The Vyper is a two-crew Aeldari light skimmer that trades armour for speed and packs tank-grade weaponry. It’s been a Craftworld staple since the 1990s and remains one of the faction’s most recognisable fast attack choices.
What the Vyper is
The Vyper is a larger, heavier-armed cousin of the Eldar jetbike, built as a mobile weapons platform. It was first created by artisans of Saim-Hann to keep pace with Windrider Hosts, and its versatility spread it to other Craftworlds and Corsair fleets.
Unlike a standard jetbike, a Vyper carries two crew: a pilot and a gunner. The pair share a psychic bond that helps them act as one, and it’s common for crews to be blood relatives.
Speed over armour
Vypers don’t rely on plating. They survive by being blisteringly fast and staying at range, and they’re notoriously reluctant to close with the enemy. Well-drilled squadrons can redeploy in seconds to hit weak points in enemy armour or slip away from interceptors.
They usually operate alone or in squadrons of two to three, and can be upgraded with Vectored Engines, Star Engines, Holo-Fields, and Spirit Stones.
Weapons and wargear
The Vyper’s punch comes from weapons you’d normally find on proper battle tanks. Its fixed forward mount carries twin-linked shuriken catapults (upgradeable to a shuriken cannon), while the rear turret can take a shuriken cannon, Eldar missile launcher, scatter laser, starcannon, or bright lance.
- Forward mount: twin-linked shuriken catapults or shuriken cannon
- Rear turret: shuriken cannon, Eldar missile launcher, scatter laser, starcannon, or bright lance
- Upgrades: Vectored Engines, Star Engines, Holo-Fields, Spirit Stones
The Starfang variant
Corsairs field a modified Vyper called the Starfang. It swaps the standard guns for Drukhari weaponry: a disintegrator cannon and a hallucinogen grenade launcher.
Starfangs typically escort landing parties, using smoke grenades to screen the troops coming down and the disintegrator cannon to blast open opportunities for Skyreavers. Sources describe them as close-support escorts, so they’re more aggressive than a typical Craftworld Vyper.
The miniature
The classic Vyper kit dates back to 1997, making it one of the oldest in the Aeldari range. A modern plastic update keeps the streamlined chassis, clear canopy, and rear-seated gunner while adding a rotating armoured turret.
The new kit builds either a Vyper or a Starfang, keeps all the old weapon options, and moves the missile launcher to an underslung position so you can mix loadouts more freely. Four canopy designs are included on the clear sprue.
Key facts
- The Vyper is a two-crew Aeldari light skimmer that acts as a mobile weapons platform.
- It was first built by Saim-Hann artisans to keep pace with jetbike-mounted Windrider Hosts.
- Armament includes twin-linked shuriken catapults or a shuriken cannon up front, and a turret with shuriken cannon, missile launcher, scatter laser, starcannon, or bright lance.
- The Starfang is a Corsair variant armed with a disintegrator cannon and hallucinogen grenade launcher.
- The original Vyper miniature dates to 1997; a modern kit adds a rotating armoured turret and Starfang build options.
FAQ
How many crew does a Vyper have?
Two: a pilot and a gunner. They share a psychic bond, and crews are often blood relatives.
What’s the difference between a Vyper and a Starfang?
The Starfang is a Corsair variant that replaces the Vyper’s standard armament with Drukhari weapons: a disintegrator cannon and a hallucinogen grenade launcher.
Is the Vyper heavily armoured?
No. It relies on speed and range rather than armour plating, which is why it prefers to keep its distance.