The dark lance is the Drukhari’s signature heavy weapon, a darklight projector that can punch through almost any armour and leave nothing of its target behind. It’s the go-to anti-tank gun for Raiders, Ravagers and Kabalite Warriors alike.
What is the dark lance?
It’s a darklight weapon, the most common example of that technology on the 41st millennium battlefield. Think of it as the Drukhari answer to the Eldar bright lance: same basic construction idea, but reworked to fire darklight ammunition instead of laser energy.
Magnetic containment and stabilisation fields keep the darklight from destroying the weapon and the person holding it. Those same fields accelerate the darklight down the barrel at terrifying speed.
Why it matters
When a dark lance hits, it reacts violently. Armour of any thickness or composition gets torn through, and infantry caught in the blast are usually just gone. There’s rarely any sign left of the target.
That combination of anti-armour punch and sheer lethality makes it a staple of Drukhari raids, where speed and shock value matter more than sustained firepower.
Who uses it and where you’ll see it
You’ll commonly find dark lances mounted on Raiders and Ravagers, the fast skimmers that form the backbone of many Drukhari assault forces. Kabalite Warriors also carry them on foot when they need to crack open a tank.
Larger versions sometimes appear on Drukhari warships, scaling the same darklight technology up to void combat.
- Raiders: common transport-mounted dark lance.
- Ravagers: heavy support skimmers often armed with several.
- Kabalite Warriors: can carry one on foot as a heavy weapon.
- Drukhari warships: larger naval variants exist.
Notable dark lances
The largest dark lance ever built by the Drukhari was Voidbreaker, mounted on the flagship Heart’s End. It was later stolen by the Ork Ufthak Blackhawk, who renamed it the Black Kannon and stuck it on his own ship, Starsmasha.
Dark lance or lance of darkness?
Easy to mix up, but they’re different things. The dark lance is the Drukhari weapon described above. The Lance of Darkness is a Deathwatch Nova-class frigate that ferried a Kill-Team to Ulthwe and later to the Dark Eldar world Hesperax. Same words, completely separate subjects.
Key facts
- The dark lance is a Drukhari darklight weapon, the most commonly seen example of its type.
- It’s related to the Eldar bright lance in construction but fires darklight instead.
- Magnetic containment and stabilisation fields protect the user and accelerate the shot.
- It tears through armour regardless of thickness and often leaves no trace of infantry targets.
- Common mounts include Raiders, Ravagers and Kabalite Warriors on foot.
- Voidbreaker was the largest dark lance ever built, later renamed the Black Kannon by an Ork.
FAQ
What is a dark lance in Warhammer 40k?
It’s a Drukhari darklight weapon, the most common example of that technology. It fires a beam of darklight that tears through armour and is usually mounted on Raiders and Ravagers, though Kabalite Warriors can carry one too.
How does a dark lance work?
Magnetic containment and stabilisation fields stop the darklight from harming the weapon or its user, and those same fields accelerate it down the barrel. On impact it reacts violently, punching through armour of any thickness.
Is the dark lance the same as the Lance of Darkness?
No. The dark lance is a Drukhari weapon. The Lance of Darkness is a Deathwatch Nova-class frigate from the novel Warrior Coven. They just happen to have similar names.