Eldar Corsairs (the Anhrathe) are bands of piratical Aeldari who’ve walked away from the Asuryan Paths without sinking into the depravity of the Dark City. They roam the Webway in fleets, chasing freedom, danger and profit, and they answer to nobody but their own prince.
What an eldar corsair actually is
A corsair is an Aeldari who’s chosen exile over the discipline of a Craftworld. They’re not Drukhari. They haven’t embraced the Kabals’ cruelty, and most would rather die than settle into Commorrite politics.
Instead they live nomad lives, drifting along hidden Webway paths and rarely staying in one region of space for long. Adventure and plunder matter more to them than safety, and plenty never make it home.
Where they come from
Corsair fleets are a mixed bag, and no two look quite the same. You’ll find Asuryani Outcasts, former Craftworld exploration crews, Drukhari who’ve fled the Kabals, ex-Harlequins, Exodites with a taste for wandering, and even some who once fought for the Ynnari.
Recruitment is loose. A corsair band takes whoever fits, and a lot of them are Aeldari who simply couldn’t stomach the Paths any longer. What binds them is the shared choice to leave, not a shared origin.
How a corsair fleet fights
Corsairs hit fast, take what they want, and vanish. They lean on speed, Webway shortcuts and surprise rather than grinding attrition, which suits a people who can’t afford to replace losses easily.
A fleet is led by a charismatic commander, usually styling themselves a prince or some echo of pre-Fall nobility. Around them you’ll find seers, specialist roles unique to corsair life, and rank-and-file raiders.
- Command: a Corsair Prince or similarly titled leader, chosen for charisma and nerve rather than bloodline.
- Seers: corsair farseers and warlocks who read the skein for the fleet.
- Specialists: roles that don’t exist on the Craftworlds, built around raiding and void combat.
- Troops: raiders and void-fighters drawn from whatever the fleet could recruit.
The look of a corsair
Corsairs dress to be noticed. They wear trophies taken from victims, mixing scales, pelts and feathers into their armour and clothing to show off personal taste.
Some go further: golden fangs, gems inlaid into sharpened teeth, or surgical enhancements like Neuro-Augmentors. It’s a deliberate rejection of Craftworld aesthetics, a way of saying they’re wild and dangerous by choice. Not all of them are reckless though. Plenty still carry a Waystone, just in case.
Corsairs and other Aeldari
Relations are complicated. Craftworlders tend to see corsairs as serpents, liars and cut-throats, and corsairs return the disdain in kind. That doesn’t stop trade, hiring or the occasional shared raid.
Drukhari view them with suspicion too, since a corsair is often someone who walked out on the Dark City. Exodites and Harlequins get a warmer reception, though it depends entirely on the fleet.
Key facts
- Eldar Corsairs are also called Anhrathe.
- They reject the Asuryan Paths but aren’t Drukhari.
- Corsair fleets travel the Webway and rarely stay in one place.
- They recruit from Outcasts, ex-Kabalites, Exodites and former Harlequins.
- A fleet is led by a charismatic commander, often styled a prince.
- Corsairs decorate themselves with trophies and body modifications.
FAQ
Are Eldar Corsairs the same as Drukhari?
No. Corsairs reject the Asuryan Paths but also reject the hedonistic cruelty of the Kabals. They’re a separate tradition, even if some corsairs started out in Commorragh.
What’s another name for an Eldar Corsair?
Anhrathe. It’s the Aeldari term for these piratical outcasts.
Do corsairs still use Waystones?
Many do. Some corsairs embrace risk completely, but plenty still carry a Waystone so Slaanesh can’t claim their soul if they die.