Calculate Combat Result

Each side's combat result starts with the number of Wounds it inflicted this round, from any source except its own models -- not the number of casualties, since many characters and monsters take several rounds to bring down. Only count Wounds that weren't saved.

A unit that charged this turn adds +1 to its combat result. This is cumulative if several units charged the same target.

A unit at least five models wide adds +1 combat result for each extra rank of five or more models behind the fighting rank, up to a maximum of +3 -- this includes an incomplete rear rank, as long as it still has five models in it. With several units engaged in the same combat, each calculates its own ranks, up to +3 per arc of the enemy it's engaged in; if two units share the same arc, only the higher of the two counts.

A disrupted unit gets no bonus for extra ranks and can't be Steadfast (see Loser Takes a Break Test). A unit is disrupted while an enemy of Unit Strength 10 or more is attacking its flank or rear -- smaller units aren't considered massed enough to cause it. If that enemy's Unit Strength later drops below 10 from casualties, the disruption ends and extra ranks count normally again.

A unit with higher Unit Strength than its enemy adds +1 combat result. With multiple units on either side, compare the combined Unit Strength of everyone involved.

A unit with a standard bearer adds +1 combat result -- cumulative if several of a side's units in the same combat each have their own standard.

A unit including a battle standard adds a further +1 combat result, cumulative with the bonus for an ordinary standard.

A unit fighting the enemy's flank adds +1 combat result -- or +2 if the enemy is engaged on both flanks at once.

A unit fighting the enemy's rear adds +2 combat result.

A unit fighting from higher ground than its enemy -- occupying a hill crest, or having charged down from one this turn -- adds +1 combat result. In a fight with multiple units per side, only the side with the highest fighting rank gets the bonus.

If a character wins a challenge and scores more Wounds than their opponent had remaining, each excess Wound adds +1 combat result, up to a maximum of +3. Challenges are a special form of close combat fought only between characters, covered in the Characters chapter.

Add up both sides' bonuses -- whoever scores higher wins the round; a tie is a draw, and the combat continues next turn. The bigger the gap between the two scores, the more decisive the win.

If one side is wiped out entirely, the other automatically wins -- it restrains pursuit and reforms automatically, or may choose to overrun instead if it charged this turn.