The Brôkhyr Thunderkyn are the Leagues of Votann’s heavy-weapons troops: Brôkhyr engineers who climb into their industrial exo-frames and go to war. They give the Kin the kind of durable, hard-hitting firepower that other armies get from tanks or dedicated gun platforms.
What the thunderkyn actually are
The Brôkhyr are the Kin’s engineering guilds, the people who keep the Leagues’ forges, mines and machines running. In peacetime their exo-frames are just multi-purpose work rigs, built to haul heavy loads and keep a pilot stable in dangerous conditions.
When an Oathband marches out, those same pilots strap in and become Brôkhyr Thunderkyn. The suit changes role, the person inside doesn’t. It’s a nice bit of Leagues character: their heavy infantry is literally their industrial workforce, repurposed.
Why they matter on the tabletop
Thunderkyn are the Kin’s walking gun line. Their exo-frames let them carry the heaviest man-portable weapons the Votann can build, which is a job most infantry simply can’t do.
They’re tough but not the toughest thing in the army. Sources note their rigs aren’t quite as resilient as the Einhyr Hearthguard’s exo-armour, so they trade a bit of protection for serious firepower. They’re meant to sit back and shoot, not soak up a charge.
- Role: heavy weapons troops for the Leagues of Votann
- Tougher than standard Hearthkyn, but below Einhyr Hearthguard in durability
- Best used as a firebase rather than a frontline assault unit
Weapons and gear
The exo-frame’s fibre bundles, calibrated actuators, gravitic stabilisers and mass-clamps do the heavy lifting. That’s what lets a Thunderkyn heft weapons that would otherwise need a vehicle mount, and still move faster than the bulk suggests.
Their main weapon options are Votann bolt cannons, graviton blast cannons and SP conversion beamers. Supporting kit includes omni-visors, recoil suppressors, inertia sinks and weavewërke anchors, all of which keep the big guns accurate and the pilot upright.
| Weapon | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Votann bolt cannon | Reliable high-volume fire |
| Graviton blast cannon | Heavy hits that punish tough targets |
| SP conversion beamer | Long-range, high-damage shooting |
How they fit into the Leagues of Votann
Thunderkyn sit in the Troops slot of the Leagues of Votann army list, which is unusual for a unit this heavily armed. They’re the shooting backbone you build around, while Hearthkyn handle objectives and Einhyr Hearthguard take the close-range punishment.
They’re tied to the Brôkhyr Iron-master, the character who leads the engineering guilds and shares their industrial theme. If you like the Kin’s mix of mining rigs, ancestor technology and stubborn firepower, the Thunderkyn are the purest expression of it.
Key facts
- Brôkhyr Thunderkyn are heavy-weapons troops of the Leagues of Votann, drawn from the Brôkhyr engineering guilds.
- They fight in exo-frames that are adapted from industrial work rigs rather than purpose-built armour.
- They’re less resilient than Einhyr Hearthguard but carry the heaviest man-portable weapons the Votann field.
- Main weapons: Votann bolt cannon, graviton blast cannon and SP conversion beamer.
- They occupy the Troops slot in the Leagues of Votann army list.
FAQ
Are Brôkhyr Thunderkyn good in Warhammer 40k?
They’re a solid heavy-weapons unit for the Leagues of Votann. They bring strong firepower in the Troops slot, though they’re less durable than Einhyr Hearthguard, so they want to shoot from cover rather than brawl.
What’s the difference between Brôkhyr and Brôkhyr Thunderkyn?
Brôkhyr are the engineering guild and its members. Thunderkyn is the battlefield role those engineers take when they go to war in their exo-frames.
What weapons can Brôkhyr Thunderkyn take?
Votann bolt cannons, graviton blast cannons and SP conversion beamers, supported by omni-visors, recoil suppressors, inertia sinks and weavewërke anchors.