Whilst many special rules are given directly to a model, a model can also gain special rules from its equipment. Most often, this will take the form of special rules attached to weapons, but special rules can be granted by armour and, especially in the case of characters, by magic items.

A model might also gain special rules as the result of a spell that has been cast upon it or by some other game effect, possibly by the rules governing a terrain feature, for example. Where this is the case, the description of the game effect in question will make it clear.