THE RULES
Q: Is an FAQ required when you can discuss things with your opponent before a game?
A: Players should always feel free to discuss the rules before a game, and change things as they see fit if they both want to do so, whatever the printed rules and FAQs may say. The rules and FAQs simply provide a ‘default setting’ for your games smile emoticon
Q: Is there any kind of facing in Warhammer Age of Sigmar?
A: No.
Q: Are re-rolls allowed based on the original dice roll or the final dice roll (after any modifications)?
A: Re-rolls happen before modifiers to the roll (if any) are applied. See page 1 of the rules sheet.
The Armies
Q: How large are games meant to be? What number of units or heroes should be on each side?
A: Games can be of any size – the larger the game, the longer it will take. We find it best to discuss the size of game you want to play with your opponent.
Q: Can you take more than one of a named (special) character (along the lines of Nagash or Archaon) in your army?
A: Yes, unless specifically noted otherwise. Players can always agree to use only one of each ‘named character’ or other model that represents a unique unit of which only one can be found in the Mortal Realms if they wish.
Q: If casualties split a unit into two groups, is it forced to reform the next time it can possibly make a move?
A: No, the unit can choose to remain stationary. However, if it does move, it must reform. If it is impossible for a unit to reform for any reason, then it is not allowed to move.
Q: Can I choose to inflict wounds on a unit in such a way that the removal of any casualties will cause the unit to be split into two or more groups?
A: Yes. If you do so, the next time the unit moves it must reform (see above).
Warscrolls and warscroll battalions
Q: Will warscrolls for models that are being discontinued be maintained?
A: Yes. You can find these by clicking on ‘Warhammer Age of Sigmar rules’ in the Here to Help menu on games-workshop.com.
Q: If I have two different warscrolls for the same unit, can I choose which to use, or must I use the most recently published version?
A: You can choose which warscroll to use, but it may be more convenient for your opponent if you use the most recently published version, especially if the earlier version is no longer readily available.
Q: Some units can carry different weapons, like spears or swords – can I build my unit (and my models) with different weapons? For example, 8 spears and 12 swords?
A: It depends on the description; if the description says that the unit is armed with spears or swords, you can only use one. If the description specifically states that the unit can use spears and swords, you can choose both.
Q: How do things like horn blowers and standard bearers work? Do you lose attacks for them or do you just get the benefits for having a model with a standard?
A: You just gain the benefits unless specifically stated otherwise.
Q: Can the leader of the unit take special weapons, like a Grandhammer?
A: Yes.
Q: When selecting models for a warscroll battalion, do named characters count towards the requirements? For example, in order to take a Great Moonclan, I need to take a Night Goblin Warboss. Does Skarsnik fulfil this requirement as he has the ‘Night Goblin Warboss’ keyword?
A: Yes, they can be taken if they have the appropriate keywords on their warscroll. Thus Skarsnik can be used as the Night Goblin Warboss of a Great Moonclan.
Q: Empire Archers and Bretonnian Mounted Yeomen have a similar ability to make a move as if in the movement phase after set-up. The Mounted Yeomen specify that they may also run. Are these two abilities different, or do they mean the same thing despite the different wording?
A: Although worded differently, the two abilities have the same effect. The wording of one ability should not be used to confer any meaning on the wording of another ability.
The Battlefield
Q: How is terrain intended to be used? Simply to block line of sight and/or for the use of warscroll rules?
A: The scenery models from the Citadel range that have warscrolls can use the rules on their warscroll (just as any other model can). Scenery models that do not have a warscroll for use the rules on the Warhammer Age of Sigmar rules sheet.
Q: Do units on hills benefit from cover?
A: No, hills are not considered to be scenery, they are considered to be part of the battlefield.
The Battle Begins
Q: What is ‘set-up’, exactly?
A: ‘Set-up’ is typically when a unit is placed on the table during deployment, but can also refer to a unit being deployed in a location other than on the battlefield, or being put into play once the game has started (a unit using the Stormcast Eternal Warrior Chamber’s Lightning Strike, the Chameleon Skinks’ Chameleon Ambush, or the Treelord’s Spirit Paths ability, for example).
Q: How do you deploy units in a battalion with special deployment rules (for example the Wood Elves Wanderer Host)?
A: All units in a warscroll battalion can be set up as one deployment or individually. As you set up each unit, declare to your opponent if it is using any special deployment rules.
Q: Do the casualties your opponent inflicts on summoned units count against your casualty total?
A: Yes.
Q: If a unit dies and comes back to life (for example Skarr Bloodwrath, or Stormcast Eternals), are they still counted as casualties?
A: No, they are not.
Q: If a battleplan says ‘do not use any of the victory conditions from the Warhammer Age of Sigmar rulesheet’, does this invalidate the sudden death rules?
A: Yes.
Q: Can either player choose to attempt a sudden death victory if they get outnumbered by their opponent during the game, or can they only claim it prior to the start of the game?
A: Sudden death objectives are determined before the first battle round, not during the game.
Q: Can models set up somewhere other than the battlefield (in the Celestial Realm, for example) use abilities or command abilities?
A: No. Only models deployed on the battlefield can use abilities or command abilities.
Abilities
Q: Are the effects of multiple duplicate spells and abilities stackable against the target?
A: Yes, unless specifically stated otherwise.
Q: Several abilities trigger when you roll a 6 or more – will a positive or negative modifier from a spell or ability affect this?
A: Yes. A 6 with a -1 modifier would become a 5, for example.
Q: What happens if two abilities affect the same dice roll? For example, if Screamers of Tzeentch – which near any Daemon Heroes of Tzeentch treat all hit rolls of 6 as hit rolls of 1 – were hit by a unit for which a hit roll of 6 produces a mortal wound.
A: The player whose turn is taking place uses their abilities first – see ‘When to use abilities’ in the Hints & Tips section for warscrolls.
Q: Two rules allow my model to ignore wounds or mortal wounds when it suffers them. Do I roll twice to avoid them as two rules allow it, or only once as both rules trigger the same action at the same time?
A: Roll twice, once for each ability.
Q: Is a model within X" of itself – i.e. if Arkhan the Black uses his ability that increases the range of spells cast by Death Wizards within 18", will this mean that Arkhan’s spells also have an increased range?
A: Yes, as long as they meet any other qualifiers for the spell or ability. This means that Arkhan the Black is affected by his own command ability.
Q: If a unit leaves the battlefield for whatever reason and comes back, do they lose any bonuses they had from abilities or spells? Also, if they had a ‘once per game’ ability, does it reset?
A: If it is the same unit, no to both questions. If the models have been slain and are being used to represent a different unit of the same type, then yes to both questions.
Q: There are abilities that come into effect when a roll is made of more than 6 (for example, a Lord-Castellant healing one wound on a target Stormcast Eternal unit on a save roll of 7 or more). Does Warhammer Age of Sigmar use the same ‘roll a 6 then roll a 4+/5+/6+ for 7+/8+/9+ saves respectively’ that Warhammer Fantasy Battle 8th Edition used?
A: In Warhammer Age of Sigmar you can only roll 7 or more on a single dice if modifiers are applied to the original roll. A roll of 6 with a +1 modifier becomes a 7. If no positive modifiers apply, then you can’t roll a 7 or more.
Wizards
Q: If I have several wizards, can I cast Mystic Shield multiple times on the same unit?
A: Yes.
Q: Can the summoning spells on some warscrolls be used by the appropriate caster even if none of the models from the warscroll are in my army?
A: Yes.
Q: If I summon a wizard, can that wizard use his magic abilities in the same hero phase?
A: Yes, in your hero phase you can cast spells and use abilities that your models have, in any order you chose to. As such, a newly summoned wizard may cast spells.
Q: When models are slain and removed from play, can they be brought back into play using abilities or spells that allow you to summon new models?
A: Yes.
Q: Wizards that can cast multiple spells have the wording that they ‘can attempt to cast X different spells’ per turn. Does this mean that they cannot cast the same spell more than once in a turn?
A: Yes.
Q: Can you keep summoning slain models (dice permitting) for ever and ever and ever?
A: Yes.
Movement Phase
Q: Since we measure from the model and not the base, does pivoting count as moving?
A: Yes, pivoting counts as moving. When making a move in Warhammer Age of Sigmar, you have to take into account how far all parts of the model have moved. Or to put that another way, trying to come up with a way of making a move that allows a model to move ‘further’ than its Move characteristic is illegal. It is not allowed for a model to move 5" towards or away from something, and end up more than 5" closer to or further away from it!
Q: A model cannot move through scenery but can move across it or climb it (unless it is stated otherwise on the scenery warscroll, I presume). Are my Drakespawn Chariots allowed to climb a Fortress Wall or move down from a Witchfate Tor or Fortified Manor?
A: For simplicity and ease of play, the core game rules allow any model to climb any piece of scenery. If you wish, you may want to say that models are only allowed to move to places that they could reach ‘in real life’, but you will need to apply a certain amount of common sense and discretion in order to make such a rule work well.
Q: Is it possible to make a unit/model run if it is retreating and/or flying?
A: Yes.
Q: Some scenery pieces allow you to garrison them. Most say they can be garrisoned if the unit begins its movement phase within 6" – does that mean that units that have a Move characteristic of less than 6" can still garrison them?
A: Yes.
Q: Are you allowed to move a unit through another friendly unit that is not engaged in combat?
A: Models can move through the gaps between the models in another unit (if they can fit), but are not allowed to move over other models unless they can fly.
Shooting Phase
Q: Can I shoot into combat, or at visible units inside a forest, where the target is clearly visible to my units?
A: Yes, in both cases.
Q: The rules allow units to use missile weapons, even if the attacking unit is in melee combat. Is this correct?
A: Yes. A model armed with a missile weapon may attack with it in the shooting phase, even if the enemy unit is within 3".
Q: Would an enemy unit of Orcs standing behind a unit of Goblins be visible to a unit of High Elf Archers? What about a cavalry unit behind regular footman? Is it visible or shielded by the unit in front?
A: If models in your attacking unit can see models in the target unit when you stoop down and look then they can see the target and attack it.
Charge Phase
Q: When rolling for a charge move, should you declare who you intend to charge first?
A: No. If you have a unit within 12" of any enemy units, you can declare a charge for that unit. You then roll for the distance the unit may charge, and then see what enemy units, if any, are in range. Note that you don’t have to make the charge even if a unit is in range, unless the charger has an ability that specifically says otherwise.