I am really curious about what Psyker Staves we might get in the future, so I was hoping to track down a list of Imperium Approved psyker abilities to help me imagine the kind of stuff we could get in the future (If we’re ever so lucky).
I know the Imperium also outlaws certain kinds of Psykermancy so if no one has like, a wiki list or something to share, some examples of what isn’t allowed would also interest me.
I know GW enjoys their vaguebiguity so generalized info is fine with me.
(As an aside, I really wish GW spent more time on the “Brass Tacks” of the 40k universe. I can’t be the only one interested in weapon specifications and wartime logistics, no? But I can see why they’d want to avoid giving freaks like me any concrete information they’d end up contradicting later.)
Well, they don’t use staves except as Focii. So thats just thrown out straight away.
You gots:
Diviners, Biomancers, Telekines, Telepaths and Pyromancers.
Honourable mention goes to “Sanctic psykers” who’re wed to The Emperor to form a permanent bond. Sanctic psykers use a soulfire method to wield powers that are Anathema to Daemons.
Its worth noting that some psykers can only use one discipline, others can use one Major and one Minor, depending on what they developed during their awakening.
There are a rare few who can use more than two disciplines, but you always have one major that you’re “best at”.
Oh and you don’t need a staff.
Oh and outlawed psyker powers are essentially those wielded by psykers that haven’t received training for the above disciplines. (black ships etc etc)
I excluded any mention of foul Warp-craft sorcery.
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In practice, as long as you’re not doing Sorcery (Or something that people will think is Sorcery), and that you happen to be a Sanctioned Psyker, you’ll be ok.
For Staves, it’s mostly to be able to give models to the abilities, instead of having them be just floating warp stuff.
They could have different stuff too, Tomes; Rods (Basically 1h Force Staves); Amulets or what ever they want to do.
Useful links
Imperial Psychic Powers - Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Primaris Psyker | Warhammer 40k Wiki | Fandom
Telekinesis - Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Technomancy - Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Telepathy - Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Theosophamy - Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Divination - Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Biomancy - Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
Pyromancy - Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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It’s probably easier to specify what makes for an unsanctioned and illegal use of psychic powers than to list all possible legal psychic techniques.
Universally illegal psychic powers would be any that are tied specifically to one or more of the four Chaos Gods (“aligned” powers), or to Xenos deities (like the Aeldari Gods). Powers that require the psyker to draw power from Chaos or Xenos deities will draw their attention directly and will unavoidably cause corruption of the soul and flesh. Some psychic powers can ONLY be manifested by a psyker who has already been corrupted, or been soul-bound to a Chaos God through a ritual. Obviously any such usage is considered extremely heretical.
The 40K TTRPGs such as Black Crusade and Dark Heresy 2nd Edition (and their expansions) have a lot of examples of heretical/corrupting psychic powers that draw power directly from chaos.
Otherwise almost any psychic powers are legal for a sanctioned psyker to use, provided of course that they do not use those powers to subvert the structure of imperial society or for personal gain otherwise (like using divination to rob a casino to enrich yourself would be considered unsanctioned and illegal use). Generally speaking, psychic powers are to be used only in service of and to further the goals of the Imperial organization to which the psyker was assigned.
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