The Wraithblades are the Aeldari’s most feared ghost warriors: wraith constructs built for brutal close combat. If you’ve seen a towering wraithbone figure carving through infantry with a ghostsword, that’s likely one of these.
What the wraithblades are
Wraithblades are a type of wraith construct, the same family as the more common Wraithguard. Where Wraithguard usually fight at range, Wraithblades are built specifically for melee, and they’re the most feared of the lot.
Their Aeldari name is Klaivaulch, and few Eldar will say it aloud. Tradition holds that speaking it risks stirring the wrath of Khaine, so the name is treated with real caution.
- Wraith constructs driven by spirit stones, like Wraithguard and Wraithlords
- Armed and armoured purely for close-quarters killing
- Known in Aeldari as Klaivaulch, a name rarely spoken
Why they’re kept apart
Craftworlds deliberately keep Wraithblades separate from other ghost warriors. The idea is that their undying rage could taint nearby souls who might otherwise find peace.
When they’re needed, only the most gifted Spiritseers wake them. The spirit stones burn hot as they activate, and the fury that follows doesn’t stop until it’s spent on enemy blood.
Weapons and wargear
A Wraithblade carries a pair of heavy melee weapons: ghostswords or ghostaxes. Both are embedded with spirit stones holding souls considered too malevolent to join the Infinity Circuit or to be wielded by a living Eldar.
With ghostaxes they also carry forceshields, which shrug off stray shots and blows so the construct can stay fixed on its target. Extra sensor vanes on the helm help keep its most dangerous impulses in check.
| Wargear | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ghostsword | Heavy melee blade set with a malevolent spirit stone |
| Ghostaxe | Melee weapon paired with a forceshield |
| Forceshield | Deflects incoming fire and strikes |
| Sensor vanes | Helm fittings that restrain the construct’s worst urges |
Where the anger comes from
Nobody’s entirely sure whether the rage belongs to the spirit stone animating the Wraithblade or to the angered stones set in the weapons it carries. Both explanations get thrown around, and the sources don’t settle it.
What’s clear is the effect: once kindled, a Wraithblade’s wrath is described as unstoppable until it’s quenched in blood.
Biel-Tan’s change of heart
Craftworld Biel-Tan spent a long time arguing against using Wraithblades at all, criticising the craftworlds that built them. By the 41st Millennium, though, the mounting casualties had left even Biel-Tan with little choice but to field them.
Key facts
- Wraithblades are Aeldari wraith constructs built for melee, not shooting
- Their Aeldari name is Klaivaulch, which few Eldar will speak aloud
- They wield ghostswords or ghostaxes, with forceshields when using axes
- Craftworlds keep them apart from other ghost warriors to contain their rage
- Biel-Tan once opposed their use but now fields them too
FAQ
What’s the difference between Wraithblades and Wraithguard?
Wraithguard are the ranged variant of the same kind of wraith construct. Wraithblades are the melee specialists, armed with ghostswords or ghostaxes and built to close in and kill up close.
Why won’t the Eldar say the name Klaivaulch?
Tradition holds that speaking the true name of the Wraithblades could provoke the wrath of Khaine. Most Eldar avoid it out of caution rather than superstition alone.
Who awakens the Wraithblades?
Only the most gifted Spiritseers rouse them. The spirit stones burn hot during activation, and the construct’s fury doesn’t fade until it’s spent on the enemy.