Wave Serpent
The Wave Serpent is the Craftworld Eldar's main troop transport. Based upon the Falcon grav-tank chassis, it uses powerful anti-gravitic engines to deliver its cargo of Guardians and Aspect Warriors to any part of the battlefield. Its ability to travel all but the smallest Webway routes, and the tremendous speed with which it can operate, puts the Wave Serpent as possibly the best troop transport in the galaxy.[1][2][3][4a]
Technical Information
The Wave Serpent can be constructed by several Eldar Craftworlds, even some Exodite worlds have the capability to manufacture and repair the grav-tank.[9] Chief among the Wave Serpent's many advantages is its ability to project an uniquely powerful energy field just in front of its bow. Field projector fins studded along the craft's wings create a shimmering wave of energy along the prow of the Wave Serpent to absorb and dissipate enemy shots.[3][5a] This energy field is strong enough to deflect shrapnel from artillery blasts[2] and renders small arms fire ineffectual, including Space Marine Bolters.[6] Even a lascannon shot to the side-hull is only able to do scorch damage.[9] However when flying in tight formation multiple Wave Serpents can combine their fields together to not only create a reinforced barrier but turn it into a potent offensive weapon. At close range the shimmering energy field can be released in a tsunami-like wave which, while rarely lethal, can disorient and sometimes paralysis living creatures and overload delicate circuitry.[5a]
Weapons carried by the Wave Serpent are more than capable of providing supporting fire for its deploying passengers. A small remotely-operated turret can mount twin-linked Bright Lances, Eldar Missile Launchers, Scatter Lasers, Shuriken Cannons or Starcannons. Chin-mounted twin-linked Shuriken Catapults provide additional anti-infantry firepower, although these too can be replaced with a single Shuriken Cannon. Control of these weapons and of the craft itself is handled by a single pilot.[3][5a] As with all Eldar vehicles the Wave Serpent is constructed of Wraithbone and other psycho-plastics formed by Bonesingers. Specially attuned to the Eldar's natural psychic talents, the use of the material makes it impossible for other races to copy or operate the vehicle.[5b]
Within the rear of the Wave Serpent is its transport compartment, which is large enough to accommodate twelve fully-equipped Aspect Warriors and Guardians or up to five Wraithguard along with two accompanying Eldar. In addition some Wave Serpents are upgraded to include Star Engines, Spirit Stones and Vectored Engines.[3][5a]
The Wave Serpent has more than one aesthetic design as a result of differing consensus between Bonesinger Design Schools. Both have the same weapons and characteristics, but as dominant schools changed the older designs are seen less often but both are known as Wave Serpents to Imperial Scholars.[4b]
| Technical Information | |||
| Length | 9.85m[9] | ||
| Height | 3.61m[9] | ||
| Hull Width | 7.1m[9] | ||
| Weight | 23.5 tonnes[9] | ||
| Armour | 35-60mm[9] | ||
| Speed at low altitude | 180kph[9] | ||
| Speed at high altitude | 850kph[9] | ||
| Crew | 2, Pilot, Gunner[9] | ||
| Passengers | 10 Eldar or 5 Wraithguard and a Warlock[9] | ||
| Armament | Twin-linked shuriken cannons & twin-linked shuriken catapults, various alternate configurations[9] | ||
| Main Ammunition | 5000 shots shuriken cannon salvos[9] | ||
Images
Development History
 |
The Wave Serpent was one of several Eldar vehicles with more than one model. Design Schools were introduced in Epic: Swordwind (2005) as an in-universe explanation for this difference in Eldar vehicle designs in Epic.
Forge World Wave Serpent, (Warhammer 40,000-scale)[10]
Wave Serpent[12]
See also
Sources
- 1: Codex: Eldar (3rd Edition), pg. 12
- 2: Imperial Armour II, pg. 10
- 3: Codex: Eldar (4th Edition), pg. 45
- 4: Epic: Swordwind:
- 5: Imperial Armour Volume Eleven - The Doom of Mymeara:
- 6: Know Thine Enemy (Short Story) — Let The Galaxy Burn (Anthology), pg. 298
- 7: Codex: Craftworlds (7th Edition) - Grav-Tanks
- 8: Chapter Approved 2001:
- 9: White Dwarf 253 (UK), pg. 53 — Chapter Approved: Transport Vehicle Rules
- 10: The Lost and the Banned (saved archive page, dated August 2007, last accessed 20 March 2025)
- 11: Miniwars.uk (last accessed 25 February 2026)
- 12: Renegades, pg. 16
- 13: Codex: Craftworlds (8th Edition), pg. 41
| Craftworld Eldar Vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Light Vehicles | Jetbike (Raptor Jetbike) • Hornet • Vyper |
| Walkers | War Walker • Wasp Assault Walker • Scout Walker |
| Wraith Constructs | Wraithblade • Wraithguard • Wraithknight • Wraithlord • Wraithseer |
| Artillery | Anti-Aircraft Platform • Support Weapon Batteries (D-Cannon • Vibro Cannon • Shadow Weaver) |
| Grav-Tanks | Falcon • Fire Prism • Firestorm • Night Spinner • Warp Hunter • Wave Serpent |
| Super-Heavy Grav-Tanks | Cobra • Lynx • Scorpion • Storm Serpent • Void Spinner |
| Super-Heavy Walkers | Eldar Knight • Eldar Titan (Revenant • Phantom • Warlock) |
| Aircraft | Hemlock • Nightwing • Nightshade (Crimson Hunter) • Phoenix • Vampire Raider • Vampire Hunter • Dawnsail • |
