Everything you need to know before your first battle
Last updated: July 2026
Warbands Battle Game is an adrenaline-pumping combat simulation that blends history and fantasy, strategy and action. Participants fight on a simulated battlefield using safely padded medieval-style weapons — think the battle scenes in Braveheart or Gladiator, but with foam weapons engineered so you can actually swing full-force at your friends without breaking bones or knocking out teeth.
The Warbands ruleset is time-tested and based on over 45 years of playtesting with groups as large as 500 fighters on the field. It's all about bringing people together to have a good time — no drama, no organizational politics, just epic battles and the chance to earn glory.
It's simple:
That's it. No membership fees, no prior experience required. New fighters are always welcome, and veterans are happy to show newcomers the ropes.
Required: Appropriate garb (see below). That's the only hard requirement to show up.
For combat: You'll need a padded weapon that passes safety inspection at the event. Weapons are checked for construction quality, padding, and balance before every event. New fighters sometimes borrow weapons from other participants at first — ask around on Discord before your first event and someone will likely help you out.
Optional but helpful: A shield, armor (chain mail, plate, leather — all functional and must look like actual armor from 5 feet away), and a water bottle. Events are outdoors and physically demanding.
See the Rules page for detailed weapon and armor construction standards.
Garb is your costume — clothing appropriate to a fantasy or medieval setting. The intent is to avoid obviously modern clothing on the battlefield. At minimum you need:
Modern clothing like jeans, pajama pants, or modern skirts is not acceptable. Neon or fluorescent colors, clearly modern logos, and cleated footwear are also forbidden on the battlefield.
The bar to meet minimum garb is genuinely low. Even a simple linen tunic and plain trousers will pass. Don't let garb stop you from showing up.
Warbands is a full-contact sport, so it carries risks similar to soccer, rugby, or lacrosse. Severe injuries can occur, which is why every participant signs a waiver. That said, the weapons are specifically engineered to prevent the most common serious injuries — a legal Warbands weapon, swung at full force against an unarmored person, must not cause bruising, broken bones, or knocked-out teeth when used as intended.
Safety is the first priority in the Warbands ruleset, explicitly above playability and "realism." Marshals (referees) on the field have authority to remove anyone behaving unsafely, and weapon safety checks happen before every event.
Grappling is permitted in limited forms; punching, kicking, and throws are never allowed. Head strikes from melee weapons are never permitted.
Rule Zero is the foundation of Warbands: it's a game based on an honor system and a culture focused on ensuring your opponent's good time.
In practice, Rule Zero means: if you're arguing about a rule in a way that stops the fun, you're doing it wrong. Marshals (referees) will not consider loopholes, and common sense always supersedes technicalities.
The default minimum age is 16. Some local event hosts may choose to raise or lower this limit at their discretion.
Anyone under 18 must have a legal guardian sign the release form. The guardian's signature must be notarized. If you're bringing a minor, plan ahead and bring appropriate ID.
Warbands weapons are typically foam-padded constructions built around a rigid core (fiberglass, carbon fiber, or aluminum for arrow shafts). Every weapon must pass a safety inspection at each event before it can be used in combat.
Key construction rules:
See the full Weapons section of the ruleset for detailed specifications by weapon type. The Discord community is also an excellent resource for build advice and tutorials.
Warbands has a built-in healer mechanic.
180+ syllables·continuous contact·both free from attack·healers cannot heal themselves
A successful healing restores all wounds and repairs all held equipment (armor, bow, shield, etc.).
Warbands is an independent framework — not a chapter or subsidiary of any other organization. However, it overlaps significantly with the broader foam-weapon combat and reenactment community, and many Warbands fighters also participate in:
The Warbands ruleset is based on decades of playtesting by the broader foam-combat community, so there is significant overlap in rules and culture.
The host is the only formal role in Warbands. A host runs an event under the Warbands ruleset, secures the venue, organizes check-in, appoints weapons-checkers and Marshals, and generally ensures their guests have a great time. Hosts are also welcome to make reasonable adjustments to the standard rules to improve a specific event.
To volunteer as a host, join the Warbands Discord and let the community know you're interested. The community is always excited to support new hosts and find new venues to fight at.
The Warbands Waiver and Release of Liability is available at event check-in. All participants must sign it before taking the field. If you're bringing a minor (under 18), their legal guardian must sign too, and the signature must be notarized.
The waiver covers participation in any Warbands-sponsored activity, event, tournament, contest, or meeting. You'll need to provide your name, date of birth, contact information, and a persona name if you have one.
The best place to get answers is the Warbands Discord server, where experienced fighters and hosts are active and happy to help newcomers. You can also review the full Ruleset for detailed information on all aspects of gameplay.