The long-las is the sniper variant of the humble lasgun, built for Guardsmen who need to drop a target from extreme range. It’s longer, quieter, and hits harder than a standard lasgun, but it’s also more fragile and harder to maintain.
What is the long-las?
Officially the Sniper Variant Lasgun, the long-las is issued only to Guardsmen with proven marksmanship and stealth skills. It swaps the standard barrel for a longer, thinner XC 52/3 strengthened barrel, which boosts range and accuracy while helping with heat.
That barrel makes the weapon up to twice as long as a regular lasgun, so it’s awkward in close quarters. It also lacks a charge slider, running on hotshot power packs instead. The result is a quieter shot with a flash suppressor, but more wear on the barrel, meaning more frequent replacements.
- Formally: Sniper Variant Lasgun or Sniper-Variant Lasrifle.
- Issued only to skilled marksmen and scouts.
- Uses hotshot power packs; no charge setting.
- Quieter than a standard lasgun, with a flash suppressor.
- Can fit a night-scope array, bipod, and ceramite stock.
How it performs
In the hands of an expert, the long-las is deadly at absurd distances. The Tanith sniper Larkin is said to have made a kill shot at 4,000 metres.
The trade-off is fragility. Overcharged packs eat through barrels, so a long-las needs more servicing than a normal lasgun. It’s a specialist’s tool, not a line infantry weapon.
Known patterns
Several long-las patterns show up across the lore. The MVS2 is a standard Astra Militarum model, and the MVS2(i) is a Tanith variant with an extended barrel, nalwood stock, and single-shot fire only.
Hashin’s Eye is popular with Necromunda gangers and hired guns. The Hot-Shot Long-Las is used by Tempestus Aquilons. The ‘Retribution’ is a stripped-down, concealable version built by a deserter, and later copied by artisans in the Calixis Sector and Koronus Expanse.
| Pattern | Notes |
|---|---|
| MVS2 | Standard Astra Militarum long-las. |
| MVS2(i) | Tanith-made; extended barrel, nalwood stock, single-shot. |
| Hashin’s Eye | Highly modifiable; common on Necromunda. |
| Hot-Shot Long-Las | Used by Tempestus Aquilons. |
| ‘Retribution’ | Short-barrelled, concealable, less reliable; Calixis/Koronus copies. |
Why it matters
The long-las shows what the lasgun can do when you push it. It’s cheap, reliable tech at heart, but tuned for precision. That makes it a favourite for snipers, scouts, and anyone who needs one shot to count.
It also highlights the Imperium’s approach to warfare: take a common design, add a longer barrel and hotter power cell, and you’ve got a specialist weapon without a whole new production line.
Key facts
- The long-las is the sniper variant of the lasgun, formally the Sniper Variant Lasgun.
- It has a longer barrel for range and accuracy, but is up to twice as long as a standard lasgun.
- It uses hotshot power packs and lacks a charge slider, making it quieter but harder on barrels.
- Known patterns include the MVS2, MVS2(i), Hashin’s Eye, Hot-Shot Long-Las, and ‘Retribution’.
- A skilled sniper can score kills at extreme ranges, such as 4,000 metres.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a long-las and a lasgun?
The long-las has a longer, thinner barrel for better range and accuracy, uses hotshot packs instead of a charge slider, and is quieter. It’s also longer and more fragile.
Who uses the long-las?
It’s issued to Astra Militarum Guardsmen with exceptional marksmanship and stealth skills, like snipers and scouts. Some patterns are used by Tempestus Aquilons or found on Necromunda.
How far can a long-las shoot?
An expert like Larkin reportedly made a kill at 4,000 metres. That’s exceptional, but it shows the weapon’s potential in the right hands.