Ward Saves Explained (AOS 3.0)

[SugarWaterPurple]

Hi all,

 

Just looking for clarity regarding ward saves as the language in the core rules - imo - is not very clear.

 

For example:

1) Are you able to use a ward save in addition to a regular save (e.g. roll 5+ regular and then roll 4+ ward);

or,

2) Are ward saves only to be used in situations where your modified save role is worse than your ward save (e.g. 4+ regular, attacker causes wound with -3 rend, therefore use 4+ ward).

 

Additionally,  do you apply ward saves in the same way as a regular save (i.e. per wound) or based on the damage profile of a weapon (e.g. attacker wounds with weapon that causes 2 damage, ward roll for each damage caused).

 

Thank you  

 

[Kadeton]

Ward saves and armour saves work at different stages of the damage process, and can thus be combined for additional protection.

When your model suffers a wounding hit you roll your armour save to negate it. If your armour roll succeeds, it blocks all of the damage that the hit inflicts.

If your armour roll fails, the weapon's damage has to be allocated to your model as wounds. This is where the ward save comes in - each wound that is allocated gets a separate ward save roll.

So if your unit has a 4+ save and a 5+ ward save, and your opponent's unit has hit and wounded with one attack that does 4 damage:

1. Roll your armour save (4+, plus any modifiers). If it succeeds, the hit is negated and the process is done. If not, move on to the next step.
2. The hit causes 4 damage, so 4 wounds must be allocated to your unit.
3. Roll 4 ward saves (5+). Any that succeed negate one of the wounds. Any wounds not negated are allocated to your unit.

Hope that helps!

[Beliman]

Just to point it out. Save rolls are part of the attacking sequence:

1. Roll to hit
2. Roll to wound
3. Roll to save
4. Count dmg

After that, the dmg of the weapons turns to a wounds pool that must be allocated to your models. Ward save triggers exactly at this moment:

Quote

‘Some abilities allow you to roll a dice to negate a wound or mortal wound. Abilities of this type are referred to as wards, and the dice roll is referred to as a ward roll. Unless stated otherwise, the ward roll is made before the wound is allocated to the model in question. Up to 1 ward roll can be made for each wound or mortal wound. If the ward roll is successful, the wound or mortal wound is negated and has no effect on the model.

Take in mind that some 2.0 descriptions can be a bit diferent and the timing is written as: "each time you allocate a Wound or Mortal Wound..." or "When you allocate a wound or mortal wound...".

Edited December 13, 2021 by Beliman

[zilberfrid]

Ah, so besides wounds, to wound characteristic, wound pool and wounds allocated, wpe also have two sorts of saves with different mechanics. Didn't catch that before.