A few questions regarding area effects, since I kinda know how it works, but wanted to really make sure I got this right

So area effect is a card effect, not an attack "effect''. So anything that says "Attack" won't add to area effect. So I have this question for example for this Tactical Squad card:

1. If I attach the pattern bolter, will the unit just gain the +1 attack (making it 2 attack), or can this pattern bolter add +1 attack to the area effect also?

2. Say I added Tactical Squad to AM deck. If I use Catachan Outpost on Tactical Squad, will its +2 attack also add to the area effect , or just to the regular attack?

3.If my Cardinis card gains this Ranged ability and now Tactical Squad is ranged unit, can I use its Area Effect during ranged skirmish and blast opponents with area effect?

4. If opponent attaches Suffering to my Cardinis squad, if I want to make an Area Effect damage, will the -2ATK negate it ? Or will it only affect my actuall attack, not the Area Effect card effect?

5. A bit off topic, but if someone attaches Dire Mutation to my Cardinis squad which is sitting at headquarters, when I have the Cardinis Squad arrive say at planet #3 with my warlord during deploy phase, does he take 1 point of damage? Or does he not, because in the rules it says "Units arrive exhausted from headquarters?" So he doesn't really use an action to exhaust, but just arrives exhausted, that doesn't count as "When attached unit Exhausts"... Right?

6. So if I attack with Tactical Squad's Area Effect, which is a card effect, and the opponent has the Repulsor Impact Field attached, will my Squad receive the 2 damage for attacking him? It's not an attack technically, it's a card effect.... ?

Most of your questions are answered by confirming that X in Area Effect (X) is a completely different entity to your ATK value. Modifying one does not affect the other in any way. As such:

1. The former.

2. Just to the regular attack.

3. You can do Area Effect during the ranged skirmish (because you can do an Area Effect instead of an attack).

4. It'll only affect your ATK.

5. He moves from Ready to Exhausted, therefore he exhausts, therefore he takes 1 damage.

6. Correct, RIF does not work against Area Effect, because it's not repulsing an attack.

Just a note on 3 - Pre-emptive Barrage won't give Tactical Squad Cardinis ranged because TSC is a Space Marine unit & PB only gives ranged to Astra Militarum units.

6. Correct, RIF does not work against Area Effect, because it's not repulsing an attack.

Would the Tactical Squad still be considered to have attacked for effects that trigger "When a unit attacks"?

6. Correct, RIF does not work against Area Effect, because it's not repulsing an attack.

Would the Tactical Squad still be considered to have attacked for effects that trigger "When a unit attacks"?

Yes. AoE damage is dealt 'while attacking' but damage is not considered to come from 'an attack' for cards that trigger from these effects. Essentially you exhaust to attack, but replace the attack damage with an AoE effect.

Another consequence of Area Effect damage not being from an attack is that it's not halved by Flying.

Are you saying you can always do AoE during the ranged skirmish or only units that have 'Ranged' can do AoE during the ranged skirmish (so long as they also have AoE, of course)?

If a unit has both Ranged and an AoE, it can use its AoE when it does its attack during the Ranged Skirmish.

I could be wrong, but I believe that right now the only way one can have a ranged unit dealing AoE is by attaching the Tau Gun Drones to a ranged unit. In this case, they can exhaust during the ranged phase of combat and deal their AoE instead. No other ranged units with AoE come to mind.

I could be wrong, but I believe that right now the only way one can have a ranged unit dealing AoE is by attaching the Tau Gun Drones to a ranged unit. In this case, they can exhaust during the ranged phase of combat and deal their AoE instead. No other ranged units with AoE come to mind.

Pre-emptive barrage on an AoE unit (Tactical Squad; Daring Assault Squad). Or equip a Ranged attachment (Rokkit Launcha) to an AoE unit like Possessed.

Preemptive barrage only works for AM units. Possessed doesn't have AoE. Maybe you meant Vicious Bloodletter? Problem is, he can't have wargear.

Preemptive barrage only works for AM units. Possessed doesn't have AoE. Maybe you meant Vicious Bloodletter? Problem is, he can't have wargear.

You're right - never mind

Barrage/Mordian Hellhound would work, though.

Good call, Titan.