The Rules of Battle

The Turn Sequence

This section details how a Battle is divided into Turns and the Phases that make up those Turns.

Every Battle is organised into a number of Battle Turns, usually four. Each Battle Turn includes two Player Turns, one for each Player in the Battle during which that Player moves and attacks with the Units under their control. The Turn Sequence is the order in which the various Phases of each Player Turn arc taken and dictates when certain actions may be taken and by which Units.

The following is the Turn Sequence in full:
THE PLAYER TURN

• THE START PHASE
  - The Effects Sub-Phase
• THE MOVEMENT PHASE
  - The Reserves Sub-Phase
  - The Move Sub-Phase
  - The Rout Sub-Phase
• THE SHOOTING PHASE
  - The Attack Sub-Phase
  - The Morale Sub-Phase
• THE ASSAULT PHASE
  - The Charge Sub-Phase
  - The Challenge Sub-Phase
  - The Fight Sub-Phase
  - The Resolution Sub-Phase
• THE END PHASE
  - The Effects Sub-Phase
  - The Statuses Sub-Phase
  - The Victory Sub-Phase

In any Battle, play will begin with a Player taking the first Player Turn, during which they are considered the Active Player. Which Player takes the first Player Turn is decided by the Mission being used (see page 307). After that Turn is complete, the Opposing Player will become the Active Player and complete a Player Turn. That is considered one Battle Turn, and once complete either another Battle Turn will be begun or the Battle will end, as dictated by the Mission being used.

The following Rules will define each Phase of the Turn in order, showing what actions arc taken in each Phase and explaining any Rules that arc used only in that Phase.

The Start Phase

The Start Phase is the first Phase of any Player Turn.

The first Phase of each Player Turn is the Start Phase. This Phase is used to adjudicate the start and end of certain effects and Rules.

The Effects Sub-Phase

Effects which begin or end ‘at the start of the Turn’ begin or end in this Sub-Phase.

All Rules whose effects either begin or end at the ‘start of a Player’s Player Turn’ start or end in this Sub-Phase. The effects of those Rules will cither end in this Sub-Phase and have no further effect on any Model or start in this SubPhase and only apply their effects once it has ended.

If the removal or application of any effects triggered by this Sub-Phase require any Tests or Checks then those are made in this Sub-Phase as instructed by the Rule that applies them. The Active Player decides the order in which any such Tests or Checks are made.

Once all Sub-Phases of the Start Phase have been resolved, the Active Player must begin the Movement Phase.

The Movement Phase

The Movement Phase is where the Active Player moves their Units, and also where Reserves are rolled for and brought into play.

The Movement Phase is where Models make moves, Rush or make Fall Back Moves. Note that some moves (such as Charge Moves) may occur in other Phases as detailed by the Rules for those Phases and moves. The Movement Phase is also where Reserves are rolled for and brought into play.

Reserves Sub-Phase

Reserves Tests are made in this Sub-Phase, and Units enter the Battlefield from Reserves.

In the Reserves Sub-Phase, the Active Player must make a Reserves Test for each Unit under their control that is in Reserves or Aerial Reserves.

A Reserves Test is made by selecting one Unit that is in Reserves or Aerial Reserves and rolling a single Dice as a Test with a Target Number of 3+. Some Rules may apply modifiers to this Test as per the normal Rules for modifying Tests, if the Test is successful then the Active Player may choose to either leave the Unit that was selected in Reserves or to immediately bring it into play from Reserves or Aerial Reserves. If the Test is failed then the selected Unit must remain in Reserves or Aerial Reserves. Note that a single Reserves Test is made for Units that include Models on which other Models are Embarked - a separate Test is not made for the Transport Sub-Type Model and the Embarked Unit.

The Active Player must continue to make Reserves Tests until either all Units under their control in Reserves or Aerial Reserves have had a Reserves Test made for them, or there are no Units under their control in Reserves or Aerial Reserves. Once all Tests have been made and any Units eligible have entered play, the Reserves Sub-Phase ends and the Move Sub-Phase begins.

Move Sub-Phase

The Active Player may move each of their Units in this Sub-Phase.

During the Move Sub-Phase, the Active Player may choose to move any of the Units under their control. There are a number of Rules and situations that make a Unit ineligible to move during the Move Sub-Phase, the most common of which are:

• A Unit may not move in the Move Sub-Phase if it entered play from Reserves in the same Player Turn.
• A Unit may not move in the Move Sub-Phase if it has the Pinned Status.
• A Unit may not move in the Move Sub-Phase if it has the Routed Status and will instead move during the Rout Sub-Phase.
• A Unit may not move in the Move Sub-Phase if it is Locked in Combat.
• A Unit may not move in the Move Sub-Phase if any Model in the Unit has a Movement Characteristic of 0 or ‘-’.

Other Rules may also restrict a Unit from being moved during the Move Sub-Phase, in all cases these Rules will specifically state this. The Controlling Player may also choose not to move a Unit that would otherwise be eligible to move.

Units that cannot move or whose Controlling Player chooses not to move, other than to Pivot (see page 216), are considered to be Stationary. Different Rules will offer both benefits and penalties to Units that have been moved and those that have been left Stationary. Players will have to balance the needs of their strategy in determining when each will be more beneficial to them.

In order to move the Units under their control, the Active Player must follow this procedure to resolve the Move Sub-Phase:

1. Select Unit.
2. Move Unit.
3. Select New Unit.

1. Select Unit

The Active Player must select a Unit under their control that is eligible to move and has not yet been selected or Moved during that Move Sub-Phase.

2. Move Unit

Once a Unit has been selected, the Controlling Player may move the Unit. If the Controlling Player does not move the Unit then it is counted as having remained Stationary. If the Unit is to move, then that move is made at this point. If it is to remain Stationary then the Players must move to Step 3.

3. Select New Unit

Once the selected Unit has either been moved or has remained Stationary, another Unit must be selected using the same criteria as the first.

The Active Player continues selecting and moving Units until every Unit under that Player’s control that is eligible to move has been selected and either moved or remained Stationary. Once all eligible Units have been selected and their move resolved, the Move Sub-Phase ends and the Rout Sub-Phase begins.

Moving Units

When the Active Player selects a Unit during the Move Sub-Phase and moves that Unit, then each Model in that Unit may be re-positioned to a new location on the Battlefield. This new location must be equal to or less than a number of inches equal to its Movement Characteristic from its position when the Unit was selected. When moving Models that arc part of the same Unit, the Controlling Player must, if possible, end the moves of those Models so that each Model in the Unit is in Unit Coherency (see page 180). If for any reason a Unit cannot end its move in Unit Coherency then the Unit automatically gains the Suppressed Status.

When moving a Unit, no Model in the Unit being moved may:

• End its move in Impassable Terrain.
• End its move within 1" of an enemy Model.
• End its move within 1" of a friendly Model that is Locked in Combat.
• End its move outside the bounds of the Battlefield.
• End its move on top of any other Model.

If a Unit includes Models with different Movement Characteristics, this does not modify the Unit’s move - but the Unit must still end its move in Unit Coherency if at all possible. This may mean that some Models in the Unit must move less than their Movement Characteristic in order to ensure the Unit maintains Unit Coherency. If no Models in a Unit change position on the Battlefield, other than to pivot in place, then that Unit does not count as having moved and has remained Stationary.

Rush

A Unit that makes a Rush may not make Shooting Attacks or Charge, but moves further.

When the Active Player selects a Unit under their control to move in the Move Sub-Phase, they may declare that the Unit will Rush. A Unit that Rushes may not make Shooting Attacks in the Shooting Phase of the same Player Turn or have a Charge declared for it in the Assault Phase of the same Player Turn. All Models in a Unit that Rushes add the value of that Model’s Initiative Characteristic to the value of its Movement Characteristic when determining how many inches a Model that Rushes may move.

Note that a Player may only choose to have a Unit Rush when Moving that Unit during the Move Sub-Phase or Reserves Sub-Phase of a Player Turn where they are the Active Player. Units may not Rush as part of any Reaction that allows them to make a Move, or have a Rush declared for them in any Phase or Sub-Phase other than the Move Sub-Phase or Reserves Sub-Phase.

Rout Sub-Phase

All Fall Back Moves are made in this Sub-Phase.

Certain Rules, such as the Routed Status, may require Units to move during the Rout Sub-Phase. Unlike moves made during the Move Sub-Phase, those made during the Rout Sub-Phase will require a Unit to be moved in a specific manner and rarely allow the Controlling Player to move them as they will. The Active Player may not choose to move a Unit during the Rout Sub-Phase, but rather various Rules and Special Rules will require the Active Player to move certain Units during this Sub-Phase.

The most common type of move made during the Rout Sub-Phase is when a Unit Falls Back, which is described as follows. Other Rules may present other types of move to be made in the Rout Sub-Phase, in such a case the Rule will present all Rules required to make such a move.

The Shooting Phase

The Shooting Phase is where the Active Player makes Shooting Attacks with their Units.

In the Shooting Phase, the Active Player may choose to make a Shooting Attack for each of their Units, resolving each attack in turn before moving to the next. Any potential Statuses inflicted by attacks made by any Player are also resolved in this Phase after all Shooting Attacks have been made.

Shooting Attacks

A Shooting Attack is the process by which a Unit makes a coordinated series of attacks targeting an enemy Unit.

In order to make a Shooting Attack for a Unit that has been selected during the Attack Sub-Phase, as part of a Reaction or for any other Rule or Sub-Phase that requires a Shooting Attack to be made, the following procedure must be followed:

1. Select Target Unit.
2. Check Target.
3. Declare Weapons.
4. Set Fire Groups.
5. Select Fire Group To Resolve.
6. Make Hit Tests.
7. Make Wound Tests.
8. Select Target Model.
9. Make Saving Throws & Damage Mitigation Tests.
10. Select Next Fire Group.
11. Remove Casualties.

As part of the Rules for conducting a Shooting Attack, the term Attacking Unit’ will be used to refer to the Unit whose Models will be making attacks as part of that Shooting Attack, while the term Attacking Player’ will be used to identify the Player that controls the Attacking Unit. The term Target Unit’ will be used to refer to the Unit that is selected as the Target Unit for the Shooting Attack.

1. Select Target Unit

The Attacking Player must select one enemy Unit to be the target of the Shooting Attack. The Unit selected as the target may not be a Unit that is Embarked on another Model (but may be a Model with a Unit Embarked on it), a Unit in Reserves or otherwise removed from play, or any Unit that is part of a Combat (see page 263).

2. Check Target

In order for the Shooting Attack to be made, at least one Model in the Attacking Unit must be able to draw a Line of Sight to one or more Models in the Target Unit. Only Models in the Attacking Unit that have Line of Sight to at least one Model in the Target Unit may make attacks as part of the Shooting Attack (see page 185 for the Rules for determining Line of Sight). If no Model in the Attacking Unit has a valid Line of Sight to any Model in the Target Unit then no Shooting Attack may be made and the Attacking Player must choose to either return to Step 1 and select a different Target Unit or end the Shooting Attack. Note that some Shooting Attacks, such as those made as part of the Return Fire or Overwatch Reaction, may not allow a different target to be selected. In such a case, the Attacking Player must choose to end the Shooting Attack if no valid Line of Sight can be drawn by any Model in the Attacking Unit.

When determining Line of Sight to a Model with the Vehicle Type, the Armour Facing that is being targeted must be determined in this Step. The Armour Facing being targeted is always the facing that is in Line of Sight for the majority of Models in the Attacking Unit. If more than one Armour Facing is in Line of Sight for a majority of the Attacking Unit, then the Controlling Player of the Target Unit may choose which of the eligible Armour Facings is the target.

3. Declare Weapons

Once a Target Unit has been selected, the Attacking Player must declare which Weapons will be used to make attacks as part of that Shooting Attack. Each Model in the Attacking Unit may have attacks made for it with one Weapon available to that Model (some Models may have Types or Special Rules that allow attacks to be made for them with more than one Weapon). If a Weapon has more than one profile, then attacks using different profiles must be declared separately as if they were different Weapons, but the Controlling Player may only use one of the profiles available for a given Weapon to make attacks in any Shooting Attack, and the Controlling Player must specify which Models from the Attacking Unit are using which profile for each affected Weapon.

Only Weapons that are within range of at least one Model in the Target Unit to which the Model that has the Weapon also has a valid Line of Sight may be declared for use as part of a Shooting Attack. A Model is ‘in range’ with a Weapon if the distance between the attacking Model and a Model in the Target Unit to which it can draw a valid Line of Sight is equal to or less than the Range Characteristic of that Weapon. If a Model has no Weapons that are both in range and Line of Sight of a Model in the Target Unit then no attacks may be made for that Model. If no Models in the Attacking Unit arc in range of at least one Model in the Target Unit then the Shooting Attack cannot be made, but the Attacking Player may choose to return to Step 1 and select a different Target Unit or end the Shooting Attack.

4. Set Fire Groups

The Attacking Player must establish one or more Fire Groups in this Step. Each Fire Group is comprised of all of the attacks made with Weapons of the same name. So, a Unit for which a Shooting Attack is made that has attacks made for it with bolters, bolt pistols and plasma guns must divide its attacks into three Fire Groups - one for each of the Weapons used. As established in the previous Step, all attacks in a Fire Group must be in Range and Line of Sight of at least one Model in the Target Unit. Furthermore, if a Weapon used to make any attacks has more than one profile, then attacks using different profiles must form different Fire Groups even though they are made with the same Weapon. Lastly, if the Attacking Unit includes Models with different Ballistic Skill Characteristics, then Fire Groups must be further divided so that no Fire Group includes attacks made by Models with different Ballistic Skill Characteristics.

When making Hit Tests, all attacks in a Fire Group are rolled at the same time and their results kept separate from those of other Fire Groups. In all cases, the Player making the Shooting Attack decides in which order the Fire Groups comprising a Shooting Attack are resolved, but all attacks in a given Fire Group must be resolved in the appropriate steps of this process before another Fire Group may be selected.

5. Select Fire Group To Resolve

Once all Fire Groups have been set, the Attacking Player selects one Fire Group. That Fire Group will be resolved before the effects of any other Fire Groups are resolved. Once a Fire Group has been selected, move to the next Step.

6. Make Hit Tests

Once a Fire Group has been selected, the Player making the Shooting Attack totals the Firepower Characteristics of all Weapons in that group. That total determines the number of Hit Tests that must be made for that Fire Group. These Tests are made by the Player making the Shooting Attack in this Step, using the Rules found on page 247.

Once all Hit Tests have been made for a Fire Group, the successes are placed to one side and the failures are discarded. All Hits (successes generated by Hit Tests) remain in the Fire Groups that generate them - if all Hit Tests made for a Fire Group fail to generate any successes then that Fire Group is discarded and the Attacking Player must return to Step 5 and select a new Fire Group to resolve. Once all Hit Tests for the selected Fire Group have been resolved, move to the next Step.

7. Make Wound Tests

Once all Hit Tests for the selected Fire Group have been resolved, the Attacking Player totals the Hits in that Fire Group. That total determines the number of Wound Tests that must be made for the selected Fire Group. These Tests are then made by the Attacking Player using the Rules found on page 196. Note that to determine the Target Number for a Wound Test targeting a Unit that includes more than one Model, use the Toughness Characteristic that is in the majority in the Target Unit by counting the number of Models with each different value - the Bulky (X) Special Rule and Type of a Model have no effect on whether a Toughness Characteristic is in the majority, it is decided simply by the number of Models with a given Toughness Characteristic in the Unit. If two or more Toughness Characteristics are tied for majority, use the highest of these tied Characteristics.

If the Shooting Attack is targeting a Unit of Models with the Vehicle Type then no Wound Tests are made. Instead an Armour Penetration Test is made in this Step for each Hit, using the Rules detailed on page 220. If the Unit includes more than one Model then all Armour Penetration Tests are resolved using the Armour Facing determined as the Target in Step 1. Any Armour Penetration Tests that result in a Penetrating Hit are considered successes and placed to one side until Step 8, while any that result in a Glancing Hit are placed aside until Step 11. Any Armour Penetration Tests that result in neither a Penetrating or Glancing Hit are considered failures and discarded.

Once all Wound Tests have been made for the selected Fire Group, the successes are placed to one side and the failures are discarded. All wounds (successes generated by Wound Tests) remain in the Fire Groups that generate them - if all Wound Tests made for a Fire Group fail to generate any successes then that Fire Group is discarded and the Attacking Player must return to Step 5 and select a new Fire Group to resolve. Once all Wound Tests for the selected Fire Group have been resolved, move to the next Step.

9. Make Saving Throws & Damage Mitigation Tests

In this step wounds and Penetrating Hits are applied to the Target Model from the Current Fire Group one at a time until either all wounds or Penetrating Hits in the Fire Group have been applied or the Target Model is removed from the unit as a Casualty.

To apply a wound or Penetrating Hit, first determine if the Target Model may take a Saving Throw - note that a Model may attempt only one Saving Throw per wound applied, no matter how many may be available. If a Saving Throw is available, the Player controlling the Target Model may attempt one Saving Throw per wound or Penetrating Hit applied, and if the Saving Throw is successful, the wound or Penetrating Hit is discarded. If the Saving Throw is failed then the Player controlling the Target Model may attempt a Damage Mitigation lest, if any are available. If a Damage Mitigation Test is successful then the wound or Penetrating Hit is discarded, and if it is failed then an Unsaved wound or Unsaved Penetrating Hit is generated and applied to the Target Model.

Wounds or Penetrating Hits that arc applied and not discarded due to a successful Saving Throw or Damage Mitigation Test are referred to as Unsaved Wounds or Penetrating Hits. When applied, the Target Model must reduce its Wounds Characteristic or Hull Points Characteristic by an amount equal to the Damage Characteristic of the Unsaved Wound or Penetrating Hit (which is derived from the Weapon for which the Fire Group was created, but may have been modified by certain Special Rules). If the Target Model’s Wounds Characteristic or Hull Points Characteristic is reduced to 0 or less then it is removed from the Unit as a Casualty and placed to one side (do not remove it from play until Step 11) and a new Target Model must be selected using the same process as when selecting the initial Target Model. If the Target Model’s Wounds Characteristic or Hull Points Characteristic is not reduced to 0 or less then the Model remains in play and another wound or Penetrating Hit is applied to it, following the same procedure as the first.

The Player that controls the Target Unit continues to allocate wounds or Penetrating Hits in this manner until either all Eligible Target Models in the Unit have been removed from the Target Unit as Casualties or there are no more wounds or Penetrating Hits remaining in the Eire Group. If there are any Fire Groups that have not yet been resolved and Models remain in the Target Unit then the Players move to Step 10, or if there are no more Fire Groups to resolve or all Models in the Target Unit have been Removed as Casualties then the Players must instead move to Step 11.

10. Select Next Fire Group

If more Fire Groups remain after one has been fully resolved then the Attacking Player must select a new Fire Group to resolve and return to Step 6.

11. Remove Casualties

In this Step, all Models removed from the Target Unit as Casualties must be removed from play. If the number or type of Models removed would trigger a Panic Check (see page 272) or other Checks in the Morale Sub-Phase then a Marker should be placed by the Unit to indicate this. Models with the Vehicle Type that have suffered Glancing Hits should have one roll made for them on the Vehicle Damage Table for each Glancing Hit suffered in this Step.

The Assault Phase

The Assault Phase is where the Active Player resolves Charges for the Units under their control and where both Players resolve Combats.

The Assault Phase is composed of the following Sub-Phases:

• Charge Sub-Phase.
• Challenge Sub-Phase.
• Fight Sub-Phase.
• Resolution Sub-Phase.

Starting with the Charge Sub-Phase, each Sub-Phase must be completed in turn before proceeding to the next. The following Rules cover what to do in each Sub-Phase of the Assault Phase.

Charge Sub-Phase

The Active Player may declare Charges in this Sub-Phase.

During the Charge Sub-Phase, the Active Player may make Charge Moves with the Units under their control. However, there are a number of Rules and situations that make a Unit ineligible to make a Charge Move during the Charge Sub-Phase - the most common of which are:

• A Unit may not make a Charge Move in the Charge SubPhase if it Rushed in the Move Sub-Phase of the same Player Turn.
• A Unit may not make a Charge Move in the Charge SubPhase if it is Locked in Combat.
• A Unit may not make a Charge Move in the Charge SubPhase if it is Embarked upon another Model.
• A Unit that includes any Models with the Pinned or Routed Statuses may not make a Charge Move.

Other Rules may also restrict a Unit from making a Charge Move during the Charge Sub-Phase - in all cases these Rules will specifically state this. The Controlling Player may also choose not to make a Charge Move with a Unit that would otherwise be eligible to do so.

During the Charge Sub-Phase, the Active Player must select each of the Units under their control that are on the Battlefield and eligible to make a Charge Move in any order. For each eligible Unit, once it is selected, the Controlling Player must choose to either make a Charge Move for that Unit using the Rules that follow, or to declare that the selected Unit will make no Charge Move in the current Player Turn. Once all Units have been selected and either had a Charge Move made with them or had the Controlling Player choose not to do so, the Charge Sub-Phase ends and the Challenge Sub-Phase begins.

To make a Charge Move, a Player must follow this procedure:
CHARGE PROCEDURE

• Declare Target.
• Check Line of Sight and Maximum Charge Range.
• Make Set-up Move.
• Make Volley Attacks.
• Make Charge Move.

As part of the Rules for conducting a Charge, the term ‘Charging Unit’ will be used to refer to the Unit whose Models will be making a Charge, while the term ‘Charging Player’ will be used to identify the Player that controls the Charging Unit. The term Target Unit’ will be used to refer to the Unit that is selected as the Target for the Charge.

1. Declare Target

Once the Charging Player has selected a Unit with which to conduct a Charge, this Step begins. In this Step, a Target Unit must be nominated by the Charging Player. The Target Unit that is nominated must be an enemy Unit. Once a Target Unit has been nominated, move to Step 2.

3. Make Set-up Move

If the Charging Unit is within 12" of the Target Unit and can draw a valid Line of Sight then the Charging Player may choose to make a Set-up Move for the Charging Unit. A Set-up Move is the first of two possible moves made as part of a Charge and allows all Models in the Charging Unit to move a set distance directly towards the Target Unit. The distance moved in a Set-up Move by any given Model is decided by adding that Model’s Initiative Characteristic to its Movement Characteristic and checking the Set-up Move Distance Table.

To make a Set-up Move, first determine the initial Model from the Unit making a Set-up Move. The initial Model is always the Model nearest to the Target Unit (as measured by the shortest possible route, going around Impassable Terrain, friendly Models and enemy Models in other Units).

Once the initial Model has been determined, the Controlling Player moves that Model towards the nearest enemy Model in the Target Unit, using the shortest possible route and moving the maximum possible distance. A Set-up Move is not modified by Difficult Terrain, but rolls for Dangerous Terrain must still be made. If the Model is Removed as a Casualty by a Dangerous Terrain Test, the Controlling Player of the Unit making a Set-up Move must determine a new initial Model to move. Models making a Set-up Move may move within any distance of any enemy Model without penalty or restriction and may end the move in Base Contact with an enemy Model. However, no Model making a Set-up Move may move into Base Contact with an enemy Model from a Unit other than the Target Unit.

After moving the first Model in the Unit, the remaining Models making a Set-up Move may be moved in any order, moving each Model as close to an enemy Model in the Target Unit as possible. However, Models making a Set-up Move must end that move in Unit Coherency with another Model from the same Unit that has already moved. If it is not possible to move and maintain Unit Coherency, Models making a Set-up Move must be moved as close as possible to another Model in the same Unit that has already moved instead.

Once the Charging Player has either made a Set-up Move for all Models in the Charging Unit or chosen not to make a Set-up Move for any Models in that Unit, Step 3 ends. If any Models from the Charging Unit are now in Base Contact with any Models from the Target Unit then the Charge is complete and all further Steps are skipped (note this means that neither Volley Attacks or Overwatch Reactions may be made by the Target Unit). If no Models from the Charging Unit end this Step in Base Contact with any Model from the Target Unit then proceed to Step 4.

5. Make Charge Move

A Charge Move is not modified by Difficult Terrain, but rolls for Dangerous Terrain must still be made for each Model that makes a Charge Move through Dangerous Terrain. Any Dangerous Terrain rolls must be made as soon as the Model has finished moving and before the next Model in the Unit is moved. If the Model is Removed as a Casualty by a Dangerous Terrain Test, the Controlling Player of the Charging Unit must determine a new initial Charger to move. Models making a Charge Move may move within any distance of any enemy Model without penalty or restriction and may end the move in Base Contact with an enemy Model.

The initial Charger may not move into Base Contact with an enemy Model from a Unit other than the Target Unit, unless it is impossible for the initial Charger to contact an enemy Model from the Target Unit without also contacting an enemy Model from another Unit. After moving the first Model in the Unit, the Charging Player can move the remaining Models in any order, moving each Charging Model as close to an enemy Model in the Target Unit as possible. However, a Charging Model must end its Charge Move in Unit Coherency with another Model from the same Unit that has already moved. If it is not possible for a Charging Model to move and maintain Unit Coherency, move it as close as possible to another Model in its own Unit that has already moved instead. No Charging Model may move into Base Contact with an enemy Model from a Unit other than the Target Unit, unless it is impossible for that Model to contact an enemy Model from the Target Unit or retain Coherency with its own Unit without also contacting an enemy Model from another Unit.

Once all Models in the Charging Unit have been moved, if at least one Model from the Charging Unit is in Base Contact with a Model from the Target Unit, then the two Units are Locked in Combat. However, if for any reason no Models in the Charging Unit end their Charge Move in Base Contact with an enemy Model then the Charge is considered to have failed and the Charging Unit is not Locked in Combat. If the Charge fails then the Charging Player must immediately make a Cool Check for the Charging Unit. If this Check is passed then there is no further effect. If this Check is failed then all Models in the Charging Unit gain the Stunned Status.

In either case, this ends the Charge sequence for the current Unit and the Active Player should select another eligible Unit and resolve any Charges for that Unit from Step 1.

Challenge Sub-Phase

To Declare and Resolve a Challenge, the Active Player must follow these steps:
CHALLENGE PROCEDURE

1. Declare Challenge.
2. Face-Off.
3. Focus.
4. Strike.
5. Glory.

1. Declare Challenge

The Declare Challenge Step of the Challenge procedure starts when the Active Player selects a Combat that includes a Model under their control that is eligible to take part in a Challenge and at least one enemy Model that is also eligible to take part in a Challenge. A Combat may not be selected if it does not contain both a friendly and an enemy Model that is currently eligible to take part in a Challenge.

Once a Combat is selected in this Step, then the Active Player must then choose to either issue a Challenge for that Combat or to pass and select another Combat using the criteria noted above. If no further Combats that include both an eligible friendly and enemy Model exist then the Challenge Sub-Phase ends and the Fight Sub-Phase begins.

If a Player chooses to declare a Challenge for the selected Combat, that Player must then select one Model under their control in that Combat that is eligible to take part in a Challenge, that Model is considered the Challenger. The Opposing Player may then select one eligible Model under their control in the Combat to accept the Challenge. If the Opposing Player cannot or chooses not to select an eligible Model to accept the Challenge, then the Player which issued the Challenge must select one enemy Model from the same Combat which was eligible to accept the Challenge (if any such Model exists) and apply the Disgraced Status to that Model (no other Models in the same Unit gain the Status). The Active Player must then immediately select another eligible Combat as detailed above.

2. Face-Off

Once a Challenge has been accepted and the Challenger and Challenged have been moved to one side, the Controlling Player of each Model may select one Gambit (see page 258) that will be applied to the Model under their control in the Challenge. In the first round of any Challenge, the Controlling Player of the Challenger selects the first Gambit. In every Round of a Challenge after the first, the Player that has Challenge Advantage selects the first Gambit.

Once a Player has selected a Gambit, that Player applies any of its benefits or limitations before the Opposing Player selects a Gambit. However, if the selected Gambits’ effects are contradictory then the Gambit selected by the Player with Challenge Advantage takes precedence, or if no Player has Challenge Advantage then the Gambit selected by the Active Player takes precedence. Note that once a Gambit has been selected, no other Models in the Challenge may select the same Gambit in the same Face-Off Step (if the Challenge lasts for more than one pass through the Challenge process, choices made in one Face-Off Step do not limit choices in any additional Face-Off Steps). Once all Models have had a single Gambit selected, or their Controlling Player has chosen not to select a Gambit, the Face-Off Step ends and Players move to the Focus Step.

The following Gambits are available to all Models in a Challenge - note that some Factions or Unique Models may have access to additional Gambits specific to that Faction or Model.

Core Gambits

Seize the Initiative – If this Gambit is selected, then the Controlling Player may roll an additional Dice in the Focus Step and discard the Dice with the lowest result before determining the total.

Flurry of Blows – If this Gambit is selected, then the Model controlled by the Player that selected this Gambit gains a bonus of +D3 to its Current Attacks Characteristic, but any Hits inflicted by these attacks have their Damage Characteristic set to ‘1’ and this may not be modified by any Special Rule (including Shred (X) or Critical Hit (X)).

Test the Foe – If this Gambit is selected, then the Model for which it is selected gains no benefit in the Focus or Strike Steps, but if not Removed as a Casualty automatically gains Challenge Advantage in the Glory Step.

Guard Up – If this Gambit is selected, the Model for which it was selected gains a bonus of +1 to their Weapon Skill Characteristic in the Strike Step, but may only make a single Attack regardless of their Attacks Characteristic. In the Strike Step, each attack made by the enemy Model that fails to Hit grants the Player that selected this Gambit a bonus of +1 to the next Focus Roll made if the Challenge is continued.

Taunt and Bait – If this Gambit is selected, then the Model controlled by the Player that selected this Gambit has its Weapon Skill and Attacks Characteristics reduced to be equal to those of the enemy Model (or if their Characteristics were already equal, by an additional -1) in the Strike Step. However, for each time a Player has selected this Gambit in the current Challenge, they gain +1 Combat Resolution Point if they win that Challenge.

Grandstand – If this Gambit is selected, then the Controlling Player must roll an additional Dice in the Focus Step and discard the Dice with the highest result before determining the total and the Model gains no bonus to the Focus Roll from Outside Support. However, in the Strike Step, the Model under that Player’s control gains a bonus to their Attacks Characteristic equal to the Outside Support bonus they would normally have claimed in the Focus Step.

3. Focus

At the start of the Focus Step, each Player must declare which Weapon the Model under their control will use to make attacks with in the Challenge. Each Player may select only one Weapon that the Model under their control has, and the Reactive Player must select a Weapon first.

Once all Players have selected a Weapon for the Model under their control, a Focus Roll must be made for each Model by its Controlling Player. To make a Focus Roll, the Controlling Player of a Model rolls a Dice and adds any modifiers that apply from the list below:

• The Combat Initiative score (see page 259) of each Model is added to the result of the Focus Roll made for that Model.
• A Model with the Heavy Sub-Type suffers a -1 modifier.
• A Model that has a current Wounds Characteristic lower than its base Wounds Characteristic suffers a -1 modifier for each point of difference between the Base Value and the Current Value.
• If a Model, or its chosen Weapon, has the Duellist’s Edge (X) Special Rule, it gains a positive modifier equal to the value of X.
• A Model with the Light Sub-Type gains a +1 modifier.
• A Model may gain a positive modifier from Outside Support (see the Outside Support Rule on page 259).

Once both Players have rolled and totalled the results of the Focus Roll and all modifiers, the two totals are compared. The Player with the higher total gains Challenge Advantage and the Model under their control will attack first in the Strike Step and gains a bonus of +1 to its Attacks Characteristic during that Strike Step only (if the Challenge is continued for additional Strike Steps, this bonus does not carry over). If the result of the Focus Roll is a tie, with both Players’ total result the same, then both Players must make a new Focus Roll, doing so until one Player’s total result is higher than that of the Opposing Player.

Once the Focus Rolls have been made and Challenge Advantage decided, the Players must move to the Strike Step.

Outside Support

A Player may claim an Outside Support bonus during the Focus Step if there are other Models under their control in the Combat from which the Challenger and Challenged were selected.

For every five friendly Models in the same Combat as that from which the Challenger and Challenged were selected (from any Units Locked in that Combat), the Model gains a +1 bonus to the Focus Roll.

Only Models that are Engaged may be counted, and Models affected by the Pinned, Stunned, Routed or Suppressed Statuses may not be counted. Models with the Vehicle or Automata Types may not be counted, while Models with the Walker Type count as five Models each for the purposes of this Rule.

If one Player that has a Model Engaged in a Challenge controls other Models in the same Combat, but the other does not (i.e., that Player has only the Model Engaged in the Challenge under their control in that Combat), then a different procedure is used to calculate the Outside Support bonus. In such a case, the Player that controls Models other than the ones Engaged in the Challenge gains a bonus of +2 to the Focus Roll for each five Models, or fraction thereof, in the Combat under their control that arc not Engaged in the Challenge. These Models do not need to be Engaged in order to be counted and may be counted even if they are affected by the Pinned, Stunned, Routed or Suppressed Statuses. However, Models with the Vehicle or Automata Types are still not counted.

Winning a Challenge

If a Model engaged in a Challenge is Removed as a Casualty, then the Player controlling the remaining Model is the winner of that Challenge. When either or both Models are Removed as Casualties during a Challenge then the Players must move to the Glory Step immediately.

Challenge Ends as a Draw

If, after all attacks have been made for all Models engaged in the Challenge, neither the Challenger nor the Challenged has been Removed as a Casualty then the Challenge is a draw. The Controlling Player of the Model with Challenge Advantage may choose to either return to the Step 2 of the Challenge procedure and repeat steps 2,3 and 4 of that procedure again or to move to the Glory Step.

In a given Challenge there is no limit to the number of times Steps 2,3 and 4 of the Challenge procedure may be repeated due to the Challenge being continued.

5. Glory

If, when the Glory Step is begun, either Model involved in the Challenge has been Removed as a Casualty then the Controlling Player of the remaining Model is the winner of the Challenge and gains a number of Combat Resolution Points equal to the Wounds Characteristic of the Model Removed as a Casualty (not the number of wounds inflicted, but the Base Wounds Characteristic) - this value is increased by +1 if the Model Removed as a Casualty had the Paragon Type or the Command Sub-Type.

If neither Model has been Removed as a Casualty when the Glory Step is begun, then the Controlling Player of the Model that inflicted the most wounds on the other Model in this Challenge is the winner and gains a number of Combat Resolution Points equal to the number of wounds inflicted. The Controlling Player of the Model that is not the winner gains no Combat Resolution Points even though the Model has not been Removed as a Casualty.

If neither Model was Removed as a Casualty and no wounds were inflicted or both Players inflicted the same number of wounds, then the Challenge is a draw and neither Player gains Combat Resolution.

Once the winner of the Challenge has been decided, the Players must return to Step 1 and select a new Combat to declare Challenges for (or if no eligible Combats remain, end the Challenge Sub-Phase and start the Fight Sub-Phase).

Combat Initiative

Combat Initiative for a given Model is always equal to the Current Value of the Model’s Initiative Characteristic modified by the Combat Initiative Characteristic of the Weapon being used. Where a Weapon’s Initiative Modifier Characteristic is a positive or negative modifier (i.e., prefaced with a ‘+’, ‘-’ or ‘x’ symbol), then it is combined with the Model’s current Initiative Characteristic to determine that Model’s Combat Initiative score. Where the Initiative Modifier Characteristic of a Weapon is a fixed value (with no symbol prefacing the number) then it replaces the current Initiative Characteristic of the Model to determine its Combat Initiative score. If a Weapon has an Initiative Modifier Characteristic of ‘I’ then it applies no modifier to the Initiative Characteristic of the Model.

For example:
A Model with a current Initiative Characteristic of 4 and a Weapon with an Initiative Modifier Characteristic of +2 has a Combat Initiative score of 6 (4+2).

A Model with a current Initiative Characteristic of 4 and a Weapon with an Initiative Modifier Characteristic of-1 has a Combat Initiative score of 3 (4-1).

A Model with a current Initiative Characteristic of 4 and a Weapon with an Initiative Modifier Characteristic of x2 has a Combat Initiative score of 8 (4x2).

A Model with a current Initiative Characteristic of 4 and a Weapon with an Initiative Modifier Characteristic of 2 has a Combat Initiative score of 2 (4 replaced by 2).

A Model with a current Initiative Characteristic of 4 and a Weapon with an Initiative Modifier Characteristic of ‘I’ has a Combat Initiative score of 4 (4 unmodified).

3. Resolve First Initiative Step

Once Initiative Steps have been determined, the first must be resolved. The first Initiative Step is always the one representing the highest Combat Initiative score. In each Initiative Step, those Models with the same Combat Initiative score as that Initiative Step will make attacks and then any Hits, wounds and Unsaved Wounds generated by those attacks will be resolved. The Rules on page 266 fully explain how to resolve an Initiative Step.

4. Continue Resolving Initiative Steps

Once the first Initiative Step has been resolved, the remaining Initiative Steps (if there are more than one) are resolved one at a time. In all Combat Rounds, Initiative Steps are resolved starting with the one representing the highest Combat Initiative score and then in descending order. Each Initiative Step must be fully resolved using the Rules found on page 266 before proceeding to the next.

This Step is repeated until all Initiative Steps have been resolved. When no more Initiative Steps remain, the Players must move to Step 5.

2. Make Pile-in Moves for Combatants

In this Step, all Combatants that are not in Base Contact with an enemy Model must make a Pilc-in Move. The Active Player makes Pile-in Moves for all Combatants under their control first, followed by the Reactive Player.

3. Declare Engaged Models

To make attacks in a given Initiative Step, a Combatant must be Engaged with at least one enemy Model in the same Combat. Starting with the Active Player, both Players must indicate which of the Combatants under their control are Engaged and will be making attacks.


If the Models that arc eligible to attack in a given Initiative Step are Engaged with Models from more than one enemy Unit, then the Controlling Player must also declare which enemy Unit will be the target of each Model that has more than one potential target. In such cases a specific Model is not declared as a target, just the enemy Unit - however, an enemy Unit may only be selected as a target for a Model that is Engaged with at least one Model from that Unit.

5. Make Hit Tests

Once Strike Groups have been declared, the Active Player selects a Strike Group. The Player that controls the Models whose attacks comprise that Strike Group totals the Attacks Characteristics of all Weapons in that group, with the total determining the number of Hit Tests that must be made for that Strike Group. These Tests are made by the Player that controls the Models whose attacks make up that Strike Group, using the Rules found on page 195.

Note that to determine the Target Number for a Hit Test targeting a Unit that includes more than one Model, use the Weapon Skill Characteristic that is in the majority in the Target Unit by counting the number of Models with each different value - the Bulky (X) Special Rule and Type of a Model have no effect on whether a Weapon Skill Characteristic is in the majority, it is decided simply by the number of Models with a given Weapon Skill Characteristic in the Unit. If two or more Weapon Skill Characteristics are tied for majority, use the highest of these tied Characteristics.

Once all Hit Tests have been made for a Strike Group, the successes are placed to one side and the failures are discarded. All Hits (successes generated by Hit Tests) remain in the Strike Groups that generate them - if a Strike Group results in no successes then that Strike Group is discarded and the Active Player must select another Strike Group to resolve. Once all Hit Tests for the selected Strike Group have been resolved, the Active Player must select another Strike Group to resolve, if Hit Tests have been resolved for all Strike Groups in this Initiative Step then the Players must move to the next Step.

10. Remove Casualties

Once all Strike Groups in the current Initiative Step have been fully resolved, all Models Removed as Casualties must be removed from play. Models with the Vehicle Type that have suffered Glancing Hits should have one roll made for them on the Vehicle Damage Table for each Glancing Hit in this Step. The number of Models removed should be noted for the Resolution Sub-Phase, ideally by placing a Dice or Marker to indicate this.

Once all Casualties have been removed from play, the Initiative Step is complete and if there are more Initiative Steps in the Combat to resolve, the next one should be begun. If no more Initiative Steps remain to resolve, then the next Combat is begun or if no more Combats remain to resolve, then the Resolution Sub-Phase begins.

If, once all Casualties have been removed from play, all enemy Models have been Removed as Casualties and only Models from a single side remain, that Combat is declared a Total Victory and those Units that remain are no longer considered Locked in Combat. See the Rules for Massacres on page 271.

Resolution Sub-Phase

In the Resolution Sub-Phase, all Combats that had a Combat Round fought for them must go through the Combat Resolution process. This will determine if the Units remain Locked in Combat or if the Units leave Combat.

In the Resolution Sub-Phase, the first Step is to return any Models removed from their Units to take part in Challenges to the Unit they were part of. The Rules for doing so are detailed on page 261. Once ail Models from Challenges have been returned to their Units, the Active Player must select each Combat for which a Combat Round was fought in that Assault Phase. The Combats may be selected in an order of the Active Player’s choosing. Once selected, the Players must resolve the Combat Resolution process for that Combat, and once complete the Active Player selects another eligible Combat. The Resolution Sub-Phase ends when all Combats for which a Round of Combat was fought have been through the Combat Resolution process.

The Combat Resolution process consists of the following Steps:

1. Total Combat Resolution Points.
2. Declare Winner.
3. Make Panic Checks.
4. Aftermath.

2. Declare Winner

Once Combat Resolution Point Totals have been determined for all Players that control one or more Units in the selected Combat, the winner is declared. The Player that has scored the highest total of Combat Resolution Points is the winner and the Opposing Player is the loser. If two or more Players have scored the same number of Combat Resolution Points then the Combat is a tie and there is no winner or loser.

If a winning Player is declared then proceed to Step 3, if the Combat was declared a tie then proceed to Step 4.

3. Make Panic Checks

The Player that loses a Combat must make a single Leadership Check. The Check uses the majority Leadership of the Unit under that Player’s control in the Combat. If the Player controls more than one Unit in the same Combat then they must select one Unit and use the Leadership Characteristic of the majority of Models in that Unit for the Check. If any Unit under the losing Player’s control includes one or more Models with the Command Sub-Type or Sergeant Sub-Type then the Leadership Characteristic of any such Model may be used for the Check instead. In addition, the difference between the Combat Resolution Points totals of the winning Player and the losing Player is applied as a negative modifier to the result of this Leadership Check.

If the Leadership Check is failed then all Models in the Combat under the control of the Player that lost the Combat gain the Routed Status. If the Check is passed, there is no further effect. If all the Models under the losing Player’s control in the Combat already have the Routed Status then no Leadership Check should be made, and the Models remain under the effects of the Routed Status.

Once the losing Player has resolved this Leadership Check, proceed to Step 4.

4. Aftermath

In this Step, the Players must select an option for each Unit under their control in the Combat. Each Unit may have a different option selected for it, but Units will have the options available to them limited depending on whether the Controlling Player won or lost the Combat and the choices made for other Units. The losing Player must declare which options they have selected for all Units under their control in the Combat before the winning Player makes any choices. If the Combat resulted in a draw, then the Active Player may choose which Player selects options first. The options available are as follows:

• A Unit that includes any Models with the Routed Status must Fall Back.
• Any Unit that does not include any Models with the Routed Status may choose to Hold, Disengage* or Fall Back.
• If all enemy Units are Falling Back or Disengaging, the Player that won the Combat may choose to have any Unit under their control in the Combat Pursue, Gun Down or Consolidate.

*Disengage may only be selected if the Unit for which it is chosen has lost the Combat, not if that Unit won or drew the Combat.

Aftermath Options

Hold – All Models in a Unit that Holds must make an immediate Pile-in Move and if any of its Models are in Base Contact with an enemy Model, the Unit remains Locked in Combat.

Disengage – A Unit that Disengages must make an immediate Disengage Move. To make a Disengage Move, the Controlling Player of the Unit must move each Model in the Unit a distance equal to the Model’s Movement Characteristic. This move can be made in any direction, as long as each Model moving is moving away from any enemy Models that are part of the Combat the Model is Disengaging from. If the Model cannot move without moving closer to such an enemy Model then a Disengage Move may not be made for the Unit that Model belongs to and the Unit must instead Hold (see above). Each Model moved must end its move in Unit Coherency with at least one other Model from the same Unit and may not end the move in Base Contact with any enemy Model. If, for any reason, a Unit ends a Disengage Move with any Models in that Unit out of Unit Coherency or in Base Contact with an enemy Model, then all Models in the Unit gain the Routed Status.

Models making a Disengage move can freely move through all enemy Models that are Locked in the same Combat. This is an exception to the normal Rules for moving that state a Model cannot move through any area within 1" of an enemy Model or any Model Locked in Combat. If any Models making a Disengage Move from a Combat would end their move less than 2" from an enemy Model still Locked in that Combat, extend the Disengage move by the minimum amount needed for that Model to end its Move more than 2" from any enemy Model. Models making a Disengage Move have the distance they Move reduced as normal by Terrain and must take Dangerous Terrain Tests as normal.

Fall Back – All Models in the Unit gain the Routed Status if they did not already have it. Units with the Routed Status must then make an immediate Fall Back Move (see the Rules for Falling Back on page 246).

Consolidate – All Models in the Unit may move a number of inches equal to their Initiative Characteristic in any direction, but must end this move in Unit Coherency and at least 2" from any enemy Model. The distance moved as part of the Consolidate option cannot be modified by Terrain - but Dangerous Terrain Tests are made as normal.

Gun Down – The Unit may make a Shooting Attack targeting any one enemy Unit that has Fallen Back from the selected Combat. This attack is considered a Volley Attack for Rules that affect such attacks and attacks may only be made in this Shooting Attack using Weapons with the Assault Trait.

Pursue – Roll a single Dice for each Unit that has been chosen to Pursue. Each Model in a Pursuing Unit must move a number of inches equal to their Initiative Characteristic, added to the result of the Dice rolled for the Unit that Model is part of, directly towards the nearest enemy Model from a Unit that has made a Fall Back Move from the selected Combat. If any Model from the Unit that is Pursuing ends its move in Base Contact with an enemy Model, then it is considered to have made a successful Charge and is Locked in Combat with the Unit that includes that enemy Model.

In the example pictured above the Unit marked in green has beaten the Unit marked in yellow. The yellow marked Unit has Fallen Back, while the green marked Unit will Pursue. The red marked Unit was not a part of the Combat. All Models in the green marked Unit must move directly towards Models in the yellow marked Unit when making their Pursue Move and cannot move towards Models in the red Marked Unit even though it is closer.

The End Phase

The End Phase is the last Phase of any Player Turn.

This Phase is used to adjudicate the start and end of certain effects and Rules. When the End Phase has been completed, the Player Turn ends. If this is the second Player Turn of this Battle Turn then the Battle Turn also ends (each Battle Turn consisting of two Player Turns, one for each Player). The Players must now begin a new Player Turn, with the current Reactive Player now taking the role of Active Player and the current Active Player taking the role of Reactive Player.

Players must continue to take Turns until the number of Battle Turns specified in the Mission being played has been reached, in which case the Battle ends.

The Statuses Sub-Phase

In this Sub-Phase, the Active Player makes Checks to remove Statuses from their Units.

In this Sub-Phase, any Checks to remove ongoing Statuses suffered by Units under the Active Player’s control are made. The Active Player must select any one Unit under their control that has one or more Statuses and make any Checks or Repair Tests allowed to remove those Statuses. Once all Checks or Repair Tests allowed for the selected Unit have been resolved, the Active Player must select another Unit under their control that has one or more Statuses and continue this process until all Units under their control that have one or more Statuses have had any required Checks or Repair Tests made for them.

The Victory Sub-Phase

In this Sub-Phase, the Active Player scores Victory Points from certain Objectives.

In this Sub-Phase, certain Mission specific Rules, such as controlling objectives, will allow the Active Player to score Victory Points in this Sub-Phase. In all cases, the specific Mission Special Rules will state what conditions must be fulfilled to score Victory Points during the Victory SubPhase and how many Victory Points are scored.