Von Ryan's Leaper

Tyranids Portal

Von Ryan's Leaper^[5]

Von Ryan's Leapers are Tyranid creatures whose swift, agile, and utterly lethal nature, makes them the ultimate ambush predators. Unlike normally solitary Lictors, Leapers are pack-hunters and they emerge in groups to eviscerate the Tyranids' enemies.^[1] Leapers take genetic elements from Hormagaunts and Lictors, combining their best qualities to create a deadly melee threat. They move exceedingly fast thanks to their balancing tails.^[4]

Trivia

The following information is not to be regarded as officially sanctioned and/ or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

• Though they did not recieve a miniature until the 10th Edition, Von Ryan's Leapers were first mentioned in the 3rd Edition Tyranid Codex^[3]. They are also mentioned in the Warhammer 40,000 Trading Card Game^[2]
• Given the interest that Games Workshop seems to have in referencing cinema (as well as other pop culture) in their products it seems plausible that their name was inspired by the movie (based on a book of the same name) Von Ryan's Express.

Sources

• 1: Warhammer Community: The Hive Mind Finds Clandestine New Ways To Eat Its Enemies with the Von Ryan’s Leaper (Posted on 10/04/2023) (Last accessed on 10/04/2023)
• 2: Comicgamegeek.com products (last accessed 10/4/2023)
• 3: Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition), pg. 37
• 4 : Warhammer Community : The Tyranids of Leviathan: Shred the Galaxy With Claws, Spines, and Really Big Brains (29/04/23) (last accessed 29/04/23)
• 5: Warhammer Community: Warhammer 40,000: Leviathan – What’s In The Box? (posted 29/4/2023) (last accessed 29/4/2023)