The Knight’s wargear is the full kit of weapons and support systems mounted on an Imperial Knight. It’s what turns a towering walker into a battlefield centrepiece, and it’s the main reason Knight armies play the way they do.
What counts as the Knight’s wargear
Every Imperial Knight carries a mix of arm-mounted heavy weapons, a carapace-mounted support system, and a hull weapon or two. The exact list shifts with the edition and the Knight’s class, but the idea stays the same: one or two big guns, one brutal melee arm, and smaller weapons to fill gaps.
The wargear matters because Knights are few models with lots of firepower. Picking the right loadout is most of your list-building decisions.
Main weapons you’ll see
The rapid-fire battle cannon is the classic Knight gun: solid, flexible, and good into most targets. The thermal cannon trades rate of fire for anti-tank punch. The avenger gatling cannon leans the other way, shredding infantry with volume of shots.
For melee, the reaper chainsword is the iconic choice, a giant chainblade that carves through armour. The thunderstrike gauntlet hits even harder and can throw what it kills, but it’s slower and less reliable into hordes.
- Rapid-fire battle cannon: all-rounder main gun
- Thermal cannon: short-ranged, anti-armour
- Avenger gatling cannon: high shot count, anti-infantry
- Reaper chainsword: fast, reliable melee
- Thunderstrike gauntlet: heavier melee, can hurl victims
Carapace and hull options
The carapace is the top of the Knight, and it’s where you slot support weapons. The ironstorm missile pod and stormspear rocket pod both add ranged chip damage, while the twin Icarus autocannon is there to swat aircraft.
Hull weapons are smaller but useful. A meltagun gives you a close-range punch against tanks, and the Questoris heavy stubber is a cheap extra gun for plinking wounds off light targets.
| Wargear | Mount | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ironstorm missile pod | Carapace | Ranged support |
| Stormspear rocket pod | Carapace | Ranged support |
| Twin Icarus autocannon | Carapace | Anti-air |
| Meltagun | Hull | Close-range anti-tank |
| Questoris heavy stubber | Hull | Cheap extra shots |
How it shapes your Knight
Because a Knight only gets a handful of weapons, each choice pushes it toward a job. A battle cannon and chainsword build is a generalist. Swap in a thermal cannon and gauntlet and it becomes a dedicated tank hunter.
Carapace and hull options are usually about covering weaknesses. If you’re worried about flyers, take the Icarus autocannon. If you want a bit more anti-infantry, a stubber or missile pod helps without changing the Knight’s core role.
In 10th Edition the exact options are tied to the datasheet, so a Knight Warden and a Knight Paladin won’t always share the same list. Check your datasheet before you commit.
Key facts
- The Knight’s wargear covers arm weapons, carapace systems and hull guns.
- Main guns include the rapid-fire battle cannon, thermal cannon and avenger gatling cannon.
- Melee arms are the reaper chainsword and the thunderstrike gauntlet.
- Carapace options include the ironstorm missile pod, stormspear rocket pod and twin Icarus autocannon.
- Hull weapons like the meltagun and Questoris heavy stubber add close-range or cheap fire.
- Exact options depend on the edition and the specific Knight datasheet.
FAQ
What weapons can an Imperial Knight take?
Most Knights carry an arm-mounted main gun (battle cannon, thermal cannon or gatling cannon), a melee arm (chainsword or gauntlet), and a carapace support weapon like a missile pod or Icarus autocannon. Hull weapons such as a meltagun or heavy stubber are common too.
What’s the best Knight wargear?
There isn’t one best set. It depends on what your army lacks. Battle cannon and chainsword is the safe all-rounder, while thermal cannon and thunderstrike gauntlet is the anti-tank pick.
What does the carapace weapon do?
Carapace weapons sit on top of the Knight and add supporting fire. Missile pods give you extra ranged damage, and the twin Icarus autocannon is specifically for shooting aircraft.