The Avenger Gatling Cannon is a rapid-fire projectile weapon carried by Imperial Knights, most famously the Crusader and Warden. It’s the Knight pilot’s answer to hordes and light armour, throwing out so many armour-piercing shells that whole attack columns can come apart in a single volley.
What it is
Think of it as an oversized assault cannon. The calibre is bigger, the shells are armour-piercing, and the rate of fire is even higher than its smaller cousin.
It’s a rotary weapon, meaning the barrel cluster spins as it fires. That’s what lets it put so many rounds downrange so quickly.
Why it matters on the battlefield
A single blazing volley can stitch a line of death across the enemy’s battle line. Charges falter and fail, and entire columns of light vehicles can be destroyed outright.
That makes it a threat to almost anything that isn’t heavily armoured. Infantry, bikes, light tanks, and transports all have reason to fear it.
- Rapid-fire rotary cannon with armour-piercing shells
- Effective against infantry and light vehicles
- Can break up charges and destroy attack columns in one volley
Which Knights carry it
It’s most prominent on the Crusader and Warden classes, both Questoris Pattern Knights. The Crusader often mounts it as part of a heavy ranged loadout, while the Warden pairs it with a melee weapon for a mixed role.
Other Knights can take it too, but those two are the ones you’ll see it on most often.
How it compares
The closest analogue in the Imperium’s arsenal is the assault cannon, but the Avenger is bigger and angrier. It also shares a visual and spiritual resemblance to the Onslaught Gatling Cannon on the Primaris Redemptor Dreadnought.
Out of universe, both weapons echo the real-world GAU-8 Avenger, the 30mm gatling mounted on the A-10 Thunderbolt II. That gun fires around 3,900 rounds per minute and can punch through light tank armour, which gives you a good sense of what the 40k version is going for.
Key facts
- The Avenger Gatling Cannon is a rapid-fire rotary weapon used by Imperial Knights.
- It’s most prominent on the Crusader and Warden classes.
- It fires armour-piercing shells and has a higher rate of fire than an assault cannon.
- A single volley can break charges and destroy columns of light vehicles.
- It resembles the real-world GAU-8 Avenger mounted on the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
FAQ
What is the Avenger Gatling Cannon?
It’s a rapid-fire rotary projectile weapon used by Imperial Knights, most commonly the Crusader and Warden. It fires armour-piercing shells at a very high rate.
Which Imperial Knights use the Avenger Gatling Cannon?
It’s most prominent on the Crusader and Warden classes. Other Knights can carry it, but those two are the standard bearers.
Is the Avenger Gatling Cannon good against vehicles?
It’s excellent against light vehicles and can destroy entire attack columns. Against heavy armour, you’d usually want something with more punch per shot.