Neural Shredder and Instant Kill

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**Wehrkind**

Ok, this is a carry over from the Sisters vs. Necron's thread in Tactics. The Callidus Assassin (from Codecies Daemon Hunters and Witch Hunters) has a weapon called a Neural Shredder which does a template attack with St X AP 1. In its rules it states it is Strength 8, but considers the target's Ld for purposes of wounding, giving the example that a Ld 9 model is wounded on 5+. Now, it doesn't specify anything for Instant Death, which is figured after saves are made.

So, what's your call? Can the Neural Shredder Instant Kill a Marine, or indeed anything, ever? It seems to me that the weapon is St 8 but with a special rule on how it is applied to wound. Since Instant Death is not a part of the phase where one determines wounds (rather a part of what you do after applying wounds after saves are made) it seems to me that it would Insta Kill T4 and lower, but I can see strong arguments the other way as well (particularly from Skyth.)

So, dispense some wisdom, if you will, in the name of the Emperor.

**skyth**

Reposting my argument as to why it can't insta-kill T:4...

"Strength: X" according to the codex.

The strength 8 is only used for rolling to wound, NOT for any other purposes (Including instant death). As this is a permissive rules set and the only thing strength 8 is mentioned for is explicitly rolling to wound.

If you make the argument that it applies outside of rolling to wound then the caveat "rather than using the targets' Toughness values, thier Leadership is used" applies to the Instant Death rule.

**onlainari**

I've heard arguments, mostly from those that use the *female dog* (as they call her), that it doesn't cause instant death. This is because it's not strength of double the model's toughness, it's strength X.

**don_mondo**

I use a Callidus and IMO the Neural Shredder does not cause Instant Death.