<p>All models have a close combat weapon in addition to the listed equipment (described in page 183 of the 8th Edition Core Rule Book). It is Strength: User, AP: 0, Damage: 1.</p>

<p>I think this is supposed to represent fighters using their fists, guns as clubs, body slams and any small knives etc they carry.</p>

<p>Some people have been taking advantage of this for units (like helbrutes) that have a bonus for having two melee weapons. It also allows models with weapons like power fists (2x strength, good AP, -1 to hit rolls) to use a different attack against targets where the power fists abilities would be wasted.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-01T07:46:08.120Z
It's page 183 of the Warhammer 40000 rulebook.
LesserKhan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-01T06:13:16.977Z
2019-10-01T12:47:19.390Z
2019-10-01T12:47:19.390Z
LesserKhan
<p>According to the <a href="https://www.games-workshop.com/resources/PDF/40k/warhammer_40000_en.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">8th Edition Core Rules</a>, the attack stat is defined as follows:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Attacks (A):</strong> This tells you how many times a model can strike blows in hand-to-hand combat.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>As I understand, this only affects the fight phase, and as such only melee weapons. However, I see several units, such as the Kustom Boosta-Blastas, which have an attack stat, but no melee weapons. What is the purpose of this stat? Or is it just "filler"?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-01T04:21:22.490Z
Do all models have an Attack stat? Are there any rules or abilities that interact with the stat? I'm not a 40k player, but if I were to guess I'd say it is forward planning, for example to cover cases where a unit that doesn't currently have melee options receives some in a future expansion.
James Otter
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-01T13:41:04.670Z
Likewise, there are some models (like the Tau Ethereal on Hover Drone) that have a BS stat, but don't seem to have any way of taking a ranged weapon.
Question Marks
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-03T16:56:06.653Z
@QuestionMarks There are some fortifications that have weapons which can be fired by units that have "embarked" upon them.
aslum
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-01T10:26:44.133Z
@JamesOtter All models have a value for all stats, even if that is redundant. Move is maybe an exception, there are things which are totally immobile and have a printed move stat of -, presumably because a move of 0" would imply they could advance.
Caleth
<warhammer-40k>
What is the purpose of the Attack stat for a unit with no melee weapons?
MechMK1
# What is the purpose of the Attack stat for a unit with no melee weapons?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-09-30)

According to the [8th Edition Core Rules](https://www.games-workshop.com/resources/PDF/40k/warhammer_40000_en.pdf), the attack stat is defined as follows:

> **Attacks (A):** This tells you how many times a model can strike blows in hand-to-hand combat.

As I understand, this only affects the fight phase, and as such only melee weapons. However, I see several units, such as the Kustom Boosta-Blastas, which have an attack stat, but no melee weapons. What is the purpose of this stat? Or is it just "filler"?

**Tags:** warhammer-40k

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do all models have an Attack stat? Are there any rules or abilities that interact with the stat? I'm not a 40k player, but if I were to guess I'd say it is forward planning, for example to cover cases where a unit that doesn't currently have melee options receives some in a future expansion.  
> **username_2**: Likewise, there are some models (like the Tau Ethereal on Hover Drone) that have a BS stat, but don't seem to have any way of taking a ranged weapon.  
> **username_3**: @username_2 There are some fortifications that have weapons which can be fired by units that have "embarked" upon them.  
> **username_4**: @username_1 All models have a value for all stats, even if that is redundant. Move is maybe an exception, there are things which are totally immobile and have a printed move stat of -, presumably because a move of 0" would imply they could advance.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-10-01. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

All models have a close combat weapon in addition to the listed equipment (described in page 183 of the 8th Edition Core Rule Book). It is Strength: User, AP: 0, Damage: 1.

I think this is supposed to represent fighters using their fists, guns as clubs, body slams and any small knives etc they carry.

Some people have been taking advantage of this for units (like helbrutes) that have a bonus for having two melee weapons. It also allows models with weapons like power fists (2x strength, good AP, -1 to hit rolls) to use a different attack against targets where the power fists abilities would be wasted.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: It's page 183 of the Warhammer 40000 rulebook.  

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