Needler
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Needler weapons fire a needle of crystallized agent, whether paralytic or toxic. Commonly employed by hunters, sportsmen and others who find it useful to not damage their chosen prey.[1a] Needlers are used by both the Imperium[2] and Eldar.[11]
Overview
A needle of crystallized element propelled by a form of laser dissolves almost immediately after penetration. Needlers are silent and flashless, allowing the weapon to be used without giving away the firer's position.[1a] The beam which propels the sliver gives the Needler unerring accuracy, additionally guiding the missile to its target. The secondary function of the beam is to pierce any existing armour and provide an opening for the sliver to penetrate,[7] as the Needler's main drawback is its poor armour penetration.[1a] This happens automatically at firing before the sliver leaves the needler's muzzle, as the laser detects the obstacle and sends a pulse punching a tiny hole through which the needle enters the target.[7] Various types of toxins can be employed by the Needler, divided primarily between paralytic and toxic agents, paralytic agents are quite unvaried allowing for a single needler antidote to function against their effects.[1c]
Patterns
The known forms of Needler weapons are:
- Needle gun - baseline version of the weapon.[1a]
- Needle Pistol - highly favoured by assassins, because this weapon is flashless, silent and concealable. That's why needle pistols often used for assassination, doping, kidnapping and other secretive work.[1b]
- Needle Rifle[5]
- Needle sniper rifle - rifle-sized and more accurate form of Needler weapon, used by Space Marine Scouts, Eldar Rangers and Ratling Snipers.[2]
- Assault Needler - used by the Sisters of Silence.[3]
- Needle Carbine – an assault weapon, releasing a volley of solid steel needles[4a] in bursts[4b]
- Needler digital weapon - miniaturised form of the weapon.[1b]
- Needle Cannon - Heavy version used by the Sisters of Silence.[6]
- Withertouch Pistol - Chaos-corrupted.[8]
- Glavian Needle Weapons - Produced by the Cult of the Micro-Omnisiah, they are able to fire Explosive Needle Rounds which detonate inside a target akin to, though less powerful, than a bolt shell. While providing greater armour penetration and damage, the small explosion means these weapons do not provide the same sort of stealth and silence conventional Needle weapons offer.[9]
Toxins
Needler Weapons are capable of carrying a payload of poisons and toxins. Ratling Sniper Needle sniper rifle are supplied with a variety of known toxins, each effective against a particular species: Eldrotoxin for Eldar, Ferrotoxin for Genestealers, Haemotoxin for Vampires, Orkotoxin for Orks and Gretchins, Orthotoxin for Humans and Abhumans, Rodotoxin for Skaven, Slannotoxin for Slann and Tyranotoxin for Tyranids and Zoats[13]
Images
A Needle Pistol
House Escher Crone Pattern Needle Pistol[5]
A Needle Rifle
House Escher Needle Rifle[5]
Belasco Galvain Needler[10]
See also
- Sniper rifle
- Dartcaster
- Needlers differ from splinter weaponry only in how the crystallized toxin is propelled.
Sources
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- 1: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader:
- 2: Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd Edition), pg. 28
- 3: The Horus Heresy Book Seven, pg. 251
- 4: Angel Exterminatus (Novel):
- 5: Necromunda: House of Blades, pgs. 112-113
- 6: Liber Imperium, pg. 47
- 7: Warhammer 40,000: Wargear (2nd Edition), pg. 27
- 8: Necromunda: The Book of Judgement, pg. 107 - Corrupted Weapons
- 9: Fanatic Online - Hotheads and Hotshots, pg. 3 - Glavian Needle Weapon
- 10: Dark Heresy: The Inquisitor's Handbook, pg. 110 — Chapter IV Hive & Forge Worlds - Ranged Weapons
- 11: Codex: Eldar (2nd Edition), pg. 76
- 12: Citadel 1995/1996 Catalog, pg. 57
- 13: White Dwarf 109 (UK), pg. 52
Uncited
| Craftworld Eldar Infantry Weaponry | |
|---|---|
| Melee Weapons | Banshee Blade • Biting Blade • Chainsword • Scorpion Chainsword • Chainsabre • Diresword • Dragon Axe • Executioner • Mirrorsword • Ghostsword • Ghostaxe • Power Sword • Power Glaive • Paragon Sabre • Powerblade • Scorpion's Claw • Singing Spear • Triskele • Witchblade • Witch Staff • Star Glaive |
| One-Handed Weapons | Fusion Pistol • Shuriken Pistol • Laser Lance • Las Pistol • Sunpistol • Death Weaver |
| Two-Handed Weapons | Avenger Shuriken Catapult • Shuriken Catapult • Death Spinner • Flamer • Fire Pike • Fusion Gun • Lasblaster • Lasgun • Haywire Launcher • Prism Rifle • Prism Blaster • Long Rifle • Reaper Launcher • Spinneret Rifle • Scatter Laser • Sunrifle • Tempest Launcher • Wraithcannon • D-Scythe • Needle Sniper Rifle |
| Heavy Weapons | Bright Lance • Eldar Missile Launcher • Scatter Laser • Shuriken Cannon • Starcannon |
| Other | Mandiblasters • Wireweave Net • Haywire Grenade • Fusion Charge • Plasma Grenade • Wireweave Grenade |
| Genestealer Cult Weaponry | |
|---|---|
| Melee Weapons | Chainsword • Bonesword • Cultist Knife • Force Weapon • Power Maul • Power Pick • Power Hammer • Locus Blades • Heavy Rock Drill • Heavy Rock Cutter • Heavy Rock Saw • Toxin Injector • Sanctus Bio-Dagger • Neurotraumal Rod • Injector Goad • Rending Claws • Scything Talons • Lash Whip |
| One-Handed Projectile Weapons | Autopistol • Bolt Pistol • Hand Flamer • Stub Pistol • Laspistol • Liberator Autostub • Needle Pistol • Web Pistol |
| Two-Handed Projectile Weapons | Autogun • Lasgun • Flamer • Grenade Launcher • Needler • Mining Laser • Seismic Cannon • Shotgun • Sniper Rifle • Webber |
| Heavy Weapons | Autocannon • Heavy Bolter • Heavy Flamer • Atalan Incinerator • Heavy Stubber • Lascannon • Heavy Mining Laser • Missile Launcher • Heavy Seismic Cannon • Mortar |
| Grenades | Blasting Charges • Demolition Charge • Krak Grenade • Frag Grenade |
