Up to date · FAQ v1.1 (29/09/2026 revision)
14Official FAQ, explained
All 74 questions from Archon’s official FAQ, in plain words and grouped by topic. These answers carry the same weight as the rulebook.
Units & characteristics
▸How do Shields work, and can they be healed?
The Shield is added to the first model’s HP. A Zealot (4 HP) with Shield 3 has 7 HP on its first model. Lost HP from that total can be healed normally.
▸When exactly is SHIELDED Status lost?
In two cases: when Total Damage assigned exceeds the Shield (with Shield 3, at 4 or more, not 3; it is checked after damage resolves, so reducing damage beforehand can prevent it) or when the first model is removed. Healing cannot restore it.
▸How does non-lethal damage interact with SHIELDED Status?
It is added to the Total Damage and removes SHIELDED Status exactly like standard damage.
▸Can a destroyed Unit return to the game?
No, unless a mission or other rule specifically says so.
Measuring & movement
▸How do you check Out of Coherency for contesting objectives?
Coherency is only checked at the end of a move. If the Unit passed its last check, it stays In Coherency whatever casualties it took since.
▸Does Gap Clearance apply between models, or only terrain?
Both: a gap is any space between terrain pieces or models that a moving base must pass through.
▸Can models be placed on the far side of an enemy Unit when Charging or Closing Ranks, even with no gaps?
Yes. Coherency Links may pass through enemies you are Engaged with; if there is room, models can be set on the other side.
▸Can a Coherency Link pass through anything the Leading Model could, or only gaps?
Anything the Leading Model can legally cross. For example, Raptors can cross IMPASSABLE TERRAIN, so their links can too.
▸Can I place a model onto HIGH GROUND from an ACCESS POINT via Coherency?
Yes. Only the Leading Model moves along a path; the rest are set, and links may pass through ACCESS POINTS.
▸Can I Move or Run 0"?
No. If the Unit does not reposition, it counts as a Hold.
▸Must the Leading Model move its maximum in a “directly towards/away” move?
Yes, the maximum possible distance.
▸What if a base does not fit on HIGH GROUND?
Wobbly Model Syndrome: the base’s centre must stay on the terrain and it may overhang by the minimum needed.
▸How does Gap Clearance work with HIGH GROUND?
The HIGH GROUND edge counts as impassable terrain for gaps: 1" for Size 2 or lower, 3" for Size 3+. A Siege Tank can drive up a ramp if the space between its edges is at least 3", and may be placed on top using Wobbly Model Syndrome.
▸Can a Ground Unit move between unconnected HIGH GROUNDS?
No, only between connected ones.
The battlefield
▸Do I get Direct Cover within 1" of any part of the piece, even if not the part in the way?
Yes, as long as the trace crosses that same piece.
▸Can a Deactivated marker be controlled?
Yes, just like an Activated one.
▸In the draft, if both bring the same card, do I remove the card or the name?
Only that physical copy; the other stays available.
▸Are the long walls in official maps one piece or several?
Multiple independent pieces.
▸In Artefact Hunt, can a Flying or BURROWED Unit claim a Controlled marker?
Yes: the rule stopping them from controlling or contesting does not stop them claiming in that mission.
▸In Supply Drop, which comes first: marker activation or the Priority Roll?
The marker activation roll comes first.
Deployment, Entry Edges & Zone of Influence
▸If HIGH GROUND touches the table edge, can a Unit deploy directly onto it?
Yes, if it touches your Entry Edge, following the normal rules (In Coherency, etc.).
▸What if HIGH GROUND touches an Omega Worm or Pylon base?
No: you cannot deploy onto a different elevation than the Unit you deploy from.
▸Does Omega Network count as an Entry Edge (e.g. for Photon Overcharge)?
Yes. The Omega Worm and a Pylon’s base are Friendly Entry Edges: you can trigger Burrow Ambush from them and they are immune to enemy denial like Photon Overcharge. Proxy Barracks or a Warp Prism do not create Entry Edges.
▸Can a Unit deployed through a Pylon do anything else?
No: deploying consumes its whole activation. Place its Activation Marker.
▸Does Omega Network generate a Zone of Influence?
No, only the Deployment Card’s edges.
▸How do end-of-round deployments from a marker work?
Leading Model in base contact with the marker, the rest In Coherency, all outside enemy Engagement Range. If impossible, the ability is wasted.
▸Can I use an ability before deploying (e.g. Stimpack for Speed)?
No. Only abilities that say they work in Reserves (like “Raiders Roll!”) or that deploy the Unit (like “Armed and Ready” or “Phase Prism”).
▸What does “Nominated to deploy” mean?
A Unit performing a Deploy action, through any rule.
▸Does the Creep speed buff apply to the Deploy move?
No: abilities do not work in Reserves and the Unit cannot be ON CREEP before entering. Use its standard Speed.
Attack sequence
▸Do Evade rolls work against Surge?
Yes. Evade is rolled against the whole Damage Pool; Surge only skips Armour.
▸Can ANTI-EVADE negate a roll entirely?
No. Target Numbers never go beyond 6+.
▸Can Ranged Attacks kill models out of Range if they are Visible?
Yes: casualties are limited only by visibility, not Range.
▸If all my models are in base contact, can I Close Ranks?
No: the Leading Model must end closer than it started.
▸How are casualties removed when fighting several Units?
You must keep Engagement with ALL of them: at priorities 2 and 3 you cannot remove a model that breaks Engagement with any, if another valid casualty exists.
▸With several weapons, do I declare all targets before rolling?
No: one Batch at a time; resolve one fully, then declare the next.
▸In what order are Blast Template attacks resolved?
In any order, remembering Spillover gets no modifiers.
Abilities & Tactical Cards
▸How do CP, BM and PE work when paying?
By Exhausting Ready cards of the right resource. Excess is lost (Exhausting a 2 CP card for a 1 CP ability wastes 1).
▸Is a Unit within range of itself?
Yes, unless stated otherwise.
▸Does a Tactical Card’s Active Ability require an active Unit?
Yes, always, even if the card does not affect it.
▸Can a Unit use several Active abilities or Tactical Cards in its activation?
Yes, if differently named and you can pay. But only one Reaction per activation, and each named Active once per Round (a single Marine Unit cannot use “Go! Go! Go!” twice).
▸Marauder Concussive Shells: LoS to the charger or to the Friendly Unit charged?
Only to the Friendly Unit (the one within 8").
▸Do the IMPACT modifiers from Malignant Creep, Evolution Chamber and Adrenal Overload stack?
Yes: numeric modifiers from different sources, up to +3.
▸Does Accelerating Creep stack with Queen’s Creep Speed, Wild Mutation or Glial Reconstitution?
Movement modifiers from different sources stack unless they share the BUFF keyword. Accelerating Creep and Creep Speed stack with everything; Wild Mutation and Glial Reconstitution (both BUFF Speed) do not stack with each other.
▸Can an opponent stand on my Faction Indicator?
Yes. If you can no longer put the Leading Model in base contact, the indicator stays until End of Round and is removed without deploying.
▸How is Artanis’s Phase Prism PLACE (0) resolved?
Place Artanis in base contact with a model of the selected Unit.
▸Can damage already assigned be removed?
Yes: reduction applies to Total Damage (existing + new). Marauders with 2 damage taking 1 more can remove all 3 with Life Support.
▸Can Roaches with Tunnelling Claws move through a Force Field?
No: they only pass through enemy Units, and a Force Field is terrain.
▸Does PLACEing a Size 3 Unit into a Force Field remove it?
No: PLACE is not movement.
▸Can Raptors cross Force Fields?
No: Force Fields forbid Size 2 or less, and Raptors are Size 1.
▸When is ON CREEP checked for Accelerating Creep?
At the start of the move: if it starts ON CREEP, it keeps the bonus for the whole move.
▸Can I use Academy’s Advanced Training if the card is Exhausted?
No, until it is Refreshed in Phase 4.
▸Can Reactions be used outside an activation?
Yes, whenever their trigger happens. Outside activations you may resolve only one Reaction per trigger Phase (if that Unit has not already used that Reaction this Round), and if both react, the First Player Marker holder goes first.
▸What counts as targeting a Structure?
Abilities affect a Structure if they target an area or the Unit (not a specific model). It is excluded only if the ability’s requirements or keywords rule it out.
▸Difference between “select” and “target”?
None: they are synonyms.
▸Can an Adept Psionic Transfer while carrying a claimed marker in Artefact Hunt?
No.
▸Can Raynor’s Raiders Rapid Reinforcement PLACE themselves from a Structure?
No.
▸Does Combat Shield grant Evade against Non-Lethal Damage, Psionic Storm or Plague?
Yes.
Keywords
▸Does PINPOINT let an Engaged Unit shoot outside targets?
No: it only allows shooting into combat (at Engaged enemies).
▸Can I remove a Creep Tumor with PLACE?
No: it is only removed when a Unit ends a Move, Deploy, Run, Charge or Disengage within 1" of it.
▸LOCKED IN: who must be STATIONARY?
The target.
▸INDIRECT FIRE when only some target models are visible
No Evade, and non-visible models can still be removed: since at least one is visible, the Unit counts as within LoS.
▸If HIDDEN blocks targeting beyond 4", how do 6" detection abilities work?
They target a location, not the Unit: they place a Faction Indicator with a 6" area, bypassing the 4" restriction.
▸When are “while within” effects checked?
At the start and end of any action or ability during the Round; if met, it applies immediately.
▸Can a REPEATABLE Reaction be used several times in one activation?
No: the one-Reaction-per-activation limit still applies. Outside activations, once per trigger.
▸PRECISION, Surge and CRITICAL HIT: per model or per Unit?
Per Batch (the combined dice of that weapon). Only Range, visibility and per-model modifiers such as LONG RANGE are tracked per model.
▸How does PRECISION work when splitting attacks between Units in melee?
It is a single Batch: apply PRECISION entirely to one target or split it.
▸Does morphing give the opponent VP if Supply drops?
Yes: whenever a Unit’s Supply drops, even through a Morph, the opponent gains VP equal to the Supply lost.
▸Does a MORPHED Unit give VP when losing Supply?
Yes, like any other Unit.
▸If a Specialist model dies, can another model take the weapon?
No, nor remove a different model instead.
▸Can Psionic Transfer SET Adepts within Engagement Range?
Yes.
Templates & Spillover
▸How do Psionic Storm or Plague resolve with no Primary Target?
The Unit using it is the attacker; the point under the template’s centre is the Target Point and Primary Target; no shared tags are needed; affected models must share the Target Point’s elevation, and here Flying Units count at their base’s elevation.
▸Must Spillover share the Primary target’s Combat Tag?
Sharing at least one tag and the elevation is enough. Zerglings to Roaches works (both Ground); Mutalisks no, since Flying Units occupy no standard elevation for templates.
▸How does Guardian Shield interact with Spillover?
It applies to each Batch separately: every Ranged Attack at the protected Unit (main or Spillover) has one fewer die.
▸Do PRECISION or CRITICAL HIT apply to Spillover?
No: weapon keywords only apply to the Main Target.
ImportantSource: StarCraft TMG FAQ v1.1 published by Archon (25/09/2026, revised 29/09/2026). If a newer version comes out, the official answers win.