Psykana collar
A psykana collar, also called a psyker's collar[1e] or psionic bridle,[4] is an apparatus often utilised by psykers throughout the Imperium.
Contents
Overview
These apparatuses vary in appearance, often times bulky, heavy, and made from metal. Psyker collars all share the same placement, sitting atop the psyker's shoulders like a mantle.[1] The fittings for these collars are typically built into the psyker's torso armour, chest harness, or shoulder mantle. These fittings are usually metal, but some variants use synth-plast instead.[1i] Like many pieces of a psyker's wargear, their hood or collar is woven with arcane, psykana circuitry.[1c]
It isn't uncommon for Psykers who rise to a great office, or position of authority, to have particularly elaborate psykana collars. This is especially common for high ranking enforcers with psychic abilities, however, these enforcers are rarely trusted.[1l] Such showy harnesses of fine craftsmanship and gilded metal might simply exhibit the psyker's fondness for theatrics, even if they might not admit it.[1m] Others might eschew showy attire and wear a simple, no-nonsense Psykana collar of bare metal.[1q] Psykers assigned to Astra Militarum regiments might wear collars that designate their rank or status within the regiment.[1r]
Usage
These collars provide some small protection against the horrors of the Warp.[1f] The psykana collar also provides a modicum of control over their terrifying powers[1j] - a degree of regulation in their chaotic abilities.[1n] Daemonic possession is risked every time a psyker uses their powers. In order to mitigate this, several fail-safes are built into their wargear to protect against the perils of the warp and limit that danger.[2] The various cranial augmetics implanted into a psyker's brain can sometimes run hot when the devices are under significant stress.[4]
Complex micro circuitry and neuro-active wiring are connected to psychically attuned crystals embedded in a psyker's hood or collar, designed to bleed away excess warp energy.[2] Some design variants incorporate rare alloys that provide better warp sensitivity.[1h]
Some designs have this circuitry bore deep into the psyker's brain via a skull cap, giving some a degree of respite from unwanted warp influence[1b] or helping to regulate the power of the psyker's mind.[1n]
Those psykers who fear loss of control might utilize psychic dampeners and/or mood restrictors to ease the burden of overly stressed minds that might begin to wander.[1g] Psionic dampeners are typically installed in the cradle of one's neck and these can feature platinum cable connecting to their neural cortex.[4] These types of neural inhibitors are sometimes implanted directly into their cranium via surgery. However, while they do limit the risk of possession, they also blunt the psyker's innate power.[2]
Other variants might include psi-blinders,[1o] a metal band covering the psyker's eyes, obfuscating their vision if it hasn't atrophied already.[1p] Some psykers focus on utilising their witchsight over physical sight anyway.[1s]
Other variants have ocular augmetics connected to their psykana collars. For some, these augmetics might provide momentary respite from warp echoes in their vision.[1d] Some claim the aetheric wiring on these implants grants the user greater clarity when piercing the veil of the Immaterium. However, few of the psykers with these painful ocular implants ever vouch for this statement themselves.[1k]
Known Patterns
Crucis
Gnosis
Illissi
- Illissi Mk I Grand Resolver Harness[1l]
- Illissi Mk IIz Psykana Collar[1r]
- Illissi Mk IVa Psykana Meditation Helm[1g]
- Illissi Mk XVa Resolver Harness[1m]
Nyx
Wissex
See also
- Astra Telepathica
- Force Weapon
- Lorelei (Material)
- Magos Psykana
- Neural Shroud
- Null field
- Primaris Psyker
- Psychic Hood
- Sanctioned Psyker
Trivia
 |
In the video game Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, a small number of the head slot cosmetics items for the psyker class would have variant spellings of the term Psykana. These variations in the name or descriptions of the psyker cosmetics would eventually be changed to conform to the typical spelling of Psykana in the vast majority of their cosmetic items. Some of the variant spellings that were later changed included Psykhana and Psykhanna.
Sources
- 1: Warhammer 40,000: Darktide:
- 1a: Commodore's Vestures, Harsh Environment Flak Helmet with Psykana Collar (Glacial Might)
- 1b: Commodore's Vestures, Control Skull Cap with Psykana Collar
- 1c: Commodore's Vestures, Courtier's Ruff with psykana circuitry
- 1d: Commodore's Vestures, MkCV Augmetic Implant with Psykana Circuitry
- 1e: Commodore's Vestures, Krieg Gas Mask with Psyker Adaption
- 1f: Commodore's Vestures, Warder's Ceremonial Psykana Collar
- 1g: Commodore's Vestures, Illissi Mk IVa Psykana Meditation Helm
- 1h: Commodore's Vestures, Seer's Pressure Helmet with Psykana Collar
- 1i: Commodore's Vestures, Mk VI Pt-38 Jump Suit
- 1j: Commodore's Vestures, Psykana Moebian 21st Rebreather
- 1k: Commodore's Vestures, Excoriator Occular Augmetic with Psykana Collar
- 1l: Commodore's Vestures, Illissi Mk I Grand Resolver Harness
- 1m: Commodore's Vestures, Illissi Mk XVa Resolver Harness
- 1n: Crucis "Wyrdvane" Psykana Aegis
- 1o: Penance - Kinetic Killer (3), Witchshroud
- 1p: Wissex Mk Ie Psykana Aegis
- 1q: Commodore's Vestures, Gnosis Pattern Rebreather with Psykana Collar
- 1r: Commodore's Vestures, Illissi Mk IIz Psykana Collar
- 1s: Hestia's Blessings (3200 Penance points), Nyx Pattern Psykana Collar
- 2: Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition), pg. 33
- 3: Play-Darktide-Website-News: Patch #13 Patch Notes (archived 4 October 2023, last accessed 17 July 2025. Original link Patch #13 Patch Notes)
- 4: Witchbringer (Novel), Chapter 7
