Hive nexus and synaptic imperative

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**p5freak**

Each synaptic imperative ability can only be selected once per battle. Hive nexus also says you select an synaptic imperative ability, which is then active for one unit, in addition to the one you selected at the start of the battle round. Does this selection with hive nexus count towards the one time use of a synaptic imperative ability ? Can i select a synaptic imperative ability with hive nexus which i have selected at the start of a previous battle round ?

SYNAPTIC IMPERATIVE ABILITIES

If every unit from your army has the HIVE TENDRIL keyword (excluding UNALIGNED units) and each of those units (excluding LIVING ARTILLERY units) is from the same hive fleet, then SYNAPSE units from your army gain a Synaptic Imperative ability depending on which one is currently active for your army.

Each SYNAPSE unit has their own Synaptic Imperative. These are abilities that affect friendly units within a set range, in much the same way as aura abilities do. As with auras, the effects of multiple, identically named Synaptic Imperative abilities are not cumulative (i.e. if a unit is within range of two models with the same Synaptic Imperative ability, that ability only applies to the unit once). However, while similar in many regards to aura abilities, Synaptic Imperative abilities are not affected by rules that affect aura abilities, and vice versa.At the start of the battle round, you can select one of the Synaptic Imperative abilities from a unit from your army (see below). You cannot select a unit’s Synaptic Imperative ability if that unit is not on the battlefield, or if you have selected that ability earlier in the battle. Until the end of the battle round, that Synaptic Imperative ability is active for your army, and it is gained by each of the SYNAPSE models from your army. The Synaptic Imperative abilities, and which SYNAPSE units unlock them, are found below.

PSYCHIC POWER: HIVE NEXUS
Blessing: Hive Nexus has a warp charge value of 7. If manifested, select one friendly LEVIATHAN unit within Synaptic Link range of this PSYKER and select one Synaptic Imperative ability of a friendly LEVIATHAN SYNAPSE model that is also within Synaptic Link range of this PSYKER. Until the start of your next turn, that unit benefits from that SYNAPSE model’s Synaptic Imperative ability as if it was active for your army (in addition to the one that is currently active for your army) and as if they were within 6" of one another.

**ZFK_Tyranid**

Yes, you can select a synaptic imperative ability that was used earlier in the battle and no, it doesn't consider the synaptic imperative you choose while casting "hive nexus" to be consumed if it hasn't been activated yet for that battle.

Think of it in this respect. At the start of the battle round, you pop the Synaptic imperative for the entire army, purveying the listed bonus to all synapse models and every other unit within 6" of 1 of those synapse models.
When you cast "Hive Nexus", because it is getting cast in the psychic phase, then the synaptic imperative bonus it provides for a single unit wouldn't be considered a use of the synaptic imperative for any synapse unit you chose to utilize for the power. It's just a baseline extra buff that is bestowed in the psychic phase. The only pre-requisite that you need to fulfill is a successful cast of the psychic power and to have the synapse creature you want to use the synaptic imperative of be alive, on the board and within SLR of the caster. Then you can purvey the bonus to any other unit within SLR.

**p5freak**

But it says you cannot select a unit’s Synaptic Imperative ability if you have selected that ability earlier in the battle, its one time use only. It doesnt say that selection via hive nexus is excluded from the one time use only. All that matters is the selection of a unit’s Synaptic Imperative ability, and each ability can only be selected once per battle. If i have selected a unit’s Synaptic Imperative ability X at the start of battle round 1, i cannot select ability X with hive nexus in battle round 2, because it has already been selected in battle round 1.

**nosferatu1001**

That's how I read it. They both select.
I doubt it was intended

One for the faq team.

**solkan**

p5freak wrote:
But it says you cannot select a unit’s Synaptic Imperative ability if you have selected that ability earlier in the battle

Can you explain why you think the part in red is referring to anything other than the part in green?

At the start of the battle round, you can select one of the Synaptic Imperative abilities from a unit from your army (see below). You cannot select a unit’s Synaptic Imperative ability if that unit is not on the battlefield, or if you have selected that ability earlier in the battle.

**p5freak**

I have explained why, i dont know how else to do that. Each units synaptic imperative ability can only be selected once per battle. Both hive nexus and at start of the battle use the wording select a units synaptic imperative ability.

**nosferatu1001**

As above. The power lets you select. You're told, when selecting the "normal" use, that you cannot select a power that has been selected before. The psychic power absolutely selects.

**JohnnyHell**

Absolutely not intended to deny you the opportunity to use an Imperative as your Battle Round pick.

Email the FAQ team if truly invested in this. Seems clear to me that a Psychic Power doesn’t scupper your main army rule, but you do you.

**alextroy**

nosferatu1001 wrote:That's how I read it. They both select.
I doubt it was intended

One for the faq team.

I’m with nosferatu1001 on this. Sloppy writing leading to unintended consequences.

**solkan**

"There's nothing here to prevent me from reading this text completely out context" isn't slopping writing.

**alextroy**

The lack of any qualifying language in either rule means the logically correct reading is selection by the Psyhic power is equal in the eyes of Synaptic Imperative. If that is not the rules designers intention it is due to sloppy writing.

**nosferatu1001**

solkan wrote:
"There's nothing here to prevent me from reading this text completely out context" isn't slopping writing.

It is being read entirely and completely in context.