What we know so far – November 2025

First Published: April 4, 2025 | Last Updated: November 06, 2025

🎯 Quick Facts about Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game

• What is it:

A tactical, D6-based miniatures wargame built to feel like the “final battle” of a Starcraft match.

• Release Date:

This is a direct-to-retail release (no Kickstarter). Pre-orders are planned for Q1 2026 (aiming for January), with shipping targeted for March 2026.

• Price (Est.):

The $150 – $160 Two-Player Starter (Terran vs. Zerg) or a $60 – $80 Protoss Faction Box.

• What’s the hook?

A “Fog of War” system with hidden reserves, a “Supply” mechanic that stops you from being tabled, and a “Surge Die” for balanced combat.

• Models:

32mm scale HIPS plastic, with clear plastic parts and magnet slots in the bases.

---

Alright, tabletop and Starcraft fans, buckle up!

We’ve been tracking the Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game since the first announcement. After months of renders and anticipation, Archon Studio just held a massive AMA (on October 30th, 2025) and pulled back the curtain on everything.

We now have a very clear picture of the game, from its core rules philosophy and pricing to exactly what’s in the starter box. And the details are great.

Here is the full, detailed report on everything you need to know.

The Core Vision: No “Alpha Strikes,” No “Point of No Return”

Before showing any models, the designers were very clear about their core philosophy. They are laser-focused on capturing the “final battle” feel of Starcraft and eliminating what they call “cancer mechanics” from other wargames.

This entire game is built to prevent two of the most frustrating experiences in the hobby:

1. “Alpha Strikes”: The feeling that one player can cripple or even beat their opponent on the very first turn.
2. “The Point of No Return”: That awful moment, usually around turn 2 or 3, when you’ve lost so many models that you know you can’t win, but you’re forced to keep playing for another hour.

As the designers said, “you always have tools to put on a table and still carry on game.” To do this, they’ve built the game on a “Fog of War” reserve system and a “Supply” mechanic that lets you bring in fresh troops.

Release, Pricing, and What’s in the Box

This is the big one: This is NOT a Kickstarter.

Archon Studio was very clear that this is a direct-to-retail release. They are manufacturing the product now, so the wait from pre-order to shipping will be short.

• Release Type: Direct-to-retail.
• Pre-Orders: Planned for Q1 2026 (aiming for January 2026) on the Archon Studio webstore.
• Shipping: Planned for March 2026.
• Distribution: The Archon webstore will ship first (and may have pre-order extras). It will arrive at other retailers about 3 months later.
• Public Rules: A public version of the rules is planned to drop alongside the pre-orders (January 2026).

Here are the planned products and estimated prices:

Two-Player Starter Box (Terran vs. Zerg)

• Price: $150 – $160
• Terran: 2x Marine Squads (6 models each), 1x Marauder Squad (2 models), 1x Medic Squad (3 models).
• Zerg: 1x Queen, 2x Zergling Squads (12 models each), 1x Roach Squad (3 models).
• Other: A “whole bunch” of basic wall terrain. A play mat is being considered but is not confirmed.

Protoss Faction Box

• Price: $60 – $80
• Contents: 2x Zealot Squads, 1x Adept Squad, 1x Sentry. May also include Pylon terrain.
• Note: This will be available at the same time as the starter.

Individual Unit Boxes

• Price: $25 – $35

How the Game Plays: The “Starcraft DNA” in the Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game

Archon is translating five key elements from the video game to the tabletop.

1. Fog of War (The Hidden Reserve System)

This is one of the game’s biggest features. When you build your army, about 50% of your total “Supply” stays off the table in a Hidden Reserve.

Your opponent knows your full roster, but they don’t know what you’re starting with on the table and what you’re holding back. This creates a true “Fog of War” and allows for huge tactical moments, bluffs, and surprise deployments.

2. APM (Actions Per Minute): The Phase & Pass System

The game round is split into three phases: Movement, Assault (shooting), and Close Combat.

In each phase, players alternate activating one unit at a time. This is where the “APM” comes in. A player can “Pass” their turn to seize the initiative (represented by an “APM Token”). The first player to pass gets that token and is guaranteed to go first in the next phase.

The designers called this a “game of chicken.” Do you activate all your units now, or do you pass early to make sure you get to shoot or charge first in the critical Assault phase?

3. The Supply & Escalation Mechanic (No “Point of No Return”)

This is the clever system that keeps you in the game.

Your army has a maximum Supply limit (e.g., 16 Supply), but the table itself has a smaller Supply limit (e.g., starting at 9 Supply).

• Deployment: You can only deploy new units from your reserve (during the Movement Phase) if you have enough on-table Supply available.
• Escalation: At the start of every new round, the on-table Supply limit increases by 1.
• Recovery: If you lose a unit, its Supply cost is freed up. This allows you to deploy fresh units from your reserve to replace your losses.

This mechanic is the heart of the “no ‘tabled’ feeling” promise. You’re always able to bring in reinforcements, so you never feel like you’re out of the fight.

4. War of Attrition (No In-Game Farming)

In the standard game mode, there is no in-game mineral or gas collection. The designers found this “obsolete” and “clunky” for the fast-paced combat game they wanted. The “war” is fought with the fixed army roster you build before the game.

A narrative/campaign mode with resource collection is planned for the future.

How Combat Works: The “Surge” Mechanic

The game is D6-based to be accessible. To add tactical depth and balance, they created the “Surge” mechanic.

• Attack: A unit’s attack has a Rate of Attack (dice per model), a Hit value (e.g., 3+), and Damage.
• Defense: Units have an Armor save (e.g., 5+).
• Surge: When you attack, you also roll a “Surge Die” (e.g., a D3) if your attack is effective against the target’s type (like “Light” or “Armored”).

Each point of Surge cancels one successful Armor save from your opponent. This brilliantly solves two problems: it provides a “ceiling” on damage (preventing a huge squad from one-shotting everything), and it makes small, “leftover units” (like 2 surviving marines) still useful because they still get to roll their Surge die.

Building Your Army in the Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game (The “Three Layers”)

The designers described army building as having “three layers”:

1. Points (Units & Upgrades): Your total points limit (e.g., 2,000) to spend on units and their upgrades (like bayonets for Marines).
2. Supply Slots (Faction Allocation): A fixed number of “slots” for different unit roles (Core, Support, Heavy, Air, Hero) to prevent you from spamming just one unit.
3. Tactical Cards (Base Building & Openings): A separate, smaller pool of points (e.g., 200) to spend on these cards. These represent your pre-game strategy. A “Barracks” card might give you an extra Core slot, while an “Orbital Command” card gives you an “Orbital Scan” ability. This is also how they’ll represent iconic strategies like “Proxy Barracks” (letting you deploy from a table edge) or a “Six Pool.”

Heroes, Subfactions, and Warping In!

Heroes like Kerrigan, Artanis, and Raynor are playable units. They will also come with a unique “Faction Card” that you can use instead of your standard faction card.

This card provides new rules and abilities, effectively creating a subfaction. The team was very excited about this, giving the example of Artanis’s card allowing him to bring a Pylon into play. As one designer said, “you will be able to warp in through that pylon on a table… How cool is that?”

The Miniatures: Clear Plastic, Magnets & Scale

This is where Archon’s expertise shines.

Customization: They plan for multi-part kits with swappable heads and arms.

Scale & Material: 32mm scale, high-quality HIPS plastic (the same stuff as GW models).

Bases: All bases will have 5mm x 3mm slots for magnets. A huge, hobby-friendly move.

Clear Plastic: They are confidently moving forward with clear plastic parts. The Zeratul promo model, for example, will come with two sprues (one normal, one clear) so you can build him cloaked or uncloaked. The material uses normal plastic glue and won’t yellow.

Other Key Details

Future Plans: The first three factions have ~9 years of quarterly content planned. A full co-op/narrative campaign is also on the roadmap.

Game Size & Length: Small games are ~1-1.5 hours on a 3’x3′ board (1000 pts). Standard games are ~2 hours on a 3’x6′ board (2000 pts).

Terrain & Cover: This is simple and clever. Terrain only blocks Line of Sight (LoS). It does not provide a cover save. LoS is determined by a simple “Size” stat (e.g., Size 1, 2, or 3). A unit cannot see over terrain that is its size or larger. This removes all “true line of sight” arguments.

Cloaking: Cloaked units can be targeted, but only at a very short range (e.g., 4 inches) if you don’t have a detector. They also get a special “Evade” save roll.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the March 2026 release date special?

We believe so! The target shipping month of March 2026 lines up with the original StarCraft video game’s release anniversary (March 31st, 1998). It’s a great tribute to the franchise!

Is this like Warhammer 40k?

There are some similarities, like the 32mm scale. But the gameplay is very different. Starcraft is built on unique mechanics like the “Fog of War” reserve system, an escalating “Supply” limit that keeps you in the game, and a “Surge Die” for combat instead of complex to-wound/save rolls.

How does Cover work?

It’s simple: terrain does not provide a cover save. Its only function is to block Line of Sight (LoS), which is determined by a simple “Size” stat (e.g., Size 1, 2, or 3) for both units and terrain. This removes all “true line of sight” arguments.

How big does my gaming table need to be?

Small games (1000 pts) are played on a 3’x3′ board. Standard, full-sized games (2000 pts) are played on a 3’x6′ board.

What dice does it use? I heard about custom dice.

That’s been clarified! The game uses standard D6 dice for all actions. This was a deliberate choice to make the game more accessible and avoid supply issues.

Can I play with more than 2 people?

Yes! The team confirmed that 2v2 team battles have been successfully playtested, and the game is designed to accommodate larger multiplayer formats.

What makes the clear plastic parts special?

They are a high-quality, innovative feature. Think of a Terran Marine’s helmet visor that you attach after painting the face, or the transparent wings on a Zergling. The studio also confirmed it uses normal plastic glue and doesn’t yellow.

When will the translations be available?

Archon is planning translations for German, French, Spanish, Korean, and Polish. These are planned for release about 6 months after the initial English version is out and stabilized.

Bottom Line: Why We’re Excited for Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game

So, what do you think? Pretty exciting stuff, right? It really sounds like Archon is pouring a lot of love into this project, hitting all the right notes for Starcraft fans and miniature gamers alike.

The combination of:

• A faithful adaptation of RTS mechanics.
• A smart design that solves common wargaming problems (like alpha strikes).
• Great-looking miniatures with innovative clear plastic parts.
• An aggressive, hobby-friendly price.
• A strong, long-term support plan.

…makes this one of the most anticipated tabletop releases in a long time.

That multi-year support plan is particularly impressive and shows they’re serious about building a lasting game system, not just a quick cash grab on a popular license.

Keep your eyes peeled for more news as we get closer to that Q1 2026 pre-order window!

🔄 Update Log:

• October 30, 2025: Full AMA Detailed Report. Added Core Vision, Supply/Reserve system, APM mechanics, Surge combat, 3-Layer Army Building, and specific release/price info.
• August 21, 2025: Added AMA updates, physical miniature reveals, Blizzard HQ playtest info, and clear plastic component details.
• June 27, 2025: Added gameplay mechanics, specifications, dice clarification, and release date target.
• April 4, 2025: Initial announcement coverage of Starcraft Tabletop Miniatures Game.

Images sources:

• StarCraft: Tabletop Miniatures Game Facebook Profile
• StarCraft: Tabletop Miniatures Game Website