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This article is about the Tyranid genus; for the Imperial Guard officer, see Ibram Gaunt. |
Gaunt (Gauntii) is the genus for a number of the smaller Tyranid species — including Termagants, Spinegaunts, Hormagaunts and Gargoyles.
Overview
The Gaunt species are smaller and less physically powerful than most other Tyranid organisms, but they are extraordinarily adaptable and always attack in large numbers. They are a fully mutable species, and some are grown with extra wings, adrenaline/venom sacs and even bizarre bio-weapon symbiotes, including the dreaded Spike Rifle. In battle, Gaunts are used as cheap expendable warriors who are thrown at the Tyranids' enemies in huge numbers.[3] During the onset of a Tyranid planetary invasion, billions of Gaunts are deployed, letting many xenobiologists to believe that the more common Gaunt species are primarily used to exhaust enemy ammunitions. Unless swiftly killed, an endless swarm of Gaunts would soon overrun gunlines and clog trenches, making the prospect of running out of ammunition a fear shared by even the strongest defender.[10]
There is a strange affinity between Gaunts and Tyranid Warriors that goes beyond the usual influence of the Hive Mind, particularly among Termagants. Gaunts will react instantly to an enemy that threatens their larger kin, and if separated from their Synapse Creature will often become confused. On such occasions the creature's self-preservation instinct can take over and it will abandon the fight in search of shelter. Some Gaunts, such as the Hormagaunt, are known to be able to reproduce independently and can thus field massive numbers even separated from the main Hive Fleet.[3]
Available Bio-weapons mutations
- Fleshborer
- Devourer
- Scything Talons
- Spinefists[5]
- Strangleweb[4]
- Spike Rifle[4]
- Shardlauncher[6a]
- Barblauncher[6c]
Sometimes groups of Gaunts are gathered together to form a specialized brood. They are usually similar in some way, often by their armament. Some of these include:
- Impaler Broods
Impaler Broods are formed of up to 8 Gaunts armed with Spike Rifles.
- Strangler Broods
Strangler Broods are formed of up to 8 Gaunts armed with Stranglewebs.
Species of Gaunt
- Gargoyles are a species of gaunt that are are armed with a Fleshborer. They have also evolved a blinding venom attack and wings.
- The Hormagaunt is a gaunt species that is armed with Scything Talons. It has also evolved a remarkable leaping ability.
- The Spinegaunt is Gaunt species that is armed with Spinefists.[5]
- The Termagant is the most numerous gaunt species. It is most commonly armed with a Fleshborer. The term "Termagant" is often used, in a broader sense, to mean any gaunt species that carries a ranged weapon symbiote.
- The Neurogaunt is a Gaunt species controlled by their back-mounted Neurocytes that protect the powerful synapse creatures that coordinate the Tyranid invasions, and extend the reach of their synaptic link.[6b]
- The Barbgaunt is a Gaunt species which acts as a mobile fire support platform for Barblaunchers.[6c]
- The Mahir Leaper is a Gaunt species with a reduced size and hardened carapace that tends to hunt in large packs.[7]
- Nightgaunt is a winged gaunt species that is armed with Scything Talons and Implant Attack.[2]
- Deathgaunt is gaunt species that is armed with Scything Talons, Toxin Sacs, and is capable of leaping.[2][Conflicting sources]
Other Subspecies
There are many other sub-species of Gaunt which little is known, among them are:
- Hellgaunts
- Terrorgaunts
- Slashgaunts
- Razorgants
- Crucigants
- Exegants
- Malgants
- Mortegaunts
- Rendergants
- Protogaunts
- Pyrogaunts
- Lashgaunts
- Genogants
- Toxigaunts
Trivia
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In an article published on the Games Workshop Website about army-building strategies and differences for 4th Edition Tyranids as compared to 3rd Edition, as part of the lead-up to the release of Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition), playtester Shaun Clough offhandedly termed his Hormagaunts equipped with Toxin Sacs and Adrenal Glands "Hypergaunts".[9]
Conflicting sources
Conflicting sources In White Dwarf 308 (UK) in an article described as being about batch-painting Deathgaunts, the gaunts being painted are equipped with Devourers and Toxin Sacs[8] while Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition) from four years earlier describes Deathgaunts as having Scything Talons, Toxin Sacs, and Leaping[2].
Gallery
A brood of Termagants (10th Edition)
A brood of Hormagaunts (10th Edition)
A brood of Neurogaunts (10th Edition)
A Spinegaunt (3rd Edition)[1]
Termagants (3rd Edition)
Hormagaunts (3rd Edition)
Deathgaunts
Hellgaunts
Nightgaunts
Terrorgaunts
Slashgaunts
Razorgants
Crucigants
Exegants
Malgants
Mortegaunts
Rendergants
Protogaunts
Pyrogaunts
Lashgaunts
Genogants
Toxigaunts
Related Articles
Sources
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- 1: Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition), pg. 70
- 2: Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition), pg. 39
- 3: Codex: Tyranids (8th Edition), pg. 48
- 4: Strangler and Skewer (saved archive page, dated March 2007)
- 5: Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition), pg. 40
- 6: Codex: Tyranids (10th Edition)
- 7: Deathwatch: Rites of Battle, pg. 243
- 8: White Dwarf 308 (UK): Batch Broods, pgs. 72-73
- 9: Army Building for Hive Minds, pg. 3 (saved archive page, dated 11 April 2008, last accessed 18 September 2024, original link: http://uk.games-workshop.com/tyranids/hivemind-armies/1/)
- 10: Apocalypse (2007), pg. 153
Uncited
