Welcome to a new segment here on Spikey Bits, where I go over some rules clarifications and “gotchas” for 5th Edition.
I realize that there may only be less than a year left for this rules set, but there is still tons of time for gaming!
Not to mention there are a few big tournaments left to attend as well. So let’s get to it shall we?
Today im going to chat a little about Leadership checks. These also seem to be an area of grey when it comes to how they work, and when to take them etc.
Per the rule for Leadership on page 8 of the 40k rules; You check for leadership on 2D6 and for units that include models with different LD values you can use the highest value.
That’s pretty standard, but the big thing to remember for later is that Morale checks are a type of Leadership check, not a their own type of check, but a form of the ladder.
This fact is important to know when you have troops on the board that are fearless. Per the Universal Special Rule (Pg.75) for Fearless; those troops automatically pass all morale, and pinning checks only.
Very important distinction to be made there, and nigh invincible troops can still be brought low by a random “leadership” check. Fortunately tank shocking forces a morale check and not a leadership check, or there would be a lot more tanks zooming around.
Morale Checks as we said above are a type of Leadership check, and in normal situations are taken for 25 % Causalities, Tank Shocks, and Losing an assault (per the morale rules on page 44).
That brings my main point about these checks, for the 25% casualties you check based on whole models i.e. losing three of ten in a squad would force a check.
When suffering losses in assault however the modifier to the morale check looks at total wounds, not just model count lost. Plus keep in mind too, something getting insta-killed cause of say a power fist counts as losing all it’s remaining wounds.
Same check, but two different ways of doing it. Both however happen at the end of the phase, so don’t forget to roll that morale check from shooting before you go into assaults.
You never know, that squad that is about to get assaulted, may just run away and leave a nice juicy “would be assaulter” target for the rest of your army to play with.
Anyone have any other good Fearless/ Morale examples, drop a comment! -MBG
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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 the Las Vegas Open, each of which attracts thousands of 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 2011 Adepticon 40k Team Tournament. He was even featured for his painting in issue #304 of Games Workshop’s White Dwarf Magazine.
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.
