The latest White Dwarf tactics piece from Stephen Box digs into cover and why it wins games. It reads like hard truth you can use on any table tonight.
Consequently, it threads math, movement, and model placement into clear decisions. As a longtime player, I felt seen by the examples and the pitfalls. Therefore, let’s pull the big takeaways and translate them into table sense.
The Benefit of Cover, In Practice
Cover is math first, vibes second. A Fire Warrior in cover has a 66% survival chance against AP 0. Without cover, that drops to 50, which is massive across a game. Therefore, understanding line of sight and terrain interactions changes outcomes. You learn quickly that even one shooter missing full visibility can grant a unit cover.
Consequently, attackers should shift angles to see every model in the target. Defenders should stagger bodies so someone stays partially hidden. Moreover, this small visibility trick turns brutal AP into a clutch save. Meanwhile, the core terrain rules frame the “when” and “how,” but the payoff is positioning.
Wound Allocation and Target Priority Tricks
Stephen’s Space Marines versus T’au examples show the sequencing mind game. Heavy Intercessors see all Fire Warriors, but only some are in cover. Therefore, the T’au should take saves on the covered models into AP −1. However, if weapons ignore cover, removing exposed models first makes more sense. Consequently, you protect the models that can still benefit later.
Target priority can kneecap return fire before dice settle. If a Redemptor shoots Crisis suits first, the T’au can pull the key model. Therefore, an Eradicator might lose line of sight and half range for melta. To prevent that, Marines should fire Eradicators first to lock damage. Additionally, if even one Eradicator cannot see the whole unit, the suits gain cover and keep a 6+. It is tiny, but it swings games when one model survives to score or tag.
Terrain Quirks You Can Exploit
Fuel pipes and barricades reward clean placement. Fire Warriors wholly within 3 inches and only partially visible gain cover. The nearby Commander lacks the Infantry keyword and misses that benefit. Some players think close range removes cover if both sides touch the same pipe. However, partial visibility still grants the Benefit of Cover at that range. Also remember Engagement Range is 2 inches across pipes or barricades, which can bait awkward charges.
Woods flip depending on who is inside. Generally, shooting through woods grants the target cover unless they are Aircraft or Towering. However, a unit wholly within woods sees out normally. In Stephen’s example, a Dread not wholly inside gives T’au suits cover. If it nudges forward to be wholly inside, the suits become fully visible. Consequently, the T’au then shoot back through woods, which hands the Dread cover.
Positioning That Denies Saves
The Dreadnought behind Armoured Containers is chef’s kiss. It hides from left angles but still sees the Commander’s whole base. Therefore, the Commander gets no cover against that Dread’s guns. If the Commander lives, the T’au must swing far right to return full visibility. Consequently, Marines control tempo and force inefficient moves just to take fair shots.
Smart placement decides who even gets to roll saves, let alone make them. Moreover, casualty order turns shooting phases into puzzles, not coin flips. Meanwhile, every inch you move to fix visibility is worth more than an extra reroll. Therefore, build habits that check lines, check keywords, and plan removals before rolling.
Summary
White Dwarf’s tactics piece makes cover feel like a weapon, not a shelter. Taking saves on covered bodies, firing in the right order, and moving to see entire units matter. Fuel pipes, barricades, and woods add keywords and edge cases that savvy players exploit. Consequently, you can flip tough turns by forcing partial visibility and banking those bonus saves.
In short, cover rewards players who think two moves ahead and punish sloppy angles. Therefore, rehearse these lines during setup and practice casualty pulls in your head. As you do, your army will stay standing longer and swing back harder. And yes, your opponents will notice when their best guns whiff into smartly layered cover.
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