20 Strategic Reserves

Holding units off the battlefield and bringing them into the fight.

  1. 20.01
  2. 20.02
  3. 20.03
  4. 20.04

20.01Strategic Reserves

Before the battle, in the Declare Battle Formations step, you can select one or more friendly units (excluding FORTIFICATIONS) to place in strategic reserves. Instead of setting up these units on the battlefield during deployment, place them to one side; they are strategic reserves units, and will arrive later in the battle Unless otherwise stated, the combined points value of all of your strategic reserves units (including those embarked within TRANSPORTS that are themselves placed in strategic reserves) cannot exceed 50% of your points limit for your battle size.

20.02Repositioned Units

Some rules allow units to be removed from the battlefield and placed in strategic reserves during the battle. Units that use such rules are known as repositioned units. In addition to any other rules that apply to such units (such as where they can or cannot arrive), all of the following rules apply to them: ▪ If used in the Movement phase, such rules can be used on units that have already moved that phase. ▪ A repositioned unit that is set up in the same turn in which it made an advance, fall-back or disembark move has still made an advance, fall-back or disembark move that turn. ▪ When they are removed from the battlefield, any rules that are affecting such units for a specified duration or under specified circumstances continue to affect them while that duration and/or those circumstances apply. Example: A unit that was within range of an aura ability when removed from the battlefield would no longer be affected by that aura ability if it is no longer within range of it when it makes an ingress move, but a unit that was battle-shocked when removed from the battlefield would still be battle-shocked if it makes an ingress move in the same turn.

20.03Strategic Reserves

To arrive on the battlefield, each strategic reserves unit must make an ingress move (see below). Unless otherwise stated, they can only do so from the second battle round onwards.

20.04Ingress Move

SET-UP DISTANCE: 6" ELIGIBLE IF: Your unit is in strategic reserves (excluding units that are embarked within TRANSPORTS that are themselves in strategic reserves). EFFECT: Your unit is set up as described in Set Up (03.02). WHILE MOVING: Set up your unit wholly within the set-up distance of one or more battlefield edges and more than 8" horizontally from all enemy units. ▪ Before the Third Battle Round: While doing so, no models can be set up within your opponent’s deployment zone. AFTER MOVING: Unless otherwise stated, until the start of the next Charge phase, your unit is not eligible to make any other type of move. At the end of the third battle round, unless otherwise stated, all strategic reserves units that have not made one or more ingress moves are destroyed, with the following exceptions: ▪ Units embarked within TRANSPORTS that have made an ingress move during the battle. ▪ Repositioned units (see opposite). FLYING AND SURGING This section supplements the basic rules for moving models, explaining how ADVANCED some units can fly over obstacles or surge closer to the enemy.