The Hierodule is a large Tyranid Bio-construct, around the size of an Imperial Super Heavy Tank. Like many Tyranid creatures the Hierodule seems to be a mutable breed, able to be created in different forms depending on the needs of the Hive Fleet. There have been two different forms of Hierodule observed by Imperial forces so far, namely the "Scythed" and the "Barbed" variants.[1a]
Barbed Hierodule
History
After losing Harmman's World to Hive Fleet Kraken, the Imperial forces reinforced the Moran System. The assault, by Hive Fleet Kraken, was soon manifested. While the Imperium had learned from its losses, the Tyranid had evolved. The Hierodule had evolved into the Barbed Hierodule with a powerful ranged attack. It was quite a shock to the Imperial forces when it appeared on Maxima Moran.[1a]
Observations
The Barbed Hierodule replaces two of the Scythed Hierodule's claws with a pair of massive Barbed Strangler bio-cannons. Unlike the Scythed variant, it has no symbiote acid spray but instead has thicker armour plates,[1b] capable of withstanding many weapon types. Even those that penetrate the reinforced eco-skeleton cause little damage due to the Barbed Hierodule's sheer bulk.[6]
Scythed Hierodule
History
The Scythed Hierodule was first encountered on the Imperial planet Hamman's World. In the assimilation of Hamman's World, the Scythed Hierodule was in the Vanguard of the Tyranid forces beside masses of Gaunts. They were especially effective against prepared defenses, such as bunkers.[1a]
The Scythed Hierodule has only been encountered in a single tendril of Hive Fleet Kraken and there infrequently but their appearance surely will grow with time. Xenos Biologists have tried to capture a live sample, but have, so far, failed because every Xenos Hunter team, sent on the quest, have failed to return.[Needs Citation] The finding of a non-alive sample is also a problem because every one of the extracted Hierodules was almost totally destroyed by the heavy weapons fire.[1a]
Observations
The Scythed Hierodule is armed with four huge razor sharp claws, each capable of slicing through a battle tank, and heavily protected by chitin plates, in places up to 30 cm thick.[5] A Hierodule is far larger than a Carnifex. As well as its claws, the Hierodule also bears a symbiote creature which appears to live in its back, growing out between the armour plates. This toxic creature helps defend its host from attack, squirting a jet of potent mutagenic acid against any enemy that gets too close.[1a]
Miniatures
See also
Trivia
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Departmento Analyticus Record
| Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record | |||
| Designation | Barbed Hierodule | Scythed Hierodule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Weaponry | 2x bio-cannon[2c] | 4x scything claws[2b] | |
| Secondary Weaponry | Two Scything forelimb claws[2c] | Acid spray[2b] | |
| Tertiary Weaponry | Multiple claws and fangs[2b][2c] | ||
| Common Title | Barbed slaughterer[2c] | Scythed slaughterer[2b] | |
| Specied Name | Uncus Hierodule Domitor[2c] | Sica Hierodule Domitor[2b] | |
| Average Height | Disputed. 4.9m[2] to 5.8m[1b] | ||
| Length | Snout to tail: 15m[1b] | ||
| Shoulder Width | 3.4m[1b] | ||
| Scythe Length | 3.6m[1b] | 3.4m[1a] | |
| Average Speed | 7 kph[1b] | ||
| Estimated Maximum Speed | 22 kph[1b] | ||
| Average Weight | Disputed. 6 tonnes[1b] to 17 tonnes[2c] | Disputed. 6 tonnes[1a] to 14 tonnes[2b] | |
| Estimated Armour | 4-80mm[1a] | ||
| First encountered | Moran Prime[2c] | Hamman's World[2b] | |
| Role | Heavy assault[2c]/support[2b] | ||
| Threat evaluation | Very high[2c] | Extreme[2b] | |
Sources
- 1: Imperial Armour Update 2002
- 2: Imperial Armour Volume Four - The Anphelion Project
- 3: White Dwarf 189 (UK), pg. 18
- 4: (https://web.archive.org/web/20150429164834/http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Tyranids/TYRANID-SCYTHED-HIERODULE.html Forge World webstore] (saved archive)
- 5: Imperial Armour - Apocalypse, pg. 67
- 6: Apocalypse (2007), pg. 149
