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My search-fu isn't great, and all I could find was a two post topic from 2007.

Can a psyker use powers when locked in combat? I'm thinking definitely not for psychic shooting attacks, but am unsure about other psychic powers.

For example, can a librarian, at the start of the shooting phase, use Null Zone whilst locked in combat?

And additionally, what about powers used at the start of the assault phase - would those be treated any differently?

andruin wrote:My search-fu isn't great, and all I could find was a two post topic from 2007.

Can a psyker use powers when locked in combat? I'm thinking definitely not for psychic shooting attacks, but am unsure about other psychic powers.

For example, can a librarian, at the start of the shooting phase, use Null Zone whilst locked in combat?

And additionally, what about powers used at the start of the assault phase - would those be treated any differently?

Unless a power specifically mentions it can be used in combat (e.g. The Force Weapon Power), then it can't. This is because the rules tell you what you can do, not what you can't.

The rules tell me that at the start of the shooting phase I can cast Null Zone.

andruin wrote:The rules tell me that at the start of the shooting phase I can cast Null Zone.

The rules do not tell you you may do so if locked in combat.

I agree, it is not clear.

Gwar is right. Regardless of which 'phase' a Psychic power is cast, unless it specificly tells you that it can be cast if your in combat then you cant cast it.

Gwar! wrote:The rules do not tell you you may do so if locked in combat.

They also don't tell you that you may do so if standing on a hill. Or within 12" of the edge of the board. Or on a Tuesday.

There is nothing in the Close Combat rules that over-rides the ability to use non-shooting Psychic attacks, so they would be usable as normal.


Having said that, the section on Shooting Into & Out Of Close Combat mentions that models can not shoot if engaged in combat as "Their attention is completely taken by the swirling melee."

Likewise, units don't take Morale or Pinning tests whilst locked, as they are considered much too focussed on the combat.

So I would think that it would be reasonable to assume that Psykers shouldn't be able to cast whilst in combat... but that's based on fluff and extrapolation, rather than RAW.

Having said that, the section on Shooting Into & Out Of Close Combat mentions that models can not shoot if engaged in combat as "Their attention is completely taken by the swirling melee."

Likewise, units don't take Morale or Pinning tests whilst locked, as they are considered much too focussed on the combat.

So I would think that it would be reasonable to assume that Psykers shouldn't be able to cast whilst in combat... but that's based on fluff and extrapolation, rather than RAW.

Unless of course you were to consider that psychic powers are an integral part of combat for some foes.

Gwar! wrote:

andruin wrote:The rules tell me that at the start of the shooting phase I can cast Null Zone.

The rules do not tell you you may do so if locked in combat.

I agree, it is not clear.

Yeah going to have to disagree on this one. A psyker power that isn't a shooting attack says that it can be used at the start of X. There is nothing to my recollection that says that you can't use non-shooting psy powers, therefor the text granting the ability to use them isn't negated.

Correct me please with a page number specifically stating you can't use a non-shooting psyker power while locked in CC if there is one.

Gwar! wrote:

andruin wrote:My search-fu isn't great, and all I could find was a two post topic from 2007.

Can a psyker use powers when locked in combat? I'm thinking definitely not for psychic shooting attacks, but am unsure about other psychic powers.

For example, can a librarian, at the start of the shooting phase, use Null Zone whilst locked in combat?

And additionally, what about powers used at the start of the assault phase - would those be treated any differently?

Unless a power specifically mentions it can be used in combat (e.g. The Force Weapon Power), then it can't. This is because the rules tell you what you can do, not what you can't.

No The Force Weapon Power specifically states that it can only be used in CC. This has no bearing on what other psychic powers do. Psychic Shooting Powers fall under the shooting rules and thus can't be used in CC or on a unit that is in CC. All other powers can be used at the specific time in which they are called to be used.

So is Null Zone a Psychic Shooting attack power? No
Does it Specifically state that it can't be used in CC? No
So when may I use it? Shooting Phase.

Just because you are locked in CC doesn't mean you ignore all other phases.

Just because a power happens in the shooting phase doesn't mean that it is a shooting attack.