The D-cannon, short for Distortion Cannon, is one of the Eldar’s most terrifying weapons. It doesn’t just destroy targets, it rips a temporary hole in reality and lets the Warp do the rest.
What the D-cannon actually does
The D-cannon uses the same principles that let ships enter the Warp. It makes a small area of realspace collapse in on itself, creating a miniature warp hole. Anything caught in that area gets torn apart by violent gravitational forces, or if it’s really unlucky, sucked straight into the Warp.
A direct hit can hurl a victim anywhere: deep space, the heart of a star, or somewhere even worse. Even nearby units aren’t safe. Reality itself gets distorted, so infantry and tanks can be flung into the air, shunted into the ground, or flipped upside down and left immobilised.
Why it matters on the battlefield
The D-cannon is short-ranged and inaccurate by Eldar standards, but that’s the only real downside. Larger versions mounted on Cobras and Phantom Titans can swallow multiple battle tanks in a single shot, and even void shields don’t stop them.
The shockwave when the warp hole closes can knock over nearby armoured vehicles. It’s a weapon that makes a mockery of physics, and that unpredictability is part of its terror.
- Creates a miniature warp hole that destroys or displaces targets
- Effective against vehicles and infantry alike
- Larger versions can take out multiple tanks in one hit
- Void shields offer no protection
- Short range and poor accuracy are its main drawbacks
Names and variants
You’ll see it called the Distortion Cannon, Displacer Cannon, Warp Cannon, or just D-cannon. The ‘D’ likely stood for Dimension originally, but the name stuck even though it sounds a bit odd next to other Eldar weapon names.
It’s mounted on support weapon batteries for infantry, and on Cobras and Phantom Titans for heavier firepower. The size of the warp hole scales with the size of the cannon.
The Mechanicus disaster
The Adeptus Mechanicus tried to study and copy this xeno tech. It went badly. In 755299.M40, unsanctioned work triggered the Contagion of Eridanus, a daemonic intrusion that needed a Grey Knight strike force to stop.
After that, the Mechanicus was banned from dabbling in such heretical technology. Break the rules and you can expect a visit from the Inquisition.
Key facts
- The D-cannon is an Eldar vortex weapon that creates a miniature warp hole.
- Targets are either torn apart by gravitational forces or sucked into the Warp.
- Nearby units can be displaced, flipped, or destroyed by the reality distortion.
- Larger versions on Cobras and Phantom Titans can swallow multiple tanks and ignore void shields.
- The Adeptus Mechanicus tried to replicate it and caused a daemonic outbreak in M40.
FAQ
What does D-cannon stand for?
It’s short for Distortion Cannon, though some sources suggest the ‘D’ originally meant Dimension. The name has stuck even though it sounds unusual.
Can void shields stop a D-cannon?
No. Even the largest void shields are useless against the warp hole it creates.
Who uses the D-cannon?
It’s an Eldar (Aeldari) weapon, mounted on support weapon batteries and larger war machines like the Cobra and Phantom Titan.