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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
→Overview
Those of [[human]] origin are relics of the [[Dark Age of Technology]]. Highly dangerous, few remain in [[Imperial]] use and the ones that do are revered beyond measure.{{Fn|1}} These brutal weapons disrupt the molecular bonding of the target, literally tearing it apart whether it be flesh or ceramite. Common during the dark years of [[Age of Strife|Old Night]], these weapons were valued as much for the psychological impact of their use as for the efficacy of their actinic bolts.{{Fn|2}}
Disintegration weapons appeared in the arsenals of the [[Thunder Warriors]] and proto-[[Legiones Astartes]] as well as anti-Imperial forces during the [[Unification Wars]], but was phased out for safer and more easily replicated [[Mars|Martian]] [[Volkite Weaponry]] during the [[Great Crusade]]. The [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] did not control disintegration weaponry technology and did not even recognize it as proper technology. The [[Emperor]] controlled all access to the technology, giving it to the [[Custodes]] in the form of safer [[Adrathic Weapon]]s. A number of [[Space Marine]] [[Legion]]s still used them by the outbreak of the [[Horus Heresy]] , such as the [[Space Wolves]] , and [[Dark Angels]]. Both of these legions retained large stockpiles of Disintegration weapons. Even then, it is they were still only used during extraordinary circumstances. During the subsequent Horus Heresy safer versions were deployed by both sides of the conflict.{{Fn|7}}
==Types of Disintegration Weapons==
