Charging units may now move into close combat with the unit (or units) they have declared a charge against. Once a model is in base-to-base contact with an enemy model it is said to be ENGAGED (as in engaged in combat). The unit that the models belong to are then said to be LOCKED (as in locked in close combat). Move all the models in each charging unit before moving on to the next unit. The charging player decides the sequence in which their units will move. All the models in a charging unit make an extra 6" move in exactly the same way as if moving in the Movement phase. Note that some units may be able to charge further than this. Where this is the case, it will be noted in their army list or Troop type.
Start the charge by moving a single model from the charging unit. The model must be the one nearest the enemy being charged. Move the model into contact with the nearest enemy model in the unit being charged. This is the start point of the close combat. Next move each model in the charging unit in turn up to 6" towards the unit or units they have declared a charge on. Remember that if the enemy is not within Charge Range (some different unit types have different Charge Ranges) of at least one model, the charge does not happen.
Diagram 1: The assaulting unit's closest model to the enemy moves in first, closing to base-to-base contact. Maximum Assault move is 6".
After the first model in the unit has been moved you can move the others in any sequence you desire. There are some constraints on their movement though. The most important one is that each model must end its charge move in coherency with another model in the same unit that has already moved.
Diagram 2: Partway through a charge - all moves must end in coherency with a model that has already moved. Model 2 must charge the unengaged model, but model 3 cannot reach an unengaged model so joins model 1 instead.
If possible, the model must contact an enemy model which is not already engaged. If there are no unengaged models in reach, then you must contact an enemy model that is already engaged with one or more friendly models. If you cannot reach any enemy models, you must try to move within 2" of one of your own models that is engaged with an enemy model. If this is impossible then the charging model must just obey the main rule and move to within 2" of a member of its own unit that has already moved.
Diagram 3: Model 5 cannot contact an enemy so moves into a supporting position (within 2" of a model from its own unit that has already moved).
If you follow this sequence you will end up with all the models in the charging unit in 2"-unit coherency distance of one another, having engaged as many enemy models as possible with as many chargers as possible.
In all cases, models may not move through friendly or enemy models and may not pass through gaps narrower than their base diameter. You may not move models within 1" of enemy models they are not charging.
Diagram 4: The enemy models are already engaged. Models 1 and 2 cannot make the move shown because they are not charging, an enemy they come within 1" of, or pass through too small a gap. Model 3 can move as shown.
Designer's note: The rules for charging have been tightened up considerably for the sake of clarity. During the initial charge, the attackers are subject to the normal Movement rules with the exception that they can now move within 1" of the enemy in order to fight them in close combat. It is possible to set up units to block the path of a charge, however, since models may still not move through each other.