vizn3r/warhammer40k-lore huggingface dataset:
Plasma Caliver - Plasma Caliver: A Plasma Caliver is an Imperial Plasma Weapon utilized by the Adeptus Mechanicus' Skitarii troops. As volatile as it is deadly, the Plasma Caliver exchanges range for a truly terrifying rate of fire. A squad of Skitarii armed with several Plasma Calivers can light up the night with each volley.To say they risk life and limb in the process because of the instability of Imperial Plasma Weapons is a grave understatement, yet to their Tech-priest masters, such collateral damage matters not at all.
Plasma Cannon - Plasma Cannon: The Plasma Cannon, also sometimes called the Heavy Plasma Gun, is an Imperial heavy weapon that relies on plasma technology to deliver lethal blasts of superheated matter to the target. Plasma Weapons work by using hydrogen fuel suspended in a cryogenic state, in either fuel flasks or backpack containers. As the fuel is fed into the miniature fusion core inside the weapon, the hydrogen energises into plasma which is held in the core of the weapon by powerful electromagnetic containment fields. When fired, the fields dilate open and the plasma is ejected via a linear magnetic accelerator as a bolt of superheated matter akin to a solar flare in appearance and temperature. This bolt will explode on impact and can generate the destructive heat of a small sun. For this reason, Plasma Weapons are sometimes called “Sun Guns” by the common Imperial population.Plasma Weapons tax their cooling systems considerably, and Space Marines push the limits of their own resilience by using hydrogen in a higher quantum state in their plasma weaponry than is common in more standard Imperial patterns of the weapon. Plasma Cannons are the largest kind of portable Plasma Weapons, and rather than using the standard fuel flasks that are attached to the weapon, the wielder must wear a large hydrogen fuel canister that can attach to their backpack unit. Plasma Cannons have a greater range and ammunition supply than the standard Plasma Gun, and its violent discharge hurtles like a minature sun from its barrel, impacting a large area and producing a significant area of effect. Plasma Cannons also can fire in a maximal mode setting, where the weapon will exhaust even more fuel to provide an even larger blast of plasma on impact, creating a fireball that is capable of destroying heavily-armoured targets. However, like all Imperial Plasma Weapons, Plasma Cannons are prone to overheating and can prove as deadly to the user as to the target.The Space Marines represent one of the few Imperial infantry units that are capable of carrying Plasma Cannons because of the weapon's heavy weight. A Space Marine's Power Armour also offers better protection against the weapon when it overheats or malfunctions. Plasma Cannons are commonly only wielded by Devastators within Space Marine Chapters, although a member of a Tactical Squad can also carry one. However, Gun Servitors are also capable of carrying Plasma Cannons into battle, and their expendable nature makes them suited to the task of wielding such a dangerous weapon. Plasma Cannons are more commonly mounted on vehicles, however, due to as the effects of overheating are then less severe to the vehicle's crew, who can take refuge within the vehicle's armoured shell. Imperial vehicles such as the many variants of the Leman Russ Battle Tank can mount Plasma Cannons as sponson weapons, while Imperial combat walkers such as Sentinels and Dreadnoughts can also carry Plasma Cannons into battle.
Plasma Cannon - Known Imperial Plasma Cannon Patterns: Erasmus Pattern Mark I - Heavily utilised by the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter, the Erasmus Pattern Plasma Cannon uses replaceable charges rather than a carried power-supply. This makes the weapon lighter, allowing for other gear to be carried, but reduces the overall number of shots possible.Mark XII "Comet" Pattern - A notable pattern of Plasma Cannon utilised by the Novamarines Space Marine Chapter.Mark XII Ryza Pattern - A notable pattern of Plasma Cannon utilised by the Red Scorpions Space Marine Chapter.Mark XIII "Ragefire" Pattern - The Mark XIII is the most common pattern of Plasma Cannon used by the Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes in the late 41st Millennium.Monocore Ryza Pattern - A notable pattern of Plasma Cannon utilised by the Executioners Space Marine Chapter.M31 Pattern - An ancient pattern of Plasma Cannon still used by the Traitor Legions of Chaos Space MarinesPlasma Storm Battery - A Plasma Storm Battery is an ancient form of Plasma Cannon utilised by the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter. It can fire in two modes: a rapid burst mode, or a slower; supercharged mode that emits a toroid of plasma to explode over a larger area for higher damage.Sol Militaris "Helion Fire" Pattern Plasma Cannon - The "Helion Fire" Pattern Plasma Cannon was of the duplex magnacore type; it was manufactured on Terra and issued to the Space Marine Legions during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras. It was considered particularly effective when used against constructs and armoured infantry.
Plasma Cannon - Xenos Plasma Cannons: Analogues of this weapon can also be found in other intelligent races of the galaxy including:
Plasma Cannon - Eldar: Starcannon - An Eldar Starcannon, while based on the same Plasma technology as the Imperial variant, does not suffer from overheating problems. The Adepts of the Imperium have never really harnessed the full power of plasma technology; only the Eldar have truly mastered its potential. To the Eldar, it is further testament to the idiocy of Man that he has created a weapon that frequently maims or even kills the wielder. The sophisticated Starcannons and Suncannons of the Eldar have no such flaws. Each weapon's plasma core produces the incandescent heat of a star, but sophisticated containment fields ensure that the gun's exterior remains cool to the touch. However, a Starcannon is too large to be carried by infantry and is only mounted on Eldar vehicles, such as Wave Serpents, Falcons, and War Walkers, or fire support platforms which commonly accompany Guardian squads. Despite this limitation, the Starcannon is favoured by many Eldar commanders due to its sheer destructive power.
Plasma Cannon - Dark Eldar: Disintegrator Cannon - A Disintegrator Cannon fires a particle of unstable matter harnessed from a stolen sun, and is a far more sophisticated weapon than other forms of conventional plasma-based weaponry. A Disintegrator Cannon is able to maintain a high rate of fire and always remains cool to the touch despite the ravening energies housed within.
Plasma Cannon - Orks: Kustom Mega-Blasta - Sometimes built by Ork Mekboyz, Kustom Mega-Blastas are weapons that are far greater than the sum of their parts, a marvel of Ork technology that fires a focused blast of pure energy at its targets.
Plasma Cannon - Tau: Tau Plasma Cannon - So far, Tau Plasma Cannons have only been mounted as a variant turret on Hammerhead gunships, and were first identified by the Imperium during the Taros Campaign where it is believed they were being field-tested. They use the same plasma technology as that incorporated into Tau Plasma Rifles, but are far larger in size. Because of this, they are more powerful than the Plasma Rifle and also fire more rapidly. However, a Plasma Cannon sacrifices some of its armour penetration power for this advantage, making it similar in damage output to an Ion Cannon.
Plasma Cannon - Change of Terminology: The term "Plasma Cannon" was first used to refer to the weapon during the 3rd Edition release of the Warhammer 40,000 rules set. Prior to the 3rd Edition, the weapons now referred to as Plasma Cannons were called Heavy Plasma Guns.
Plasma Cannon - Sources: Black Crusade: Core Rulebook (RPG), pg. 158Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition), pp. 58-59Codex: Chaos Space Marines (6th Edition), pg. 65Codex: Chaos Space Marines (4th Edition), pg. 82Codex: Chaos (2nd Edition), pp. 74-75Codex: Dark Angels (6th Edition), pg. 60Codex: Dark Eldar (5th Edition), pp. 56, 59Codex: Eldar (6th Edition), pg. 63Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition), pg. 69Codex: Orks (4th Edition), pp. 89-90Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pp. 99, 101Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition)Codex: Space Wolves (5th Edition), pp. 59-60Codex: Tau Empire (6th Edition), pp. 50, 66Deathwatch: Core Rulebook (RPG), pg. 147Imperial Armour Volume Nine - The Badab War - Part One, pp. 86, 120Imperial Armour Volume Ten - The Badab War - Part Two, pp. 90, 138Only War: Core Rulebook (RPG), pg. 180The Horus Heresy - Book One: Betrayal (Forge World Series), pg. 232The Horus Heresy - Book Two: Massacre (Forge World Series), pg. 17Warhammer 40,000: Battle Manual (2nd Edition), pg. 64Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (1st Edition), pg. 84Warhammer 40,000 Rulebook (6th Edition), pg. 57Warhammer 40,000 Wargear (2nd Edition), pg. 80Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade - Rogue Trader Store: Erasmus Plasma Cannon Mk I
Plasma Caster - Plasma Caster: A Plasma Caster was a small, wrist-mounted Plasma Weapon unique to the Dark Angels Space Marine Legion used by the I Legion's Knights Cenobium during the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy eras.The weapon was fitted into each Astartes' vambrace to allow the Knights Cenobium to fight unencumbered in combat.
Plasma Culverin - Plasma Culverin: A Plasma Culverin is a type of heavy Plasma Weapon deployed by the Adeptus Mechanicus' Kataphron Battle Servitors, particularly the variant known as the Kataphron Destroyer. Plasma Culverins sacrifice the range of their cannon pattern equivalents in exchange for a higher rate of fire.Only the Adeptus Mechanicus dare coax such rampant destruction from their Plasma Weapons, yet to the Adepts of the Forge World of Ryza in particular, the scars they leave on wielder and war zone alike are considered quite normal.
Plasma Cutter - Plasma Cutter: A Plasma Cutter is a type of Plasma Weapon used by Firstborn and Primaris Techmarines. While actually intended to be used on the battlefield as a tool to repair damaged war machines, the Plasma Cutter is equally adept at slicing through armour, flesh and bone with its intense, constant beam of superheated plasma.
Plasma Decimator - Plasma Decimator: A Plasma Decimator is a massive, Knight-grade Imperial Plasma Weapon that serves as one of the primary armaments of the Dominus-class Knight Castellan. The Plasma Decimator is a huge and obliterative weapon capable of bathing swathes of the battlefield in searing energies and reducing the enemy to glowing ashes.Knight Castellan pilots become adept at regulating the flow of plasmic energy from their dual power cores to this potent weapon, even risking angering the Machine Spirits in order to unleash an especially ferocious blast should the situation demand it.
Plasma Destroyer - Plasma Destroyer: A Plasma Destroyer, also called a Executioner Plasma Destroyer or Executioner Pattern Plasma Destroyer in some sources, is the largest Plasma Weapon capable of being mounted on the hull of a Leman Russ main battle tank, which creates the variant of that vehicle known as the Leman Russ Executioner. It was also used in ancient times on the Deimos Pattern Predator Executioner by the Space Marine Legions. It is an extremely temperamental weapon that, due to its massive power requirements, is often disliked by Leman Russ Executioner crews for being unable to operate over the course of sustained engagements. However, it has the capability to penetrate most known forms of enemy armour and its extreme destructive potential is the reason that many Imperial Guard commanders try to include at least one Leman Russ Executioner in their armoured formations.
Plasma Destroyer - Sources: Imperial Armour Volume One - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy, pg. 61Deimos Pattern Predator Executioner
Plasma Destructor - Plasma Destructor: The Plasma Destructor is a large Plasma Weapon employed by Warlord-class and Imperator-class Titans.This deadly weapon possesses formidable firepower over a larger area than most other types of weapons. When the Plasma Destructor's beam strikes a target the searing heat and explosive shock transforms the target object into boiling plasma in a massive explosion.Though the Plasma Destructor is a highly effective weapon system, it tends to lose accuracy over long range, and requires a massive amount of energy to power it.
Plasma Destructor - Operation: When a Plasma Destructor is fired, its fuel is energized into plasma and unleashed as brightly glowing "bolts" of pure energy. These bolts are encased in a magnetic containment field that prevents the plasma "bolt" from dissipating before reaching its target. Once the plasma comes into contact with a solid material, the magnetic field ruptures, venting the superheated energy onto the target and vaporising it.The drawback of such a powerful weapon is that it is usually extremely dangerous to deal with plasma. Most Imperial Plasma Weapons are very unstable due to their less-than-perfect designs, a direct result of the technological decline of the Imperium of Man over the millennia. To prevent overheating, all Plasma Weapons must vent their excess heat into the surrounding area due to a lack of sufficient cooling measures.Even with such a countermeasure in place, Plasma Weapons like a Plasma Destructor can still overheat and destabilise, causing the weapon system to become nonfunctional until repaired or replaced. In rare circumstances, it is possible for the weapon to overheat catastrophically or become destabilised by enemy fire, destroying or severely disabling a Titan that employs the Plasma Destructor and incapacitating or killing members of its crew.
Plasma Drive - Plasma Drive: A plasma drive is a form of Imperial subluminal propulsion technology utilised by the vessels of the Imperial Navy as well as civilian voidcraft.A plasma drive is a Newtonian reaction drive powered by a vessel's nuclear fusion plasma reactors. It uses internally-generated magnetic fields to eject a form of superheated matter known as plasma at high speeds from the drive's engine housings. Since every action in realspace produces an equal and opposite reaction, the vessel is then driven forward at a significant fraction of the speed of light.Imperial starships utilise this technology as their principle method of in-system propulsion to reach destinations that do not require Warp-based interstellar FTL travel. A plasma drive is an ancient and reliable technology of Humanity that is not nearly as dangerous to use as a Warp-Drive.
Plasma Eradicator - Plasma Eradicator: A Plasma Eradicator is a type of heavy Imperial Plasma Weapon deployed by the Astraeus Super-Heavy Grav Tank favoured by the Primaris Space Marines. Plasma Eradicators are deployed as sponson weapons on Astraeus grav tanks and are often used to replace the Las-Rippers that are the standard anti-personnel weapons on that vehicle.
Plasma Generator - Plasma Generator: A Plasma Generator is a Tau generator technology used to power the majority of tools, devices, settlements, and voidships manufactured or maintained by the Tau Earth Caste. A Tau Plasma Generator makes use of a nuclear fusion reaction to generate large amounts of electricity in the form of the high-temperature phase of matter known as plasma.The Brachyura, a tiny and highly dexterous xenos species similar to Terran crustaceans who are a part of the Tau Empire and call the world of the same name home, specialise in the manufacture and maintenance of Plasma Generators used by the Earth Caste. Because of their small size and unusual ability for fine manipulation, the Brachyura are capable of the delicate movements required to assemble Plasma Generators of remarkably small size and efficiency for the Earth Caste.
Plasma Grenade - Plasma Grenade: A Plasma Grenade is a grenade available to Imperial and Aeldari military forces that uses a deliberate plasma containment failure to unleash a blast of heat and light that bursts forth like a miniature sun. Plasma Grenades are highly lethal against almost all targets.Plasma Grenades are most commonly only used by those within the Imperium who are able to acquire such relatively advanced technology, such as Deathwatch Space Marines, high-ranking Space Marine officers and specialists within other Chapters, Rogue Traders and Inquisitors. The dense plasma core of an Astartes Plasma Grenade is designed to not be fully consumed in the initial explosion, so it leaves a glowing, energised orb that continues to sear the area like a miniature sun. This tiny stellar body can continue to cause great damage to the immediate area for some time.The Asuryani and Drukhari also use Plasma Grenades as their standard anti-personnel grenade. The blast blinds and damages the enemy and prevents them from properly utilising the terrain to defend their position against the rapidly advancing Aeldari forces, for whom speed is a primary tactical advantage. It is of note that Imperial Plasma Grenades are cruder, although more potent, than the Plasma Grenades commonly used by Aeldari assault troops.
Plasma Grenade - Plasma Missiles: Plasma Missiles are the larger, missile incarnations of Imperial Plasma Grenades and are highly effective against most foes. A single salvo of Plasma Missiles can easily turn enemy troops into a smoking crater. It is for this reason, however, that the user of Plasma Missile weaponry must take care when firing one of these dangerous weapons to make sure that he and his comrades are sufficiently out of harm's way.Plasma Missiles utilise a deliberate plasma containment failure that erupts into a blast of white-hot energy upon impact. The dense plasma core of the missile is rarely entirely consumed in the initial explosion and will leave behind a glowing, energised orb that acts like a miniature sun that leaves the immediate area of the impact unapproachable for some time. Plasma Missiles are especially effective against vehicles as the plasma core can quickly penetrate most vehicles' armour.
Plasma Gun - Plasma Gun: The Plasma Gun is a rifle-sized Plasma Weapon common to many of the armed forces of the Imperium of Man. It is classified as a special weapon and is carried by a variety of Imperial infantry, including Space Marines, Imperial Guardsmen and Storm Troopers. Like other infantry-carried plasma weapons, Imperial Plasma Guns are more powerful than plasma weapons used by xenos races but far more unstable as they have a chance to malfunction and even explode, wounding or even killing the wielder.Plasma Weapons make use of hydrogen fuel suspended in a liquid state in either fuel flasks or backpack containers. As the fuel is fed into the miniature fusion core inside the weapon, the hydrogen energises into the plasma state of matter which is held in the core by powerful magnetic containment fields. When fired, the fields dilate open and the plasma is ejected via a linear magnetic accelerator as a bolt of superheated matter akin to a solar flare in appearance and temperature. For this reason Plasma Weapons are sometimes colloquially called "Sun Guns" by the common population of the Imperium. Plasma Weapons tax their cooling systems considerably, and the Space Marines push the limits of their own resilience by using hydrogen in a higher quantum state than standard Imperial patterns.
Plasma Gun - Chaos Plasma Guns: The Traitor Legions of the Chaos Space Marines have long made use of larger Plasma Weapons containing hydrogen fuel in a higher quantum state, making them both more powerful and more dangerous to wield. The Chaos Plasma Gun and Chaos Plasma Pistol are simply more potent versions of the standard Imperial Plasma Gun and Plasma Pistol.
Plasma Gun - Known Patterns: Reaper's Tongue Plasma Pistol - The Reaper's Tongue Plasma Pistol is often carried as a hold-out weapon by Chaos Space Marines. The weapons rate of fire is increased, allowing for a semi-automatic fire rate, but each round packs less punch than a standard plasma pistol.
Plasma Gun - Xenos Plasma Guns: Analogues of Imperial Plasma Weapons can be found in use amongst the other intelligent starfaring races of the Milky Way Galaxy. Most notable of these is the Tau Empire's version of the Plasma Gun, the Plasma Rifle. It sacrifices a modest amount of strength to ensure the weapon never overheats and is a perfect complement to Tau Battlesuits, which need to move and fire at full capacity.
Plasma Incinerator - Plasma Incinerator: A Plasma Incinerator is a new type of Imperial Plasma Gun developed for use by the Primaris Space Marines by Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl. Imperium-produced Plasma Weapons all fire searing bursts of energy, but the Mark III Belisarius Pattern Plasma Incinerator is the most advanced of its kind, firing a potent armour-melting blast with no risk of overload for the first time since the days of the Horus Heresy.The same cannot be said when the Plasma Incinerator is fired on its deadly overcharged setting, however. The Mark III Plasma Incinerator is the preferred weapon of Primaris Space Marine Hellblaster Squads.
Plasma Incinerator - Macro Plasma Incinerator: The Macro Plasma Incinerator is a Dreadnought-sized version of the standard Plasma Incinerator, a weapon that harnesses the heat of captive suns to melt enemy tanks to bubbling sludge. Other than its greatly increased size and corresponding damage output, it is essentially identical to the smaller weapons used by the heavy infantry of the Adeptus Astartes.
Plasma Incinerator - Heavy Plasma Incinerator: A Heavy Plasma Incinerator is a variant of the standard Plasma Incinerator that is capable of unleashing an even more potent plasma blast that does even more damage. This extra power is generated by a large power pack that is worn on the back and is connected to the weapon by a short cord. The Heavy Plasma Incinerator is usually wielded by Primaris Space Marine Hellblaster Squads.
Plasma Incinerator - Assault Plasma Incinerator: The Assault Plasma Incinerator is a variant of the standard Plasma Incinerator that has been outfitted with a more sophisticated targeting array. This allows the wielder to unleash far more accurate plasma blasts from the weapon.
Plasma Incinerator - Plasma Exterminator: A Plasma Exterminator is a variant of the Plasma Incinerator that is more compact and can be wielded in one hand, much like a pistol. Primaris Space Marine Inceptors often wield two of these weapons at once in place of the more standard twin Assault Bolters that usually comprise their weapon load-out.
Plasma Incinerator - Sources: Codex Adeptus Astartes - Space Marines (8th Edition), pp. 83, 166, 171, 173Warhammer 40,000: Rulebook (8th Edition), pg. 60White Dwarf (August 2017), "Birth of Angels"Warhammer Community: Warhammer Fest Live (May 2017)
Plasma Knife - Plasma Knife: A Plasma Knife is a Leagues of Votann melee Plasma Weapon shaped in the form of a dagger or combat knife whose blade is itself an integrated plasma field. Plasma Knives are typically only ceremonial melee weapons that are carried as a badge of office by almost all of the Leagues of Votann's kâhls and Grimnyrs. Their possession denotes that their wielder speaks with the authority of their league's First Ancestors and are rarely used in actual combat -- except as a weapon of last resort.It is a fact of war for the Kin in the 41st Millennium that many foes -- not least the hated Greenskins -- cannot always be halted by ranged firepower alone. Such enemies must be battled blade to blade, and defeated quickly in the resulting melee.Kin close combat weapons embody this ethos. They make substantial use of integrated plasma fields, either to wreathe sword and axe blades or to form the blades themselves. Such melee weapons scythe through physical shields and body armour with equal ease, and reduce the foe to cauterised chunks of charred meat and bone.
Plasma Knife - Notable Plasma Knives: The First Knife - The First Knife is a relic Plasma Knife of particular cultural significance and greater offensive use among the Leagues of Votann. It is believed to have been crafted by the Votann themselves during the days before the Kin came to the galactic core in the Age of Technology. Containing a unique power source and worked with script so ancient that no Kin can read it, this blade can be triggered to project a beam of laser energy that scythes through the victim at point-blank range. More than one ambushing foe or double-crossing faux ambassador has discovered, to their cost, just how deadly The First Knife can be.
Plasma Missile - Plasma Missile: A Plasma Missile is a large, Titan-grade missile and Plasma Weapon deployed on Imperial Titans and the Leagues of Votann Colossus. Like other Titan-grade missiles, the Plasma Missile takes up one carapace hard point on the Titan and is usually fitted before a battle.A Plasma Missile will break up during flight into six distinct masses of throbbing plasma before impact. In this way it is able to saturate a large area with its deadly cargo of plasma and ignore the effects of cover to deal tremendous damage, both to enemy Titans or other ground targets.
Plasma Pistol - Plasma Pistol: The Plasma Pistol is the smallest variant in the Imperial Plasma Weapons family. Each shot from a plasma pistol contains all the destructive fury of a larger Plasma Gun, although with a reduced range and rate of fire.The Traitor Legions have long made use of larger plasma weapons containing hydrogen fuel in a higher quantum state, making them both more powerful and more dangerous to wield. The Plasma Pistol is most commonly carried by officers of both the Space Marines and the Astra Militarum.Aside from individual Imperial officers, some specialised assault troops such as Assault Marines are also sometimes armed with Plasma Pistols. Space Marine Tactical Squads make extensive use of plasma pistols to augment their firepower; the lethal might of the weapon is useful against both heavily armoured infantry and light armoured vehicles.The latest pattern of Plasma Pistol in use by the armed forces of the Imperium is the Mark III "Sunfury" but only a few Chapters, such as the Novamarines, are yet able to manufacture it.
Plasma Pistol - Operation: Plasma Pistols make use of a micro-fusion nuclear reaction to superheat a cartridge of gas into the state of matter known as plasma and then release it in a concentrated blast of weapons fire using an electromagnetic bubble. Such a volatile weapon comes with a significant drawback however. The barely contained plasma makes the weapon prone to overheating in the most spectacular of ways. While emergency cooling ducts and exhaust vents periodically expel excess heat from the gun, continual firing almost inevitably overloads these functions. When the weapon reaches critical temperatures, it will release a cloud of super-heated vapour to prevent the gun from destroying itself. Unfortunately for the firer, this cloud is easily capable of burning away light armour and peeling flesh from bone.Space Marines are at least afforded a degree of protection against these catastrophic overheats because of their power armour, the ceramite plates and hard seals usually limiting the damage to their surroundings. Even so, an overheat can still kill or maim a battle-brother, especially if the exhaust vents clog or the coils crack from the intense heat. For lesser warriors, like Imperial Guardsmen, overheating plasma guns are almost always fatal, leaving frail bodies charred to blackened bone by great gouts of charged particles. In rare cases, plasma guns are even capable of detonating if they get too hot. This may occur as a result of excessive firing, but can also be the result of a flaw during manufacture. Should the casing crack or the magnetic containment fail, the firer will have only a fraction of a second before the gun turns into a ball of blazing energy in his hands, consuming itself with the heat of a star and vaporising everything with reach.In addition to the dangers of an overheat, plasma pistols are difficult to reload. Only with the requisite prayers should the hydrogen flasks be screwed into place, their unstable ammunition all too prone to spilling or fouling the plasma intakes. An incorrectly attached flask can cause the weapon to explode the first time it is fired, as an empty or partially filled magnetic chamber creates inescapable pressure that will tear the gun apart, in addition to its user. Removing a flask is also dangerous, as even a small amount of plasma leaking out of a broken seal or an incorrectly closed value can burn away a hand or cost the shooter several of his fingers. For these reasons, plasma guns are slow and difficult to load or unload on the battlefield, a task often best left to the sacred ministrations of a Techmarine or Tech-priest and long solar hours of repetitious binary prayer. In combat, a Space Marine can rely on a plasma gun for a dozen or so consecutive shots before the flask starts to run dry, and he runs the risk of triggering a catastrophic overheat.
Plasma Pistol - Notable Plasma Pistol Variants: Barrage Pattern - These deadly plasma side arms are unique to the Jericho Reach Deathwatch, and few exist even within their hallowed armouries. Like their larger siblings, the Barrage plasma pistols feature a higher rate of fire at the cost of increased overheating and energy consumption.Kronos Mark III Pattern - In addition to seeing military service, this sophisticated plasma pistol is offered for sale by the Mechanicus weaponsmiths of the Lathes at an exorbitant price for those who wish to purchase its sacred power. Just why this rare and potent device of the Omnissiah's divine wrath is available for sale while other lesser weapons are not remains another inscrutable mystery of the Adeptus Mechanicus.Mark III "Sunfury" Pattern - A modern subtype plasma pistol variant known to be utilised by the Novamarines Chapter and many others.Mark V "Wrathfire" Pattern - A modern variant that is more compact than both the "Sunfury" or Ultra patterns.Ryza "Wrath" Pattern - The "Wrath" is a duellist's plasma pistol, made in limited numbers in the Calixis Sector and popular amongst the nobility there. Finely crafted (and correspondingly rare) these weapons are longer-ranged and higher-powered than Ryza's typical plasma pistols. The lack of a semi-automatic fire setting is regarded as unimportant -- a proper duellist is expected to drop his target with his first shot. This weapon may be equipped with any plasma pistol ammo.Ultra Mark II - Another modern variant known to be utilised by the Marines Errant Chapter.Valthek-II Pattern - A known pattern variant monocore plasma pistol used by the Astral Claws Chapter.Helicon Pattern - Production of this pattern was discontinued in 843.M41 due to an increase in the overheat margin past the fifth shot.
Plasma Pistol - Sources: Black Crusade: Core Rulebook (RPG), pg. 158Codex: Blood Angels (5th Edition), pp. 58-59Codex: Dark Angels (4th Edition), pg. 52Codex: Space Wolves (5th Edition), pg. 59Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition), pg. 59Codex: Space Marines (5th Edition), pg. 99Dark Heresy: Core Rulebook (RPG), pg. 134Dark Heresy: The Inquisitor's Handbook (RPG), pg. 134Deathwatch: Core Rulebook (RPG), pg. 148Deathwatch: Rites of Battle (RPG), pg. 135Imperial Armour Volume Nine: The Badab War, Part One, pp. 60, 78, 117Imperial Armour Volume Ten: The Badab War, Part Two, pg. 32Imperial Armour Volume Twelve - The Fall of Orpheus, pg. 141Warhammer 40,000: Munitorum (Digital Edition)The Horus Heresy Book One: Betrayal (Imperial Armour), pg. 232Warhammer 40,000: Rulebook (6th Edition), pg. 57Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (1st Edition), pg. 79Warhammer 40,000: Wargear (4th Edition), pg. 34Warhammer 40,000: Wargear (2nd Edition), pg. 17
Plasma Reactor - Plasma Reactor: A plasma reactor, also called a generatorium in High Gothic, is a form of advanced electric generator used by the Imperium of Man to power its voidships, planetary settlements, hive cities, void stations, some vehicles and other large installations. It produces electric power in the form of a high-temperature phase of matter known as plasma generated by a nuclear fusion reaction.Plasma reactors come in a wide variety of sizes, capacities, patterns and marks officially approved by the magi of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Several plasma reactors form the core of the primary Imperial subluminal voidcraft propulsion system known as a Plasma Drive.
Plasma Rifle - Plasma Rifle: A Plasma Rifle is a T'au Plasma Weapon that delivers pulses of searing energy and superheated matter that has been transmuted into a gaseous plasma state that carries an electrical charge.The plasma "bolts" fired by these weapons generate the destructive heat of a small sun; impacting with the fury of a supernova and scything through steel, flesh and bone as if they were nothing.Whilst Plasma Weapon technology is employed by many of the main spacefaring races of the 41st Millennium, the T'au favour a form of technology in their Plasma Rifles that uses lower overall temperatures of plasma gas.This exchanges a degree of damage output for increased safety for the user by almost completely eliminating the risk of a potential catastrophic overheat of the weapon.Nevertheless, T'au Plasma Rifles are still extremely effective against targets such as heavy infantry, and are able to melt even ceramite with ease. The T'au Plasma Rifle can be considered the equivalent of an Imperial Plasma Gun.
Plasma Rifle - Notable Users of the Plasma Rifle: XV8 Crisis Battlesuit – Plasma Rifles are most commonly used by the T'au as Battlesuit weapon systems for XV8 Crisis Battlesuits. Often equipped for Battlesuit Teams that are expected to encounter heavily-armoured foes, Plasma Rifles are devastating weapons easily capable of felling even Space Marine Terminators.XV88 Broadside Battlesuit – XV88 Broadside Battlesuits can be upgraded to replace their secondary twin-linked Smart Missile Systems with twin-linked Plasma Rifles.XV104 Riptide Battlesuit – XV104 Riptide Battlesuits can be armed with twin-linked Plasma Rifles as a secondary weapon system.TX-42 Piranha – A TX-42 variant Piranha can be armed with twin-linked Plasma Rifles as its primary armament.Drone Sentry Turret – Drone Sentry Turrets can be armed with twin-linked Plasma Rifles as their primary armament.
Plasma Storm Battery - Plasma Storm Battery: A Plasma Storm Battery is an ancient form of Plasma Cannon utilised only by the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter and the Successor Chapters of the Unforgiven. This relic weapon was long held in the armoury of The Rock. With the discovery of the STC for the Land Speeder Vengeance in the 36th Millennium, the Plasma Storm Battery was mated to that deadly variant of the standard Land Speeder. The Plasma Storm Battery is essentially an archaic pair of large Plasma Cannons mated together to fire in synch, much like a twin-linked weapon. With this formidable weapon, the Land Speeder Vengeance is able to deliver devastating volleys of potent plasma against its foes. It can fire in two modes: a rapid burst mode, or a slower, supercharged mode that emits a toroid of plasma to explode over a larger area for higher damage to the foe.
Plasma Sword - Plasma Sword: A Plasma Sword, also called a Plasma Blade, is a Leagues of Votann melee Plasma Weapon shaped in the form of a single-handed sword whose blade is itself an integrated plasma field. Plasma Swords are sometimes used as alternative melee weapons for Hearthkyn Warrior theyns and as alternative melee weapons by kâhls. Kâhls, however, make use of the more finely-crafted forgewrought versions of the Plasma Sword or may even be gifted with a relic version of the weapon that is sacred to their league, such as the Blade of the Ancestors of the Greater Thurian League.It is a fact of war for the Kin in the 41st Millennium that many foes -- not least the hated Greenskins -- cannot always be halted by ranged firepower alone. Such enemies must be battled blade to blade, and defeated quickly in the resulting melee.Kin close combat weapons embody this ethos. They make substantial use of integrated plasma fields, either to wreathe sword and axe blades or to form the blades themselves. Such melee weapons scythe through physical shields and body armour with equal ease, and reduce the foe to cauterised chunks of charred meat and bone.
Plasma Talon - Plasma Talon: A Plasma Talon is an archaic Plasma Weapon commonly utilised by the Ravenwing Black Knights of the Dark Angels Chapter's 2nd Company, commonly called the Ravenwing. The Ravenwing's Mark IV Raven Pattern Assault Bikes have their twin-linked Boltguns replaced with two of these weapons, which are unique to the Unforgiven Chapters. With a range between that of the Plasma Pistol and the Plasma Gun, the Plasma Talon gives the Black Knights a significant boost in firepower. In battle, the Ravenwing Black Knights drive at top speed upon their Mark IV Raven Pattern Assault Bikes towards the foe. On their approach, their Plasma Talons tear holes in the enemy lines before they ride over their quarry, cracking armour and sundering flesh with their Corvus Hammers as they go.
Plasma Torch - Plasma Torch: A Plasma Torch is a tool utilised by the Brôkhyr of the Leagues of Votann and their E-COG robotic assistants to carry out welding repairs and cut through metal in the course of their duties.In a pinch, the Plasma Torch's powerful integrated plasma cutting field can be wielded as an impromptu melee Plasma Weapon that can slice through flesh and heavy armour alike.
Plasma Weapons - Plasma Weapons: Plasma Weapons are highly potent and destructive directed energy weapons utilised in many forms by the advanced intelligent species of the Milky Way Galaxy.Most Plasma Weapons work by delivering pulses of searing energy and superheated matter that have been transmuted into a gaseous plasma state that carries an electrical charge.The plasma "bolts" fired by these weapons explode on impact and generate the destructive heat of a small sun, and the sheer amount of energy released by the impact of superheated plasma is often enough to completely vaporise the target.Plasma Weapons vary greatly in form and size; ranging from small and compact Plasma Pistols to huge, voidship-grade plasma cannon batteries that can obliterate entire cities in a single salvo.Against all forms of armoured infantry and light vehicles, the superheated bolts fired by smaller Plasma Weapons impact with the fury of a supernova, scything through steel, flesh and bone as if they were nothing.Due to the enormous temperatures and deadly energies that Plasma Weapons generate when fired, most such weapons are prone to overheating, destabilisation and misfire, particularly those deployed by the Imperium of Man, which no longer has a firm command of the technology in the 41st Millennium.This unfortunate quality makes a Plasma Weapon potentially as deadly to the wielder as it is to the target. However, the sheer power and deadliness of Plasma Weapons often outweigh the hazards that come with their use.
Plasma Weapons - Chaos Plasma Weapons: Most Chaos forces utilise corrupted and tainted versions of Imperial Plasma Weapons. However, in essence, these Plasma Weapons are still the same, albeit often more archaic and improvised in design due their prevalent origin during the era of the Horus Heresy in the early 31st Millennium.Plasma Pistol – See above.Plasma Gun – See above.Combi-Plasma Gun– See above.Plasma Cannon – See above.Plasma Blastgun – See above.Plasma Destructor – See above.Plasma Annihilator – See above.Plasma Bomb – See above.Plasma Torpedo –See above.Plasma Lance – See above.Plasma Projector (Plasma Battery) – See above.Nova Cannon – See above.Ectoplasma Cannon – Ectoplasma Cannons are Chaos variants of standard Imperial Plasma Cannons that channel the raw Daemonic energy of the Warp into searing, cometary blasts that make a noise like the howls of the damned. Harnessing such energies can sometimes prove as dangerous to the wielder as to the target. Anything hit by an Ectoplasma Cannon is enveloped by screaming, tortured souls that dance in the flames. Because of their daemonic nature, the blasts from Ectoplasma Cannons are far more deadly than that from a normal Plasma Cannon. Ectoplasma Cannons are usually only found mounted as arm and mouth weapons on Forgefiend Daemon Engines.
Plasma Weapons - Tyranid Plasma Weapons: Bio-plasma – Bio-plasma is a potent close-ranged Tyranid Biomorph -- often engineered by the Hive Mind into Tyranid Carnifexes -- that is capable of unleashing a potent short-ranged attack upon their foes. With this Biomorph, a Tyranid organism gains the ability to internally energise a form of organically-created plasma that can be vomited forth as a burning and blinding ball of incandescent green energy. Each ball of plasma has the equivalent force to a blast from an Imperial Plasma Cannon, but can only be hurled only a short distance. Bio-plasma is formed from a highly corrosive exothermic chemical that releases massive amounts of heat once it is released from the Bio-plasma organ within the Tyranid bioform. Shortly before the plasma is launched, the bioform will usually let out loud screams as the projectile makes its way from its belly through the creature and out its gaping maw. This high-pitched scream is often the last thing the Carnifex's prey ever hears. The Screamer Killer variant Carnifex bioform is most notable for its more advanced evolution of the Bio-plasma biomorph. Their characteristic high-pitched screaming is caused by rasping plates in their oesophagus, which are used to energize Bio-plasma in their gut. However, instead of launching this as a ball, the ‘vomit’ acts as a deadly short range Flamer-like weapon instead. Screamer Killers are also capable of using an electrical field around their claws to build up an incandescent Bio-plasma ball before launching it at a target over longer ranges. Massive Bio-plasma-emitting spines can also be found on Tyranid bio-ships. These spines emit gargantuan balls of Bio-plasma that can devastate enemy voidcraft. Bio-plasma spines serve as effective short-range weapons batteries in void combat for Tyranid bio-ships.
Plasma Weapons - Leagues of Votann EtaCarn Plasma Weapons: Leagues of Votann weapons like the various EtaCarn Plasma Weapons are superior in almost every respect to those patterns of Plasma Weapons wielded by the agents and military of the Imperium, since the Kin employ superlative materials and methods in their construction and have no fear of further innovating on an ancient STC design.As a result, EtaCarn Plasma Weapon variants often have longer ranges and more stopping power than any of their Imperial equivalents, and are far less prone to the explosive instability that particularly marks Imperial Plasma Weapons.EtaCarn Plasma Pistol - The EtaCaran Plasma Pistol  is a man-portable Plasma Weapon used by the military forces of the Leagues of Votann that possesses a short range yet still potent stopping power. It has the shortest range of any of the EtaCarn Plasma Weapons used by the Kin. It is often used as an alternative sidearm by the theyns who command squads of Hearthkyn Warriors.EtaCarn Plasma Beamer - The EtaCarn Plasma Beamer is a man-portable Plasma Weapon used by the military forces of the Leagues of Votann that possesses a medium-to-long range and potent stopping power. It is often used as a specialist heavy weapon by particularly skilled and trusted members of a squad of Hearthkyn Warriors.EtaCarn Plasma Gun - The EtaCarn Plasma Gun is a man-portable Plasma Weapon used by the military forces of the Leagues of Votann that possesses a long range and potent stopping power. It has the longest range of any of the EtaCarn Plasma Weapons used by the Kin. It is often used as the standard ranged weapon of the Einhyr Hearthguard.
Plasma Weapons - Leagues of Votann Melee Plasma Weapons: It is a fact of war for the Kin in the 41st Millennium that many foes -- not least the hated Greenskins -- cannot always be halted by ranged firepower alone. Such enemies must be battled blade to blade, and defeated quickly in the resulting melee.Kin close combat weapons embody this ethos. They make substantial use of integrated plasma fields, either to wreathe sword and axe blades or to form the blades themselves. Such melee weapons scythe through physical shields and body armour with equal ease, and reduce the foe to cauterised chunks of charred meat and bone.Heavy Plasma Axe - A Heavy Plasma Axe is a Leagues of Votann melee Plasma Weapon shaped in the form of a two-handed greataxe whose blade is itself an integrated plasma field. It does the most damage of all the Kin melee Plasma Weapons. Heavy Plasma Axes are the primary melee weapon employed by the Cthonian Beserks.Plasma Axe - A Plasma Axe is a Leagues of Votann melee Plasma Weapon shaped in the form of a single-handed battleaxe whose blade is itself an integrated plasma field. Plasma Axes are sometimes used as alternative melee weapons for Hearthkyn Warrior theyns and as the primary melee weapon of League kâhls. Kâhls, however, make use of the more finely-crafted forgewrought versions of the Plasma Axe.Plasma Blade Gauntlet - A Plasma Blade Gauntlet  is a Leagues of Votann melee Plasma Weapon that has been integrated into an exo-armour gauntlet. When activated, it unleashes a plasma field in the form of a Plasma Sword. Plasma Blade Gauntlets often serve as an alternative melee weapon for the Einhyr Hearthguard.Plasma Knife - A Plasma Knife is a Leagues of Votann melee Plasma Weapon shaped in the form of a dagger or combat knife whose blade is itself an integrated plasma field. Plasma Knives are typically only ceremonial melee weapons that are carried as a badge of office by almost all of the Leagues of Votann's kâhls and Grimnyrs. Their possession denotes that their wielder speaks with the authority of their league's First Ancestors and are rarely used in actual combat -- except as a weapon of last resort.Plasma Sword (Plasma Blade) - A Plasma Sword, also called a Plasma Blade, is a Leagues of Votann melee Plasma Weapon shaped in the form of a single-handed sword whose blade is itself an integrated plasma field. Plasma Swords are sometimes used as alternative melee weapons for Hearthkyn Warrior theyns and as alternative melee weapons by kâhls. Kâhls, however, make use of the more finely-crafted forgewrought versions of the Plasma Sword or may even be gifted with a relic version of the weapon that is sacred to their league, such as the Blade of the Ancestors of the Greater Thurian League.Plasma Torch - A Plasma Torch is a tool utilised by the Brôkhyr of the Leagues of Votann and their E-COG robotic assistants to carry out welding repairs and cut through metal in the course of their duties. In a pinch, the Plasma Torch's powerful integrated plasma cutting field can be wielded as an impromptu melee Plasma Weapon that can slice through flesh and heavy armour alike.
Plasma Weapons - Minor Xenos Races: Hrud Fusil - Little is known of the reclusive and dangerous race known as the Hrud other than that they dwell only in darkness and possess strange, Warp-based technology which allows them to walk between worlds and even corrupt the flow of time with their baleful presence. The Hrud Fusil is one of a scant few Hrud artefacts that occasionally come up for sale and is always in high demand. It is a form of “plasma musket” that uses an unfathomable mechanism to phase a plasma bolt between realspace and the Empyrean, bypassing its target’s defences. Though somewhat unpredictable, the weapon's unique qualities make it useful for Assassins and Inquisitorial agents alike. Fusils traded on the black market most often have been crudely modified to accept Imperial Plasma Flasks. However, if a Fusil’s mechanism becomes badly damaged, it cannot be repaired by human hands, for its technologies are beyond the current understanding of Mankind.
Plasma Weapons - Other: Ulumeathi Plasma Syphon - Whilst not a form of Plasma Weapon, a Ulumeathi Plasma Syphon is a rare form of defensive technology employed only by the Inquisitors of the Ordo Xenos that can destabilise Plasma Weapons. Each Ulumeathi Plasma Syphon consists of an array of alien power crystals that generate a distorting resonance on the frequencies of energy used by most Plasma Weapons. This resonance wave causes Plasma Weapons within the short range of the Plasma Syphon to fire much more wildly, making them all but impossible to aim and keep on target. Where the Inquisition obtained such xenos artefacts is unknown, though these devices are powerful assets in battle when used by Radical Inquisitors.