The Wave Serpent is the Craftworld Eldar’s main troop carrier, and a lot of fans reckon it’s the best transport in the galaxy. It’s a Falcon-based grav-tank that moves Aspect Warriors and Guardians around at blistering speed, and it survives the trip thanks to an energy field that eats incoming fire.
What it is
The Wave Serpent is a skimmer built on the Falcon grav-tank chassis. Anti-grav engines let it skim over terrain, and it can squeeze down all but the very smallest Webway routes, which is how it drops troops exactly where they’re needed.
It’s made of Wraithbone and other psycho-plastics shaped by Bonesingers. That psychic attunement is why other races can’t copy it or fly it, even if they capture one.
The energy field
The Wave Serpent’s party trick is the shimmering field it projects across its bow. Projector fins along the wings generate it, and it soaks up incoming shots before they hit the hull.
It shrugs off artillery shrapnel and makes small arms fire pointless, bolters included. Even a lascannon hit to the side only scorches the paint.
- Multiple Wave Serpents flying in tight formation can link their fields into one reinforced barrier.
- At close range that combined field can be released as a wave of energy that disorients and sometimes paralyses living creatures and overloads delicate circuitry.
Weapons and crew
A small remote turret can carry twin-linked Bright Lances, Eldar Missile Launchers, Scatter Lasers, Shuriken Cannons or Starcannons. Chin-mounted twin-linked Shuriken Catapults add anti-infantry fire, and those can be swapped for a single Shuriken Cannon.
One pilot handles the craft and all of its guns. That’s the Eldar way: a single highly trained crew member doing the work of several.
Transport capacity
The rear compartment carries twelve fully equipped Aspect Warriors or Guardians, or up to five Wraithguard plus two Eldar to look after them.
Some are upgraded with Star Engines, Spirit Stones or Vectored Engines. Different Bonesinger design schools produce different-looking Wave Serpents, but Imperial scholars call them all by the same name.
| Loadout | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Aspect Warriors / Guardians | 12 |
| Wraithguard + attendants | 5 + 2 |
Key facts
- The Wave Serpent is the Craftworld Eldar’s primary troop transport, built on the Falcon grav-tank chassis.
- Its bow energy field absorbs incoming fire, making small arms useless and blunting heavier weapons.
- Multiple Wave Serpents can link their fields into a reinforced barrier or release them as a disorienting wave.
- It carries twelve Aspect Warriors or Guardians, or five Wraithguard plus two attendants.
- One pilot controls the craft and its weapons.
- It’s made of Wraithbone, so only the Eldar can build or operate it.
FAQ
What is the Wave Serpent used for?
It’s the Craftworld Eldar’s main troop transport. It ferries Guardians and Aspect Warriors across the battlefield fast, then supports them with heavy fire once they’re out.
Why is the Wave Serpent so hard to kill?
Its bow-mounted energy field absorbs and dissipates incoming shots, making small arms fire useless and even heavy weapons struggle to do more than scorch it. In formation, several can combine their fields.
Can other races use a captured Wave Serpent?
No. It’s built from Wraithbone and psycho-plastics that only respond to Eldar psychic talent, so nobody else can operate or replicate one.