What is the Relentless Rule in Warhammer 40K?
The Relentless rule is a crucial aspect of Warhammer 40K, a tabletop miniatures wargame produced by Games Workshop. It’s a game-changing ability that allows certain units to assault immediately after firing their ranged weapons, making them extremely deadly and formidable on the battlefield. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Warhammer 40K and explore the Relentless rule, its implications, and strategies surrounding it.
Understanding the Relentless Rule
The Relentless rule allows units to immediately charge and assault after firing their ranged weapons. This means that these units can take advantage of their range capabilities and then close in to attack their enemies without being disrupted by intervening enemies. Units with the Relentless rule are immune to the usual 6" charge limit, allowing them to close the distance to their targets much more quickly.
Benefits of the Relentless Rule
The Relentless rule provides several benefits to units that possess it:
- Enhanced Mobility: Units with the Relentless rule can quickly close the distance to their targets, making them harder to hit with ranged attacks.
- Increased Combat Effectiveness: By charging immediately after firing their ranged weapons, units with the Relentless rule can deal more damage and potentially wipe out their opponents before they have a chance to react.
- Improved Flexibility: The Relentless rule allows units to adapt quickly to changing circumstances on the battlefield, making them more unpredictable and difficult to pin down.
Examples of Units with the Relentless Rule
Some notable examples of units with the Relentless rule in Warhammer 40K include:
- Infernus Heavy Mortars: These heavy mortars can fire their explosive rounds and then charge forward, taking advantage of their ability to quickly close the distance to their targets.
- Heavy Bolter Dreads: These fearsome machines can unleash their hail of bolter rounds and then charge into combat, dealing massive damage to their enemies.
- Storm Shields: These elite Space Marines can use their Storm Shields to absorb damage and then charge forward, taking advantage of their ability to close the distance to their targets quickly.
Strategies and Tactics
When incorporating units with the Relentless rule into your Warhammer 40K army, here are some key strategies and tactics to consider:
- Combine with Other Abilities: The Relentless rule works best when combined with other abilities, such as Rapid Fire or Heavy weapons, to create a devastating combination.
- Use Terrain to Your Advantage: The Relentless rule is more effective when used in conjunction with terrain features, such as buildings or ruins, which can provide cover and concealment for your units.
- Target Soft Units: Units with the Relentless rule are particularly effective against soft targets, such as enemy vehicles or troops, which are vulnerable to rapid, sustained attacks.
- Concentrate Firepower: The Relentless rule allows units to focus their firepower on a single target, making them particularly effective in close combat.
Conclusion
The Relentless rule is a powerful and game-changing ability in Warhammer 40K. By understanding its benefits, strategies, and tactics, you can incorporate units with the Relentless rule into your army and reap the rewards of enhanced combat effectiveness, improved mobility, and increased flexibility. Remember to combine the Relentless rule with other abilities and tactics to create a devastating combination that will give you the edge on the battlefield.