---
key: mechanic/tactics-defense--t080
type: mechanic
id: tactics-defense--t080
lang: en
title: Displacement and environmental tactics
summary: >-
  Forced movement changes tactical situations without direct damage by using
  hazards and board structure.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/tactics-defense--t080/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/tactics-defense--t080.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/tactics-defense--t080.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: t080
    title: Tactics and defense
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/tactics-defense/#t080'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Displacement and environmental tactics
    description: >-
      Forced movement changes tactical situations without direct damage by using
      hazards and board structure.
    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 chasm turns a push into a dangerous attack
      alt: A chasm turns a push into a dangerous attack
      markers:
        - x: 63
          'y': 72
          label: A chasm beside the combat tiles
        - x: 86
          'y': 91
          label: 'Tooltip: a ground unit pushed into the chasm is destroyed'
    tips:
      - >-
        Preview the destination of a push and its hazard interaction before
        execution.
    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
---
# Displacement and environmental tactics

id: tactics-defense--t080
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/tactics-defense--t080
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/tactics-defense--t080/

Forced movement changes tactical situations without direct damage by using hazards and board structure.

## At a glance

![A chasm turns a push into a dangerous attack](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 chasm beside the combat tiles
2. Tooltip: a ground unit pushed into the chasm is destroyed

- Preview the destination of a push and its hazard interaction before execution.

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

## How it works

Forced movement changes tactical situations without direct damage by using hazards and board structure.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t080-variants"></a>

- A push moves a target a stated number of cells. <a id="t080-v1"></a>
- Pulling opens a previously blocked line. <a id="t080-v2"></a>
- Swapping positions rescues a vulnerable ally. <a id="t080-v3"></a>
- Destroying a support changes usable geometry. <a id="t080-v4"></a>

## Design example

A shield bearer pushes an enemy onto a plate that closes a gate on reinforcements.

Prototype check: Test displacement into a board edge, an allied unit and an immovable obstacle.

## 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