The Basilisk is the Astra Militarum’s standard self-propelled artillery piece, built on a Chimera chassis and armed with an Earthshaker Cannon. It’s the vehicle that gives a Guard regiment long-range reach, turning a line of infantry into a force that can flatten a position kilometres away.
What the Basilisk is
Take a Chimera hull, strip out the troop compartment, and mount a long-barrelled Earthshaker Cannon on the back. That’s the Basilisk. It shares the same engine, tracks, and basic layout as the Guard’s standard troop carrier, which makes it easy to field and easy to keep running.
It’s the most common artillery vehicle in Astra Militarum regiments and has been the main line artillery piece for as long as anyone’s been keeping records. Its job is medium to long-range fire support. The Earthshaker can fire directly at something it can see, but the vehicle is built for indirect fire: lobbing shells over cover at targets spotted by forward observers. That keeps the Basilisk itself out of the worst of the fighting, which matters because it isn’t tough.
How it fights
Basilisks work best in batteries. A single gun is annoying; hundreds firing together can flatten a defensive line, isolate a flank, or make a stretch of ground uninhabitable. They’re mobile enough to keep pace with infantry, so they can advance, stop, and drop shells on whatever’s giving the ground troops trouble.
Indirect fire is the default. Forward observers call in targets and the Basilisk lobs shells without needing line of sight. It’s not pinpoint accurate, but it doesn’t need to be when the blast radius is measured in tens of metres. Beyond straight bombardments, crews use them for counter-battery fire to suppress enemy artillery, box barrages to cut off reinforcements, harassing fire, and demolition of specific targets.
Most rounds are high explosive, but smoke, incendiary, and illumination shells turn up regularly. At low elevation the Earthshaker can also be used as an assault gun, hitting targets directly. It’s devastating against infantry and tanks, though it’s no replacement for a proper battle tank.
The Earthshaker round
Each shell is about a metre long and hits like a meteor. On impact it can gouge a crater roughly fifteen metres across, and the shockwave pulverizes anything nearby. Troops caught at the epicentre don’t walk away. A full barrage can span kilometres.
The distinctive shriek of incoming Basilisk ordnance is one of the most feared sounds on the battlefield. It’s a psychological weapon as much as a physical one, and crews are trained to stay out of harm’s way while still supporting the advance.
Weaknesses and trade-offs
The Basilisk isn’t a tank. It lacks ablative armour, and the gun crew is exposed in an open fighting position. Enemy counter-battery fire, aircraft, fast assault units, hostile weather, and rough terrain all take a toll. If something gets close enough to shoot back, the Basilisk is in trouble.
It’s also not especially accurate. That’s fine when you’re saturating an area, less fine when you need one precise shot. Commanders accept the trade because the alternative is sending infantry into fortified positions without an answer.
Variants and other users
Forge worlds build their own patterns, mostly tweaking armour, engine, or gun mounting rather than the core concept. The Basilisk sits alongside other Guard artillery like the Manticore, Griffon, and Colossus Bombard, each with its own niche. The Basilisk’s niche is being the cheap, common, reliable one, which is why it’s the gun most regiments actually have.
The design is so widespread that it turns up well beyond the Astra Militarum. Chaos warbands field captured or corrupted examples, and renegade regiments often keep theirs in service after turning. Traitor forces use them the same way the Guard does. Some xenos and other factions have been recorded using Basilisks too, usually as battlefield salvage.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chassis | Chimera |
| Main gun | Earthshaker Cannon |
| Role | Self-propelled artillery |
| Crew position | Exposed, open fighting position |
| Common patterns | Forge world variations exist |
Key facts
- Built on a Chimera chassis and armed with an Earthshaker Cannon.
- Most common artillery piece in the Astra Militarum.
- Fires indirectly via forward observers, but can also engage directly.
- Earthshaker shells are about a metre long and create craters roughly fifteen metres across.
- Crew is exposed and the vehicle lacks heavy armour.
- Used by Chaos forces and some xenos as well as the Imperium.
FAQ
What is a Basilisk in Warhammer 40k?
It’s the Imperial Guard’s standard self-propelled artillery vehicle. It uses a Chimera chassis and an Earthshaker Cannon to provide long-range indirect fire support.
Is the Basilisk a tank?
No. It’s an artillery piece. It can fire directly at short range, but it lacks the armour and survivability of a true battle tank.
How big is the Earthshaker shell?
About a metre long. On impact it can blast a crater roughly fifteen metres in diameter and kill everything in the immediate area.
What chassis is the Basilisk built on?
The Chimera chassis, the same hull used for the Guard’s standard troop carrier. The Basilisk swaps the transport capacity for an Earthshaker Cannon and ammunition storage.