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The Doom of Malan'Tai has a special rule called Spirit Leech, which reads thusly:

At the beginning of every shooting phase, including the foe's, every non-vehicle enemy unit with 6" of the Doom of Malan'tai must take a Leadership test on 3D6. If the test is failed, the unit suffers a single wound for each wound inflicted, which no armor saves allowed.

My question is, can this ability work if the Doom is locked in close combat at the time? This is difficult to be sure, since it is NOT a psyker power (though it is a psyker), does not mention it as being a shooting attack, and obviously does not specify. I also would like to reference the Chaos Daemon power Aura of Despair, which has a similar effect, but does specifically say it can be used in close combat.

Thoughts?

The DOOM is a popular point of contention. There is a large debate (though it was FAQ'd by GW) that it could even affect units in transports.

To answer your question, i'd say yes it works, because you're not actually targetting anything, its just an efffect that happens in the shooting phase. Similar to Nurgle's rot for Daemons.

While it happens in the shooting phase, it is neither a psychic shooting or other shooting attack. Yes, you may do so while locked in combat!

I hate it so much... oh sure, NOW i roll lots of 5's and 6's!!!!

Make your opponent cry by shooting him [DoM] with a battery of Lascannons or Multi-Meltas. All he has to do is fail 1 3+ save and the Doom is doomed.

(See what I did there?)

Xcaliber, I knew there was something I liked about you!!

I have a question, when can you take cover saves against it?

Xca|iber wrote:Make your opponent cry by shooting him [DoM] with a battery of Lascannons or Multi-Meltas. All he has to do is fail 1 3+ save and the Doom is doomed.

(See what I did there?)

Lol. Good Point
Lets destroy it with holy fire!
The Doom of Malan'tai is well kinda cheesy

Asherian Command wrote:
The Doom of Malan'tai is well kinda cheesy

No it isn't, it's just good. Armies are allowed to have good things in them. I refuse to play a game where everything sucks.

If the Doom is locked in combat you can't shoot at it.

DarknessEternal wrote:

Asherian Command wrote:
The Doom of Malan'tai is well kinda cheesy

No it isn't, it's just good. Armies are allowed to have good things in them. I refuse to play a game where everything sucks.

Doom can be a hard nut to crank, having S10/10W in close combat means you can't just easily walk a dread over to it, nor can you tarpit it, and it can deal horrendous casualties to units he drops near, for very little points. He's pretty unique in that he is completely immune to small arms fire, 10W+ his regeneration +a 3+ invuln is pretty insurmountable.

he can sweep entire flank by himself or the bug player could be unlucky and you could drop him in one shot.

It's still only T4 and can be Instant Deathed by a melta or various other weapons.

Like Grundz said, it depends on luck whether it will do well in the game or not.

Walking a dread over is still your best bet. Doom has few attacks, low I, and instant death is likely with T4.