Index -> Playing the Game -> Assault Phase

Assault Phase

The assault phase is when you work to complete missions. If you have no unswerved maneuvers in play at the start of your turn (as, for example, on your first turn of the game), you may simply skip this phase.

You first select one of the two missions in play as the target for your assault. If your opponent has any units in play at that mission, you automatically begin close combat with those units.

After combat has concluded (regardless of its outcome), you choose exactly one of your unswerved maneuvers in play, and “stash” it at the mission you’re assaulting. It is placed halfway beneath the mission, so that the speed is clearly visible.

Finally, check to see if the total speed of all your stashed maneuvers at the mission is equal to or greater than its difficulty. If it is, you now complete that mission.

Whether or not you completed the mission, the assault phase then ends.

More on the Assault Phase

Though it does not occur often, it is possible for you to begin an assault and then have all your maneuvers become swerved in combat before you have a chance to stash one. In such a case, the assault phase ends immediately after the combat.

Once you do stash a maneuver, you no longer pay any attention to any game text it has. You can no longer swerve it to add to your total speed in combat. It doesn’t count if another card asks you to look for or count “maneuvers.” Only if a card specifically refers to “stashed maneuvers” can you interact with them in any way.

Some cards make it possible to move a stashed maneuver from one mission to the other. If one gets moved and makes a player’s total stashed speed at a mission high enough to complete it, he does not complete it until the next time he assaults there.

No part of the assault phase is optional. If you have any unswerved maneuvers in play, you must choose a mission to assault. If your opponent has any units in play there, you must begin close combat with them. And if you still have any unswerved maneuvers remaining at that point, you must choose one to stash beneath the mission.