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Warhammer 40K Eldar Wraithbone Retcon Controversy

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PancreasNoWork @PancreasNo Follow Not to worry everyone, I know how to handle the wraithbone lore change. I'll ignore that.
EDIT: I've seen a little confusion. Here's an excerpt from Valedor, highlighting both the creation and subsequent shaping of wraithbone. How it "should" be. lyanna watched the boneseers at work. They wore their strange armour, rarely brought out for a bonesinger did not lightly go to war. All were helmed and masked, with tall antlers either side of their helmets and a stubby projection on the chin in the manner of an alien's bound beard. They danced while they sang, in a slow, languorous manner, bringing their hands around in wide passes, their arms at full length. Several of them played instruments – pipes, cymbals, tiny gongs, flutes and harps. It was an otherworldly melody, not meant for entertainment, but possessing a profound loveliness despite its discordance. The melody of instrument and voice intersected in the centre of the ship's hold where light glowed brightly, wisps of it revolving around a bright core to make a galaxy-like tissue. The song changed, the light coalesced, forming matter. Wraithbone. Iyanna was spellbound by the creation of matter from nothing. The light at the centre of the chamber was dimming as more wraithbone solidified from intangible plasms. The product of the song was luminous, but no more than that. It had crossed the threshold from the might-be to the is. Having judged there to be sufficient raw material for their purposes, the bonesingers changed their tune, picking up speed. Under their influence, the wraithbone moved, melting and reforming into recognisable shapes – an arm, a foot, a high-crested helm. For nigh on a full tenth-cycle they worked, until as if by some sleight of hand the wraith-stuff was gone and a tall, sculpted figure was at the centre of their circle: a freshly made wraithguard, its long helmet open and revealing the setting for a spirit stone. The song abruptly ceased, and the bonesingers stepped back. Eldar on the weaponsmith and pseudo-life branches of Vaul's Path moved in, fitting the construct with the parts that were not of wraithbone. They too worked quickly, a team of them chanting in the smith cant. They moved easily, always on the verge of colliding with each other, always avoiding their comrades' limbs.
r/40kLore ⚫5 days ago dduckddoctor lyanden [10th Edition Eldar Codex] The Wraithbone Change a.k.a. Gutting a Faction's Lore Sorry for the dramatic title. Here's the excerpt: The wraithbone substance from which each craftworld is wrought is a composite material formed from various compounds, ores and minerals; it is as much grown as it is forged. What the hell? I don't really have much further commentary on this. Maybe we're moving into the era of lore FAQs as well as rules. With any luck, it will be quietly retconned back in the next Eldar novel. If they get another.
20 I can do this all edition. GW LORE CEMENT GW LORE ENFORCEMENT
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ELDAR LORE AND AT THIS POINT I'M TOO AFRAID TOO ASK imgflip.com
I am an Eldar and I'm digging a hole! diggy diggy hole diggy diggy hole!
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Overview

Warhammer 40K Eldar Wraithbone Retcon Controversy, also known as Games Workshop Aeldari Wraithbone Lore Retcon refers to a significant change in the lore of the Eldar (Aeldari) faction from the Warhammer 40,000 universe regarding the nature of wraithbone, one of the main materials used in the construction of many Eldar technologies, armors and structures. The mid-February 2025 lore update, which debuted alongside the faction's 10th Edition codex of the tabletop game (TTG), characterizes wraithbone as a composite material “grown as much as it is forged,” suggesting it’s formed from various ores and minerals, straying from the original concept that depicted it as a mystical substance created through psychic manipulation. The lore change and retcon (retroactive continuity) sparked a significant amount of backlash from the fandom (similar to the Female Custodes Controversy), especially from Eldar fans and players, as it spread online and spawned memes in February 2025.

Background

On February 8th, 2025, Games Workshop’s 10th Edition Codex: Aeldari material was released online as part of the tabletop game's range refresh and new model release for Warhammer 40,000. In a particular section of the material, the description of the iconic Eldar material called wraithbone was changed from a warp-based material to one implying a more realistic manufacturing process using ore and other materials.

On February 9th, 2025, Redditor[1] u/dduckddoctor posted one of the earliest mentions of the lore update about the Warhammer 40,000 material, writing an excerpt from the codex regarding wraithbone’s new concept, titled “The Wraithbone Change a.k.a. Gutting a Faction's Lore.” The post (seen below) received over 1,100 upvotes and 395 comments in five days.

r/40kLore ⚫5 days ago dduckddoctor lyanden [10th Edition Eldar Codex] The Wraithbone Change a.k.a. Gutting a Faction's Lore Sorry for the dramatic title. Here's the excerpt: The wraithbone substance from which each craftworld is wrought is a composite material formed from various compounds, ores and minerals; it is as much grown as it is forged. What the hell? I don't really have much further commentary on this. Maybe we're moving into the era of lore FAQs as well as rules. With any luck, it will be quietly retconned back in the next Eldar novel. If they get another.

After the post went viral on Reddit, u/dduckddoctor added the full section about the updated description of wraithbone in the faction's newly released codex as an edit to their post (seen below).

EDIT: I've seen a little confusion. Here's an excerpt from Valedor, highlighting both the creation and subsequent shaping of wraithbone. How it "should" be. lyanna watched the boneseers at work. They wore their strange armour, rarely brought out for a bonesinger did not lightly go to war. All were helmed and masked, with tall antlers either side of their helmets and a stubby projection on the chin in the manner of an alien's bound beard. They danced while they sang, in a slow, languorous manner, bringing their hands around in wide passes, their arms at full length. Several of them played instruments – pipes, cymbals, tiny gongs, flutes and harps. It was an otherworldly melody, not meant for entertainment, but possessing a profound loveliness despite its discordance. The melody of instrument and voice intersected in the centre of the ship's hold where light glowed brightly, wisps of it revolving around a bright core to make a galaxy-like tissue. The song changed, the light coalesced, forming matter. Wraithbone. Iyanna was spellbound by the creation of matter from nothing. The light at the centre of the chamber was dimming as more wraithbone solidified from intangible plasms. The product of the song was luminous, but no more than that. It had crossed the threshold from the might-be to the is. Having judged there to be sufficient raw material for their purposes, the bonesingers changed their tune, picking up speed. Under their influence, the wraithbone moved, melting and reforming into recognisable shapes – an arm, a foot, a high-crested helm. For nigh on a full tenth-cycle they worked, until as if by some sleight of hand the wraith-stuff was gone and a tall, sculpted figure was at the centre of their circle: a freshly made wraithguard, its long helmet open and revealing the setting for a spirit stone. The song abruptly ceased, and the bonesingers stepped back. Eldar on the weaponsmith and pseudo-life branches of Vaul's Path moved in, fitting the construct with the parts that were not of wraithbone. They too worked quickly, a team of them chanting in the smith cant. They moved easily, always on the verge of colliding with each other, always avoiding their comrades' limbs.

Online Reactions

The wraithbone retcon quickly sparked backlash and negative comments among Warhammer 40K fans, especially Eldar players, many of whom felt that Games Workshop had neglected or mistreated them for years in the universe's lore.[4]

For instance, on February 10th, 2025, YouTuber[2] Jon Del Arroz uploaded a video commenting on the lore retcon controversy, which received roughly 13,000 views and 850 likes in three days.

On February 8th, 2025, X[3] user @pancreasno posted a Dragon Ball Frieza I'll Ignore That meme with the caption, "Not to worry everyone, I know how to handle the wraithbone lore change," as a response to a tweet about the lore update. The tweet (seen below) received more than 22,000 views and 1,200 likes in five days.

PancreasNoWork @PancreasNo Follow Not to worry everyone, I know how to handle the wraithbone lore change. I'll ignore that.

Numerous memes referencing the controversy appeared on Reddit in mid-February 2025. For instance, Redditor AutumnArchfey posted an illustration of an Eldar woman reacting to the codex change to the /r/Grimdank[5] subreddit on February 8th, receiving over 4,300 upvotes and 650 comments in five days.

WRAITHBONE IS WHAT? MISTAKE OR RETION? RIP YNNARI

On February 10th, 2025, Redditor dazli69 posted an edit of the contentious tweet from the Warhammer Official X / Twitter account during the Femstodes controversy to the /r/Grimdank[6] subreddit, receiving over 1,800 upvotes and 310 comments in three days.

WARHAMMER Warhammer Official @warhammer In regards to wraithbone, it has always been a composite material formed from various compounds, ores and minerals, since the first wraithbone was created.

Various Examples

"The Virgin Comic Book Writer "I can retcon old lore by introducing a multiverse! This definitely makes sense guys!" THE CHAD Games Workshop "I retcon old lore by gaslighting my audience." OUCH! ملكي
We need ideas for a new Aeldari-Votann conflict. GAMES WORKSHOP Make Wraithbone an ore! Just copy fantasy! Have them fight over maiden worlds, like every other faction does

Post RedWitch @Feletida Follow When they came for lasguns i said nothing As i am not monkeigh #aeldari AutumnArchfey OP • 1h ago Anhrathe Top 1% Commenter Ah, wraithbone. You know wraithbone, right? It's been a core component of the Craftworld Eldar for decades, a psychoplastic that is not mined nor manufactured, but psychically sung into existence by Bonesingers, the energy of the warp crystallised into solid form to provide an impossible material that no other faction can utilise. Yeah, well, in the new codex it is just a fancy substance made from "various compounds, ores, and minerals." 12:47 AM Feb 9, 2025 · 121.5K Views • 83 291 3.1K 273 go
GW ES Slaanesh take the last Cronesword from Ynnari Wanna see me ruin Eldar lore? GW wraithbone got retcon into just regular ass material Wanna see me do it again?

Search Interest

External References

[1] Reddit – u/dduckddoctor

[2] YouTube – MORE Warhammer 40K LORE RETCON With The Edlar's Wraithbone GUTTED In 10e

[3] X – pancreasno

[4] Reddit – r/Grimdank

[5] Reddit – r/Grimdank

[4] Reddit – r/Grimdank

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Warhammer 40K Eldar Wraithbone Retcon Controversy

Part of a series on Warhammer 40,000. [View Related Entries]

Updated Feb 13, 2025 at 02:17PM EST by Zach.

Added Feb 13, 2025 at 11:44AM EST by Mateus.

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Overview

Warhammer 40K Eldar Wraithbone Retcon Controversy, also known as Games Workshop Aeldari Wraithbone Lore Retcon refers to a significant change in the lore of the Eldar (Aeldari) faction from the Warhammer 40,000 universe regarding the nature of wraithbone, one of the main materials used in the construction of many Eldar technologies, armors and structures. The mid-February 2025 lore update, which debuted alongside the faction's 10th Edition codex of the tabletop game (TTG), characterizes wraithbone as a composite material “grown as much as it is forged,” suggesting it’s formed from various ores and minerals, straying from the original concept that depicted it as a mystical substance created through psychic manipulation. The lore change and retcon (retroactive continuity) sparked a significant amount of backlash from the fandom (similar to the Female Custodes Controversy), especially from Eldar fans and players, as it spread online and spawned memes in February 2025.

Background

On February 8th, 2025, Games Workshop’s 10th Edition Codex: Aeldari material was released online as part of the tabletop game's range refresh and new model release for Warhammer 40,000. In a particular section of the material, the description of the iconic Eldar material called wraithbone was changed from a warp-based material to one implying a more realistic manufacturing process using ore and other materials.

On February 9th, 2025, Redditor[1] u/dduckddoctor posted one of the earliest mentions of the lore update about the Warhammer 40,000 material, writing an excerpt from the codex regarding wraithbone’s new concept, titled “The Wraithbone Change a.k.a. Gutting a Faction's Lore.” The post (seen below) received over 1,100 upvotes and 395 comments in five days.


r/40kLore ⚫5 days ago dduckddoctor lyanden [10th Edition Eldar Codex] The Wraithbone Change a.k.a. Gutting a Faction's Lore Sorry for the dramatic title. Here's the excerpt: The wraithbone substance from which each craftworld is wrought is a composite material formed from various compounds, ores and minerals; it is as much grown as it is forged. What the hell? I don't really have much further commentary on this. Maybe we're moving into the era of lore FAQs as well as rules. With any luck, it will be quietly retconned back in the next Eldar novel. If they get another.

After the post went viral on Reddit, u/dduckddoctor added the full section about the updated description of wraithbone in the faction's newly released codex as an edit to their post (seen below).


EDIT: I've seen a little confusion. Here's an excerpt from Valedor, highlighting both the creation and subsequent shaping of wraithbone. How it "should" be. lyanna watched the boneseers at work. They wore their strange armour, rarely brought out for a bonesinger did not lightly go to war. All were helmed and masked, with tall antlers either side of their helmets and a stubby projection on the chin in the manner of an alien's bound beard. They danced while they sang, in a slow, languorous manner, bringing their hands around in wide passes, their arms at full length. Several of them played instruments – pipes, cymbals, tiny gongs, flutes and harps. It was an otherworldly melody, not meant for entertainment, but possessing a profound loveliness despite its discordance. The melody of instrument and voice intersected in the centre of the ship's hold where light glowed brightly, wisps of it revolving around a bright core to make a galaxy-like tissue. The song changed, the light coalesced, forming matter. Wraithbone. Iyanna was spellbound by the creation of matter from nothing. The light at the centre of the chamber was dimming as more wraithbone solidified from intangible plasms. The product of the song was luminous, but no more than that. It had crossed the threshold from the might-be to the is. Having judged there to be sufficient raw material for their purposes, the bonesingers changed their tune, picking up speed. Under their influence, the wraithbone moved, melting and reforming into recognisable shapes – an arm, a foot, a high-crested helm. For nigh on a full tenth-cycle they worked, until as if by some sleight of hand the wraith-stuff was gone and a tall, sculpted figure was at the centre of their circle: a freshly made wraithguard, its long helmet open and revealing the setting for a spirit stone. The song abruptly ceased, and the bonesingers stepped back. Eldar on the weaponsmith and pseudo-life branches of Vaul's Path moved in, fitting the construct with the parts that were not of wraithbone. They too worked quickly, a team of them chanting in the smith cant. They moved easily, always on the verge of colliding with each other, always avoiding their comrades' limbs.

Online Reactions

The wraithbone retcon quickly sparked backlash and negative comments among Warhammer 40K fans, especially Eldar players, many of whom felt that Games Workshop had neglected or mistreated them for years in the universe's lore.[4]

For instance, on February 10th, 2025, YouTuber[2] Jon Del Arroz uploaded a video commenting on the lore retcon controversy, which received roughly 13,000 views and 850 likes in three days.



On February 8th, 2025, X[3] user @pancreasno posted a Dragon Ball Frieza I'll Ignore That meme with the caption, "Not to worry everyone, I know how to handle the wraithbone lore change," as a response to a tweet about the lore update. The tweet (seen below) received more than 22,000 views and 1,200 likes in five days.


PancreasNoWork @PancreasNo Follow Not to worry everyone, I know how to handle the wraithbone lore change. I'll ignore that.

Numerous memes referencing the controversy appeared on Reddit in mid-February 2025. For instance, Redditor AutumnArchfey posted an illustration of an Eldar woman reacting to the codex change to the /r/Grimdank[5] subreddit on February 8th, receiving over 4,300 upvotes and 650 comments in five days.


WRAITHBONE IS WHAT? MISTAKE OR RETION? RIP YNNARI

On February 10th, 2025, Redditor dazli69 posted an edit of the contentious tweet from the Warhammer Official X / Twitter account during the Femstodes controversy to the /r/Grimdank[6] subreddit, receiving over 1,800 upvotes and 310 comments in three days.


WARHAMMER Warhammer Official @warhammer In regards to wraithbone, it has always been a composite material formed from various compounds, ores and minerals, since the first wraithbone was created.

Various Examples


"The Virgin Comic Book Writer "I can retcon old lore by introducing a multiverse! This definitely makes sense guys!" THE CHAD Games Workshop "I retcon old lore by gaslighting my audience." OUCH! ملكي We need ideas for a new Aeldari-Votann conflict. GAMES WORKSHOP Make Wraithbone an ore! Just copy fantasy! Have them fight over maiden worlds, like every other faction does

Post RedWitch @Feletida Follow When they came for lasguns i said nothing As i am not monkeigh #aeldari AutumnArchfey OP • 1h ago Anhrathe Top 1% Commenter Ah, wraithbone. You know wraithbone, right? It's been a core component of the Craftworld Eldar for decades, a psychoplastic that is not mined nor manufactured, but psychically sung into existence by Bonesingers, the energy of the warp crystallised into solid form to provide an impossible material that no other faction can utilise. Yeah, well, in the new codex it is just a fancy substance made from "various compounds, ores, and minerals." 12:47 AM Feb 9, 2025 · 121.5K Views • 83 291 3.1K 273 go GW ES Slaanesh take the last Cronesword from Ynnari Wanna see me ruin Eldar lore? GW wraithbone got retcon into just regular ass material Wanna see me do it again?


Search Interest

External References

[1] Reddit – u/dduckddoctor

[2] YouTube – MORE Warhammer 40K LORE RETCON With The Edlar's Wraithbone GUTTED In 10e

[3] X – pancreasno

[4] Reddit – r/Grimdank

[5] Reddit – r/Grimdank

[4] Reddit – r/Grimdank

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Top Comments

JJvagnar
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JJvagnar

To an outsider to the fandom, or just a casual fan, this may seem like the usual 'overly obsessed fans bitching about a small inconsequential change' but its really just the tip of the iceberg for Aeldari fans.

The rest of the Iceberg being GW focusing heavily on better selling Imperium and chaos factions while Aeldari are always portrayed as weak, incompetent, unable to do anything themselves, needing to be saved by stronk manly Imperials, Abandoned plot lines with factions like the Ynarri just becoming the Imperiums sidekicks etc.

So reducing the mystical wraithbone to just another industrial process just feels like another blow by GW to an already humiliated faction

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DavidM
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DavidM

ngl, "psychic material literally songed into existance full of warp energy that far surpasses every other material in every other regard, it shouldnt even exist but thanks to aldearii tech and methods IT DOES" is far cooler and 40k than "it is made out of chemical compounds only know to the eldar"

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