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I recently started using the Skyhammer Annihilation force in my more competitive games with my space sharks, and at my local gaming shop there seems to be some varying interpretations of how it works, so hopefully I can get that resolved here.

How I understand it:
Devastators:
Have relentless for first turn of arrival
"suppressing fusillade" rule is not just usable on turn of arrival, but can be used all game

Assault Marines:
Can deepstrike, but not move in movement phase, but can assault and use the jump pack to reroll assault distance if needed

Am I right in how I understand the rules for this or am I missing something? I'm the only one at the local shop to use this formation right now and want to make sure I am not unintentionally cheating anyone.

thanks

Suppressing fusillade is separate from "First the Fire, then the Blade" and has no time limit on it - yes it can be used whenever you like.

Assault squads may not move in the movement phase after deepdstriking but may charge.

Assault squads may use their jetpacks in the movement phase and the Assault phase for 12" movement, rerolled charge and HoW as per the Leave No Survivors rule - (obviously they cannot use their 12” when coming in from reserve but in all other cases they can use jetpacks for both phases)

In short, you are correct on all counts

Both Devastators and Assault Marines must Deep Strike, not just can. This is in the first rule.

When the Devastator Squad arrives from Deep Strike Reserves, it gains the Relentless rule. Assault Marine Squad can Charge on the turn it arrives from Deep Strike Reserves. No mention of Deep Striking is used for "using" the Jump Pack, so can use it for their Charge. This is the second rule. Do note that the rules affect the units by name in this instance.

The third rule only carries the condition who is doing the action (Devastator Squad), the action (targetting) and the effect of the targeting. No restriction on timing occurs, but it is rather difficult to shoot when in Reserves.

The fourth rule, though, requires the Devastator Squad to be successful in their third rule to be fully effective.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Torus wrote:
Assault squads may use their jetpacks in the movement phase and the Assault phase for 12" movement, rerolled charge and HoW as per the Leave No Survivors rule - (obviously they cannot use their 12” when coming in from reserve but in all other cases they can use jetpacks for both phases)

Just an FYI, Assault Marine Squads have Jump Packs, not Jet Packs. There is a notable difference. Ask either a Tau, Necron, or your Ordox Xenos Inquisitor for more information.

Thank you both for clarifying that. In addition to that, IC cannot join any of the units before the game starts, correct? and I would be able to run two 10 man assault squads and combat squad them to enhance the effectiveness of the formation? I know there has been debate in the past on the IC issue, but wasn't sure what the final consensus was on it.

Some people will argue night and day that you can put a IC in it but for the gentlemanly result, if you don't absolutely NEED a IC in the squads, don't throw one in. It's not worth the argument and hassle, especially for a game.

As for combat Squadding them, yes you can do that. It would be optimal for the Devastators as you can slot 2 types of weapons into 1 "squad" and then combat squad it so that you have two mini dev squads that can take on different targets. Assault Marines too since one combat squad can be armed with 2 Flamers while the other has the sarge with melta bombs and the one dude with the Eviscerator to go after tanks. Combined with what you have in the dev squads, you can theoretically handle up to 4 types of targets all at once (or optimize it so that you can face 1 type of target with 4 units).

 The Whiteshield Kid wrote:
Thank you both for clarifying that. In addition to that, IC cannot join any of the units before the game starts, correct? and I would be able to run two 10 man assault squads and combat squad them to enhance the effectiveness of the formation? I know there has been debate in the past on the IC issue, but wasn't sure what the final consensus was on it.

Yes, you can Combat Squad them, including the Devas - their extra rules work just fine shooting Boltguns, too.

There's no consensus on the IC issue. Discuss it with your opponent or with the TO.

Absolute RAW, you can join an IC. A lot of people get really funny about it, despite having been OK with ork pain boys granting feel no pain to ICs for years now.

The Whiteshield Kid wrote:Thank you both for clarifying that. In addition to that, IC cannot join any of the units before the game starts, correct? and I would be able to run two 10 man assault squads and combat squad them to enhance the effectiveness of the formation? I know there has been debate in the past on the IC issue, but wasn't sure what the final consensus was on it.

Yes, ICs can join other units before the game starts: "An Independent Character can begin the game already with a unit, either by being deployed in unit coherency with it or, if the unit is in Reserve, by you informing your opponent of which unit it has joined." Very first sentence for Independent Characters joining unit rules.

MechaEmperor7000 wrote:Some people will argue night and day that you can put a IC in it

Because you can if they are Battle Brothers or the same Faction. However can, should, and need are different stories.

MechaEmperor7000 wrote:but for the gentlemanly result, if you don't absolutely NEED a IC in the squads, don't throw one in. It's not worth the argument and hassle, especially for a game.

True, one is not needed. In fact, if you want to Combat Squad the Devastator Squads to benefit from the Drop Pods, you cannot put an IC in with them as the Drop Pods lack the room.

MechaEmperor7000 wrote:As for combat Squadding them, yes you can do that. It would be optimal for the Devastators as you can slot 2 types of weapons into 1 "squad" and then combat squad it so that you have two mini dev squads that can take on different targets. Assault Marines too since one combat squad can be armed with 2 Flamers while the other has the sarge with melta bombs and the one dude with the Eviscerator to go after tanks. Combined with what you have in the dev squads, you can theoretically handle up to 4 types of targets all at once (or optimize it so that you can face 1 type of target with 4 units).

6 actually, if you include the Drop Pods. Remember that the Formation's rule exclusive to Devastator Squad use does not require the use of Heavy weapons, so even a Combat squad of 5 Bolters will do the same prep job as the squad with 4 Grav Cannons.