Im actually really happy union pretty much stayed the best passing team. It drove me up a wall that dark elves and high elves were essentially the same but better armor. Now, Union has a unique position in the new rules, one that imo competes with wood Elves. It's a very refreshing change of pace.
Some older videos of the Bonehead Podcast to help support my insomnia! No it's a awesome channel really helping me out get to grips with new teams I'm wanting to paint up and try out
I would never start with the 4 catcher roster in a league. I like both the other rosters, but I do enjoy starting with 2 of all the position players so I'd probably pick that one even though starting with 3 rerolls is great!
I have some early success with 3 Catchers, 2 Blitzers, 6 Linemen and 2 rerolls build. No real passing game but very efficient run game. It seems that such team is very aggressive and ironically more adaptable that Thrower builds. I recommend trying it:) I love Your content. Really enjoy it. It helped me getting into game:)
Hey Robert! Thanks very much :D Ok, I like it! That's a really solid list! There's definitely win percentage to be found in abandoning the passing game - as great as the Throwers are, squeezing in that extra MA8 piece can be huge!!
Have you considered this following roster? 2x Blitzers 1x Thrower 8x Lineelf 3x RR Apo 1x dedic. Fans O.5k spare No catchers since once on the field they totally steal spp to pretty much anyone. This way you could be able to grow both the Blitzers to blodge (eventually even a second skill) and the Thrower consequently to a "functional" skill like Sure Hands, Cannonier or even a simple Dodge. No wasted spp on a useless Leader since the 3 RR. The Apo from the beginning will give a considerable protection for the Blitzers. Catchers, once Active, will grow at light speed.. even Thrower with a couple of skills will already be super decent. Only the Blitzers deserve special attention in the first season of a League. The others could alwais be replaced and fastly/easily put to cruise speed with 2/3 max skills
Hey Ivan, great stuff! You're very right here - you can achieve plenty without the Catchers; and then once you add them they'll level up fast enough anyway (and they don't need a tonne of skills, as they're already amazing!). I like that strategy, definitely a strong one for a longer league!
Starting our first ever league next month going to give the pro Elves a shot! I think I’m going to take the two mixed roster wish me luck mate! Thanks for the videos they’re great help for a new player
Oh fantastic!! That build is a classic for a reason :D Good luck in the league!! Extra TDs now mean extra gold, which should take the edge off the never ending replacing of linemen haha! You're welcome Jordan, thank you!
I'm loving these guides. I think you can get away with 2 rerolls with elves. I'm trying to point out a 3 catcher , 1 thrower, 2 blitzer build currently
Any updates on how to build EU, any new wisdom? While it's still BB2020 in 2024, we may have learned some tricks with the team since you made this video.
In my league I went with 3 Catchers, 1 Blitzer, 1 Thrower, 6 Linemen and 2 rerolls. Currently 3 for 3 with 6 touchdowns, 9 completions (just stand in the backfield and farm quick passes). 1 MVP on my Thrower, and he has Sure Feet (accidental random agility), Running Pass, and Cannoneer all from randoms.
Is it an an absolute necessity to have 4 catchers? I'd rather not buy a whole box just for 2 players. Or are there any good third party Elven union catchers around?
What are your thoughts on a 2 Blitzer, 1 Thrower, 8 Linemen, 2RR, 5 Dedicated Fans build? And just maximize cash intake... 5 DF means you have at least 60k fans at the match for your team. Your opponent has 10k (min). That's 35k profit before you start adding TDS. And you and your opponent might roll better than min. 80k fans is a more reasonable assumption that nets you 40k gold before TDs get added in. Of course line-elves will die. Let 'em. Replace them with catchers and an additional thrower as money allows. Thoughts?
Another great video but I was wondering one thing. Very few of your starting rosters feature an Apothecary. Why is that? This roster has two positionals in the 6 digit range! Including one that is Av8+ and no defensive skills (uniquely in the book I think) . Personally I wouldn't leave home without one.
Hey Thanatos - you’re bang on; an Apothecary should be one of the first things you get, and it can be very risky without one! I suppose my view is that it takes 1 game to save for an Apoc, but 3 games to save for a player! It’s a risk, but allows you to start brewing those SPPs earlier on!
My favorite is the 3rd. The second looks a bit suicidal. After you have saved for the blitzers you will have to save to rebuy the catchers that got murdered. Protecting 4 with no defensive skills looks so difficult....
Hey Tom, great question! AC in Tourneys, DF in league. You'll win more cash by scoring more touchdowns by spending more cash on more positionals - but anything left over is just going to generate more money! So really I think unless you're 10k away from an Apo and you want that more than anything... Taking all the spare cash you've got and chucking it into DF will be great! For short leagues - the more cash you can spend on positionals the better, but for longer leagues you can pick them up later!
Hi I'm new to blood bowl and have got a ticket for megabowl-2020. Its probably a stupid question but I'm a bit confused about adding skills and my team value. In your rules it says "coaches do not perchase skills with their gold allowance" does this mean that I can spend the full 1,100,000 building my team then add the skills or do the skills still increase the individual players value and then to the team value?
Hey Adam!! So excited to have you brawling with us in October 😁😁 You absolutely spend 1,100,000GP on your team - and then you add the skills free of charge afterwards! (A great way to sneak Leader in to save on a Reroll!)
I'll try: 2 Blitzer 1 Catcher 2 Thrower 6 Lineman 2RR & Apo 1000k Thoughts: - blitzers are auto include - I wanna minimise the risk of loosing my positionels! So Apo right away. But that means I have to cut something else. - I wanna try 2 throwers - I mean its the best passer in the game!! :D -Only 1 catcher (replaced by a lineman) is the sacrifice i make for having the Apo and it lets me focus more on level the blitzers up fast and give them dodge.
@Tobias Dreger It's not the throwers that I'm afraid of loosing in the first game. I just don't wanna risk loosing a 115k blitzer or even a stat decrease on them. I know the apo cost only 50k and the 3 RR will cost 100k. But what are you gonna doe if you loose a blitzer? Do you the buy apo after the 1 game and probably not be able to buy a second blitzer for the next 2-3 games? Or do you save the money for the blitzer by not buying the apo and risk loosing other important (maybe already leveled) positionals until you have the apo? I played a friendly game yesterday against Lizards. After the first 4 turns I had 3 hurt lineman and finished the game with only 5 players left. Elves die/get hurt fast as hell!!
Hey Ben, I really love these guides. They are great tips for us who haven't bothered to really sink our teeth into bb2020. That said, in this one I think that your white balance might be slightly off. You look a bit red.
Oh Ben, I’ve had such a nightmare with the lighting 😔 my main rig got damaged in my house move, so I’m using smaller lights... and tape 😏 until my replacement arrives!!
I know blitzers are the same as most teams passers but the passing nerf might hit the elves hard....they have traditionally been a skill team that can still win with 4 players on pitch due to all being viable at the skills...but with the nerf you might struggle to do the clutch plays that saved you in the pass :-) past not pass :-)
Haha nice pun! Ohh you’re definitely right that the stretch play ability’s been hurt quite badly - but I think they’re still top (comparatively anyway!)
Starting a league, I’m starting with 2 of the positionals and the 2 rerolls. I playing with the idea of dropping a reroll and going with apothecary. League has 2 shaven teams at least 3 ogre couple of dwarves teams. Pretty sure there are a few undead teams also
Two Blitzers is the most annoying to play against. The Side-Step is key for defense. Offense is already too good to stop. The main weakness is the lack of blocking skills. The trap with Pro Elves is scoring too fast. If your opponent has enough time to equalize the score you are just hoping that armor 8+ won't break and that's a gamble.
I really played pro elves a lot in BB so i want to try new stuff. I don't think they have improved though-everyone could pass before but now only the thrower and blitzers are good at it. They are still a tremendous team tho-the catchers are fantastic
When i played BB1 I was always torn between the Pro Elves and The High Elves, but in BB2 the mixed teams allowed me to do a "balanced" mix of the two: Pro Elves Lineelves and Catchers with High Elves Blitzers and Throwers. Now i kinda want to wait for the High Elf team to be released t decide betwen (or maybe a elf mixed team to release).
Honestly HazelVandice I am so excited to see what the High Elves are like when they turn up!! But for now - it just makes the Elven Union pretty unique with their sweet throwing game! Ahhh mixed teams 😍
Elves are a real glass cannon whatever the game. Also the recommended Averland Sunset sucks for painting them according to the box art or what's on display on the GW website, I'm going to use Flashgitz Yellow instead on a white primer surface and then an orange wash or make a wash out of Averland Sunset which is more orange than yellow
Why are we now pretending that 3+ passing is 'good'? Risking your whole drive on a 1/3 or 1/9 has never been a hallmark of high level play. Passing has been massively nerfed in this ruleset, with the exception of the very few 2+ throwers.
Hey Dane, I’m afraid to say that you’re right! It’s always risky making passing plays, and generally speaking that got even riskier! I guess I mean that 3+ is now the best of a bad bunch!
I think you said it with your own comment. The passing game dominated high level play easily. The top teams wear passing teams, like Delfs, Skaven, and Wood Elves. GW probably wanted to make the passing game to encourage a more diverse meta. Imo it's better for the game, it means that mastering the running game and position is more important, instead of just, "I make 6 2+ dodges, throw and both models need anything but a 1 for a free TD."
Nice videos! New sub here! Playing elven union on a league, i have problems deali g with high mobility teams like skavens or underworlds. Any advice? I play with a different roster: 2 blitzers, 2 catchers, 1 thrower, 6 linemen. Last season was great because of the 3 rerolls, now running the same roster with 1 less reroll. In hindsight i like the 2 blitzers, 1 thrower, 1 catcher, 7 limen 3 reroll better even losing on the extra catcher.
Running High Elves here, and boy does that extra armor make a huge difference. Mind you, I'm still losing 4-7 players a game, every game, but I'm a rookie in a league facing teams with two entire *seasons* worth of upgrades, so... ouch. That said, Blitzers with Tackle are huge, huge helps. Against most teams, their ball carriers (Gutter Runners, Human Catchers, etc) are Str 2 but rely on Dodge to stay alive. Native Block gives you a good chance to drop them, and adding Tackle makes it 50% on one die, 75% on two dice, which is where you want to be. (Tackle also makes it harder for them to get away!) ... and if there's a turn that you don't have a shot at the ball carrier? Find someone similar (like teh OTHER Gutter Runner) and slam 'em. It's only a matter of time before they break and, once they start losing them, they're stopable.
Im actually really happy union pretty much stayed the best passing team. It drove me up a wall that dark elves and high elves were essentially the same but better armor. Now, Union has a unique position in the new rules, one that imo competes with wood Elves. It's a very refreshing change of pace.
Some older videos of the Bonehead Podcast to help support my insomnia! No it's a awesome channel really helping me out get to grips with new teams I'm wanting to paint up and try out
The rate at witch you make those video is insane!!!! Continue your greath work
Wooh! Thanks so much Keven!
I would never start with the 4 catcher roster in a league. I like both the other rosters, but I do enjoy starting with 2 of all the position players so I'd probably pick that one even though starting with 3 rerolls is great!
I have some early success with 3 Catchers, 2 Blitzers, 6 Linemen and 2 rerolls build. No real passing game but very efficient run game. It seems that such team is very aggressive and ironically more adaptable that Thrower builds. I recommend trying it:)
I love Your content. Really enjoy it. It helped me getting into game:)
Hey Robert! Thanks very much :D
Ok, I like it! That's a really solid list! There's definitely win percentage to be found in abandoning the passing game - as great as the Throwers are, squeezing in that extra MA8 piece can be huge!!
Have you considered this following roster?
2x Blitzers
1x Thrower
8x Lineelf
3x RR
Apo
1x dedic. Fans
O.5k spare
No catchers since once on the field they totally steal spp to pretty much anyone.
This way you could be able to grow both the Blitzers to blodge (eventually even a second skill) and the Thrower consequently to a "functional" skill like Sure Hands, Cannonier or even a simple Dodge. No wasted spp on a useless Leader since the 3 RR.
The Apo from the beginning will give a considerable protection for the Blitzers.
Catchers, once Active, will grow at light speed.. even Thrower with a couple of skills will already be super decent.
Only the Blitzers deserve special attention in the first season of a League. The others could alwais be replaced and fastly/easily put to cruise speed with 2/3 max skills
Hey Ivan, great stuff!
You're very right here - you can achieve plenty without the Catchers; and then once you add them they'll level up fast enough anyway (and they don't need a tonne of skills, as they're already amazing!).
I like that strategy, definitely a strong one for a longer league!
Starting our first ever league next month going to give the pro Elves a shot! I think I’m going to take the two mixed roster wish me luck mate! Thanks for the videos they’re great help for a new player
Oh fantastic!! That build is a classic for a reason :D
Good luck in the league!! Extra TDs now mean extra gold, which should take the edge off the never ending replacing of linemen haha!
You're welcome Jordan, thank you!
I'm loving these guides. I think you can get away with 2 rerolls with elves. I'm trying to point out a 3 catcher , 1 thrower, 2 blitzer build currently
Does that fit at 1000k? I feel you might be like 5k short, wouldn't you?
@@maverick4242 ill have to work it out, but I suspect you're right
Jonathan Kilby’s Elves.
1 Thrower 75
2 Blitzers 230 (305)
3 Catchers 300 (605)
5 Linemen 300 (905)
2 Rerolls 100 (1005)
Ahhhh so close!!
@@BoneheadPodcast bugger!! Thats annoying
Better editing! 😬 Great advice as ever, going to come in useful when I ever finish painting mine up.
Hahaha, thanks so much for the heads up on that!! I owe you one 😁👍👍
Any updates on how to build EU, any new wisdom? While it's still BB2020 in 2024, we may have learned some tricks with the team since you made this video.
In my league I went with 3 Catchers, 1 Blitzer, 1 Thrower, 6 Linemen and 2 rerolls.
Currently 3 for 3 with 6 touchdowns, 9 completions (just stand in the backfield and farm quick passes).
1 MVP on my Thrower, and he has Sure Feet (accidental random agility), Running Pass, and Cannoneer all from randoms.
Are patrons still a thing? I can’t see where to join on my iPad. Do you get any cool stuff with a patron?
Is it an an absolute necessity to have 4 catchers? I'd rather not buy a whole box just for 2 players. Or are there any good third party Elven union catchers around?
What are your thoughts on a 2 Blitzer, 1 Thrower, 8 Linemen, 2RR, 5 Dedicated Fans build? And just maximize cash intake... 5 DF means you have at least 60k fans at the match for your team. Your opponent has 10k (min). That's 35k profit before you start adding TDS. And you and your opponent might roll better than min. 80k fans is a more reasonable assumption that nets you 40k gold before TDs get added in. Of course line-elves will die. Let 'em. Replace them with catchers and an additional thrower as money allows.
Thoughts?
Another great video but I was wondering one thing. Very few of your starting rosters feature an Apothecary. Why is that?
This roster has two positionals in the 6 digit range! Including one that is Av8+ and no defensive skills (uniquely in the book I think) . Personally I wouldn't leave home without one.
Hey Thanatos - you’re bang on; an Apothecary should be one of the first things you get, and it can be very risky without one! I suppose my view is that it takes 1 game to save for an Apoc, but 3 games to save for a player! It’s a risk, but allows you to start brewing those SPPs earlier on!
My favorite is the 3rd. The second looks a bit suicidal. After you have saved for the blitzers you will have to save to rebuy the catchers that got murdered. Protecting 4 with no defensive skills looks so difficult....
Haha Gladstone you are very very right there 😂 but what a glorious Elf Death it would be! SPPs for everyone!
What are the pros and cons of spending your remaining gold on dedicated fans? Or cheerleaders/assistant coaches?
Hey Tom, great question!
AC in Tourneys, DF in league. You'll win more cash by scoring more touchdowns by spending more cash on more positionals - but anything left over is just going to generate more money!
So really I think unless you're 10k away from an Apo and you want that more than anything... Taking all the spare cash you've got and chucking it into DF will be great!
For short leagues - the more cash you can spend on positionals the better, but for longer leagues you can pick them up later!
Hi I'm new to blood bowl and have got a ticket for megabowl-2020. Its probably a stupid question but I'm a bit confused about adding skills and my team value. In your rules it says "coaches do not perchase skills with their gold allowance" does this mean that I can spend the full 1,100,000 building my team then add the skills or do the skills still increase the individual players value and then to the team value?
Hey Adam!! So excited to have you brawling with us in October 😁😁
You absolutely spend 1,100,000GP on your team - and then you add the skills free of charge afterwards! (A great way to sneak Leader in to save on a Reroll!)
@@BoneheadPodcast yay!
And thanks for the advice
Anytime Adam!!
I'll try:
2 Blitzer
1 Catcher
2 Thrower
6 Lineman
2RR & Apo
1000k
Thoughts:
- blitzers are auto include
- I wanna minimise the risk of loosing my positionels! So Apo right away. But that means I have to cut something else.
- I wanna try 2 throwers - I mean its the best passer in the game!! :D
-Only 1 catcher (replaced by a lineman) is the sacrifice i make for having the Apo and it lets me focus more on level the blitzers up fast and give them dodge.
@Tobias Dreger It's not the throwers that I'm afraid of loosing in the first game. I just don't wanna risk loosing a 115k blitzer or even a stat decrease on them. I know the apo cost only 50k and the 3 RR will cost 100k. But what are you gonna doe if you loose a blitzer? Do you the buy apo after the 1 game and probably not be able to buy a second blitzer for the next 2-3 games? Or do you save the money for the blitzer by not buying the apo and risk loosing other important (maybe already leveled) positionals until you have the apo?
I played a friendly game yesterday against Lizards. After the first 4 turns I had 3 hurt lineman and finished the game with only 5 players left. Elves die/get hurt fast as hell!!
Hey Ben, I really love these guides. They are great tips for us who haven't bothered to really sink our teeth into bb2020.
That said, in this one I think that your white balance might be slightly off. You look a bit red.
Oh Ben, I’ve had such a nightmare with the lighting 😔 my main rig got damaged in my house move, so I’m using smaller lights... and tape 😏 until my replacement arrives!!
(Thanks very much by the way 😁👍)
Ah, mate that sucks. Still, great stuff though! I hope that you can get your setup fixed soon ^^
Ben Hayward Thanks Ben 😁 working on it!!
I know blitzers are the same as most teams passers but the passing nerf might hit the elves hard....they have traditionally been a skill team that can still win with 4 players on pitch due to all being viable at the skills...but with the nerf you might struggle to do the clutch plays that saved you in the pass :-) past not pass :-)
Haha nice pun! Ohh you’re definitely right that the stretch play ability’s been hurt quite badly - but I think they’re still top (comparatively anyway!)
Starting a league, I’m starting with 2 of the positionals and the 2 rerolls. I playing with the idea of dropping a reroll and going with apothecary. League has 2 shaven teams at least 3 ogre couple of dwarves teams. Pretty sure there are a few undead teams also
Two Blitzers is the most annoying to play against. The Side-Step is key for defense.
Offense is already too good to stop.
The main weakness is the lack of blocking skills. The trap with Pro Elves is scoring too fast. If your opponent has enough time to equalize the score you are just hoping that armor 8+ won't break and that's a gamble.
I really played pro elves a lot in BB so i want to try new stuff. I don't think they have improved though-everyone could pass before but now only the thrower and blitzers are good at it. They are still a tremendous team tho-the catchers are fantastic
Yeahhhh I guess they have technically got worse - but compared to the other teams they’re miles ahead with their air game 😍
When i played BB1 I was always torn between the Pro Elves and The High Elves, but in BB2 the mixed teams allowed me to do a "balanced" mix of the two: Pro Elves Lineelves and Catchers with High Elves Blitzers and Throwers. Now i kinda want to wait for the High Elf team to be released t decide betwen (or maybe a elf mixed team to release).
Honestly HazelVandice I am so excited to see what the High Elves are like when they turn up!! But for now - it just makes the Elven Union pretty unique with their sweet throwing game!
Ahhh mixed teams 😍
Elves are a real glass cannon whatever the game. Also the recommended Averland Sunset sucks for painting them according to the box art or what's on display on the GW website, I'm going to use Flashgitz Yellow instead on a white primer surface and then an orange wash or make a wash out of Averland Sunset which is more orange than yellow
Why are we now pretending that 3+ passing is 'good'? Risking your whole drive on a 1/3 or 1/9 has never been a hallmark of high level play. Passing has been massively nerfed in this ruleset, with the exception of the very few 2+ throwers.
Hey Dane, I’m afraid to say that you’re right! It’s always risky making passing plays, and generally speaking that got even riskier! I guess I mean that 3+ is now the best of a bad bunch!
I think you said it with your own comment. The passing game dominated high level play easily. The top teams wear passing teams, like Delfs, Skaven, and Wood Elves. GW probably wanted to make the passing game to encourage a more diverse meta. Imo it's better for the game, it means that mastering the running game and position is more important, instead of just, "I make 6 2+ dodges, throw and both models need anything but a 1 for a free TD."
Nice videos! New sub here!
Playing elven union on a league, i have problems deali g with high mobility teams like skavens or underworlds. Any advice?
I play with a different roster: 2 blitzers, 2 catchers, 1 thrower, 6 linemen.
Last season was great because of the 3 rerolls, now running the same roster with 1 less reroll. In hindsight i like the 2 blitzers, 1 thrower, 1 catcher, 7 limen 3 reroll better even losing on the extra catcher.
Running High Elves here, and boy does that extra armor make a huge difference. Mind you, I'm still losing 4-7 players a game, every game, but I'm a rookie in a league facing teams with two entire *seasons* worth of upgrades, so... ouch.
That said, Blitzers with Tackle are huge, huge helps. Against most teams, their ball carriers (Gutter Runners, Human Catchers, etc) are Str 2 but rely on Dodge to stay alive. Native Block gives you a good chance to drop them, and adding Tackle makes it 50% on one die, 75% on two dice, which is where you want to be. (Tackle also makes it harder for them to get away!) ... and if there's a turn that you don't have a shot at the ball carrier? Find someone similar (like teh OTHER Gutter Runner) and slam 'em. It's only a matter of time before they break and, once they start losing them, they're stopable.
Just picked up this team like both the 2 blitzters and 2 reroll roster
Am I the only nutjob who thinks AG 2+ means that you only need one reroll? It always kinda worked that way for me in the past.
As much as I love my pro elves they explode so quickly
Dodgers can dodge thanks GW. Loving my woodies but elf union are clearly broken now
Just got my book
Haha, Dodgers Can Dodge 😀
EU have definitely climbed, and WE have dropped!