Tyranids
Tyranids are a species that feature in Warhammer 40,000.
Contents |
History
The Tyranids were an extraterrestrial species composed of varying bio-forms that were united by their collective consciousness and came from outside the known galaxy. (Codex: Tyranids (2nd Edition))
Upon arriving in the galaxy, the Great Devourer proceeded with ravaging the ecosystems of numerous worlds that were left barren uninhabitable ruins in their wake. First recorded with the Imperium of Man occurred on the isolated planet Tyran that was located on the south-eastern fringes of the galaxy. The site served as a waystation for the Adeptus Mechanicus who used it as a site to launch Exploration expeditions in studying the virtually unknown sectors on the galaxy's edge.
Imperium efforts initially led to the scouting of 13 Hive Fleets being revealed that were scattered throughout the western part of the galaxy. (Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader)
Overview
In appearance, the form of the Tyranids varied depending on the breed and type of creature with the main unifying features were their reptilian along with insectoid characteristics. (Codex: Tyranids (2nd Edition))
All Tyranids were united by the psychic imperatives of the shared hive mind. Some of the larger more intelligent organisms had vastly expanded synapse networks within their cortex which acted as a psychic conduit for the directives of the hive mind allowing them to overrule the natural instincts of nearby Tyranid creatures. (Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition))
Outside the hive mind's reach, lesser Tyranid creatures tended to revert to their basic and often animalistic instincts. (Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition))
A central organism within the Tyranids were the Norn-Queens who resided deep within the hive fleets in huge chambers that were many hundreds of meters high. These creatures were also known as Splicer-Beasts that was so vast and great that its pulsing bulk almost filled the structure. Their sole function was to make other creatures where every living creature in a hive fleet owing their existence to the Norn-Queen. Long ago, the Tyranids were said to had giving up any primitive form of reproduction and adopted genetic cloning. Norn-Queens were akin to huge biological machines and acted as a factory whose sole concern was to produce other creatures. Many kinds of bio-constructs emerged in different parts of the huge Splicer-Beasts. Clusters of eggs spilled forth from rows of ovipository orifices along its flanks where fluid filled depression on its upper surface writhed within maggot-like larvae whilst foetal sacs hung like ripe fruit from umbilical branches with huge larval Teleporter Warms burst from incubator pouches on the Norn-Queens sides. Simpler bio-constructs could emerge already in their adult form to be gathered and directed by the horde of creatures that feed and serve the Norn-Queen. Most organisms were born as tiny wriggling larvae or started as eggs that needed to be nurtured until they hatched the bio-construct into a developed adult form. (Advanced Space Crusade)
Among the warrior breeds included:
- Termagaunts :
- Tyranid Warriors :
- Genestealer :
- Lictor :
- Zoanthropes :
- Hive Guard :
- Tyrant Guard :
- Hive Tyrant :
- Norn-Queen :
- Broodlord :
- Tervigon :
- Harpy :
- Carnifex :
Creatures captured by the Tyranids were not always consumed or processed by the Norn-Queen. Some were placed in temporary storage where they were wrapped in a fine cocoon by Shroud-Spinners where the material hardened into a glistening fibrous pod. Some of these captives had been kept paralysed for so long that they had died in the process whilst others become hosts to offsprings of a bio-construct where the pod contains a swarm of writhing larvae. Only a few were found to be alive though their minds and bodies were altered by the time in captivity by the Tyranids. (Advanced Space Crusade)
They had no use for the worlds they ravaged with the Tyranids making no permanent settlements. Worlds were nothing more than resources for the Hive Fleets that were harvested of minerals, fuel and biological material. (Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader)
Similar to their other bio-technological devices, Tyranid weapons were created through advanced genetic manipulation. Each were made of a creature or a group of parasitical creatures bred specifically to act as weapons. (Advanced Space Crusade) Tyranid ranged bio-weapons were symbiote organisms that were a part of their bodies which were melded into them since their birth. (Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition))
As such, there were many breeds of weapons used by the Tyranids. (Advanced Space Crusade) These included:
- Deathspitters :
- Boneswords :
- Fleshborers :
The most gigantic and monstrous of the organisms of the hive fleets were unleashed during planetary assaults with them being brought into action against the most determined defences. These were the Bio-Titans who were giant multi-legged creatures that typically had four legs for locomotion whilst two arms carried a range of giant symbiote weapons. (Epic: Hive War)
The larger Bio-Titans included the following breeds:
- Dactylis :
- Dominatrix :
- Exocrine :
- Malefactor :
- Gargoyles :
- Harridan :
- Haruspex :
- Trygon :
Each fleet comprised of millions of craft making the Tyranids appear as a huge cloud of cosmic locusts. No one knew how many Hive Fleets exited within the depths of interstellar space. (Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader)
Among known Hive Fleets included:
- Hive Fleet Ouroboros :
- Hive Fleet Behemoth :
- Hive Fleet Naga :
- Hive Fleet Gorgon :
- Hive Fleet Kraken :
- Hive Fleet Jormungandr :
- Hive Fleet Leviathan :
- Hive Fleet Hydra :
- Hive Fleet Kronos :
Known types of bio-ships included:
- Hive Ships :
- Devourers :
- Void Prowlers :
- Razorfiends :
- Krakens :
- Escort Drones :
- Vanguard Drone Ships :
- Narvhals :
In space combat, hive fleets made extensive use of thousands of huge floating pod-like spores to protect their motherships of the swarm or seed planetary systems before their approach. These drifting pods were deadly mines that moved seemingly random until detonation where they were triggered by proximity to a non-Tyranid object. The detonation was noted for its explosive power with some speculating that they utilised a thermonuclear reaction that not only dealt considerable damage from he resultant shockwave but also from the impact of shell fragments hundreds of feet across. In addition, these spore mines discharges were accompanied by a shower of virulent viruses, acids, algae and infectious parasites causing extensive secondary damage to their target. (Epic: Hive War)
Tyrannocytes could be launched from the orifices of hive ships in low orbit where the living organisms served to transport hosts of Tyranid organisms onto a planet's surface upon its landing.
Members
- Doom of Malan'tai :
- Parasite of Mortrex :
- Nephilim King :
- Old One-Eye :
- Red Terror :
Notes
- The Tyranids were created by Games Workshop and featured in the setting of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
In other media
Video games
- In Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, the Tyranids were introduced as the primary antagonists in the real-time strategy video game and were added in as a playable faction.
- In Battlefleet Gothic: Armada II, the Tyranids appeared as a playable faction within the setting of the real-time strategy video game.
Appearances
- Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader:
- Warhammer 40,000:
- Codex: Tyranids (2nd Edition):
External Links
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