How to Deny Your Opponent Points in 10th Edition
Scoring more is good.
Making your opponent score-less is better.
Denial is where experienced players separate themselves.
The 5-Point Swing Rule
If your opponent would score 10 and you reduce it to 5, you didn’t just deny 5.
You created a 5-point swing.
In tight games, that’s everything.
Ways to Deny Primary
1. Remove Minimum Scorers
You don’t need to wipe a unit.
You only need to:
- Remove OC superiority
- Force battleshock
- Remove one model
Small, precise damage wins more than big flashy damage.
2. Move-Block Instead of Killing
Sometimes it’s easier to:
- Block movement lanes
- Tag a unit in combat
- Force them to Fall Back
If they can’t reach the objective, they can’t score.
3. Force Bad Choices
Make your opponent choose between:
- Scoring
- Preserving a key unit
Pressure forces mistakes.
Don’t Overcommit To Denial
This is important.
If denying 5 costs you 10 next turn, it wasn’t worth it.
Busy-player rule:
Deny only when it preserves or increases your scoring plan.
Final Takeaway
Scoring wins games.
Denying wins tournaments.
If you focus on objective math instead of kill count, you’ll see improved results more quickly.