Dreadknight Terrain rule clarification please.....

[Glute]

So I need clarification on whether or not a Dreadknight (Vehicle) which is not Infantry/Best/Swarm gains Area Terrain for light cover. 

 

I've seen several battles where Dreadknights get Light Cover for being inside a Ruin terrain taking the extra save for Tides of Shadows.

 

So my opponent claims since the Dreadknight is a Vehicle it doesn't get any Light Cover saves since it's a vehicle and doesn't receive Dense Cover for being a vehicle also.

 

What is the correct ruling on Dreaknights when they are in a Ruin or Area Terrain?

 

Thanks

 

[ValourousHeart]

There are several points to consider here.

 

First, Terrain features that are classified as Obstacles and Area Terrain only grant the "benefits of cover" to Infantry, Beasts and Swarms.  GW has never defined what "benefits of cover" includes.  But the community has identified "benefits of cover as Light Cover, Heavy Cover and Dense Cover, so we'll go with those.

 

Second, Light Cover, Heavy Cover, and Dense Cover all reference a Terrain feature as a key component to the rule.  If you are not in proximity of that terrain feature, you do not get the rule.

 

Third, Dense Cover uses the term HULL when referencing both the target unit and the attacking unit.  The term HULL is used exclusively for Vehicles, but more clearly the term HULL is never used in reference to Infantry, Beasts or Swarms.  So rules as written, vehicles can benefit from Dense Cover.

 

Forth, Tide of Shadows is NOT a Terrain feature.  Does that mean that Tide of Shadows does nothing for any unit?  Does Tide of Shadows create a terrain feature that is at least 3" tall?  Of course not.  The rule specifically states "Models in this unit are treated as receiving the benefits of Light Cover".  This benefit is simply similar to an existing benefit.  So there is no requirement that the unit be eligible to to receive the benefits of Light Cover.  They are simply getting them by virtue of Tide of Shadows.

 

And Fifth, Tide of Shadows - part 2.  In order to get Dense Cover, you have to be getting the benefit of Light Cover from a source that is not Tide of Shadows.  That could be from a Terrain Feature, but does not have to be.  If that alternative method for getting the benefit of Light Cover is available to the Dreadknight then under the Tide of Shadows they would also get Dense Cover.

 

So final answer is yes Light Cover, maybe Dense Cover if you have a way of giving Light cover w/o using Tides of Shadow.