The Devilfish is the T’au Empire’s armoured personnel carrier, the vehicle that gets Fire Warriors and Pathfinders where they need to be. It’s been the backbone of T’au ground forces since they first ran into the Imperium, and it’s still the go-to transport for anyone building a mobile Hunter Cadre.
What the Devilfish does
The TY7 Devilfish is the standard transport for Fire Warrior teams and Pathfinder squads. It’s also the chassis that the Hammerhead Gunship and Sky Ray Missile Destroyer are built on, so you’ll see its hull shape all over a T’au army.
It’s more than a taxi. The Devilfish is armed well enough to chip in once it’s dropped its passengers, and its speed lets it keep up with the rest of a mechanised force. That makes it central to both the Mont’ka (the killing blow) and the Kauyon (the patient ambush).
Armament and armour
The main gun is a burst cannon in a chin turret, fired by the pilot. For secondary weapons you’ll usually see a pair of Gun Drones, though you can swap those for a Smart Missile System.
The hull is made from a nano-crystalline alloy. It’s light and flexible but still tough, which keeps the Devilfish fast without leaving it naked. Against small arms it’s fine. Against proper anti-tank weapons like krak missiles, especially hits on the thinner top armour, it’s in trouble.
- Primary: chin-mounted burst cannon
- Secondary: two Gun Drones or a Smart Missile System
- Armour: nano-crystalline alloy, light but protective
- Weakness: Imperial anti-tank weapons, especially from above
How it moves
The Devilfish uses a dual anti-grav and jet propulsion system. Anti-gravity generators create a cushion for it to skim over the ground, and two pivoting jet engines push it forward or add lift when needed.
That setup lets it boost over obstacles that tracked vehicles couldn’t handle, and it can shift sideways to dodge incoming fire. The jets are noisy, but they’re more reliable and efficient than Imperial equivalents.
Crew and passengers
Most of the Devilfish’s systems are automated, so it only needs a single pilot. It also carries retractable landing skids and can take further upgrades.
The passenger compartment is where the Fire Warriors or Pathfinders ride, and the whole point of the vehicle is getting them into position quickly and in one piece.
On the tabletop
In 10th edition the Devilfish is a Dedicated Transport with Toughness 9, a 3+ save, 13 wounds, and 12″ movement. It has OC 2, so it can still hold an objective after dropping its squad.
Its weapons include an accelerator burst cannon, twin pulse carbines, and options for a seeker missile or smart missile system. The seeker missile is one shot only, so you’ll want to pick your moment.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Movement | 12″ |
| Toughness | 9 |
| Save | 3+ |
| Wounds | 13 |
| Leadership | 7+ |
| Objective Control | 2 |
Key facts
- The Devilfish is the T’au Empire’s standard armoured personnel carrier.
- It carries Fire Warrior teams and Pathfinder squads into battle.
- The Hammerhead Gunship and Sky Ray Missile Destroyer are built on its chassis.
- Primary weapon is a chin-mounted burst cannon; secondary options include Gun Drones or a Smart Missile System.
- It uses anti-grav and jet propulsion to skim over terrain and dodge fire.
- In 10th edition it has Toughness 9, 13 wounds, a 3+ save, and OC 2.
FAQ
What is the Devilfish in Warhammer 40k?
It’s the T’au Empire’s main armoured personnel carrier, used to move Fire Warrior and Pathfinder teams around the battlefield. It’s also the base chassis for the Hammerhead Gunship and Sky Ray Missile Destroyer.
What weapons does a Devilfish have?
Its main gun is a chin-mounted burst cannon. It usually carries two Gun Drones as secondary weapons, but those can be swapped for a Smart Missile System.
Is the Devilfish a good transport?
Yes, it’s fast, reasonably tough, and can still shoot after dropping its passengers. Just keep it away from dedicated anti-tank weapons, especially ones that can hit its thinner top armour.