Shuriken
| Ranged | Close Combat |
|---|---|
|
Electric (Arc • Tesla) • Flame • Gauss • Graviton • Grenade • Ion/Plasma • Laser • Melta • Missile • Bolt • Ordnance • Projectile • Grenade launcher • Monofilament/Web • Sonic • Volkite |
Chain • Force • Electric (Arc • Taser) • Power • Miscellaneous |
Shuriken Weaponry are weapons almost unique to the Eldar, as this technology is extremely advanced and very difficult to replicate. The Eldar make widespread use of shuriken weaponry, which ranges in size from personal sidearms to massive tank-mounted cannons, and all operate on the same principles.[1b][2][3a] The art of using a shuriken weapon is one that most Eldar will learn, if only for a period of time as part of a Guardian squad, though many Aspect Shrines give great focus on how to wield these deadly weapons.[4]
Contents
Construction
Like most Eldar technology, Shuriken weapons are grown from a psychoactive material known as Wraithbone. A special subset of Bonesingers who have previously walked the Path of the Warrior are tasked with crafting the weapons.[8]
Operation
All shuriken weapons are built around a gravitic accelerator, similar to the motors which propel Imperial Land Speeders, and a solid core of ammunition composed of a plasti-crystal material, stored in the weapon's magazine. High-energy impulses originating from the rear of the weapon detach a monomolecular-thin slice of the core and hurl this slice out the barrel of the weapon at tremendous velocities due to a peristaltic shift. A magnetic repulsor forces the ammunition core out of the magazine and keeps it in line with the firing impulse. Using this method a burst of a hundred rounds can be fired in one or two seconds, and each core is good for ten or more of these bursts before requiring replacement.[1b][2][3a] The downside to this method of operation is that shuriken weapons lack rifling in the barrel; this not only reduces accuracy but also the range of these weapons in comparison to normal projectile weapons of similar size.[2]
The shuriken missiles themselves can be formed into a variety of shapes and designs, though whether these exist for practical or purely aesthetic purposes are unknown,[2] with the most common pattern being a star followed by triangular and circular shapes.[1b] Whatever their shape these razor-sharp missiles are capable of not only slicing straight through flesh and bone, but also penetrating a considerable thickness of metal and even plasteel armour.[1b]
As with most Eldar technology, shuriken weapons are psychically activated, constructed of wraithbone which is particularly sensitive to the Eldar's innate psychic mind. For many personal weapons this link is established though the grip and connects with additional systems incorporated to their armour.[4]
History
During the War in Heaven, shuriken used by ancient Aeldari warriors lacked the long acceleration cowling of contemporary weaponry. These older versions were truncated, and sported grav-acceleration arms that created an exposed gravity sling which provided impulsion to the weapon’s munitions.[12][Note]
Types of Shuriken weapons
- Shuriken Pistol[1a]
- Shuriken Catapult[1b]
- Shuriken Rifle[11]
- Shuriken Crossbow[10]
- Shuriken Cannon[2]
- Blazing Stars of Vaul[9]
Images
Shuriken Weapons from Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Various kinds of Shuriken Weapons[11]
See also
Note
 |
The weapon described in Archmagos (Novel), with an exposed gravity sling resembles the Shuriken Catapult as it first appeared in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, which posessed polar fins positioned laterally near its muzzle that created the magnetic vortex which accelerated it's ammunition.[13]
Sources
 |
- 1: Codex: Eldar (2nd Edition)
- 2: Codex: Eldar (3rd Edition), Pg. 46
- 3: Codex: Eldar (4th Edition)
- 4: Imperial Armour Volume Eleven - The Doom of Mymeara, Pg. 32
- 5: Path of the Seer (Novel) by Gav Thorpe, Destiny, pg. 397
- 6: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Store - Eldar
- 7: Codex: Harlequins (7th Edition), (E-book)
- 8: Munitorum: Shuriken Catapults
- 9: Codex: Craftworlds (8th Edition), pg. 123
- 10: White Dwarf 97 (UK) pg. 64
- 11: White Dwarf 510, pg. 47
- 12: Archmagos (Novel) - Chapter 16
- 13: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, pg. 74
| 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 |
| Projectile Weapons | |
|---|---|
| Slug-Throwers | Stub gun • Hand Cannon • Stub Rifle • Heavy stubber • Shotgun • Ripper Gun |
| Auto-Weapons | Autopistol • Autogun • Autocannon • Assault cannon • Macro cannon |
| Ork | Grot Blasta • Slugga • Shoota • Big Shoota • Supa-Gatler • Gigashoota |
| Eldar | Shuriken Weaponry • Shrieker Cannon • Death Spinner • Shadow Weaver |
| Dark Eldar | Splinter Pistol • Splinter Rifle • Splinter Cannon |
| Tau Empire | Kroot Bolt Thrower • Kroot rifle • Kroot hunting rifle • Kroot gun • Rail Rifle • Railgun |
