The shuriken is the signature ranged weapon of the Aeldari in Warhammer 40k. These weapons fire razor-thin discs of plasti-crystal at terrifying speed, and they show up everywhere from Guardian sidearms to tank-mounted cannons.
What the shuriken is
Shuriken weapons are almost unique to the Aeldari. The technology is so advanced that other races struggle to copy it, and the Aeldari themselves use it across a huge range of sizes, from pistols to heavy support weapons.
Most Aeldari learn to fire one at some point, often during a stint in a Guardian squad. Aspect Shrines take that training much further, turning shuriken use into a martial art.
How a shuriken weapon works
Every shuriken weapon is built around a gravitic accelerator and a solid core of plasti-crystal ammunition. High-energy impulses shave off a monomolecular-thin slice of that core and fling it out of the barrel at incredible speed.
A magnetic repulsor keeps the ammo core aligned and feeds it forward. The result is a burst of around a hundred rounds in one or two seconds. Each core lasts for ten or more bursts before you need to swap it.
The trade-off is accuracy and range. Shuriken weapons have no rifling, so they’re less precise and don’t reach as far as conventional projectile weapons of similar size. The discs themselves come in patterns, usually a star, triangle, or circle. Some of that variety might be practical, some might just be style.
Wraithbone and psychic control
Like most Aeldari tech, shuriken weapons are grown from psychoactive wraithbone. A specialised group of Bonesingers, ones who’ve previously walked the Path of the Warrior, craft them.
They’re psychically activated. The wraithbone responds to the Aeldari mind, and on personal weapons that link usually runs through the grip, tying into their armour systems.
History and variants
Shuriken weapons go back to the War in Heaven. Those ancient versions lacked the long acceleration cowling you see on modern ones.
Today you’ll find them as pistols, catapults, cannons, and more. The core principle is the same across all of them, just scaled up or down.
- Shuriken pistol: standard sidearm for many Aeldari.
- Shuriken catapult: the classic Guardian weapon and the one most people picture.
- Avenger shuriken catapult: a refined version used by Dire Avengers.
- Heavy and vehicle-mounted shuriken cannons: bigger bursts, more punch.
Key facts
- Shuriken weapons are almost unique to the Aeldari and hard for other races to replicate.
- They fire monomolecular-thin discs of plasti-crystal using a gravitic accelerator.
- A single burst can throw out around a hundred rounds in one or two seconds.
- They’re grown from psychoactive wraithbone and activated psychically by the wielder.
- They lack rifling, so they trade accuracy and range for a high rate of fire.
- They date back to the War in Heaven, when they lacked the modern acceleration cowling.
FAQ
What is a shuriken weapon in Warhammer 40k?
It’s an Aeldari ranged weapon that fires monomolecular-thin discs of plasti-crystal at high speed. They range from pistols to tank cannons and are almost exclusive to the Aeldari.
How does a shuriken catapult work?
A gravitic accelerator and high-energy impulses shave slices off a solid ammo core, then hurl them out the barrel. A magnetic repulsor keeps the core aligned and feeding.
Why are shuriken weapons less accurate than bolters?
They have no rifling in the barrel, which cuts down both accuracy and range compared to conventional projectile weapons of a similar size.