The Tomb Blade is a Necron jetbike that corkscrews across the battlefield, a pilotless attack craft that flies in ways no living pilot could survive. It’s fast, lightly armoured, and built to harass from the flanks.
What the tomb blade is
The Tomb Blade is a Necron jetbike, a fast attack craft that skims the battlefield on dimensional repulsor engines. It’s not a fighter in the traditional sense, though it started as one. It’s a harassment unit that trades armour for speed and manoeuvrability.
Its frame ignores most of gravity and friction, so it doesn’t fly in straight lines like other jetbikes. Instead it corkscrews and jinks, constantly changing direction and altitude to throw off enemy aim. No flesh-and-blood pilot could handle that kind of motion without blacking out.
Origins in the War in Heaven
Tomb Blades began as space fighters during the War in Heaven, the ancient conflict between the Necrons and the Old Ones. Because Necron warriors are robotic, the craft didn’t need cockpits, canopies, or life support. That made them cheaper and more agile than crewed equivalents.
The design worked so well that the Necrons adapted it for ground battles. The same hyper-fractal equations that guided it in space now send it weaving across planets. The flight patterns are pre-programmed, but the algorithms are so complex that only a genius could spot the pattern.
How they fight
Tomb Blades usually race ahead of the main Necron army, hitting lightly defended positions before the enemy can react. They strike in waves that can number in the dozens or even hundreds, swarming ground targets, aircraft, or even capital ships in space.
Their standard weapons are twin-linked Tesla Carbines, Particle Beamers, or Gauss Blasters. They can also carry support gear like Shadowlooms and Nebuloscopes, which help them disrupt enemy targeting and spot hidden threats. The result is a unit that’s hard to pin down and dangerous in numbers.
- Role: fast attack harassment and flanking
- Movement: 12″ in 10th edition, with a 32mm flying base
- Toughness: 5, Save: 4+, Wounds: 2, Leadership: 7+, OC: 2
- Weapons: Particle Beamer (blast, devastating wounds), Twin Gauss Blaster (lethal hits, twin-linked), or Twin Tesla Carbine (assault, sustained hits 2, twin-linked)
Where they fit in the Necron army
Tomb Blades sit alongside other Necron grav-vehicles like the Annihilation Barge and Catacomb Command Barge, but they’re the lightest and fastest of the bunch. They don’t have the firepower of a Doomsday Ark or the durability of a Monolith, so they rely on speed and numbers.
In games, they’re a cheap way to grab objectives, harass backlines, or tie up shooting units. They won’t win a straight fight against dedicated melee or heavy tanks, but they can be a real nuisance if left alone.
Key facts
- Tomb Blades are Necron jetbikes originally designed as space fighters during the War in Heaven.
- They fly in erratic, corkscrewing patterns guided by hyper-fractal equations that organic pilots couldn’t withstand.
- They typically operate ahead of the main army in waves, hitting lightly defended positions.
- Standard armament: Twin-linked Tesla Carbine, Particle Beamer, or Gauss Blaster.
- In 10th edition: M12″, T5, Sv4+, W2, Ld7+, OC2, with a 32mm flying base.
FAQ
Are Tomb Blades good in 10th edition?
They’re a solid fast attack choice for Necrons, especially for grabbing objectives and harassing light targets. They’re not a powerhouse unit, but they’re cheap and mobile.
Can Tomb Blades fly?
Yes, they’re jetbikes that hover and skim over the battlefield. In 10th edition they have the Fly keyword and move 12 inches.
What weapons do Tomb Blades use?
They can take Particle Beamers, Twin Gauss Blasters, or Twin Tesla Carbines. Each has a different role, from anti-infantry to anti-elite.