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Advanced Combat

Cinematic Maneuvers and Tactical Mastery

Beyond Basic Attacks

Ready to fight like an action hero? Advanced combat in Savage Worlds lets you perform the incredible stunts you see in movies - from Captain America's shield ricochets to Jackie Chan's improvised weapon mastery!

The Signature Move Principle

Every hero has their signature combat style. These advanced rules let you recreate Iron Man's repulsor blasts while flying, Legolas shooting multiple arrows in one turn, or Batman appearing from nowhere to strike fear into criminals. If it's iconic to your character, there's probably a rule for it!

Called Shots

Precision Strikes

Target specific locations for special effects - but at a penalty!

Head (-4)

Effect: +4 damage

Special: Bypass helmet with raise

Hawkeye's arrow finding the gap in armor

Arms (-2)

Effect: Drop item on 1+ wounds

Special: Can target held items

Disarming Thanos' gauntlet

Legs (-2)

Effect: -2 Pace on 1+ wounds

Special: Fall prone on raise

Black Widow's leg sweep

Vitals (-4)

Effect: +4 damage

Special: Ignores armor with raise

Assassin's precise strike

Combat Maneuvers

Signature Moves

Wild Attack

Effect: +2 to Fighting and damage

Cost: -2 to Parry until next turn

Wolverine's berserker rage, all offense no defense

Rapid Attack

Effect: Make up to 3 Fighting attacks

Cost: -4 to each attack, -2 Parry

Black Panther's flurry of strikes

Sweep

Effect: Attack all adjacent foes

Cost: -2 to each attack

Thor clearing enemies with Mjolnir

Double Tap

Effect: +1 to hit and damage

Cost: Uses 2 ammo per shot

John Wick's professional technique

Grappling

Up Close and Personal

Grappling Steps

  1. Initiate: Athletics vs Athletics (opposed)
  2. Success: Target is Entangled and Distracted
  3. Raise: Target is also Bound (can't move)
  4. Break Free: Athletics or Strength (opposed) on their turn

While Grappling

  • Damage: Roll Strength for damage
  • Throw: End grapple, target prone
  • Pin: Maintain control

Classic Examples: Hulk vs Thing wrestling match, Black Widow's takedowns

Environmental Combat

Use Your Surroundings!

The battlefield itself is a weapon - Jackie Chan style!

🪑 Improvised Weapons

  • Light (chair): Str+d4
  • Medium (pipe): Str+d6
  • Heavy (car door): Str+d8

Jason Bourne with a magazine

💥 Hazards

  • Fire: 2d6 damage/round
  • Electric: 2d6, victim Shaken
  • Falling: 1d6+1 per 10'

Pushing villains into conveniently placed hazards

🏗️ Destructible Terrain

  • Door: Toughness 8
  • Wall (wood): Toughness 10
  • Wall (stone): Toughness 14

Hulk smashing through walls

🎯 Trick Shots

  • Ricochet: -2 to ignore cover
  • Shooting ropes/chains: -4
  • Hit switches/buttons: -2 to -6

Cap's shield bouncing off walls

Suppressive Fire

Area Denial

Use automatic weapons or rapid shots to control the battlefield!

How It Works

  1. Place a Medium Blast Template
  2. Use 5x normal ammo (or 10 with raise)
  3. Everyone under template rolls vs Shooting or be Shaken
  4. Area becomes dangerous terrain until your next turn

War Machine laying down covering fire, Rambo keeping enemies pinned

Rapid Fire

Spray and Pray vs Controlled Bursts

Rate of Fire 2

Roll extra Shooting die, keep highest

Each raise = extra hit (max 2)

Black Widow's dual pistols

Rate of Fire 3+

Roll extra Shooting die, keep highest

Each raise = extra hit (max RoF)

War Machine's minigun

Three Round Burst

+1 to hit and damage

Uses normal RoF rules

Military precision fire

Extreme Range

Impossible Shots

Sometimes heroes make shots that defy belief!

  • Extreme Range: Up to 4x Long Range
  • Penalty: -8 (or -6 with Scope)
  • Requirements: Aim action + Steady surface
  • Special: No movement allowed

Hawkeye's mile-long shots, sniper duels across cities

Dramatic Tasks in Combat

Multi-Round Challenges

Complex actions while under fire!

Defusing a Bomb

Electronics rolls while enemies attack

5 successes in 5 rounds

Die Hard scenarios

Hacking Systems

Hacking rolls while dodging

Each wound = -1 to rolls

Mission Impossible infiltrations

Ritual Casting

Spellcasting while defending

Interruption risks backlash

Doctor Strange's complex spells

Finishing Moves

Coup de Grâce and Executions

When enemies are helpless, heroes (and villains) can end things dramatically!

Helpless Targets

  • Bound, unconscious, or paralyzed foes
  • Automatic hit with +4 damage
  • Called shots have no penalty
  • Usually lethal to Extras

Note: Heroes might use this for dramatic non-lethal takedowns, while villains... well, they're villains!

Creative Combat

If It's Cool, Try It!

Savage Worlds encourages cinematic creativity. Here's how to adjudicate wild ideas:

GM Guidelines

  • Basic Stunt: -2 penalty for cool effect
  • Complex Stunt: -4 penalty for amazing effect
  • Impossible Stunt: -6 or -8, but legendary if it works

Classic Stunts

  • "I slide under the truck while shooting" (-4)
  • "I wall-run and kick him in the head" (-2)
  • "I throw my sword to cut the rope while swinging" (-6)
  • "I surf on the shield down the stairs" (-2)

Advanced Combat Summary

Called Shots

  • Head/Vitals: -4, +4 damage
  • Arms/Legs: -2, special effects
  • Small target: -4 to -6

Special Attacks

  • Wild Attack: +2 hit/damage, -2 Parry
  • Rapid Attack: 3 attacks at -4
  • Sweep: Hit all adjacent at -2

Advanced Options

  • Suppressive Fire: Area control
  • Grappling: Close combat control
  • Creative stunts: -2 to -8

Ready to add supernatural powers to your combat? Let's explore magic!