The Battle Round

The Turn Sequence

Warhammer 40,000 is played in a series of battle rounds. In each battle round, both players have a turn. The same player always takes the first turn in each battle round – the mission you are playing will tell you which player this is. Each turn consists of a series of phases, which must be resolved in the following order:

  1. Command Phase: Both players muster strategic resources and use tactical abilities.
  2. Movement Phase: Your units manoeuvre across the battlefield.
  3. Psychic Phase: Your psykers use powerful mental abilities.
  4. Shooting Phase: Your units shoot enemy units.
  5. Charge Phase: Your units may move into close combat with enemy units.
  6. Fight Phase: Both players’ units pile in and attack with melee weapons.
  7. Morale Phase: Both players test the courage of their depleted units.

Once a player’s turn has ended, their opponent then starts their turn. Once both players have completed a turn, the battle round has been completed and the next one begins, and so on, until the battle is concluded.

Command Phase

If your army is Battle-forged, then at the start of your Command phase, before doing anything else, you gain 1 Command point (CP). This is called the Battle-forged CP bonus.

Some abilities found on datasheets and some Stratagems are used in your Command phase. In addition, some missions have rules that take place in the Command phase. Once you and your opponent have resolved all of these rules (if any), progress to your Movement phase.

Movement Phase

The Movement phase is split into two steps. First you move your units. Then you can set up Reinforcements that have not yet arrived.

  1. Move Units
  2. Reinforcements

1. Move Units

Start your Movement phase by selecting one unit from your army to move; that unit can either make a Normal Move, it can Advance, or it can Remain Stationary. If a unit is within Engagement Range of any enemy models when it is selected to move, it cannot make a Normal Move or Advance; it can either Remain Stationary or it can Fall Back. After you have finished moving that unit, you can then select another unit from your army to move in the same manner, and so on, until you have done so with as many of your units as you wish.

When you move a unit, you can move any of its models (you can also choose not to move some of the models in that unit if you wish). Whenever you move a model, you can pivot it and/or change its position on the battlefield along any path, but no part of the model’s base (or hull) can be moved across the bases (or hulls) of other models, nor can any part of that model (including its base) cross the edge of the battlefield. You can also rotate any movable part of the model (such as turrets and sponsons) when it is moved. The distance a model moves is measured using the part of the model’s base (or hull) that moves furthest along its path (including parts that rotate or pivot).

Remember that a unit must finish any type of move in unit coherency. If this is impossible, then that move cannot be made. No unit can be selected to move more than once in each Movement phase. Once you have moved all your units that you wish to, progress to the Reinforcements step of the Movement phase.

Normal Move

When a unit makes a Normal Move, each model in that unit can move a distance in inches equal to or less than the Move (M) characteristic shown on its datasheet, but no model can be moved within Engagement Range of enemy models.

Advance

When a unit makes an Advance, make an Advance roll for the unit by rolling one D6. Add the result in inches to the Move (M) characteristic of each model in that unit until the end of the current phase. Each model in that unit can then move a distance in inches equal to or less than this total, but no model can be moved within Engagement Range of enemy models. A unit cannot shoot or declare a charge in the same turn that it made an Advance.

Remain Stationary

If a unit Remains Stationary, none of its models can be moved for the rest of the phase. Any units from your army that were on the battlefield and were not selected to move in the Move Units step of the Movement phase are assumed to have Remained Stationary that phase.

Fall Back

When a unit Falls Back, each model in that unit can move a distance in inches equal to or less than the Move (M) characteristic shown on its datasheet, and when doing so you can move it within Engagement Range of enemy models, but it cannot end its move within Engagement Range of any enemy models – if it cannot do this then it cannot Fall Back. A unit cannot declare a charge in the same turn that it Fell Back. A unit cannot shoot or attempt to manifest a psychic power in the same turn that it Fell Back unless it is TITANIC.

2. Reinforcements

Some units have a rule that allows them to start the battle in a location other than on the battlefield; units that use such rules are called Reinforcements, and they will arrive later in the battle as described by their rule. Any Reinforcement units that have not been set up on the battlefield when the battle ends count as having been destroyed.

If you have any Reinforcement units, then in this step of the Movement phase you can now select them and set them up on the battlefield, one at a time. Once all your Reinforcement units that you wish to set up this turn have been set up, the Movement phase ends and you progress to the Psychic phase. Details of how to set up Reinforcement units are described in the same rules that enabled the unit to be set up in a location other than the battlefield.

Reinforcement units cannot make a Normal Move, Advance, Fall Back or Remain Stationary in the turn they arrive for any reason, but they can otherwise act normally (shoot, charge, fight etc.). Models in units that arrived as Reinforcements count as having moved a distance in inches equal to their Move (M) characteristic in this Movement phase. If models in the unit have a minimum Move characteristic, those models count as having moved a distance in inches equal to their maximum Move characteristic.

Psychic Phase

Some models have the PSYKER keyword. In the Psychic phase, PSYKER can attempt to manifest psychic powers and deny enemy psychic powers.

Start your Psychic phase by selecting one eligible PSYKER unit from your army that is on the battlefield. PSYKER units that Fell Back this turn (other than TITANIC units) are not eligible. If you have no eligible PSYKER units from your army on the battlefield, and no other rules that need to be resolved in the Psychic phase, the Psychic phase ends.

Once you have selected an eligible PSYKER unit from your army, you can attempt to manifest one or more psychic powers with it. After you have finished manifesting all of this unit’s psychic powers that you want to, you can then select another eligible PSYKER unit from your army to attempt to manifest psychic powers with, and so on, until you have done so with as many of your eligible PSYKER units as you wish.

No unit can be selected to manifest psychic powers more than once in each Psychic phase. Once you have no eligible PSYKER units on the battlefield that you wish to attempt to manifest psychic powers with, your Psychic phase ends and you progress to the Shooting phase.

Psychic Powers

All PSYKERS know the Smite psychic power. Some know other powers instead of, or in addition to, Smite – the unit’s datasheets and other supplementary rules you are using will make it clear which powers each PSYKER knows. Each psychic power has a warp charge value – the higher this is, the more difficult it is to manifest the psychic power. A PSYKER unit generates their powers before the battle.

Manefesting Psychic Powers

The same PSYKERS unit cannot attempt to manifest Smite more than once during the same battle round. When you select a PSYKERS unit to manifest psychic powers, you select one psychic power that unit knows and attempt to manifest it. With the exception of Smite, you cannot attempt to manifest the same psychic power more than once in the same battle round, even with different PSYKERS units.

So long as the Psychic test was successful and the psychic power was not denied by a successful Deny the Witch test, the psychic power is successfully manifested and its effects, which will be described in the power itself, are then resolved. If the PSYKERS unit can attempt to manifest more than one psychic power in its Psychic phase, you can then attempt to manifest those, one at a time, as described above. The number of psychic powers each PSYKERS unit can attempt to manifest in its Psychic phase is listed on its datasheet.

Psychic Tests

When a PSYKERS unit attempts to manifest a psychic power, you must take a Psychic test for that unit by rolling 2D6. If the total is equal to or greater than that power’s warp charge value, the Psychic test is passed. If you roll a double 1 or a double 6 when taking a Psychic test, that unit immediately suffers Perils of the Warp.

Deny the Witch

When a PSYKERS unit attempts to deny a psychic power, you must take a Deny the Witch test for that unit by rolling 2D6. If the total is greater than the result of the Psychic test, the Deny the Witch test is passed and the psychic power is denied. Only one attempt can be made to deny a psychic power. If a PSYKERS unit can attempt to deny more than one psychic power in a psychic phase, this will be listed on its datasheet.

Shooting Phase

Start your Shooting phase by selecting one eligible unit from your army to shoot with. An eligible unit is one that has one or more models equipped with ranged weapons. Units that Advanced this turn, and units that Fell Back (other than TITANIC units) this turn are not eligible. If you have no eligible units, your Shooting phase ends. After you have shot with one of your eligible units, you can then select another of your eligible units to shoot with, and so on, until you have shot with as many of your units as you wish.

When you select a unit to shoot with, you select targets and resolve attacks with any or all ranged weapons that models in that unit are equipped with (each ranged weapon can only be shot once per phase). The ranged weapons that models in a unit are equipped with are detailed on its datasheet.

No unit can be selected to shoot with more than once in each Shooting phase. Once all your eligible units that you wish to shoot with have done so, your Shooting phase ends and you progress to the Charge phase.

Selecting Targets

When a unit shoots, you must select the target unit(s) for all of the ranged weapons its models are making attacks with before any attacks are resolved. If a model has more than one ranged weapon, it can shoot all of them at the same target, or it can split the weapons between different enemy units. Similarly, if a unit has more than one model, they can shoot at the same or different targets. In either case, when you select a target unit you must declare which weapons will target that unit before any attacks are resolved. If any of these weapons has more than one profile that you must choose between, you must also declare which profile is being used.

Only enemy units can be chosen as the target for an attack. In order to target an enemy unit, at least one model in that unit must be within range (i.e. within the distance of the Range characteristic) of the weapon being used and be visible to the shooting model. If unsure, get a look from behind the firing model to see if any part of the target is visible. For the purposes of determining visibility, a model can see through other models in its unit. If there are no eligible targets for a weapon then that weapon cannot shoot. If this is the case for all of a unit’s ranged weapons, then that unit is not eligible to shoot with.

If you have selected more than one target for your unit to shoot at, you must resolve all the attacks against one target before moving on to the next target. If your unit is shooting more than one ranged weapon at a target, and those weapons have different characteristics profiles, then after you have resolved attacks with one of those weapons you must, if any other weapons with the same characteristics profile are also being shot at that unit, resolve those attacks before resolving any attacks against the target unit with a weapon that has a different characteristics profile.

Note that so long as at least one model in the target unit was visible to the shooting model and in range of its weapon when that unit was selected as the target, that weapon’s attacks are always made against the target unit, even if no models in the target unit remain visible to or in range of it when you come to resolve them (this can happen because of models being destroyed and removed from the battlefield as the result of resolving the shots with other weapons in the shooting model’s unit first).

Locked in Combat

Models cannot make attacks with ranged weapons while their unit is within Engagement Range of any enemy models. Models also cannot target enemy units within Engagement Range of any other units from your army – the risk of hitting your own troops is too great.

Number of Attacks

When a model shoots a ranged weapon, it will make a number of attacks. You make one hit roll for each attack being made.

The number of attacks that a model makes with a ranged weapon is equal to the number written on that weapon’s profile after its type. For example, a model shooting an ‘Assault 1’ weapon can make one attack with that weapon; a model firing a ‘Heavy 3’ weapon can make three attacks, and so on.

Ranged Weapon Types

  1. Assault: If a unit includes any models equipped with Assault weapons, that unit is still eligible to shoot with in your Shooting phase even if it has Advanced this turn, but you can only resolve attacks using those Assault weapons when you select that unit to shoot with. If a model shoots an Assault weapon in the same turn in which its unit has Advanced, subtract 1 from hit rolls when resolving that weapon’s attacks.
  2. Heavy: When an INFANTRY model shoots a Heavy weapon, subtract 1 from the hit rolls when resolving that weapon’s attacks if the firing model’s unit has moved for any reason this turn (e.g. it made a Normal Move this turn).
  3. Rapid Fire: When a model shoots a Rapid Fire weapon, double the number of attacks it makes if its target is within half the weapon’s range.
  4. Grenade: When a unit shoots, one model that is equipped with a Grenade in that unit can resolve attacks with it instead of shooting any other weapons.
  5. Pistol>: A model can make attacks with a Pistol even when its unit is within Engagement Range of enemy units, but it must target an enemy unit that is within Engagement Range of its own unit when it does so. In such circumstances, the model can target an enemy unit even if other friendly units are within Engagement Range of the same enemy unit. When a model equipped with both a Pistol and another type of ranged weapon (e.g. a Pistol and a Rapid Fire weapon) shoots, it can either shoot with its Pistol(s) or with its other ranged weapons. Choose which it will fire (Pistols or non-Pistols) before selecting targets.

Making Attacks

Attacks are made using ranged or melee weapons. Attacks can be made one at a time, or, in some cases, you can roll for multiple attacks together. The following sequence is used to make attacks one at a time:

1. Hit Roll

When a model makes an attack, make one hit roll for that attack by rolling one D6. If the result of the hit roll is equal to or greater than the attacking model’s Ballistic Skill (BS) characteristic (if the attack is being made with a ranged weapon) or its Weapon Skill (WS) characteristic (if the attack is being made with a melee weapon), then that attack scores one hit against the target unit. If not, the attack fails and the attack sequence ends.

If an attack is made with a weapon that has an ability that says it ‘automatically hits the target’, no hit roll is made – that attack simply scores one hit on the target unit. An unmodified hit roll of 6 always scores a hit, and an unmodified hit roll of 1 always fails. A hit roll can never be modified by more than -1 or +1. This means that if, after all the cumulative modifiers to a hit roll have been calculated, the total modifier would be -2 or worse, it is changed to be -1. Similarly, if, after all the cumulative modifiers to a hit roll have been calculated, the total modifier would be +2 or better, it is changed to be +1.

2. Wound Roll

Each time an attack scores a hit against a target unit, make a wound roll for that attack by rolling one D6 to see if that attack successfully wounds the target. The result required is determined by comparing the attacking weapon’s Strength (S) characteristic with the target’s Toughness (T) characteristic, as shown on the following table:

WOUND ROLL
ATTACK’S STRENGTH vs TARGET’S TOUGHNESS D6 ROLL REQUIRED
Is the Strength TWICE (or more) than the Toughness? 2+
Is the Strength GREATER than the Toughness? 3+
Is the Strength EQUAL to the Toughness? 4+
Is the Strength LOWER than the Toughness? 5+
Is the Strength HALF (or less) than the Toughness? 6+

If the result of the wound roll is less than the required number, the attack fails and the attack sequence ends. An unmodified wound roll of 6 always successfully wounds the target, and an unmodified wound roll of 1 always fails. A wound roll can never be modified by more than -1 or +1. This means that if, after all the cumulative modifiers to a wound roll have been calculated, the total modifier would be -2 or worse, it is changed to be -1. Similarly, if, after all the cumulative modifiers to a wound roll have been calculated, the total modifier would be +2 or better, it is changed to be +1.

3. Allocate Attacks

If an attack successfully wounds the target unit, the player commanding the target unit allocates that attack to one model in the target unit (this can be to any model in the unit and does not have to be allocated to a model that is within range of, or visible to, the attacking model). If a model in the target unit has already lost any wounds or has already had attacks allocated to it this phase, the attack must be allocated to that model.

4. Saving Throw

The player commanding the target unit then makes one saving throw by rolling one D6 and modifying the roll by the Armour Penetration (AP) characteristic of the weapon that the attack was made with. For example, if the weapon has an AP of -1, then 1 is subtracted from the saving throw roll. If the result is equal to, or greater than, the Save (Sv) characteristic of the model the attack was allocated to, then the saving throw is successful and the attack sequence ends. If the result is less than the model’s Save characteristic, then the saving throw fails and the model suffers damage. An unmodified roll of 1 always fails.

5. Inflict Damage

The damage inflicted is equal to the Damage (D) characteristic of the weapon making the attack. A model loses one wound for each point of damage it suffers. If a model’s wounds are reduced to 0 or less, it is destroyed and removed from play. If a model loses several wounds from an attack and is destroyed, any excess damage inflicted by that attack is lost and has no effect.

Charge Phase

The Charge phase is split into two steps. First you charge with your units. Then your opponent performs Heroic Interventions.

  1. Charges
  2. Heroic Interventions

1. Charges

Start your Charge phase by selecting one eligible unit from your army that you want to charge, and declare a charge with it. An eligible unit is one that is within 12" of any enemy units at the start of the Charge phase. Units that have Advanced or Fallen Back this battle round, and units that start the Charge phase within Engagement Range of any enemy units, are not eligible units. If you have no eligible units from your army that you wish to charge with on the battlefield, progress to the Heroic Interventions step of the Charge phase. After you have finished charging with one of your units, you can then select another unit from your army to do so, and so on, until you have done so with as many of your units as you wish.

No unit can be selected to charge more than once in each Charge phase. Once all of your eligible units that you wish to charge with (if any) have declared a charge and have done so, progress to the Heroic Interventions step of the Charge phase.

Charging with a Unit

Once you have chosen an eligible unit to declare a charge with, you must select one or more enemy units within 12" of it as the targets of its charge. The target(s) of this charge do not need to be visible to the charging unit. You then make a charge roll for your unit by rolling 2D6. This is the maximum number of inches each model in the charging unit can now be moved if they can make the charge move. To make a charge move, the unit’s charge roll must be sufficient that it is able to end that move in unit coherency and within Engagement Range of every unit that was a target of its charge, without moving within Engagement Range of any enemy units that were not a target of its charge. If this is possible, then the charge is successful and the models in the unit make a charge move so as to fulfil the above conditions. If this is impossible, the charge fails and no models in the charging unit move this phase.

2. Heroic Interventions

Your opponent can now select an eligible CHARACTER unit from their army to perform a Heroic Intervention. An eligible CHARACTER unit is one that is not within Engagement Range of any enemy units, but is within 3" horizontally and 5" vertically of an enemy unit. After they have finished performing a Heroic Intervention with a CHARACTER unit, they can then select another eligible CHARACTER unit from their army to do so, and so on, until they have done so with as many of their units as they wish. If your opponent has no eligible CHARACTER units, the Charge phase ends.

No unit can perform more than one Heroic Intervention in each enemy Charge phase. A unit can never perform a Heroic Intervention in their own Charge phase. Once all of your opponent’s eligible CHARACTER units have performed Heroic Interventions that they want to, your Charge phase ends and you progress to the Fight phase.

Preforming a Heroic Intervention

When a unit performs a Heroic Intervention, you can move each model in that unit up to 3" – this is a Heroic Intervention move. Each model in the unit must finish its Heroic Intervention move closer to the closest enemy model. Remember that a unit must finish any type of move in unit coherency.

Fight Phase

Starting with the player whose turn is not taking place, the players must alternate selecting an eligible unit from their army and fighting with it (see below). An eligible unit is one that is within Engagement Range of an enemy unit and/or made a charge move in the same turn. If neither player has any eligible units to fight with, the Fight phase ends.

No unit can fight more than once in the Fight phase. If all of one player’s eligible units have fought, the opposing player can then fight with their remaining eligible units, one at a time. Note that after an enemy unit has fought and finished its Consolidation move, it might be that previously ineligible units now qualify as such – these units can then be selected to fight with. Once all eligible units have fought, the Fight phase ends and you progress to the Morale phase.

Charging Units First

Units that made a charge move this turn fight first in the Fight phase. This means that units that did not make a charge move this turn cannot be selected to fight until after all units that did make a charge move have fought.

Fight

When you select a unit to fight, it first piles in, then the models in the unit must make close combat attacks, and then the unit consolidates.

Pile In

When a unit piles in, you can move each model in that unit up to 3" – this is a pile-in move. Each model in the unit must finish its pile-in move closer to the closest enemy model. A model that is already touching an enemy model cannot move, but still counts as having piled in. Remember that a unit must finish any type of move in unit coherency.

Make Close Combat Attacks

When a unit makes its close combat attacks, before resolving those attacks you must first determine which models can fight and how many attacks they will make, then you select the target unit(s) for all of the attacks those models will make and declare what melee weapons those attacks will be made with.

Number of Attacks

When a model fights, it will make a number of attacks. You make one hit roll for each attack being made (see Making Attacks).

The number of attacks a model makes is determined by its Attacks (A) characteristic, which can be found on its datasheet. For example, if a model has an A of 2, it can make two attacks.

Select Targets

Before you resolve any attacks, you must first select the target unit(s) for all of the attacks. Attacks made by models in units that made a charge move this turn can only target enemy units that their unit declared a charge against, or that performed a Heroic Intervention this turn. In order to target an enemy unit, an attacking model must either be within Engagement Range of that unit, or within ½" of another model in its own unit that is itself within ½" of that enemy unit.

If a model can make more than one attack, it can make all of them against the same target, or it can split them between different enemy units. Similarly, if a unit has more than one model, each model can make their attacks at the same, or different targets. In either case, declare which attacks will target which unit(s) before any attacks are resolved, and resolve all of the attacks against one target before moving onto the next.

If there are no viable targets (because all enemy units are beyond Engagement Range etc.) then that unit cannot make close combat attacks, but it can still consolidate.

Select Weapon

When a model makes a close combat attack, it must do so using a melee weapon (i.e. a weapon that has the ‘Melee’ type). The weapons a model is equipped with are described on its datasheet. If a model is not equipped with any melee weapons, or if it cannot make an attack with any of the melee weapons it is equipped with, then that model makes its attacks using a close combat weapon, which has the following profile:

WEAPON RANGE TYPE S AP D
Close combat weapon Melee Melee User 0 1

If a model has more than one melee weapon, select which it will use before resolving any attacks. If a model has more than one melee weapon and can make several attacks, it can split them between these weapons however you wish – declare which attacks are being made with which weapons before any attacks are resolved. If the selected weapon has more than one profile that you must choose between, you must declare which profile is being used at the same time. Different attacks made with such a weapon can be made using different profiles if you wish.

If your unit is making attacks with more than one melee weapon against a unit, and those weapons have different characteristics profiles, then after you have resolved an attack with one of those weapons you must, if any other weapons with the same characteristics profile are also being used to make attacks against that unit, resolve those attacks before resolving any attacks against the target with a weapon that has a different characteristics profile. Note that all the attacks you have declared are always resolved against the target unit even if, when you come to resolve an individual attack, no models in the target unit remain in range (this can happen because of models being destroyed and removed from the battlefield as the result of resolving other attacks made by the attacking model’s unit first).

Consolidate

When a unit consolidates, you can move each model in the unit up to 3" – this is a Consolidation move. Each model must finish its Consolidation move closer to the closest enemy model. A model that is already touching an enemy model cannot move, but still counts as having consolidated. Remember that a unit must finish any type of move in unit coherency.

Morale Phase

The Morale phase is split into two steps. First you take Morale tests for your units. Then you remove any out-of-coherency models.

  1. Morale Tests
  2. Unit Coherency Checks

1. Morale Tests

Starting with the player whose turn is taking place, the players must alternate selecting a unit from their army that has had models destroyed this turn and taking a Morale test for it. If no units on the battlefield need to take a Morale test, progress to the Unit Coherency Checks step of the Morale phase.

A unit only needs to take one Morale test in each phase. If one player has finished taking Morale tests for all the units from their army that have had models destroyed this turn, the opposing player then takes all their remaining Morale tests, one at a time. Once all Morale tests have been taken (if any), progress to the Unit Coherency Checks step of the Morale phase.

Morale Tests

To take a Morale test, roll one D6 and add the number of models from the unit that have been destroyed this turn. If the result is equal to or less than the highest Leadership (Ld) characteristic in the unit, the Morale test is passed and nothing else happens. An unmodified roll of 1 also always results in a passed Morale test, irrespective of the total result. In any other case, the Morale test is failed, one model flees that unit, and you must then take Combat Attrition tests for the remaining models in the unit. You decide which model from your unit flees – that model is removed from play and counts as having been destroyed, but it never triggers any rules that are used when a model is destroyed.

Combat Attrition Tests

If a unit fails a Morale test, then after the first model has fled the unit, you must take Combat Attrition tests. To do so, roll one D6 for each remaining model in that unit, subtracting 1 from the result if the unit is below Half-strength; for each result of 1, one additional model flees that unit. You decide which models from your unit flee – those models are removed from play and count as having been destroyed, but they never trigger any rules that are used when a model is destroyed.

2. Unit Coherency Checks

Each player must now remove models, one at a time, from any of the units in their armies that are no longer in unit coherency, until only a single group of models from the unit remains in play and in unit coherency. The models removed count as having been destroyed, but they never trigger any rules that are used when a model is destroyed. Models removed because of this do not cause their unit to take another Morale test.

See a mistake? Let us Know!

Want to get in touch with the site creator? dooleymk@mail.uc.edu