Here is how terrain rules will change, along with board layouts, and updated line of sight in 4th Edition Age of Sigmar.
GW has promised that 4th Edition will bring many changes to the core rules, battletomes, and modular rules. However, you’ll need to know how to set up your boards, how terrain will affect your games, and what places of power will do! Things are getting a little simpler, but it should make games move quickly.
New Terrain Rules Are Here For 4th Edition AoS!
Here is the latest on terrain in 4th Edition Age of Sigmar from Warhammer Community.
- Models can move over terrain features that are 1 inch or less in height without any penalty while any move over terrain taller than 1 inch must count the vertical distance as part of their move.
- Units and models can no longer finish their move mid-climb. They can choose to jump down from the terrain and land on a lower level or on the floor, which will end their move.
- Any model, regardless of size or rank, can hide from the enemy’s line of sight by taking cover behind terrain.
- Terrain is classified into different types, each with its own set of rules.
- Impassable and obscuring terrain can be particularly difficult to navigate, while unstable terrain can be climbed over to reposition.
- Places of Power can let you banish spells as if you were a wizard.
- Regular scenery pieces are permanent fixtures on the battlefield.
- A unit may barricade itself on a terrain feature to gain an advantage with ranged weapons and leave no space to charge them. However, it is still possible to charge them by ending the move within ½” of the terrain feature.
Climbing & Line of Sight Terrain Rules Changes
In AoS 4th Edition, models can move over terrain features 1 inch or less in height without penalty, while any move over terrain taller than 1 inch must count the vertical distance as part of their move. However, units and models can no longer finish their move mid-climb. Additionally, they can choose to jump down from the terrain and land on a lower level or the floor, ending their move.
Regardless of size or rank, any model can hide from the enemy’s line of sight by taking cover behind terrain. This is critical because a unit can only be charged if it is within combat range and visible to the opponent. It cannot be charged if a unit is hidden behind solid walls.
This means even if you’re just a few inches away, but out of sight, you cannot be charged. This should make positioning units super important around the terrain.
4th Edition AoS Terrain Types & Rules
The intention of the new terrain system (from how simple it seems) is to provide clear and fair rules for both players. This should make it easy to decide before the game what counts as what type of terrain, and as long as you don’t fly, you get cover quite easily. Also, there are no limitations on how far behind a piece of intervening terrain a unit needs to be in order to benefit from cover.
Impassable and obscuring terrain can be particularly difficult to navigate, while unstable terrain can be climbed over to reposition. However, it’s important to note that you cannot end your move on unstable terrain, and miniatures should not be balanced on it.
Instead, you can end your move on sections of the terrain that are under 1 inch tall.
Places of Power Rules
Places of Power provide an action that lets your HEROES tap into arcane energies, unlocking their casting, chanting, dispelling, and banishing potential – at the risk of being overwhelmed by energy and suffering mortal damage.
Be sure not to roll ones when you’re using the Places of Power, or your mage’s head might explode! It can also let you banish spells as if you were a wizard, so it should be pretty important across the entire battle.
Battlefield Layouts
The Core Rules and General’s Handbookboth contain a Citadel Terrain List, which includes a list of terrain features old and new, with associated terrain type, size, and the number of pieces each feature should consist of.
In contrast to Faction Terrain, which is vulnerable to destruction, regular scenery pieces are permanent fixtures on the battlefield. As a result, players must always factor in these indestructible pieces as they navigate the terrain and vie for control of objectives.
A unit may barricade itself on a terrain feature to gain an advantage with ranged weapons and leave no space to charge them… but that doesn’t mean they are safe. Even if there is no space for other units to fully get in or on the terrain feature, it is still possible to charge them by ending the move within ½” of the terrain feature.
Overall, the new terrain rules in 4th Edition AoS seem to be a step towards a simpler and more streamlined system while still providing depth and strategic options for players. With the different types of terrain and rules for cover, navigating the battlefield and positioning your units will be key to winning games in the new edition of Age of Sigmar.
GW Confirms New AoS Edition, Free Rules & Release Date
What do you think about the Terrain rules for 4th Edition AoS?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
