Reaver Jetbike

Dark Eldar Portal

This article is about the Dark Eldar Jetbikes. For other uses of Reaver, see Reaver (disambiguation).

Reaver jetbikes^[4b]

Reaver Jetbikes (riders are often referred to as Reavers) are the twisted Dark Eldar cousins of the Eldar Jetbikes. Using advanced anti-grav technology, these ultra-fast vehicles race ahead of the main force, able to strike at the most vulnerable locations in the enemy's battle line.

Overview

Back in Commorragh, they perform in death-races of a Wych Cult's arena. Some of them receive their bike as a trophy on the arena floor, while others may have simply murdered or stolen their way to it. No questions would ever be asked even if a new contestant would appear on the tracks with a recognizable jetbike of another.^[4a]

Due to being able to afford and pilot a sophisticated Jetbike, Reaver are seen as the highest in the hierarchy of the gang warfare in the spires of Commorragh, which include Scourges and Hellions.^[5] The bikes themselves are adorned with all manner of spikes, blades and trailing snares. The favored method of attack is in close combat, using the speed of the vehicle to rapidly close on the enemy and to slash with the hull mounted blades as the Reaver swoops past. Riders are highly proficient with this method of attack, able to disembowel and sever limbs with relative ease.^[4a] Reavers are so attuned to their beloved jetbikes that in battle they use them as an extension of their own bodies.^[2]

The pilots will often retool and adjust not only their bikes but also themselves in every way possible to gain an advantage over other Reavers, from wearing flexible 'second skins' that cut down air resistance to having their bone structure hollowed (much like Scourges) to cut down on their racing weight.^[4a]

Jetbikes themselves are often of a variable configuration, with the frontal canopy, rear canards and keel blades all able to assume different forms, it is unknown however if this is to aid in combat performance, bike control or merely aesthetics. The standard primary armament is a hull mounted Splinter Rifle which is on occasion upgraded to a Shredder^[1], Blaster^[1][2], Horrorfex^[1a], or Heat Lance^[2]. Additional options also include Cluster Caltrops and Grav-talons^[2].

Reaver gangs do not just engage in warfare within the spires of Commorragh. They also enjoy taking part in deadly aerial races where contestants can meet a variety of grim fates much to the glee of spectators. One of the most popular racing courses for the Reavers is the Coreloop Gauntlet.^[7a] Veteran Reavers that have earned a reputation for themselves in these arenas may go on to be selected as a Razorwing Jetfighter or Voidraven Bomber pilot by an interested Kabal.^[7b]

Known Reaver Pilots

• Yurnechaen^[6]

Images

• 

  A Dark Eldar Reaver Squadron (3rd ed. models)

• 

  Dark Eldar Reavers (5th Edition)^[3]

Sources

• 1: Codex: Dark Eldar (3rd Edition), ^[Help]
  • 1a: pg. 11
• 2: Codex: Dark Eldar (5th Edition) pgs. 29, 91
• 3: Games Workshop Reaver Jetbikes (archived 3/30/2021) (last accessed 3/30/2021)
• 4: Codex: Dark Eldar (7th Edition) (E-Book)
  • 4a: "The Death-racers of the Spires"
  • 4b: Wych Cults of the Arenas
• 5: Lelith Hesperax: Queen of Knives (Novel) - Chapter 6
• 6:Warhammer 40,000 4th Edition Rulebook, pg. 145
• 7: Codex: Drukhari (8th Edition)
  • 7a: pg. 65
  • 7b: pg. 60