The particle whip is a Necron particle weapon that fires a tightly focused beam carrying an enormous bolt of energy, wrecking everything caught in the blast. On the ground only the Monolith carries one, because firing it drains the whole vehicle’s power matrix.
What the particle whip actually does
It works like a particle beam with a punch. Necron tech focuses a stream of particles into a tight beam, then dumps a huge bolt of energy down it at the target. The hit doesn’t stop at one model either. The discharge damages everything inside the blast radius, so clustered infantry and light vehicles suffer most.
That’s the whole point of it. A particle whip isn’t a precision anti-tank gun, it’s an area weapon that punishes anything dumb enough to stand close together.
- Tight particle beam carrying a massive energy bolt
- Blast radius hits every target in the area, more than the one aimed at
- Classed as a Necron particle weapon, alongside other gauss and particle tech
Why only the Monolith carries one
The whip’s appetite for power is absurd. Firing a single shot requires the entire output of the Monolith’s power matrix, which is why no other Necron ground vehicle mounts one. The Monolith is built around the gun, not the other way round.
Necron warships don’t have that problem. With a starship’s reactor behind it, the particle whip becomes a common armament across the fleet, so the same weapon that’s a rare superweapon on land is standard naval kit in space.
On the tabletop and in Battlefleet Gothic
In games of Warhammer 40,000 the particle whip is the Monolith’s signature gun, a high-strength blast weapon that makes the vehicle a threat to whole squads at once. It’s one of the reasons the Monolith is such a centrepiece on the table.
In Battlefleet Gothic Armada 2 the whip shows up as a starship weapon, matching the lore that Necron vessels carry them as routine armament.
| Platform | Mounting | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Necron Monolith | Ground vehicle | Only ground platform; drains the full power matrix per shot |
| Necron warships | Naval weapon | Common fleet armament in Battlefleet Gothic Armada 2 |
Where it fits in Necron lore
The particle whip sits in the Necron armoury next to their other exotic weapons, part of the same tech base that gives the faction gauss flayers, tesla weapons and the Monolith itself. It’s a good example of how Necron war machines trade efficiency for raw, terrifying output.
If you’re reading up on Necron firepower, the particle whip is the clearest case of a weapon that’s limited by its power supply, not its design.
Key facts
- The particle whip is a Necron particle weapon that fires a tight beam carrying a massive energy bolt.
- Its discharge damages all targets within the blast radius, making it a strong anti-infantry and area weapon.
- The Monolith is the only Necron ground vehicle that carries one, because each shot drains its entire power matrix.
- Particle whips are common armament on Necron warships, appearing in Battlefleet Gothic Armada 2.
- It belongs to the wider Necron armoury alongside gauss and tesla weapons.
FAQ
What is the particle whip in Warhammer 40k?
It’s a Necron particle weapon that fires a focused beam carrying a huge energy bolt, damaging everything in the blast radius. On the ground it’s mounted only on the Monolith.
Why can’t other Necron vehicles take a particle whip?
Because one shot eats the entire output of the Monolith’s power matrix. No other ground vehicle can feed it.
Do Necron ships use particle whips?
Yes. Particle whips are common armament on Necron warships, since a starship reactor can supply the power a Monolith struggles to provide.