Melta weapon
Ranged | Close Combat |
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Melta Weapons are potent weapons which work either by sub-atomic agitation of the target causing it to cook or otherwise melt, or by creating a small scale fusion reaction (using a Pyrum/Promethium fuel mix for some imperial weapons), which is projected as a blast which can burn through almost anything, with greater effect the closer to the target.[9]
Although short-ranged and slow to fire, they are prized for their power against armoured vehicles. They are also considered a good alternative to plasma weapons, which are unreliable and capable of killing their user. Besides the roar of the explosive vaporising of the target's moisture, melta weapons themselves make little noise when firing. Given their fairly quiet and very effective nature, infiltrating parties make use of melta weapons to destroy enemy vehicles before they get a chance to fight on the battlefield.[1a]
Many races make use of the same basic technology. In the Imperium they are called meltas, and often referred to as 'fusion guns', 'melters', 'cookers' and 'vape guns'. Equivalent weapons used by other races have similar effects, although sometimes completely different technology and methods of operation. Both the Tau and Eldar use melta weapons, primarily for tank hunting like the Imperium.[1a]
Contents
Imperial Melta Weapons
Meltagun
Main article: Meltagun
The Meltagun is the most commonly seen melta weapon in use by the Imperium and is commonly found throughout all of the Imperium's fighting forces including the Imperial Guard, Space Marines, Ordo Hereticus and Adepta Sororitas.[1a]
Melta Rifle
Main article: Melta Rifle
The Melta Rifle is used by Eradicator Squads.[8]
Multi-melta
Main article: Multi-melta
The Multi-melta is a heavier version found primarily on vehicles and occasionally carried by Space Marine Devastator squads and Sisters of Battle.[1b]
Inferno Pistol
Main article: Inferno pistol
The Inferno Pistol is a very rare and smaller melta weapon, used only by the Sisters of Battle, agents of the Inquisition (Ordo Hereticus and Ordo Malleus), and a select few Space Marines (such as Commander Dante of the Blood Angels Chapter and Vanguard Veterans).[11]
Melta Cannon
The Melta Cannon is a large vehicle-mounted melta weapon, able to destroy several targets at once. It can be found on the Devil Dog, a variant of the Hellhound. An even larger version of the Melta Cannon is mounted on several classes of Imperial Titan.[3][4]
Melta Lance
Melta Destroyer
Melta Blast-Gun
Siege Melta Array
Main article: Siege Melta Array
Magna-Melta
Main article: Magna-Melta
The Magna-Melta is an ancient Melta weapon originally developed for space combat, but has since found use on vehicles such as the Deimos Pattern Predator Infernus[7]
Cyclonic Melta Lance
Main article: Cyclonic Melta Lance
Thermal Spear
Main article: Thermal Spear
The Thermal Spear is a type of Melta Weapon used by the Knight Armiger.
Melta Torpedo
Melta Torpedoes are powerful incendiary weapons used by Imperial Navy warships.[6]
Eldar Melta Weapons
Fire Pike
Main article: Fire Pike
The Fire Pike is an Eldar weapon used by the Fire Dragon's Exarch.[12]
Fusion Gun
Main article: Fusion Gun
The Fusion Gun is an Eldar weapon used by the Fire Dragons Aspect and Storm Guardians.[12]
Fusion Pistol
Main article: Fusion Pistol
The Fusion Pistol is an Eldar weapon used by Harlequins and Autarchs.[12]
Inferno Lance
The Inferno Lance is an enormous Fusion weapon used by Eldar Wraithknights.
Heat Lance
The Heat Lance is a combination melta and las weapon primarily used by Dark Eldar Reavers and Scourges.
Tau Melta Weapons
Fusion Blaster
Main article: Fusion Blaster
The Fusion Blaster is a Tau weapon and is similar to the Imperial version in power.[13]
Fusion Cascade
The Fusion Cascade is a newly developed Tau weapon which fires in bursts. Due to the increase in amount, the power of each shot is less than the Imperial equivalent. It is equipped on the new Battlesuits.[13]
Fusion Collider
The Fusion Collider is a heavy Battlesuit-mounted anti-tank weapon.
Fusion Eradicator
The Fusion Eradicator is the largest and most powerful class of Tau Fusion Weapon.
Necron Melta Weapons
Heat Cannon
Main article: Heat Cannon
The Heat Cannon is a Necron weapon typically mounted on Sentry Pylons.[5]
Heat Ray
Main article: Heat ray
The Heat Ray is a Necron weapon mounted on Triarch Stalkers and capable of anti-tank and anti-infantry modes of fire.[5]
See also
Sources
- 1: Warhammer 40,000: Wargear
- 2: Confrontation[Needs Citation]
- 3: Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition), pg.26
- 4: White Dwarf 356 (AU/NZ), pg. 10
- 5: Codex: Necrons (5th Edition), pg. 39
- 6: Rogue Trader: Battlefleet Koronus, pg. 8
- 7: Deimos Pattern Predator Infernus (last accessed 24 June 2015)
- 8: Warhammer Community: Warhammer 40,000 Preview – What’s in the Box? (Posted on 13/06/2020) (Last accessed on 13 June 2020)
- 9: Imperial Munitorum Manual, pg. 73
- 10: Codex: Space Marines (9th Edition), pg. 27
- 11: Rogue Trader Rulebook, pg. 122
- 12: Codex: Eldar (4th Edition), pg. 62
- 13: Codex: Tau (3rd Edition), pgs. 15-17