Biovore

The Tyranid bioform called the Biovore (Tyranicus patris-boletus) is a powerful "living artillery" weapon for the Tyranid swarms. Deep within its squat, lumpen form, the Biovore nurtures a clutch of Spore Mines -- living bombs that clouds the battlefield and covers enemies in acids, poisons and pieces of chitin. A Biovore launches these mines from a dorsal aperture by means of a powerful muscle spasm. Even if the shot misses its target, the danger is far from over, for the Spore Mines are possessed of a rudimentary intelligence and detonate not on impact, but when they sense the proximity of a non-Tyranid lifeform. Fortunately, the Biovore's relative rarity amongst the Tyranid swarms is taken as a sign that the Hive Mind prefers to win its battles in bloody melee, but the truth is subtly different.

Over time, as the Hive Fleets pressed ever deeper into the galaxy, their victories were much harder won as their enemies began to concentrate on destroying the swarm from great distance. In response, the pragmatic Hive Mind recognised the need for a bioform that could neutralise the enemy's long-range weaponry, thus leading to the birth of the Biovore. Imperial savants believe that the Hive Mind may have made use of Orkoid genetic material to create the Biovore. Thus this creature is not merely a powerful weapon in the Hive Mind's arsenal, it is living proof of the adaptive nature of the Tyranid menace.

Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record

Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record
Designation:	Biovore
Common Title:	Gunbeast
Species Name:	Tyranicus patris-boletus
Average Height:	2 metres
Average Weight:	2 tonnes
First Encountered:	Ichar IV (Second Tyrannic War)
Role:	Indirect fire support
Threat Evaluation:	Low

Combat Role

Living Artillery

While many Tyranid bioforms excel in melee, they suffer the common weakness of all melee combatants: they must reach their target in order to attack. Enemies that prefer ranged combat know this, and will attempt to stop the Tyranids from even reaching their lines, thinning them out with artillery bombardments and heavy gunfire. The Biovore is a specialized counter to such strategies, and can easily target enemy gun emplacements or artillery platforms. The Hive Mind has even been known to use the Biovore in a more traditional sense if the foe attempts to charge the Tyranid lines. Spore mines are excellent at breaking up squads, as the foe must choose between going around or risking casualties.

Unit Composition

1-3 Biovores

Wargear

Spore Mine Launcher

Sources

Codex: Tyranids (6th Edition) (Tablet), pp. 125-126
Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition), pg. 48
Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition)
Deathwatch: The Jericho Reach (RPG), pg. 184
Imperial Armour Volume Four - The Anphelion Project
Games Workshop Online Store - Tyranid Biovore
Codex: Tyranids (8th Edition)