The Harlequin’s Kiss is a wrist-mounted monofilament injector used by the Eldar Harlequins. It fires a coiled wire that liquefies organs from the inside, making it one of the deadliest close-combat weapons in Warhammer 40k.
What is the Harlequin’s Kiss?
The Harlequin’s Kiss is a tubular weapon worn on the wrist. In the Eldar tongue it’s called brathu-angau, which translates to ‘kiss of doom’ or ‘kiss of evil’. It’s also known as the Sting.
It’s a signature weapon of the Harlequins, the masked warrior-dancers of the Aeldari. It only works in close combat, where its wielder can punch forward to trigger it.
How does it work?
Inside the Kiss is a tightly coiled monofilament wire about 100 metres long. When activated, the wire shoots out violently. It can pierce armour, and if it gets inside a victim, it uncoils and lashes around, liquefying bones and internal organs. Death is immediate. The wire then retracts back into the device.
The effect is horrific and messy. One Warhammer Community article describes it as turning a victim’s insides into soup.
On the tabletop
In the 9th edition Codex: Aeldari, the Harlequin’s Kiss was updated to share a lethal melee stat line with the Harlequin’s Caress and Embrace. Each weapon gives the bearer a different keyword, which can be triggered with Stratagems.
The Kiss of Death Stratagem represents the wire unravelling inside a victim. It lets a Troupe of Harlequins chew through heavily armoured units like Terminators.
- Wrist-mounted monofilament injector
- Close combat only
- 100m coiled wire
- Pierces armour and liquefies internals
- Retracts after use
Related Harlequin weapons
The Kiss is part of a trio of famous Harlequin melee weapons. The Harlequin’s Caress is a wrist-mounted phase-field generator that lets its bearer reach inside enemy armour, and the Oblivion’s Caress Stratagem even bypasses invulnerable saves. The Harlequin’s Embrace surrounds an enemy with monofilament wire that contracts and slices them apart.
All three are used by Harlequin Troupes, who dance into battle and rely on speed and devastating close combat.
Key facts
- The Harlequin’s Kiss is a wrist-mounted monofilament injector used by Eldar Harlequins.
- Its Eldar name is brathu-angau, meaning ‘kiss of doom’ or ‘kiss of evil’.
- It contains a 100-metre coiled monofilament wire that uncoils inside a victim, liquefying organs.
- It’s a close-combat weapon, activated by a forward punch.
- On the tabletop, the Kiss of Death Stratagem lets Harlequins tear through heavily armoured units.
FAQ
What does the Harlequin’s Kiss do?
It fires a long monofilament wire that pierces armour and uncoils inside the victim, liquefying bones and organs for an instant kill.
Is the Harlequin’s Kiss a ranged weapon?
No, it’s only effective in close combat. It’s a wrist-mounted device activated by a punching motion.
What’s the difference between the Kiss, Caress, and Embrace?
The Kiss injects monofilament wire, the Caress uses a phase-field to bypass armour, and the Embrace surrounds the target with contracting wire.