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 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.

Metal and 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

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

• Ral Partha produced metal miniatures for BattleTech starting in 1985. See Miniatures - Ral Partha.
• Iron Wind Metals, the successor to Ral Partha, produces metal miniatures for BattleTech starting from its inception in 2001. See Miniatures - Iron Wind Metals.
• FASA produced some plastic BattleTech miniatures. See Miniatures - FASA
• Catalyst Game Labs produces plastic miniatures for BattleTech. See Miniatures - Catalyst Game Labs

Paper Miniatures

Paper/cardboard stand-ups have been included in the following introductory box sets.

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

In addition, standalone 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.