"Every one of the myriad of Tyranid warrior-creatures is a killing machine, perfectly adapted to slaughter its victims. They are the ultimate predators, and we are their prey."
- — From the reflections of an unknown Magos Biologis Tech-priest
A Tyranid Warrior of Hive Fleet Leviathan armed with a Deathspitter symbiote.
The Tyranid Warrior (Tyranicus gladius, alternatively Bellatori tyrannus) is one of the most common type of bioforms used by a Tyranid swarm. As Tyranids are constantly biologically adapting their forces to match their enemies' shifting strategies, Tyranid Warriors are often seen in combat in many different sub-species intended for different battlefield and tactical functions.
A Tyranid Warrior bioform
Tyranid Warriors are among the most important Tyranid bioforms deployed by a hive fleet in battle, as not only are they powerful and deadly creatures in their own right, but they also serve as Tyranid synapse creatures, the important bioforms intended to direct lesser Tyranid bioforms and forming the focal points of the Tyranid Hive Mind's system of telepathic command.
Tyranid Warriors on the prowl.
Tyranid Warriors are large creatures, but still smaller than the massive Tyranid 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.
Tyranids Warriors on a rampage.
According to Imperial research conducted by the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Tyranicus gladius species itself is highly adaptable to any battle role, with over 212 known variants of Tyranid Warriors having been observed -- combining flying, walking, leaping biomorphs, with biomechanical symbiotes that serve as ranged weapons like the Deathspitter or assault symbiotes like scything talons or rending claws or both.
A Tyranid Warrior of Hive Fleet Behemoth
This has caused one Imperial researcher, Magos Biologis Locard, to claim that the Tyranid Warrior is the most adaptable of any Tyranid species yet encountered.
The Tyranid Warrior is often a common trooper found in Tyranid armies. They have the ability to carry a wide variety of deadly biomechanical weaponry and other upgrades, making them suitable to take on many roles in battle. They are easily able to bring valuable long range firepower or high volume, short-ranged support to their Tyranid brethren.
In addition, they can even be seen wielding close combat biomorphs (intentionally evolved Tyranid mutations and biomechanical weapons), such as scythe-like talons or shorter, incredibly sharp claws, which make them fearsome close combat melee combatants.
Less commonly, they are seen in battle bearing great wings, which allow them to swoop onto the battlefield and act as fast-moving assault troops and close-in air support. This variant is called the Winged Warrior by Imperial forces, or the Tyranicus gladius avius sub-species by Mechanicus Magi Biologis.
Variants
- Tyranid Huntsmen - Tyranid Huntsmen use powerful biomorphs to break an enemy squad before using their iron-hard claws to eviscerate the survivors.
- Tyranid Lashers - A Tyranid Lasher pulls their prey close to them with the biomorphs known as Lash Whips before pumping their bodies full of venomous barbs.
- Tyranid Shrikes - Formerly classified as "Harpies" before that designation was given to a different flying bioform, Tyranid Shrikes are winged Tyranid Warriors able to take variable weapon loadouts, and provide synapse to Gargoyles and other flying Tyranids.
- Tyranid Warrior Prime - The Tyranid Warrior Prime serves as a powerful synapse creature for Tyranid swarms and is a potent commander of Tyranid attacks. The Tyranids' leadership caste is difficult for Imperial commanders to identify, and there is often the mistaken assumption that the larger a Tyranid creature is, the more important it is to the swarm. This is a mistake that has cost more than one Imperial officer his rank and countless men their lives. This is especially true for Tyranid Warrior Primes, an evolution of the standard Tyranid Warrior genus that has an elevated intelligence and a stronger link to the Tyranid Hive Mind.
| Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record | |||
| Imperial Designation: | Tyranid Warrior | Main Weaponry | Deathspitter |
| Common Name: | Warrior | ||
| Species Name: | Tyranicus gladius | Secondary Weaponry | Fangs and claws |
| Average Height | 2.4m | ||
| Average Weight | 1.2 tonnes | Tertiary Weaponry | None |
| First encountered | Tyran | ||
| Role | Shock troop/leader | ||
| Threat evaluation | High | ||
Sources
- Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition), pp. 36, 90
- Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition), pp. 31, 37
- Codex: Tyranids (6th Edition) (Digital Edition), "Forces of the Hive Mind"
- Codex: Tyranids (9th Edition), pp. 24, 97
- Deathwatch: Core Rulebook (RPG), pg. 370
- Imperial Armour Volume Four - The Anphelion Project
- White Dwarf 190 (UK), pg. 40
Gallery
| Tyranid Forces | |
|---|---|
| Command | Norn-Queen • Hive Tyrant • Neurotyrant (Neuroloid) • Broodlord • Neurothrope • Dagon Overlord • Malanthrope • Maleceptor • Swarmlord • Tervigon • Tyranid Warrior Prime • Trygon Prime |
| Elites | Haruspex • Hive Guard • Lictor (Neurolictor) • Leaper • Biovore • Pyrovore • Venomthrope • Ymgarl Genestealers • Zoanthrope • Hive Guard • Tyrant Guard |
| Troops | Gaunt (Termagant • Hormagaunt • Barbgaunt• Neurogaunt) • Rippers (Sky-slasher) • Genestealer • Tyranid Warrior (Tyranid Shrike) |
| Fast Attack & Flying Bioforms | Gargoyle • Harpy • Ravener • Hive Crone • Harridan • Tyrannocyte |
| Heavy Support | Biovore • Carnifex (Thornback • Stone Crusher • Screamer-Killer) • Dimachaeron • Exocrine • Mawloc • Haruspex • Pyrovore • Trygon • Tyrannofex • Sporocyst • Maleceptor • Psychophage • Toxicrene |
| Spores | Meiotic Spore • Mycetic Spore • Mucolid Spore • Spore Mine |
| Others | Bio-Titan (Hierophant • Nautiloid • Vermis • Viciator • Dactylis • Dominatrix) • Cerebore • Hierodule • Malefactor • Norn Emissary • Norn Assimilator • Capillary Tower • Reclamation Pool • Spore Chimney |
| Unique Tyranids | Deathleaper • Old One Eye • Parasite of Mortrex • Doom of Malan'Tai • Red Terror • Mist Reaper • What Lies Beneath • Death's Shadow |