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I was recently reviewing the warscroll for the High Elf Phoenix Guard, and noticed that they have a solid 4+ save on their basic stats. The warscroll also says that any time a Phoenix Guard takes a wound or mortal wound, they get to try a 4+ save roll to negate the wound. Does this mean for a normal wound they get the usual 4+ save attempt, followed by a 4+ save attempt from their special ability if they fail the first one? Obviously, they would only get their special, single 4+ save attempt versus mortal wounds.

Thanks!

Say an attack with a damage profile of d3 and rend -1 wounds a unit of Phoenix Guard. First they would roll one armor save (a 5+ due to the rend). Assuming they fail, the d3 would be rolled, then the special rule would kick in to give them a 4+ against each damage point suffered. So if the d3 result was a 2, it would mean two 4+ rules.

Also note that despite it being handy to refer to such abilities as a 'save' they are not classified as saves rule-wise and accordingly any abilities that affect saves do not apply.

Also also note that multiple abilities stack but are not cumulative. So if a phoenix guard unit was targeted by an Archmage's elemental shield spell then against each wound they would roll their 4+ ability, and then roll the 6+ from elemental shield for any wounds that got through.

Got it, thanks for helping me make sense of it.