April 2019 FAQ
TACTICAL RESERVES
Instead of being set up on the battlefield during deployment, many units have the ability to be set up on teleportariums, in high orbit, in ambush,
etc., in order to arrive on the battlefield mid-game as reinforcements. When setting up your army during deployment for a matched play game, at
least half the total number of units in your army must be set up on the battlefield, and the combined points value of all the units you set up on the
battlefield during deployment (including those that are embarked aboard Transports that are set up on the battlefield) must be at least half of
your army’s total points value, even if every unit in your army has an ability that would allow them to be set up elsewhere.
Furthermore, in matched play games, units that are not placed on the battlefield during deployment in order to arrive on the battle mid-game as
reinforcements cannot arrive on the battlefield during the first battle round.
Finally, any unit that has not arrived on the battlefield by the end of the third battle round in a matched play game counts as having
been destroyed
Ravenguard have an exception in that their stratagem the unit doesn't actually start off the board, they just get a free move. Also from the same April '19
FAQ:
Codex: Space Marines, page 197 – Strike from the Shadows
Change this Stratagem to read: ‘Use this Stratagem during deployment, when you set up a Raven Guard
Infantry unit from your army. At the start of the first battle round but before the first turn begins, you can
move that unit up to 9". It cannot end this move within 9" of any enemy models. If both players have units that
can move before the first turn begins, the player who is taking the first turn moves their units first. Each unit
can only be selected for this Stratagem once per battle.’
Eldar Rangers actually get a bit shafted by the errata as turn 1 was the only turn they were allowed to
DS in their written rule
Now they can either deploy normally, or
DS turn 2 or 3:
Codex: Craftworlds, pages 91 and 94 – Illic Nightspear and Rangers, Appear Unbidden
Change the last sentence of this ability to read: ‘At the end of one of your Movement phases, this unit can emerge
from the webway – set this unit up anywhere on the battlefield that is more than 9" away from any enemy models.’
So, to answer the Defcopter question: Do they start off the board? Then they can only arrive in turn 2 or 3.
