C’tan Shards are the broken remnants of the Star Gods, the godlike beings the Necrons shattered and enslaved after the War in Heaven. Each shard holds a sliver of that unimaginable power, and they’re some of the most dangerous things a Necron dynasty can unleash.
What is a C’tan shard?
When the Necrons turned on their Star God masters, they couldn’t destroy them outright. Instead, they used a hyper-technological weapon to shatter each C’tan into countless fragments. These shards are what remain: entities of near-limitless power, but only a shadow of the whole being they used to be.
Each shard remembers nothing of its former omnipotence, though it keeps a piece of the original’s personality and pride. That makes them eccentric, unpredictable, and terrifyingly creative in battle. They can hurl transdimensional lightning, control minds, warp time, or even fling enemies into alternate realities.
Powers and abilities
A C’tan shard is a living weapon of cosmic scale. On the tabletop, they’re monsters with formidable stats, and recent rules updates have made them even more fearsome, especially the Nightbringer, which gained extra wounds, better saves, and much-improved mobility.
In the lore, their powers are limited only by their imagination. They can turn into singularities, manipulate gravity, or send foes hurtling backwards through time until they simply cease to exist. No two shards fight the same way.
Known shards and the Necron dynasties
The most famous shards are those of the Nightbringer, the Deceiver, the Void Dragon, and the Transcendent C’tan (a fusion of multiple shards). Others include the Burning One, the Potentate, the Silent Cry, and the World Shaper.
Necron dynasties deploy these shards carefully, and their use is governed by the Convention on the Amalgamation of C’tan Shards. Breaking that treaty without authorization is an insult to the Triarch Praetorians and the Silent King himself.
Why they matter
C’tan shards are a reminder of the Necrons’ greatest victory and their darkest secret. They’re also one of the few things in the galaxy that can go toe-to-toe with a Greater Daemon or a Primarch and walk away. For Necron players, they’re a centerpiece unit; for everyone else, they’re a nightmare you hope stays locked in its tomb.
Key facts
- C’tan Shards are fragments of the Star Gods shattered by the Necrons.
- They possess near-limitless power, including time manipulation and reality warping.
- Each shard retains a sliver of the original C’tan’s personality and hubris.
- Their use is regulated by the Convention on the Amalgamation of C’tan Shards.
- Known shards include the Nightbringer, Deceiver, Void Dragon, and Transcendent C’tan.
FAQ
What is a C’tan shard?
A C’tan shard is a fragment of a shattered Star God, enslaved by the Necrons. Each shard retains immense power but only a fraction of the original C’tan’s consciousness.
How powerful is a C’tan shard?
In lore, they can manipulate time, gravity, and reality itself. On the tabletop, they’re powerful monsters, though not quite as unstoppable as their background suggests.
What are the known C’tan shards?
Notable shards include the Nightbringer, Deceiver, Void Dragon, and Transcendent C’tan, as well as those of the Burning One, Potentate, Silent Cry, and World Shaper.