Dark Commune

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The Rules

– Dark Commune

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Dark Commune

No	NAME	M	WS	BS	S	T	W	A	Ld	Sv	Base
100/unit Cult Demagogue (base: 32mm)
1	100/unit Cult Demagogue	6"	4+	4+	3	3	3	3	7	6+	32mm
Mindwitch (base: 32mm)
1	Mindwitch	6"	4+	4+	3	3	3	1	6	6+	32mm
Iconarch (base: 32mm)
1	Iconarch	6"	4+	4+	3	3	2	2	6	6+	32mm
Blessed Blades (base: 28mm)
2	Blessed Blades	6"	4+	4+	4	3	1	2	6	6+	28mm

A Cult Demagogue is equipped with: autopistol; Commune stave. A Mindwitch is equipped with: close combat weapon. An Iconarch is equipped with: autopistol. Each Blessed Blade is equipped with: Commune blade. Every model is equipped with: frag grenades; krak grenades.

WEAPON	RANGE	TYPE	S	AP	D	ABILITIES
Autopistol
Autopistol	12"	Pistol 1	3	0	1	-
Close combat weapon
Close combat weapon	Melee	Melee	User	0	1	-
Commune blade
Commune blade	Melee	Melee	User	-3	2	-
Commune stave
Commune stave	Melee	Melee	User	-1	D3	-
Frag grenade
Frag grenade	6"	Grenade D6	3	0	1	Blast
Blast
Krak grenade
Krak grenade	6"	Grenade 1	6	-1	D3	-

ABILITIES
ABILITIES	Faithful Flock: While this unit contains a CULT DEMAGOGUE model, each time a Morale test is taken for this unit, that test is automatically passed. Iconarch (Aura): While a friendly <LEGION>ALPHA LEGIONBLACK LEGIONEMPEROR’S CHILDRENIRON WARRIORSNIGHT LORDSWORD BEARERSCREATIONS OF BILERED CORSAIRS CULTISTS unit is within 6" of this unit’s ICONARCH model, add 2 to the Leadership characteristic of models in that unit, and each time a model in that unit makes an attack, re-roll a hit roll of 1.
PRIEST
PRIEST	This unit’s CULT DEMAGOGUE model knows Dark Zealotry and one other prayer from the Prayers to the Dark Gods. In your Command phase, if that CULT DEMAGOGUE model is on the battlefield, it can attempt to chant one prayer it knows that has not already been attempted by a friendly model this turn. Roll one D6: on a 3+, the prayer is heard and takes effect until the start of your next Command phase. Each time a prayer chanted by this unit’s CULT DEMAGOGUE model is heard, measure distances and draw line of sight from that CULT DEMAGOGUE model.
PSYKER
PSYKER	This unit’s MINDWITCH model can attempt to manifest one psychic power in your Psychic phase and attempt to deny one psychic power in your opponent’s Psychic phase. It knows Smite and one psychic power from the Dark Hereticus discipline. Each time this unit’s MINDWITCH model attempts to Deny the Witch, manifest a psychic power or perform a psychic action, measure distances and draw line of sight from that MINDWITCH model. If enemy units have any abilities that require measuring distance or drawing line of sight to PSYKER units, do so to this unit’s MINDWITCH model.
FACTION KEYWORDS: CHAOS, TRAITORIS ASTARTES, <LEGION>ALPHA LEGIONBLACK LEGIONEMPEROR’S CHILDRENIRON WARRIORSNIGHT LORDSWORD BEARERSCREATIONS OF BILERED CORSAIRS
KEYWORDS (Cult Demagogue): CHARACTER, PRIEST, CULT DEMAGOGUE
KEYWORDS (Mindwitch): PSYKER, MINDWITCH
KEYWORDS (Iconarch): ICON, ICONARCH
KEYWORDS (Blessed Blades): BLESSED BLADES
KEYWORDS: INFANTRY, CULTISTS, DARK COMMUNE

Datasheet-related Stratagems

TIP OF THE SPEAR2CP

Black Legion – Battle Tactic Stratagem

It is a great honour to be the first to slay the foe, and the Black Legion charge their enemies lines with devastating ferocity.

Use this Stratagem at the start of your Charge phase, if no BLACK LEGION units from your army are within Engagement Range of any enemy units. Select the BLACK LEGION CORE, BLACK LEGION DAEMONKIN or BLACK LEGION CHARACTER unit from your army that is closest to an enemy unit. Until the end of the turn:

You can re-roll charge rolls made for that unit.
Each time a model in that unit makes a melee attack against an enemy unit that is either in range of an objective marker or within your opponent’s deployment zone, improve the Armour Penetration characteristic of that attack by 1.

IN MIDNIGHT CLAD1CP

Chaos Space Marines – Night Lords – Boarding Actions – Battle Tactic Stratagem

Having fought countless campaigns of terror in complete darkness, the Night Lords know how to make an ally of the shadows.

Use this Stratagem in your opponent’s Shooting phase, when a NIGHT LORDS CORE or NIGHT LORDS CHARACTER unit from your army is selected as the target of a ranged attack. Until the end of the phase, each time a ranged attack is made against that unit, subtract 1 from that attack’s hit roll.

ETERNAL HATRED1CP/2CP

Chaos Space Marines – Boarding Actions – Battle Tactic Stratagem

The hatred the warriors of the Traitor Legions hold for the Imperium and the Emperor has burned for millennia.

Use this Stratagem in your Shooting phase, when a TRAITORIS ASTARTES unit from your army is selected to shoot, or in the Fight phase, when a TRAITORIS ASTARTES unit from your army is selected to fight. Until the end of the phase, each time a model in that unit makes an attack, add 1 to that attack’s wound roll. If that unit has the TERMINATOR or POSSESSED keyword, this Stratagem costs 2CP; otherwise, it costs 1CP.

VETERANS OF THE LONG WAR2CP

Chaos Space Marines – Battle Tactic Stratagem

Veterans of centuries or millennia, the Long War’s most embittered warriors have learnt how best to focus their need for vengeance.

Use this Stratagem in your Shooting phase or the Fight phase, when a TRAITORIS ASTARTES INFANTRY or TRAITORIS ASTARTES BIKER unit from your army is selected to shoot or fight. Until the end of the phase, each time a model in that unit makes an attack, add 1 to that attack’s wound roll.

LUMENBLINK1CP

Cult of the Arkifane – Boarding Actions – Battle Tactic Stratagem

Even as the foe take aim at Vashtorr’s faithful, every artificial light source blinks out at once. Their stuttering reignition is slow, grudging and incomplete.

Use this Stratagem in your opponent’s Shooting phase, when a CULT OF THE ARKIFANE unit from your army is selected as the target of an attack. Until the end of the phase, each time a ranged attack targets that unit, if the attacker is more than 6" away, subtract 1 from the hit roll.

EYE OF THE AUSPEX1CP

Cult of the Arkifane – Boarding Actions – Battle Tactic Stratagem

Employing technoparasitic neuro-jacks and crude scrapcode prayers, the faithful of Vashtorr force their awarenesses into flickering auspicator webs to help them range and triangulate the foe.

Use this Stratagem in your Shooting phase, when a CULT OF THE ARKIFANE unit from your army is selected to shoot. Until the end of the phase, each time a ranged attack is made by a model in that unit, an unmodified hit roll of 6 scores two additional hits.

COGITATED FATES1CP

Cogs of Vashtorr – Battle Tactic Stratagem

Vashtorr is a being unfettered by linear time and possessed of infinite patience and inventiveness. He thinks nothing of setting in motion centuries-long chains of cause and effect that transform reality into a mechanism of death calibrated to do his bidding and leave his foes with nowhere to hide from his worshippers’ wrath.

Use this Stratagem in your Shooting phase, when a TRAITORIS ASTARTES unit from your army is selected to shoot. Until the end of the phase, each time a model in that unit makes an attack, the target cannot receive the Benefits of Cover against that attack.

MONSTROUS VISAGES1CP

Creations of Bile – Battle Tactic Stratagem

Bile’s experimental ministrations have left these warriors as freakish monsters. Cursed with clusters of compound eyes, distended, fang-stuffed jaws or myriad other grotesqueries, they are hideous to behold.

Use this Stratagem in the Fight phase, when a CREATIONS OF BILE CORE, CREATIONS OF BILE DAEMONKIN or CREATIONS OF BILE CHARACTER unit from your army is selected as the target of an attack. Until the end of the phase, each time an attack is made against that unit, subtract 1 from that attack’s hit roll.

EXCESS OF VIOLENCE1CP

Emperor’s Children – Battle Tactic Stratagem

The visceral sensation of every fresh kill causes the warriors of the Emperor’s Children to enter an ecstatic frenzy of butchery and dismemberment.

Use this Stratagem in your Command phase, if your army is engaged in either Wanton Destruction or Wanton Massacre. Select one EMPEROR’S CHILDREN INFANTRY unit from your army. Until the start of your next Command phase, that unit is considered to be engaged in Wanton Slaughter instead.

METHODICAL ANNIHILATION1CP

Iron Warriors – Battle Tactic Stratagem

With unceasing firepower do the Iron Warriors prevail.

Use this Stratagem in your Shooting phase, when an IRON WARRIORS unit from your army is selected to shoot. Until the end of the phase:

When resolving that unit’s attacks, you can re-roll one damage roll.
Each time a model in that unit makes an attack with a weapon that has the Blast ability, for the purposes of determining how many attacks are made with that weapon, double the number of models in the target unit.
If that unit is a VEHICLE unit, it can make attacks with Blast weapons against units within Engagement Range; however, if it does so, each time it makes an attack with a Blast weapon this phase, on an unmodified hit roll of 1 that unit suffers 1 mortal wound after all of its attacks have been resolved.

FANATIC ZEALOTRY1CP

Word Bearers – Battle Tactic Stratagem

Fervent mortal followers flock to the champions of the Word Bearers, damning their souls seeking promises of dark power.

Use this Stratagem in your Command phase. Select one WORD BEARERS CULTISTS unit from your army within 12" of a friendly WORD BEARERS CHARACTER unit. Until the start of your next Command phase:

You can re-roll charge rolls made for that unit.
Each time a model in that unit makes a melee attack, you can re-roll that attack’s hit roll.

SOUND THE BLACK HUNT1CP

Night Lords – Battle Tactic Stratagem

Isolated survivors and the meek of mind are favoured quarry of the VIII Legion.

Use this Stratagem in your Shooting phase or the Fight phase, when a NIGHT LORDS CORE, NIGHT LORDS DAEMONKIN or NIGHT LORDS CHARACTER unit from your army is selected to shoot or fight. Until the end of the phase, each time a model in that unit makes an attack:

If that attack targets a unit that was below its Starting Strength when the attacking unit was selected to shoot or fight, or it targets a unit that has a Leadership characteristic of 6 or less, re-roll a hit roll of 1.
If that attack targets a unit that was below Half-strength when the attacking unit was selected to shoot or fight, or it targets a unit that has a Leadership characteristic of 5 or less, you can re-roll the hit roll.

DARK PACT1CP

Word Bearers – Epic Deed Stratagem

With gruesome offerings and ritualised promises, the Word Bearers seek the protection of their infernal masters.

Use this Stratagem in any phase, when a WORD BEARERS INFANTRY CHARACTER model from your army is destroyed. Instead of using any other rules that are triggered when that model is destroyed, you can choose for that model to make a dark pact. If you do so, mark that model’s position then remove that model from the battlefield. At the end of the phase, roll one D6: on a 4+, set that model back up on the battlefield as close as possible to the position you marked and not within Engagement Range of any enemy units, with D3 wounds remaining. Each model can only be selected for this Stratagem once per battle.

TAKEN ALIVE1CP

Chaos Space Marines – Creations of Bile – Boarding Actions – Epic Deed Stratagem

To be snatched away for experimentation by Fabius Bile and his creations is a truly horrifying fate.

Use this Stratagem in the Fight phase, when an enemy CHARACTER unit is destroyed by a melee attack made by a TRAITORIS ASTARTES unit from your army. Until the end of the battle:

Subtract 1 from the Leadership characteristic of every enemy model.
Your opponent cannot use the Insane Bravery Stratagem.
Your opponent cannot use the Command Re-roll Stratagem to re-roll a Morale test.

GLITCHCURSE1CP

Cogs of Vashtorr – Epic Deed Stratagem

The machine spirits of bellicose weapons blaze in Vashtorr’s sight just as mortal souls do to other daemons. With but a flicker of his will, the Arkifane twists and redirects those fierce energies back against the weapons’ wielders.

Use this Stratagem in your opponent’s Shooting phase, when an enemy unit within 18" of and visible to your WARLORD has finished making its attacks. If any of those attacks targeted a TRAITORIS ASTARTES unit from your army that was within 6" of your WARLORD, roll one D6: on a 2-4, that enemy unit suffers D3 mortal wounds; on a 5+, that enemy unit suffers 3 mortal wounds.

MALEVOLENT COVENANT1CP/2CP

Word Bearers – Epic Deed Stratagem

When the warp provides, a price must always be paid...

Use this Stratagem in your Psychic phase, when a WORD BEARERS PSYKER unit from your army fails a Psychic test. You can choose for that PSYKER unit to suffer 1 mortal wound; if you do so, this Stratagem costs 1CP (otherwise, it costs 2CP). In either case, that psychic test is considered to have been passed at the minimum required warp charge value, without a double having been rolled, and cannot be denied by any Deny the Witch tests.

SOPORIFIC GAZE2CP

Emperor’s Children – Epic Deed Stratagem

Lulled by this champion’s weaving swordsmanship and hypnotic aura, the foe falter and a momentary weakness seals their doom.

Use this Stratagem at the start of the Fight phase. Select one EMPEROR’S CHILDREN CHARACTER model from your army, then select one enemy unit within 3" of it. That enemy unit is not eligible to fight this phase until after all eligible units from your army have done so.

TAKEN ALIVE1CP

Creations of Bile – Epic Deed Stratagem

To be snatched away for experimentation by Fabius Bile and his followers is an altogether nightmarish fate.

Use this Stratagem in the Fight phase, when the enemy WARLORD is destroyed by a melee attack made by a CREATIONS OF BILE model from your army. Until the end of the battle:

Subtract 1 from the Leadership characteristic of every model in your opponent’s army.
Your opponent cannot use the Insane Bravery Stratagem.
Your opponent cannot use any rules to re-roll a Morale test.

FELL PRAYERS2CP

Chaos Space Marines – Epic Deed Stratagem

Beseeching the Chaos Gods with fanatical fervour, the profane priests of the Heretic Astartes pray for diabolic boons, promising the vilest of offerings in return for their power.

Use this Stratagem at the start of any of your phases other than your Command phase. Select one TRAITORIS ASTARTES PRIEST model from your army that has not chanted a prayer this turn. That model can chant one prayer that has not already been chanted by a friendly model this turn. That prayer is automatically heard (do not roll) and takes effect until the start of your next Command phase.

LORD OF THE EZEKARION1CP

Black Legion – Requisition Stratagem

Abaddon’s chosen generals are known as the Ezekarion, and are the greatest war leaders of the Black Legion.

Use this Stratagem after nominating a BLACK LEGION CHARACTER model (excluding named characters and DAEMON models) to be your WARLORD. Generate one additional Black Legion Warlord Trait for that CHARACTER model. Each Warlord Trait in your army must be unique (if randomly generated, re-roll duplicate results). You can only use this Stratagem once.

APOSTLE OF THE DARK COUNCIL1CP

Word Bearers – Requisition Stratagem

The leaders of the Word Bearers guide their Legion in matters of faith as much as war.

Use this Stratagem before the battle, when you are mustering your army, if your WARLORD has the WORD BEARERS keyword. Select one WORD BEARERS PRIEST model from your army.

Add 1 to the Leadership characteristic of that PRIEST model.
That PRIEST model gains the following ability: ‘Dark Council: Each time this model chants a prayer, you can re-roll the dice to determine if that prayer is heard.’

You can only use this Stratagem once, unless you are playing a Strike Force or Onslaught battle (in which cases, you can use this Stratagem twice).

GIFTS OF CHAOS1CP

Chaos Space Marines – Requisition Stratagem

The Chaos Gods will reward those who prove themselves worthy.

Use this Stratagem before the battle, when you are mustering your army, if your WARLORD has the TRAITORIS ASTARTES keyword. Select one TRAITORIS ASTARTES CHARACTER model from your army and give it one Relic of Chaos (this must be a Relic it can have). Each Relic in your army must be unique. You can use this Stratagem to give a MARK OF CHAOS CHARACTER model a second Relic, provided one of its Relics replaces a weapon; otherwise, you cannot use this Stratagem to give a model two Relics. If you use this Stratagem to give a CHARACTER model a second Relic, none of that model’s Relics can be a daemon weapon. You cannot use this Stratagem to give a model three Relics. You can only use this Stratagem once, unless you are playing a Strike Force battle (in which case, you can use this Stratagem twice) or an Onslaught battle (in which case, you can use this Stratagem three times).

ASPIRING LORD1CP

Chaos Space Marines – Requisition Stratagem

Behind every warband leader are numerous power-hungry warriors who commit atrocities in the name of personal glory.

Use this Stratagem before the battle, when you are mustering your army, if your WARLORD has the TRAITORIS ASTARTES keyword. Select one TRAITORIS ASTARTES CHARACTER model (excluding named characters) from your army and determine one Warlord Trait for it (this must be a Warlord Trait it can have); that model is only regarded as your WARLORD for the purposes of that Warlord Trait. Each Warlord Trait in your army must be unique (if randomly generated, re-roll duplicate results), and you cannot use this Stratagem to give a model two Warlord Traits. You can only use this Stratagem once, unless you are playing a Strike Force battle (in which case, you can use this Stratagem twice) or an Onslaught battle (in which case, you can use this Stratagem three times).

ILL-O’-THE-WILL IMPULSE1CP

Cult of the Arkifane – Boarding Actions – Strategic Ploy Stratagem

Many and far-scattered are the imps, gremlets, wredjinn and cakosparks of Vashtorr. They manifest around his followers, triggering mechanical systems with seemingly random impulses of motive force.

Use this Stratagem in your Command phase. Select one Hatchway that is not within 1" of any enemy models. You can open or close that Hatchway.

ARKIFANE’S WRATH1CP

Cult of the Arkifane – Boarding Actions – Strategic Ploy Stratagem

Woe betide those who put their trust in unsecured mechanical systems when battling the faithful of Vashtorr: hatches slam shut like hungry maws on those passing through them; long dormant sentry systems wake to sudden, violent fury; even the simple act of passing through a bulkhead door may prove a fatal error…

Use this Stratagem in your opponent’s Movement phase, when an enemy unit completes the Operate Hatchway action and opens a Hatchway. Roll one D6: on a 2-5, that enemy unit suffers D3 mortal wounds; on a 6, that enemy unit suffers 3 mortal wounds. You can only use this Stratagem once.

DAEMON IN THE MACHINE1CP

Cult of the Arkifane – Boarding Actions – Strategic Ploy Stratagem

Where the Cult of the Arkifane makes war, the influence of Vashtorr flickers through vital systems seemingly at random. Foes attempting to access them may find themselves confronted with gheist-laced static, scrolling infernal runes or myriad even more sinister and impenetrable techno-phenomena.

Use this Stratagem at the start of the battle round. Select one objective marker on the battlefield and roll one D6: on a 4+, until the start of the next battle round, players cannot score any victory points as a result of controlling that objective marker and it does not count towards the number of objective markers controlled by a player for the purpose of any Mission Objectives. Note that this does not change who controls that objective marker. You can only use this Stratagem once per battle round.

CONTEMPT OVER CAUTION1CP/2CP

Chaos Space Marines – Strategic Ploy Stratagem

Allies are of little concern when a hated foe must be obliterated.

Use this Stratagem in your Shooting phase. Select one CORE unit from your army that is not within Engagement Range of any enemy units, then select one enemy unit. Until the end of the phase:

Models in that <LEGION>ALPHA LEGIONBLACK LEGIONEMPEROR’S CHILDRENIRON WARRIORSNIGHT LORDSWORD BEARERSCREATIONS OF BILERED CORSAIRS unit can target that enemy unit even if that enemy unit is within Engagement Range of other friendly units, provided those other friendly units are all <LEGION>ALPHA LEGIONBLACK LEGIONEMPEROR’S CHILDRENIRON WARRIORSNIGHT LORDSWORD BEARERSCREATIONS OF BILERED CORSAIRS units.
Each time a model in that <LEGION>ALPHA LEGIONBLACK LEGIONEMPEROR’S CHILDRENIRON WARRIORSNIGHT LORDSWORD BEARERSCREATIONS OF BILERED CORSAIRS unit makes an attack against that enemy unit, you cannot re-roll the hit roll, and on an unmodified hit roll of 1, that attack scores a hit against one friendly <LEGION>ALPHA LEGIONBLACK LEGIONEMPEROR’S CHILDRENIRON WARRIORSNIGHT LORDSWORD BEARERSCREATIONS OF BILERED CORSAIRS unit of your choice within Engagement Range of that enemy unit instead (resolve any attacks against friendly units after resolving any attacks that hit that enemy unit).

If all of the units within Engagement Range of the enemy unit you selected were CULTISTS units, this Stratagem costs 1CP; otherwise, it costs 2CP.

RITUAL OFFERINGS1CP

Chaos Space Marines – Strategic Ploy Stratagem

Those unfortunate enough to be taken alive by Chaos Cultists only serve as fuel for their fanatical devotions.

Use this Stratagem when an enemy unit is destroyed by a TRAITORIS ASTARTES CULTISTS unit from your army. Until the end of the battle:

That CULTISTS unit automatically passes Morale tests.
Each time a model in that CULTISTS unit makes a melee attack, add 1 to that attack’s hit roll.

SHIPBOARD INSURRECTION1CP

Chaos Space Marines – Boarding Actions – Strategic Ploy Stratagem

The Heretic Astartes have embedded loyal Cultists amongst the crew of the target ship. These devoted men and women know the ship intimately, and are well placed to guide their masters to its most vital areas once aboard.

Use this Stratagem in your Movement phase, when a TRAITORIS ASTARTES CULTISTS unit from your army finishes a Normal Move. You can open one Hatchway that is within 1" of that unit. Your opponent cannot attempt to prevent that Hatchway from opening.

SUBLIME INFILTRATION1CP

Chaos Space Marines – Alpha Legion – Boarding Actions – Strategic Ploy Stratagem

More illusive than shadows, the Alpha Legion are amongst the keenest infiltrators in the galaxy.

Use this Stratagem in your Movement phase, when an ALPHA LEGION unit from your army is set up within an Entry Zone. That unit can make a Normal Move of up to 6".

CRUSADERS OF DARKNESS1CP

Chaos Space Marines – Black Legion – Boarding Actions – Strategic Ploy Stratagem

Marching relentlessly onward, the Black Legion sweep aside those enemies who dare contest their martial prizes.

Use this Stratagem in the Fight phase, when a BLACK LEGION CORE or BLACK LEGION CHARACTER unit from your army is selected to fight. Until the end of the phase, each time a model in that unit makes an attack that targets an enemy unit within range of an objective marker, improve the Armour Penetration characteristic of that attack by 1.

UNRELENTING ONSLAUGHT2CP

Black Legion – Strategic Ploy Stratagem

The Black Legion let nothing stand in their way.

Use this Stratagem in your Movement phase, when you select a BLACK LEGION unit from your army to move. Until the start your next Movement phase:

That unit can ignore any or all modifiers to its Move characteristic, Advance rolls and charge rolls.
That unit is eligible to shoot and declare a charge, even if it Falls Back this turn.

VENGEFUL SKIES3CP

Black Legion – Strategic Ploy Stratagem

The Black Legion’s warships darken the battlefields skies, their lance batteries carving paths of ruin with deadly stabs of spite.

Use this Stratagem in your Command phase, if any BLACK LEGION CHARACTER models from your army are on the battlefield. Select one point on the battlefield and place a marker on that point. At the start of your next Command phase, place another marker on the battlefield within 12" of the centre of that marker, and draw a straight line between the centre of each of these markers. Roll one D6 for each unit that line would pass over or through, adding 1 if the unit being rolled for contains 11 or more models and subtracting 1 if the unit being rolled for is a CHARACTER unit. On a 3+, that unit suffers D3 mortal wounds. The markers are then removed. You can only use this Stratagem once.

CONCEAL3CP/2CP