This has come up a couple times now in some of my games with the Dark Eldar during the combat phase. My opponent (IG) and I (DE) were not too sure when this card is played if it affects the current battle and units present on the planet being fought over or if this affects any unit on any planet that is in play?

The card states Combat Action : Your opponent must sacrifice an army unit, if able."

It seems to me that this would just affect the current enemy units on the current planet being fought over since this is being used as a combat action during that specific battle.

But this could also mean any unit on any planet, but I could be wrong.

It doesn't specify anything about planets, so that's not a condition of the sacrifice. The opponent can choose any unit they have in play, be it at the planet currently being fought over, at a different planet, or at HQ, and sacrifice it. If they have only one army unit, they must sacrifice it.

If they have only one army unit, they must sacrifice it.

Unless that unit is a Stalwart Ogryn

One thing to note is that Combat Actions do not necessarily have to be played during a battle. They are player actions, and there are player actions in the combat phase that are outside of any battle. Knowing that this could be played outside of a battle should help break the sense that it's effects should always be limited to the planet of the current battle.

If they have only one army unit, they must sacrifice it.

Unless that unit is a Stalwart Ogryn

Power from Pain does not target the Stalwart Ogryn, so even if your opponent only has this army unit he still would have to sacrifice it!

If they have only one army unit, they must sacrifice it.

Unless that unit is a Stalwart Ogryn

Power from Pain does not target the Stalwart Ogryn, so even if your opponent only has this army unit he still would have to sacrifice it!

Stalwart Ogryn doesn't specify immune from Targeted effects, it says immune from enemy events.

Check out the official answer here: http://www.cardgamedb.com/forums/index.php?/topic/17832-card-stalwart-ogryn-is-it-immune-to-power-from-pain/

thx a lot, although I would have not got to that from the RRG

The definition of immunity in the RRG (p. 8) says:

"If a unit is immune to a specified set of effects, it cannot be targeted or affected by effects that belong to that set."

So it's the "or" that lets immunity protect the Ogryn from enemy events, whether he is specifically targeted or not.

It might also be worth mentioning that he cannot choose to sacrifice a Token Unit in place of an Army Unit.

I had an opponent who tried to do that against me recently.

The definition of immunity in the RRG (p. 8) says:

"If a unit is immune to a specified set of effects, it cannot be targeted or affected by effects that belong to that set."

So it's the "or" that lets immunity protect the Ogryn from enemy events, whether he is specifically targeted or not.

So does the Orgyn effectively prevent Power from Pain?

eg, my opponent plays power from pain and I choose my own Ogryn or can he not be chosen?

Again, see the link above. He cannot be chosen.

One thing to note is that Combat Actions do not necessarily have to be played during a battle. They are player actions, and there are player actions in the combat phase that are outside of any battle. Knowing that this could be played outside of a battle should help break the sense that it's effects should always be limited to the planet of the current battle.

Say Wha? The card specifies " Combat Action ", so I don't know how you can say play this outside of a battle. Combat is initiated during a battle...

Or I'm I crazy?

Or I'm I crazy?

Remember, you said it....

The "Combat" in "Combat Action" refers to the name of the phase. (RRG, p. 3: "Some Action effects have a phase name as a precursor to the word 'Action.'") So a "Combat Action" is an action that can only be initiated during the Combat Phase . And since there are player actions windows outside of an actual battle (RRG, p. 21), there are places to use player actions (including "Combat Actions") outside of an actual battle.

The terminology gets a little murky, I think, but the important thing is that the "Combat" in "Combat Action" is the name of the phase, and that there are some -- not many, but some -- chances to play actions in the combat phase outside of battles/combat.

One thing to note is that Combat Actions do not necessarily have to be played during a battle. They are player actions, and there are player actions in the combat phase that are outside of any battle. Knowing that this could be played outside of a battle should help break the sense that it's effects should always be limited to the planet of the current battle.

Say Wha? The card specifies " Combat Action ", so I don't know how you can say play this outside of a battle. Combat is initiated during a battle...

Or I'm I crazy?

A battle is what happens at a single planet during this phase.

You may have several battles during the combat phase, but a combat action can be any time during the phase, including NOT during a battle.

I C...says the Noob.

I got it now...Now it's time to go bash my IG opponent...

Update:

I lost....boo!

But I crushed him with my Tau deck. Still have some work to do with the DE