Chainsword
A Chainsword is a common form of chain weapon, essentially a sword with motorized teeth that run along the blade like those of a chainsaw. Most versions make use of monomolecular-edged or otherwise razor sharp teeth. The weapon makes an angry buzzing sound as the teeth spin around, intensifying into a high pitched scream as they grind into armour.
It is a popular weapon of Imperial Guard officers, and boarding and assault parties - such as Space Marine Assault Squads,[7] Chaos Space Marines - especially Raptors[8] - Eldar Striking Scorpions,[2] and Pirates.[4a]
History
Like many examples of human invention, the chainsword’s many variants seem to have their roots in the shrouded heresies of the Dark Age of Technology. Accordingly, it saw consistent use in the armoured fists of techno-barbarians during the Age of Strife, and among the Emperor’s own armies during his Thunder Warriors’ brutal conquest of Terra. But chainswords have been wielded by inhuman hands for aeons. Several xenos races have borne such blades into battle even in the ages where Mankind could only look up to the stars with spears in their filthy hands. Tech-Priest foundry masters have speculated, down the centuries, that it is simply a natural evolution of the sword’s design: from bronze to iron; from iron to steel; from steel to chain-teeth; and from chain-teeth to a weapon wreathed in an energy field - such as the Imperial power sword. But doubt remains. More than one Martian magos has devoted their life’s work to researching the primeval origins of chainweapons; mostly likely as an inspiration stolen from an alien race, in a war that may never be remembered. If this theorem ever bears fruit, it is distinctly possible that the galaxy’s first wielders of chainswords were jade-clad warriors of the ancient Eldar.[19]
Versions
Imperial
The teeth of Imperial Chainswords are made of an adamantium-carbon alloy.[19]
- Mk. II/D Errant Chainsword. This chainsword type is used by Marines Errant Space Marine chapter.[5b]
- Mk. IV Thunder Edge Pattern Chainsword - Used by the Thunder Warriors and Legiones Astartes during the Unification Wars, Great Crusade, and Horus Heresy[20]
- Mk. V Fangmaw chainsword. Used by the Space Wolves.[6]
- Mk. VI Redemptor - Used by the Blood Angels[14]
- Mk. X Hell's Teeth [16]
- Mk. XI Hell's Teeth pattern - Used by Space Marine forces.[7a]
- Chainblade Combat Attachment. This small Chainblade is attached to the barrel of a Space Marine Boltgun, acting as a bayonet.
- Eviscerator - A large, two-handed chainsword, comparable in effect to a Chainfist.
- Frost Blade - An ornate chainsword used by the Space Wolves Space Marines.[1]
- Chainsword Hecate - As any chainsword, it can bring messy deaths that help intimidate enemies and crew-scum[4a]; this model weights 6 kg, but it is well balanced[4b] so it is easier to wield and parry melee attacks.[4c]
- Krakentooth Pattern Chainsword. Used by the Space Wolves.[1]
- Acitus Pattern Chainsword. This kind of chainswords have somewhat taller blades and are used at least by Novamarines Space Marines[5a]
- Gore Prow Pattern Chainsword. Used by Fire Hawks Space Marine chapter. [5c]
- Hydraphur-Pattern Chainsword - Also known as a Chain-Cutlass, these short-bladed curved chainswords are favored by Rogue Traders and Armsmen. They are sized to fit within the tight corridors of a starship and trade balance for raw damage potential.[22]
- Siren's Wail Sub-Pattern - Used by House Escher on Necromunda[23].
- Clan Pattern - Used by House Orlock on Necromunda[24]
- Drusian "Crusader" Chainsword - Popular in areas where Saint Drusus is venerated. The weapon is typically holy silver in colour with a curved cutlas-like blade and a spiked basket hilt.[26]
- Locke-Pattern Double-Edged "Mercy" Chainsword - Featuring a longer haft and have had the protective carapace on the back removed to facilitate greater damage potential at the cost of the wielder's safety.[26]
- Cadia Mk IV Assault Chainsword[28]
- Cadia Mk XIIIg Assault Chainsword[28]
Space Marine Mk. XI Chainsword[7a]
Imperial Guard Chainsword[25]
House Escher Siren's Wail Chainsword[23]
House Orlock Clan-Pattern Chainsword[24]
Chaos Space Marines
- Berzerker Chainblade - Used by World Eaters Berzerkers[27a]
- Exalted Chainblade - Used by World Eaters Chaos Lords[27a]
- Jakhal Chainblade - Used by the World Eaters Jakhals[27a]
- Mauler Chainblade - Used by World Eaters Jakhals[27a]
- Lacerators - Used by World Eaters Eightbound Champions[27b]
Eldar
The Eldar Chainswords are made of mono-molecular 'wymfrang's[19]
- Biting Blade - a large chainsword used by Striking Scorpion Exarchs.
- Scorpion Chainsword - a lightweight one-handed chainsword used by warriors of the Striking Scorpion Aspect. Its advanced design augments the user's strength making it an incredibly deadly weapon against infantry and lightly armoured targets.[2]
- Chainsabre - Blades used by Striking Scorpion Exarchs which contain gauntlets equipped with twin-linked Shuriken Pistols.[2]
- Eldar Storm Guardians also wield basic types of Chainswords.[17]
Ork
Ork Choppas often take form of crude and massive chainswords.
Famous Chainsword users
- Ciaphas Cain[9]
- Karandras[11]
- Leonatos [Needs Citation]
- Ibram Gaunt[10]
- Rogal Dorn - Used the massive Storm's Teeth
- Leman Russ - Used Krakenmaw
- Gabriel Seth - Blood Reaver
- Attica Centurius - Veteran Sergeant of the Legion of the Damned[18]
- Mad Chainsaw Johnson, Commander of the White Scars[21]
- Lion El'Jonson - Wolf Blade
See also
Sources
- 1: Codex: Space Wolves (5th Edition), pg. 57
- 2: Codex: Eldar (4th Edition), pg. 33
- 3: Warhammer 40,000 5th Edition Rulebook, pg. 156
- 4: Rogue Trader Rulebook:
- 5: Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One:
- 6: Imperial Armour Volume Eleven - The Doom of Mymeara, pg. 114
- 7: Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pgs. 60, 97
- 7a: pg. 101
- 8: Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition), pgs. 34, 84
- 9: For the Emperor (Novel), [Needs Citation]
- 10: First and Only (Novel), [Needs Citation]
- 11: Codex: Eldar (4th Edition), pg. 156
- 12: Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Rulebook, p. 203
- 13: Specialist Games Catalogue, pg. 105
- 14: Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition), pg. 59
- 15: Imperial Armour Volume Ten, pg. 80
- 16: Dawn of War II (campaign)
- 17: Codex: Eldar (4th Edition), pg. 39
- 18: White Dwarf 224, August 1998, pg. 25
- 19: Munitorum: Chainsword (Background Book)
- 19a: pg. 2
- 20: The Horus Heresy Book Three pg.123
- 21: White Dwarf 93 (UK), pg. 40
- 22: Rogue Trader: Hostile Acquisitions pg.55
- 23: Necromunda: House of Blades, pg. 112
- 24: Necromunda: House of Iron, pg. 112
- 25: Codex: Militarum Tempestus (6th Edition), pg. 13
- 26: Rogue Trader: Into the Storm, pg. 122
- 27: Codex: World Eaters (9th Edition) - Datasheets
- 28: Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Uncited
Imperial Guard Weaponry | |
---|---|
Melee Weapons | |
One-Handed Weapons | |
Two-Handed Weapons | |
Heavy Weapons | |
Grenades |
Adepta Sororitas Weapons | |
---|---|
Melee Weapons | Chainsword • Eviscerator • Power Sword • Hallowed Mace • Mace of the Righteous • Anointed Halberd • Power Blades • Neural Whip • Arco-Flail • Blessed Weapon • Dialogus Staff • Chirurgeon's Tools • Staff of Belief • Null Rod • Rod of Office • Sarissa • Paragon War Blade • Paragon War Mace |
One-Handed Projectile Weapons | Bolt Pistol • Plasma Pistol • Hand Flamer • Inferno Pistol • Condemnor Boltgun |
Two-Handed Projectile Weapons | Bolter • Flamer • Meltagun • Storm Bolter • Combi-Weapon |
Heavy Weapons | Heavy Bolter • Heavy Flamer • Multi-Melta |
Grenades | Frag Grenade • Krak Grenade • Melta-Bomb |