The power klaw is an Ork power weapon: a piston-driven, energy-sheathed pincer strapped to an Ork’s arm. It’s one of the biggest, choppiest things an Ork can carry, and it’s just as much a badge of rank as it is a tank-buster.
What the power klaw actually is
Think of it as the Ork answer to an Imperial power fist. It’s an armoured gauntlet with two or three snapping blades on a piston-driven pincer, all wrapped in the same disruptive energy field a power fist uses.
That field is the whole point. It lets the klaw chew through armour that should stop a normal weapon, and it’s especially good at tearing open vehicles. Against infantry, the result is best described as messy.
Who carries one, and why
Power klaws often show up on Warbosses and the nastier Nobs, partly because they’re status symbols. An Ork with a klaw is announcing that he’s big, mean, and in charge.
In their hands it gets even deadlier, since a klaw rewards raw strength and a bit of skill. Many Orks skip the straps entirely and have the thing fitted as an augmetic implant, and you’ll often see klaws built into Mega Armour.
- Warbosses and particularly brutish Nobs are the usual owners.
- Common as an implanted arm replacement rather than a held weapon.
- Frequently built into Mega Armour suits.
Notable users and named klaws
Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka is the most famous name attached to a power klaw, and plenty of other Ork warlords carry one, including Grukk Face-Rippa, Nazdreg Ug Urdgrub, Wazdakka Gutsmek, and Zhadsnark.
It’s not purely Ork kit, either. Commissar Sebastian Yarrick famously wields one, which he took from an Ork. Named examples include Gork’s Klaw, Da Killa Klaw, Gutrippa, and Grabba Dragga.
Power klaw, power fist, power claw
It’s easy to mix these up. The power klaw is the Ork weapon. The power fist is the Imperial equivalent, similar in how it works but not the same piece of kit.
There’s also a Chaos weapon called a power claw, which is a different thing entirely. Confusingly, that one is mounted on Chaos Dreadnoughts, and it’s built to tear targets apart rather than crush them, which makes it handy for ripping vehicles open. Same idea, different faction, different weapon.
Key facts
- The power klaw is an Ork power weapon: an armoured gauntlet with a piston-driven pincer and two to three snapping blades.
- Its energy field lets it tear through armour and makes it especially effective against vehicles.
- It doubles as a status symbol, so Warbosses and tough Nobs tend to be the ones carrying it.
- Orks often amputate their own arm to have a klaw fitted as an augmetic implant, and it’s commonly built into Mega Armour.
- Famous users include Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka and Commissar Sebastian Yarrick.
- It’s not the same as a power fist (Imperial) or a power claw (a Chaos Dreadnought weapon).
FAQ
Is a power klaw the same as a power fist?
No. They work on similar principles, an armoured gauntlet with an energy field, but the power klaw is the Ork version and the power fist is the Imperial one. The klaw uses a piston-driven pincer with snapping blades.
Who can take a power klaw?
Mostly Ork Warbosses and Nobs, since it’s a status weapon as well as a brutal one. Commissar Sebastian Yarrick also carries one, having taken it from an Ork.
What’s the difference between a power klaw and a power claw?
The power klaw is the Ork weapon. The power claw is a Chaos Dreadnought weapon that tears targets apart instead of crushing them. They’re separate weapons for separate factions.