The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) stands as one of the most devastating conflicts in European history, transforming the continent's political and military landscape forever. What began as a localized religious dispute in Bohemia escalated into a catastrophic pan-European war that would claim millions of lives and reshape the balance of power for generations to come.
For wargaming, this period offers an extraordinarily rich tapestry of tactical innovation, diverse armies, and dramatic battles. The clash between the traditional Spanish tercios and the revolutionary Swedish tactics of Gustavus Adolphus represents one of history's most significant military transformations. The period saw pike and shot warfare at its zenith, combined arms tactics reaching new sophistication, and the rise of mobile artillery that would define battlefield dynamics for centuries.
At WoFun Games, we've meticulously crafted our Thirty Years' War Collection to capture this pivotal moment in military history. Whether you're interested in recreating the legendary Swedish charge at Breitenfeld, the desperate Imperial stand at Lützen, or the twilight of the Spanish tercios at Rocroi, our comprehensive collection provides everything you need to bring these epic confrontations to your tabletop.
The Thirty Years' War: A Conflict of Epochs
The Road to War
The war erupted in 1618 when Protestant Bohemian nobles, frustrated with Habsburg religious policies, famously defenestrated two Catholic imperial governors in Prague. This act of rebellion ignited tensions that had been simmering since the Peace of Augsburg (1555), which had established an uneasy religious compromise within the Holy Roman Empire.
What followed was a conflict that would evolve through four distinct phases: the Bohemian Revolt (1618-1625), the Danish intervention (1625-1629), the Swedish intervention (1630-1635), and finally the French intervention (1635-1648). Each phase drew more powers into the maelstrom, transforming a regional religious conflict into a struggle for continental hegemony.
Military Innovation and Tactics
The Thirty Years' War witnessed revolutionary changes in military organization and tactics. The Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus introduced lighter, more mobile formations that emphasized firepower and maneuverability over the static defensive posture of traditional pike squares. His use of light regimental guns, coordinated cavalry charges, and aggressive infantry tactics challenged the Spanish-Austrian military orthodoxy.
The period saw diverse military traditions clash on battlefields across Central Europe: Swedish Hakkapeliitta cavalry with their ferocious charges, Croatian light horsemen conducting devastating raids, Scottish mercenaries bringing their highland fighting spirit, German Reiters with their caracole tactics, and heavily armored Cuirassiers smashing through infantry formations.
Legendary battles to your tabletop
Battle of Breitenfeld (September 17, 1631)
Breitenfeld marked Gustavus Adolphus's dramatic entrance onto the German stage. Facing the veteran Imperial army under Count Tilly, the Swedish king commanded approximately 42,000 troops (including Saxon allies) against Tilly's 35,000 Catholic League forces. The battle would prove the superiority of Swedish tactics over the traditional tercio system.
The Battle: Tilly's forces deployed in the classic manner, with massive tercio infantry formations in the center and cavalry on the wings. The Imperial artillery opened the engagement, but Swedish counter-battery fire quickly gained superiority. When Tilly's cavalry routed the Saxon forces on the Swedish left flank, it seemed the battle might follow the traditional pattern of Imperial victories. However, Gustavus demonstrated the flexibility of his system, pivoting his forces to meet the threat while his cavalry and artillery decimated the exposed Imperial infantry.
Recreating Breitenfeld with WoFun Miniatures: To recreate this engagement, you'll need substantial infantry forces from our Thirty Years' War Full Pack. Deploy multiple Pike Regiment units (Blue, Yellow, Red, and White) to represent both the Swedish brigades and Imperial tercios. The Swedish brigades should be organized in smaller, more flexible formations, typically three regiments in line with gaps between them.
For the Swedish forces, combine your Pikemen regiments with Musketeers/Dragoons in Blue and Yellow to create the characteristic Swedish brigade formations. Position your Artillery & Gunners prominently with the Swedish army, Gustavus's artillery doctrine emphasized mobile regimental guns supporting the infantry line.
The Imperial forces should deploy in deeper, more massive formations using Pike and Musketeer regiments in Red and White. Include Scottish Mercenaries as elite infantry reserves for either side, Scottish soldiers fought in significant numbers throughout the war.
The cavalry engagement requires Cuirassiers (Shock Cavalry) for the Swedish right wing under Field Marshal Gustav Horn, and Reiters (Shooting Cavalry) for the Imperial forces. Use Mounted Officers (Lions of Rock and Snow Star) to represent key commanders including Gustavus himself and Count Tilly.
Battle of Lützen (November 16, 1632)
Fought in the fog-shrouded fields near Leipzig, Lützen would prove to be Gustavus Adolphus's final battle. Though the Swedes achieved a tactical victory over Wallenstein's Imperial army, the loss of the Protestant champion at the height of his powers sent shockwaves through Europe and fundamentally altered the war's trajectory.
The Battle: Wallenstein had positioned his 19,000 troops behind defensive works near the town of Lützen, while Gustavus's 19,000 Swedes approached through thick fog that delayed the battle's start. When the fog finally lifted enough for combat, the Swedes launched their characteristic aggressive assault. The battle became a brutal, close-quarters slugging match, with cavalry actions on both flanks and desperate infantry combat in the center.
In the swirling chaos, Gustavus personally led a cavalry charge and became separated from his guards. Wounded and disoriented in the fog, he was shot and killed. Despite the devastating loss, Swedish commanders Bernard of Saxe-Weimar and Dodo von Knyphausen rallied the army and pressed the attack, ultimately forcing Wallenstein to withdraw.
Recreating Lützen with WoFun Miniatures: Lützen demands substantial cavalry forces and aggressive infantry tactics. Use your Cuirassiers (both sets) to represent the heavy cavalry that dominated both wings of the battle. The Finnish Hakkapeliitta Light Cavalry are essential for depicting the fierce Swedish horsemen whose battle cry gave them their name.
Deploy Pikemen (all four colors) and Musketeers in aggressive formations, as this battle featured extensive hand-to-hand combat. Include the Swordsmen & Skirmishers unit to represent the close-quarters melee fighting that characterized the battle's center.
Use Mounted Officers prominently, this battle was heavily influenced by command decisions at critical moments. Position your Swedish officers leading from the front, reflecting Gustavus's aggressive command style that ultimately cost him his life.
The defensive works can be represented with terrain pieces, with Imperial forces deployed behind earthworks and Swedish forces launching attacks from multiple directions through fog (which can be simulated with cotton or specialized terrain effects).
Battle of Rocroi (May 19, 1643)
Rocroi marked the end of an era, specifically, the end of Spanish infantry dominance in European warfare. The young French Duke d'Enghien (later the Prince de Condé) commanded a French army of 23,000 against 27,000 Spanish and Imperial troops under Francisco de Melo. The battle would demonstrate that the tactical innovations pioneered by Gustavus Adolphus had permanently changed European warfare.
The Battle: The Spanish deployed in their traditional formation with powerful tercio infantry in the center and cavalry on the wings. The French adopted a more modern disposition with mobile infantry supported by cavalry and artillery. When Spanish cavalry on the left flank routed the French right wing, it appeared another Spanish victory was imminent.
However, d'Enghien led the French left wing cavalry in a devastating charge that shattered the Spanish right. Rather than pursuing the broken enemy, he wheeled his cavalry and attacked the exposed flank of the Spanish infantry center. The legendary Spanish tercios, formations that had dominated European battlefields for over a century, found themselves surrounded and systematically destroyed.
Recreating Rocroi with WoFun Miniatures: Rocroi showcases the tactical evolution from rigid tercio formations to more flexible combined arms tactics. Deploy your Pike regiments in deep, massive formations for the Spanish tercios, use Red and White pikemen to create the visual impact of these formidable infantry blocks.
The French forces should use Blue and Yellow Pike and Musketeer regiments in shallower, more extended lines that reflect the newer tactical doctrines. Include Artillery & Gunners positioned to support the French infantry advance, artillery played a crucial role in breaking up the Spanish formations.
Cavalry is absolutely central to this battle. Use Cuirassiers for both the French heavy cavalry under d'Enghien and the Spanish cavalry wings. The Croats Light Cavalry can represent the Imperial auxiliary horsemen who fought alongside the Spanish.
The climax of the battle involves a sweeping cavalry maneuver, d'Enghien's horsemen routing the Spanish cavalry, then wheeling to attack the infantry's exposed flank. Position your Mounted Officers (River Riders) with d'Enghien's cavalry wing to represent this decisive tactical stroke.
Battle of Nördlingen (September 6, 1634)
Nördlingen represented the Imperial-Spanish resurgence after the death of Gustavus Adolphus. A combined Imperial-Spanish army of 33,000 under Ferdinand of Hungary faced a Swedish-German Protestant force of 25,000. The battle would demonstrate that even innovative Swedish tactics could be defeated by competent commanders with numerical superiority.
The Battle: The Protestant forces under Bernard of Saxe-Weimar and Gustav Horn attacked the Imperial positions on Albuch hill, hoping to replicate Swedish aggressive tactics. However, the Imperial forces, commanded with skill and supported by powerful Spanish tercios, held firm. The Protestant attacks, launched piecemeal, were repulsed with heavy casualties. A Spanish counterattack shattered the Protestant forces, resulting in one of the most complete victories of the war.
Recreating Nördlingen with WoFun Miniatures: This battle requires defensive positioning and the recreation of assaults on prepared positions. Use elevation terrain to represent Albuch hill, with Imperial Pike regiments (Red and White) and Spanish tercio formations (represented by your deeper pike formations) holding the high ground.
Deploy Artillery & Gunners with the Imperial forces on the heights, Imperial artillery dominated the battle and inflicted severe casualties on the attacking Protestant forces. The defensive force should include Cuirassiers for the Imperial cavalry wings that eventually enveloped the Protestant army.
The attacking Protestant forces need aggressive formations: Swedish Pike and Musketeer regiments in Blue and Yellow, supported by Scottish Mercenaries as assault troops. Include Hakkapeliitta Light Cavalry attempting to exploit any breakthrough in the Imperial lines.
Use Foot Officers (all variants) throughout both forces to represent the numerous commanders trying to coordinate attacks and organize defenses in the confused, rolling combat across the hillside.
Thirty Years' War Full Pack: Your Complete Arsenal
Our Thirty Years' War Full Pack collection is available in both 18mm and 28mm scales, providing exceptional value for wargamers looking to field complete armies from this pivotal period. Each Full Pack contains 392 meticulously detailed figurines showcasing the diverse military forces that clashed across Central Europe.
The 18mm collection arrives on 25 Plexiglass sprues, while the 28mm edition includes 50 sprues, all featuring pre-printed, full-color miniatures that require no painting. Simply press them from their sprues and mount them on bases, and you're ready to refight history's greatest battles within minutes.
Infantry Forces: The Backbone of Your Army
Pike Regiments (Four Color Variants): Each color variant (Red, Yellow, Blue, and White) contains 20 pikemen, giving you 80 pikemen total. These versatile units can represent Swedish brigades, Imperial tercios, or mercenary formations. The different colors allow you to easily distinguish between regiments and create the visually striking battlefield displays characteristic of the period.
Pike-armed infantry remained essential throughout the war, providing the "push of pike" in melee combat and protection against cavalry charges. Deploy them in deeper formations for Spanish-style tercios or shallower, more flexible arrangements for Swedish brigades.
Musketeers/Dragoons (Four Color Variants): With 18 figures in each of four colors (Red, Yellow, Blue, and White), you receive 72 musket-armed troops. These represent the firepower that increasingly dominated 17th-century battlefields. Musketeers could deliver devastating volleys at close range, while dragoons provided mobile firepower, mounted infantry who rode to battle but fought on foot.
Combine your pike and shot figures to create the characteristic combined arms formations of the period. The ratio provided reflects historical proportions as armies gradually increased their proportion of shot to pike.
Scottish Mercenaries (20 figures): Scotland's military contribution to the Thirty Years' War was substantial, with thousands of Scots serving in Swedish, Danish, and various German Protestant armies. Our Scottish Mercenaries unit represents these hardy veterans, recognizable by their distinctive appearance and renowned for their ferocity in combat.
Deploy them as elite assault troops, garrison forces, or as the backbone of a Presbyterian army. Scottish regiments particularly distinguished themselves at battles like Breitenfeld and in the Rhineland campaigns.
Swordsmen & Skirmishers (20 figures): This versatile unit represents light infantry, assault troops armed with swords and pistols, and skirmishers operating ahead of main battle lines. They're perfect for depicting the desperate close-quarters combat that characterized battles like Lützen, or for representing light troops conducting reconnaissance and harassment operations.
Cavalry Forces: Speed and Shock
Cuirassiers - Shock Cavalry (Two units of 10 figures each, 20 total): The heavy cavalry of the period, Cuirassiers wore armor (breast and back plates, helmet, and often arm protection) and carried swords and pistols. They represented the ultimate shock troops, elite formations capable of smashing through infantry lines or engaging enemy cavalry in decisive charges.
Our collection includes two distinct Cuirassier units, allowing you to field the powerful cavalry wings that often decided battles. Use them to recreate the devastating charges at Breitenfeld, the cavalry actions at Lützen, or d'Enghien's decisive maneuver at Rocroi.
Reiters - Shooting Cavalry (Two units of 20 figures each, 40 total): Reiters represented a transitional cavalry type, German horsemen who relied on the caracole, a tactic where cavalry would ride close to enemy formations, discharge their pistols, and wheel away to reload. While the caracole proved less effective than Swedish-style shock charges, Reiters remained important throughout the war.
With 40 Reiters figures, you can field substantial cavalry forces using historically authentic tactics. They're particularly appropriate for Imperial and Catholic League armies.
Hakkapeliitta - Light Cavalry (10 figures): These Finnish cavalry in Swedish service were legendary for their ferocity and effectiveness. "Hakkaa päälle!" ("Strike upon them!") was their battle cry, giving them their name. Lightly equipped but superbly trained, Hakkapeliitta excelled at aggressive charges and pursuit.
Use them as elite shock cavalry in Swedish armies, particularly for recreating Gustavus Adolphus's campaigns. Their aggressive tactics perfectly complemented the Swedish tactical system.
Croats - Light Cavalry (10 figures): Croatian light horsemen served extensively with Imperial forces, conducting reconnaissance, raiding enemy supply lines, and screening army movements. Armed with sabers and firearms, they represented the irregular cavalry element that every army needed for effective campaign operations.
Deploy Croats for skirmishing scenarios, raids, or as the light cavalry elements in larger battles like Rocroi or Nördlingen.
Command and Support
Mounted Officers (Four variants: Lions of Rock, Sea King, River Riders, and Snow Star - 10 figures each, 40 total): Effective command was crucial in the Thirty Years' War, and our collection includes four distinct mounted officer sets. These represent generals, colonels, and field officers commanding regiments and brigades. Position them with your formations to depict command structure and decision-making.
The variety allows you to distinguish between army commanders (Lions of Rock), cavalry commanders (River Riders), artillery officers, and various subordinate commanders. They're essential for recreating the command challenges faced by historical commanders.
Foot Officers (Four variants: Lions of Rock, Sea King, River Riders, and Snow Star - 20 figures each, 80 total): With 80 foot officers across four distinct variants, you have ample command figures for infantry formations. These represent company captains, sergeants, ensigns carrying colors, and other infantry leaders who maintained unit cohesion in the chaos of battle.
Use them to mark unit commanders, create command stands, or depict the crucial moment when an officer rallies his men for another assault.
Artillery & Gunners (20 figures): Artillery evolved rapidly during the Thirty Years' War, from heavy siege guns to the mobile regimental pieces pioneered by Gustavus Adolphus. Our Artillery & Gunners set includes crews and pieces suitable for representing both Swedish mobile artillery and heavier Imperial guns.
Artillery played decisive roles at nearly every major battle, from the counter-battery duel at Breitenfeld to the devastating fire from Albuch hill at Nördlingen. Position them to support your infantry advances or anchor defensive positions.
Bases and Organization
The Full Pack works perfectly with WoFun Standard Bases, which are included with the packaged sets (or available separately if you prefer custom basing):
· Infantry bases: 25mm diameter (28mm scale), 15mm diameter (18mm scale)
· Cavalry bases: 25x50mm (28mm scale), 20x35mm (18mm scale)
These MDF bases (2.5mm thickness) come pre-printed with grass texture, providing an attractive, game-ready finish. The 392 bases included allow you to mount every single figure in the collection.
Building Your Tabletop Campaigns
Army Building Options
With 392 figures spanning infantry, cavalry, artillery, and command, the Full Pack provides extraordinary flexibility for army building:
Swedish Army: Focus on Pike and Musketeer regiments in Blue and Yellow, supported by Hakkapeliitta cavalry, Cuirassiers, and prominent artillery. Use Scottish Mercenaries as elite infantry and deploy Mounted Officers (Snow Star) to represent Gustavus Adolphus and his marshals.
Imperial/Catholic League Army: Emphasize Red and White infantry deployed in deeper formations, Cuirassiers for heavy cavalry, Reiters for medium cavalry, and Croats for light cavalry. Use Lions of Rock officers for Habsburg commanders.
French Army: Combine multiple infantry colors, emphasize Cuirassier cavalry (essential for representing French heavy cavalry dominance), and include varied officer types to depict the French army's diverse composition.
Mercenary/German Protestant Forces: Mix all colors and unit types to represent the diverse armies cobbled together by Protestant German states. Include Scottish Mercenaries prominently and use a variety of cavalry types.
Scenario Design
The collection supports scenarios ranging from small skirmishes (50-100 figures per side) to massive battles (150-200 figures per side). Create linked campaigns following historical sequences:
· The Swedish Campaigns (1630-1632): Breitenfeld → Lützen
· Imperial Resurgence (1634): Nördlingen
· French Ascendancy (1643-1648): Rocroi and beyond
Design your own tactical challenges: river crossings, siege assaults, meeting engagements, and fighting withdrawals. The diverse unit types allow you to explore the full spectrum of 17th-century warfare.
Take control of European armies and change the fate of the continent.
With the WoFun Thirty Years' War Full Pack, you can explore this fascinating period in detail, recreating legendary battles, testing alternative strategies, and experiencing the tactical challenges faced by history's great commanders. The collection's comprehensive coverage, from Swedish shock troops to Spanish tercios, from thundering Cuirassiers to cunning Croat raiders, ensures that you have everything needed to refight the war that shaped modern Europe.
Our Collection showcases the exceptional artistic vision of Vyacheslav Batalov, whose meticulous attention to historical detail and dynamic poses bring the 17th-century battlefield to life. Each figure in this collection reflects Batalov's deep understanding of the period's uniforms, equipment, and combat stances, creating miniatures that are both historically accurate and visually striking on the tabletop.
What truly sets this collection apart is our revolutionary plexiglass printing technology. Unlike traditional miniatures that require hours of assembly, priming, and painting, our figures arrive pre-printed in full color directly on high-quality plexiglass sprues. Every detail, from the vibrant regimental colors to the intricate uniform details, from weathered armor to battle-worn faces, is already beautifully rendered and ready for action.
This innovative approach means you can go from unboxing to battlefield in minutes rather than months. Simply press each pre-colored figure from its plexiglass sprue, slot it into its base, and your armies are ready to march. No paints, no glue, no brushes, no endless hours of preparation, just instant, beautiful, battle-ready miniatures that capture the grandeur of Europe's most pivotal conflict.
Whether you're a veteran wargamer looking to explore a new period without the painting commitment, or a history enthusiast wanting to better understand these momentous events through hands-on recreation, our ready-to-play miniatures eliminate every barrier between you and the tabletop. Within hours of receiving your collection, you can deploy your armies and begin experiencing the drama, tension, and spectacle of 17th-century warfare.
The battlefields of Central Europe await. Your command decisions will determine whether the Spanish tercios continue their century of dominance or give way to the innovations of the Swedish "Lion of the North." Will you lead the desperate Protestant defense at Nördlingen or spearhead the French triumph at Rocroi? The choice, and the glory, are yours.