The Howling Banshees are the fastest and most feared close-combat Aspect Warriors of the Aeldari, the aliens humans call Eldar. They don’t win by strength. They win by speed, precision, and a psychic scream that freezes your muscles before their blades reach you.
What the Howling Banshees are
Each Aspect Warrior shrine honours a different facet of Kaela Mensha Khaine, the Aeldari war god. The Howling Banshees embody his murderous fury and the cunning of the banshees of myth, the daughters of Morai-Heg. That’s why the shrine is almost always made up of women: the banshee of legend is a female spirit.
In Aeldari mythology a banshee’s cry foretells doom. It’s said to call dead spirits out of the Warp, and some tellings go further, claiming it can tempt a soul out of its spirit stone and into the hands of Chaos. The shrine takes that idea and turns it into a weapon.
How they fight
Banshees are the lightest-equipped Aspect Warriors. Their strength is foot speed and mobility in hand-to-hand combat, so they close the distance fast and finish fights before the enemy can react.
Their signature trick is the Banshee Mask. A psychosonic amplifier turns their battle cry into a howling psychic shriek that attacks the target’s central nervous system. When a whole squad triggers their masks at once, an enemy unit can be left paralysed and helpless before a single blow lands.
- Shuriken pistol for ranged harassment on the way in
- Banshee blade, a power weapon, for the kill
- Aspect armour in bone-white with a shock of orange hair
Jain Zar and the Exarchs
When Asurmen raised the first Aspect Warriors, he picked Jain Zar for her ferocity and speed. She became the first Phoenix Lord, and her title is the Storm of Silence. Of all the Phoenix Lords she’s the most devoted to her shrines, travelling the Webway to spread her teachings across the major craftworlds.
A shrine is led by an Exarch, someone who’s gone so far down the Path of the Warrior that she can’t leave it. Exarchs act as high priests of Khaine and wear ornate armour holding the spirits of past wearers, which gives them both their knowledge and a reserve of psychic power.
Where they fit in Aeldari warfare
Aspect Warriors are the Aeldari answer to specialised troops, and the Banshees fill the melee role. They’re the scalpel next to the heavier, more durable Aspect shrines, trading toughness for speed and a debuff that can decide a fight in the first second.
Their main colours are cream, red, and green. If you’re reading around the faction, they sit alongside the other Aspect Warriors and the Phoenix Lords, all tied back to Khaine and the craftworld warhosts.
Key facts
- The Howling Banshees are Aeldari (Eldar) Aspect Warriors specialising in fast melee combat.
- They embody Khaine’s fury and the cunning of the mythical banshees, daughters of Morai-Heg.
- Their Phoenix Lord is Jain Zar, titled the Storm of Silence, the first Phoenix Lord.
- Banshee Masks project a psychosonic shriek that can paralyse enemies before blows land.
- Main armament is a shuriken pistol and a Banshee blade power weapon.
- Shrines are led by Exarchs, warriors who can no longer leave the Path of the Warrior.
FAQ
Are the Howling Banshees all female?
Almost always, yes. The banshee of Aeldari legend is a female spirit, and the shrine reflects that. It’s noted as a near-universal rule rather than an absolute one.
Who leads the Howling Banshees?
Their Phoenix Lord is Jain Zar, the Storm of Silence, the first Phoenix Lord chosen by Asurmen. Individual shrines are led by an Exarch.
What does a Banshee Mask do?
It’s a sonic weapon with a psychosonic amplifier that turns the wearer’s battle cry into a psychic shriek aimed at the enemy’s nervous system. A full squad using them together can paralyse a unit outright.