Tally Victory Points and Declare a Victor

At the end of the game, sum up all the Victory Points that apply to each side. The side with the most Victory Points is declared the winner of the battle unless some alternate arrangement was agreed upon back in Step 5.

General Rules

Note: wherever there is a conflict of rules, the most specific rules may override the more general rules.

Characteristics

Not all people are created equal — the same holds true for models in the Warhammer 40,000 game. Leaders, for example, are more experienced, more brawny, and have more nerve by far than your average foot trooper. A biological monstrosity consisting of a swarming mass of tentacles will be a better fighter in close combat than a run- of-the-mill grunt.

To reflect battle realities like these, nearly every model in the game has certain characteristics. This is a common concept in games of this nature; they‘re simply a numerical way of describing the model in terms of game mechanics. In all cases, the higher the number, the better.

Zero-Level Characteristics

Some models have been given a 0 for certain characteristics, meaning they have no ability whatsoever in that area

— or that that characteristic just doesn‘t apply to them. The most common place you‘ll see this is in creatures that are  purely  close  combat  machines  (Genestealers  (196),  Hormagaunts  (196),  etc.),  and  have  a   0  BS,  since  they  lack

projectile weapons or the ability to use them.

Characteristic Profiles

Each model has a profile of its characteristics; this profile is given in the Army List(s) with which the type of model is associated. For example, you‘ll find an Imperial Guardsman (read: common grunt) characteristic profile in the Imperial Guard Army List, and it looks like this:

From left to right across the top, the characteristics are explained below.

Movement (M)

This is the ability of a model to move. Ordinarily, a model may move a number of inches equal to its Movement

characteristic in the Movement Phase (23). For reference, most human models have a M of 4; Eldar models frequently have an M of 5, and Squats normally have an M of 3. Thus a man can move 4” a turn, and an Eldar 5” a turn.

Weapon Skill (WS)

A model‘s WS indicates how proficient he/she/it is in the art of close combat and hand-to-hand fighting. The higher this number, the more combat-worthy the model is for this type of fighting. A common value for this characteristic is 3.

Ballistic Skill (BS)

BS is the ability of a model to use projectile weaponry effectively. Think of it as the model‘s marksmanship rating. The higher the model‘s BS, the better it is at shooting a weapon.

Strength (S)

Strength reflects the raw physical aggressiveness of the model and its ability to  damage  another  model  in  close combat. A model inflicting hits on an opponent in hand-to-hand combat may use its  Strength  to  calculate  how damaging those hits are. Most ―ordinary‖ models have a Strength of 3.

Toughness (T)

This is the natural physical resilience of a model‘s skin, hide, scales, etc. A higher Toughness makes a model more difficult to damage  with weapons of all kinds. A common value is   3.

Wounds (W)

Models may only sustain a number of points of damage equal to their Wounds characteristic before being incapacitated (slain, knocked unconscious for the duration of the game, given a crippling injury, etc.). Most models have only 1 Wound, meaning that ―one hit kills‖ most miniatures on the battlefield. Models with more than 1 Wound are burly, resilient, and are often special character models.

Initiative (I)

Indicates how alert a model is and how fast it can react. Models with a low Initiative are slow and cumbersome. A common value of this characteristic is 3.

Attacks (A)

The number of Attack Dice (see hand-to-hand rules, 32, for more information) a model may roll when involved in close combat. Most models have only 1 Attack, and the higher the number, the better. Note that both A and WS are factors in determining whether a model wins a round of hand-to-hand combat.

Leadership (Ld)

A model with a high Ld is courageous, steadfast and self-controlled in the heat of battle. Low- Ld models may panic easily and are not as battle-worthy. Ld is used when making panic and psychology tests.

Buildings                                                                                                                                   Rule

Once inside a building, models may only move at their normal rate, and may not run (24). Charges (23) may only be declared against enemy models visible at the start of the turn. It takes models an entire movement phase (23) to move from one ―level‖ or ―story‖ of a building to the next, regardless of the method used (elevator, ramp, ladder, etc.).

Destroying Buildings & Doors

Weapons with a (29) fired at buildings do not affect other models, and buildings are not affected by weapons with a blast marker meant for other models — unless both players agree otherwise. Buildings are given an Armour Value as shown below, and as such use armour penetration (31) rules:

Imperium buildings are generally made of timber, stone, concrete or plascrete. Administratum and other official buildings are made of steel, plasteel or rockrete. Only bunkers and other purpose-built fortifications are constructed from armaplas. Doors will generally be made of the same material as the building they are part of — but will simply be destroyed if their armour is penetrated, leaving a hole. If a weapon penetrates the armour value of a building, it is damaged; roll a D6 and consult this table:

See also hand-to-hand combat versus buildings (34), scatter in buildings (30).

Cavalry                                                                                                                                      Rule

Cavalry refers to any mount with only one Wound; larger mounts are generally treated as vehicles or assigned their own rules. A cavalry model is treated as a single model. If the rider is slain, the mount is removed from play as a casualty. Cavalry models use the rider‘s Leadership, Toughness, Wounds, and Initiative, and the mount‘s Move. Cavalry gain a +1 on their armour saving throw, and in hand-to-hand combat the rider adds his steed‘s A to his own.

Characters                                                                                                                                 Rule

Unless otherwise noted, characters move and fight as individuals and may pick their targets freely — ignoring the standard (28) rules. Characters are free to join squads of ordinary troops and fight with them. To do so, simply move the character model within 2" — standard (12) range — and declare him a part of the squad. Squads led by characters may use the character‘s Leadership during (47). Characters who have joined a squad may leave at any time, except when the squad is affected by Psychology, if the squad has declared a charge, or if the squad has engaged in hand-to-hand combat (32). While with the squad, he is counted as a part of it in all respects — which means he must flee if the squad is Broken (46) — but he does not share the effects of Psychology unless he himself is affected by it. In other words, you must test the character for Psychology effects separately from the squad.

If a character is more than 2” away from all other squads, he may only be picked out as a separate target if he is the closest. If a character is within coherency distance of a squad of other models at least as big as he is, but has not been declared a part of it, he cannot be picked out as a separate target by the enemy — even enemy characters. If the squad next to which a character stands is hit, randomize the shot(s) between the members of the squad and the character. For example, if a character is standing next to a squad of five men and the squad is hit by bolter fire, a D6 is rolled — on a result of a 1-5, one of the squad members is hit; on a 6, the character is hit.

Game Length

Usually, games are four turns long. House Rule: If both players agree, the game may be extended indefinitely, voting to continue on a turn-by-turn basis.

Squad Coherency

Models, which comprise a squad (or a Tyranid brood), must normally remain within 2” of one another — drawn from base-edge to base-edge — at all times. Known exceptions to this rule are listed with the wargear to which they apply. Squads using the Dispersed Formation ability may extend this coherency to 4”. Coherency is not an option, but a rule. If models are engaged in hand-to-hand combat (32), they are not bound by the Coherency rules. When combat finishes, the rule is applied again. If a squad‘s coherency is broken — e.g., by having the middle link in a

―chain‖ of models destroyed by enemy fire — the squad must attempt to reestablish coherency in  their  next movement phase. If this is not possible, the smaller part of the split squad counts as being broken (46).

Dispersed Formation

Some units may use a Dispersed Formation; this means they may extend their coherency range to 4”. All the normal restrictions regarding Squad Coherency still apply.

Support Weapon Batteries

Support weapons with a points value of less than 100 points must be formed into Batteries. Armies including 3 or fewer such support weapons must form all of them into a single Battery; armies with more support weapons must form them into n Batteries of approximately equal size, where n is equal to the number of support weapons divided by 3. Batteries are deployed as groups of models at the start of the game like ordinary squads. They may be deployed in terrain which would normally be impassible (24) to them; if so, they may not be moved during the game except to rotate. If a Battery takes a special action (Overwatch (24), Hiding (23)), the entire Battery must take the action. Weapons in a Battery may select separate targets, but are still subject to the normal picking a target rules (28). When a Battery is fired upon, the enemy must choose the support weapon closest to them. Batteries take break  tests (47) just like normal squads, but they add +2 to their crewman‘s Leadership (maximum 10) — standing next to a gun that is bigger than you are bolsters your courage considerably. Note that support weapons crewed by Servitors

(156) do not need to take break tests. Batteries failing their break test will hide if they are in cover — but the support weapons are not hidden, and still fair game. Broken (46) batteries not in cover will flee, leaving their support weapons.

Battery Coherency

For batteries of support weapons, normal squad coherency (12) must be maintained, except that support weapons within a battery must only remain within 6" (rather than 2") of each other at all times.

Infiltration

Some models have the Infiltration ability; these models may be deployed in the normal manner if you wish. Alternately, you may keep them off the battlefield until your opponent has set up; you may then place the infiltrating models anywhere on the battlefield, providing that they are behind cover from or do not have Line of Sight to any enemy model.

Turn Sequence

The turn is comprised of the following sequence: Movement Phase (23), Shooting Phase (27), Hand-to-Hand   Combat (32), Psychic Phase (36), and the Rally Phase (46).

Vehicle Crew

Unless otherwise stated in the description, the cost of a vehicle always includes the crew. Crew members are allowed to board (26) or leave the vehicle in the same way as other models. If the driver of a moving vehicle dismounts, then his vehicle will go out of control (26) in its next turn. Dismounted crewmen must remain within 6” of their vehicle — unless it has been destroyed, in which case any surviving crew form their own unit and are subject to normal rules for (12). Crew remaining inside their vehicle are immune to psychology and do not have to take Break tests (47). All crew on board a vehicle are trained to do each others jobs. It takes an entire turn for a crewman to swap positions in this way, and he is not allowed to do anything else on the turn in which he swaps over. Adeptus Mechanicus Engineers, Techmarines (153), Squat Engineer Guildmasters (186) and Ork Mekaniak (128) models are also allowed to take over from crewmen in the same way. Other models in a player‘s army may not take over a position in a vehicle — and certainly not enemy models!

Victory Points

A player is accorded Victory Points for causing damage to his opponent‘s forces and for fulfilling objectives stated on Mission Cards (15). At the end of the game, the player with the most Victory Points has won the conflict. The points accorded by Mission Cards is listed with each card; for damage versus enemy forces, use this table:

In addition to this, there are some models that fall into multiple categories; for example a character model or squad riding in a vehicle. In this case, the Victory Points for each part are added together.

Wargear Cards

Certain models may be assigned Wargear Cards; which models these are and the maximum number of cards that may be assigned them are listed with the description and point cost of the units. If a model carrying Wargear cards is slain, the Wargear is considered destroyed with him. Likewise, unless both players agree otherwise prior to the start of the game, Wargear may not be ―passed around‖ from model to model — it stays with the model to whom it is assigned for the game‘s duration. See the complete list of Wargear Cards (205) for more specific information.

Mission Cards

Mission Cards detail a strategic objective for the player to accomplish — and describes how doing so will accord the player extra Victory Points (13). The different Mission Cards are described below:

Assassins

Enemy Commander wounded:                                                                               +1 Victory Point

Enemy Commander slain:                                                                                       +5 Victory Points

Bunker Assault

Enemy Bunker Destroyed:                                                                                       +5 Victory Point

Dawn Raid

Having at least one squad with less than 50% casualties or at least one undamaged vehicle in opponent‘s Deployment Zone at the end of the game:                                                                                                                               +5 Victory Points

Engage and Destroy

For each enemy squad wiped out:                                                                          +1 Victory Point

For each enemy vehicle destroyed:                                                                        +1 Victory Point

For each enemy character slain:                                                                             +1 Victory Point

Guerilla War

For every 3 enemy models slain in hand-to-hand combat (32):                       +1 Victory Point

For every enemy vehicle destroyed or disabled within 24” of your table edge: +1 Victory Point

Hold the Line

No unbroken enemy squads or operational vehicles within 24” of your edge:   +5 Victory Points

Take and Hold

Your objective is a point 24” into the table and 36” from the left hand edge (which should be in the middle of a standard table). If you have at least one model within 3” of this spot at the end of the game, and the closest model

to this spot is yours:                                                                                                   +5 Victory Points

Witch Hunt

If the most powerful enemy psyker is wounded at end of game:                     +1 Victory Point

If the most powerful enemy psyker is slain:                                                         +5 Victory Points

Each enemy character (12) worth 50 points or more slain:                               +1 Victory Point

Terrorize

Tyranids only.

Each Break, Fear or Terror test failed by the opposing force                            +1 Victory Point

Each Character killed or broken                                                                              +1 Victory Point

Trap

Tyranids only. ―Trapped‖ models have at least one Tyranid model between them and the nearest table edge at the end of the game.

Each enemy unit trapped at the end of the game                                            +1 Victory Point

Before the Tyranid forces are deployed, roll a D6 for each brood and individual model. On a roll of 1-3, the model(s) must be deployed in the deployment zone; on a 4-6, the model(s) may be deployed within 6” of either the left or right edge of the table if desired. Tyranid forces may be set up Hidden (23) even if they are not in or behind cover. Any Tyranids with a ranged attack may also deploy on Overwatch (24).

Tyranid Attack

Tyranids only.

Annihilate enemy:                                                                                                      Win game

Each time a Tyranid model is slain, place it to one side. Creatures from the Individuals and Support section of the army list can be brought back into play at the start of the next Tyranid turn. Creatures from the Broods section of the army list can only be brought back once enough models have been killed to form a new brood. Roll a D6 for each brood or individual that re-enters play at the start of your turn. On a 1, you must wait until next turn to try again. Otherwise, you may deploy them on your table edge.

Strategy Cards

Each player draws one Strategy Card at random for each 1000 points (or fraction thereof) in his army. Tyranid commanders do not draw these cards but instead follow other rules (190).

Ambush

You may play this card on one of your squads during deployment (8). You may deploy the squad up to 24” from the table edge, and you may place them in hiding (23) if they are in or behind cover. In addition, the squad begins the game on Overwatch (24).

Barrage

Play this card during any of your shooting phases (27). Take the 3” blast template (29) and place it anywhere on the battlefield, then roll a Scatter die. Scatter the template 2D6” in the direction indicated. Models hit by the template in its final resting place suffer an S5 hit inflicting D10 damage, a –3 save modifier, and having an armour penetration (31) of D6+D10+5.

Bombing Run

This attack uses the Thudd Gun template. Nominate a direction of attack and place template 1 so that the arrow points in the desired direction. This is the point of release. The whole blast marker (29) then travels D6" in the direction of the arrow, as the bombs are carried forward before they impact. Resolve placing the other three markers as with a Thudd Gun (247). Any model wholly under a template is hit automatically; models partially underneath are

hit on a D6 roll of 4+. Models are hit as if by a Heavy Flamer (235), so resolve damage, saving throws and catching

fire (20) as normal.

Booby Traps

You may play this card at any time to activate the traps. Take a counter and place it anywhere on the table; models within 3” of the counter will trigger a booby trap on a 5+ on D6. A 2” blast marker (29) is centreed on any model

triggering such a trap. Hit models suffer an S4 hit with a –1 save modifier. The Traps counter remains in play and will attack any models which move within 3” of it.

Brilliant Strategy

This card adds D6 to your army‘s Strategy Rating (8) for the entire game.

Covering Fire

You may play this card on one of your squads during deployment. This squad has been ordered to cover the rest of the army as it moves into position. The squad is so well prepared it may add +1 to all its to hit rolls for shooting in the first turn. In addition, the squad may start the battle in Overwatch (24).

Crack Shot

You may play this card during your own shooting phase (27) when you hit an enemy vehicle but before the armour  penetration (31) roll is made. The armour value is halved (rounding up) for that shot only. This card will not work for weapons which use a blast marker (29).

Craven Cowardice

You can play this card on an enemy squad with broken (46) morale at any time. The broken squad completely scatters; remove the remaining models as casualties. May also be played on shaken (148) Space Marines to cause

them to break.

Delayed

You may play this card before your opponent sets up. A single enemy squad or vehicle or your choice is delayed by

infiltrators fighting behind the lines and does not deploy with the rest of the enemy force. Instead, it arrives during the opposing player‘s first movement phase (23) and must move on from the edge of the table, starting at a point inside the enemy‘s deployment zone (8).

Divine Inspiration

You may play this card at the start of the game. All of your troops add +1 to their Ld for the entire game.

Flank March

You may play this card during any of your own movement phases (23) after the first turn of the game. You may move a squad or vehicle which did not deploy at the start of the game onto one of the ―neutral‖ edges of the battlefield. A Leadership test (47) is required for this to succeed; if failed, the unit may not enter this turn but may try again in the next turn.

Forced March

You may play this card at the beginning of the game before forces are deployed. You may deploy any of your force up to 18” from the table edge. Any squads which you wish to deploy between 12” and 18” onto the table must be

deployed before any enemy forces, regardless of relative Strategy Ratings.

Insane Courage

You may play this card instead of rolling when you attempt to Rally (46) — the broken squad automatically recovers and may immediately take another normal turn.

Last Gasp

Though mortally wounded, one of your warriors refuses to go down without a fight. Play this card when a model in your army is reduced to zero wounds. This may be a character, if you wish. Just before the fighter dies he manages to loose off one final burst of fire from a pistol (240) or basic weapon (224) (not a heavy weapon (233)), or throw a  grenade (28). Resolve this as normal shooting, outside the usual turn sequence. Once the effects of the shot have been worked out the model is removed. If the model is in close combat (32), this shot must be directed at a model in

base contact (yes, he can even pull a pin on a grenade!).

Look Out, Sir — Aaargh!

You may play this card when any of your characters (12) is killed for any reason, providing there is another of your

models within 3” at the time. The nearby trooper (of your choice, if more than one is eligible) sacrifices himself for the cause and is slain. The character model survives. Presumably, a shrine or something is erected somewhere in the fallen grunt‘s honour.

Malfunction

You may play this card when the enemy fires a Heavy Weapon (233). The weapon in question explodes; the model using it takes an S4 hit with a –1 save modifier; if the weapon is mounted on a vehicle, roll on the Weapon Damage

Chart to see what effect the explosion has.

Minefield

Play this card at the start of the battle before deploying forces. Part of the battlefield has been littered with deadly mines, shown by an area no larger than 10"x4" (or an equivalent area). The minefield must be in your half of the battlefield. Any model moving into, or starting its movement inside, the minefield will set off a mine of a D6 roll of

1 or 2. Any troops which move over the minefield, including those with jump packs and similar equipment, may set

off the mines (there are small anti-grav mines in the air as well). Mines inflict a single Strength 6 hit that does D6 damage with a -2 saving throw modifier. Vehicles are hit on the location in contact with the minefield (tracks, wheels, legs) with a Penetration of 6+2D6+D12. Skimmers can set off the mines, in which case a randomly determined location will be hit. Models in the minefield which do not move have no chance of setting off a mine.

Reinforcements

You may play this card at the start of any of your movement phases (23). Pick one of your squads or vehicles which had been destroyed during the game and return it to play, moving it onto your table edge but not within 24” of

enemy models. The enemy scores Victory Points (13) normally for wiping out the model(s) a second time.

Sabotage

Friendly troops have managed to infiltrate the enemy army and cut off its lines of supply and communication. Ammo dumps have been captured or destroyed leaving the opposing army short of ammunition. Play this card on an enemy squad just after it has fired for the first time. This squad is dangerously low on ammo. Roll a D6 for each affected model at the start of each subsequent shooting phase (27), on a roll of 4, 5 or 6 the model cannot fire that turn while they desperately search for more shells or another power pack!

Saved!

You may play this card at any time on a model (not vehicle) which has just been eliminated for any reason. The model avoids its fate and does not die. If the model is within the area of effect of a blast marker (29) which remains

in play, move it outside the edge of the marker in a random direction.

Special Issue

You may play this card on one of your character (12) models at the start of the game. Shuffle all the remaining  Wargear Cards (14) together and then draw one at random. The model is permitted to keep the card, even he already carries his full complement of Wargear Cards and even if it is a card he would not normally be able to use — a Space Marine could keep an Eldar-only weapon, for example. He may redraw once if the first card is unusable to him — a non-psyker character drawing a Force weapon, for example.

Strafing Run

You may play this card during any of your shooting phases (27). Pick any enemy squad; that squad suffers a hit as from a twin-linked Autocannon (233). A Jam result means no effect.

Surprise Assault

Play this card at the start of the battle after deployment. Your opponents are so surprised and hurried, that they cannot set overwatch and may not make any run or charge moves in their first turn. Vehicles cannot accelerate on the first turn. In their second and subsequent turns the enemy army may act normally. If the enemy is allowed to start the battle in Overwatch (24) for any reason, such as the Ambush (17) Strategy card or Tyranid Trap (15)

mission, the squads on Overwatch must pass a Leadership test (47) or lose it.

Traitor

You may play this card at the beginning of the game to increase your force‘s Strategy Rating by D3. Alternately, you  can  hold  onto  this  card,  and  use  it  to  cancel  out  any  one  of  the  following  Strategy  Cards:  Barrage  (17),

Reinforcements (18), Flank March (18, the enemy force counts as Delayed (17) instead), Booby Traps (17), Brilliant

Strategy (17), Forced March (18), Delayed or Ambush (17).

Ultimate Sacrifice

You may play this card when the enemy throws a grenade at one of your squads. A heroic individual in the squad makes the ultimate sacrifice and hurls themselves onto the grenade, shielding the rest of the squad. Nominate one of

the models in the squad. Resolve the effects of the grenade against this model only, even if the grenade normally

uses a blast marker. If the grenade leaves a blast template (29) in place (such as a plasma grenade (257)), move any other models to the outside edge of the template.

Virus Outbreak

You may play this card at any time. Place a 2” blast template (29) anywhere on the table and treat it as a Virus (259) grenade template. The template remains in play for the remainder of the game.

Note: This card has been deemed too powerful by most players, and it is common to take it out of the deck before dealing. Alternately, the effects only apply during the turn the card is used.

Weapon Rules

Armour Saves

Most models wear some form of Armour which protects them from damage. Any time the model is hit by a close  combat (32) or ranged (27) weapon, roll the appropriate Armour Save. If the model makes the roll, it may ignore that hit.

Saving Throw Modifiers

If a weapon does not list any specific Saving Throw modifier, it is by default based upon the Strength:

Unmodified Saves

Certain wargear items (and some special abilities) grant an additional saving throw which is not modified. It doesn't matter if you are being hit with a club or a Lascannon, the save remains the same.

A model may only have one Wargear item (such as a Defensive Field) which provides an unmodified save.

Damage

Even if a model's armour is penetrated, it usually has a chance to avoid being hurt. For each hit that is scored on a target, roll a D6 to see if the hit wounds the target.

Consult this table for the minimum score needed to wound:

Target’s Toughness