Necrons
An ancient race that traded flesh for metal bodies and is now waking from millions of years of sleep.
The Necrons are an ancient race of skeleton-like androids in Warhammer 40,000. Millions of years ago they were living beings who were persuaded by the star gods called the C'tan to move their minds into android bodies in exchange for immortality. The process was flawed: their souls were devoured and, apart from the ruling class, the population became mindless automata.
Quick Facts
- Former masters
- the C'tan
- Status
- awakening from millions of years of stasis
- Psykers
- none (they have no souls)
- Design influences
- Terminator, ancient Egypt
Lore & Background
After the War in Heaven the Necrons turned on the C'tan, shattered their physical forms and went into hibernation in underground vaults on planets across the galaxy. In the 41st millennium they are waking up and setting out to rebuild their old empire. Their look borrows from the cyborgs of the Terminator films and from ancient Egypt.
Reader's Guide
On the tabletop Necron infantry have strong ranged firepower and tough armour but move slowly, and units can "reanimate" fallen models. Lacking souls, they field no psykers; tech-sorcerers called Crypteks and enslaved C'tan shards fill that role.
More in Factions & Groups
Elsewhere in Warhammer 40000
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