Information AboutTyranid |
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Tyranids form a s in their path. They are Psychic ally linked via their Hive Mind , a collective consciousness that links all Tyranid organisms to one another. This gives them a great ability to strategize and coordinate. Tyranids were first described in Rick Priestley's '' Rogue Trader '', the first edition of ''Warhammer 40,000'', with a basic form not too different from its current state. At that time they were not an emphasised race in the game, but in later editions they became a playable race in their own right, being especially popularised by the '' Space Hulk '', '' Space Crusade '' and '' Ultra Marines '' Warhammer variants. THE TYRANID RACE Tyranids appear in a multitude of Genera , all of which have an extremely rapid rate of Evolution , to the extent that they can adapt to threats in direct response to their presence. Tyranid matter is constantly reabsorbed into Biomass reclamation pools to create new varieties and adapt existing ones to suit the immediate purpose. The lower, less evolved breeds of Tyranid are constantly kept in check by the more advanced Synapse creatures. The totality of the Tyranid race makes up a superorganism called the Hive Mind, which embodies the sole influence and will of the Tyranids. Without the influence of the Hive Mind, Tyranids become mere animals, acting only on basic instictive motives. However, under the Hive Mind's guidance, Tyranids are fearless and extremely coordinated in their mission to Assimilate new planets. Tyranid Biology The Tyranids are all of a basic Genetic stock, characterised by six limbs, external skeletal features distinct from an internal skull, five Carapace plates on their head and a series of ventricles on their heads and at the base of their tails. The synapse creatures, which have the strongest link to the Hive Mind, include:
Other large non-synapse Tyranids include:
The Gaunt genus encompasses the basic units of a Tyranid invasion force. These creatures the same body type, but different attacking traits:
The most unique forms of Tyranid are those which incorporate the DNA of races assimilated during conquest. Examples include:
Special characters Old One Eye First appearing in the Third Edition of ''Warhammer 40,000'', Old One Eye is a monstrous Carnifex Mutation with gigantic pincers and a missing eye. The creature was found on Macragge centuries after Hive Fleet Behemoth was destroyed. Originally presumed dead, Old One Eye tore apart the ship transporting its body, and later on the system it was in was raided persistently by Tyranids, suggesting it called the forces to it. Its ability to rapidly regenerate has has led some to speculate that it was a genetic experiment of the Hive Mind. The Red Terror The Red Terror is a mutation of the Ravener genus first sighted on the mining world of Devlan. It is nightmarishly fast and armed with huge scythes, and usually swallows its victims whole. It is primarily subterannean in nature and can burrow straight through the densest of materials, due to a powerful Acid it can secrete. It is speculated that there may be more than one Red Terror, as with all of the Tyranid notable characters, but any engagements there may have been with other such creatures yielded no survivors. Death Leaper Death Leaper is a particularly vicious Lictor who was introduced during the ''Rise of the Swarm'' campaign. It was originally encountered by a Space Marine named Brother Erasmus. The two fought and both were wounded, Brother Erasmus losing an eye and an arm. As a result of the damage sutained in this battle, Death Leaper's Chitinous Exoskeleton provides him less protection than most Lictors enjoy. However, Death Leaper's stealth is unsurpassed, and it is able to conceal itself in places where normal Lictors would be unable to hide. Notably, whereas Old One Eye and The Red Terror were only mentioned in the Third Edition Tyranid codex and are thus presumed to be no longer useable, Death Leaper was introduced after the current edition was published and is therefore still valid. Death Leaper is also unique in that its stats specifically refer to it as a "special character," and state that an opponent's permission must be sought in order to use it (as is the case with special characters of other races). TYRANID MILITARY STRATEGY Tyranid invasions unfold in two stages. In the first stage, planets which are suitable for feeding the fleet are infested by Genstealers. These creatures, which are strongly linked to the ''Hive Mind'' and are considered some of the most independent creatures of the Tyranid make-up, proceed to lure the rest of the fleet to the planet so that its biological matter can be assimilated. The second stage of invasion is the main attack. A full detachment of the Hive Fleet, composed of almost a thousand Hive Ships, empties its forces onto the unsuspecting planet. Once the planet is completely covered and all resistance is overcome, the planet's biological contents (including the Tyranid forces) are absorbed by the Hive Ships. The DNA is then sorted and Recycled . Notable engagements Hive Fleet Behemoth The first recorded encounter with the Tyranids occurred in the Eastern Fringe of the Galaxy and was documented in reports from the planet Tyran. An Adeptus Mechanicus Explorator Station at Tyran identified a collection of worlds in the area that had been stripped bare of their Biomass and Atmosphere . The station was subsequently attacked and consumed. A year later, an Imperial Inquisitor named Kryptman, who had received information regarding the attack, arrived on Tyran to investigate. After searching the planet he chanced upon a Data codex hidden deep within Tyran's Crust , which contained information about the invaders The information collected by the Explorators on Tyran allowed Kryptman to identify the pattern of attacks and predict the course of the hive fleet. However, these predictions came too late: several more civilisations were wiped out, largely owing to the fact that Astropaths could not send psychic requests for help because of a phenomenon known as the "Shadow of the Warp ". The Tyranid force, dubbed "Hive Fleet Behemoth", cut a swathe into the Ultramar System , the realm of the Ultramarines Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes . Undeterred by the Marines' strike fighters, the fleet reduced Prandium, the garden world once known as the "Jewel of Ultramar," to bare rock. Eventually, Chapter Master Marneus Calgar mustered his entire force for a last-ditch defense of the Ultramarines' homeworld of Macragge. Here, during the Battle Of Macragge , the hive fleet was completely destroyed. However, the Ultramarines suffered heavy losses, losing their entire First Company in a last stand at the northern Polar Fortress . Hive Fleet Kraken The second wave of Tyranids to fight against the Imperium was known as "Hive Fleet Kraken". Instead of throwing one mass of troops against the human armies, this swarm split into countless smaller fleets, each one enveloping whole systems before reinforcements could arrive. The brunt of this attack was borne by the Scythes Of The Emperor and Lamenters chapters of the Space Marines and the Eldar craftworld Iyanden, all of whom suffered almost total losses. Hive Fleet Leviathan The third wave of Tyranid attacks, "Hive Fleet Leviathan", appeared from below the galaxy and attacked from two points, cutting off large portions of the galaxy from reinforcements. In order to buy some time, the Imperium, under the command of Inquisitor Kryptman, attempted to redirect the attacks of this fleet towards the Ork-held worlds of the Octavius system. However, the Tyranids have since been steadily working their way through Ork space, assimilating everything that stands before them. While the Imperium has bought itself decades at least to prepare for the next attack, there is no telling how the Tyranids may evolve thanks to the newly-harvested Ork DNA. Hive Fleets Tiamet, Ouroboris and Collossus In M35 an Explorator fleet from Triplex Phall discovered a large Binary System on the Eastern Fringe, which they named Tiamet. It contained seven worlds with life on them, though each was soon discovered to be a deathworld. Xenologists discovered that the life all stemmed from the same original species, and that in each case it had developed a unique means of moving from one world to the next. The Explorator fleet that discovered Tiamet were subsequently destroyed by the lifeforms they found. Though the planets in the Tiamet system were fusion-bombed by the Imperium, the alien life still thrives. The system lies in the area that Hive Fleet Kraken swept over and its current fate remains unknown. It is theorised by some that Tiamet is an "implant-probe," and that Tyranid-formed Bacterium are the most likely culprits, possibly spread by Solar Wind s or Debris . Other
TYRANIDS IN PLAY Tyranids are a strong close-combat army and usually rely on close-quaters aggresion and weight of numbers to win, the general tactic being to engage in close combat as soon as possible. However, their adaptable template allows for a great deal of variety, with small, elite or even firepower-based armies being viable strategies. POSSIBLE INFLUENCES Hive-swarms of insectile aliens are fairly common in Science Fiction (see examples below). Tyranids seem to be most heavily inspired by the Bugs of Robert A. Heinlein 's novel '' Starship Troopers '', both of which races are controlled by a group mind and engaged in a state of total war with mankind. The similarities between ''Warhammer 40,000'''s Space Marines and the Mobile Infantry of Heinlein's novel reinforce this comparison. There are further similarities between specific types of Tyranid and the Xenomorphs of the '' Alien '' film franchise; for instance, Rippers largely correspond to Chestbursters, Genestealers to Xenomorphs, and Hive Tyrants to Queens. REFERENCES Similar species have been used in other media. These include:
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