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Can smoke launchers be fired while in CC? The rules just say that it can fire smoke launchers instead of fireing any other weapon, and its effect only targets itself - so it seems more like an ability than a shooting attack.

Since it's not a ranged attack and it does not require that you can shoot (since smoke launchers can be used during an advance) I'd guess that you could. I certainly wouldn't argue against you if you tried that in a battle. Is there any advantage to it? I don't believe the -1 to hit works against melee attacks.

Why would you want to use your smoke launchers while in close combat? They would only protect you from the pistol fire of the unit the vehicle is engaged with.

"Instead of shooting any ranged weapons in the shooting phase"

You are unable to shoot if youre in CC unless your vehicle has a pistol.

So I would argue no.

 rhinoceraids wrote:
"Instead of shooting any ranged weapons in the shooting phase"

You are unable to shoot if youre in CC unless your vehicle has a pistol.

So I would argue no.

Rulebook FAQ disagrees with you.

Q: Can abilities that are used ‘instead of shooting’, such as
Smoke Launchers, be used if the model using them has Fallen
Back, Advanced or has enemy models within 1" of it?
A: Yes. A model can use such an ability so long as it does
not shoot – it does not matter whether this is because the
model cannot shoot or it chooses not to.

I can see using the smoke launcher preemptively. By that I mean I'm anticipating you pulling your unit away from the vehicle in order to shoot at the vehicle with other units.

 rhinoceraids wrote:
"Instead of shooting any ranged weapons in the shooting phase"

You are unable to shoot if youre in CC unless your vehicle has a pistol.

So I would argue no.

The FaQ allows it, so the answer is yes you can.

GW FAQ Page 6 wrote:
Q: Can abilities that are used ‘instead of shooting’, such as Smoke Launchers, be used if the model using them has Fallen Back, Advanced or has enemy models within 1" of it?
A: Yes. A model can use such an ability so long as it does not shoot – it does not matter whether this is because the model cannot shoot or it chooses not to.

https://whc-cdn.games-workshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/warhammer_40000_rulebook_en-1.pdf

Edit: Super Ninja'd

 BaconCatBug wrote:

 rhinoceraids wrote:
"Instead of shooting any ranged weapons in the shooting phase"

You are unable to shoot if youre in CC unless your vehicle has a pistol.

So I would argue no.

Rulebook FAQ disagrees with you.

Q: Can abilities that are used ‘instead of shooting’, such as
Smoke Launchers, be used if the model using them has Fallen
Back, Advanced or has enemy models within 1" of it?
A: Yes. A model can use such an ability so long as it does
not shoot – it does not matter whether this is because the
model cannot shoot or it chooses not to.

I sit corrected.

I wonder how this relates, if at all, with Guard tank orders. Allowing the tank ordered to pop smoke and shoot with the only stipulation being that the tank has not yet popped smoke.

Assuming that this is from falling out of combat.

Thanks! I ask because of melee orientered dreadnaughts playing against armies like UM. I want to be able to fire the smoke launcher while in combat, expecting him to fall back and shoot the following turn. The specific scenario involved Björn, who as a character can be hidden behind other units, so his smoke launcher is rarely used (especially because is also good at ranged). Now i actually have a use for his smoke launcher