Rules Commentary

Abilities with the Same Name: Abilities with the same name (excluding Aura abilities) can affect units multiple times, but if such an ability applies a named condition to a unit (e.g. ‘suppressed’), that condition can only affect the target unit once at any given time.


Active Player: The player whose turn is taking place is said to be the active player.

Adding Models to a Unit: Some rules allow you to add models to a unit during the battle. Models added to a unit that is on the battlefield must be set up in Unit Coherency with models in that unit that started that phase on the battlefield (i.e. models that were already on the battlefield when that rule was used). Models added to a unit that is not currently on the battlefield do not have to meet this requirement. A model added to a unit during the battle can be set up within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units, but only if those enemy units are already within Engagement Range of the unit that model is being added to. When adding models to a unit as described above, any models that cannot be set up due to insufficient space are considered to have been destroyed, but do not trigger any rules that are triggered when a model is destroyed.

Affected by a Stratagem:If a unit is selected as the target of a Stratagem, it is said to be affected by that Stratagem. Note that the New Orders Stratagem targets an active Secondary Mission card rather than any units, so can always be used (assuming you have the CP to do so) even if all units from your army are Battle-shocked.

After: See Just After.

Against (an attack): When making an attack, if a saving throw is made, that saving throw is said to be made against that attack.

Against (an attack with an ‘X’ characteristic of ‘Y’): Some rules only apply against an attack with a specific characteristic. If the characteristic involved is AP or Damage, such rules are applied at the Allocate Attack step of the attack sequence (e.g. ‘Each time an attack with a Damage characteristic of 1 is allocated to a model in this unit, add 1 to any armour saving throw made against that attack’). Otherwise, they are applied at the start of the attack sequence.

All Models (in this unit can each have their Weapon A replaced with 1 Weapon B): When this wargear option is selected for a unit, every model in that unit equipped with Weapon A must replace it with Weapon B. It is not possible for only some of those models to replace that weapon and for others not to.

Any Number of Models (can each have their Weapon A replaced with 1 Weapon B): When this wargear option is selected for a unit, any number of models in that unit equipped with Weapon A can each replace it with Weapon B. It is possible for only some of those models to replace that weapon and for others not to.

Any: If a rule applies to ‘any’, it means ‘one or more’. For example, ‘While this model is within Engagement Range of any enemy units’ is the same as ‘While this model is within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units’.

Army: A player’s army consists of every unit on their Army Roster and any units that are added to it over the course of the battle.

Arriving as Reinforcements/from Strategic Reserves: When a Reinforcements/Strategic Reserves unit is set up on the battlefield (other than when disembarking from a TRANSPORT), it is said to have arrived as Reinforcements/from Strategic Reserves.

As Close as Possible: If a rule instructs you to move a model ‘as close as possible’ to a unit, model or objective marker, you must end that model’s move in base-to-base contact with that unit, model or objective marker if its move is sufficient to do so without breaking any other restrictions (such as Unit Coherency), or as close as you can achieve if its move is not sufficient. If a model is already as close as possible to a unit, model or objective marker when it is instructed to make a move as close as possible towards a unit, model or objective marker, that model cannot be moved, but still counts as having made the move in question. The exception to this is that a model with a pivot value of 0" (see Pivot Value) and a round base that is as close as possible to an enemy model or objective marker can pivot when its unit Piles In or Consolidates.

Attached Units with Multiple Characters (allocating attacks): Some units can have more than one Leader unit attached to them, and so can contain more than one CHARACTER model. Each time an attack with the [PRECISION] ability successfully wounds such a unit, the attacking model’s controlling player can choose to have that attack allocated to any visible CHARACTER model in that unit, rather than following the normal attack sequence.

Attached Units with Multiple Characters (no more than two): Some models have rules that allow them to be attached to a specified unit even if another specified CHARACTER is already attached to that unit (e.g. LIEUTENANT models attaching to units already led by a CAPTAIN or CHAPTER MASTER). In all such cases, only one additional model with rules to this effect can be added to a unit already led by a different CHARACTER.


Attack’s Characteristics: When making an attack, that attack is considered to have the same characteristics and abilities as the weapon making that attack. If any modifiers apply to the characteristics or abilities of an attack, those changes do not apply to the weapon it is made with, nor do they apply to any other attacks made with that weapon.

Automatically Hits: If an attack automatically hits, the Hit roll for that attack is automatically successful (see Automatically Successful).

Automatically Passes: See Automatically Successful.

Automatically Successful

When a dice roll is automatically successful, the following applies:

• If a roll is automatically successful, do not roll the dice. Any rules that take effect on a particular dice result or roll result do not take effect if the roll they refer to is automatically successful.
• If a Hit roll is automatically successful, move straight to the Wound roll. Such a Hit roll is not a Critical Hit, and does not trigger any effects that are triggered by a Critical Hit.
• If a Wound roll is automatically successful, move straight to the allocation of that attack. Such a Wound roll is not a Critical Wound, and does not trigger any effects that are triggered by a Critical Wound.

Automatically Wounds: If an attack automatically wounds, the Wound roll for that attack is automatically successful (see Automatically Successful).

Base: Most models are mounted on a base. A model’s base is always considered to be part of the model.

Base-to-Base Contact: When two models’ bases are touching, they are in base-to-base contact and are as close as possible (see As Close as Possible). When moving a model from your army into base-to-base contact with an enemy model during a Pile-in or Consolidation move, if that enemy model overhangs its base such that it is not possible to move your model into base-to-base contact with that model, until the end of the turn, those models are considered to be in base-to-base contact with each other, and within Engagement Range of each other, while all of the following are true:

• The distance your model could move was sufficient to move it into base-to-base contact with the enemy model if there was no overhang.
• You have moved your model as close as possible to the enemy model.
• Any part of one model is within 1" of any part of the other model.

(See Charging with a Unit).

BATTLELINE if...: Some rules grant the BATTLELINE keyword to additional units from your army – typically if you select a particular Detachment or if your WARLORD is a specific model. When mustering your army, treat such units as BATTLELINE units for the purposes of the Select Units step, even though the Select Warlord step comes afterwards.

Battlefield Edge: The battlefield is bordered by four battlefield edges.

Battlefield Quarter: See Table Quarter.

Battle-shock Tests: 2D6 roll required by each unit in your army that is Below Half-strength in your Command phase. If the result is less than the unit’s Leadership characteristic, then until the start of your next Command phase, that unit is Battle-shocked. Note that this is true even if that unit is subsequently destroyed, which can determine whether or not you can target that unit with a Stratagem. Some rules require a unit to take a Battle-shock test during a phase other than the Command phase, and even when not Below Half-strength. Units that are already Battle-shocked must still take another Battle-shock test in such cases, in case the result triggers any additional effects, but passing or failing that test does not change that unit’s Battle-shocked status (i.e. a pass will not result in that unit no longer being Battle-shocked, and a failure will not result in that unit being Battle-shocked for any longer duration). In the Battle-shock step of the Command phase, if for any reason a unit is forced to take a Battle-shock test for being below its Starting Strength, unless otherwise stated, that unit does not also have to take a Battle-shock test for being Below Half-strength. Regardless of when a unit from your army becomes Battle-shocked, it remains so only until the start of your next Command phase. Destroyed units do not have to take Battleshock tests, and abilities cannot make a destroyed unit take a Battle-shock test.

Bearer: The bearer of a weapon, Enhancement or item of wargear is the model equipped with it.

Below Starting Strength (with a Starting Strength of 1): If the number of remaining models in a unit is less than that unit’s Starting Strength, that unit is said to be Below its Starting Strength. If a unit has a Starting Strength of 1, while that model has less than its starting number of wounds remaining, it is said to be Below its Starting Strength.

Benefit of Cover (when not within terrain): Some rules state that a model or unit has the Benefit of Cover even when not within terrain. Such rules apply irrespective of any terrain features that model or unit may be within or behind. Similarly, if a rule only applies while a unit has the Benefit of Cover, that rule will apply to any model or unit under the effects of any rule that gives it the Benefit of Cover (even when not within terrain).

Best: When determining the ‘best’ characteristic in a unit, compare the values of all the specified characteristics of all the models or weapons in that unit. The best characteristic is the value that all others are either worse than or equal to (see Or Better).


Big Guns Never Tire (Blast weapons and Pistols): MONSTER and VEHICLE units can shoot, and be shot at, even while they are Locked in Combat.

• Charge Move: Move made in the Charge phase as part of a successful charge.
• Charge Distance: The result of a Charge roll is the maximum number of inches each model in a charging unit can move when making its Charge move. This is sometimes referred to as the charge distance.
• Declaring a Charge: When a player declares a charge with a unit, that unit is said to be declaring a charge.
• Charging Unit: A unit that has declared a charge is a charging unit.
• Charging Over Terrain Features with Flying Models: See Moving Over Terrain Features When Flying.
• Has Charged: If a unit makes a Charge move in a turn, until the end of that turn, that unit, and every model in it, is said to have charged.
• Has Been Charged: If a unit was the target of a successful charge during a turn, until the end of that turn, that unit, and every model in it, is said to have been charged.
• Charge Bonus: Bestowed on a unit that makes a Charge move, so that, until the end of the turn, that unit has the Fights First ability. Note that other rules and abilities that trigger when a unit makes a Charge move or in the turn that a unit has charged are not part of the Charge bonus.

Charging with a Unit: When moving a model from your army within Engagement Range of an enemy model, if that enemy model overhangs its base such that it is not possible to move your model within Engagement Range of that model, until the end of the turn, those models are within Engagement Range of each other while all of the following are true:

• The distance your model could move was sufficient to move it within Engagement Range of the enemy model if there was no overhang.
• You have moved your model as close as possible to the enemy model.
• Any part of one model is within 1" of any part of the other model.

Closest Model/Unit: When a rule refers to the closest model/unit, this is the closest model/unit to the model/unit using that rule. If two or more are equally close, the controlling player of the model/unit using that rule selects which is the closest for the purposes of that rule.

Critical Hit: A Critical Hit is scored when a player rolls an unmodified Hit roll of 6 for an attack. Critical Hits are always successful Hit rolls, and can also trigger additional effects as described in certain rules (such effects are often said to be triggered ‘on a Critical Hit’, meaning when a Critical Hit is scored). While resolving attacks using the Fire Overwatch Stratagem, Critical Hits are only ever scored on unmodified Hit rolls of 6.

Critical Wound: A Critical Wound is scored when a player rolls an unmodified Wound roll of 6 for an attack. Critical Wounds are always successful Wound rolls, and can also trigger additional effects as described in certain rules (such effects are often said to be triggered ‘on a Critical Wound’, meaning when a Critical Wound is scored).

Considered to Be (dice roll): See Treated As (dice roll).

Consolidating (without moving): When a unit Consolidates, if no models in that unit are actually moved, either because you choose not to move them or because every model is already in base-to-base contact with an enemy model, that unit still counts as having Consolidated, but is not counted as having moved.

Consolidation Move: A 3" move that, if made, must see that unit end within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units and in Unit Coherency, or, if this is not possible, within range of the closest objective marker and in Unit Coherency. If a unit is able to end a Consolidation move within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units, each model that makes a Consolidation move must end closer to the closest enemy model, and in base-to-base contact with it if possible. Models that are already in base-to-base contact are not moved. If a rule modifies the distance a unit can Consolidate, it modifies the Consolidation move that every model in that unit can make.

Contested (objective marker): An objective marker is contested at the end of a phase or turn if both players’ Level of Control over it is the same. At the start of the battle, all objective markers on the battlefield are contested.

Controlling Player: A unit’s controlling player is the player whose army that unit is part of.

Control (objective marker): A player controls an objective marker at the end of any phase or turn in which their Level of Control over it is greater than their opponent’s. At the end of a turn, control of objective markers is determined before any Victory points are scored. See Level of Control.

Controlled (objective marker): While a player controls an objective marker it is said to be controlled by that player.

Count as Having Made a Normal Move: Reserves units always count as having made a Normal move in the turn they are set up on the battlefield. This is simply to clarify that they cannot move further in this phase but have not Remained Stationary; such units have not made a Normal move, however, so their arrival cannot trigger Stratagems or abilities that are used after a unit makes a Normal move.

Similarly, a unit that disembarks from a TRANSPORT that made a Normal move this phase also counts as having made a Normal move, but has not made a Normal move, so such a unit’s arrival cannot trigger Stratagems or abilities that are used after a unit makes a Normal move (see Embarked Units and Reserves).

Counts As (dice roll): See Treated As (dice roll).

CP Gained at the Start of a Turn: CP gained at the start of the Command phase as a result of any ability (e.g. The Swarmlord’s Hive Commander ability) count towards the 1CP gained per battle round limit.

D66: To roll a D66, roll two D6, one after the other – the first result represents ‘tens’ and the second represents ‘units’.


Damage Characteristic: Where a Damage characteristic includes an operator (e.g. a ‘+’, as in D6+1), the value after the operator is part of that Damage characteristic – it is not a modifier.

Damage Roll: When determining a random Damage characteristic, the dice roll made is called a Damage roll.

Deep Strike (and Strategic Reserves): If a unit with the Deep Strike ability arrives from Strategic Reserves, the controlling player can choose for that unit to be set up either using the rules for Strategic Reserves or using the Deep Strike ability. This also applies if a unit with the Deep Strike ability is placed into Strategic Reserves during the battle.

Deploying Units: When a unit is deployed, it is set up on the battlefield. If a rule specifies that a unit must be deployed wholly within a certain area (e.g. wholly within your deployment zone, or wholly within 6" of a battlefield edge), that unit must be set up wholly within that area (see Within and Wholly Within). If a model is so large that its base cannot physically be set up wholly within such an area, it must be set up so that it is touching your battlefield edge. During a turn in which such a large model is set up on the battlefield, that model’s unit cannot do any of the following: make a Normal, Advance or Fall Back move; Remain Stationary; make any attacks with ranged weapons; declare a charge. Some large models, typically AIRCRAFT, have wings and other parts that extend significantly beyond their base. Such models can overhang a deployment zone if it is not possible to set them up otherwise, but when setting them up, their base must still be wholly within that deployment zone.

Eligible to Shoot (when not equipped with ranged weapons): Unless a unit Advanced or Fell Back this turn or is Locked in Combat, it is eligible to shoot, even if no models in that unit are equipped with ranged weapons. This means that such units can be selected for any rules that require you to select a unit that is eligible to shoot.

Embarked Units: Units embarked within a TRANSPORT do not count as being on the battlefield for any rules purposes. This means that, unless explicitly stated otherwise, embarked units cannot do anything (e.g. shoot, fight, use abilities, etc.). Similarly, you cannot select an embarked unit as a target for any rules, including Stratagems.

Embarked Units and Reserves: Units embarked within a Reserves model can disembark in the turn that model is set up. When they do, they cannot be set up within 9" horizontally of one or more enemy units, they count as having made a Normal move (see Count as Having Made a Normal Move), and they cannot declare a charge this turn (unless a rule specifically states otherwise), but they can otherwise act normally in the remainder of the turn.

End of the Phase/Step: Rules that specify that they take place at the end of a phase/step only take effect after any other rules that would take place in that phase/step have been resolved. This means that it is not possible for a player to make use of any rules that would take place during a phase/step once an end-of-phase rule has taken effect. The next phase/step does not start until after all such rules have been resolved (for rules used at the end of the Command phase, see Rules Used at the End of the Command Phase).

Enhancements (multi-model CHARACTER units): When you give an Enhancement to a CHARACTER unit from your army, if that CHARACTER unit contains more than one model, you must specify which CHARACTER model in that unit is the bearer.

Fast Dice Rolling and Rules That Allow One Re-roll: When a rule allows you to re-roll one roll or saving throw out of multiple rolls or saving throws for a unit, if you are using fast dice rolling, you can roll multiple rolls or saving throws at once and then decide which of those to re-roll.

Feel No Pain: For each wound a model with the Feel No Pain ability would lose, the controlling player rolls one D6: if the result is greater than or equal to the number listed at the end of that ability, that wound is not lost.


Fight on Death: Some rules enable models to fight after they have been destroyed, before being removed from play, following the normal fight sequence. When doing so, those models may Pile In (following all restrictions of Unit Coherency) and then make melee attacks, selecting which weapons they will make attacks with and the targets for those attacks, before resolving those attacks. A model under the effect of more than one such rule can only fight once after it has been destroyed. ‘Fight-on-death’ rules are always resolved before the attacking unit (i.e. the unit that destroyed the model that has that rule) Consolidates, and before any other rules are triggered by the destruction of that model (e.g. Deadly Demise). While making attacks due to a fight-on-death rule, the destroyed model is assumed to have 1 wound remaining unless otherwise stated. After a model has made its fight-on-death attacks, any other rules that are triggered by the destruction of that model are then triggered, and it is then removed from play – it does not Consolidate. If more than one model from a unit is under the effect of a fight-on-death rule, each of those models fights at the same time. Note that, at the time a model fights on death, it is destroyed, which may be important when determining whether that model’s unit is below its Starting Strength/Below Half-strength.

Fight: When a unit fights, models in that unit Pile In, make attacks and Consolidate.

Hull: When measuring to and from VEHICLES (excluding WALKER models that have a base) and models that do not have a base, measure to and from the hull, which means any part of that model (or its base, if it has one) that is closest to the point being measured from or to. Note that this may not correspond literally with the area on a vehicle usually termed the hull (see VEHICLES WITH BASES).

Immediately: See Just After.

Just After: If a rule is triggered ‘just after’ something has happened, it is resolved before anything else happens. For example, if a rule is triggered ‘just after’ a unit selects targets for its attacks, that rule is resolved before those attacks are resolved. The triggering of such rules can therefore interrupt normal sequences such as the attack sequence or the charge sequence. See Eligible Target (no longer eligible).

Keywords

• If a rule specifies that it applies to a model/unit with a KEYWORD, it only applies to a model/unit with that keyword on its datasheet.
• If a rule specifies that it applies to ‘non-KEYWORD’ models/units, it only applies to models/units that do not have that keyword. For example, if a rule applies to non-VEHICLE units, it only applies to units that do not have the VEHICLE keyword.
• Some units can contain models that have different keywords. While this is the case, such a unit is considered to have all of the keywords of all of its models, and so is affected by any rule that applies to units with any of those keywords. Remember that attacks are made against units, not models.

• If a rule only applies to models with a specific keyword, then it instead only applies to models in such a unit that have the correct keyword.
• A KEYWORD Detachment is a Detachment that only contains models that have that keyword (excluding any models that specify that they do not prevent a Detachment from gaining its Detachment rules).
• A rule with a comma-separated list of keywords, or two keywords separated by the word ‘or’ (e.g. ‘an IMMORTALS, DEATHMARKS or LYCHGUARD unit’) refers to a model/unit that has any one of those keywords.
• A rule with multiple adjacent keywords (e.g. ‘an AELDARI GUARDIANS unit’) only refers to a model/unit that has all of those keywords.

Leadership Test: Roll 2D6 and if the total is greater than or equal to the best Leadership characteristic in that unit, the test is passed. Otherwise, the test is failed.

Lethal Hits (and Devastating Wounds): See Automatically Wounds.

Lethal Hits (and Sustained Hits): See Additional Hits.

Level of Control: A player’s Level of Control over an objective marker is determined by summing the Objective Control characteristics of all of their models that are within range of it.

Locked in Combat: While a unit is within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units, it is said to be Locked in Combat. Units that are Locked in Combat are not eligible to shoot and cannot be selected as the target of a ranged attack. MONSTER and VEHICLE units are exceptions to this (see Big Guns Never Tire).

Lowest Dice Result: If a rule refers to the lowest dice result and a dice roll involves multiple dice, if more than one of those dice have the same value, and that value is the lowest, the active player must select one of those dice to be the lowest dice result.

Measuring to a Destroyed Model: When a player has to measure the distance to a destroyed model, that player can measure to any point occupied by that model’s base (or any part of that model if it does not have a base or is a VEHICLE, excluding WALKER models that have a base) before it was destroyed.

Measuring to a Destroyed Unit: When a player has to measure the distance to a destroyed unit, they measure to the last model destroyed in that unit (see above).

Minimum Move: AIRCRAFT models have a move characteristic of 20+". This is the minimum distance the model must move in its Movement phase and all parts of the model’s base must end the move at least this far away from where they started.

Mixed Toughness: See Unit’s Toughness Characteristic.

Model’s/Unit’s Phase: When a rule refers to a model’s/unit’s phase (e.g. ‘this model’s Command phase’), it refers to the relevant phase of that model’s/unit’s controlling player.

Models Without Bases: See Hull.

Mortal Wounds: Saving throws (of any kind) cannot be made against damage inflicted by mortal wounds, although rules that allow models to ignore wounds (e.g. Feel No Pain) can be used. If an attacking unit inflicts a mixture of mortal wounds and normal damage, resolve all of the attacking unit’s normal damage first.

Moving Over Models: Some models have a rule that enables them to ‘move over models’, or ‘move over models as if they were not there’ when making a move. When moving a model with such a rule, it can be moved within Engagement Range of enemy models, but it cannot end a move on top of another model, it cannot end a Normal, Advance or Fall Back move within Engagement Range of any enemy models, and it can only end a Charge move within Engagement Range of units it declared a charge against that phase.

Moving Over Terrain Features When Flying: Models that can FLY can move over intervening terrain features when making a Normal, Advance, Fall Back or Charge move. When doing so, you must measure the path through the air.



Moving within Engagement Range: If a unit is within Engagement Range of one or more enemy models, it cannot perform any type of Move other than a Fall Back, Pile-in or Consolidation move.

Nearest: See Closest Model/Unit.

Negative Modifier: A modifier that reduces or worsens a characteristic, dice roll or other rule. See Modifiers.

No Man’s Land: Any part of the battlefield that is not in either player’s deployment zone is called No Man’s Land.

Normal Damage: Damage inflicted on a model as a result of a weapon’s Damage characteristic, rather than by other means such as mortal wounds.

Not Been Selected to Shoot or Fight This Phase: This phrasing is used in several rules – typically Stratagems that can be used in the Shooting or Fight phase. When using such rules, the reference to ‘shoot’ only applies in the Shooting phase, and the reference to ‘fight’ only applies in the Fight phase. For example, you cannot use such a rule on a unit in the Shooting phase because that unit hasn’t been selected to fight that phase.

Null Characteristics: If a model has a Strength or Leadership characteristic of ‘-’ and that characteristic is required to resolve a rule, use the model’s Toughness characteristic instead. Note that the substituted characteristic cannot be modified.

Objective Marker (within range of): A model is within range of an objective marker if it is within 3" horizontally and 5" vertically of that objective marker. When measuring distances to an objective marker, measure to the closest point of that objective marker.

Objective Secured: Various abilities allow you to retain control of an objective marker even if you have no models within range of it (for example, the Objective Secured ability of Intercessor Squads). Regardless of how these rules are worded, control of objective markers is determined at the end of each phase and turn, so while you retain control of an objective marker affected by this ability even if you have no models within range of it, at the end of a phase or turn your opponent can gain control of that objective marker if their Level of Control over it is greater than yours.

One Shot: If a model is equipped with more than one of the same weapon with the [ONE SHOT] ability (e.g. 2 hunter-killer missiles), that model can shoot with each of those weapons once per battle. One Shot weapons cannot be used with the Firing Deck ability.Each time a destroyed model is returned to a unit, any [ONE SHOT] weapons equipped by that model that were shot before they were destroyed have still been shot. Each time a new unit is added to an army, any [ONE SHOT] weapons those models are equipped with have not been shot.

Or Better: When referring to the value of an invulnerable save, the Feel No Pain ability, or a characteristic preceding a plus sign, a better value is one with a lower number before the plus sign. For example, a WS characteristic of 2+ is better than a WS characteristic of 3+. When referring to the value of an AP characteristic, a better value is one with a higher number after the minus sign (note that an AP characteristic of 0 can be considered to be an AP characteristic of -0 for such purposes). When referring to any other characteristic, a better value is one with a higher number. For example, a Toughness characteristic of 5 is better than a Toughness characteristic of 4.

Or Worse: When referring to the value of an invulnerable save, the Feel No Pain ability, or a characteristic preceding a plus sign, a worse value is one with a higher number before the plus sign. For example, a WS characteristic of 3+ is worse than a WS characteristic of 2+. When referring to the value of an AP characteristic, a worse value is one with a lower number after the minus sign (note that an AP characteristic of 0 can be considered to be an AP characteristic of -0 for such purposes). When referring to any other characteristic, a worse value is one with a lower value. For example, a Toughness characteristic of 4 is worse than a Toughness characteristic of 5.

Other Model/Unit: When a rule refers to models or units ‘other’ than the one with that rule (or one already mentioned by that rule), it means a different model or unit to that original one. Note that different instances of the same datasheet are still considered to be ‘other’ units.

Out-of-Phase Rules

Some rules allow a model or unit to move, shoot, charge or fight outside of the normal turn sequence. For example, the Fire Overwatch Stratagem enables a unit to shoot in the opponent’s turn as if it were your Shooting phase. When using out-of-phase rules to perform an action as if it were one of your phases, you cannot use any other rules that are normally triggered in that phase.

Piles In: When an eligible unit is selected to fight, it first Piles In and its models can make a Pile-in move. If no models in that unit are actually moved because every model is already in base-to-base contact with an enemy model, the unit still counts as having Piled In for the purposes of any rules that are triggered when a unit Piles In or ends a Pile-in move, but do not count as having moved.

Pile-in Move: A 3" move that, if made, must result in the unit being in Unit Coherency and within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units. Each model that makes a Pile-in move must end closer to the closest enemy model, and in base-to-base contact with it if possible. Models that are already in base-to-base contact are not moved. If a rule modifies the distance a unit can Pile-in, it modifies the Pile-in move that every model in that unit can make.

Points Total: The combined points values of all units from a player’s army.

Positive Modifier: A modifier that improves or makes a characteristic, dice roll or other rule better (see Modifiers).

Psychic Attacks: Any attack made with a weapon that has the [PSYCHIC] ability is a Psychic Attack. Any mortal wounds inflicted by an ability that has the ‘Psychic’ tag are also Psychic Attacks.

Psychic Weapons and Abilities: Weapons with [PSYCHIC] in their profile are known as Psychic weapons. Abilities tagged with the word ‘Psychic’ are known as Psychic abilities. Generally speaking, Psychic weapons and abilities are used by PSYKERS, but the absence of the PSYKER keyword does not prevent a model from using any Psychic weapons or abilities it has.

Repositioned Units

Some rules enable units to be repositioned by removing them from the battlefield then setting them back up on the battlefield. Units that use such rules are known as repositioned units, and the points below always apply to them in addition to any other rules that can affect that unit, such as where they can or cannot be set up. Note that units that are using rules to embark within or disembark from TRANSPORTS are not repositioned units.

1. If used in the Movement phase, such rules can be used on units that arrived as Reinforcements this phase, and can be used on units that have already been selected to move this phase.
2. Rules that are triggered by or apply to Reserves units or units that are ‘set up on the battlefield as Reinforcements’ are also triggered by and apply to a repositioned unit when it is set back up.
3. A repositioned unit that Advanced or Fell Back in the phase in which it is set back up has still Advanced or Fallen Back in that phase. Otherwise, a repositioned unit counts as having made a Normal move in the phase in which it is set back up.
4. If a repositioned unit is Below Half-strength and it was not on the battlefield during your Command phase, it must take a Battle-shock test as if it were your Command phase after it has been set back up.
5. If a unit is below its Starting Strength when it is removed from the battlefield to be repositioned, destroyed models are not returned to that unit when it is set back up. Likewise, wounded models in that unit do not regain any lost wounds when they are set back up.
6. When a unit is removed from the battlefield to be repositioned, any rules affecting it for a specified duration or under specified circumstances continue to affect it while that duration/those circumstances apply. For example, a unit that was within range of an Aura ability when it was removed would no longer be affected by that Aura ability if it is set back up beyond that Aura ability’s range, whereas a unit that was Battle-shocked when it was removed would still be Battle-shocked until the start of your next Command phase.
7. When a repositioned unit is being set up on the battlefield, if there are areas of the battlefield that models cannot be set up within (e.g. there is a mission rule stating that ‘when a player’s Reserves or Strategic Reserves units are set up on the battlefield, they cannot be set up within range of an objective marker that is either in No Man’s Land or their opponent’s deployment zone’, or there are one or more enemy units on the battlefield that have a rule such as ‘enemy units that are set up on the battlefield as Reinforcements cannot be set up within 12" of this unit’), the models in that repositioned unit cannot be set up within those areas.

Replacement Units

Some rules enable units to be removed from the battlefield and replaced with a new, full-strength unit. In such cases, the following points apply:

1. If used in the Movement phase, such rules can be used on units that arrived as Reinforcements this phase, and can be used on units that have already been selected to move this phase.
2. Rules that are triggered by or apply to Reserves units or units that are ‘set up on the battlefield as Reinforcements’ are also triggered by and apply to a replacement unit when it is set up on the battlefield.

Rules That Are Triggered after Selecting a Target: See Eligible Target (no longer eligible) and Just After.

Rules Used at the End of the Command Phase: While most rules used in the Command phase have to be used in the Command step of that phase, if a rule explicitly specifies that it takes effect at the end of the Command phase, then that rule takes effect at the end of the Battle-shock step of the phase, instead of in the Command step.

Rules with Multiple Conditions and Effects: Some rules have multiple conditions, with the second, more specific condition conferring an improved rule, either instead of the first condition’s rule or as well as it (e.g. LOKHUST DESTROYERS’ Hard-wired for Destruction ability or the Orks Bigger Shells For Bigger Gitz Stratagem). Such rules require both the first condition and the second condition to be satisfied for the improved rule to apply.

Saved: Attacks or damage are said to have been saved if any kind of saving throw made as a result has been successful in preventing a model from suffering damage.

Scores a Wound: An attack is said to have scored a wound if it successfully wounds the target and the Allocate Attack step of the attack sequence is reached, even if that attack is subsequently saved by a successful saving throw, or if the damage inflicted by that attack is subsequently ignored by an ability such as Feel No Pain.

Scouts (with different values): If every model in an Attached unit has the Scouts ability, but the distance listed in that ability varies between models, that unit can still make its ‘Scout move’, but can only do so up to the shortest of those distances. For example, a unit containing some models with the Scouts 6" ability and some models with the Scouts 9" ability can only make a Scout move of up to 6".

Set Up on the Battlefield: When models, objective markers and terrain features are placed onto the battlefield from a place other than the battlefield, they are said to be set up on the battlefield. Models must be set up in Unit Coherency when they are set up on the battlefield. If, for any reason, a model cannot be set up on the battlefield when instructed to do so, that model is destroyed, but does not trigger any rules that are triggered when a model is destroyed (e.g. Deadly Demise).

Shoot on Death: Some rules enable a model to shoot after it has been destroyed, before being removed from play. A model under the effect of more than one ‘shoot-on-death’ rule can only shoot once after it has been destroyed, regardless of how many such rules may apply to it. Shoot-on-death rules are always resolved before any other rules that are triggered when a model is destroyed (e.g. Deadly Demise). When making attacks due to a shoot-on-death rule, the destroyed model’s unit always counts as having made a Normal move that turn and, unless otherwise stated, the destroyed model counts as having 1 wound remaining. Shoot-on-death rules are also out-of-phase rules (see Out-of-phase Rules).

Shoot Again: Some rules allow units (or sometimes models or weapons) to shoot again in your Shooting phase, or shoot ‘as if it were your Shooting phase’. Such rules cannot be used on a unit unless it is eligible to shoot when that rule is used. When a unit shoots again, any models in that unit that have already shot in that phase with any of the weapons they are equipped with can shoot those weapons one additional time. When a model shoots again, it can shoot with any weapons it is equipped with that it has already shot with that phase one additional time. When a model can shoot with a specific weapon again, that model can shoot with it one additional time, even if it has already shot with it that phase. If a rule allows a unit, model or weapon to shoot again, then it must resolve its original ranged attacks before shooting again.

Stratagem Label: A Stratagem’s labels are written beneath its title and can include: Battle Tactic; Epic Deed, Strategic Ploy; Wargear. A Stratagem can have more than one label; for example, a Stratagem with ‘Rad-Cohort – Wargear Stratagem’ has both the Rad-Cohort and Wargear labels.

Suffers Damage: If an attack reaches the Inflict Damage step of the attack sequence, the model that attack was allocated to is said to have suffered damage, even if that model subsequently uses a rule to ignore the wounds inflicted or it uses a rule that means those wounds are not lost.

Table Quarter: One even quarter of the battlefield. If a rule instructs you to divide the battlefield into four even quarters, it should be divided up using two lines that both pass through the centre of the battlefield, one of which runs parallel to one battlefield edge and the other running perpendicular to the same battlefield edge. When measuring the distance to a table quarter, only measure the horizontal distance.

Target (as part of an ability): Whenever an ability triggers as a result of a condition being met (e.g. [BLAST]), the condition triggering that ability is checked at the time the target of that attack is selected, before any models in that unit make any attacks. If the condition triggering that ability is not met, that ability will not take effect for any attacks in that shooting or fight sequence.

Target (of an attack): When resolving an attack, the target unit of that attack is also known as the target.

Target (of a charge): When a player declares a charge with a unit, the targets of that charge are each said to have been declared as a target of a charge.

The Turn/the Phase: If a rule triggers during ‘the turn’ or ‘the phase’ instead of during ‘your turn’, ‘your phase’, ‘your opponent’s turn’ or ‘your opponent’s phase’, that rule triggers in both players’ turn/phase.


Token: Tokens are gaming aids that some rules instruct you to place next to model/unit to remind you and your opponent that a model/ unit either has a limited-use ability or is under the effects of a particular rule. Tokens are not counted as models for any purposes (even if they are being represented by a model). If another model needs to move into the space occupied by a token, reposition the token to allow that move to be made.

Treated As (dice roll): When a dice result is ‘treated as’ another value, any rules that would take effect if that value had been rolled take effect.

Triple: When making a dice roll, a triple is a roll that includes any three dice of the same result.

Unit Champion: Some rules refer to Unit Champions. This term refers to the differently named model in some units that represents their thematic leader. For example, an Intercessor Sergeant is the Unit Champion in an Intercessor Squad. Note that not all units have a Unit Champion, while other units may have multiple such models (e.g. Runtherds in a Gretchin unit). In the case of multiples, the controlling player must nominate one of those models to be the Unit Champion before the battle. Unit Champions have no relevance to the Leader ability.

Unit’s Engagement Range: A unit’s Engagement Range is the area covered by the Engagement Range of all models in that unit.

Unit’s Equipment: When a rule refers to a unit’s equipment, it refers to all of the wargear equipped by models in that unit.

Unit’s Leadership Characteristic: This is the value of the best Leadership characteristic amongst all models in a unit.

Unit’s Phase: A unit’s phase is the same as the controlling player’s phase. For example, a unit’s Movement phase is the controlling player’s Movement phase.

Unit’s Save Characteristic: If a rule refers to a unit’s Save characteristic, it refers to the most common Save characteristic amongst models in that unit. If two different Save characteristics are equally common amongst models in a unit, that unit’s controlling player decides which of those characteristics is considered that unit’s Save characteristic for the purposes of such a rule. When a rule modifies a unit’s Save characteristic, it modifies the Save characteristic of every model in that unit.

Unit’s Toughness Characteristic: If an Attached unit contains models with different Toughness characteristics, for the purpose of determining that unit’s Toughness characteristic, use the highest Toughness characteristic amongst that unit’s Bodyguard models. If a non-Attached unit contains models with different Toughness characteristics, for the purpose of determining that unit’s Toughness characteristic, use the highest Toughness characteristic amongst all of that unit’s models. In either case, When resolving attacks against such a unit, determine that unit’s Toughness characteristic when it is selected as a target.

Vehicles with Bases: When measuring to and from VEHICLES with bases (excluding AIRCRAFT and WALKERS) always measure to and from the closest part of the model for all rules purposes (i.e. measure to or from its base or its hull, whichever is closest), with the following exceptions:

• When a model ends a move within Engagement Range of one or more VEHICLES with bases (excluding AIRCRAFT and WALKERS), it is considered to be in base-to-base contact with that VEHICLE or those VEHICLES while it is within 0" horizontally and 5" vertically of any part of those VEHICLE models.
• When a VEHICLE with a base (excluding AIRCRAFT and WALKERS) ends a move within Engagement Range of one or more models, it is considered to be in base-to-base contact with those models while it is within 0" horizontally and 5" vertically of those models.
• A unit can embark within a friendly TRANSPORT with a base after that unit ends a Normal, Advance or Fall Back move wholly within 3" horizontally and 5" vertically of any part of that TRANSPORT.
• When a unit disembarks from a TRANSPORT with a base, set it up so that it is wholly within 3" horizontally and 5" vertically of any part of that TRANSPORT model and not within Engagement Range of one or more enemy units.

Visibility

• Model/Unit Visible: If any part of another model can be seen from any part of the observing model, that other model is visible to it. If one model in a unit is visible, then the unit is said to be visible to the observing model.
• Model Fully Visible: If every part of another model that is facing the observing model can be seen from any part of the observing model then that other model is said to be fully visible to the observing model i.e. the observing model has a line of sight to all parts of the other model that are facing it, without any other models or terrain features blocking any part of it. If a model is fully visible to every model in an observing unit, then that model is fully visible to the observing unit.
• Unit Fully Visible: If every model in a unit is fully visible to an observing model, then that unit is fully visible to the observing model. If every model in a unit is fully visible to every model in an observing unit, then that unit is fully visible to the observing unit. For the purposes of determining if an enemy unit is fully visible, a model can also see through other models in its own unit and through other models in the unit it is looking at.

Your Stratagems: Stratagems that you use are sometimes referred to as your Stratagems.

Your Unit (in Stratagems): The term ‘your unit(s)’ in the Effect section of Stratagems always relates to the unit(s) selected in the Target section of that Stratagem, and never refers to any other units from your army.

Modifiers

Modifiers are rules that change a numerical value from one value to another. This can include the result of a dice roll, the characteristics of a model, and more. This section details how to apply modifiers in your games. In all cases:

1. All modifiers are cumulative.
2. If a rule instructs you to change or replace one characteristic with a specified value, change the relevant characteristic to the new value before applying any modifiers that apply from other rules (if any) to the new value.
3. You must then apply division modifiers before applying multiplication modifiers, before applying addition and then subtraction modifiers.
4. Round any fractions up after applying all modifiers.

Modifying Characteristics

Some rules modify the characteristics of models, weapons and attacks. In such cases, the following points apply:

• If a rule instructs you to modify a model’s Weapon Skill (WS) characteristic, modify the WS characteristic of every melee weapon equipped by that model.
• If a rule instructs you to modify a model’s Ballistic Skill (BS) characteristic, modify the BS characteristic of every ranged weapon equipped by that model.
• After all modifiers are applied, Strength, Toughness, Attacks and Damage characteristics can never be modified below 1. The exception to this is where a rule specifies that you can change the Damage characteristic to 0, where this is applied before any other modifiers.
• After all modifiers are applied, Leadership characteristics can never be modified to 4+ (or better), or to 9+ (or worse).
• After all modifiers are applied, Armour Penetration and Objective Control characteristics can never be modified to worse than 0.
• After all modifiers are applied, Move characteristics and Range characteristics for ranged weapons can never be less than 1".
• Characteristics of ‘20+"’, ‘-’, ‘*’ and ‘N/A’ can never be modified.
• If an ability modifies the Damage characteristic of a weapon, and that weapon can inflict mortal wounds in addition to the normal damage, the modifier does not apply to any mortal wounds that are inflicted.

Modifying Characteristics by Improving, Reducing or Worsening Them

When these terms are used in rules, the following points apply:

• Improving WS, BS, Sv and Ld: When improving a WS, BS, Sv or Ld characteristic, subtract the appropriate amount from the number before the plus sign, e.g. improving a WS of 3+ by 1 would result in a WS of 2+. After all modifiers are applied, WS, BS and Sv characteristics can never be modified to 1+ or better.
• Worsening WS, BS, Sv and Ld: When worsening a WS, BS, Sv or Ld characteristic, add the appropriate amount to the number before the plus sign, e.g. reducing a WS of 3+ by 1 would result in a WS of 4+.
• Improving AP: When improving an AP characteristic, subtract the appropriate amount from the characteristic, e.g. improving an AP of -1 by 1 would result in an AP of -2; improving an AP of 0 by 1 would result in an AP of -1.
• Reducing or Worsening AP: When reducing or worsening an AP characteristic, add the appropriate amount to the characteristic, to a maximum of 0, e.g. reducing/worsening an AP of -1 by 1 would result in an AP of 0; reducing /worsening an AP of 0 by 1 would result in an AP of 0.
• Improving or Worsening Other Characteristics: When instructed to improve/worsen a characteristic that does not include a ‘+’ or ‘-’ symbol, add/subtract the specified amount to/from that characteristic (e.g. to improve a Strength characteristic by 1, add 1 to it).

Modifying a Damage Characteristic and Devastating Wounds

Some rules modify the Damage characteristic of an attack that has the [DEVASTATING WOUNDS] ability.

• When a rule modifies an attack’s Damage characteristic, if that attacks scores a Critical Wound, the Damage characteristic is modified before the damage is applied as mortal wounds.

Modifying a Unit’s Characteristic

Some rules modify the characteristic of not a single model, weapon or attack, but the characteristics of a unit.

• When a rule modifies a unit’s characteristic, it modifies that characteristic for every model/weapon in that unit.

Modifying Dice Rolls

Some rules modify the results of dice rolls. In such cases, the following points apply:

• Modifiers are applied after any re-rolls of that dice roll.
• A dice roll can be modified above its maximum possible value (for example, a D6 roll can be modified above 6).
• A dice roll can never be modified below 1. If, after all modifiers have been applied, a dice roll would be less than 1, count that result as a 1.
• Some dice rolls can never be modified by more than -1 or +1 (e.g. Hit rolls). In such cases, after all the cumulative modifiers to a roll have been calculated, if the total modifier would be -2 or worse, it is changed to -1. Similarly, after all the cumulative modifiers to a roll have been calculated, if the total modifier would be +2 or better, it is changed to +1.

Modifying a Stratagem’s CP Cost

Some rules modify the cost of using certain Stratagems. In such cases, the following points apply:

• The CP cost of a Stratagem can never be modified below 0CP.
• If a rule modifies the CP cost of a Stratagem when you use it, but does not specify a duration for that modifier, that modifier only applies to that usage of that Stratagem.

Ignoring Modifiers

Some rules enable a weapon, model or unit to ignore modifiers to characteristics or rolls.

• When an ability allows you to ignore modifiers to a unit’s or model’s characteristics, unless specifically stated otherwise, this allows you to ignore modifiers to the following characteristics: Move, Toughness, Save, Wounds, Leadership and Objective Control for the model(s), and Range, Attacks, Ballistic Skill, Weapon Skill, Strength, Armour Penetration and Damage for their weapons and attacks.
• When an ability allows you to ignore modifiers to a unit’s or model’s rolls or tests, unless specifically stated otherwise, this allows you to ignore modifiers to all rolls and tests for those models and their attacks (so, for example, an Advance roll, Hit roll, Wound roll, Damage roll, Charge roll, Desperate Escape test, or Hazardous test).
• When a rule states ‘you can ignore any or all modifiers’ to a stated characteristic or roll, you can choose to ignore all of the modifiers to the stated characteristic or roll, or only some of them. For example, you can still choose to apply positive/beneficial modifiers to that characteristic, roll or test while ignoring negative/detrimental modifiers.