Exarch powers and ICs

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**Araenion**

I've a question about Eldar Exarch powers and ICs joining the Aspect warrior squads. For example, I know Autarch benefits from them, but does Defend, for example, also work on a Farseer joined with a squad of Dire Avengers? How about Bladestorm with a Fusion gun autarch? Reasonable thing to assume would be he'd need to have the Avenger shuriken catapult, but I'm interested in RAW of this. Bladestorming with a Fusion gun seems quite interesting.

**insaniak**

Exarch powers only ever affect Aspect Warriors and Autarchs. This is stated on page 21 of the codex, in the section entitled 'Exarch Powers'

**Araenion**

I am aware of that, but the wording on Defend states that the Exarch's "unit" gains this benefit, hence the question.

More importantly, can you Bladestorm with a gun other than Avenger shuriken catapult?

**BrockRitcey**

If the powers weren't explicitly limited to the aspect warriors and autarchs then maybe. Since page 21 limits them it doesn't matter what the wording is because they have a specific rule on who gets the powers.

**insaniak**

Araenion wrote:I am aware of that, but the wording on Defend states that the Exarch's "unit" gains this benefit, hence the question.

Doesn't matter. The rule on page 21 would take precedence. Only those members of the Exarch's squad that are actually Aspect Warriors or Autarchs can benefit from the rule.

Not that it matters much in this particular case... A joined Farseer (or any other IC) is counted as a separate unit in close combat. So even if the rule on page 21 didn't specifically exclude anything that isn't an Aspect Warrior or Autarch from benefiting from the Exarch's ability, at the point where Defend has any effect, the IC isn't considered a part of the unit anyway.

More importantly, can you Bladestorm with a gun other than Avenger shuriken catapult?

**phyrephly**

insaniak wrote:

A joined Farseer (or any other IC) is counted as a separate unit in close combat.

So let's consider the following. An autarch joins a unit of Howling Banshees. Can you then only charge the IC? If you are already locked in combat can you make all your roll's against only the IC?

I am sure this is NOT the case.

**nosferatu1001**

Not excactly sure what youre asking here. Not at all.

You may be mistaking COUNTS AS for IS. When you charge Banshees+Autarch, they are one unit. When you come round to *resolving* the combat, you TREAT the IC as a seperate unit - in other words, only models in btb with the IC (or within 2" of a model in btb with the IC) can attack the IC. IF you are in btb with only the IC (no banshees) you MUST attack the IC, etc.

**Grakmar**

So, as a summary, for my understanding as much as anyones

Please correct me if I'm wrong:

DA
Bladestorm: Shuriken weapons only. An Autarch with a Shuriken weapon would get a bonus shot. Farseer would not.
Defend: Models alocating at least 1 attack to a DA or joined Autarch would loose an attack. Models only attacking the Farseer would not loose an attack.

Banshee
War Shout: Only effects enemy squad negatively, no bonus to Banshees. So, Farseer or Autarch could "benefit" from this.
Acrobatic: Autarch gains counter-attack, Farseer does not.

Dragon
Tank Hunters: Autarch gains Tank Hunter, Farseer does not.
Crack Shot: Exarch only effected.

Scorpion
Shadowstrike: Autarch explicitly forbidden. If an IC joins (other than Kahrandras), squad cannot Infiltrate.
Stalker: Autarch and Farseer already have move through cover, so moot point.

Reaper
Crack Shot: Exarch only effected.
Fast Shot: Exarch only effected.

Hawks
Skyleap: Farseer cannot join them in their leap. But, an Autarch can if it has wings, as per FAQ. Work out the strict RAW ruling on your own

Intercept: Autarch gains the advantage, Farseer does not.

Spiders
Surprise Assault: An Autarch joined with the squad in reserves can deep strike with them. A Farseer joined with them in reserves means the entire squad cannot deep strike.
Withdraw: A squad with an Autarch can all use Hit and Run. But, if a squad is joined with a Farseer, the entire squad looses Hit and Run.

Spears:
Skilled Rider: Autarch and Farseer both have skilled rider, so moot point.
Withdraw: A squad with an Autarch can all use Hit and Run. But, if a squad is joined with a Farseer, the entire squad looses Hit and Run.

Edit: Fixed some of these.
Edit2: Fixed more.

**Homer S**

Grakmar wrote:So, as a summary, for my understanding as much as anyones Please correct me if I'm wrong:

DA
Bladestorm: Shuriken weapons only. An Autarch with a Shuriken weapon would get a bonus shot. Farseer would not.
Defend: Models alocating at least 1 attack to a DA would loose an attack. Models only attacking the Farseer or Autarch would not loose an attack. [correction, my fault]

Banshee
War Shout: Only effects enemy squad negatively, no bonus to Banshees. So, Farseer or Autarch could "benefit" from this.
Acrobatic: Autarch gains counter-attack, Farseer does not.

Dragon
Tank Hunters: Autarch gains Tank Hunter, Farseer does not.
Crack Shot: Exarch only effected.

Scorpion
Shadowstrike: Autarch explicitly forbidden. If an IC joins (other than Kahrandras), squad cannot Infiltrate.
Stalker: Autarch gains move through cover. If Farseer is part of the squad, they all have to move as slowly as the Farseer. Except as an IC the Farseer has MTC.

Reaper
Both powers effect Exarch only

Hawks
Skyleap: I'm confused here. Farseer cannot join them in their leap. But, an Autarch can. Can the Autarch deep strike with them the following turn? The rule gives them permission to deep strike, so this would over-ride the Autarch's inability to deep strike, correct? Giving the Autarch wings give him Deep Strike so no issue.
Intercept: Autarch gains the advantage, Farseer does not.

Spiders
Surprise Assault: An Autarch joined with the squad in reserves can deep strike with them. A Farseer joined with them in reserves means the entire squad cannot deep strike.
Withdraw: Again, I'm a bit confused here. A squad with an Autarch can all use Hit and Run. But, if a squad is joined with a Farseer, can the squad use Hit and Run, leaving the Farseer engaged in CC, or are they all stuck in CC? Hit and Run is covered under USRs in the BRB (lost if all do not have it).

Spears:
Skilled Rider: Autarch on bike gains this, Farseer on bike does not. Except as an IC the Farseer has SR.
Withdraw: See above, same issue.

See red text.

Homer

**Araenion**

To the above poster...
I'm going to reply only on those I think you answered wrongly or didn't answer at all...

Dire Avengers
Defend: I'd say the Autarch definitely does get the benefit, because pg 21. explicitly says the Autarchs benefit from Exarch powers and this definitely overrides the general rule of the rulebook.
Scorpions
Stalker: Farseer already has move through cover as every other IC, so they move just like they would in the Autarch case.

Hawks:
Skyleap: Autarch can indeed Deep strike with the squad if he has Hawk wings. Otherwise no, he can't.

Spiders&Spears
Withdraw: Just don't put a Farseer in those squads.

**Grakmar**

Araenion wrote:To the above poster...
I'm going to reply only on those I think you answered wrongly or didn't answer at all...

Dire Avengers
Defend: I'd say the Autarch definitely does get the benefit, because pg 21. explicitly says the Autarchs benefit from Exarch powers and this definitely overrides the general rule of the rulebook.
Scorpions
Stalker: Farseer already has move through cover as every other IC, so they move just like they would in the Autarch case.

Hawks:
Skyleap: Autarch can indeed Deep strike with the squad if he has Hawk wings. Otherwise no, he can't.

Spiders&Spears
Withdraw: I have to say I don't know how to resolve this myself...easiest solution: Just don't put a Farseer in those squads.

Defend: My thought was that the Autarch counts as a separate squad in CC, so Defend wouldn't benefit him. Is that wrong?

Stalker: Doh! I forgot IC have that

Skyleap: An Autarch without wings couldn't initially deep strike with them. But, he should be able to take advantage of Skyleap. And, Skyleap explicitly gives permission to deep strike the squad back onto the table. Doesn't that give him the ability to deep strike?

**Araenion**

Skyleap sounds like bad writing of the rule in this context.

And the reason why Autarch do benefit from Defend is simply because pg 21. says they benefit from Exarch powers. Doesn't matter if he counts as a separate unit in the assault, if he's with DA Exarch that has Defend, he benefits from it, as per the rule.

**nosferatu1001**

Treated as, not actually is.

**BlueDagger**

My opinion is that the Autauch would benefit from Defend as the IC though being counted as a different unit in CC is still a part of the unit with the exarch. That is like state that a fortuned unit with a faseer allows the unit to benefit from it in CC but not the Farseer.

As for the Skyleap issue it's in the Eldar FAQ, gotta have wings for skyleap.

**Grakmar**

Ok, I corrected my earlier post. Page 75 of the BGB clarifies my Hit+Run question.

**Araenion**

BlueDagger wrote:My opinion is that the Autauch would benefit from Defend as the IC though being counted as a different unit in CC is still a part of the unit with the exarch. That is like state that a fortuned unit with a faseer allows the unit to benefit from it in CC but not the Farseer.

Precisely. He doesn't magically lose it when he enters CC, where it only works anyway.