Product Review: Battletech Core Box

 Hey Folks, we’re back with another product review. Its been a minute, but we are back with another fine offering from Catalyst Game Labs. Today we’re looking at the new Battletech Core Box.  Part of the new update for the new core rule book (we’ll get to that soon), the core box is a reimagining of the Game of Armored Combat box from yesteryear.  Let’s take a look at the box and see what’s inside.  

Contents

8 Plastic ‘Mechs!  (Note, that like all of CGL’s boxed releases, these come fully assembled and ready to play right out of the box).  This box contains a host of newer designs, including the Hollander Mk II, the Eris, the Solitaire, the Uziel, the Rakshasa,the Regent, the Vulture Mk IV, and the Mad Cat Mk II.  I believe the Uziel and the Regent are reprints from previous products but the rest are new in plastic for the first time.  

8 Mechwarrior Pilot Cards that feature notable pilots of these machines.  These also feature the new card layout for the new Core Rulebook era.  

Core rules booklet: 72 pages of the core mechanics of BattleTech.   This is an invaluable resource gor learning the game.  

Record sheet booklet:  16 record sheets (featuring 2 variants of each of the 8 plastic Miniatures provided).  

2 18” by 22” full color game map s(Double sided for twice the fun)

Tokens!  A variety of punch board mechs and objective tokens for your first few games.  

Sagas Booklet:  24 pages of in universe lore to help guide a new player into the setting behind the game.  

Dice! (2 of them in fact!)

3152 Poster Map:  a time honored tradition of providing a poster map of the inners sphere for the current year.  

This product is a fully functional two player starter set for Battletech.  8 Miniatures plus maps and all the rules of the game in a single east to use package.  For a player starting here, its an excellent starting point, but its also an exceptional addition from the Starter Box we discussed earlier in the week.   The two products work well together to provide learning experiences for new players.  

AS Point Cost (in the box)  350 ish points for the minis in the box.  (Note, this also has the Alpha Strike Cards for the Hammerhead and the Kontio from the Starter set.  

Battle Value isn’t calculated for these boxes, and i would suggest you use the Master Unit List to identify what the BV of your force (and specific variations) is.  

Thoughts: Catalyst always does an exceptional job of building their boxed set releases. This product feels very much in the modern era of Battletech,  with the ilclan era pushed forward as the starting point for new players.  Of all the battletech boxed sets i own, I think this one is the most comprehensive as a starting set.  The new Core Rulebook era is off to a flying start with this product. 

Overall Rating:

5 stars.  

While it hasn’t been released yet on the Catalyst Game Labs web store yet, it’s coming sooner than you think.  MSRP is $69.99, when it hits store shelves.  

So, that’s the Battletech Core Box.  Let us know if you’re interested in picking this one up.