The tabletop match is only half the battle in a Warhammer 40,000 Crusade campaign. What makes Crusade play unique is the **post-battle sequence** — a structured bookkeeping phase where players record battle results, test the survival of damaged units, distribute experience, and spend Requisitions. Logging these details promptly keeps the campaign running smoothly and maintains narrative momentum.
The post-battle sequence checklist
At the end of every Crusade battle, both players should follow this step-by-step sequence to update their Crusade forces and Order of Battle:
1. Determine and record battle outcomes
Record the overall match result (Win, Loss, or Draw) on your Order of Battle. This updates your campaign battle tally and victory count. Winner and loser roles may also affect certain campaign-specific rewards or stage progression.
2. Roll Out of Action tests
Take an Out of Action test for each unit from your army that was **destroyed** during the battle:
- Roll a single **1D6**.
- On a **2+**, the unit recovers fully with no ill effects.
- On a **1**, the unit fails. You must choose either **Devastating Blow** (remove a Battle Honour) or a **Battle Scar** (apply a stat penalty).
Permanent death rule
If a unit has 3 Battle Scars, no Battle Honours, and fails another Out of Action test, they are permanently lost and must be deleted from your Order of Battle. Note that Epic Heroes and Fortifications auto-pass these tests.
3. Mark a unit for Greatness
Select exactly **one** unit from your army that fought in the match to be Marked for Greatness. This unit receives an immediate bonus of **+3 XP**. You can choose any unit, whether they performed exceptionally well or had a tragic narrative moment.
4. Calculate and award unit XP
Add up the total experience earned by each unit during the battle and record it on their Crusade Card:
- **Battle Experience:** +1 XP to every unit that participated in the battle.
- **Dealers of Death:** +1 XP for every 3 enemy units a unit has destroyed over the course of the campaign.
- **Marked for Greatness:** +3 XP to the chosen unit (from Step 3).
- **Agendas:** Add any bonus XP earned from completing secondary objectives during the game.
5. Check rank promotions
Compare each unit's new XP total to the Crusade rank thresholds. If a unit passes a threshold (such as 6 XP for Blooded or 16 XP for Battle-hardened), they gain a rank and receive one **Battle Honour** (such as a weapon mod or Battle Trait).
6. Recalculate Crusade Points
Adjust each unit's Crusade Points based on their new status: +1 point per Battle Honour (or relic) and −1 point per Battle Scar. Sum these up to update your overall army Crusade Points.
Why prompt recording matters
Completing your bookkeeping immediately after a game is the single biggest factor in whether a campaign succeeds. The details of who killed which unit, who survived a critical shootout, or who earned a mark of greatness are fresh in your mind. Using a campaign manager like Echelon makes this process automatic, removing the burden of manual calculation.
This guide outlines the post-battle sequence for Warhammer 40,000 Crusade mode. For official rules and specific codex rules, please refer to Games Workshop Crusade rules. Echelon is an independent campaign tracker and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Games Workshop.