Blood and Plunder 2026 Units Update

/ dc3commander

Last Updated on February 9, 2026

With Tournament Season kicking off at Adepticon 2026, Firelock games has published an update in an effort to make some of the 17th Century Factions and Units more viable in competitive games. This is great news! While Blood and Plunder is already a well-balanced game, there are a few units that needed tweaks because other units made them less viable. Some Factions are even gaining some new units that had debuted in Raise the Black, but would have historically existed in the 17th Century. Let’s take a look at the document and see what has changed!

The Update

2026 Units Update_OzV2F2ivXDownload

Unit Changes

Six different units all got some much-needed updates. From added options to point increases and equipment increases, these changes bring some a little more in-line with other units while making others more costly.

Engagés Remove Timid Special Rule

Engagés have always been an interesting unit, but at 4 points for an Inexperienced unit with a negative rule, they don’t see a lot of play time. Timid forces the unit to make a Fatigue test when other friendly units close to them take casualties. Not only is this a negative rule, it’s also just practically hard to keep track of during a game.

Screenshot

But no longer! Without the Timid rule, this unit starts to look pretty attractive. A Shoot skill of 6 is always good, plus this unit has Ball & Shot which can make them a bit deadlier. Their other selling point is their awesome Shoot Save of 6. They don’t like to die!

This change should help to bring an unused unit back into the game! Factions that can utilize this unit include:

Not only does this unit get a buff, but they are finally getting their own sculpts! Check out the WIP sculpts below from Daniel, Firelock’s head sculptor.

Veteran Freebooters and Les Infant Perdus Cost Reduced

Veteran Freebooters have dropped their cost lower model by 1 point each, making them 7 points per model. This may make them easier to include in competitive lists.

Veteran Freebooter

Factions that benefit from this change include:

The Veteran Freebooter has good stats, including the coveted 6 Shoot Save, but it has just never been that attractive when you’re paying 8pts. That’s the most expensive cost of any unit in the game! That one point cost reduction can really bring this unit back into use.

Les Enfant Perdus have also dropped a point in cost, brining the to 5 points per model vs the old 6. This unit has long been neglected due to it’s 8 Fight and Shoot Save. Paying 6 points for a unit that dies that easy was always a bit dubious, so this is a welcome change. Combined with Errata 1.4 option to take away Buccaneer Guns for -1pt per model, you can get these dudes down to 4pts per model. They might die, but they still look pretty playable at that budget cost. Their Resolve is 4 and they have Tough. They might die, but they won’t quit! And you get Brace of Pistols and free Explosives!

Les Enfatns Perdus painted by Holly H

Kapers and Enter Ploeg Equipment Changes

Kapers gained new unit options! This is a welcome change for Dutch players! It straight up gives Kapers, a unit that was competing (and losing) with European Sailors, more options to justify taking them! They can now be given a Sidearm Pistol for 2pts for the whole unit, they can add Brace of Pistols for 1 point per model, or they can simply swap their muskets for Brace of Pistols.

Kapers have simply lacked identity since they were introduced because they often share a Core Unit slot with European Sailors, who offered a cheaper way to get models with a Shoot 6. Now, Kapers can be kitted out for the task at hand, making them more viable overall.

Now with the option to take Sidearm Pistols, Brace of Pistols, Blunderbusses, and have the ability to man artillery or work the sails, these guys are truly the multipurpose unit within the Dutch factions!

Kapers painted by Julien Nault

Enter Ploeg are now able to take a Firelock Musket for 1pt per model. This brings Enter Ploeg more in line with Forlorn Hope and Les Enfants Perdus. This means they can now take proper advantage of their 6 Shoot skill with long arms if you are inclined to take them.

At 7pts for a Veteran unit with 4 Resolve, Firelock Musket, Brace of Pistols, budget Explosives, free Blunderbusses, and a 6 Shoot, theses guys look pretty good compared to the English and French boarding party units! Firelock Games must really love the Dutch!

Both of these units feature prominantly in many of the Dutch Factions:

Pirate Weapon Upgrade Adjustments

Pirates got a much-needed nerf in the equipment department. Costs have changed for a couple popular options, and explosives scaling has been adjusted.

Adding Buccaneer Guns now costs 2 points per model instead of 1. Exchanging Brace of Pistols for Buccaneer Guns is going to cost 1 point per model instead of being free. This is a much welcomed change as the “Pirate Spam” list with all Buccaneer Guns is pretty crazy. There’s a rumor of a tournament being won by a Pirate Spam list last year and it wasn’t until the end of the tournament that the player realized he was playing 150 points of Pirates in a 200pt tournament!

When you can field 33 Trained Pirates with Buccaneer Guns at 100 points compared with 33 Inexperienced Militia models from other factions, the disparity was noticeable. Stats aren’t the same, but Pirate stats aren’t worse enough to make a up that point.

Additionally, they have been reduced from having Explosives for every 1 in 4 models to every 1 in 8 models. This cuts their explosive firepower in half and brings the unit more in line with the other standard Sailors (Sea Dogs, Marineros, Marins and Zeelieden).

This change exclusively hits the 4 Pirate Factions found in Raise the Black.

Pirates are still clearly a very economical and powerful unit, but you’re going to have to be a little more deliberate in how you use them.

Pirates Painted by David C

New Unit Options for 17th Century Factions

England/Britain, France, and Spain now get to add their respective “Elite Sailor” unit to some of the 17th Century factions! This will not only add a new toy for list building, but add some variety as well!

Vizcainos (Spain)

Vizcainos can now be taken as Core units in the following Factions:

Vizcainos become Support units in the following factions:

Vizcainos are close combat monsters that act like Marineros, but better. Their inclusion adds a fantastic boarding unit to their lists! They are better armed, have better stats, and have more equipment options than the Marineros.

Able Seamen (England/Britain)

Able Seamen can now be taken as a Core unit in the following Factions:

Able Seamen become Support units in the following factions:

English Pirate Hunters are a great fit for Able Seamen. As a faction heavily incentivized on boarding, Able Seamen are a solid compliment. English Royal Navy and Kidd’s Privateers are more focused on gunnery, but having a unit of these guys for repairs or Advanced Maneuvers is great since they have Expert Sailors.

English Buccaneers and Morgan’s Buccaneers will gain Able Seamen as Support Units, meaning they won’t ever be super present in either force, but can add utility where needed.

Marins Basque (France)

Marins Basque can now be taken as a Core unit in the following Factions:

Marins Basque become Support units in the following factions:

The French win out here, as they have 6 Factions that gained access to their Elite Sailor! Similar to Vizcainos, the Marins Basque are melee monsters and will quickly dispatch most other units. However, being armed with Muskets and the Marksmen Rule also gives them the ability to deal out decent ranged damage as well.

Closing Thoughts

These updates are a welcome addition and give new ways to play some of these older Factions and Units! The Pirate equipment adjustment is the only “nerf” here, but that is also a great balancing act. For those of you participating in tourneys this year, make sure you read this document!

This update has been released as a simple one page document, but the core Errata 1.4 and No Peace Beyond the Line errata documents have also been updated with the new additions so all the errata is still in one place for each book.

The Blood & Plunder Online Force Builder has been updated and is ready to go with these new options and costs!

Article by Dan Carlson & Joseph Forster

Leave a Reply