I searched in the forums for it, and I found threads that seem to indicate they aren't (like using them to pop rhymer easily), but I didn't see anything that definitively states they aren't an attack.

So, are cluster bombs an attack, and can they be braced against, reduced by gallant haven, etc? If they aren't, why not? Dice are rolled...

Does it say 'attack' on the card?

No.

Ergo: not an attack.

As for the 'why' it's completely irrelevant. It just is.

Ok.... don't know if that'll fly with my local group, but I'll give it a shot....

25 minutes ago, Spellbound said:

Ok.... don't know if that'll fly with my local group, but I'll give it a shot....

That's the rules for you.

Just keep in mind that Cluster Bombs is worded that way specifically so that it's not an attack.

Otherwise you turn a weak/niche card into something you can only use for tinder.

2 hours ago, Spellbound said:

Ok.... don't know if that'll fly with my local group, but I'll give it a shot....

Ask them to show you rules support for it being an attack. Hint: they can't, because it's not, because it doesn't say that it is. Every attack says it's an attack. Example: counter keyword.

4 hours ago, Spellbound said:

Ok.... don't know if that'll fly with my local group, but I'll give it a shot....

It's no different than playing Mine Fields or Ion Cannon. You roll dice and take the damage but it does not originate from a ship or squad.

The most important part of not being an attack isn't so much where it is originating from - its weather or not you can spend defense tokens, and defense tokens can only be used against Attacks.

Cluster Bombs are not an attack. At no point do you attack. They simply have an effect. If they were an attack, for example, then those Crits you rolled wouldn't count (against squadrons), as they don't... But they do, its the entire point of the card.

People don't like being told that they are wrong, with a few notable exceptions...

... but anyone who insists Cluster Bombs is an Attack is wrong.

1 hour ago, Undeadguy said:

It's no different than playing Mine Fields or Ion Cannon. You roll dice and take the damage but it does not originate from a ship or squad.

No, Minefields is just roll dice, suffer damage. Ion cann is specifically called out as "an attack," from a ship.

If they dont like it, use leading shots, Vader and cf dial to make it 4 hits. Add Kallus too.

Afterall, if its an attack......

Which it isnt, its not an attack

You would also add your anti-squad dice. Cuz it's an attack against a squad ?