Lictors deploying scramblers

[nidnewbie]

Lictors deploying scramblers comes up on this board a lot as a prefered tactic. At some point I thought I read that a shrewd move was to drop in a lictor at the end of the movement phase and then using metabolic overdrive to get into a well wrapped enemy deployment zone before deploying the scrambler.

When I attempted this the other day I was told it was illegal to move them this way. Assuming this more experienced player is correct, does the hive have any suggestions for getting a lictor into the enemy deployment zone of an opponent who zealously blocks his deployment zone from deepsteikes?

Cheers!

[tylertt]

It is illegal as I understand it.

From the reinforcements section in the BRB:
"Reinforcement units cannot make a Normal Move, Advance, Fall Back or Remain Stationary in the turn they arrive for any reason, but they can otherwise act normally (shoot, charge, fight etc..."

Metabolic Overdrive
"Use this Stratagem in your Movement phase, after moving a TYRANIDS unit from your army. You can make a second move with that unit..."

Now technically it may come down to wording or who you're playing. It states that you make a second move, which some may consider is different than a "Normal Move". Personally I would say no.

However I often just hold my Lictor off until turn 3 for enemy deployment zone scramblers. The size of the lictor is pretty small and its normally easy enough to find a spot for it.

[Freeman]

The lictor can scramble in the midfield t2 and just move in T3 if there’s enough terrain to keep him safe for a turn.

I wouldn’t over think it though. To be honest you’ll know from their army list if it’s something they can try, to do to you, so just pick a different one. Banners is arguably easier anyway.

[No One]

tylertt said:

Now technically it may come down to wording or who you're playing. It states that you make a second move, which some may consider is different than a "Normal Move". Personally I would say no.

It's not a 'Normal Move' per se: you're in the Movement phase, it lets you move again, and what happens when you select a unit to move in the Movement phase?

selecting one unit from your army to move;
that unit can either make a Normal Move, it can Advance, or it can Remain
Stationary (see opposite).

So you can use it to make any movement type (though note that basically everything but Normal Move and occasionally Advance are pointless, since the FAQ in our FAQ on Advancing twice in a phase still exists, you can't Fall Back, and Remain Stationary is currently pointless).

Edit: As to the general topic, as above, Metabollic: you can go 12"+ (depending on unit) and deploy from something chilling midboard. Doesn't have to be a lictor, but they're a small, easily hideable model that you can plonk basically anywhere. Just wait to drop T3 so your opponent has to spend as long as possible screening out their deployment: which, from a small model, is almost certainly more trouble than it's worth for most armies.

[dranzyl]

For what its worth and not geting into rules discussions its my understanding that GW has generally disallowed moves after deep strikes / outflanks. Either in faqs or in the datasheets themselves.

For how long and how strictly they are going to adhere to that mentality is anyones guess. For now the RAI is on no movement after deepstrikes i think.

[No One]

It's definitely not RAW either. You make a second move: what do you do? How far do you go? Unless you want to argue you can make a charge move/pile in/consolidate (uuhh...), it has to be a Normal/Advance/Fall Back, or else the answer to that is N/A and you don't move. There is no general 'move' apart from those.

[kazetanade]

When you start forcing people to come out of the deployment zone, it starts getting really hard for people to screen their deployment zone from a single model. By T3 and assuming your strategy is working, you'll find space. Get someone else into midfield to scramble on T3 if need be.

[tylertt]

Mar 13, 2021 1:13:27 GMT No One said:

tylertt said:

Now technically it may come down to wording or who you're playing. It states that you make a second move, which some may consider is different than a "Normal Move". Personally I would say no.

It's not a 'Normal Move' per se: you're in the Movement phase, it lets you move again, and what happens when you select a unit to move in the Movement phase?

selecting one unit from your army to move;
that unit can either make a Normal Move, it can Advance, or it can Remain
Stationary (see opposite).

So you can use it to make any movement type (though note that basically everything but Normal Move and occasionally Advance are pointless, since the FAQ in our FAQ on Advancing twice in a phase still exists, you can't Fall Back, and Remain Stationary is currently pointless).

Edit: As to the general topic, as above, Metabollic: you can go 12"+ (depending on unit) and deploy from something chilling midboard. Doesn't have to be a lictor, but they're a small, easily hideable model that you can plonk basically anywhere. Just wait to drop T3 so your opponent has to spend as long as possible screening out their deployment: which, from a small model, is almost certainly more trouble than it's worth for most armies.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Your last point is also the way to go without Lictors. Anytime I don't bring them, I keep this trick in the back pocket. Even with mission specific actions, it gives us so much freedom to move about.