Shadowsword - Variants: There are several officially recognised variants of the Shadowsword in use by the Imperial Guard. Like the Leman Russ and Chimera chassis, the Standard Template Construct chassis that serves as the base for the Baneblade and Shadowsword is highly adaptive. The Adeptus Mechanicus has capitalised on this over the millennia, installing various Titan-grade weaponry into the chassis, lending to the Imperial Guard much-needed super-heavy firepower without having to field their own Titan Legions. These vehicles are mostly the result of an Imperial commander's need to get something done tactically that only a Titan or super-heavy tank like the Shadowsword can accomplish. On these variants the gargantuan Volcano Cannon has been replaced with one of the weapons usually found on a Titan weapon hardpoint, or a super-heavy howitzer that can obliterate enemy fortifications and troops alike. When the tank's Volcano Cannon is replaced the room left over from removing the capacitors and generators for that weapon creates a moderate amount of space for infantry transportation. Many variants of the Shadowsword are able to carry around 25 infantrymen into combat. Known variants of the Shadowsword include the following:Stormsword - The Stormsword replaces the Shadowsword's Volcano Cannon with a massive artillery piece known as a Hellhammer Siege Cannon. This huge weapon is capable of destroying buildings in a single shot and is perfect for dense urban combat against garrisoned enemy infantry.Stormblade - The Stormblade variant replaces the Shadowsword's Volcano Cannon with a Plasma Blastgun. This weapon allows the tank to still pursue its role as a Titan-killer, and is a common replacement when the Volcano Cannon of a Shadowsword no longer functions.Banehammer - The Banehammer variant of the Shadowsword replaces the Volcano Cannon with an artillery piece known as a Tremor Cannon. This huge weapon's shells are fused to explode only after the force of their impact has already buried them in the ground. These shells not only cause a huge explosion when their fuses go off, but they are capable of creating a large shock-wave that can knock enemies off their feet, or at least slow them down enough for Imperial artillery pieces to bombard them into oblivion. This allows the tank to keep large groups of fast-moving enemies, such as the Tyranids, from getting too close to Imperial frontlines, while they are fired upon by other allied units.Doomhammer - The Doomhammer, which actually started as a variant of the Banehammer, is itself a variant of the Shadowsword that replaces the Volcano Cannon with a weapon known as a Magma Cannon. This weapon is very similar in function to the Volcano Cannon, but possesses less range and firepower, which means that it needs to be closer to its target to fire an accurate shot. This weapon may be weaker than the Volcano Cannon, but it is still very capable of crippling or destroying outright an enemy Titan.Banesword - The Banesword variant, named after both the Baneblade and the Shadowsword, is armed with a weapon known as a Quake Cannon. The Quake Cannon is one of the largest and most powerful siege guns used by the Imperium, and is fully capable of destroying almost any fortified structure in a short amount of time. The Banesword is considered by many Imperial strategists to be the best siege tank in the Imperial Guard's arsenal, as its unparalleled firepower and extreme armoured protection are unmatched by any other vehicle.Stormlord - The Stormlord is a relatively new addition to the Shadowsword variants officially recognised by the Adeptus Mechanicus. The Stormlord trades in the anti-armour and anti-Titan weaponry of all the other variants in favour of an anti-infantry role. The tank replaces the Volcano Cannon with a Vulcan Mega Bolter, a weapon usually found only on Titans. The massive capacitors and generators required for the use of the Volcano Cannon are completely removed and since the weapon's ammunition does not take up any space there is a large area available within the tank's heavily-armoured hull for infantry transport. The tank can carry up to 40 infantrymen, and is highly prized for both its transportation capacity and its extreme firepower.