Info:Melee Skill

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Melee Skill

Melee Skill measures a unit's ability to utilize special attacks in melee combat. The game compares each squad's Melee Skill during melee combat to determine whether or not they can perform a special attack.

Units with higher Melee Skill have a 5 + x% chance of performing a special attack, where x is the difference between the unit's Melee Skill. Units with lower Melee Skill are unable to "proc" or activate their chance-on-hit special attacks on those with higher Melee Skill.

For this reason, Melee Skill is a strong factor in determining which ones may prevail in a melee fight, as special attacks often include knockdown and area damage. Units with higher melee skill are able to utilize these attacks while those with lower skill will not be able to. In addition, since leveling up grants additional melee skill, it bestows a substantial advantage when fighting those that normally have equal Melee Skill. In general, the higher the unit's Melee Skill, the better.

Moving units have their Melee Skill reduced by 2, meaning a higher level unit can be made vulnerable to special attacks by lower level ones, especially when retreating. For example, a level 2 Banshee squad (71 MS) can be hit by special attacks from a level 1 squad (70 MS) if they are moving, since their MS would be reduced to 69. Units that are charging or leaping do not have their Melee Skill reduced.

Some abilities and wargear increase Melee Skill.

Most ranged units do not have special melee attacks, but their Melee Skill will determine which units can use special attacks on them.

Melee Skill Unit List

Nearly all units gain +1 Melee Skill per level. However, the Force Commander, Apothecary, Warlock, Chaos Lord, Plague Champion, and Sorcerer gain even more Melee Skill at certain levels. See the unit's individual pages for more info.

• 100:

Tyranids - Spore Mines

• 80:

Tyranids - Genestealers w/ Melee Synapse

• 75:

Chaos - Heretics

• 71:

Space Marines - Scouts, Scout Sergeant

• 70:

Space Marines - Force Commander, Apothecary, Assault Marines, Assault Sergeant, Librarian, Assault Terminators, Dreadnought, Venerable Dreadnought

Ork - Warboss, Kommando Nob w/ Assashun's Knife, Nob Squad, Nob Leader, Slugga Nob, Stormboy Nob, Shooter Nob, Kommando Nob, Stikkbommas, Weirdboy, Deff Dread

Tyranids - Hive Tyrant, Lictor Alpha, Ravener Alpha w/ Corrosive Claws or Acid Splatter, Lictor, Carnifex, Tyrant Guard, Warriors w/ Adrenal Gland, Raveners w/ Melee Synapse, Genestealers

Eldar - Warlock, Farseer, Warp Spider Exarch w/ Power Blades, Banshees, Banshee Exarch, Wraithlord, Avatar, Seer Council

Chaos - Chaos Lord, Sorcerer, Plague Champion w/ Plague Sword or Plague Fist, Heretic Aspiring Champion, Chaos Space Marines w/ Mark of Khorne, Chaos Space Marine Aspiring Champion w/ Mark of Khorne, Bloodletters, Chaos Dreadnought, Great Unclean One

• 65:

Tyranids - Hormagaunts w/Melee Synapse

• 60:

Space Marines - Techmarine, Tactical Space Marine Squad, Tactical Space Marine Squad Sergeant, Terminators

Ork - Kommando Nob, Mekboy, Sluggas, Stormboyz

Tyranids - Raveners, Warriors, Venom Brood

Eldar - Warp Spider Exarch, Warp Spider Exarch (Squad Leader)

Chaos - Plague Champion, Chaos Space Marines, Chaos Space Marine Aspiring Champion, Plague Marines, Bloodcrusher

• 55:

Tyranids - Hormagaunts

• 50:

Space Marines - Devastator Marines, Devastator Plasma Cannon Marines, Razorback, Predator

Ork - Shootas, Lootas, Tankbustaz, Kommandos, Wartrukk, Looted Tank

Tyranids - Termagaunts, Zoanthrope

Eldar - Guardians, Guardian Warlock, Shuriken Cannon, Brightlance Cannon, D-Cannon, Warp Spiders, Rangers, Wraithguard, Wraithguard Warlock, Falcon, Fire Prism

Chaos - Chaos Predator