This section details army special rules including Adepta Sororitas Special Rules, Tactical Objectives and Warlord Traits.

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Adepta Sororitas Special Rules

Act of Faith

The Adepta Sororitas can draw upon the wellspring of their faith and call upon the Emperor to guide their actions. So does absolute belief in the Imperial Creed allow the Sisters of Battle to perform the seemingly impossible upon the battlefield. Yet miracles are not to be relied upon as a matter of course. At the heart of the Imperial Creed is the belief that the divine Emperor relies on his followers to create their own salvation, but also that if the situation is sufficiently bleak, he will intervene to deliver his true servants.

Some units are noted as having the Act of Faith special rule in their entry. Different units have different Acts of Faith, each of which is named in the unit’s entry along with the specific rules it bestows when used, but all Acts of Faith use the rules listed here.

A unit with the Act of Faith special rule can attempt to use its Act of Faith immediately before it acts during a phase; i.e. immediately before the unit moves in the Movement phase, shoots (or runs) in the Shooting phase, or strikes blows in the Assault phase. To do so, the unit must take a Leadership test.

If the test is failed, nothing happens and that unit cannot attempt to use that Act of Faith again for the rest of the battle. If the test is passed, the Act of Faith is successful; unless stated otherwise, all models in the unit will immediately gain a special rule until the end of the current turn. The special rule gained will be listed in that unit’s Act of Faith entry, along with which phase(s) the Act of Faith can be attempted in.

Unless stated otherwise, a unit can only attempt to use an Act of Faith once per game and a unit cannot attempt to use more than one Act of Faith in the same phase. A unit can only attempt to use an Act of Faith if it is entirely comprised of models with either the Act of Faith or War Hymns special rules.

Divine Guidance

Guided by the will of the Emperor himself, the Retributors’ shots shatter the armour of the enemy with contemptuous ease.

One use only. This Act of Faith can be used in the Shooting phase. If successful, all weapons in the Retributors unit gain the Rending special rule until the end of the turn.

Endless Crusade

Limbs do not tire when the spirit of the Emperor moves them, but find fresh strength in the righteous work to come.

One use only. This Act of Faith can be used in your Movement phase. If successful, all models in the unit gain the Fleet, Crusader and Move Through Cover special rules until the end of the turn.

Hand of the Emperor

Celestians call upon the Emperor to grant them the strength to strike down their foes.

One use only. This Act of Faith is used in a friendly Assault phase. If successful, all models in the Celestians’ unit gain the Furious Charge special rule until the end of the turn.

Holy Fusillade

Praying to the Emperor to channel his wrath through their weapons, the Dominions unleash a storm of firepower from which none can escape.

One use only. This Act of Faith can be used in the Shooting phase. If successful, all weapons in the Dominions unit have the Ignores Cover special rule until the end of the turn.

Light of the Emperor

The Sisters of Battle are filled with the knowledge that the only thing they need fear is failing the Emperor of Mankind. Armed with such faith, they are driven to unprecedented feats of prowess.

One use only. This Act of Faith can be used either in your Shooting phase or in either player’s Assault phase. If successful, all models in the Battle Sisters’ unit gain the Preferred Enemy special rule until the end of the turn.

Spirit of the Martyr

Desperate for redemption, the Sisters refuse to succumb to their wounds until their foes have been slain.

One use only. This Act of Faith can be used in either player’s Assault phase. If successful, all models in the Sisters Repentia unit gain the Feel No Pain (3+) special rule until the end of the turn.

The Emperor’s Deliverance

As the Seraphim recite rites of destruction, their aim faithfully falls where it will cause the most harm – every shot becoming a mortal blow that condemns another heretic to oblivion.

One use only. This Act of Faith can be used in the Shooting phase. If successful, all weapons in the Seraphim unit gain the Shred special rule until the end of the turn.

The Passion

A Canoness leads her Sisters through the chaos of melee, striking at their foes with a speed and hatred born of holy fervour.

One use only. This Act of Faith can be used in either player’s Assault phase. If successful, all models in the Canoness’ unit gain the Hatred special rule until the end of the turn.

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Martyrdom

The Sisters of Battle do not give in to despair when their leaders are slain. Instead, the blood of these martyred heroes only strengthens their resolve, the sacrifice inspiring them to great acts of heroism.

If a model with the Martyrdom special rule is your Warlord, and that model is removed as a casualty during the battle, all friendly units wholly comprised of models with the Act of Faith special rule automatically pass all Leadership tests until the end of your next turn.

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Shield of Faith

The Sisters of Battle are taught that faith is a shield stronger than any armour. Such is the power of their belief that the Emperor will protect them that the Adepta Sororitas can shrug off the most severe of wounds and resist the witchcraft of enemy sorcerers.

Models with the Shield of Faith special rule have a 6+ invulnerable save and the Adamantium Will special rule.

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Special Rules

Angelic Visage

Models with this special rule re-roll failed invulnerable saves granted by the Shield of Faith special rule.

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Chaos Bane

The Mace of Valaan gains the Fleshbane and Armourbane special rules when the wielder is within 6" of one or more models with the Daemon special rule.

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Neural Shock

Against non-vehicle units with a Leadership of 8 or less, a Neural Whip has the Shred special rule. If there are different Leadership values in the target unit, use the majority value.

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Protector of the Faith

Once per game, Uriah Jacobus’ unit can attempt to use a bonus Act of Faith, even if his unit has already used all its Acts of Faith. The Leadership test for this bonus Act of Faith is automatically passed and the unit’s Act of Faith resolves as per its Army List Entry. Only the unit’s Act of Faith can be used in this way, not that of any Independent Characters that have joined the unit. Uriah Jacobus can use this bonus Act of Faith even if his unit contained a model with a Simulacrum Imperialis that has been removed as a casualty. Using Uriah Jacobus’ bonus Act of Faith does not prevent his unit from attempting to use any remaining Acts of Faith it has in subsequent phases.

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Psi-shock

If a unit containing at least one model with the Psyker, Brotherhood of Psykers/Sorcerers or Psychic Pilot special rules is hit by a weapon with the Psi-shock special rule, one randomly determined Psyker model in that unit suffers Perils of the Warp in addition to any other damage.

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Repair

If a Rhino is Immobilised, then in subsequent turns, it can attempt to repair itself instead of shooting. To make the attempt, roll a D6 in the Shooting phase; on the roll of a 6, the vehicle is no longer Immobilised. Note that a successful Repair does not restore a Hull Point.

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Uncanny Reflexes

A Death Cult Assassins have a 5+ invulnerable save.

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Unstoppable

Penitent Engines ignore the effects of any Crew Shaken and Crew Stunned results on the Vehicle Damage table (but will still lose a Hull Point for each glancing or penetrating hit inflicted).

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War Hymns

A model with this special rule can take a Leadership test at the beginning of each Fight sub-phase in which he is locked in combat. If the test is successful, choose one of the following war hymns to immediately take effect.

The Emperor Protects

As the Priest’s impassioned calls ring out across the battlefield, the faithful feel the blessing of the God-Emperor upon them.

The Ministorum Priest and his unit re-roll all failed armour and invulnerable saves until the end of the phase.

The Emperor’s Strength

Shouting out the prime canticle of Saint Brutos the Belligerent, the Priest calls upon the Emperor to help him smite his foes.

Until the end of the phase, the Ministorum Priest has the Smash special rule.

The Righteousness of the Emperor

The Priest bellows psalms of vengeance into the faces of the foe, exhorting his followers to excel in the Emperor’s sight.

The Ministorum Priest and his unit re-roll failed To Wound rolls until the end of the phase.

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Bane of Evil

The Font of Fury has the Poisoned (2+) special rule instead of Poisoned (4+) against enemy units with the Chaos Daemons, Chaos Space Marines or Khorne Daemonkin Faction.

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Divine Fury

If the bearer is locked in combat at the start of the Fight sub-phase, they must take a Leadership test. If this test is failed, use the first profile for both Strength and AP for the duration of the phase; if this test is passed, use the second profile for both for the duration of the phase.

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Divine Guardians

The Geminae Superia both have a 4+ invulnerable save. In addition, whilst at least one Geminae Superia is still alive, resolve any wounds suffered by Celestine against the Geminae Superia closest to her instead. Saint Celestine is permitted to join other units, in which case both Celestine and her Geminae Superia join the unit. If Celestine then leaves the unit, her Geminae Superia also leave the unit, forming a separate unit with her.

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Healing Tears

At the start of each of your turns, set up a single slain Geminae Superia anywhere within 2" of Celestine (or as close to her as possible).

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Miraculous Intervention

Not even death can stop the Emperor’s chosen servants, and through his benevolence they rise again to serve the Master of Mankind’s will.

The first time Saint Celestine is removed as a casualty, she must take a Leadership test. If this test is failed, she is slain as normal; if successful, leave a suitable counter on the spot where Saint Celestine lost her last wound. At the start of your next turn, place Saint Celestine back on the battlefield, with all her Wounds restored, within 1" of the counter (or as close to it as possible). Saint Celestine can act normally in a turn in which she ‘resurrects’, and can even use her Healing Tears special rule to restore one of her slain Geminae Superia. If Saint Celestine is your Warlord, her Martyrdom special rule will only take effect – and she will only award Victory Points for objectives such as Slay the Warlord – if she fails her Leadership test to resurrect or if she has been removed as a casualty for a second time. However, if Saint Celestine has been slain and the game ends before she can return to the battlefield, she counts as destroyed. Miraculous Intervention has no effect if Saint Celestine is removed as a casualty a second time.

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Orbital

If an arrow is rolled on the scatter dice when firing a weapon that has this special rule, the shot always scatters the full 2D6" regardless of Celestine’s Ballistic Skill.

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Saintly Blessings

In the presence of an ordained Living Saint, even the most impious of the Emperor’s servants cannot help but be swept up by the tide of religious fervour.

Saint Celestine can bestow a Saintly Blessing at the start of each of your turns. A Saintly Blessing affects all non-vehicle units from the Armies of the Imperium that have the Battlefield Role associated with that blessing, and are within 12" of Saint Celestine when it is activated. Each Saintly Blessing can only be activated once during the course of each battle. Independent Characters that have joined units that are affected by a Saintly Blessing are also affected so long as they remain in the unit.

Heroic Zeal

Affects HQ units only. The unit gains the Zealot special rule until the start of your next turn.

Fanatical Fortitude

Affects Troops units only. All models in the unit gain the Feel No Pain (6+) special rule until the start of your next turn. Models that already have the Feel No Pain special rule instead add 1 to their Feel No Pain rolls until the start of your next turn.

Religious Fanaticism

Affects Elites units only. All models in the unit gain the Counter-attack and Furious Charge special rules until the start of your next turn.

Devout Determination

Affects Fast Attack units only. All models in the unit gain the Crusader and Fleet special rules until the start of your next turn.

Pious Grit

Affects Heavy Support units only. All models in the unit gain the Relentless special rule until the start of your next turn.

Indomitable Faith

Affects Lord of War units only. The unit gains the It Will Not Die special rule for the remainder of the battle.

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The Emperor’s Vengeance

Once per battle, Saint Celestine can make a shooting ttack with the following profile:

Range	S	AP	Type
Unlimited	8	3	Assault 1, Barrage, Large Blast, Orbital

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Unstoppable Vengeance

Invulnerable saves cannot be taken against Wounds caused by Castigator.

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Tactical Objectives

Presented below are six Tactical Objectives to use in your games of Warhammer 40,000. Exclusive to Adepta Sororitas players, they help to reflect the Ecclesiarchy’s zealous and determined methods of waging war.

If your Warlord has the Adepta Sororitas Faction, you may replace the Capture & Control Tactical Objectives (numbers 11-16) described in Warhammer 40,000: The Rules with the Tactical Objectives on this page.

If a Warhammer 40,000 mission has the Tactical Objectives special rule, players use the normal rules for using Tactical Objectives with the following exception: when an Adepta Sororitas player generates a Capture & Control objective (numbers 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16), they instead generate the corresponding Adepta Sororitas Tactical Objective, as shown in the table to the right. Other Tactical Objectives (numbers 21-66) are generated normally.

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Warlord Traits

When generating Warlord traits for a Warlord with the Adepta Sororitas Faction, you can roll on the table below instead of one of the Warlord traits tables found in Warhammer 40,000: The Rules.

D6	Warlord Traits
1	Executioner of Heretics The Warlord has a fearsome reputation for hunting down the Ecclesiarchy’s enemies and slaying them without mercy. The Warlord has the Fear special rule.
2	Indomitable Belief This Warlord’s inspirational belief is such that their followers refuse to yield before the Emperor’s enemies. The Warlord, and all models in the Warlord’s unit that have the Shield of Faith special rule, have a 5+ invulnerable save.
3	Pure of Will Such is this Warlord’s strength of will that enemy sorceries can find no purchase upon their soul. The Warlord’s unit re-rolls unsuccessful Deny the Witch rolls.
4	Righteous Rage The Warlord’s contempt for the enemy has been fanned into a furious rage that they call upon to smite their foes on the battlefield. The Warlord has the Rage special rule.
5	Beacon of Faith The Warlord is a shining beacon of faith, a spiritual as well as a military leader who inspires intense devotion in their warriors. All friendly models that are within 12" of the Warlord use the Warlord’s Leadership value when taking Act of Faith or War Hymns Leadership tests, unless their own is higher.
6	Inspiring Orator Those who hear the Warlord’s stirring words are inspired to great feats of bravery. All friendly models within 12" of the Warlord have the Stubborn special rule.

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