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I recently bought the Tau codex and I am designing a new army. I have seen all the different drones they can use as far as shielding and invul saves. What I do not understand is how they work exactly. I couldn't find it anywhere in the codex or rule book. I would like a little light shed on this. So you have a shield drone giving whatever invul save to the user. If anyone shoots the drones do they get in invul save as well or is it given to said unit/vehicle. Is the drone destroyed when the save is used? Nothing is really clear in the Tau codex about this. At least what I could find. If anyone out there can help me I would appreciate it.

Shield Drones are a model. They come with a 4++, or 4 invulnerable save. They have the save, and they have a 4+ armor save.

The easiest way to think about it is that drones are just separate models that have a few unique rules. No need to over think it.

To answer your inquirers, they give nothing to the model that takes them and can be destroyed like any other model, which can then cause a morale check.

In the current codex, most people recommend running Missile Drones with Missilesides, Marker Drones when you are using a commander to light things up and Gun Drones in every other situation. In the previous codex shield drones could got the armor save of what they were attached to and a 4++, but now they are stuck with a 4+, 4++. This means you are usually better off with the Improved gun drones. Who knows, pinning my save you one day!

Edit: Also, your question should probably be in General, Tactics, or YMDC. Basically anywhere but Army Lists.

Thank you for the clarification.

No problem!

4TheG8erGood wrote:
Shield Drones are a model. They come with a 4++, or 4 invulnerable save. They have the save, and they have a 4+ armor save.

The easiest way to think about it is that drones are just separate models that have a few unique rules. No need to over think it.

To answer your inquirers, they give nothing to the model that takes them and can be destroyed like any other model, which can then cause a morale check.

In the current codex, most people recommend running Missile Drones with Missilesides, Marker Drones when you are using a commander to light things up and Gun Drones in every other situation. In the previous codex shield drones could got the armor save of what they were attached to and a 4++, but now they are stuck with a 4+, 4++. This means you are usually better off with the Improved gun drones. Who knows, pinning my save you one day!

Edit: Also, your question should probably be in General, Tactics, or YMDC. Basically anywhere but Army Lists.

you said it better than i woulda haha

All is correct. When thinking of shooting, 6th ED rules are set up so that the closest model to the shooting units are the ones you allocate the wounds too. For shield drones to be effective, they have to be the models in front to "take the hits". If they are not in front, then you have to rely on LOS rolls to have them dive in front of the shots. (beep bo beep).

They are, in a way, no more effective than gun drones, although sometimes it is nice to have an invul save in your squad. Keep in mind too that drones count as squad members for all purposes. If you have a unit that consists of one(1) crisis suit and one(1) gun drone, and the gun drone dies, you roll LD. The same even applies to the mighty riptide. If you buy his 2 drones and one of them dies, the riptide rolls LD, and could potentially run away...lol...

Thanks Orkimedezz!

Anon adds great points as well. There is a reason you never see Riptides with Drones in lists on Dakka.