Squad Morale

[actionjax]

I am a little fuzzy on what breaking does to a squad. It seems like sometimes they continue to fight and other times they run. Is a broken squad way less effective in combat or something? Generally speaking, if you break a squad that would normally beat you, is it then defeatable?

I'm just not really certain what morale does, and am not sure I'm taking proper advantage of that or taking it into enough account.

[DarthVaygr]

Morale es effectivo.........yes it is. Normally, yes, once a squad is broken, you can defeat what normally could defeat you. Breaking morale makes squads faster and combat ineffective.

[Doomhawk]

When a squad breaks, it experiences a significant drop in damage and defense capability, although it gains a bonus to movement speed.

Morale-breaking weapons are very effective; even if have twice the army of your enemy but your troops are all broken, you'll still lose.

[Brannigans_Law]

The reason they probably some times run away is because the player is pulling them back to "unbreak". Morale doesn't rengenerate for broken units until you disengage the enemy (unless they can use "rally").

And yes, once broken the unit cannot fight well. When facing a stronger force, first break their morale then go after their health before they retreat.

[Yo-jim-bo]

Just to note though, that unless you're completely hammering a squad into the ground, you're not going to break it without using anti-morale weapons. Also, taking damage and being hit by 'morale-sappers' seems to be the only way units lose morale-there's no impact from having the rest of their army obliterated around them for example.

[TheLoneKnight]

Another note on morale: When a squad is broken, I've noticed they only attack half as often, as well as doing less damage, taking more damage, etc.

S'why I love Space Marines. You're more likely to BUTCHER the squad before you break them. And if they have rally..well.. The only one you'll break is the last marine with 2 hp left. ;p

Oh, and on a serious note; ABUSE SNIPERS. Marine Scouts w/Sniper Rifles, the Eldar Rangers, anything you can. Get a couple of squads with flamers. You'll be disturbingly amazed at how -easy- it is to kill your enemy when they're demoralized. :D

[Phyr_Negator]

Artillery blasts morale away pretty fast. One or two hits near squad and they are ready to show backs. IG and grotz only can break during fighting. Well they are meatshield. Cultists are madnam so it seems logical enough that they have a lot of morale for...ahem..meatshield.