diff --git a/doc/changelog.txt b/doc/changelog.txt
index b9a4921552..7590a4dd58 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.txt
+++ b/doc/changelog.txt
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ Lua:
    matches in subdirs, recursively.
  - `gadget:AllowUnitCreation` now accepts a second return value that controls whether to drop the order.
    If set to false, the builder or factory will keep retrying. Defaults to true (drops order; current behavior).
+ - add `Spring.SetAllyTeamStartBox(allyTeamID, xMin, zMin, xMax, zMax) -> nil`, allowing to set
+   start box (in elmos) for an ally team.
  
 
 Game Setup:
diff --git a/rts/Game/UI/StartPosSelecter.cpp b/rts/Game/UI/StartPosSelecter.cpp
index 31fee77789..795c109c89 100644
--- a/rts/Game/UI/StartPosSelecter.cpp
+++ b/rts/Game/UI/StartPosSelecter.cpp
@@ -101,8 +101,7 @@ void CStartPosSelecter::DrawStartBox(GL::RenderDataBufferC* buffer, Shader::IPro
 {
 	glAttribStatePtr->EnableDepthTest();
 
-	const std::vector<AllyTeam>& allyStartData = CGameSetup::GetAllyStartingData();
-	const AllyTeam& myStartData = allyStartData[gu->myAllyTeam];
+	const AllyTeam& myStartData = teamHandler.GetAllyTeam(gu->myAllyTeam);
 
 	const float by = myStartData.startRectTop * mapDims.mapy * SQUARE_SIZE;
 	const float bx = myStartData.startRectLeft * mapDims.mapx * SQUARE_SIZE;
diff --git a/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedCtrl.cpp b/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedCtrl.cpp
index d2240aaa14..db7d576af9 100644
--- a/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedCtrl.cpp
+++ b/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedCtrl.cpp
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ bool LuaSyncedCtrl::PushEntries(lua_State* L)
 
 
 	REGISTER_LUA_CFUNC(SetAlly);
+	REGISTER_LUA_CFUNC(SetAllyTeamStartBox);
 	REGISTER_LUA_CFUNC(KillTeam);
 	REGISTER_LUA_CFUNC(AssignPlayerToTeam);
 	REGISTER_LUA_CFUNC(GameOver);
@@ -800,6 +801,38 @@ int LuaSyncedCtrl::SetAlly(lua_State* L)
 }
 
 
+/*** Changes the start box position of an allyTeam.
+ *
+ * @function Spring.SetAllyTeamStartBox
+ * @number allyTeamID
+ * @number xMin left start box boundary (elmos)
+ * @number zMin top start box boundary (elmos)
+ * @number xMax right start box boundary (elmos)
+ * @number zMax bottom start box boundary (elmos)
+ * @treturn nil
+ */
+int LuaSyncedCtrl::SetAllyTeamStartBox(lua_State* L)
+{
+	const unsigned int allyTeamID = luaL_checkint(L, 1);
+	const float xMin = luaL_checkfloat(L, 2);
+	const float zMin = luaL_checkfloat(L, 3);
+	const float xMax = luaL_checkfloat(L, 4);
+	const float zMax = luaL_checkfloat(L, 5);
+
+	if (!teamHandler.IsValidAllyTeam(allyTeamID)) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	const float startRectLeft   = xMin / (mapDims.mapx * SQUARE_SIZE);
+	const float startRectTop    = zMin / (mapDims.mapy * SQUARE_SIZE);
+	const float startRectRight  = xMax / (mapDims.mapx * SQUARE_SIZE);
+	const float startRectBottom = zMax / (mapDims.mapy * SQUARE_SIZE);
+
+	teamHandler.SetAllyTeamStartBox(allyTeamID, startRectLeft, startRectTop, startRectRight, startRectBottom);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
 /*** Assigns a player to a team.
  *
  * @function Spring.AssignPlayerToTeam
diff --git a/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedCtrl.h b/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedCtrl.h
index cb7b4fcfdf..c091d1a974 100644
--- a/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedCtrl.h
+++ b/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedCtrl.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ class LuaSyncedCtrl
 	private:
 		// all LuaHandleSynced
 		static int SetAlly(lua_State* L);
+		static int SetAllyTeamStartBox(lua_State* L);
 		static int KillTeam(lua_State* L);
 		static int AssignPlayerToTeam(lua_State* L);
 		static int GameOver(lua_State* L);
diff --git a/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedRead.cpp b/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedRead.cpp
index 4a10dc4b44..d782796437 100644
--- a/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedRead.cpp
+++ b/rts/Lua/LuaSyncedRead.cpp
@@ -1462,16 +1462,16 @@ int LuaSyncedRead::GetGaiaTeamID(lua_State* L)
  */
 int LuaSyncedRead::GetAllyTeamStartBox(lua_State* L)
 {
-	const std::vector<AllyTeam>& allyData = CGameSetup::GetAllyStartingData();
-	const unsigned int allyTeam = luaL_checkint(L, 1);
+	const unsigned int allyTeamID = luaL_checkint(L, 1);
 
-	if (allyTeam >= allyData.size())
+	if (!teamHandler.IsValidAllyTeam(allyTeamID))
 		return 0;
 
-	const float xmin = (mapDims.mapx * SQUARE_SIZE) * allyData[allyTeam].startRectLeft;
-	const float zmin = (mapDims.mapy * SQUARE_SIZE) * allyData[allyTeam].startRectTop;
-	const float xmax = (mapDims.mapx * SQUARE_SIZE) * allyData[allyTeam].startRectRight;
-	const float zmax = (mapDims.mapy * SQUARE_SIZE) * allyData[allyTeam].startRectBottom;
+	const AllyTeam& allyTeam = teamHandler.GetAllyTeam(allyTeamID);
+	const float xmin = (mapDims.mapx * SQUARE_SIZE) * allyTeam.startRectLeft;
+	const float zmin = (mapDims.mapy * SQUARE_SIZE) * allyTeam.startRectTop;
+	const float xmax = (mapDims.mapx * SQUARE_SIZE) * allyTeam.startRectRight;
+	const float zmax = (mapDims.mapy * SQUARE_SIZE) * allyTeam.startRectBottom;
 
 	lua_pushnumber(L, xmin);
 	lua_pushnumber(L, zmin);
diff --git a/rts/Sim/Misc/Team.cpp b/rts/Sim/Misc/Team.cpp
index 3d59551742..0e6770ba2c 100644
--- a/rts/Sim/Misc/Team.cpp
+++ b/rts/Sim/Misc/Team.cpp
@@ -78,12 +78,10 @@ CTeam::CTeam():
 void CTeam::SetDefaultStartPos()
 {
 	const int allyTeam = teamHandler.AllyTeam(teamNum);
-	const std::vector<AllyTeam>& allyStartData = CGameSetup::GetAllyStartingData();
 
-	assert(!allyStartData.empty());
 	assert(allyTeam == teamAllyteam);
 
-	const AllyTeam& allyTeamData = allyStartData[allyTeam];
+	const AllyTeam& allyTeamData = teamHandler.GetAllyTeam(allyTeam);
 	// pick a spot near the center of our startbox
 	const float xmin = (mapDims.mapx * SQUARE_SIZE) * allyTeamData.startRectLeft;
 	const float zmin = (mapDims.mapy * SQUARE_SIZE) * allyTeamData.startRectTop;
@@ -102,8 +100,7 @@ void CTeam::SetDefaultStartPos()
 void CTeam::ClampStartPosInStartBox(float3* pos) const
 {
 	const int allyTeam = teamHandler.AllyTeam(teamNum);
-	const std::vector<AllyTeam>& allyStartData = CGameSetup::GetAllyStartingData();
-	const AllyTeam& allyTeamData = allyStartData[allyTeam];
+	const AllyTeam& allyTeamData = teamHandler.GetAllyTeam(allyTeam);
 	const SRectangle rect(
 		allyTeamData.startRectLeft   * mapDims.mapx * SQUARE_SIZE,
 		allyTeamData.startRectTop    * mapDims.mapy * SQUARE_SIZE,
diff --git a/rts/Sim/Misc/TeamHandler.h b/rts/Sim/Misc/TeamHandler.h
index 529d0f5457..c3898f154d 100644
--- a/rts/Sim/Misc/TeamHandler.h
+++ b/rts/Sim/Misc/TeamHandler.h
@@ -107,6 +107,23 @@ class CTeamHandler
 	 */
 	void SetAlly(int allyteamA, int allyteamB, bool allied) { allyTeams[allyteamA].allies[allyteamB] = allied; }
 
+	/**
+	 * @brief set ally team start box
+	 * @param allyteam ally team to edit
+	 * @param startRectLeft left start box boundary (range: [0.0f, 1.0f])
+	 * @param startRectTop top start box boundary (range: [0.0f, 1.0f])
+	 * @param startRectRight right start box boundary (range: [0.0f, 1.0f])
+	 * @param startRectBottom bottom start box boundary (range: [0.0f, 1.0f])
+	 *
+	 * Sets start box for an ally team
+	 */
+	void SetAllyTeamStartBox(int allyteam, float startRectLeft, float startRectTop, float startRectRight, float startRectBottom) {
+		allyTeams[allyteam].startRectLeft   = std::clamp(startRectLeft, 0.0f, 1.0f);
+		allyTeams[allyteam].startRectTop    = std::clamp(startRectTop, 0.0f, 1.0f);
+		allyTeams[allyteam].startRectRight  = std::clamp(startRectRight, 0.0f, 1.0f);
+		allyTeams[allyteam].startRectBottom = std::clamp(startRectBottom, 0.0f, 1.0f);
+	}
+
 	// accessors
 	int GaiaTeamID() const { return gaiaTeamID; }
 	int GaiaAllyTeamID() const { return gaiaAllyTeamID; }