Once shooting has been resolved it is time to deal with the brutal cut and thrust of close combat, hand-to-hand fighting or melee, as it's sometimes called. Once engaged in hand-to-hand fighting units cannot move or shoot missile weapons, they must stand toe-to-toe with their enemy until one side is destroyed or forced to flee. Regardless of which player's turn it is all models that are in contact with the enemy must fight. The close combat phase is therefore an exception to the normal turn sequence in that both sides take part in the fighting.

Like the movement phase the close combat phase follows a set order or sequence as outlined below.