Hail of Doom / Hawk-Eyed Archer combo

It it is unclear. The Hawk-eye special rule comes into effect when making a shooting attack. The Hail of Doom Arrow, although for a model with Asrai longbow only, can be used instead of making a shooting attack with that bow, and it is not a missile weapon itself. That indicates that it is actually not a shooting attack, but a
 special attack that occurs during the Shooting phase (like the Ghostly Howl of a Banshee), and thus it would not stack with the HEA. It is not 100% clear, though. I myself was never a fan of such special attacks and would prefer to classify any ranged attack made in the Shooting phase as a shooting attack, in which case they would stack.  

Wood Elves AB p. 48: Hawk-eyed Archer. Before a model with this special rule makes a shooting attack, decide whether it will make a fast shot or an aimed shot. If the former is chosen, the model’s missile weapon has the Multiple Shots (2) special rule for the duration of that attack. If the latter is chosen, then armour saves cannot be taken against Wounds caused by the attack. Models in the same unit must choose the same type of shot.

Wood Elves AB p. 63: Hail of Doom Arrow. One use only. Model with Asrai longbow only. The Hail of Doom arrow can be used instead of making a shooting attack with the bearer’s Asrai longbow.

I don't think it is as clear cut as stated above. The Hail of Doom Arrow has a missile weapon profile (WFB 8ed p. 89, "If the range is a number of some kind, it is a missile weapon").  Using a missile weapon is a shooting attack by definition.

The instead of clause is there to clarify that you use the Hail of Doom profile instead of the Asrai longbow profile.  It does not mean using the Hail of Doom Arrow isn't a shooting attack.

It is confusingly phrased for sure.  It is also unneeded as the missile weapons rules already specify you must choose which missile weapon to use (WFB 8ed p. 88, "If for some reason a model has more than one missile weapon, he is allowed to choose which one to fire during the Shooting phase.").

The Banshee Ghostly Howl is not a good analog to compare the Hail of Doom Arrow against.  Ghostly Howl specifically states, "A Ghostly Howl is a special attack ..."  It also doesn't have a weapon profile of any kind.

Right, I missed the fact the Hail of Doom Arrow is an enchanted item not a magic weapon. That is a good point. I think that was done so a character could take both Hail of Doom Arrow and a magic sword.  It seems like it wouldn't be a big deal.  But it certainly adds confusion in this case.

I still don't read the instead of clause as referring to "making a shooting attack."  The full sentence says, "The Hail of Doom arrow can be used instead of making a Shooting attack
with the bearer’s Asrai longbow."  I don't see how that excludes Hail of Doom from being a shooting attack.  I read it as the word Shooting is added as clarification as to the type of attack the Asrai Longbow would make, if it were to be used.  So that sentence could be simplified to, "The Hail of Doom arrow can be used instead of making an attack with the bearer’s Asrai longbow."  But I also see how the sentence could be simplified the way you read it.

End of the day, for me, the fact it has a weapon profile like any other missile weapon and it is used in the shooting phase, means it is a shooting attack.  And Hawk-Eyed Archer would apply.

You are correct the Hail of Doom Arrow doesn't specifically state it counts as a shooting attack.  It also never specifically states what type of attack it is, or counts as, or even if it is an attack at all.

The argument, "it does't specifically state X so therefore not X" is B.S.  Let me use that logic for a moment...  The rules for enchanted items (WFB 8ed p. 177) never say you can use an enchanted item to make an attack.  Now, lets read the Hail of Doom rule again, "The Hail of Doom Arrow can be used instead of making a Shooting attack with the bearer's Asrai longbow.".  But used is never defined.  It never specifically states the model can attack with the profile below.  So therefore the model can not attack.  That means when the Hail of Doom Arrow is used but no attack happens.  Consuming the one use only item is just an action that happens instead of attacking with the Asrai longbow.  Nothing more and nothing less.

Sorry, that is absurd.  It is left up to the players to intelligently determine what using the Hail of doom Arrow means.  Obviously it is clear that using the Hail of Doom Arrow means the model makes a shooting attack with the missile weapon profile below.


I don't follow your argument regarding enchanted arrows.  They have very differently worded rules compared to hail of Doom Arrow.  That said, surly shooting an Asrai Longbow with enchanted arrows counts as a shooting attack?

Ghostly Howl and Death Shriek don't have weapon profiles in my Vampire counts Army Book. They just have two paragraphs of rules each.  But no weapon profiles.  Further more they are both special rules not enchanted items.  So I don't see any relevant comparison to the Hail of Doom Arrow question.

Agreed, this is just a friendly "what if" discussion.

Game balance-wise you are spot on.  It is too powerful for the points.  It has never actually come up.  But I think if it did, my group would make a gentleman's agreement to not use this combo of character and magic item.

My posts above are like I said, purely a "what if" discussion of the rules.  I think technically it is permitted.  But I'm not advocating people actually use it.

Guys, it's simple

Waystalker (only char with "Hawk-eye" rule) cannot take Hail arrow. It's 30pts, and Waystalker has only 25pts allowance.

How did I miss that? Epic facepalm on my part!