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Tyranid Warrior

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Tyranid Warriors[4]

Tyranid Warriors are synaptic foot troops of the Hive Fleets. Warriors are among the most important Tyranids in battle, as not only are they powerful and deadly creatures, they are synapse creatures, directing lesser creatures and forming the focal points of the Hive Mind.

Overview

Tyranid Warriors are large creatures, although significantly smaller than the massive Hive Tyrants. They are fast and powerful, with the capability to be strong at ranged combat or in close quarters in a similar fashion to the Hive Tyrant. Tyranid Warriors are the most adaptable of all the Hive Mind’s bioforms. They are creatures from the blackest of nightmares, unstoppable killing machines with pulsing ichor for blood, needle-sharp teeth and darkly gleaming eyes that reveal a terrible intelligence at work. A Tyranid Warrior stands twice the height of a man, its carapace protected by a thick chitin. One might expect such a creature to be slow in its actions, but a Tyranid Warrior is lithe, with reactions as swift as a whip. Tyranid Warriors have the mental flexibility to employ a wide variety of bio-weapon symbiotes. As such, on the battlefield, they can be found leading all areas of a Tyranid swarm: fighting in close quarters with claws, boneswords and lash whips, or at longer ranges with devourers, deathspitters or even heavier bio-cannons. Whatever weaponry it wields, a Tyranid Warrior is a dangerous and unforgiving foe, able to identify and exploit the weaknesses of its targets with innate shrewdness. Worse, with its alien consciousness permanently bonded to the ageless Hive Mind, a Tyranid Warrior can instantly draw upon a reservoir of knowledge and experience that spans epochs, should its own prove insufficient to the task at hand.[4]

Though they are formidable fighters in their own right, it is the Tyranid Warriors’ role as the synaptic lynchpins of the swarm that makes them truly deadly. Tyranid Warriors are psychic resonators for the unwavering will of the Hive Mind and some of the more common conduits used to exert control over the less receptive creatures of the hive fleets. As such, Tyranid Warriors form a vital link in the Tyranid swarm, acting as relays and amplifiers through which Hive Tyrants issue their commands. So crucial is this role to a hive fleet’s efforts to defeat a prey world’s defenders that each Hive Tyrant is invariably accompanied by several broods of Tyranid Warriors cultured from its very own flesh – the better to enhance the psychic link throughout the swarm. This is not to imply that Tyranid Warriors are merely drones, for each is instinctively capable of assessing local battlefield situations. They can then, if the need arises, direct those Tyranid creatures near them, like an officer marshaling their forces, to exploit any tactical weakness that may appear in the enemy’s defences.[4]

The Tyranid Warrior (gladius) is a species of the Warrior (tyranicus tyranicii) genus. The gladius species itself is highly adaptable to any battle role, with over 212 known variants - combining flying, walking, leaping biomorphs, with biological ranged weapons or assault symbiotes. The basic Biomorph array for Tyranid Warriors is a Devourer and a pair of Scything Talons. However a great other combination of weaponry has been observed, including Rending Claws, Boneswords, a Lash-Whip, a Barbed Strangler, a Venom Cannon, a Deathspitter, and Spinefists.[4b]

Basic Information

Tyranid "Harpies"[1] (Shrikes)
Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record
Designation Tyranid Warrior
Common Title Warrior
Species Name Tyranicus gladius
Average Height 2.4m
Average Weight 1.2 tonnes
First encountered Tyran
Main Weaponry Deathspitter
Secondary Weaponry Fangs and claws
Tertiary Weaponry None
Role Shock troop/leader
Threat evaluation High

Tyranid Warrior Variations

  • Tyranid Huntsmen use powerful bioweaponry to break a squad before using their iron-hard claws to eviscerate the survivors.[1][2]
  • Tyranid Lashers pull their prey close to them with Lash Whips before pumping their bodies full of venomous barbs.[1]
  • Tyranid Shrikes, formerly known as Harpies[1] are winged Warriors able to take variable weapon loadouts, and provide synapse to Gargoyles and other flying Tyranids.[3a]
  • Tyranid Prime, highly advanced strain.[3a]

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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