The splinter cannon is the Drukhari’s heavy splinter weapon: a bulky, full-auto shard-thrower that sprays a cloud of toxic splinters rather than a single shot. It’s the bigger, meaner cousin of the splinter rifle and pistol, and it’s built to keep firing even while its user is sprinting into close combat.
What the splinter cannon actually is
Every splinter weapon works on the same idea. You fire a cluster of tiny crystalline shards coated in a fast-acting toxin, and the poison does the killing rather than raw kinetic force. The cannon is the heavy end of that family, sitting above the splinter rifle and splinter pistol in size and cost.
That size is the point. A splinter cannon throws out far more shards per burst than a rifle, so it’s meant to saturate an area with poisoned splinters instead of picking off one target at a time.
Why it’s built the way it is
The cannon is expensive to make because it’s designed for a very specific, very Drukhari behaviour: charging headlong at the enemy while still shooting. A normal heavy weapon is awkward to fire on the move. The splinter cannon is engineered around that problem.
A semi-liquid stabilisation mechanism sits near the middle of the weapon, acting as a counterweight as the cannon’s centre of gravity shifts around. That keeps the thing from fighting the user’s grip while they run.
The trigger is an auto-burst type. Once you pull it, the cannon keeps spitting splinters for another four or five seconds, so a momentary fumble during a charge doesn’t stop the stream of fire.
Along the barrel you’ll find magneto-impulse directional spines, backed up by a secondary power generator at the rear. Those spines steady the magnetic field so splinters leave the barrel cleanly. Without them, shards could exit at a bad angle or scrape the inside of the barrel and damage the weapon itself.
How it performs on the tabletop
Rules shift between editions, so treat any single statline as a snapshot rather than gospel. The consistent theme is high rate of fire plus poison.
In 7th Edition the cannon was a Salvo 4/6 weapon with a 36-inch range, Strength 1, AP 5, and the Poisoned (4+) rule. In practice that meant it wounded most targets on a fixed roll regardless of their Toughness, though Poisoned does nothing against vehicles.
In the Rogue Trader video game the cannon appears as a two-handed exotic Drukhari assault rifle, with damage in the 5-6 range, a rate of fire of 9, modest armour penetration, and a 12-unit range. You can pick one up early by scouting the wreck of a Drukhari vessel.
Who carries one
Splinter cannons show up as heavy weapon options across the Drukhari range rather than on basic infantry. The Venom is the classic home for one, mounting it as a turret or an underbelly weapon, and the Razorwing Jetfighter can take one as a nose-mounted gun. Wracks and other heavier units can also be equipped with them.
Because it’s a splinter weapon, it shares a family tree with the splinter rifle, splinter pistol, shardcarbine and the larger splinter pods. Same toxin, same shards, different delivery.
| Edition / source | Key stats |
|---|---|
| 7th Edition | 36″ range, S1, AP5, Salvo 4/6, Poisoned (4+) |
| Rogue Trader (video game) | Damage 5-6, RoF 9, 10% armour pen, 12 range, 96 max ammo |
Key facts
- The splinter cannon is a heavy Drukhari splinter weapon, above the splinter rifle and pistol in size and cost.
- It fires toxin-coated crystalline shards, so the poison does the killing rather than kinetic force.
- A semi-liquid stabiliser, auto-burst trigger, directional spines and a secondary power generator let it fire accurately while the user charges.
- 7th Edition statline: 36″ range, S1, AP5, Salvo 4/6, Poisoned (4+), with no effect against vehicles.
- Common carriers include the Venom, Razorwing Jetfighter and Wracks.
- It’s part of the wider splinter family alongside rifles, pistols, shardcarbines and splinter pods.
FAQ
What’s the difference between a splinter cannon and a splinter rifle?
The cannon is the heavy version. It fires far more shards per burst and is built so you can keep shooting while charging, which a rifle isn’t designed for. It’s also much more expensive to produce.
Does the splinter cannon work against vehicles?
In 7th Edition, no. The Poisoned rule has no effect against vehicles, so you’d want a dark lance or blaster for armour instead.
Which units can take a splinter cannon?
It’s a heavy weapon option rather than standard infantry gear. The Venom and Razorwing Jetfighter are the best-known carriers, and Wracks can be equipped with one too.