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Was a big no in 7th but not seeing it in 8th.

Can a stratagem be played on a unit in reserve?

For example a stratagem that is played at the start of the movement phase


Similarly, can stratagems be played on a unit embarked? (Acknowledging there won't be an effect until disemvarked)

As the units can't do anything if not deployed or if in a transport, why would you?

Because if they arrive/disembark the same turn they may benefit .

Can you give some examples that you would wish to try?

Tactical Flexibility(loyalist) and beseech the dark gods(chaos) are the only 2 strategems that you could use before the reserves come in(timing for use of nearly every other strategem is when the unit is attacking, moving, or taking wounds; all requiring the unit to be on tge table).

Considering Alpha Legion has a stratagem that can be played on a unit that isn't even in the game yet, before the game even begins, I don't see why stratagems couldn't be used on units not currently on the board as long as all wording of the stratagem is followed appropriately. That in itself may be the hard part, qualifying for the stratagem to be activated.

For example, A unit of pox walkers arrive in a dreadclaw.

'The Dead Walk Again' Stratagem requires you to select a unit of poxwalkers at the start of your movement phase. Would they be a valid selection?

I'm gonna say that unless the Strategem specifically points out the unit in question that it shouldn't be allowed.

There is a general rule that off the table models cannot be affected by stuff so you would need a specific rule saying that they could be targeted, such as the Alpha legion strat.

Captyn_Bob wrote:
For example, A unit of pox walkers arrive in a dreadclaw.

'The Dead Walk Again' Stratagem requires you to select a unit of poxwalkers at the start of your movement phase. Would they be a valid selection?

No, because the transport rule. (units embarked can not be affected in any way).

For the question of the OP: It doesn't feel right, but I can't find anything right now that outright forbids the use of stratagems while being in reserve.

Edit: fixed autocorrect errors

OK, so i think it is fair to say that "cannot be affected in any way" precludes the using of stratagems on units in transports, even if they don't take effect until later in the turn.

An easy non-transport case is using the GK stratagem Heed the Prognosticars at the start of your turn on a character which is going to deep strike in that turn. I'm not aware of anything forbidding this.