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Hi folks,

Some friends and I have been playing 5th Edition 40k, and a question came up regarding vehicles in assaults.
I'm hoping some of you can put on your wayback hats and help answer.

If a vehicle that is not a Tank has enemy models that are around it after surviving an assault phase, can it simply
move through them as if they are not there in the Vehicle's subsequent Movement Phase, or does it have to try
and pivot and move around them (as noted below)?

Normally, you can't move within 1" of an enemy, but the enemy models in this case are already in contact with the
vehicle due to the assault, so we are wondering how this is handled.

P. 57 notes that during the Movement phase "Just like other units, vehicles cannot move over friendly models." It doesn't
mention enemy models in this section, but I assume that enemy models are included.*

P. 63 notes "The vehicle and the enemy remain where they are and are free to simply move away in future turns."

The same page also notes "Enemy models that are in base contact with a vehicle are not locked in combat and can therefore be shot during the shooting phase," followed by "If a vehicle pivots on the spot (to shot at its attackers for example), move these models out of the way as you shift the vehicle and then place them back into base contact with the vehicle."

P.68 under "Tank Shock!" notes "This is an exception to the rule that enemy models cannot be moved through."

Thanks in advance for any insight!

In 5th Ed, Vehicles can not move through models unless they are perfomring a Tank Shock.

Thanks Deathreaper.

It sounds like they are still able to pivot (moving models as necessary) to move away using a clear path (after an assault) based on this from p.63:


"Enemy models that are in base contact with a vehicle are not locked in combat and can therefore be shot during the shooting phase," followed by "If a vehicle pivots on the spot (to shot at its attackers for example), move these models out of the way as you shift the vehicle and then place them back into base contact with the vehicle."

Is that correct?

 flakpanzer wrote:
Thanks Deathreaper.

It sounds like they are still able to pivot (moving models as necessary) to move away using a clear path (after an assault) based on this from p.63:


"Enemy models that are in base contact with a vehicle are not locked in combat and can therefore be shot during the shooting phase," followed by "If a vehicle pivots on the spot (to shot at its attackers for example), move these models out of the way as you shift the vehicle and then place them back into base contact with the vehicle."

Is that correct?

Well you can pivot, but the models you move out of the way will have to go right back into base contact, so you can't really clear a path like this. but YMMV.

If the vehicle is completely surrounded, then yes, moving them out of the way to pivot isn't going to do a lot.

Fairly sure we used to just play it that the vehicle could drive off and ignore the surrounding models, but it didn't really come up often enough to be an issue.

 insaniak wrote:
If the vehicle is completely surrounded, then yes, moving them out of the way to pivot isn't going to do a lot.

Fairly sure we used to just play it that the vehicle could drive off and ignore the surrounding models, but it didn't really come up often enough to be an issue.

Thank you.

Yeah, I guess I was wondering about say just maybe the front and one side of the non-tank vehicle having enemy models around it.

It would be possible to pivot the vehicle, moving those enemy models necessary, then driving off via a clear path, and moving the enemy models back?

Yes, if you have a clear side, then pivoting to face that direction and driving off is absolutely ok.In most cases, you wouldn't even bother actually moving the enemy models in that case, just pick the vehicle up and move it.

For the 'silly RAW' answer, it's also fun to point out that there was actually no requirement for vehicles to move forwards or backwards specifically... so if you had a clear side you could just slide the vehicle sideways instead of pivoting. Few people actually played that way, though.

The more you played 5th edition the more vehicles where good. They eseentially had the 'damage table' save. 5th edition deployment zones are just two parkinglots staring at eachother.

IIRC, it also depends on the vehicle. Only tanks could perform tank shocks - Ork Trukks had the "Reinforced Tam" which allowed them to do so. Otherwise, things like buggies can be surrounded and not escape. flying vehicles can also choose between tank shock and just flying over them. Remember tank shock can kill your tank if they death or glory!

Thanks for the replies, all. Great information!