Miniatures

Miniatures are used to represent and track the location and facing of 'Mechs and other units in BattleTech and various related games. Depending on the edition, the base game includes either a set of standees (paper 2D miniatures), plastic 3D miniatures, or both. Players may purchase additional miniatures that correspond to specific units in order to increase the range of units that can represented. In Battletech Alpha Strike and tabletop (non-hex-based map) rules for BattleTech use of 3D miniatures is standard.

3D miniatures in BattleTech generally uses a 1/285 or 6mm scale, though the consistency of scale can vary between or even within certain miniature lines. Miniatures in a different scale have been made to support both MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game and BattleTroops. A few miniatures, using a larger scale, have also been produced for display purposes rather than for use in gameplay. Prepainted miniatures using WizKids' Clix system were also produced for MechWarrior: Dark Age Collectable Miniatures Game.

3D miniatures have been made using metal or plastic. Metal miniatures (often sold individually but possibly in packs) have been produced by Ral Partha and currently its successor, Iron Wind Metals. Plastic miniatures have been sold (nearly always in miniature packs) through FASA and Catalyst Game Labs when it took over the rights to BattleTech. The range of produced metal miniatures is quite broad and includes 'Mechs, vehicles, infantry, battle armor, and aerospace units from several technical readouts. The range of plastic miniatures has historically been much narrower, typically confined to 'Mechs from the late Succession Wars plus a few from the early Clan eras. The Clan Invasion Kickstarter, currently in the process of delivery, is greatly increasing the range of plastic miniatures available.

2D miniatures, called stand-ups or standees, have been made from various types of cardboard or heavy paper. These are cost-effective and generally compact to ship and store. Additional sets of these have been sold as Reinforcement packs, both by FASA and Catalyst Games Labs.

Paper Miniatures

Paper/cardboard stand-ups or standees (also called stand-up playing pieces) have been included in the following introductory box sets.

• Battledroids
• BattleTech, Second Edition
• BattleTech, Fourth Edition
• Classic BattleTech Boxed Set

A combination of plastic miniatures and die-cut cardboard stand-ups have been included in the following box sets.

• BattleTech: Beginner Box
• BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat
• BattleTech: Clan Invasion

Print and fold your own paper stand-ups for the twenty-four 'Mechs in Classic BattleTech Boxed Set, Classic BattleTech Introductory Box Set, 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set, and BattleTech Introductory Box Set were also provided electronically in Classic BattleTech Introductory Record Sheets, which was made freely available through the web by FanPro and Catalyst Game Labs.

In addition, stand-alone packs of paper stand-ups have been sold.

• BattleTech Reinforcements
• BattleTech Reinforcements 2

Note: A set of cardboard stand-ups and counters titled `Reinforcements: Clan Invasion Box Set' has also been announced as part of the Clan Invasion Kickstarter.

Plastic Miniatures

Plastic miniatures have been included in the following introductory box sets.

• BattleTech, Third Edition
• Classic BattleTech Introductory Box Set
• 25th Anniversary Introductory Box Set
• BattleTech Introductory Box Set

A combination of plastic miniatures and die-cut cardboard stand-ups have included in the following box sets.

• BattleTech: Beginner Box
• BattleTech: A Game of Armored Combat
• BattleTech: Clan Invasion

Additionally, official plastic miniatures have been sold by the following companies.

• FASA produced a few plastic BattleTech miniatures until its dissolution in 2001. See Miniatures - FASA
• WizKids produced prepainted plastic miniatures for the MechWarrior: Dark Age Collectable Miniatures Game from 2002 to 2007. See Miniatures - Wizkids.
• Catalyst Game Labs has produced plastic miniatures for BattleTech ever since its inception in 2007. See Miniatures - Catalyst Game Labs

Metal Miniatures

Metal miniatures have been made and sold by the following companies.

• Ral Partha produced metal miniatures for BattleTech starting in 1985, through its acquisition by FASA, and until its spin-off as Iron Wind Metals in 2001. (Ral Partha produced a small number of miniatures in the late 1990's that had both metal parts and parts made from Partha Plastic (a type of resin). See Miniatures - Ral Partha.
• Iron Wind Metals, the direct successor to Ral Partha, has produced metal miniatures for BattleTech since its spin-off in 2001. See Miniatures - Iron Wind Metals.
• Armorcast produced some miniatures in a 1/60 (or 28mm) scale using polyurethane resin and lead-free pewter from 1999 through 2007. See Miniatures - Armorcast.