The artist, Hector Ortiz Done for Magic the Gathering, Universes Beyond.
The Canoptek Wraiths are eerie and deadly constructs in the service of the Necron dynasties, designed to patrol and maintain their tomb worlds. These mechanical horrors blend technological sophistication with an almost supernatural ability to phase through solid matter, making them among the most feared elements of the Necron legions.
Unlike many Necron constructs, which are built primarily for war, Canoptek Wraiths are part of the Necrons’ vast and ancient maintenance system. Their primary role is to oversee the automated defense and upkeep of tomb complexes while their Necron masters slumber in stasis. However, when the tombs awaken and Necron legions march to war, the Wraiths are unleashed as shock troops, sowing chaos and confusion among their enemies.
The most striking ability of the Canoptek Wraith is its phase shifter technology, which allows them to pass through solid objects like walls, barriers, and even enemy armor, as if they were mere ghosts. This phasing ability makes them incredibly difficult to counter in battle. They can move effortlessly through terrain, bypassing defenses, and materializing in the heart of enemy formations. This technology also makes them hard to hit, as they can slip into and out of the physical realm with unnerving ease.
In combat, Canoptek Wraiths excel in close-quarters, where their combination of speed, agility, and deadly claws can wreak havoc on enemy infantry. Their whip-like appendages, often tipped with razor-sharp claws or energy fields, can tear through armor and flesh with equal ease. This makes them perfect for ambush tactics, where they can appear seemingly out of nowhere, tear through their enemies, and then vanish before a proper response can be mustered.
While they are soulless machines, Canoptek Wraiths exhibit a disturbing level of predatory behavior, often playing with their prey before delivering the killing blow. This has led some among their enemies to believe that they possess a malevolent intelligence, though in reality, they are simply following their programmed directives with ruthless efficiency.
When deployed in battle, Canoptek Wraiths are often accompanied by other Canoptek constructs, such as Scarabs and Spyders, creating a coordinated network of mechanical terror. They act as vanguard forces, infiltrating enemy positions, disrupting command structures, and eliminating key targets before the main Necron forces arrive. The sheer unpredictability of where they might appear next instills fear in even the most hardened of warriors.
The Canoptek Wraiths, with their spectral forms and deadly precision, are a perfect embodiment of the Necron ethos—cold, calculating, and inescapable. They are not warriors driven by rage or hatred, but soulless enforcers of an ancient will, ensuring that the Necron dynasties continue their grim march toward the conquest of the galaxy. Their haunting presence on the battlefield is a reminder that death, in its most mechanical and unstoppable form, is never far behind.