A power fist is an armoured gauntlet encased in the same disruptive energy field used by power weapons, turning the wearer's punch into a blow capable of crushing tanks and tearing apart the heaviest warriors. Where a power sword slices, the power fist smashes, combining raw mechanical strength with a field that shatters armour and structure on contact.
The glove is bulky and heavy, greatly amplifying the strength of its wearer, which is why it is most often worn by superhuman fighters such as the Space Marines rather than ordinary soldiers. Swinging it is slow and demanding, but a single connecting strike can cave in a vehicle's hull or fell a monstrous foe outright. Many power fists incorporate a built-in weapon, such as a bolter or flamer, mounted across the back of the hand.
Related designs include the lightning claw, a set of energised talons suited to swift, rending attacks, and the thunder hammer, a massive maul that releases a thunderclap of force on impact. Because power fists are complex and costly to build and maintain, they are typically carried by veterans, sergeants, and champions. In lore they are potent symbols of might, allowing a single warrior to stand against war machines and towering monsters in close combat.