XV8 Crisis Battlesuits supporting Fire Warriors against the Space Marines. By firing off the jets to slow descent, it is possible for a warrior in a XV8 Crisis Battlesuit to make a combat drop - arriving to the battlefield suddenly by leaping from an airborne Orca or Manta transport aircraft.
These powerful thrusters allow the XV8 to vault battlefield obstacles and to make bounding leaps to gain advantageous firing positions, or to avoid incoming shots. When it comes to deflecting and withstanding damage, the XV8's armour is comparable to the ceramite used by the Imperium of Man's Space Marines, but weighs substantially less.Īgile for its size, the XV8 is extremely manoeuvrable as it mounts a Jetpack with repulsor jet engines - another unique Earth Caste invention that combines the functionality of a jet with antigravitic technology. A wonder of Earth Caste engineering, only the T'au could master the secrets of producing the dense nanocrystalline alloy that forms the thick protective armour of the XV8. It is a towering T'au Battlesuit, easily twice the size of the Fire Warrior who wears it. The XV8 Crisis Battlesuit strikes a perfect balance between offensive capability, armoured protection, speed, manoeuvrability and utility.
Of all the weapons systems employed by the T'au, the XV8 Crisis Battlesuit is easily the most distinctive and recognisable due to its reputation as an efficient and lethal weapon of war. It mounts a vast array of fearsome ranged weaponry as well as a complement of technologically advanced support systems on a comparatively small and agile frame that offers the T'au pilot within exceptional protection. The XV8 Crisis Battlesuit is the mainstay general combat T'au Battlesuit utilised by the warriors of the Fire Caste of the T'au Empire.
An XV8 Crisis Battlesuit of the T'au Sept.