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The round · Rulebook §8.6–8.7

09Phase 2 · Assault

This is where the damage is done: shooting, charges into melee and repositioning. Actions: Ranged Attack, Charge, Run and Hold.

Activations§8.6

Activate a Unit with its Activation Marker on the Movement side and pick one action: Run, Hold, Charge or Ranged Attack. Then flip its marker to the Assault side.
Units still in Reserves cannot act this Phase.
The first to Pass has initiative in Phase 3. When you Pass, mark (Assault side) any Units that did not activate.

Run and Hold§8.7.1 · 8.7.2

Run: an Unengaged Unit moves with exactly the same rules as a Phase 1 Move (Leading Model up to its Speed, the rest In Coherency, Gap Clearance, and not ending within 1" of enemies). Hold: it does nothing.

TipRun is one of the most overlooked tools for new players. If your Unit cannot shoot or charge anything worthwhile, do not Hold: close in for next round, step onto a marker or duck behind cover. Move + Run doubles your ground covered in a round.

Ranged Attack: choosing a target§8.7.3

A target is valid only if all of this is true:

At least one Visible model of the target Unit is within the weapon’s Range (measured base to base).
Only attacking models within Range of at least one Visible target model add dice.
The target’s Combat Tag matches the weapon’s Target (Ground, Flying or All).
Engagement: an Unengaged Unit cannot target an Engaged Unit (except template Spillover or PINPOINT). An Engaged Unit may only target the Unit(s) it is Engaged with.

Official FAQ v1.1PINPOINT only lets you shoot into a melee, not out of one at other targets. A BULKY weapon cannot be used while your Unit is Engaged.

Weapons and Batches§8.7.3

Each model fires one of its Assault Phase weapons.
All models using the same Weapon Profile must shoot the same target. A Batch = every model firing the same weapon at the same target.
If the Unit has several profiles, each may go at a different target, in separate Batches.
SIDEARM weapons fire in addition to the normal weapon, in their own Batch (and may pick another target). All models with the same SIDEARM must target the same Unit.
Order: declare one Batch’s target, resolve it fully, and then declare the next. You do not declare them all at once.
If an ability removes dice from a Batch, the player controlling that ability picks which ones.
If dice in the same Batch have different modifiers (e.g. LONG RANGE), roll them separately; it is still the same Batch.

Why it works this wayIf a Batch destroys the enemy Unit your Unit was Engaged with, your Unit is immediately Unengaged (unless still Engaged with another) and the remaining Batches may target freely.

Resolving the attack: the three pools§8.7.4

Dice travel through three pools: Attack Pool → Armour Pool → Damage Pool. Those that survive the whole way deal damage. Resolve each Batch in this order:

1
Roll to Hit
Each model with a valid target adds dice equal to its RoA. If the weapon has S Dice, add one Surge Die (different colour). Roll everything: each die equal to or above the weapon’s Hit moves to the Armour Pool; the rest are discarded.
2
Resolve Surge
If the target has the Combat Tag of the weapon’s Surge Type, move dice equal to the Surge Die result from the Armour Pool straight to the Damage Pool, with no Armour Roll. It can never move more dice than there are. If the tag does not match, ignore the Surge Die.
3
Armour Rolls
The defender rolls every die in the Armour Pool: each result equal to or above their Armour is saved and discarded; failures move to the Damage Pool.
4
Evade Rolls (only if eligible)
If the target is eligible, it rolls every die in the Damage Pool: each success is removed. It is eligible if an ability or keyword grants it, or if it is Engaged and suffering a Ranged Attack.
5
Damage and casualties
Multiply the remaining dice by the weapon’s Damage and add any earlier damage on the Damage Marker: that is the Total Damage. Apply abilities that reduce it. Then remove casualties one at a time (below).

Official FAQ v1.1Evade does work against Surge: it is rolled against the whole Damage Pool, including dice that arrived via Surge. Surge only skips the Armour Roll.

Official FAQ v1.1PRECISION, Surge and CRITICAL HIT work on the whole Batch (the combined dice pool), not per model. Only Range, visibility and per-model modifiers such as the LONG RANGE −1 are tracked per model.

Removing casualties (unengaged target)

An attack cannot remove more models than are Visible to the attacker.
While Total Damage equals or exceeds a model’s HP, remove one Visible model and subtract its HP. Repeat.
If every Visible model is gone, leftover damage is discarded: it never carries over to non-Visible models.
If damage remains but cannot kill the next model, record it with a Damage Marker (e.g. a die next to the Unit).

Official FAQ v1.1Casualties are limited by visibility, not Range: you may remove a model outside the weapon’s Range as long as at least one attacking model can see it.

Only Marines A can be removed: Marine B is within 1" of the terrain (Direct Cover), so it is not Visible to the attacker.Image: official rulebook · §8.7.4 · p.63

Removing casualties from an Engaged Unit

When the Unit taking damage is Engaged (from any source), ignore visibility and remove casualties in this strict order:

1
Models not within Engagement Range of any enemy.
2
Models within Engagement Range but not in base contact.
3
Models in base-to-base contact with an enemy.

At priorities 2 and 3, you cannot pick a model whose removal would end the Engagement with a specific enemy Unit, as long as another valid casualty exists at any priority.

Model B cannot be removed first because it would break the Zealots’ Engagement with the Hydralisk. When only one valid casualty is left, choose between the last A or B.Image: official rulebook · §8.7.5 · p.63

Why it works this wayThis priority stops the defender from removing exactly the model that keeps them stuck in a fight they dislike, like a free Disengage. Shooting into a melee wears down the outer models first.

▶ SimulatorFull attack simulator

Pick who attacks, with which weapons and at whom. Card stats load automatically. Add Batches to fire several weapons (or several Units) at the same target.

Attack type

Target

Weapon Batchesresolved in order · §8.7.3

AttackerWeapon

C-14 rifle: Target All · Surge Light D3 · — · Zergling: Biological, Light, Ground

Models firingOnly those in RangeLong Range (−1 to Hit)

Target modelsTarget rolls EvadeEngaged, HIDDEN, BURROWED or on High Ground

Hits (avg)

11.90

Damage dice (avg)

10.26

Damage (avg)

10.26

Kills (avg)

10.26

Wipe the Unit

Chance to kill at least:7: 97.6%8: 89%9: 78.4%10: 61.8%11: 43.8%12: 29.4%13: 17%14: 6.8%15: 2.6%

Advanced settings — modifiers, abilities (PRECISION, TOUGH…), Shield, existing damage

Weapon · Batch 1

RoAExtra diceHit3+Hit modifier−1 for LONG RANGEDMG

S Dice

PRECISIONCRITICAL HITCONCENTRATED FIRE0 = no capEvade mod.ANTI-EVADE (X) = −X

Target has the Surge Combat Tag

Target · Zergling

HPShieldExisting damageArmour6+Armour mod.TOUGHDODGEEvade4+0 = Null Value (–)Visible models

Target Engaged (casualties ignore visibility)

Template weapons§8.7.6

	Blast Template (BT)	Flamer Template (FT)
Alignment	Covers as much of the target’s base as possible; its centre is the Target Point.	The narrow end is flush with the attacker’s base, aimed at the target.
Line of Sight	From the target’s base to each covered model.	From the attacker’s base to each covered model.
Dice	1 per affected model in the main Unit (+ RoA modifiers).	1 per affected model in the main Unit (+ RoA modifiers).
Surge	Not rolled: it equals the number of affected models in the main Unit.	Not rolled: it equals the number of affected models in the main Unit.
Spillover	Each other Unit touched is a separate Batch: 1 die per model, no RoA modifiers, no Surge.	Same.

A model is affected if: the template partly or fully covers its base, it is on the same elevation as the Target Point, the line from the target (BT) or attacker (FT) is not blocked by Size 2+ terrain, and it is a valid target type.
Choose one enemy Unit as the Primary target. Other covered models, Friendly or Enemy, suffer Spillover if they share the elevation and a Combat Tag with the Primary target.
Flying models are on no elevation for templates: a ground-level template does not affect them unless the weapon has Target: All or Flying.

A Siege Tank’s Blast Template: it covers the target Zergling and another from its Unit (Main target), and partly a Roach from another Unit (Spillover).Image: official rulebook · §8.7.6 · p.64

A Firebat’s Flamer Template: the narrow end flush with its base, aimed at the target. It covers two Zerglings from the same Unit.Image: official rulebook · §8.7.6 · p.65

Official FAQ v1.1Template FAQ: Spillover only needs one shared Combat Tag plus the same elevation (Zerglings to Roaches works, both Ground). Weapon keywords (PRECISION, CRITICAL HIT…) only apply to the Main target, never to Spillover. Ability templates with no target (Psionic Storm, Plague) use the point under the centre as the Target Point, need no shared tags, and there Flying models do count at their base’s elevation. Guardian Shield removes one die from every Batch, each Spillover included.

Charge§8.7.7

An Unengaged Ground Unit moves into the Engagement Range of enemy Units.

1
Declare targets
All must have the Ground tag; Flying Units cannot charge or be charged. No Line of Sight is needed. Declare every target before rolling.
2
Charge distance
Pick the Leading Model and one target model per target Unit. Roll 1D6 and add it to the Speed. Measure along the real path, around impassable obstacles and following Gap Clearance.
3
Success or failure?
It succeeds only if the Leading Model can legally end: Wholly Within the Charge distance of its start, within 1" of EVERY declared target, not overlapping, and not within 1" of an undeclared enemy. If it fails, the Unit does not move and its activation ends.
4
Execute the move
Put the Leading Model in base contact with the target if possible (otherwise as close as possible within 1"). Set the rest In Coherency with this priority: A) base contact with declared targets, B) within 1" of them, C) as close to the Leading Model as possible. None may end within 1" of an undeclared Unit.

Zerglings charging two Units at once: to succeed, the Leading Model must end within 1" of both.Image: official rulebook · §8.7.7 · p.66

Why it works this wayCharges need no Line of Sight: melee warriors sense threats by sound and vibration. Otherwise attacking someone behind a wall would be impossible and melee Units would be useless on terrain-heavy maps.

After a successful Charge, effects such as IMPACT resolve: extra dice per model in the Fighting or Supporting Rank that go straight to Armour Rolls (no Surge, Damage 1). Details in Phase 3 and the wiki.

▶ SimulatorCharge odds

Charge distance = Speed + 1D6 (plus or minus any modifier). Measure the real path, around obstacles, to get within 1" of the target.

Speed4"Modifier0"E.g. Concussive Shells −2"Distance to cover7"How far the Leading Model must travel to get within 1" of the target

Chance

66.7%

You need to roll

Min / max

5" / 10"

Average

7.5"

Example · Rulebook charge

The Roaches (Speed 4) need to cover 7". The Marauders react with Concussive Shells: −2" to the charge. They now need 4 + D6 − 2 ≥ 7, i.e. a 5+ (33%). James rolls a 6 and makes it.

TipA failed Charge wastes the whole activation. Know your minimum (Speed+1), average (Speed+3.5) and maximum (Speed+6). If the target is at the edge, a Run now may guarantee the charge next round. Multi-charges are strong but risky.

In plain wordsShooting: roll to hit, Surge skips armour, the opponent rolls armour, sometimes evades, and what is left deals damage. Only what you can see can die. Charging: Speed + one die; if you reach within 1" of every declared target, you are in.

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The round · Rulebook §8.6–8.7

09Phase 2 · Assault

This is where the damage is done: shooting, charges into melee and repositioning. Actions: Ranged Attack, Charge, Run and Hold.

Activations§8.6

Activate a Unit with its Activation Marker on the Movement side and pick one action: Run, Hold, Charge or Ranged Attack. Then flip its marker to the Assault side.
Units still in Reserves cannot act this Phase.
The first to Pass has initiative in Phase 3. When you Pass, mark (Assault side) any Units that did not activate.

Run and Hold§8.7.1 · 8.7.2

Ranged Attack: choosing a target§8.7.3

A target is valid only if all of this is true:

At least one Visible model of the target Unit is within the weapon’s Range (measured base to base).
Only attacking models within Range of at least one Visible target model add dice.
The target’s Combat Tag matches the weapon’s Target (Ground, Flying or All).
Engagement: an Unengaged Unit cannot target an Engaged Unit (except template Spillover or PINPOINT). An Engaged Unit may only target the Unit(s) it is Engaged with.

Official FAQ v1.1PINPOINT only lets you shoot into a melee, not out of one at other targets. A BULKY weapon cannot be used while your Unit is Engaged.

Weapons and Batches§8.7.3

Each model fires one of its Assault Phase weapons.
All models using the same Weapon Profile must shoot the same target. A Batch = every model firing the same weapon at the same target.
If the Unit has several profiles, each may go at a different target, in separate Batches.
SIDEARM weapons fire in addition to the normal weapon, in their own Batch (and may pick another target). All models with the same SIDEARM must target the same Unit.
Order: declare one Batch’s target, resolve it fully, and then declare the next. You do not declare them all at once.
If an ability removes dice from a Batch, the player controlling that ability picks which ones.
If dice in the same Batch have different modifiers (e.g. LONG RANGE), roll them separately; it is still the same Batch.

Why it works this wayIf a Batch destroys the enemy Unit your Unit was Engaged with, your Unit is immediately Unengaged (unless still Engaged with another) and the remaining Batches may target freely.

Resolving the attack: the three pools§8.7.4

Dice travel through three pools: Attack Pool → Armour Pool → Damage Pool. Those that survive the whole way deal damage. Resolve each Batch in this order:

1
Roll to Hit
Each model with a valid target adds dice equal to its RoA. If the weapon has S Dice, add one Surge Die (different colour). Roll everything: each die equal to or above the weapon’s Hit moves to the Armour Pool; the rest are discarded.
2
Resolve Surge
If the target has the Combat Tag of the weapon’s Surge Type, move dice equal to the Surge Die result from the Armour Pool straight to the Damage Pool, with no Armour Roll. It can never move more dice than there are. If the tag does not match, ignore the Surge Die.
3
Armour Rolls
The defender rolls every die in the Armour Pool: each result equal to or above their Armour is saved and discarded; failures move to the Damage Pool.
4
Evade Rolls (only if eligible)
If the target is eligible, it rolls every die in the Damage Pool: each success is removed. It is eligible if an ability or keyword grants it, or if it is Engaged and suffering a Ranged Attack.
5
Damage and casualties
Multiply the remaining dice by the weapon’s Damage and add any earlier damage on the Damage Marker: that is the Total Damage. Apply abilities that reduce it. Then remove casualties one at a time (below).

Official FAQ v1.1Evade does work against Surge: it is rolled against the whole Damage Pool, including dice that arrived via Surge. Surge only skips the Armour Roll.

Removing casualties (unengaged target)

An attack cannot remove more models than are Visible to the attacker.
While Total Damage equals or exceeds a model’s HP, remove one Visible model and subtract its HP. Repeat.
If every Visible model is gone, leftover damage is discarded: it never carries over to non-Visible models.
If damage remains but cannot kill the next model, record it with a Damage Marker (e.g. a die next to the Unit).

Official FAQ v1.1Casualties are limited by visibility, not Range: you may remove a model outside the weapon’s Range as long as at least one attacking model can see it.

Removing casualties from an Engaged Unit

When the Unit taking damage is Engaged (from any source), ignore visibility and remove casualties in this strict order:

1
Models not within Engagement Range of any enemy.
2
Models within Engagement Range but not in base contact.
3
Models in base-to-base contact with an enemy.

At priorities 2 and 3, you cannot pick a model whose removal would end the Engagement with a specific enemy Unit, as long as another valid casualty exists at any priority.

▶ SimulatorFull attack simulator

Pick who attacks, with which weapons and at whom. Card stats load automatically. Add Batches to fire several weapons (or several Units) at the same target.

Attack type

Target

Weapon Batchesresolved in order · §8.7.3

AttackerWeapon

C-14 rifle: Target All · Surge Light D3 · — · Zergling: Biological, Light, Ground

Models firingOnly those in RangeLong Range (−1 to Hit)

Target modelsTarget rolls EvadeEngaged, HIDDEN, BURROWED or on High Ground

Hits (avg)

11.90

Damage dice (avg)

10.26

Damage (avg)

10.26

Kills (avg)

10.26

Wipe the Unit

Chance to kill at least:7: 97.6%8: 89%9: 78.4%10: 61.8%11: 43.8%12: 29.4%13: 17%14: 6.8%15: 2.6%

Advanced settings — modifiers, abilities (PRECISION, TOUGH…), Shield, existing damage

Weapon · Batch 1

RoAExtra diceHit3+Hit modifier−1 for LONG RANGEDMG

S Dice

PRECISIONCRITICAL HITCONCENTRATED FIRE0 = no capEvade mod.ANTI-EVADE (X) = −X

Target has the Surge Combat Tag

Target · Zergling

HPShieldExisting damageArmour6+Armour mod.TOUGHDODGEEvade4+0 = Null Value (–)Visible models

Target Engaged (casualties ignore visibility)

Template weapons§8.7.6

	Blast Template (BT)	Flamer Template (FT)
Alignment	Covers as much of the target’s base as possible; its centre is the Target Point.	The narrow end is flush with the attacker’s base, aimed at the target.
Line of Sight	From the target’s base to each covered model.	From the attacker’s base to each covered model.
Dice	1 per affected model in the main Unit (+ RoA modifiers).	1 per affected model in the main Unit (+ RoA modifiers).
Surge	Not rolled: it equals the number of affected models in the main Unit.	Not rolled: it equals the number of affected models in the main Unit.
Spillover	Each other Unit touched is a separate Batch: 1 die per model, no RoA modifiers, no Surge.	Same.

A model is affected if: the template partly or fully covers its base, it is on the same elevation as the Target Point, the line from the target (BT) or attacker (FT) is not blocked by Size 2+ terrain, and it is a valid target type.
Choose one enemy Unit as the Primary target. Other covered models, Friendly or Enemy, suffer Spillover if they share the elevation and a Combat Tag with the Primary target.
Flying models are on no elevation for templates: a ground-level template does not affect them unless the weapon has Target: All or Flying.

Charge§8.7.7

An Unengaged Ground Unit moves into the Engagement Range of enemy Units.

1
Declare targets
All must have the Ground tag; Flying Units cannot charge or be charged. No Line of Sight is needed. Declare every target before rolling.
2
Charge distance
Pick the Leading Model and one target model per target Unit. Roll 1D6 and add it to the Speed. Measure along the real path, around impassable obstacles and following Gap Clearance.
3
Success or failure?
It succeeds only if the Leading Model can legally end: Wholly Within the Charge distance of its start, within 1" of EVERY declared target, not overlapping, and not within 1" of an undeclared enemy. If it fails, the Unit does not move and its activation ends.
4
Execute the move
Put the Leading Model in base contact with the target if possible (otherwise as close as possible within 1"). Set the rest In Coherency with this priority: A) base contact with declared targets, B) within 1" of them, C) as close to the Leading Model as possible. None may end within 1" of an undeclared Unit.

▶ SimulatorCharge odds

Charge distance = Speed + 1D6 (plus or minus any modifier). Measure the real path, around obstacles, to get within 1" of the target.

Speed4"Modifier0"E.g. Concussive Shells −2"Distance to cover7"How far the Leading Model must travel to get within 1" of the target

Chance

66.7%

You need to roll

Min / max

5" / 10"

Average

7.5"

Example · Rulebook charge

The Roaches (Speed 4) need to cover 7". The Marauders react with Concussive Shells: −2" to the charge. They now need 4 + D6 − 2 ≥ 7, i.e. a 5+ (33%). James rolls a 6 and makes it.