If a unit is defeated in close combat and then subsequently breaks and flees, the enemy automatically captures its standard if they pursue. The standard is captured regardless of whether the pursuers catch and destroy the fleeing troops or not.

If victors do not pursue a broken enemy, the standard is lost in the tide of battle but it is not captured.

Standards are also captured if an enemy unit is completely destroyed in close combat, in which case there is no need to pursue.

In any case, when a unit breaks from combat, the standard bearer model is removed from the unit and, in the case of a unit that is not destroyed, it is replaced with an ordinary trooper model.

Note that standards are only lost if the unit is defeated and broken in close combat, not if the unit flees after it has failed a Psychology test.

Captured standards are placed behind the unit that captured them and carried about as trophies for the rest of the game. Trophies have no fighting value; they are merely used to indicate that the unit has captured its adversary's flag. The player's standard bearer model is surrendered for the duration of the game and his jubilant enemy placés it behind his unit to proclaim his victory.

Captured trophies can be recaptured by defeating the unit that has them in close combat, thereby avenging their initial loss and restoring them to a proper place of honour, as well as capturing the enemy's own banner as a trophy. Any recaptured banners are immediately removed from the table, but at least will not end the battle in enemy hands!

Once the game is over, a player can claim extra victory points for enemy standards he has captured and still holds, as described in the victory points section.