The Movement Phase

In the Movement phase the active player moves every unit in their army across the battlefield and brings reinforcements onto the table. It resolves in three steps, and by the end of the phase each of your units must have been selected — even those you choose to leave standing still.

The three steps

The Movement phase is short in structure but the middle step carries all the work:

1. Start of Movement phase — resolve any rules triggered at the start of the phase.
2. Move Units — the active player works through their units in sequence, moving each one on its own.
3. End of Movement phase — resolve end-of-phase and mission triggers.

Moving units one at a time

During the Move Units step you work through your army sequentially rather than all at once. For each unit you follow a two-part sequence:

• Select Unit. Choose one friendly unit that has not yet been selected to move this phase. You may select a unit on the battlefield, one sitting in strategic reserves, or one embarked within a TRANSPORT.
• Select Move Type. Choose one move type the unit is eligible to make and resolve it fully before moving on. The standard options are Remain Stationary, Normal move, Advance move, and Fall Back move, alongside a Disembark move for embarked units and an Ingress move for arriving reserves.

You keep selecting units until every unit in your army has been selected. This is a hard requirement: before the phase can end, each unit must have made a move — and choosing to remain stationary counts as that unit's move. Units in strategic reserves are included, so you cannot simply forget about them.

Remain Stationary

Any unit may remain stationary. No models are moved or rotated, and because nothing moves, the unit does not trigger any rules that fire when a unit starts or ends a move. This is the safe default for a unit you want to keep exactly where it is.

Normal move

A Normal move is available to a unit that is on the battlefield and unengaged — that is, not within Engagement Range of any enemy. The unit moves up to its Move (M) characteristic in inches. After moving, the unit must still be unengaged; you cannot use a Normal move to walk into base contact with the enemy.

Advance move

An Advance move is also for unengaged units on the battlefield, and it trades reliability for extra distance. Before moving, make an Advance roll of one D6; the unit may then move up to its M characteristic plus the result of that roll. As with a Normal move, the unit must be unengaged after moving. The cost is that, until the end of the turn and unless a rule says otherwise, an Advancing unit cannot declare a charge or start an action.

Fall Back move

A Fall Back move is the only way to withdraw a unit that is engaged with the enemy. The unit moves up to its M characteristic, and before it moves you must select a fall-back mode:

• Ordered Retreat. If the unit is not battle-shocked, you may choose this disciplined withdrawal.
• Desperate Escape. Otherwise you must take this mode. Make a hazard roll for each model in the unit, risking casualties as they scramble away. While moving under Desperate Escape, each model may be moved through enemy models.

After a Fall Back move the unit must end up unengaged. Falling back also carries a penalty: until the end of the turn, and unless otherwise stated, the unit cannot shoot, declare a charge, or start an action. If a non-battle-shocked unit was forced into Desperate Escape, it must additionally make a battle-shock roll after moving.

Ending the phase

Once every unit has been selected and its move resolved, the End of Movement phase step resolves any remaining triggered rules and mission scoring, and play moves on to the Shooting phase.

Frequently asked questions

What are the move types in the Warhammer 40,000 Movement phase?

During the Move Units step you pick one move type per unit: Remain Stationary, Normal move, Advance move, or Fall Back move, plus a Disembark move for embarked units and an Ingress move for arriving reserves. You select and resolve each unit one at a time until every unit has moved.

Do you have to move every unit in the Movement phase in 40k?

Yes. Before the phase can end, each unit in your army must have been selected to move, including units sitting in strategic reserves. Choosing to Remain Stationary still counts as that unit's move for the phase.

How far can a unit move with an Advance in Warhammer 40,000 11th edition?

An Advancing unit rolls one D6 and moves up to its Move (M) characteristic plus that Advance roll result. The trade-off is that, until the end of the turn, the unit cannot declare a charge or start an action.

How do you Fall Back from combat in 40k?

A Fall Back move is the only way to withdraw a unit that is engaged, moving up to its M characteristic and ending unengaged. A non-battle-shocked unit may pick Ordered Retreat, otherwise it must use Desperate Escape and make a hazard roll for each model.

Can a unit shoot after Falling Back in Warhammer 40,000?

No. Until the end of the turn, a unit that Fell Back cannot shoot, declare a charge, or start an action unless a rule says otherwise. A non-battle-shocked unit forced into Desperate Escape must also make a battle-shock roll after moving.