There seems to be some trouble in Space Marine paradise if you’re trying to use the new special Skyhammer Annihilation Formation! Come see an age old debate renewed.
It seems like we’ve had these special formation issues in the past. First with the Nemesis Strike force and trying to join characters to that formation in order to get them in on turn one, and most currently with the new ‘OP’ Skyhammer formation.
The debate is centered on the fact that these formations state that you can bring in the formations a certain way (usually on turn one), but what about if you attach special characters to them?
Many players just naturally want to join a bad ass character to the assault squads that can charge on the turn they come into play!
Any why not? The question is; Can you do it?
Let’s take a look at the new Skyhammer formation;
Shock Deployment All units in a Skyhammer Annihilation Force start the game in Deep Strike Reserve. Instead of using the normal deployment and reserve rules for these units, you can, during deployment, choose whether this Formation will arrive during your first or second turn. The entire Skyhammer Annihilation Force automatically arrives on the turn you choose—no Reserve Rolls are required. Ignore this Formation’s Drop Pods for the purposes of the Drop Pod Assault special rule.
So this let’s you bring in the formation on the turn you choose. Similarly the Grey Knights Nemesis Strike Force let’s you start rolling for them to arrive on turn one. Both distinct tactical advantages.
Now can you attach characters to said squads, and still be eligible to arrive in a special manner as these rules seem to indicate the entire formation is allowed to preform this action?
Pg 185 of the BRB, under Combined Reserve Units says the following;
That seems to only specify it’s okay to do when a die roll is to be made to preform a special action (such as the case with the Nemesis Strike Force). However it also seems to state that you can just add an Independent Character to a unit, and it MUST arrive together.
The plot thickens….
Now lets take a look at the Old/Current as of this article’s writing Dark Angel’s Deathwing Assault rule. This seems to be more relevant to this query, as it allows you to just nominate a turn for Belial and his friends to appear from reserves.
There’s the caveat that’s NOT included in the Shock Deployment rule above. It specifically says what units are eligible to preform this action unlike the two formation’s wording above.
So what’s the call folks? Can you add a character such as Shrike, or Dante to a Skyhammer Assault squad to power them up, and still be eligible for the special Shock Deployment action?
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
