The Crimson Hunter is one of the rarest Aeldari Aspect Warrior disciplines, a pilot who follows Khaine in his aspect of pursuit and leaves enemies reeling for the slaughter. They fly Nightshade Interceptors, clear the skies of enemy aircraft, then turn their guns on ground targets.
What a Crimson Hunter actually is
Crimson Hunters are Aeldari Aspect Warriors, but instead of fighting on foot they fight from the cockpit. Their job is air superiority: wipe out enemy flyers, then support the ground war from above.
They take their name from the mythical bloody blades Kaela Mensha Khaine used to blind the white wyrm Oghanothir. That origin shapes how they see themselves, as hunters who strike fast and leave the foe helpless.
Their numbers are small, though their shrines are spreading. They’re trained obsessively, practising manoeuvres and marksmanship every night against each other so that killing other aircraft becomes routine.
The Nightshade Interceptor
Every Crimson Hunter flies a Nightshade Interceptor, a high-speed fighter built to dominate the air. It carries two Bright Lances and a Pulse Laser, giving it the punch to crack armoured targets as well as dogfight.
Aeldari craft are faster and more graceful than the heavier flyers used by other races, and the Nightshade is no exception. Crimson Hunters are often called the finest pilots in the galaxy, and their aircraft are a big part of why.
- Standard armament: two Bright Lances and a Pulse Laser
- Role: air superiority first, air support second
- Exarch variants often swap the Bright Lances for Star Cannons
Exarchs and the path that doesn’t end
Each Crimson Hunter shrine is led by an Exarch, the most accomplished pilot in the temple. They’ve walked the Path of the Warrior so far that they can’t step off it anymore, so they stay in the cockpit permanently.
Exarchs often carry different weapons, and their Nightshades feature an Exarch tail fin at the rear, also called a secondary stabilizer, bearing a version of the shrine’s banner. The same symbol appears on top of the main fuselage between the forewings.
Shrines, worship, and Kurnous
Crimson Hunter shrines don’t look like other Aspect temples. They’re tunnel-like clusters of transparent atriums floating around the edge of a Craftworld, so recruits can train in their aircraft without leaving the structure.
Crimson Hunters also give special veneration to Kurnous, the Aeldari god of the hunt, and often call themselves the Hawks of Kurnous. Their banners carry his iconography alongside drops of blood, a nod to the wounds Khaine bled to forge the daggers that killed Oghanothir.
| Known shrine | Known Crimson Hunter |
|---|---|
| Ascendant Strike | Ilyrhaindar (Exarch) |
| Bloody Blade | Keladry Ragefyre (Exarch) |
| Blood of Khaine | Kyanorath |
| Crimson Raptors | Lethraen (Exarch, Crimson Raptors) |
Key facts
- Crimson Hunters are an extremely rare Aeldari Aspect Warrior discipline focused on air superiority and piloting.
- They follow Khaine in his aspect of pursuit and leave enemies reeling for slaughter.
- They fly Nightshade Interceptors armed with two Bright Lances and a Pulse Laser.
- Their shrines are tunnel-like transparent atriums floating around the periphery of a Craftworld.
- They venerate Kurnous and often call themselves the Hawks of Kurnous.
- Exarchs lead the shrines and often swap Bright Lances for Star Cannons.
FAQ
What is a Crimson Hunter in Warhammer 40k?
It’s a rare Aeldari Aspect Warrior who fights as a pilot rather than on foot. Crimson Hunters fly Nightshade Interceptors to win air superiority and then support ground forces.
What weapons does a Crimson Hunter use?
A standard Nightshade Interceptor carries two Bright Lances and a Pulse Laser. Exarchs sometimes swap the Bright Lances for Star Cannons.
Who leads a Crimson Hunter shrine?
An Exarch leads each shrine. They’re the most skilled pilots in the temple and have walked the Path of the Warrior so far that they can no longer leave it.