Hey guys, I got wrecked from a S2D player. He bought 9 Varanguards under the KNIGHTS OF THE EMPTY THRONE alliance (Wrath of the Everchosen). Made them his General and gave them the Grasping Plate artefact: Grasping Plate: The unit bearing this artefact is eligible to fight in the combat phase if it is within 6" of an enemy unit instead of 3", and it can move an extra 3" when it piles in. He was like 24" away and moved 19" running plus a +3 to move from a guy with a whip. He was like 5" from my Skinks and Astrolith (photo) and then he piled in. Is that move legal? Sounds strange to me that he can activate a unit 6" away. I thought it'd work as Kavalos Deathriders command ability: Deathrider Wedge: [...] in the following combat phase, that KAVALOS DEATHRIDERS unit can move an extra 3" when it piles in. Extra question I didn't include in the title, can he attack my SAB if he's behind an obstacle like he is in the image?
In this case, yes its legal. Only because it eligible to fight within 6” instead of 3”. But you will need to watch out. Not all units that have a longer pile in move than normal are allowed to pile in from outside 3”. Like Tree-revenants for example.
6'' activation and pile in is the single best tech in the game and i will die on that sword. It functionally gives you run and charge (because you can run and pile into combat), retreat and charge (because you can retreat and still pile into combat) along with so much just free movement. In this case you gotta deploy outside his maximum threat range (in this case 25''). Also, varanguard can attack twice if a unit is within 3, so you can situate your units so if one gets wiped out there isn't another within 3 for him to activate again. I'm playing a game against 9 varanguard (mark of nurgle tho) on sunday thats being streamed. I'll post a link when it happens.
all the yes and it works as one of the best defense abilities as well if you use it right. if you force the opponent to fight and then pile in then they can't hit you back
To answer your extra question, melee attacks don't require LOS. So if it's in range of the melee weapons, it can be attacked.
Its why i rate slaanesh seekers build. Alot of people rag on slaanesh as a whole but i truly believe it can take on almost everything if you play it well