Category:Drive Assault

Rules Clarification:  : Assault      (Edit)
(Click Expand to read)

Step 1: Declare the charge

1. Are you in already melee? With any enemy, not just your charge target?
   • If yes, you don't get an Assault attack at all (Refer to the latest Errata). Instead it's just a normal charge.
   • If no, continue to Step 2.
2. Note: You cannot be "in melee" with a stationary/knocked down target. Feel free to declare charges (and Assault shots) in this case.
   • You can even charge a knocked down model you're in B2B with, advance 0", and get your ranged attack and your melee attack(s).

Step 2: Move the charging model

1. As soon as the movement is finished, determine whether it was a successful charge or not.
   • Do this before resolving anything that triggers on "Ends Movement" (like Admonition, Countercharge).
   • Do this before resolving your Assault attack.
2. Did you make a successful charge? You get the ranged attack even though you're "in melee" (not yet though).
3. Did you fail the charge? You will get the Assault shot anyway (not yet though).
   • Did you fail the charge, but end your movement in melee with someone different to your charge target? You get the ranged attack even though you're "in melee" (not yet though). (Infernal Ruling)
4. Now that you've figured out whether the charge successful, you resolve "Ends Movement" effects (such as Countercharge) before the Assault attack. (Infernal Ruling).
   • If something happens at this point that changes whether a model is in/out of melee range, it does not retroactively change a failed charge into a successful charge or vice versa.
5. If your charge was successful you may use "any time" abilities between 'finishing movement' and 'starting Assault attack'. (Infernal Ruling)
6. If you fail your charge, you may not use "any time" abilities before or after making the Assault attack. (Infernal Ruling)

Tip ! Assault is not a "triggered ability" and it will never trigger simultaneously with another ability that triggers/resolves at "ends movement". Instead, the other ability is always resolved before the Assault shot. You can make an Assault shot even if you charged less than 3".

Step 3: Make the ranged attack

1. The ranged attack is optional.
2. Since the Assault attack is outside your Combat Action, you can only do a basic ranged attack. CRA & Special ranged attacks are only allowed during your Combat Action, you can't do them. (Infernal Ruling CRA & Special Attack)
3. Did you move at least 3" during the charge movement? Who cares, that is irrelevant to the Assault attack!
4. Make your ranged attack vs your charge target
   • If the charge target is already dead (which can happen when units charge) then you don't get to redirect your Assault attack vs 'someone else'. You simply don't get an Assault attack. (Infernal Ruling)
   • A model which can do something "instead of making a ranged attack" (such as the Spriggan's Targeting Flare) then they can do that as an Assault attack. (Infernal Ruling)
   • If your ranged attacks triggers other attacks/damage that occur "after the attack" (such as Drag or Electro Leap) then those will resolve as per normal, regardless of whether you had a successful charge or not. (Infernal Ruling)
5. Is the target in melee with the shooter?
   • If yes, then you ignore the +4 DEF bonus (as per the 3rd paragraph of "Targeting a Model in Melee" (TMM) rules)
   • If no, resolve the ranged attack exactly the same as if it were a normal ranged attack.

Step 4: After finishing the Assault attack

1. If it was an unsuccessful charge, your activation now ends.
   • You may not trigger "any time" abilities. (Infernal Ruling)
   • You may not trigger "at the end of the activation" abilities (such as Sprint) (Infernal Ruling)
2. If it was a successful charge, and your charge target is ...
   • still alive, then you get your charge attack (as per the charge rules)
   • dead, then you get your initial melee attack(s) vs anyone still in your melee range (as per the charge rules).
3. Either way, you don't get to make more ranged attacks (other than the obvious exceptions like Gunfighter, of course).

Units

• Move all models in the unit before making any Assault attacks. (Infernal Ruling)
• Make all Assault attacks before making any Charge attacks. (Infernal Ruling)
• Each model in the unit is effectively "stalled" while you move/shoot the other models. This "stall" does not create an opportunity to use "any time" abilities. (Infernal Ruling)
• If a trooper's target dies before they make their Assault shot, they don't get to redirect it. You just skip their Assault shot. (Infernal Ruling)
• You cannot make Assault attacks while out of formation, as per the regular formation rules about making attacks.
• Assault & CRA (Edit)
  • You cannot mix Combined Range Attacks with Assault shots, as CRA works during your combat action and Assault shots occur before it. (Infernal Ruling)

Other

• Warbeasts
  • Warbeasts cannot use Assault during a Frenzy. Refer to the latest errata.
• Assault vs Countercharge ( Edit )
  • Things which are resolved when a model "ends movement" (such as Countercharge) need to be resolved before the Assault attack. (Infernal Ruling).
• Assault & Drag ( Edit )
  • You determine whether a charge was successful or not before making the Assault attack.
  • If you make an unsuccessful charge but then use Drag to get your charge target into melee range, then:
    • It is still a failed charge and your activation is going to end after the Assault attack is resolved. (Infernal Ruling)
    • You will get the free melee attack from Drag as part of resolving the Assault ranged attack. (Infernal Ruling)
    • Whether or not your charge was successful, this free melee attack is not a charge attack. (Infernal Ruling)
    • You won't be able to purchase additionals (because your activation ended).