Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Psychic 101(8e)

This page indexes how the Psychic Phase works in 8th edition Warhammer 40K.

Psychic Phase in General

Psychic powers are used in their own phase, after moving but before shooting. Every psyker knows some set of powers, can attempt to manifest some number of powers per friendly Psychic phase, and can attempt to deny some number of psychic powers in each enemy Psychic phase. In Matched Play, only the Smite power, which all psykers know by default unless their rules say otherwise, can be spammed; all other powers can only be attempted once per turn.

How It Works

0: Generating Psychic Powers

Psychic powers are generated before the game starts, but after list construction (you do not need to commit to your known powers until after you know your enemy's list). A given psyker has access to a certain number of powers from some Discipline, with the Discipline ordinarily set by the model's faction; in addition, unless its rules explicitly say otherwise, all psykers know the Smite power. A Discipline has three powers in it, and you may generate your powers by rolling D3s (re-rolling duplicates), or you can simply pick the power(s) your psyker knows, which is what you should always do, as you should be building your list with a clear role for each psyker in it.

1: Choose Psyker and Power

Each psyker in your army may attempt to cast some number of powers, as specified on their datasheet; this number typically varies between 1 (particularly weak) and 3 (particularly strong, and the current maximum). In addition, in Matched Play, attempting a power blocks out the power for the rest of your army for the turn, except for Smite. Any psyker who knows a power which has not been blocked and has not reached their attempt limit yet is available to attempt.

2: Casting Powers

Roll some number of dice; the number is typically 2, but your psyker's datasheet may say otherwise, such as rolling only 1 die, and various abilities may modify this. Rarely, you may add or subtract a constant from the rolled value - as usual, your datasheets will indicate this (or, if other models are modifying your rolls, their datasheets). If you equal or exceed the power's warp charge value, and you live through the attempt (see below), you succeed at the power; otherwise, the power fizzles.

Make sure you record somehow (such as by putting the dice aside, although any additive modifiers do also apply) the result of the dice roll if you succeed; some powers resolve (see below) differently based on your roll.

Perils of the Warp

Perils of the Warp occurs on any pair of 1s or 6s, aside from any special rules saying otherwise. When a psyker suffers perils of the warp for any reason, he suffers 1D3 mortal wounds. If this kills him, the power fizzles and each unit within 6" suffers D3 mortal wounds.

3: Deny the Witch

Any model capable of Deny the Witch (which is any psyker, and certain other models with special rules) within range (24", unless otherwise specified) can attempt to Deny the Witch, up to the number of times specified on their datasheet. The opposing player (whose Psychic Phases it is not) can nominate any eligible model to attempt to Deny, but only gets one chance to do so. The Denier rolls their Denial dice - typically 2 - and has to exceed the total the caster got. If the Denier does so, the power fizzles.

4: Resolve Power

If you made it this far (cast successfully, psyker lived, not denied), resolve the power as specified in the power's rules, as modified by the rules on the psyker, etc. To give you an idea of how likely this is, here is a table summarizing your chances.

Warp Charge Table

The following table shows what chance you can expect to cast a power with a given number of warp charges, opposed by a given number of denial dice. The table assumes you live through Perils - obviously, for a caster with only 1-3 wounds, their odds of succeeding at a power goes down. Your base chance of getting perils of the warp on one die is always 0, and on two dice is always 5.56%.

Chances of Success, Caster vs Denier vs Charges, Assuming Perils are Successes

Caster Dice

Denier Dice

WC1

WC2

WC3

WC4

WC5

WC6

WC7

WC8

WC9

WC10

WC11

Caster Dice

Denier Dice

WC1

WC2

WC3

WC4

WC5

WC6

WC7

WC8

WC9

WC10

WC11

2D6+2

0D6

100.00%

97.22%

91.67%

83.33%

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

2D6+2

1D6

98.15%

96.30%

91.67%

83.33%

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

2D6+2

2D6

76.08%

75.62%

74.07%

70.60%

64.12%

54.09%

40.20%

27.47%

2D6+1

0D6

100.00%

97.22%

91.67%

83.33%

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

2D6+1

1D6

95.37%

93.98%

90.28%

83.33%

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

2D6+1

2D6

66.44%

66.20%

65.28%

62.96%

58.33%

50.23%

38.19%

26.62%

16.44%

2D6+0

0D6

100.00%

97.22%

91.67%

83.33%

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

2D6+0

1D6

90.74%

89.81%

87.04%

81.48%

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

2D6+0

2D6

55.63%

55.56%

55.09%

53.70%

50.62%

44.83%

35.11%

25.08%

15.82%

08.18%

2D6-1

0D6

100.00%

97.22%

91.67%

83.33%

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

02.78%

2D6-1

1D6

83.80%

83.33%

81.48%

77.31%

69.91%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

02.78%

2D6-1

2D6

44.44%

44.37%

44.21%

43.52%

41.67%

37.81%

30.86%

22.76%

14.74%

07.79%

02.70%

2D6-2

0D6

97.22%

91.67%

83.33%

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

02.78%

00.00%

2D6-2

1D6

74.07%

73.15%

70.37%

64.81%

55.56%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

02.78%

00.00%

2D6-2

2D6

33.72%

33.56%

33.33%

32.41%

30.09%

25.46%

19.68%

13.19%

07.18%

02.55%

00.00%

2D6-3

0D6

91.67%

83.33%

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

02.78%

00.00%

2D6-3

1D6

62.50%

61.11%

57.41%

50.46%

39.35%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

02.78%

00.00%

2D6-3

2D6

24.15%

23.92%

23.61%

22.45%

19.68%

15.82%

11.19%

06.33%

02.31%

00.00%

2D6-4

0D6

83.33%

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

02.78%

00.00%

2D6-4

1D6

50.00%

48.15%

43.52%

35.19%

25.93%

16.67%

08.33%

02.78%

00.00%

2D6-4

2D6

16.20%

15.90%

15.51%

14.12%

11.81%

08.72%

05.25%

02.01%

00.00%

2D6-5

0D6

72.22%

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

02.78%

00.00%

2D6-5

1D6

37.50%

35.19%

29.63%

22.69%

15.28%

08.33%

02.78%

00.00%

2D6-5

2D6

10.11%

09.72%

09.26%

08.10%

06.25%

03.94%

01.62%

00.00%

2D6-6

0D6

58.33%

41.67%

27.78%

16.67%

08.33%

02.78%

00.00%

2D6-6

1D6

25.93%

23.15%

18.52%

12.96%

07.41%

02.78%

00.00%

2D6-6

2D6

05.86%

05.40%

05.02%

04.09%

02.70%

01.16%

00.00%

1D6+2

0D6

100.00%

83.33%

66.67%

50.00%

33.33%

16.67%

00.00%

1D6+2

1D6

83.33%

75.00%

63.89%

50.00%

33.33%

16.67%

00.00%

1D6+2

2D6

37.50%

36.11%

33.33%

28.70%

21.76%

12.04%

00.00%

1D6+1

0D6

100.00%

83.33%

66.67%

50.00%

33.33%

16.67%

00.00%

1D6+1

1D6

72.22%

66.67%

58.33%

47.22%

33.33%

16.67%

00.00%

1D6+1

2D6

25.93%

25.46%

24.07%

21.30%

16.67%

09.72%

00.00%

1D6+0

0D6

100.00%

83.33%

66.67%

50.00%

33.33%

16.67%

00.00%

1D6+0

1D6

58.33%

55.56%

50.00%

41.67%

30.56%

16.67%

00.00%

1D6+0

2D6

16.67%

16.20%

15.74%

14.35%

11.57%

06.94%

00.00%

1D6-1

0D6

83.33%

66.67%

50.00%

33.33%

16.67%

00.00%

1D6-1

1D6

41.67%

38.89%

33.33%

25.00%

13.89%

00.00%

1D6-1

2D6

09.72%

09.26%

08.80%

07.41%

04.63%

00.00%

1D6-2

0D6

66.67%

50.00%

33.33%

16.67%

00.00%

1D6-2

1D6

27.78%

25.00%

19.44%

11.11%

00.00%

1D6-2

2D6

05.09%

04.63%

04.17%

02.78%

00.00%

1D6-3

0D6

50.00%

33.33%

16.67%

00.00%

1D6-3

1D6

16.67%

13.89%

08.33%

00.00%

1D6-3

2D6

02.31%

01.85%

01.39%

00.00%

1D6-4

0D6

33.33%

16.67%

00.00%

1D6-4

1D6

08.33%

05.56%

00.00%

1D6-4

2D6

00.93%

00.46%

00.00%

1D6-5

0D6

16.67%

00.00%

1D6-5

1D6

02.78%

00.00%

1D6-5

2D6

00.46%

00.00%

1D6-6

0D6

00.00%

1D6-6

1D6

00.00%

1D6-6

2D6

00.00%

}

Psychic Disciplines

By and large, each Faction has its own Discipline, although exceptions abound. Accordingly, the Disciplines below are sorted by Faction.

Smite

Overview: Smite is not actually in a discipline, and all Psykers know it by default unless otherwise noted.

Force
Number	Name	Range	Target	Description	Charge
N/A	Smite	18	Enemy Unit	The closest visible enemy unit within 18" of the psyker suffers D3 mortal wounds - D6 if manifested on 10 or more.	5

Chaos

Chaos Daemons

Unlike with most factions, Chaos Daemons subdivide their psykers, with Daemons of the three non-Khorne deities taking different disciplines. Be'Lakor, the only Daemonic psyker not of any deity, uses the Dark Hereticus discipline.

Nurgle

Nurgle
Number	Name	Range	Target	Description	Charge
1	Stream of Corruption	7	Closest Enemy Unit	The closest enemy unit within 7" suffers 1D3 mortal wounds if it has fewer than 10 models in it, otherwise 1D6.	5
2	Virulent Blessing	18	Nurgle Daemon Unit	Target unit may add +1 to all wound rolls in the Fight phase, and wound rolls of 7+ for that unit in the Fight phase inflict double damage.	6
3	Fleshy Abundance	18	Friendly Nurgle Daemon Unit	Target unit recovers 1D3 wounds.	5

Slaanesh

Slaanesh
Number	Name	Range	Target	Description	Charge
1	Cacophonic Choir	18	Closest Visible Enemy Unit	Roll 2D6. Target unit suffers a mortal wound for each point rolled above its Leadership.	7
2	Symphony of Pain	18	Closest Visible Enemy Unit	Target unit subtracts 1 from all hit rolls until the start of your next Psychic phase.	6
3	Hysterical Frenzy	18	Friendly Slaanesh Daemon Unit	Target unit must also be within 1" of an enemy unit. It can pile in and attack as if it were the Fight phase.	8

Tzeentch

Number

Name

Range

Target

Description

Charge

1

Boon of Change

18

Visible Friendly Tzeentch Daemon Unit

Roll a D3 on the table below; all models in the target unit receive the listed bonus until the start of your next Psychic phase.

D3	Penalty
1	+1 Attack
2	+1 Strength
3	+1 Toughness

7

2

Bolt of Change

18

Unit

Target unit suffers D3 mortal wounds; if a Character is slain by this, you can add a Chaos Spawn to your army. Set it up within 1" of the character before it is removed.

9

3

Treason of Tzeentch

18

Visible Enemy Non-Warlord Character

Roll 2D6; if the result is greater than the target's Leadership, you can treat the model as Friendly in your Shooting, Charge, and Fight phases, until the end of your Fight phase.

8

Heretic Astartes

Dark Hereticus
Number	Name	Range	Target	Description	Charge
1	Infernal Gaze	18	Visible Enemy Unit	Roll 3 dice. The target suffers a mortal wound for each 4+.	5
2	Warptime	3	Friendly Heretic Astartes Unit	Target unit may move now, as if it were its Movement phase, and it is immune to Warptime until the end of the phase.	6
3	Prescience	18	Friendly Heretic Astartes Unit	Target unit may add +1 to all hit rolls until the start of your next Psychic phase.	7

Death Guard

Death Guard Sorcerers use Dark Hereticus, but Plaguecasters use Contagion.

Contagion

Number

Name

Range

Target

Description

Charge

1

Miasma of Pestilence

18

Visible Friendly Death Guard Unit

Until the start of your next Psychic phase, all hit rolls targeting target unit subtract 1.

6

2

Gift of Contagion

18

Visible Enemy Unit

Roll a D3 on the table below; all models in the target unit suffer the listed penalty, to a minimum of 1, until the start of your next Psychic phase.

D3	Penalty
1	-1 Attack
2	-1 Strength
3	-1 Toughness

7

3

Plague Wind

18

Visible Enemy Unit

Roll 1 die for each model in target unit; the unit suffers a mortal wound for each 6.

5

Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Psychic 101(8e)

Contents

Psychic Phase in General

How It Works

0: Generating Psychic Powers

1: Choose Psyker and Power

2: Casting Powers

Perils of the Warp

3: Deny the Witch

4: Resolve Power

Warp Charge Table

Psychic Disciplines

Smite

Chaos

Chaos Daemons

Nurgle

Slaanesh

Tzeentch

Heretic Astartes

Death Guard

Navigation menu

Warhammer 40,000/Tactics/Psychic 101(8e)

Psychic Phase in General

How It Works

0: Generating Psychic Powers

1: Choose Psyker and Power

2: Casting Powers

Perils of the Warp

3: Deny the Witch

4: Resolve Power

Warp Charge Table

Psychic Disciplines

Smite

Chaos

Chaos Daemons

Nurgle

Slaanesh

Tzeentch

Heretic Astartes

Death Guard

Navigation menu

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