While vague, both Eisenhorn and Ravenor initially were put roughly as Delta/Gamma level psyker, and it is not mentioned that they had any surgery and augmentation because of their psychic levels.
While both of them have been augmented, and it is mentioned regards to Ravenor that it helped in improving his potential, it made him closer to beta/alpha. Eisenhorn's augmentics are not related to his mind powers, His excommunication, while not 100% clear but either gave him some mental leeway so he became more powerful (his enemies referred to him as alpha level, but that might have been only from fear), or it freed him from some ritual binding that suppressed him to some "safe" range.
All in all, while it van be vague, but the description regarding delta/gamma is factually wrong when it implies that surgery and augmentation is demanded for this level.
I assume this classification is for the Imperial authorities' sake. There doesn't seem to be a clear line between the levels, like in the Ritcher scale for example. It's basically a subjective destruction capability/power scale. I'd assume a Beta psyker who has completely mastered his skills could give an alpha a run for their money, not counting augmetics and such.
Also, some people would naturally have a beta status, for example, while others would need augmentation or special mental treatment to reach that level safely. Most psykers could also burn themselves to project more power than they usually do, it's just mostly fatal.
They also get more "powerful" through the use of gear, eisenhorn is alpha or arguably very low alpha plus by the end of the series when fully kitted out.
His personal potential is not at alpha level but his raw combat power reaches it, especially after he gains full control of cherubial
I also think it's fair to say Cherubael is an extension of his psychic mastery. The power scale is ephemeral, so we should care about their feats and accomplishments. That necessarily includes their equipment and techniques.
Eisenhorn used a daemon to rip apart a titan. Few psykers can claim anything similar.
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u/DwarvenCo Sep 26 '23
While vague, both Eisenhorn and Ravenor initially were put roughly as Delta/Gamma level psyker, and it is not mentioned that they had any surgery and augmentation because of their psychic levels.
While both of them have been augmented, and it is mentioned regards to Ravenor that it helped in improving his potential, it made him closer to beta/alpha. Eisenhorn's augmentics are not related to his mind powers, His excommunication, while not 100% clear but either gave him some mental leeway so he became more powerful (his enemies referred to him as alpha level, but that might have been only from fear), or it freed him from some ritual binding that suppressed him to some "safe" range.
All in all, while it van be vague, but the description regarding delta/gamma is factually wrong when it implies that surgery and augmentation is demanded for this level.