Use the terrain
Games Workshop recommends using as much terrain as possible in its 40K related games as this improves the game. Regardless of the amount, try to set it up so that it feels realistic. Always walk round and view the table from your opponent's point of view as well as your own.
Keep your units under cover as long as possible, unless you are attacking, you are always open to attack.
If you are confident of your troops and your abilities and you know your opponent and their troops then setting up first can be a major advantage.
T - Place units:
- In cover, or:
- Far enough away that they cannot be reached by enemy troops charging from cover.
[Note - don't forget to place Overwatch as some enemies can cover large distances.]
CT - Have units and weapons capable of negating terrain effects.
- Airborne troops; and
- Template weapons.

Wedge Formations
For troops which are capable of skirmishing, consider using Fire Team Wedges to maximise fire to the front. Remember you must have a visual line of fire to be able to shoot. Some skirmish games contain rules that can penalise you for shooting too close to one of your units, so be careful - "Friendly Fire" anyone?









Use column formation when advancing through difficult terrain which doesn't permit advancing in line. If you are expecting H2H you might want to reverse the position of Heavy and Special.


Defensive Tactics
Clausewitz wrote that defense is the strongest strategy as you have all the advantages. The basic defensive strategy is to set up and wait while your opponent comes to you. However, if any enemy H2H troops get into your lines then you're history, as most defensive troops are soft targets.
Never field an army without some good H2H troops.

Concentrated Defence
The aim here is to prevent any enemy units from even reaching you lines. Target all fire on the nearest unit until it is destroyed, then target the next closest. Anything that survives should be weakened enough for your own H2H troops to handle.
Be careful with this tactic, don't waste shots on screening units.







Deep Defence
This is a variant of the above in which you deploy your forces as close to your table edge as possible. This should give you one more turn in which to fire before they reach your lines.
The disadvantage is that if your units break, you have no field left in which to try and rally them. They'll flee the table!

Moving Reserve
If your army has lots of heavy weapons and fast attack troops, position a fast and powerful reserve so can move to meet any threat. They can reinforce your Main Effort, attack any unforseen targets, and defend your flanks.
Placing these units behind your Main Unit and Heavy Weapons can reduce the temptation to commit them into combat too early






Kill Zones
First decide where you want to kill your enemy, this is called the Kill Zone (KZ) or Engagement Area. This is usually an open area, often where the enemy has to slow to cross or move through terrain and then regroup. Set up your units to best cover this location with overlapping fire arcs. If you have enough units, place some on overwatch so you can catch movement in the KZ even when it's not your turn.
In the real world, soldiers setting up such a position will place range markers or "aiming stakes". If your opponent permits, measure distances to reference points in your KZ from your current positions before the game begins.
Be careful with your Assault troops, they're usually close to, or actually within your KZ.

Massed Assault - Waves
Some opponents have masses of cheap troops. The best defense is to kill as many of them as possible before they get into H2H. Use template and multiple shot weapons to maximise kills per round of shooting.

Armoured Assault
Set up your firebases so you can mass fire on vehicles as they move into your KZ. Try to get flank or rear shots as this armour is usually weaker. Whenever possible, engage your targets at stand-off range to destroy them while the fewest possible weapons can engage you.
Set up your KZ so that vehicles have to turn as they enter it. This will open up more opportunities for flank shots. This will also slow down the vehicles to give you more opportunity to deal with them before they reach you.
Don't forget about the infantry that often moves in under cover of an armoured assault.
Mass your fire to maximise kills.


Offensive Tactics
The most important thing to remember about Offensive Tactics is that you have to Fire AND Move. Moving units will get cut to pieces unless there is adequate covering fire.
You must soften up your targets before your Assault units get into H2H combat.

Bounding
Using two units, one provides fire or overwatch fire while the other runs forward. In the next turn they reverse roles. There are two methods of bounding, "alternating" and "successive".
Note that this formation can be used to both advance and retreat.
In alternating bounds, one squad provides covering fire or overwatch while the other squad runs through and sets up a forward position to protect the first squad which then follows through. This is most effective when both squads have similar capabilities, as both squads alternate in the lead role.


In successive bounds, the squads pull level with each other, so one squad is always taking the lead role. This is most effective when one squad is better at H2H (the lead squad) and the other has better long range weapons (following squad.)




Firebase
Not so effective in heavily terrained battlefields, but then you have terrain cover anyway.
One unit continues to fire while the other units run to the target. If no target presents itself then set the Firebase on Overwatch.

Move and Fire
Good for heavy terrain where Firebases are not as effective. Each unit moves and fires normally.

Charge!
Works well for armies with large numbers of Fast Attack troops. Make sure that every main unit has some kind of protection against psychic or magic attacks and is well armoured.

Steady Advance
Soften up your enemy before engaging them. Move units towards enemy, but don't charge headlong into the first unit in their path. While you manoeuvre, soften them up with heavy weapons fire and psychic attacks.

Waves
This works well for offensive armies with large numbers of troops. Divide your army into two waves; fast H2H troops in the first, followed by slower, more powerful troops.
The first wave "softens up" the opposition before the real units get stuck in. Since the first wave is not supposed to survive, don't spend too much on them. Just enough to make sure they don't rout

Anti-Vehicle
Don't attack from the front, instead use quick moving units that can get outside fire arcs. Use cover to attack them without exposing your units too much. Harass them, this often upsets your opponent so they waste too much time dealing with your insolence!


Combined Tactics
Flank Attack
Place all your offensive troops on one flank, and all your heavy weapons troops on other. Charge the offensive units up their flank and into action. At the same time pour heavy weapons fire into the enemy, which is by now, charging your Heavy Weapons units.
By this point, your offensive units have routed their opponents and can attack the flank or back of the enemy attacking your firebases.

Defensive Arch - "Horns"
This is a variant on the Flank Attack but this time your Heavy Weapons units are in the middle of the line with offensive troops on both flanks. As the flanking troops move quickly to engage, your army will form a "U" shape on the battlefield.
This manoeuvre is best used when you set up last and your enemy has set up in a central position. They will have to advance inside the "U" and will be under fire from all sides, potentially even encircled at the end.

Suck 'em in
A variant on the Defensive Arch. Set up in line and, as your opponent strikes at your main unit, pull it back to suck your opponent into the Defensive Arch and open up their flanks to attack.


Unorthodox Tactics
Guerilla Warfare
Get your skirmishing units into cover, avoid H2H and constantly harass your opponent with as much weapons fire as possible. Flee from any enemy units which attempt to engage in H2H
Powerful H2H characters or Fast Attack troops can then roam the battlefield hitting targets as required. Try to hit one enemy unit at a time until defeated.

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