by their low Armor Value (AV) rating. Ogres on the other hand are potent players on Imperial Nobility, costing 140K with an AV of 10+ and a large collection of starting skills including Bone Head and Loner.
9Skaven
TheSkaven team is among the bestWarhammer-inspiredBlood Bowl 3racesfor those players who value movement and speed. However, staying on the run is vital for Skavens who collectively have a low team AV and are easily eliminated by enemy attacks.
Gutter Runners are a highlight on the Skaven, with the ability to “Shoot the Gap” in American football terms, and effectively blitz opponents by sneaking through gaps in offensive lines. As one of the most popular options inBlood Bowl 3, Gutter Runners can also benefit from the Skaven’s many mutation skills, including Extra Arms which makes them threats to intercept passes.
8Elven Union
Easily identified by their facemasks and sleek haircuts, the Elven Union are the most affordable elves to purchase in theBlood Bowlgame. The Elven Union are elite receivers or catchers of passes, utilizing their high collective Agility (AG) to make incredible plays in tight spaces.
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Unfortunately, Elven Union players are also fragile, so coaches will constantly have to patch them up in the Apothecary. Also, while Elven Union Catchers and Blitzers are extremely skilled in the passing game and with intercepting passes, they are also expensive costing $100-115K.
7Nurgle
The disgusting sight of the Nurgle team is enough for some opponents to run away in horror, but this unusual variation of the Chaos team are the defensive specialists on theBlood Bowlteams list. The Nurgle are generally not recommended for novice coaches, as they lack much offensive firepower and also suffer from slow movement.
Rotters are some of the most popular choices on the Nurgle because they are exceedingly cheap at just 35K, and these linemen are a collective nuisance. Skills like Foul Appearance and Disturbing Presence are also very effective at disrupting the gameplans of opposing coaches.
6Orc
The Orcs are one of the most well-balancedBlood Bowl 3teams, making them a sensible choice for any new player to the game. Since they have a high AV as a team, coaches can afford to make some mistakes and not see their entire team decimated.
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Orcs have plenty of brute strength as opposed to speed and agility, so they thrive when directly confronting opponents and are not particularly competent in the passing game. With their cheap cost and durability, some coaches have nightmares about swarms of Orcs outnumbering their teams.
5Chaos Chosen
TheGodly Chaos Chosen are a classic bashing team, which relies on outlasting opponents with impressive strength and AV stats. However, these Chaos players are also surprisingly agile, with the ability to easily evade oncoming attacks.
All Chaos Chosen on the available roster cost over 100K except for the Beastman Runner who players will have to rely on to assume many different roles. The team also starts off with a severe lack of native skills, so new players may struggle to formulate strategies besides just ramming opponents head-on. The Chaos Chosen may not always win matches, but they will consistently create chaos and calamities, living up to their name.
4Black Orc
As the strongest and most evil of all Orcs, the Black Orcs are another recent addition to theBlood Bowlgame. Instantly recognizable for their pale green skin, the Black Orcs can bash with the best of them but also employ a surprising amount of strategy during matches to out-think the opposition.
With somedefinite similarities to the Lizardmen, the Black Orcs are noticeably slower and require planning to best utilize the very different capabilities of their Goblin Bruiser, Black Orc, and Trained Troll. Grab is one of the most useful skills that the Black Orc possesses to trap opposing players and make them susceptible to fouling.
3Humans
TheHumans inBlood Bowl 3are an obvious choice for newcomersto the game based on the name alone, but it’s their versatility and lack of obvious weaknesses that make them a perfect team to learn the game with. With a strong complement of blitzers, Humans can survive some head-on confrontations, while their roster of Throwers and Catchers sustain a capable passing game.
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The not-exactly-human Halflings and Ogres open up the possibility for different abilities like team-mate throwing. Humans are easy to start with because of their well-rounded abilities, but mastering all aspects ofBlood Bowlwith the team becomes increasingly challenging as the game progresses.
2Dwarf
It’s difficult to imagine theBlood BowlTeams Listwithout Dwarves, as they were one of the original races to play the game. Despite their small size, the pesky Dwarf inBlood Bowl 3are some of the most difficult teams to completely conquer during matches.
The team attracts inexperienced players since they have a strong core of starting skills and very strong armor, including the expensive but deadly Deathroller with an AV rating of 11. On the other hand, the Dwarf lacks the bashing ability of other teams that depend on the running game and defense, so coaches will have to play the long game to outlast opponents.
1Dark Elf
Dark Elves have been one of the most successful teamsin recentBlood Bowltabletop competitions and boasting some of the most powerful players on any roster, they warrant consideration from any newcomer to the video games.
Unlike other elves, the Dark Elves are more suited to confront the opposition with attacks in close quarters, rather than rely on agility and a passing game. The Witch Elf ranks toward the top of the list of fearsome players inBlood Bowland offers an enticing combination of maneuverability and blitzing ability. The Dark Elves are rather fragile as a unit, so the Apothecary is essential for long-term success with this team.
Blood Bowl 3is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
