The shuriken catapult is the standard ranged weapon of the Craftworld Eldar, a deadly gun that flings razor-thin discs at incredible speed. It’s the bread-and-butter armament of the Guardian militia and a symbol of Eldar technological grace.
What it is and how it works
The shuriken catapult fires monomolecular discs, each one sharp enough to slice through flesh and punch through a decent thickness of plasteel armour. It’s a Shuriken Weapon, a family that also includes pistols and heavy cannons.
The Eldar call it the tuelean. Humans, meanwhile, have nicknamed it the star slinger, slinger, or sling gun. The name comes from the way the discs spin through the air like thrown shuriken.
In ancient times, during the War in Heaven, these weapons looked like crossbows and lacked the enclosed acceleration arrays you see on modern models. The sleek, self-contained design is a later refinement.
Patterns and variants
The Guardian Shuriken Catapult is the most common pattern, issued to the citizen-soldiers of the Craftworlds. It’s also mounted on Eldar Jetbikes and similar systems.
The Avenger Shuriken Catapult is a more refined version carried by Dire Avengers, offering better range and accuracy. Khaine’s Arrow is another known pattern, a rare variant used by elite operatives.
- Guardian Shuriken Catapult: standard issue for Guardians and jetbikes.
- Avenger Shuriken Catapult: used by Dire Avengers, improved performance.
- Khaine’s Arrow: a rare pattern, possibly associated with the Blades of Khaine.
Why it matters
The shuriken catapult is more than just a gun. It’s the weapon that defines the Eldar way of war: fast, precise, and lethal in the right hands. For a race teetering on the brink of extinction, every shot counts.
It’s also a link to the Eldar’s ancient past. The modern catapult is a streamlined evolution of a weapon that once helped them fight gods and horrors in the War in Heaven. That history gives it a weight beyond its battlefield role.
Conflicting designs
The shuriken catapult’s look has changed over the years. In the original Rogue Trader rulebook from 1987, it had two polar fins near the muzzle and a flat, circular magazine. That design was later referenced in the 2025 novel Archmagos as a War in Heaven-era model.
Modern depictions show a smoother, more compact weapon without those external fins. Sources don’t always agree on which version is ‘correct’, so it’s best to treat the older design as a historical variant rather than a contradiction.
Key facts
- The shuriken catapult is a Shuriken Weapon that fires monomolecular discs.
- It’s the basic weapon of the Eldar Guardian militia and is mounted on jetbikes.
- Known patterns include the Guardian, Avenger, and Khaine’s Arrow variants.
- The Eldar call it the tuelean; humans call it a star slinger or sling gun.
- Ancient versions from the War in Heaven looked like crossbows with external fins.
FAQ
What is the shuriken catapult?
It’s the standard ranged weapon of the Craftworld Eldar, firing monomolecular discs that can slice through armour and flesh. It’s used by Guardians and mounted on jetbikes.
What are the different patterns of shuriken catapult?
The main patterns are the Guardian Shuriken Catapult, the Avenger Shuriken Catapult (used by Dire Avengers), and the rare Khaine’s Arrow. Each offers slightly different performance.
Why is it called a shuriken catapult?
Because it launches spinning, razor-sharp discs that resemble the shuriken throwing stars of ancient Terra. The Eldar name for it is tuelean.