Come see today’s rules conundrum that takes a closer look at a popular Land Raider formation from codex Space Marines!
I had this puzzling scenario come up recently about just how “unstoppable” the Land Raider Spearhead is.
What happens if you hit the formation with a GRAV weapon (or another “effect” based weapon), and the Land Raider tank is within 6″ of another one from this formation? Does the shot inflict a hull point, immobilize the tank (for later hull point multipliers), or is the shot invalidated by this formation’s special rule?
Well let’s take a look at the how Grav works:
The key phrase here may be “loses a hull point”, because without that it seems like the formation’s special rule to ignore such results would render Grav weapons impotent against the heavy treads of the Astartes.
Take a look at how the main rule book clarifies damage effects, versus hull points:
So in this scenario would the Land Raider spearhead ignore the effects of the Immobilization result, but still lose a hull point, OR ignore both being Immobilized and losing a hull point because there is no roll on the Vehicle Damage chart?
Even ignoring the just the immobilization result is HUGE in my opinion because the last thing a Land Raider wants is to be stuck in one spot, and the fact that it has FOUR hull points can keep it in the game a bit longer than most tanks as well!
So what say ye? Is the Land Raider Spearhead the next best thing to sliced bread OR is trying to deflect the full effects of Grav weapons a bridge too far?
More 40k Rules Conundrums
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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.
