ROSTER CREATION
Jump to the following sections:
TEAMS
TIERS
BIG V EXCLUSIVES
FAQS
All coaches will receive a Team Draft Budget of 1,100,000 GP to spend on roster creation.
ROSTER SUBMISSION & MEMBERSHIP
In order to submit a roster to The Big V, all coaches MUST sign up to The Big V website. Whilst this may seem an inconvenience at first, it will only take a few moments to do so, and offers other benefits.
Once you’ve signed up to The Big V site, the benefits to signing up (besides having access to the roster builder and therefore the tournament) allow you as a coach to:
1. View your roster at any time, print it and change it if needed
2. Check if and when you submitted your roster (for those forgetful coaches)
3. Access and download your Event ticket
4. Submit your Squad for the Squad Challenge
Once signed up, you can build and submit your roster here: https://www.bigvbloodbowl.com/roster-builder
*Note, this will be the ONLY avenue for submitting your roster to The Big V. Rosters submitted by any other means will not be accepted.
All team rosters must be submitted by Midnight on Friday 17th October (FOUR weeks before the tournament).
NOTE: as per previous Big V events, any coach that does not submit their roster by the Fri 17th Oct deadline will gift their first opponent a reroll or bribe (opponent's choice) for the first half of their first match.
Also, any rosters not submitted by Fri 24th October will gift their first opponent the same reroll or bribe, PLUS will be docked one tournament point.
TEAMS
Coaches must choose their team from the following sources:
1. Blood Bowl Second Season Edition - The Official Rules, plus Spike! Magazine #13 (Khorne), #14 (Norse), #15 (Amazon), #16 (Vampire) and #17 (Gnome).
2. Official “Teams of Legend” PDF (except Norse, Amazon and Vampire) downloadable here:
https://www.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/lFZy1SIuNmWvxPj1.pdf
3. The NAF “Rules for Tournaments from 1st January 2021” PDF (Slann only) downloadable here:
https://www.thenaf.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NAF-Rules-for-Tournaments-2021.pdf
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INDUCEMENTS
You may spend money on any inducements included in The Official Rules, and these become part of your permanent roster. No Wizards and/or Mercenaries of any kind can be purchased.
Coaches wanting to purchase inducements from the Death Zone companion should contact the TO for approval prior to purchase and submission of their roster. Not all inducements are applicable to Tournament Play, so please check first.
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TIERS
The Big V 2025 tiers have been adjusted, utilising current NAF tournament data, plus previous results from The Big V tournaments. All teams at The Big V 2025 will now begin in one of the following FOUR Tiers:
TIER 1
Amazon, Dark Elf, Dwarf, Lizardmen, Orc, Shambling Undead, Underworld Denizens, Vampire, Wood Elf
TIER 2
Chaos Dwarf, Elven Union, High Elf, Human, Necromantic Horror, Norse, Skaven, Tomb King
TIER 3
Black Orc, Chaos Chosen, Chaos Renegade, Imperial Nobility, Khorne, Nurgle, Old World Alliance, Slann
TIER 4
Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Halfling (Nippers), Ogre, Snotling
(For the purposes of Star Players and Player Advancements, The Big V 2025 also has a TIER 0)
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PLAYER ADVANCEMENTS
Once coaches have drafted their team, they will receive the following Star Player Points to spend on player advancements.
Note, Star Players cannot be given any advancements:
TIER 0: 12 SPP (2 x Primary only*)
TIER 1: 42 SPP (7 x primary or equivalent)
TIER 2: 54 SPP (9 x primary or equivalent)
TIER 3: 66 SPP (11 x primary or equivalent)
TIER 4: 78 SPP (13 x primary or equivalent)
* SPPs available to teams in Tier 0 can only be spent on Primary Skills, and cannot be used to purchase Secondary Skills.
Coaches may spend SPP to purchase the following advancements:
CHOOSE A PRIMARY SKILL: 6 SPP
CHOOSE A SECONDARY SKILL: 12 SPP
IMPROVE EITHER MA, PA OR AV BY 1: 15 SPP
IMPROVE AG BY 1: 18 SPP
IMPROVE ST BY 1 OR REMOVE A TRAIT (EXCEPT SECRET WEAPON): 24 SPP
Note, multiple advancements (beyond the first) assigned to a single player will not attract additional SPP costs. For example, assigning two primary skills to a single player will cost 12 SPP, assigning three primary skills to a single player will cost 18 SPP, etc
ADVANCEMENT RESTRICTIONS
Coaches are free to distribute the SPP between their players as they wish with the following restrictions:
1. No more than FOUR of any one additional skill per team, eg. 4 x Guard or 4 x Block max.
2. No player may receive more than SIX additional skills as per page 71 of The Official Rules.
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3. No player can be given more than ONE Stat improvement (including the removal of a Trait). For example, you cannot build a player with both a +1 ST improvement and a +1 AG improvement, or build a player with both a +1 MV and removal of Take Root.
STAR PLAYERS
Teams can hire up to ONE Star Player, except Tier 4 teams who can hire up to TWO Star Players.
A team must have a minimum of 11 players BEFORE hiring star players, or purchasing the Grunt Kenny Inducement.
Note, as per the May 2023 Errata (for more info, visit the Rules page), Star Players that must be hired as a pair (such as Dribl & Drull or the Swift Twins) only count as a single Star Player choice. However, they will still take up two spaces on a team’s Team Roster.
Coaches may only purchase Star Players that feature on this website, or in The Official Rules, the 2021 Almanac and Spike! Magazine #13 (Khorne), #14 (Norse), #15 (Amazon), #16 (Vampire) and #17 (Gnome).
EACH STAR PLAYER TAKEN BY A TEAM (INCLUDING PLUGGER OR MERV) WILL MOVE THAT TEAM UP ONE TIER. THE TEAM WILL NOW USE THE PLAYER ADVANCEMENT SPP ALLOWANCE FOR THEIR NEW TIER. NOTE, THE NEW GRUNT KENNY INDUCEMENT IS NOT A STAR PLAYER, SO DOES NOT AFFECT A TEAM'S TIER.
A TIER 1 team that takes a Star Player will move to Tier 0.
A TIER 2 team that takes a Star Player will move to Tier 1.
A TIER 3 team that takes a Star Player will move to Tier 2.
A TIER 4 team that takes a Star Player will move to Tier 3.
A TIER 4 Team that takes 2 Star Players will move up to Tier 2.
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MEGASTARS
Certain Star Players have been deemed to be so powerful that they are treated differently when it comes to adding them to your roster. These are deemed Megastars*.
Note: a maximum of ONE Megastar can be taken by any team, regardless of tier.
* The current list of Megastars are as per the FAQ and Errata document: DESIGNER’S COMMENTARY MAY 2024. This can be downloaded from the Warhammer Community website at https://www.warhammer-community.com/faqs/#blood-bowl
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ANY TEAM THAT TAKES A MEGASTAR WILL MOVE UP TWO TIERS INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL ONE TIER FOR ADDING A STAR PLAYER. THE TEAM WILL NOW USE THE PLAYER ADVANCEMENT SPP ALLOWANCE FOR THEIR NEW TIER.
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Note: no team can move beyond Tier 0, so the following applies for teams that take a Megastar.
A TIER 1 team cannot take a Megastar
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A TIER 2 team that takes a Megastar will move to Tier 0
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A TIER 3 team that takes a Megastar will move to Tier 1
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A TIER 4 team that takes a Megastar will move to Tier 2
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A TIER 4 team that takes a Megastar PLUS a normal Star Player will move to Tier 1
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HIGHLANDER RULE
The Highlander rule, AKA “There can be only one!” applies to all Star Players EXCEPT The Big V exclusive Star Players Plugger and Merv.
If opposing coaches have selected the same Star Player, the Highlander rule will apply. The Star Player storms off muttering “There can be only one!”, meaning neither team is allowed to field the Star Player in question.
The Star Player will sit out the entire match.
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NEW INDUCEMENT & STAR PLAYERS
0-1 (IN)FAMOUS COACHING STAFF INDUCEMENT: GRUNT KENNY
80,000 GOLD PIECES, AVAILABLE TO ANY TEAM
With his (In)famous "Life-Saver" Special Ability, the notorious Grunt Kenny will be available to be induced by any team (including those teams that can't normally take an Apothecary*) for only 80K GOLD.
The very fact that Grunt Kenny is an Inducement rather than a Star Player means he doesn't impact your team's Tier, which makes him tremendous value.
SPECIAL ABILITY (LIFE-SAVER): once per game, a team with Grunt Kenny may use him to "life-save" any player (except a Star Player) on that team that has been removed from play after receiving a Knocked-Out or Casualty result. Follow all the rules for normal apothecaries, as described on page 62 of The Official Rulebook.
KEEN PLAYER: If Grunt's team cannot set up 11 players at the start of a drive, you can choose to set him up as part of your team. If you do so, he counts as part of your team for the duration of the drive. However, such is his popularity amongst players, fans and referees alike, Grunt can continue to be set up as part of your team at the start of every drive as long as you are unable to set up 11 players.
NOTE: Grunt Kenny CAN use his Life-Saver Special Ability whilst on the pitch, but he must be within 3 squares of the player that has been removed from play after receiving a Knocked-Out or Casualty result. Grunt must be standing and have his tackle zones.
Grunt Kenny (plus accompanying Inducement card) will be available to buy soon from The Big V store at https://www.bigvbloodbowl.com/new-store. Coaches must field the offical Grunt Kenny miniature to include him in your team.
* If induced by a team with the "Sylvanian Spotlight" or "Favoured of Nurgle" Special Rules, Grunt acts as a Mortuary Assistant or Plague Doctor respectively, as per page 91 of The Official Rules
RETURNING STARS: THE MIGHTY PLUG & MERV'N "BREWCHUCKER"
This year for the first time, coaches will now also be able to select returning Star Players The Mighty Plug and Merv'n "Brewchucker" Hughesson!
That's right, Merv returns to chuck brews for the same measly 120K GOLD whilst The Mighty Plug has had a slight cost reduction and his massive frame is now available for a very attractive 200K GOLD.
Note: both Big V exclusive stars are NOT subject to the Highlander Rule. In the instance where both teams have rostered either (or both) Plugger or Brewchucker on their team, the stars themselves are able to find suitable replacements (with exactly the same rules) to take the field opposite them.
And if you missed out first time around, miniatures of both Star Players (plus redesigned and tweaked Star Player cards) will be restocked soon in the store!
FAQS
All the answers to your questions about Grunt, Merv and Plugger coming soon!