The Skyhammer Annihilation Force is a new hard hitting formation available to Space Marine players. The formation focuses on quick deployment via drop pods, which serve as new staging ground for a relentless barrage and assault from the occupants. Once the ramps drop the Devastators unleash hell on the unsuspecting foe while Assault marines ready themselves for a final brutal charge.

Skyhammer Annihilation Force

The Skyhammer Annihilation Force does not merely attack. The Skyhammer Annihilation Force destroys.

Skyhammer Annihilation Force Contents

The new bundle gives you everything you need to field the web-exclusive formation. It costs £226 and can be ordered here.  Here’s what you get:

• 2x Drop Pods
• 2x Devastator Squads
• 4x Assault Squads
• 1x Tactical Squad
• Exclusive Skyhammer Annihilation Force Rules Sheet

Skyhammer Annihilation Force Rule Sheet

Skyhammer Annihilation Force Special Rules

Shock Deployment: All units in the SAF start the game in Deep Strike Reserve. Instead of using the normal deployment and reserve rules for these units, you can, during deployment, choose whether this Formation will arrive during your first or second turn. The entire SAF automatically arrives on the turn you choose—no Reserve Rolls are required. Ignore this Formation’s Drop Pods for the purposes of the Drop Pod Assault special rule.

First the Fire, then the Blade: On the turn they arrive from Deep Strike Reserve, the Devastator Squads in the SAF have the Relentless special rule and the Assault Squads can charge even though they arrived from Reserves that turn.

Suppressing Fusillade: A unit targeted by Devastator Squad in the SAF, in the Shooting phase must take a Morale test at the end of the phase on 3D6, regardless of how many casualties were inflicted. If the test is failed, the enemy unit does not Fall Back, but must immediately Go to Ground. If the test is passed, the enemy unit is unable to fire Overwatch for the rest of the turn.

Leave No Survivors: Assault Squads in a SAF can use their Jump Packs in both the Movement phase and the Assault phase. If an Assault Squad from a SAF charges a unit that has Gone to Ground as a result of the Suppressing Fusillade special rule, that Assault Squad can reroll failed To Hit and To Wound rolls in the ensuring Assault phase.

I like the idea of this force. Land, shoot and finish with an assault. The special rules feel really powerful, especially the way they boost one another. Would be interesting to see how the rules play out on the table, but it looks like a definite leg up for the Space Marines.