Warhammer 40,000 is known for its absurd scale and completely exaggerated dimensions, especially in terms of military. However, the most widely used weapon in the vast empire stands out negatively: the lasgun. Yet, it is much better than many think.
When thinking of weapons in Warhammer 40,000, the epic chainswords or the iconic bolters in various configurations likely come to mind first. Of course, they are the weapons of the Space Marines, the flagship of the world.
However, the portfolio of military tools is significantly larger, ranging from simple knives and folding spades to portable gauss cannons that can literally disintegrate their targets – completely. However, such weapons give a false impression of the standard of the world, as they make up only a small part of the arsenal.
The Imperium is the largest faction in the known galaxy – aside from the Tyranids, whose exact number is unknown. With a population in the trillions, the Imperium has an accordingly large army: the Astra Militarum.
And this is where a controversial weapon comes into play: the lasgun, the standard weapon of the Imperial Army. Compared to bolters, gauss weapons, and whatever heretical sci-fi nonsense the Aeldari carry around, these rifles seem like better laser pointers. However, anyone who thinks so misjudges the actual strength of the lasguns.
Lasguns solve the Imperium’s biggest problem: logistics
In fact, lasguns are weak weapons in a galactic comparison. So why does the Imperium still equip every single soldier with them? The answer can be summed up very briefly: money.
Lasguns are simply incredibly cheap to produce compared to ballistic weapons like bolters or old-fashioned firearms (like those from our time). Given the sheer mass of equipment the Imperium needs, it is essential to think economically – especially given the enormous scale of the war fronts.
The manufacturing costs alone do not make lasguns a logistical masterpiece; they come with several other advantages, such as:
- large magazines that weigh almost nothing – lasguns are literally powered by batteries
- standardized configurations so that any part of any gun fits every other part as long as they have not been modified (which is almost never the case here)
- rechargeable ammunition: a magazine needs only to be placed in the sun or next to a fire for a few hours to be fully charged again
In the Imperium, dozens of organizations are fighting an internal political battle (LINK), and logistics is the greatest weakness of the entire system. It is even very likely that the Imperium will only fall for logistical and administrative reasons. Lasguns at least remove this factor from the military branch of the Imperium.
Diverse and easy to use – the dream of every officer
The sheer costs involved in training the number of (expendable) soldiers are significant, but they are not the only reason the Imperium relies on these weapons. The constant wars require rapid and often inadequate training of its soldiers, who have a low life expectancy.
Again, lasguns come with several advantages. The biggest? They require almost no maintenance. Energy weapons have few to no moving parts that could jam. They are simply more robust than ballistic weapons.
In fact, laser weapons are built so simply that allegedly even children could assemble them – which is necessary, as the famous hulking Ogryns have no more intellect than children. Additionally, there exists a suitable weapon for every application:
- laser pistols for one-handed combat and short distances
- lasguns as standard weapons for skirmishes
- autofire rifles (essentially machine guns) for fighting large masses of enemies
- sniper rifles for deadly hits at long ranges
- vehicle-mounted heavy weapons and war machines
- and even orbital laser cannons that can pulverize entire apartment blocks
Since laser weapons are not ballistic but literally fire charged light, they are more accurate than anything you know from real life. They hit exactly even at great distances and with almost no delay – literal lasers. A soldier couldn’t have it any easier.
Stronger than they look, but it’s the mass that counts
What makes lasguns particularly dangerous in the Imperium is their effect. The wounds they cause are almost always lethal – the shots just need to travel far enough. Laser shots cauterize immediately, meaning they can hardly be treated because everything is already charred.
If vital organs are hit, it is deadly – at least for mortals
– even if death occurs only later. This is even stated in the official field manual of the Imperium (via Reddit).
The lasers are strong enough to sever limbs, and here the mass of the Imperium comes into play: a simultaneous volley of two dozen lasguns can slice a giant opponent like the insectoid Tyranids into pieces like a scalpel.
Moreover, laser weapons are significantly stronger than their reputation. Only the rifles themselves are typically a “weaker” version of what is possible. With more energy, the weapons logically become deadlier – as with the cannons mentioned above.
By the way, there is a whole series about lasguns on Warhammer+, the premium service of Warhammer.
The competition is the real problem of laser weapons
So why are laser weapons considered to be so incredibly weak? This is simply because they exist in the world of Warhammer 40,000 and not in our current one. Warhammer 40,000 has a plethora of answers to lasguns:
- Ceramite armor of the Space Marines cannot be penetrated by standard laser weaponry.
- The living metal of the mummified Necrons would simply repair itself even if it melted. They have no vital organs.
- Armies like the supposedly peace-loving Tau or the endangered Aeldari rely on high ranges and stealth. You can’t aim at something you can’t see.
Weapons like gauss rifles, shuriken catapults, or even warp-blessed chaos weapons and magic-powered psy-blades are much stronger in direct comparison to lasguns. That’s one reason why a Space Marine or Necron soldier can easily outweigh a dozen or more Imperial Guardsmen.
However, scaling is the keyword here: peoples and factions with significantly stronger weapons are massively outnumbered compared to the Imperium, at least for now. It is more economical for the Imperium to rely on mass-produced goods that are easy to maintain. Factions with more elite soldiers can afford more expensive equipment. However, in one thing, they are all the same, they do not only rely on firearms: In Warhammer 40,000, there are bolters and laser rifles, but elite fighters often use swords – for good reason.
