The Piranha is a lightweight T’au hover skimmer that trades armour for speed. It’s built for hit-and-run attacks, scouting, and flanking, and it’s been part of the T’au arsenal since the Second Sphere Expansion.
What is the Piranha?
The Piranha (formally the TX4 Piranha Skimmer) is a two-crew anti-grav vehicle that glides over terrain using jet thrusters. It’s classed by the Ordo Xenos as a light skimmer and a grav-speeder.
It’s not a tank. It’s a fast attack craft that relies on speed and cover, not durability. On the tabletop it has a 14″ move, toughness 7, and a 4+ save, making it fragile but incredibly mobile.
- Crew: two pilots plus support
- Role: reconnaissance, fire support, harassment
- Common armament: burst cannon, two gun drones, optional seeker missiles or fusion blaster
Origins and battlefield role
The Piranha first appeared during the Second Sphere Expansion, around 884.M41 on Dal’yth. Early sightings suggest it started as a civilian transport for dignitaries before being militarised.
It proved itself in combat during the Taros Campaign, where it worked closely with Pathfinder teams. The tactic was simple: Pathfinders would mark targets with markerlights, then Piranhas would swoop in from nowhere and obliterate the enemy before they could react.
Since then, Piranhas have filled many roles: base security, battlefield transport for VIPs, and frontline skirmishing. They typically operate in teams of one to five and are drilled to coordinate attacks and support each other.
Variants and famous pilots
The main variant is the TX-42, which trades the standard burst cannon for a fusion blaster and often carries seeker missiles for anti-armour work. It’s a dedicated tank hunter.
Piranha pilots are highly trained and enjoy elevated status within the Fire Caste. Competition for training slots is fierce, and those who pass are given a lot of operational freedom, expected to rely on instinct as much as orders.
On the tabletop (10th edition)
In 10th edition, Piranhas are fast, lightly armoured skimmers with a 60mm flying base. They’re cheap, mobile, and good for grabbing objectives or harassing backlines.
Their main gun is a burst cannon (18″, 4 shots, S6, AP-1, D1). You can swap it for a fusion blaster (melta 4, 12″, S9, AP-4, D6) for anti-tank duty. They also come with two gun drones (twin pulse carbine) and can take seeker missiles (one shot, 48″, S14, AP-3, D6+1).
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Move | 14″ |
| Toughness | 7 |
| Save | 4+ |
| Wounds | 7 |
| Leadership | 7+ |
| Objective Control | 2 |
Why the Piranha matters
The Piranha embodies T’au military doctrine: speed, precision, and teamwork. It’s not meant to stand and fight. It’s meant to appear where the enemy is weakest, strike hard, and vanish before retaliation.
In lore and on the table, it’s a symbol of the T’au way of war, using technology and coordination to outmanoeuvre bigger, tougher foes.
Key facts
- The Piranha is a T’au light skimmer introduced during the Second Sphere Expansion.
- It’s crewed by two pilots and usually armed with a burst cannon and two gun drones.
- It can be equipped with seeker missiles or a fusion blaster for anti-armour roles.
- Piranhas operate in teams of one to five and specialise in hit-and-run tactics.
- In 10th edition, it has a 14″ move, T7, 7 wounds, and a 4+ save.
FAQ
What is a Piranha in Warhammer 40k?
It’s a T’au hover skimmer used for fast attacks, scouting, and fire support. It’s lightly armoured but very mobile.
Can Piranhas carry troops?
No, they’re not transports. They have a crew of two and no passenger capacity.
What’s the difference between a Piranha and a TX-42?
The TX-42 is a variant that swaps the burst cannon for a fusion blaster and often carries seeker missiles, making it better against tanks.