Venom

Harlequins Portal

Dark Eldar Portal

The Venom is a fast and agile anti-grav vehicle with a small transport capacity used by the Harlequins^[1], Eldar Corsairs^[3], and the Dark Eldar. In size and nimbleness it is comparable to the Vyper used by the Eldar Craftworlds or the Sky-Chariot of the ancient Eldar Empire.^[2]

Overview

Venom

The Venom is preferred by the Dark Eldar over other transports for its small size, extreme speed, and deft nimbleness. As it is the largest and most populous transports that enemy soldiers will target first, such as Raiders, many Dark Eldar commanders will choose to enter battle upon a small Venom instead. While the Venom's anti-grav ribbing and booster engines are similiar to other Dark Eldar vehicles,^[4a] the vehicle's handling is so sensitive to the commands of its pilot that it can weave its way unharmed through a storm of incoming fire, using its holographic Flickerfield to further confuse the enemy. In the hands of a skilled pilot it can even navigate through areas of the Webway built only for the passage of a single individual.^[2]

The Venom is usually used to transport a cadre of elite Dark Eldar warriors into battle, striking like a poisoned dart at the heart of the foe. They often attack in waves, as it is the Dark Eldar preferred method of war.^[5a] On occasion, Venoms are even used to transport but a single warrior to battle in style – usually those nobles too arrogant or paranoid to trust even their own bodyguards. Sometimes a Dark Eldar lord or champion will not wish to consort with mere footsoldiers aboard a Raider and so will choose to ride the smaller Venom instead. They are also a popular vehicle with Commorrite hunters and aristocrats of the upper spires who enjoy running their enemies down.^[2]

The Venom is much admired by Corsair warriors for its breakneck speed, and those bands which maintain links with the dark city of Commorragh spend much of their plunder to acquire these swift vehicles. In battle, these craft are often claimed by those Corsairs most eager to gain rank and glory, hurtling into an enemy's ranks to sow chaos and death.^[4]

In battle, the Venom is normally armed with twin-linked Splinter Rifles on its fuselage as well as a heavier Splinter Cannon gun mount on its canopy. Sometimes the Splinter Rifles can be swapped out for another Splinter Cannon. It is also equipped with Bladevanes to rip apart those it passes.^[5b] The passengers of the Venom also will use their own weapons to attack any foe they come across.^[5a]

Images

Venom miniature (5th Edition)

Sources

• 1: Harlequin Army List (PDF)
• 2: Codex: Dark Eldar (5th Edition), pg. 43
• 3: Imperial Armour Volume Eleven - The Doom of Mymeara, pg. 167
• 4: Imperial Armour Volume Eleven - Second Edition: The Doom of Mymeara pg. 166
• 5: Codex: Drukhari (8th Edition)
  • 5a: pg. 55
  • 5b: pg. 105