The voidblade is a close-combat weapon carried by Necron Triarch Praetorians. Its black edge flickers in and out of existence, and anything it touches has its molecular bonds torn apart.
What the voidblade actually does
It’s an energy blade, not a chunk of sharpened metal. The edge phases between states, so it isn’t really cutting in the normal sense. On contact it destabilises the target at a molecular level, and the victim simply comes apart.
That makes it one of the nastier melee options in the Necron armoury. It doesn’t rely on strength or leverage, so a Triarch Praetorian can carve through armour and flesh with the same ease.
Who carries one
Voidblades are issued to Triarch Praetorians, the Necron warriors who enforce the Triarch’s will and operate outside the usual dynastic chain of command. They’re not standard infantry kit, which is why you won’t see them on ordinary Necron troops.
Variants show up in games and fiction too. Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus lists several named versions: the Subjugating Void Blade, the Royal Void Blade, the Hyperphasing Void Blade and the Transdimensional Void Blade. Those names come from that game rather than from the tabletop codices, so treat them as game-specific.
How it fits the Necron arsenal
The voidblade sits alongside the hyperphase sword and warscythe as a close-range Necron weapon. Where gauss weapons strip targets down at range, the voidblade does the same job up close and personal.
Its phasing edge is the same idea behind a lot of Necron tech: matter isn’t sacred, it’s just something you can switch off or rearrange. That theme runs through their weapons, their living metal and their resurrection protocols.
Common mix-ups
Don’t confuse it with ‘A Blade in the Void’, a short battle report from Codex: Imperial Knights. That one’s about a Chaos Wolf Pack ambushing the Imperial Navy transport Penitent Blade in 999.M41, and House Krast knights aboard ship fighting them off. Same words, completely unrelated subject.
Key facts
- The voidblade is a Necron melee energy weapon carried by Triarch Praetorians.
- Its edge flickers in and out of existence and breaks down molecular bonds on contact.
- It’s a specialised weapon, not standard Necron infantry kit.
- Named variants appear in Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus, including the Royal and Hyperphasing Void Blades.
- It’s unrelated to ‘A Blade in the Void’, a 999.M41 battle involving House Krast.
FAQ
What is a voidblade in Warhammer 40k?
It’s a Necron close-combat energy weapon used by Triarch Praetorians. Its black edge phases in and out of existence and disintegrates the molecular bonds of whatever it strikes.
Which Necrons use voidblades?
Triarch Praetorians carry them. They’re a specialised weapon, not general-issue gear for Necron infantry.
Are there different types of voidblade?
Yes. Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus names several, including the Subjugating, Royal, Hyperphasing and Transdimensional Void Blades. Those variants are specific to that game.