Wraithlords

Wraithlords are towering, humanoid war constructs used by the Eldar in Warhammer 40,000. Built from Wraithbone, a living, psychic-infused material, they are inhabited by the lingering souls of the Eldar and animated by the will of a bonded Spiritseer or other psyker. They were created to preserve the fallen kin when a craftworld's population dwindled, and later served as frontline spearheads in battles across the galaxy, notably by Iyanden, which relied on wraith constructs due to heavy losses.

Construction and operation: A Wraithlord is created by shaping Wraithbone into a tall armored frame and binding a deceased Eldar's spirit to the body. The process requires a conduit, usually a Spiritseer, who can project commands into the wraith, guiding its movements and tactics. Once animated, Wraithlords are powerful, durable combatants that can operate independently but respond to the psychic commands of their Eldar overseers.

Armament and role: In battle, Wraithlords function as heavy assault units and anti-vehicle platforms. Typical configurations pair a Wraithbone close combat weapon, such as a Wraithblade or sword, with a heavy weapon (options include a Wraithcannon, Scatter Laser, or Bright Lance). They are resilient but relatively slow and benefit from psychic support to maximize their effectiveness.

In fiction and gaming, Wraithlords are iconic symbols of the Eldar's lost civilization, appearing in codices, novels, and video games as formidable yet costly battlefield assets.