Flyers have been a part of the Warhammer 40k game for many years now, ever since the release of the first Forgeworld Imperial Armour books.
Over the years the rules for flyers have evolved quite a bit and now for the first time are incorporated into the core rules.
Most armies have access to at least one flyer unit, whether from Imperial Armour or codex, or recent White Dwarf articles. Other armies can make use of the new allies rules to add a flyer to their force.
Flyers have some great advantages along with a few disadvantages. The biggest advantage is that Flyers are hard targets for most units to hit. With their Zoom rules they gain the Hard To Hit special rule which force all shooting against them to be resolved as snap shots - unless the model or weapon had the Skyfire special rule. The other advantage is that Zooming Flyers cannot be assaulted. They also may fire up to four of their weapons using their full Ballistic Skill if they have moved at combat or cruising speed that turn.
Some disadvantages are that they must begin the game in Reserve, have limited maneuverability and generally have light to medium armour. As vehicles they cannot capture or deny objectives - except in some special circumstances.
Over the years the rules for flyers have evolved quite a bit and now for the first time are incorporated into the core rules.
Most armies have access to at least one flyer unit, whether from Imperial Armour or codex, or recent White Dwarf articles. Other armies can make use of the new allies rules to add a flyer to their force.
Flyers have some great advantages along with a few disadvantages. The biggest advantage is that Flyers are hard targets for most units to hit. With their Zoom rules they gain the Hard To Hit special rule which force all shooting against them to be resolved as snap shots - unless the model or weapon had the Skyfire special rule. The other advantage is that Zooming Flyers cannot be assaulted. They also may fire up to four of their weapons using their full Ballistic Skill if they have moved at combat or cruising speed that turn.
Some disadvantages are that they must begin the game in Reserve, have limited maneuverability and generally have light to medium armour. As vehicles they cannot capture or deny objectives - except in some special circumstances.
How to combat flyers should always be a consideration for games where encountering a flyer is likely. Models or weapons with Skyfire should be looked at to shoot them down.
Units like the IG Hydra, Eldar Fire Storm, or Tau Sky Ray provide some immediate help. But the simple fact is that there are not many viable threats to flyers at this point in time.
Fortifications provide a way for all armies to gain access to Skyfire weapons, with the Quad Gun and Icarus Lascannon.
Flyers are also a real option to help combat other flyers.
Twin-linked weapons are another option, giving you a better chance to roll those sixes you need to bring them down.
Snap fire is going to require a fair bit of luck to do enough damage to shoot down a flyer. Until such time that things like Flakk missiles and other Skyfire weapons are introduced, flyers will be a real threat on the 40k battlefield.
To get the most out of your flyers, they need to be on the battlefield and stay alive. Units that assist with reserves will help ensure that your flyer arrives on turn two. You should target the major threats to your flyer as soon as possible. These would primarily be units with Skyfire ability.
Keeping your flyer on the board is also important so try and set up your flight paths at least a turn in advance.
Flyers with transport capacity are going to draw more fire if they have a unit onboard, so do try and get those passengers into the fight as soon as possible.
For those players which have had opponents with flyers in their armies over the years, combating them will not be a new aspect of the game. For the vast majority, Flyers present a new challenge to meet and ultimately overcome.
Flyers - Death From Above
Units like the IG Hydra, Eldar Fire Storm, or Tau Sky Ray provide some immediate help. But the simple fact is that there are not many viable threats to flyers at this point in time.
Fortifications provide a way for all armies to gain access to Skyfire weapons, with the Quad Gun and Icarus Lascannon.
Flyers are also a real option to help combat other flyers.
Twin-linked weapons are another option, giving you a better chance to roll those sixes you need to bring them down.
Snap fire is going to require a fair bit of luck to do enough damage to shoot down a flyer. Until such time that things like Flakk missiles and other Skyfire weapons are introduced, flyers will be a real threat on the 40k battlefield.
To get the most out of your flyers, they need to be on the battlefield and stay alive. Units that assist with reserves will help ensure that your flyer arrives on turn two. You should target the major threats to your flyer as soon as possible. These would primarily be units with Skyfire ability.
Keeping your flyer on the board is also important so try and set up your flight paths at least a turn in advance.
Flyers with transport capacity are going to draw more fire if they have a unit onboard, so do try and get those passengers into the fight as soon as possible.
For those players which have had opponents with flyers in their armies over the years, combating them will not be a new aspect of the game. For the vast majority, Flyers present a new challenge to meet and ultimately overcome.
Flyers - Death From Above
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