Spore Mine
Spore Mines, or "floaters" (species name: Boletus minoris), are used by Tyranids as living, floating mines which explode if any non-Tyranid lifeform gets too close.1
Spore mines are grown and launched by Biovores. They grow deep inside a Biovore's body and are then launched via a powerful muscle spasm through the Biovore's dorsal aperture and hurled across the battlefield. An internal gas bladder in the spore mines inflates allowing them to drift down towards the ground, where they do not detonate upon impact but when they sense the proximity of a non-Tyranid lifeform. They have been known to drift for days, weeks or even years until an unwary foe comes too near. Alternatively, spore mines are also seeded onto worlds from orbit.1
Spore mines possess a rudimentary intelligence and are full of poisons, toxins, viruses and chemicals and are covered in sensitive feelers which seek out heat and vibrations. They are also able to sense nearby fire and will explode in the hope of killing the enemy firing. All of the spore mines in a cluster are linked, and when one explodes, they all do even if there are no enemies nearby. If the mine is killed it will also explode.
Spore mines come in one of three forms:
- Poison - Full of poisons and toxins, the mine can overcome any physiology. The poisons include highly reactive inorganic poisons, haemotoxins, aflotoxins, neurotoxins and phage cells.
- Frag - It has an iron hard shell which shatters when the mine explodes and sends shards of the shell in all directions, which can scythe down light infantry but can also cause lethal infections and sepsis.
- Bio-Acid - The acids are thick and viscous, allowing them to cling to their victim to maximise the effectiveness of the acids. They have been known to dissolve everything up to, and including, ceramite plate.
See also
Sources
| HQ | Hive Tyrant • Tyrant Guard Brood • Tervigon • Tyranid Prime |
|---|---|
| Elites | Hive Guard Brood • Lictor Brood • Venomthrope Brood • Zoanthrope Brood • Pyrovore Brood • Ymgarl Genestealers |
| Troops | Tyranid Warrior Brood • Genestealer Brood • Termagant Brood • Hormagaunt Brood • Ripper Swarm Brood Transport: Mycetic Spore |
| Fast Attack | Tyranid Shrike Brood • Ravener Brood • Sky-slasher Swarm Brood • Gargoyle Brood • Harpy • Spore Mine Claster |
| Heavy Support | Carnifex Brood • Biovore Brood • Trygon • Trygon Prime • Mawloc • Tyrannofex |
| Unique Tyranids | The Swarmlord (HQ) • The Parasite of Mortrex (HQ) • Deathleaper (Elites) • The Doom of Malan'tai (Elites) • Old One Eye (Heavy Support) |
