BattleTech Core Box

From the Publisher:

Catalyst Game Labs refits the seminal BattleTech IP with two new box sets and a rulebook. The same game and universe you’ve loved for four decades receives its best-yet presentation of art, fiction, miniatures and rules.

For the first time in more than thirty years, a new BattleTech Starter Box, Core Box and Core Rulebook were developed simultaneously. In preparation for this refit, Catalyst ran the largest public playtest in BattleTech’s four-decade history, ensuring all revisions to our game of heavy metal mayhem were well-honed and battle-tested.

The new Core Box uses the bestselling A Game of Armored Combat boxed set as the foundation to construct an immersive, fun experience. A highlight of the new Core Box is the Sagas lore booklet. This brand-new primer opens the doors to the BattleTech universe with a series of gorgeous, all-new art pieces, but also guides players through choosing a faction, a style of play, and more. The eight high-quality, ready-to-play miniatures included in the box represent a cross-section of more than thirty years of beloved BattleTech lore. They include the Hollander and Rakshasa that first appeared in Technical Readout: 3055; the Solitaire from Technical Readout: 3067; the Uziel and Mad Cat Mk II that premiered in the MechWarrior 4: Vengeance computer game; the Vulture Mk IV Prime that first hit game tables as part of MechWarrior: Dark Age; and the Regent and Eris from the new ilClan Era Recognition Guides.

While rules changes were made to improve the tabletop experience, this is not a new edition of BattleTech. As always, BattleTech remains remarkably the same as when it first appeared in 1985’s Second Edition boxed set.

Step into the flagship experience of tabletop armored combat with the BattleTech: Core Box (2026 Edition) from Catalyst Game Labs! Built upon four decades of legendary wargaming as the successor to A Game of Armored Combat, this upgraded Core Box delivers an immersive, comprehensive entry point for full-scale BattleMech tactics.

Featuring 8 pre-assembled plastic miniatures representing iconic designs spanning 30+ years of BattleTech lore—including fan-favorites like the Mad Cat Mk II, Uziel, Rakshasa, and Solitaire—this box set includes the newly refined 64-page core rulebook, two double-sided hex maps, and the all-new Sagas lore primer.

The Premier Core Gateway into BattleTech

The updated BattleTech: Core Box is the central foundation for the world's greatest game of armored combat. Refined following the largest public playtest in BattleTech's history, this set streamlines the full Classic BattleTech rules engine—covering complete heat management, weapon range brackets, critical hit tracking, line of sight, and armor degradation.

Whether deploying medium skirmishers or unleashing multi-ton assault platforms across desert and urban battlefields, the 2026 Core Box provides everything required for pickup battles, tournament play, or narrative campaigns.

Iconic Miniature Selection

The 8 high-detail plastic sculpts showcase legendary machines that debuted across decades of Technical Readouts, fiction, and video games:

• Mad Cat Mk II & Vulture Mk IV Prime: Powerful Clan-heritage heavy and assault platforms capable of long-range devastation.
• Uziel & Rakshasa: High-mobility medium and heavy Inner Sphere powerhouses famous from MechWarrior 4: Vengeance and classic lore.
• Hollander & Solitaire: Specialized combatants bringing massive gauss rifle firepower and hyper-fast light skirmishing to your lance compositions.

Complete Box Contents

Includes 8 ready-to-play plastic miniatures, a 64-page core rulebook, the 24-page Sagas universe lore primer, 16-page record sheet booklet, 2 full-color double-sided mounted-style hex maps, punchboard tokens, 8 custom MechWarrior pilot cards, a heavy reference sheet, a poster map, and 2 six-sided dice.

BOARDGAMEGENERAL ADVICE

Expert Recommendation

At Boardgamegeneral, the 2026 BattleTech: Core Box is our primary recommendation for players who want the full, uncompromised Classic BattleTech experience. Moving past the quick-start rules of the Beginner Box, this set gives commanders access to full heat tracking, critical hits, and deep tactical choices.

The mini selection in CAT37002 is outstanding. Bringing video-game staples like the Uziel and Mad Cat Mk II into the core box set gives both veterans and new converts an incredible array of forces right out of the box. Furthermore, the included Sagas lore guide makes onboarding into the Inner Sphere's Great Houses and Clans smoother than ever.

If your customers are ready to plunge into full tabletop Mech combat or upgrade from the Beginner Box, the CORE box is the definitive purchase for their shelf.

Verdict: The premier core box set for BattleTech. Outstanding plastic miniatures, refined core rules, and rich lore presentation make it a mandatory stock item.