Is there a lore reason why the lastalon sucks?

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

Or is it just as good as a lascannon in the lore?

 

im really trying to figure out how the primaris version of a lascannon, that so far is a vehicle mounted weapon only is so much weaker than the weapon it seemed poised to replace.

[Karhedron]

Looking at the version on the Repulsor, it has the same AP and Damage but trades 2 shots for -2S. I guess that is the compromise, less strength but twice the RoF.

[Orange Knight]

Faster fire rate, less power? More compact.

Seems like a reasonable trade.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

The version on the thunderstrike is S9 I assumed the others were as well.

 

 

but both also lose out on 12” of range.

Edited December 16, 2025 by Inquisitor_Lensoven

[Karhedron]

I can't see any reason to further weaken the Thunderstrike version. S10 is an important break point as it can still damage Rhino-equivs and Eldar grav tanks on a 3+. There are plenty of T10 targets too.

 

The Stormhawk and Firestrike also have S10 Lastalons. It seems like the Thunderstrike version is the only one that is S9. It almost seems like a typo. 

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

1 hour ago, Karhedron said:

I can't see any reason to further weaken the Thunderstrike version. S10 is an important break point as it can still damage Rhino-equivs and Eldar grav tanks on a 3+. There are plenty of T10 targets too.

 

The Stormhawk and Firestrike also have S10 Lastalons. It seems like the Thunderstrike version is the only one that is S9. It almost seems like a typo. 

Hard to say.

they said they’d put weapons profiles on datasheets so certain units could have slightly different stats for the same weapon iirc.

[Sothalor]

Unfortunately, I don't think you're going to be getting lore for stuff like this anymore.

 

Gone are the days of the codices where each piece of equipment had its own lore description, or the enthusiast tomes of Imperial Armour volumes.

 

The las-talon has las-talon stats because it's a las-talon and that's what the studio has decided.

[Indy Techwisp]

If a Lasrifle is a Rifle and a Lascannon is a Battle Cannon then a Lastalon is something that's between those two.

 

It also Fires notably faster than its larger cousin, so it's a smaller Cannon that fires faster for similar damage at the end point but doesn't have as big of a punch on impact (the STR).

 

So it's basically a Las Autocannon.

[Inquisitor_Lensoven]

5 hours ago, Indy Techwisp said:

If a Lasrifle is a Rifle and a Lascannon is a Battle Cannon then a Lastalon is something that's between those two.

 

It also Fires notably faster than its larger cousin, so it's a smaller Cannon that fires faster for similar damage at the end point but doesn't have as big of a punch on impact (the STR).

 

So it's basically a Las Autocannon.

‘Notably’ 1 shot vs 2 shots…

 

the thunderstrike version is basically just a lasfusil

[Iron Father Ferrum]

On 12/15/2025 at 9:57 PM, Inquisitor_Lensoven said:

Or is it just as good as a lascannon in the lore?

 

im really trying to figure out how the primaris version of a lascannon, that so far is a vehicle mounted weapon only is so much weaker than the weapon it seemed poised to replace.

 

The lastalon isn't a "primaris version of a lascannon" -- it appeared on the Stormhawk Interceptor prior to the release of primaris with 8th edition.

 

But yes, it trades stopping power for rate of fire.

[Evil Eye]

Wait a second...slightly less powerful than a lascannon, but with greater rate of fire...

 

Oh no. Marines are using multi-lasers. C.S. Goto got the last laugh.

[Lathe Biosas]

2 hours ago, Evil Eye said:

Wait a second...slightly less powerful than a lascannon, but with greater rate of fire...

 

Oh no. Marines are using multi-lasers. C.S. Goto got the last laugh.

 

My Dawn of War omnibus is finally canon!

[Evil Eye]

On 12/18/2025 at 1:10 PM, Lathe Biosas said:

 

My Dawn of War omnibus is finally canon!

That doesn't bode well for the Eldar...

 

Jokes aside, I'm honestly somewhat surprised the multilaser isn't more ubiquitous in the Imperium. Being as it is a decently powerful gun with a good rate of fire, and having the ammunition advantage las weapons have (that is, not needing conventional ammunition to stow/supply), an Astartes-grade multilaser actually makes a lot of sense as a thing. Certainly more than putting stubbers on everything!

[Tacitus]

13 minutes ago, Evil Eye said:

That doesn't bode well for the Eldar...

 

Jokes aside, I'm honestly somewhat surprised the multilaser isn't more ubiquitous in the Imperium. Being as it is a decently powerful gun with a good rate of fire, and having the ammunition advantage las weapons have (that is, not needing conventional ammunition to stow/supply), an Astartes-grade multilaser actually makes a lot of sense as a thing. Certainly more than putting stubbers on everything!

They've worked pretty hard for most of their game life to keep the Imperium technologies separate - at least when it comes to name/looks.  The Multilaser and the Assault Cannon overlap more often than not so each subfaction had their own entry in the niche, but they weren't the same. 

[Sothalor]

3 hours ago, Evil Eye said:

That doesn't bode well for the Eldar...

 

Jokes aside, I'm honestly somewhat surprised the multilaser isn't more ubiquitous in the Imperium. Being as it is a decently powerful gun with a good rate of fire, and having the ammunition advantage las weapons have (that is, not needing conventional ammunition to stow/supply), an Astartes-grade multilaser actually makes a lot of sense as a thing. Certainly more than putting stubbers on everything!

 

This is also a case where multi-lasers, holistically considered, make a lot of logistical sense as support weapons for Astartes. Las weapons are supposed to be rugged and reliable. They're also not dependent on physical ammunition, instead drawing upon a power source like a charge pack, being tied into a vehicle's power system, or a generator.

 

And what is every Space Marine wearing on his back? That's right, a fusion generator. A single Space Marine should be able to carry and operate a multi-laser even more easily than modern infantry carry squad automatic weapons, and theoretically wouldn't need to concern himself with things like resupply and carrying ammunition.

[Iron Father Ferrum]

Look, it's the Imperium of Man.  They don't have time for rational decisions.