With this special order, the unit I'm giving the order to can't have been completely wiped out the last turn? Also, I can only give this order once right? Somehow this special order seems really underpowered.

The Failsafe order is given to 1 unit, meaning it has to have at least one model left to receive the order, and potentially revives only models that were killed in the previous turn.

So you cannot use it on a unit that has been completely wiped out, but you CAN use it once per command phase, as it says in the sidebar text for the order on page 120.

As orders go this one is cool but not all that useful in my experience. You have to get really lucky with the dice to revive more than a zombie or two and they come back with knives. The order does not appear to give a reaction token if I am reading it right so that at least is nice. I have used it a few times, the zombies created occasionally redirect some fire that would have been going towards living units but more often than not the other player realizes they are not a threat and just ignores them. Such a small unit armed with nothing more than a knife does not pose much of a danger to anything other than sniper or observer teams.

First off the new zombies have a combat knife , so 4 dice per zombie on Inf2, and 2 dice vs Inf3 and Inf4. Secondly there is nothing that says it can be used more than once. Your command has fast so its easy to issue them an order to move, get them in range of your front line and pop off 2+ failsafe orders for a pile o' zombie fun.

If you could get this order off on all your troops when they die your looking at 1/3 coming back as zombies. So if you figure there worth the same as a zombie unit, a little under 4pts, thats easily an extra unit or 2 even for walker heavy lists!!

Iv also found that it can be an awesome distraction to have a unit of 1 or 2 zombies that are fast and can wipe a Inf2 unit if ignored. It keeps them from shooting your more important units and makes your opponent have to completely wipe your units or risk being faced with an ever increasing number of fast troops.

PS another great combo, issue the new unit a blitz order if you can right when they are made! they will move and be ready to react usually right inside enemy lines. Or if close enough when made, issue an attack action order to have them CC the unit that prob just shot up there old unit.

Edit yep just reread it, it does say once per command phase. Still not bad.

Yeah, when I first read "combat knives" I thought that sucked, but looking at the stats, they're the same as the panzer gloves, only no anti-tank ability. So, not bad at all, and it's going to take away actions from your opponent as they shoot at the pesky zombie units.