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Ripper

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Ripper Swarm[5]

Rippers are small, maggot-like species of Tyranids which serve as the primary means of devouring bio-mass and the genetic imprint of a planet.[3]


Description

They are the most numerous of Tyranid creatures, and in great swarms they can pull down and consume creatures many times their own size. However they are completely mindless and will perish if they lose a synaptic link with the Hive Mind.[1]

A Tyranid Ripper swarm devouring a Guardsman[1]

During the final stages of a planetary invasion, they scour the entirety of a planet ingesting all biological material on the planet and leaving only an empty and desolate wasteland. Eventually, the Rippers will become bloated full of biomass, unfit for combat. At this point, they simply crawl into Reclamation Pools where they and the bio-mass they've fed upon are broken down and absorbed by the Hive Fleet.[1] However, in some cases they might be evolved to perform higher functions depending on the genetic material they have absorbed.[3]

In certain instances, hive ships have been driven away from a world, leaving Tyranid ground forces isolated. Rippers appear to respond to such circumstances by burrowing below ground and metamorphosing into higher life forms. This has led many among the Magos Biologis to believe that Rippers are an immature form of the prime Tyrancii genus. This would mean they are theoretically capable of gestating into any kind of Tyranid creature with the right impetus from the Hive Mind, from Hive Tyrants to Hormagaunts. The wonder that Tyranids routinely produce and sacrifice their young so prodigiously serves only to reinforce how inhuman they truly are[3].

Ordo Xenos Classification

Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record
Designation Ripper Main Weaponry Claws and fangs
Common Title Anklebiters
Species Name Minoris omniphagea, Tyranicus Omniphagea Secondary Weaponry None
Average Height 0.3m
Average Weight 0.1 tonnes Tertiary Weaponry None
First encountered Tyran
Role DNA reclamation
Threat evaluation Low



Variants

Sky-slasher

Sky-slashers are Rippers adapted with wings to allow flight.[1]

Eel-like Ripper

Eel-like Rippers are a unnamed variant of rippers designed to devour every lifeform in the planet's seas.[2]

Images

See also

Sources

Uncited


Tyranid Planetary Forces
Commanders Norn-QueenHive TyrantNeurotyrant (Neuroloid) • BroodlordNeurothropeTervigonTyranid PrimeTrygon PrimeMalanthrope
Elites BiovoreTyrant Guard (Hive Guard) • Lictor (NeurolictorDeathleaper) • LeaperPyrovoreVenomthropeZoanthrope
Troops Tyranid Warrior (Shrike) • RavenerGenestealerGaunt (TermagantHormagauntBarbgauntNeurogaunt) • Ripper (Sky-Slasher)
Monstruous Creatures Carnifex (ThornbackStone CrusherScreamer-Killer) • DimachaeronExocrineHaruspexMaleceptorPsychophageSporocystToxicreneTyrannofex
Gargantuan Creatures CereboreDactylisHieroduleMalefactorMawlocNorn EmissaryNorn AssimilatorTrygon
Bio-Titans DominatrixHierophantViciatorNautiloidVermis
Flying Creatures GargoyleHarpyHarridanHive CroneTyrannocyte
Spores Meiotic SporeMycetic SporeSpore MineMucolid Spore
Unique Tyranids SwarmlordDoom of Malan'taiOld One EyeParasite of MortrexRed Terror