This 40K Howling Banshee Exarch Cosplay Brings Only Death and Leaves Only Corpses

A silent scream is the only sound when this exquisite Warhammer 40k Aeldari cosplay comes for you.

The story of the Aeldari continues to be my favorite part of the Warhammer 40k lore. A struggle between inner hubris and the need for expression. The sheer laser focus all Aspect Warriors put into their chosen paths. A struggle to retain cultural identity against the ever-changing needs of the future… it’s all there. The Aeldari fandom is strong in the cosplay community, and it’s time to dive deep into the Black Library to uncover the history of this Howling Banshee cosplay.

The Howling Banshees are an elite warrior class of the Aeldari. Coming from the Craftworld of Biel-Tan, this cosplay sports the forest green, white, and red, which are its signature colors. All this on a background of white armor decked with multi-colored spirit stones. The devil is truly in the details with this cosplay created by cosplayer Rachael Huntington; check out the “silent scream” on the knee plates. Look at the intricate folding and tie-work on the gorgeous sash. Double-click on how realistic the weaponry looks in the shot and how well the cosplayer wields them!

Suffice it to say, I’m a huge fan of this cosplay and this cosplay group in general. They’re a group of diverse, hyper-creative artists who foray into cosplay. Their love for the lore shows in their loving craftsmanship. The Aeldari craftsman would be proud of this representation, to be sure. Shoot their work some love, and stay tuned- we have more Aspect Warrior cosplay features coming!

Howling Banshee Exarch Cosplay with Permission by Stephanie Burton, Images by Adam Crook

My first time in cosplay was as Saint Celestine, which was one I had borrowed from a friend for the Warhammer World Open Day in 2022. It was at that event that I first met Rachael Huntington (in her incredible Drukhari Incubi Klaivex costume), and quickly discovered that I shared her passion for all things pointy eared. I expressed my desire to cosplay as some of my favourite miniatures from Warhammer 40k, although at that time I had no idea how to even get started. To her immense credit, she then crafted a Drukhari Wych Succubus costume for me and helped me to bring it all together, cementing my newfound love for cosplay! (Some images of these costumes can be seen HERE).

-Stephanie Burton

~Join us next week for more cosplay coverage~

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Author: Jennifer Larsen

Jennifer aka "Mayhem's Muse" is the Cosplay Editor for BoLS and manages Ad Sales and Communications. Her cosplay awards include the RTX Judge's Choice Award and Dragon's Lair Austin's Cosplay Symposium. Jennifer has been a Cosplay Guest Judge at RTX, Tacticon and Genghis Con in Colorado. She regularly attends conventions to cover cosplay for BoLS. Her cosplay work has been featured in publications such as Girls Who Love Monsters, Geek Fuel, and Renaissance Magazine. Jennifer has modeled in the Her Universe Fashion Show, Precision Camera's yearly Precision Camera University, and has taught several workshops for photographers about partnering with cosplayers and creative muses/models. Jennifer is a lifelong enthusiast of retro video games and loves Dungeons & Dragons, urban fantasy, tabletop games, VR technology, and historical archery. She has set National Records through USA Archery’s Traditional Division for Asiatic Bows and earned 4th Place in the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan in 2018 for Women’s Korean Archery. Jennifer is currently studying for her Masters's Degree in Organizational Leadership.