Drakegun

Lore & Background

Forged in the secret workshops of Karak Zorn, the Drakegun is a marvel of Dwarf engineering, combining ancient runic principles with volatile alchemical fuel. Its design is said to be inspired by the breath of a young dragon that once terrorized the holds—captured, studied, and reverse-engineered by a master Engineer who saw fire not as a force of nature, but as a tool for grudges. The weapon's core is a pressurized tank of refined oil laced with warpstone dust, ignited by a spark from a rune-etched flint mechanism that produces a jet of flame hot enough to melt plate armor and crisp flesh to the bone.

Bardin acquired his Drakegun during his exile, trading a lifetime of grudges for the schematics and a single, temperamental prototype. The weapon is notoriously unstable, requiring constant maintenance and a steady hand to avoid a faceful of shrapnel. Among the Ubersreik Five, it inspires both awe and nervous glances—its indiscriminate flames can just as easily toast a careless ally as a Chaos warrior. The Drakegun embodies the Dwarf Engineer's creed: overwhelming force, tempered by skill, nerve, and a healthy respect for fire.

In Their Own Story

The tunnel choked with Skaven, their chittering a rising tide of filth and malice. Bardin hefted the Drakegun, its brass fittings gleaming in the torchlight like the eyes of a waking beast. 'Time to warm things up, lads,' he muttered, cranking the pressure valve until it groaned. A low hum built in his hands, then a roar as liquid fire vomited forth, painting the stone walls in streaks of orange and black. The Skaven screamed—a sound that curdled into wet pops as their fur ignited, their advance broken into a thrashing, burning mess. As the last ember faded and the stench of roasted rat filled the air, Bardin tapped the cooling barrel with a satisfied grunt. 'Aye, that'll teach 'em to mess with a dwarf's brew.'

Reader's Guide

The Drakegun is a career-specific weapon for Bardin's Engineer class, replacing his ranged slot. It fires a continuous stream of fire that deals damage over time and can stagger enemies, making it exceptional for clearing dense hordes and controlling chokepoints. Its primary attack is a short-range cone that crisps everything in a wide arc, while the charged attack unleashes a longer, narrower jet that punches through armor and ignites priority targets. The weapon's heat gauge must be managed like a ticking bomb: overheating causes a brief stun and damage to Bardin, but a perfectly timed vent can trigger a small explosion that knocks back nearby enemies. The Drakegun excels on maps with tight corridors or objectives that require holding a position, such as 'Convocation of Decay' or 'The War Camp.' Pair it with a melee weapon that handles single targets—like the Cog Hammer or Great Axe—to cover its weakness against armored elites. Talents that boost heat generation or reduce vent damage synergize well. The Drakegun's flavor text reads: 'A dwarf's answer to a dragon's roar.' It drops from chests in Acts 2 and 3, and is a common reward from Okri's Challenges.

Did You Know?

• The Drakegun's design is based on real-world flamethrowers from World War I, blended with Dwarf steampunk aesthetics—complete with a pressure gauge that Bardin sometimes taps for luck.
• Bardin's Drakegun is one of only a handful of prototypes; the original schematics were lost during the fall of Karak Zorn, making each reload a minor miracle of maintenance.
• In the game's files, the Drakegun is internally referred to as 'dr_flamethrower', reflecting its role as a fire-based area denial weapon that turns vermin into crispy snacks.
• The weapon's overheating mechanic was inspired by the Dwarf Engineer's lore of managing volatile machinery—a risk-reward system that can either save the day or leave Bardin singed and swearing.