---
key: mechanic/tactics-defense--t077
type: mechanic
id: tactics-defense--t077
lang: en
title: Turn-based grid combat
summary: >-
  Grid cells discretize legal movement and effect areas, allowing combat
  sequences to be planned.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/tactics-defense--t077/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/tactics-defense--t077.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/tactics-defense--t077.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Tactics and defense
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-32d0598945d8807a
  - source-668618d5d6a230d5
sources:
  - id: source-32d0598945d8807a
    title: OpenRA
    url: 'https://www.openra.net/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-668618d5d6a230d5
    title: Into the Breach
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/590380/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: tactics-defense
    id: t077
    title: Tactics and defense
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/tactics-defense/#t077'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Turn-based grid combat
    description: >-
      Grid cells discretize legal movement and effect areas, allowing combat
      sequences to be planned.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/strategy-into-breach-00.webp
      width: 1280
      height: 720
      game: Into the Breach
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/590380/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/590380/ss_6113590509c195f98fa64cd738df534762e0c358.1920x1080.jpg?t=1755610784
      credit: Subset Games / Subset Games
      rights: © Subset Games / Subset Games. All rights reserved.
      caption: A grid shows threats before the turn
      alt: A grid shows threats before the turn
      markers:
        - x: 63
          'y': 46
          label: A red tile marks a threatened position
        - x: 44
          'y': 48
          label: A mech occupies a particular grid tile
    tips:
      - Show legal tiles and movement consequences before an order is confirmed.
    examples:
      - title: Into the Breach
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/590380/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on
  2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design
  examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests.
  Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not
  every proposed variant.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/tactics-defense
---
# Turn-based grid combat

id: tactics-defense--t077
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/tactics-defense--t077
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/tactics-defense--t077/

Grid cells discretize legal movement and effect areas, allowing combat sequences to be planned.

## At a glance

![A grid shows threats before the turn](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/strategy-into-breach-00.webp)

[Into the Breach](https://store.steampowered.com/app/590380/) · © Subset Games / Subset Games. All rights reserved.

1. A red tile marks a threatened position
2. A mech occupies a particular grid tile

- Show legal tiles and movement consequences before an order is confirmed.

- [Into the Breach](https://store.steampowered.com/app/590380/)

## How it works

Grid cells discretize legal movement and effect areas, allowing combat sequences to be planned.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t077-variants"></a>

- Range uses the selected neighborhood metric. <a id="t077-v1"></a>
- Elevation changes attack and route availability. <a id="t077-v2"></a>
- Control zones restrict movement beside enemies. <a id="t077-v3"></a>
- Facing changes which sides of a unit are protected. <a id="t077-v4"></a>

## Design example

An archer climbs a ledge to see a target behind a low obstruction.

Prototype check: Test that path previews match actual turn costs, including diagonal movement and elevation changes.

## Context and limits

Tactics and defense turn positioning, action order and preparation into limited resources. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.

- [OpenRA](https://www.openra.net/) (id: source-32d0598945d8807a)
- [Into the Breach](https://store.steampowered.com/app/590380/) (id: source-668618d5d6a230d5)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors