The Colossus is a massive war machine used by the Squats and, more recently, the Leagues of Votann. It’s a mobile fortress that brings overwhelming firepower to the battlefield, and it’s one of the largest vehicles in Warhammer 40k.
What is the Colossus?
The Colossus is a super-heavy war machine, roughly the size of a city block. It started life as a mobile mining installation used by the Squats to scout worlds and set up automated mining facilities. They later replaced the mining gear with weapons, turning it into a mobile fortress.
The design spawned two vehicles: the Leviathan and the Colossus. The Colossus is the more heavily armed of the two, built to anchor a battle line and shrug off serious punishment.
Weapons and defences
The Colossus bristles with weaponry. Its main guns are a Doomsday Cannon and a Thunderer Cannon, backed up by a staggering array of secondary weapons. It also carries an Iron Eagle Gyrocopter for reconnaissance.
Defensively, it’s protected by thick armour plates and six void shields, making it incredibly tough to take down.
- Doomsday Cannon
- Thunderer Cannon
- 4 Plasma Missiles
- 8 Battle Cannons
- 16 Heavy Bolters
- Iron Eagle Gyrocopter (reconnaissance)
- 6 void shields
Squats, Kin, and the Colossus
Originally, the Colossus was a Squat vehicle, appearing in older lore like Codex Titanicus. When the Squats were reimagined as the Leagues of Votann, the Colossus carried over. The newer Kin also use this war machine, as confirmed in Codex: Leagues of Votann.
Some older details might not perfectly match the updated Leagues of Votann background, but the core idea of a colossal mobile fortress remains.
Why it matters
The Colossus represents the Squats’ and Kin’s approach to war: heavily armed, heavily armoured, and built to last. It’s a symbol of their engineering prowess and their preference for overwhelming firepower over speed or subtlety.
On the tabletop, it’s a centrepiece model that can dominate games, though it’s not currently available in modern rules.
Key facts
- The Colossus is a super-heavy mobile fortress used by the Squats and Leagues of Votann.
- It’s roughly the size of a city block and originally served as a mobile mining installation.
- Its armament includes a Doomsday Cannon, Thunderer Cannon, plasma missiles, battle cannons, and heavy bolters.
- It’s protected by thick armour and six void shields.
- The design also produced the Leviathan, a related war machine.
FAQ
What is the Colossus in Warhammer 40k?
The Colossus is a super-heavy war machine used by the Squats and later the Leagues of Votann. It’s a mobile fortress packed with weapons and protected by void shields.
Is the Colossus still used in current lore?
Yes, the Leagues of Votann still field the Colossus, according to Codex: Leagues of Votann. However, some older Squat details may be outdated.
What weapons does the Colossus have?
It carries a Doomsday Cannon, a Thunderer Cannon, 4 plasma missiles, 8 battle cannons, 16 heavy bolters, and an Iron Eagle Gyrocopter for scouting.