Faster-than-Light

Galaxy Portal

Faster-Than-Light or (FTL) travel is the primary method of long-distance transportation in the Galaxy. The technology allows for passengers to travel faster than the speed of light in order to traverse the immense distances of interstellar space in a reasonable amount of time.^[1]

Known Methods of Faster Than Light Travel

Warp Jump

• Warp Drives - Used by Humans most efficiently in conjunction with Navigators and the Astronomican,^[1] providing the ability of Piloted Jumps.^[2a] Many ships of Merchant and Civil fleets of the Imperial Navy^[2b] don't have access to Navigators' services, using star charts,^[3] dedicated cogitators,^[2a] and controversial Klenova Class M Warp Engines operating without the need of Navigators to make Calculated Jumps instead.^[4] The Kin of the Leagues of Votann also use Warp Drives, but with Wayfinders for navigation.^[5]
• Warp engines - A dangerous and unreliable technology similar to Human Warp Drives, used by Orks.^[6]
• The Webway - Used by the Eldar and Dark Eldar, it consists of stable tunnels through the Warp. Also used by the Necrons via Dolmen Gates.^[10]
• AL-38 Slipstream Module - Tau technology Enters the Warp utilizing anti-matter.^{[8][Conflicting Sources]}

Other Methods

• Inertialess Drive - Used by the Necrons^[12]
• Pharos - Small-scale FTL and instant communication device built by the early Necrons.^[9]
• Gravitic Drives and Gravitic Hooks - Used by the Tau.^{[7][Conflicting Sources]}
• Narvhal - Used by the Tyranids^[11]
• Ghostwind - Alternate dimension used by Necron Flayed Ones.^[13]

Trivia

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

Conflicting Sources

• The Tau's methods of FTL have been presented differently across various sources. For more info see T'au Fleet

Sources

• 1: Warhammer 40,000 7th Edition Rulebook - Voyages through the Immaterium.
• 2: Rogue Trader: Core Rulebook:
  • 2a: pgs. 311-312
  • 2b: pgs. 315-316
• 3: Dark Heresy: The Inquisitor's Handbook, pg. 157
• 4: Rogue Trader: Hostile Acquisitions, pgs. 69-70
• 5: Codex: Leagues of Votann (9th Edition), pg. 13
• 6: Rogue Trader: Battlefleet Koronus, pgs. 75-78
• 7: Battlefleet Gothic: Armada (Book), pg. 96
• 8: Codex: Tau Empire (8th Edition), pg. 22
• 9: Belisarius Cawl: The Great Work (Novel), Chapter 9
• 10: Codex: Necrons (5th Edition), pg. 8
• 11: Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition), pg. 19
• 12: Battlefleet Gothic: Armada (Book), pg. 74
• 13: The Twice-Dead King - Reign (Novel), Chapter 21