The Striking Scorpions are the Aeldari’s stealthy close-combat Aspect Warriors, deadly hunters who embody the scorpion’s sting. They matter because they show the Aeldari at their most patient and vicious, and their dark origins tie directly to the fall of a Phoenix Lord.
What they are and how they fight
Striking Scorpions are Aspect Warriors who specialise in stealth, melee, and assassination. They stalk their prey through dense terrain and shadow, then explode into violence. Their name comes from a creature that can kill something far bigger than itself, and that’s exactly their approach.
They’re not as fast as Howling Banshees, but they’re better at moving through cover and using every nook and crevice to lie in wait. A typical squad runs five to ten warriors, usually led by an Exarch, and fits easily into a Wave Serpent transport. Only Aeldari of strong physique can wear their armour and wield their weapons.
- Role: stealth melee and assassination
- Preferred terrain: dense cover, ruins, jungles
- Squad size: 5-10, often with an Exarch
- Transport: fits in a Wave Serpent
Arhra, Karandras, and a tainted legacy
The Striking Scorpions began in infamy. Their first Phoenix Lord, Arhra, betrayed Asurmen and the other Asurya by bringing daemons into the First Asuryan Shrine. He fled into the Webway and became the Fallen Phoenix, burning with the dark light of Chaos.
Arhra’s greatest pupil, Karandras, rose in his place. Karandras tempered the murderous fury Arhra had instilled with the patience of a true hunter, and gave the Striking Scorpions their current form. He spread these teachings to new Aspect Shrines across the Craftworlds. Nobody knows which shrine Karandras came from, though it may have been a small Craftworld that didn’t survive.
Wargear and the Exarch’s armoury
Every Striking Scorpion wears green, black, and gold armour with a distinctive helmet. The dreadlock-like cables on that helmet aren’t decoration: they’re sensor suites that read tiny changes in the environment, picking up enemy movement. Each warrior also carries a shuriken pistol with a scope linked by cabling to the suit, so they can aim through the weapon itself.
The signature weapon is a chainsword with extra teeth exposed. Exarchs can choose from twin chainswords with forearm-mounted shuriken gauntlets, a huge two-handed chainsword called a biting blade, or the Scorpion’s Claw, a vice-like grip that crushes armour. The Claw echoes Arhra’s Bane, the legendary weapon of Karandras.
Mandiblasters are another key tool. These throw searing blasts of energy through a storm of needles, enough to throw a larger foe off balance before the killing blow lands.
| Wargear | What it does |
|---|---|
| Chainsword | Standard melee weapon with extra teeth |
| Mandiblasters | Needle storm and energy blast to stagger foes |
| Shuriken pistol with scope | Ranged weapon linked to suit for aimed shots |
| Scorpion’s Claw | Exarch-only crushing grip for heavy armour |
| Biting blade | Exarch-only two-handed chainsword |
Shrines, miniatures, and where you’ll see them
Striking Scorpions are one of the classic Aspect Shrines, and they’ve been part of Warhammer 40,000 since the Rogue Trader days. In late 2023 they got their first new plastic kit in years, arriving in the Kill Team: Salvation box alongside Space Marine Scouts. That kit contains ten Scorpions, enough for a reinforced squad or a Blades of Khaine kill team.
The new miniatures keep the old design cues, like the mandiblasters and the chevron-shaped greaves, and the Exarch has a wider armoury than before. The kit also includes bare heads and helmeted heads, which fits the Ynnari’s habit of fighting without helmets, unlike traditional Craftworld Aeldari who wear their war-aspect masks.
Key facts
- Striking Scorpions are Aeldari Aspect Warriors focused on stealth melee and assassination.
- They follow Karandras, the Shadow Hunter, after the fall of the original Phoenix Lord Arhra.
- Their armour is green, black, and gold, and their helmets have sensor cables that detect enemy movement.
- Typical squads have 5-10 warriors led by an Exarch, and they fit in a Wave Serpent.
- Their signature weapons include chainswords, mandiblasters, and the Exarch-only Scorpion’s Claw.
- They got a new plastic kit in 2023 via Kill Team: Salvation, their first in years.
FAQ
Who is the Phoenix Lord of the Striking Scorpions?
Karandras is the current Phoenix Lord, known as the Shadow Hunter. The original founder was Arhra, who betrayed the other Phoenix Lords and became the Fallen Phoenix.
What’s the difference between Striking Scorpions and Howling Banshees?
Howling Banshees are faster and more agile in the open. Striking Scorpions are tougher and better at moving through dense terrain, stalking from cover before striking.
What are mandiblasters?
They’re helmet-mounted weapons that fire a storm of needles and searing energy blasts. They’re meant to stagger a foe so the Scorpion can finish them in melee.