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yes,

FYI: the Imperium has only lost certain technology. in other areas they have significantly advanced or rediscovered lost STCs.

Examples of new Tech:

Power Armor: each mark is significantly more advanced then the previous ones(and PA is NOT from a STC)

Stormbolters: new tech, previously there were just Combi-bolters(which are subtly different)

Infantry portable Plasma Cannon and Multi-meltas: these were only developed shortly after the heresy and as such the chaos legions don't have access to these.

Landraider Crusaders and Redeemers(and the other varients)

I don't know, they're magic!

One of the Cain books refers to them using power cells, but there is indeed what looks like an exhaust port on the model. I would guess that there are different types, or that they are somehow built to use either power cells or fuel depending on what's available (similar to the easily rechargeable cells in lasguns, or the way you can use many types of fuel in a Leman Russ - continuing a theme of Imperial weaponry being designed to stay functional in less than ideal conditions).

Somewhere, I red they work with gas fuel...

Harriticus wrote:Don't they belch smoke though? That would indicate fuel.

Older fluff has ork chainswords belching smoke and being gas, er promethium yea promethium driven.

The only think we know for certain is that they work in a very gory manner

Raulmichile wrote:
The only think we know for certain is that they work in a very gory manner

True 'dat!

I would assume power cells as the Imperium is big on things using a power cell or battery if they can.

On the other hand, the Imperium is also big on things using promethium. All its vehicles use it - and all those energy cells have to be (re)charged by generators running on ...?

That said, I suppose it's not unthinkable that they simply run on both - depending solely on the model/pattern.

GW canon seems to suggest promethium, whereas a few novels have come up with energy cells. Usually I'm reluctant to accept contradictions introduced by BL books, but in this case I'd see it more as an addition than a conflict and simply say "both types of chainsword fuel exist".

not really, the Imperium mostly uses Multi-fuel to power its vehicles.

Multi-fuel is a catch-all phrase describing various Bio-fuels or Alcohol based fuels used to power most Imperial vehicles.


Promethium is usually used to fuel Flamer weapons. only a few vehicles use Promethium as its fuel, most use Bio-fuels as Promethium is a fairly rare resource.

1. The cells may run similar to that of a Las rifles charge pack; any heat source set it next to the fire while making dinner and BAM. Or rather pew pew.

2. Big on both but i figure they would save promethium for flamers, vehicles, and other thigns rather than giving every sergeant, officer, and marine a promethium run Chainsword.

Hang on there Mr. Tyrranid lemme just pour the contents of this gasoline can into my chainsword tank here... So hows the world eating going?

Would be much simple to draw out a new cell or battery pack, swap it out and continue on your way. Granted Imperium is not the biggest fan of sensible things but when it comes to weapons they do a damn good job so an efficiently recharged weapon would be a better fit. Plus carrying around a can of fuel or even replacement fuel tanks would be a fire hazard & a waste of ammunition pouches.

Varrick wrote:Granted Imperium is not the biggest fan of sensible things [...]

Exactly. When a studio source makes a chainsword have an exhaust and bellow smoke, then I'll just take it for what it (probably) is.

Good call on that "multi-fuel", though. I vaguely recall having read something about it, but it had escaped my memory. Still, if it works for their tanks, no reason it shouldn't work for the chainswords just as much.

Keep in mind that fuel cans can be reloaded just as easy as energy packs. You don't drip promethoum into a flamer drop by drop either - it's a can, and it's detachable. I'd say a chainsword would have something similar. And when an energy battery has to be reloaded by a generator powered by liquid fuel ... well, no reason not to just "cut out the middle man" and power a chainsword's motor with the same stuff. Just my two bolt shells, though!

Lynata wrote:

Varrick wrote:Granted Imperium is not the biggest fan of sensible things [...]

Exactly. When a studio source makes a chainsword have an exhaust and bellow smoke, then I'll just take it for what it (probably) is.

Good call on that "multi-fuel", though. I vaguely recall having read something about it, but it had escaped my memory. Still, if it works for their tanks, no reason it shouldn't work for the chainswords just as much.

Keep in mind that fuel cans can be reloaded just as easy as energy packs. You don't drip promethoum into a flamer drop by drop either - it's a can, and it's detachable. I'd say a chainsword would have something similar. And when an energy battery has to be reloaded by a generator powered by liquid fuel ... well, no reason not to just "cut out the middle man" and power a chainsword's motor with the same stuff. Just my two bolt shells, though!

But Imperium batteries can be charged FROM ANY heat source. No generator required. It would be easier but the setting would drain it faster jsut like a fuel engine would. And remember a Flamer trooper carries a bunch of canisters; officers don't. It would be safer, more reliable, and cheaper to use a battery pack akin to the Guard las rifles pack. Charge it by any heat source, plug it in, kill some heretics.

What if it was powered by the power armour?

bok_choy17 wrote:What if it was powered by the power armour?

In the case of Space Marines surely it may be. In fact older minis had a protusion of cables and connections between weapons and armour (specially Terminators) No GW designed inclined towards "cleaner" designs in their minis.

Space Marine Power Fists and Terminator weapons are linked with the armor, but not Chainswords or other weapons.

Frazzled wrote:
Older fluff has ork chainswords belching smoke and being gas, er promethium yea promethium driven.

TO be fair, Orkz can fire bullets out of unloaded, broken weapons too. The smoke could just come out because Orkz think the chainsword gives off smoke.

Varrick wrote:But Imperium batteries can be charged FROM ANY heat source.

At the cost of battery lifetime, yes.

Personally, if I were to go into melee with a chainsword, I would really not like the possibility of it stopping to work just as I want to strike the enemy.

Where do you get they become less effective with each charge?

If you charge them in a fire or some other nonstandard way it decreases the battery life. It's been mentioned in tons of novels, don't know if it's in the IG codex.

yeah, i first read it in the Necrmunda rulebook. that only applied to Las-weapon power cells, but i dont know if they are any different or what-not than ordinary power cells.