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In the Shooting section of the Monstrous Creature unit type it says:

They may never Go to Ground, voluntarily or otherwise.

However it doesn't prohibit them from being pinned. Contrast that to the Armored Steed section of the Bikes unit type.

Bikes and Jetbikes cannot Go to Ground, and cannot be Pinned.

That seems to be an important distinction, but I can't figure out why.

The Pinning rule says:

If the unit fails the test, it is Pinned and must immediately Go to Ground.

So "Pinned" is a status in the same way as "Gone to Ground", however, there don't seem to be any consequences to being "Pinned", and there is a whole section on "Go To Ground". Most notably the effects are:

A unit that has Gone to Ground cannot move, Run or charge. It can only fire Snap Shots when it wishes to shoot, and cannot fire Overwatch.

Why would I ever want to Pin a unit that cannot "Go to Ground"?

You wouldn't is the short answer...a pinning test represents a unit receiving fire from an unknown source like a barrage or a sniper and the unit is basically panicking and diving for cover. A unit that is fearless basically doesn't care and keeps on trudging forward despite the shelling or sniper fire going on around them.

Honestly, I think it's just a case of GW not being very consistent. Going off the quotes you listed, you can "pin" a Monstrous Creature, but as it cannot go to ground, pinning doesn't actually do anything negative to it (since AFAIK, "pinning" does nothing but forces the unit to go to ground).

Locclo, you nailed it bro. Cannot voluntarily, or involuntarily go to ground. Simple dimple.

sure you can "pin" the MC... but the part in pinning about going to ground will not apply, making it basically useless and not pinned at all.


simple really, if poorly worded

 Prophaniti wrote:
You wouldn't is the short answer...a pinning test represents a unit receiving fire from an unknown source like a barrage or a sniper and the unit is basically panicking and diving for cover. A unit that is fearless basically doesn't care and keeps on trudging forward despite the shelling or sniper fire going on around them.

Note that Barrage nor Sniper fire has the Pinning rule any more.
And MCs aren't Fearless.

 easysauce wrote:
sure you can "pin" the MC... but the part in pinning about going to ground will not apply, making it basically useless and not pinned at all.

I disagree. The Pinning rule does not say that the model can do nothing voluntary, the Go to Ground rule does, which a MC cannot comply with.

 Ghenghis Jon wrote:

 easysauce wrote:
sure you can "pin" the MC... but the part in pinning about going to ground will not apply, making it basically useless and not pinned at all.

I disagree. The Pinning rule does not say that the model can do nothing voluntary, the Go to Ground rule does, which a MC cannot comply with.

It's not really clear enough at this point. You can argue that they cannot GTG at all, or that they cannot GTG at all.

not sure where you guys are coming from, MC can not go to ground, volutarily or OTHERWISE.

pinning making you GTG would fit into the otherwise catagory.


why do you think a unit banned from GTG', volutary or otherwise, can GTG from an "otherwise" source?

 easysauce wrote:
sure you can "pin" the MC... but the part in pinning about going to ground will not apply, making it basically useless and not pinned at all.

My mistake. I thought you were saying that the MC would be useless, not the Pinning rule.

rigeld2 wrote:

 Prophaniti wrote:
You wouldn't is the short answer...a pinning test represents a unit receiving fire from an unknown source like a barrage or a sniper and the unit is basically panicking and diving for cover. A unit that is fearless basically doesn't care and keeps on trudging forward despite the shelling or sniper fire going on around them.

Note that Barrage nor Sniper fire has the Pinning rule any more.
And MCs aren't Fearless.

Not had much experience of MCs outside of the tyranid codex. All the tyranid MCs have the fearless special rule, so auto pass pinning checks anyway. Are there any MCs out there that don't have fearless?

iceholey wrote:

rigeld2 wrote:

 Prophaniti wrote:
You wouldn't is the short answer...a pinning test represents a unit receiving fire from an unknown source like a barrage or a sniper and the unit is basically panicking and diving for cover. A unit that is fearless basically doesn't care and keeps on trudging forward despite the shelling or sniper fire going on around them.

Note that Barrage nor Sniper fire has the Pinning rule any more.
And MCs aren't Fearless.

Not had much experience of MCs outside of the tyranid codex. All the tyranid MCs have the fearless special rule, so auto pass pinning checks anyway. Are there any MCs out there that don't have fearless?

Riptides, off the top of my head.

Riptides, Dreadknights, and most Daemons.

From a pure RAW, MCs can be Pinned; which currently has no actual in-game effect(since the MC cannot go to ground).

However, at current rules, the MC can receive the Pinned status; and if a special rule has an effect on pinned units it will effect a pinned MC even though that pinned MC does not suffer the negatives of the pinned status(having GtG)