Society handbooks

Society Marshal's Handbooks

NOTE - The official and authoritative versions of these rules are the pdf versions held at www.SCA.org / Documents

Armored Combat (Rattan) November 2025	Armored Combat (Steel) July 2021	Cut and Thrust Coming soon
Equestrian April 2020	Rapier November 2025 Open for commentary	Siege October 2023
Target Archery July 2020	Thrown Weapons July 2020	Youth Combat July 2024
Harnischfechten Experiment	Global rules

Current status of Handbooks

• Armored Combat (Rattan) - Nov 2025 edition, will be effective Dec 23, 2025.
  • June 23, 2025 - New modern version approved by the BoD, with an effective date of Dec 2025 to allow for feedback and kingdom adaptation.
  • Nov 18, 2025 - Updates based on feedback approved by the Board of Directors Nov 2025.
  • Dec 23, 2025 - Effective date of the new handbook.
• Rapier Combat - Version for commentary approved November 2025
  • Nov 20 thru Feb 20th: Rapier Handbook is open for commentary. This version has been approved by the BoD for commentary for 3 months.
  • Feb 20 thru March 30: Updates to the handbook will be developed based on the commentary.
  • April 1: New handbook with updates from feedback will be submitted to the BoD for final review and approval.
  • May 20: New handbook will be in effect (if approved during the April BoD meeting).
• Cut & Thrust Combat - In progress, expected Jan2026, and will be added to the Rapier Handbook timeline.
• Target Archery - In progress, expected early 2026
• Thrown Weapons - In progress, expected early 2026
• Equestrian - In progress, expected spring 2026
• Siege Engines - In progress, expected spring/summer 2026
• Youth Combat - In progress, expected spring/summer 2026

FAQs on the rules, modernization project, and quick starts

For all handbooks:

• FAQ on Rules Modernization effort and Quick Start

For the 2025 Armored Combat Rattan Handbook:

• FAQ - new Armored Combat Rattan Handbook Part 1
• FAQ - new Armored Combat Rattan Handbook Part 2
• Cliff notes on changes - Armored Combat Rattan Handbook

For the 2025 Rapier Handbook:

• Cliff notes on changes - Rapier Handbook
• For a PDF copy of the proposed Rapier Handbook, click the PDF button on the side bar.

Copyright

These handbooks are official corporate publications of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to researching and recreating the customs, combat and courtesy of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., may print or photocopy these works in whole or in part for SCA use, provided that copyright credit is given and no changes are made to the text.

Heraldic images of kingdom arms and discipline logos are copyright of Biorn Atlason; used with permission from https://biornatlason.com/