Melta bombs are close-range thermal charges built to do one job: stick to something armoured and melt a hole through it. They’re standard kit for troops who expect to meet tanks, bunkers, or sealed bulkheads up close, and they show up in Imperial and Aeldari arsenals alike.
What a melta bomb actually does
A melta bomb is part of the melta family of weapons, which trade range for raw heat. On detonation it releases intense thermal energy that eats through the target rather than blowing it apart, so it’s far better against armour than a normal explosive charge of the same size.
Most are roughly grenade-sized, though bigger patterns exist. They’re meant for vehicles, buildings, and other hard targets, not for clearing infantry.
How you use one
You don’t throw a melta bomb. It’s bulky and unbalanced, and it’s designed to be placed by hand against a wall, hull, or bulkhead.
Magnetic adhesion does most of the work, letting it clamp onto metal surfaces fast. An integral timer can be set for up to an hour, which is why they’re popular for sabotage as well as combat.
- Affixed by hand, not thrown
- Magnetic pads grip metal surfaces
- Built-in timer, settable up to one hour
- Best against vehicles, bulkheads, and structures
Who carries them
Melta bombs are common Imperial equipment, issued to Space Marines, Deathwatch kill-teams, and other troops who might need to crack armour at point-blank range. The Aeldari field their own version, so the concept isn’t purely human.
In game terms they tend to be a one-shot, short-range answer to a heavily armoured problem, which is exactly what the lore describes.
| Faction | Notes |
|---|---|
| Imperium | Standard issue for many infantry and kill-teams |
| Aeldari | Their own melta bomb pattern exists |
Where they fit in the melta family
Think of melta weapons as a spectrum. Melta guns and multi-meltas are ranged anti-armour guns; melta bombs are the same idea shrunk down and made to be carried and planted.
That shared principle, extreme heat at short range, is what ties them together. If you understand why a melta gun kills tanks, you already understand a melta bomb.
Key facts
- Melta bombs are thermal charges that melt through armour rather than blasting it apart
- They’re grenade-sized or larger, and part of the melta weapon family
- Used by hand: magnetic adhesion sticks them to metal, and a timer can run up to an hour
- Both the Imperium and the Aeldari field melta bombs
- Best against vehicles, bulkheads, and buildings
FAQ
Can you throw a melta bomb?
No. They’re unwieldy and built to be attached by hand, usually with magnetic pads, rather than thrown like a grenade.
How long is a melta bomb’s timer?
The integral timer can be set for up to one hour, according to Deathwatch: Rites of Battle.
Are melta bombs good against infantry?
Not really. They’re designed to melt armour, vehicles, and structures, so they’re wasted on soft targets.