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Ronnie’s New Year Message

1st Jan 2026

Ronnie Renton



happy new year

Happy new year, everyone! Ronnie here with some reflections on last year and – far more excitingly – a little teaser for what’s coming in 2026!

This blog post is an overview of sorts, but you can also check out the blogs posted recently by the team for deep dives into Halo Flashpoint, the Warpath Universe and Pannithor.


2025 - A BIG YEAR FOR NEW RELEASES!

Since 2019 Mantic has launched roughly one wargame per year, and usually a self-contained box game (often licenced), six months later.

  • In 2019 it was Kings of War 3rd Edition.
  • 2020 it was Armada (an all-resin release – and we still feel the pain of that one! 😉).
  • 2021 and 2022 we released Deadzone 3rd Edition and Firefight 2nd Edition respectively.
  • In 2023 it was a blank on the wargaming front.
  • Then in late 2024 we released Halo Flashpoint , about 3 months after Worms: The Board Game.

And in 2025 it went crazy!

  • Spring saw the release of Kings of War Champions, an entirely new game set in Pannithor.
  • Late summer saw Epic Warpath on shelves and out to backers (and thank you once again for your patience).
  • We had 3 major releases for Halo Flashpoint – and saw it ranked the 4th best selling wargame in North America, and still growing strongly!
  • And then Kings of War 4th Edition dropped!

So we got back in the saddle big time with those four big launches – and, if I’m honest, on a few occasions it looked like the horse was gonna win!

Thanks to the incredible hard work of the team here at HQ, our freelancers, RCs and play testers, Pathfinders and suppliers we got there…

…but what really got us there was the generosity, support and patience from you, our fans. From the bottom our hearts – thank you for choosing to play Mantic games. Without you there would be no Kings of War, Halo Flashpoint, Warpath Universe, Worms: The Board Game, and so many more…


2026 - A YEAR OF GROWTH AHEAD

The good news is that with no more new wargames planned for the near future (or the very near future, at least 😉), we are going to focus on growing the communities for all of those universes in 2026 – and in a seriously big way.

Be it more plastics for the Deadzone and Firefight, new kits for Epic Warpath, or our NOBLE intentions for Halo Flashpoint - we will continue to REACH for the stars.

Kings of War will get books two and three in the series – seeing more armies get drawn in to the Invasion story arc, with big implications! – supported by summer campaigns, slow grows and lots of organised play. Oh and plenty of new miniatures, of course!

blogs halo pannithor warpath universe

January will see the full reveal of our plans for Dreadball All Stars – and the face and name of our LEGENDARY games designer, and….oh enough already, just watch this video…

Thank you for an amazing 2025. 2026 is gonna blow the bloody doors off!

Keep rolling 6’s – or 8’s – we like both! 😊

Ronnie

ronnie sig

Have you seen these?

Kings of War 4th Edition Claws In The Sand 2-Player Starter Set

New to Kings of War? Start here.

Claws in the Sand is a complete two‑player starter set designed to take you from opening the box to fighting your first battle as quickly (and enjoyably!) as possible. Whether you’re discovering miniature gaming for the first time or bringing a friend into the hobby, this is the perfect place to begin. Get ready for a fantasy battle experience with fast turns and clean rules, all set in the rich and ever-evolving world of Pannithor.

One box, two miniature armies, and a new world of gaming fun lies ahead of you!

“MUST-PLAY: Kings of War has it all, and you’ll love playing it” – Chris, Tabletop Gaming Magazine

“A great starter set. If you’re just getting into Kings of War for the first time, it’s a great buy” – Ash, Guerilla Miniature Games

“A box that is literally packed to the gills with tiny fighting men. The new miniatures are fantastic” – Gerry, OnTableTop


What is Claws in the Sand?

Claws in the Sand is a beginner 2-player starter set for Kings of War (4th Edition), the game of tabletop fantasy mass battles.

Inside you’ll find:

  • Two balanced armies designed to fight each other – the Xirkaali Empire and the Trident Realm
  • All the core rules you need to begin playing Kings of War
  • Enough highly-detailed plastic models, and their bases, to start fighting satisfying tabletop battles
  • Forces that can easily be expanded in future with additional units

Is this good for first-time players?

Definitely – no prior wargaming experience required! To get up and running you will need a couple of things, many of which you’ll likely have at home already. These are (i) a flat table to play on, (ii) some ordinary six-sided dice, (iii) an ordinary tape measure, plus (iv) some glue/clippers for assembling your miniatures.


 

£100.00

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Feet First Into Hell – ODST Faction Set

Elite. Fearless. Dropping feet-first into hell.

Carrying out daring strikes behind enemy lines, the Orbital Drop Shock Troopers bring elite training and special weaponry to bear against the UNSC’s enemies. Welcome to the Helljumpers, soldier; from here on, it’s Feet First into Hell.

This faction box provides all you need to take on your opponents with models and rules for using ODST’s in your games of Halo®: FlashpointTM, dice, plus a new game mat and easy-build urban warzone to take tabletop combat to the next level.

ODSTs are more than just shock troops; they’re tactical specialists trained for rapid deployment, sabotage, reconnaissance, and frontline engagement in the most dangerous environments imaginable — from Covenant-infested cities to ancient Forerunner facilities. With their distinctive black armour, high-impact drop pods, and no-nonsense attitude, ODSTs have earned a legendary reputation across the battlefield.

In Halo: Flashpoint, ODST fireteams bring adaptability, precision, and brutal efficiency to the tabletop. With specialised equipment, Hot Drop capabilities, and a tactical impact unmatched by standard troops, ODSTs are ideal for players who value speed, coordination, and risk-taking heroics. Whether you’re flanking an enemy force, seizing an objective, or causing chaos deep behind enemy lines, ODSTs hit hard and don’t look back.

When the call comes, they don’t hesitate — they drop.

Prepare to deploy. Feet first.

Included within this incredible set are the Limited Edition versions of both Gunnery Sergeant Buck and Captain Dare – Legendary characters that each have unique rules, including a Special Order worthy of any ONI operative.

This Set Contains:

  • Limited Edition MasterCraft Resin Sculpt of Gunnery Sergeant Buck
  • Limited Edition MasterCraft Resin Sculpt of Captain Veronica Dare
  • 2 x ODST Captains
  • 2 x ODST 2nd Lieutenants
  • 4 x ODST Special Purpose Troopers
  • 4 x ODST ‘Air Assault’ Bullfrog
  • 4 x ODST Firebreak
  • ODST Faction Order Dice
  • ODST Faction D8
  • New Mombasa Card Stock Playmat
  • New Mombasa Card Terrain Pack
  • ODST Desperate Measures Expansion Booklet
  • Tokens and Weapons Cards
  • Unit Cards and Special Orders Cards

Note: this set is an expansion and requires a Halo: Flashpoint starter set. The latest and most balanced points values for all units in the game can be found on Halo: Flashpoint’s Index Web App.

£100.00

MGHAU102


Epic Warpath: 2-Player Starter Set (Battle for Phrovox)

Command vast armies of aliens and humankind on distant worlds in this epic sci-fi wargame. This amazing two-player set contains all the rules, tokens and dice you need, along with two stunning plastic armies (each with over 2000 points of models!). Choose to play as either the Enforcers: mankind’s best and most elite soldiers; or as the infectious and horrifying alien Plague and vie for supremacy on the battlefields of Phrovox.

This set contains: over 190 plastic Enforcer army models, over 250 plastic Plague army models, bases, Rulebook, Tokens and Templates and Dice.

£110.00

MGEWM103

STL Available

Worms™: The Board Game

Worms: The Board Game is a hilarious game of strategy, chance and exploding sheep!

Worms: The Board game is for 2-4 players, ages 10 & up, games take about 45 minutes.

The worms are back, and now they’re battling for your tabletop! Navigate the map to collect crates and choose from a selection of classic Worms™ weaponry to defeat your opponents.

Sounds easy, right? Just watch out for the destructible landscape, Wind, Water, Mines, Oil Drums and exploding bananas!

Worms: The Board Game is simple to learn, fun to play and challenging to win – will you be the last invertebrate standing?

WORMS© 2024. Team 17® and Worms® are registered trademarks of Team17 Digital Limited. Original Concept by Andy Davidson.

Watch It Played

Currently Unavailable Online £50.00

MGWO101


Halo: Flashpoint Starter Set – Recon Edition

Halo: Flashpoint is the tactical miniatures game for two players. Begin your journey in the War Games combat arena as a Spartan fireteam commander, bringing a range of classic Halo weapons and game modes to life on your tabletop. Discover an exciting game that’s easy to learn, challenging to master, and rewards cool thinking under fire!

Prepare for the ultimate tactical tabletop experience and lead a fireteam of Spartans to victory on the battlefield.

£60.00

MGHA101


Deadzone 2-Player Starter Set

The best sci-fi skirmish game is about to get better. Third Edition takes everything you love about Deadzone and turns it up to an exploding 8.

Currently Unavailable Online £100.00

MGDZM103


Firefight Starter Set: Edge of Sanity

Edge of Sanity is the definitive Firefight Starter set!

Humanity’s galactic expansion is driven by the relentless quest for riches, resources and renown. Mega-corporations war against alien races, pushing ever outward as the ‘Galactic Co-Prosperity Sphere’. Blind to previous mistakes, the quest for technological advancement has released a new threat into the galaxy – a threat spread by fear and cognition…

This fantastic value set gives you everything you need to start playing Firefight: over 70 highly detailed Mantic miniatures, a full rulebook and force lists, a quick start guide, dice and tokens. Pick between the ancient and secretive Asterian empire, or the nightmarish void-invaders of the Nightstalkers; give control of the other army to a friend or family and enjoy hours of fun as you take to battle! There’s no better way to get into the Warpath Universe and Mantic hobby – this box is also great for expanding existing armies.

£100.00

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