The Tyranids are one of the more unique factions inWarhammer 40Kand pose a serious threat to the entire galaxy along with any creature living within. Unlike other factions, the Tyranids are driven only by their desire to feed, and their hunger is endless.
The Tyranids are from somewhere outside of the Milky Way, and unlike other groups in 40K, very little is actually known about them. The threat they pose is clear, leadingmany in the Imperiumto study them as best as possible; here are some unique and lesser-known things about the Tyranids.
10Victory Is All Or Nothing
The Tyranid’s ultimate goal is to consume Biomass that later becomes a part of the Hive Fleet, being repurposed into ships or other creatures to invade another planet. Everything is Biomass, including other dead Tyranids, meaning those killed in battle can be consumed and turned back into Biomass to later become another Tyranid.
Should the Tyranids win a battle for a planet, even at a heavy loss, every killed Tyranid is consumed and the Hive Fleet doesn’t lose any of its strength. To truly defeat a Hive Fleet, the Tyranids must be pushed back so as to not recover any lost Biomass, which often requires a complete victory against the Hive Fleet.
9They Come From Far Away
A Threat Beyond What Is Known
The distance between galaxies is vast, and somehow the Tyranids have come from outside of the Milky Way. It is unknown what else is out there, but the distance the Tyranids traveled also led some to theorize they don’t actually need to feed, as that journey could have taken countless years with nothing to eat along the way.
The Tyranids are coming from outside the galaxy, but it’s also not clear from where, as different Hive Fleets have appeared across many different sections of the galaxy. This leads some to further theorize the Tyranids have completely surrounded the Milky Way and will continue to attack from all directions.
8They Are Connected
They Act As One
Every Tyranid doesn’t have a mind of its own and instead operates as a part of the Hive Mind. The exact extent of the Hive Mind’s connection between Hive Fleets is unknown, but it is clear that in battle, Tyranids can instantly pass along information or memories to the entire Hive Fleet.
This connection allows for the Tyranids to immediately adopt new information or changes in the battle and perfectly counter a new strategy from the enemy. While all races have developed some form of communication to use in battle, the few seconds faster the Tyranids are can make or break a planet.
7Everything Is Alive
No Technology, Only Creatures
Every aspect of the Tyranids is Biomass and alive. This means that each individual gun and bullet it fires is a living Tyranid. While they do connect and work together, this adds a level of lethality notfound in other factions.
One notable example is Fleshborers, guns used by Termagaunts, which fire a living parasite that not only deals damage on impact but further buries into the target and begins eating them from the inside out.
6Just One Tyranid Could Mean The End
Genestealers Can Take Over Entire Planets Single-Handedly
There are many stages to a Tyranid invasion, with the beginning often seeing those on the planet acting in the shadows. A common first scout to a planet is a Genestealer, which spreads a virus throughout a colony to transform its population into Tyranid Hybrids.
A single Genestealer has the potential of infecting and turning an entire planet, with it calling the main Hive Fleet to attack the planet once the defenses are weakened. While it may take a few generations, these Genestealer Cults then rise up against those unaffected on the planet and fight alongside the main Hive Fleet once it arrives.
5They Are Learning
Remembering What Works & What Doesn’t
While it’s unclear how connected the Hive Mind is between Hive Fleets, what is clear is that they are all learning. If even a single Tyranid survives, the memories from all the Tyranids of that battle are a part of the Hive Mind and will be used when fighting the same faction later on.
Most of the 40K universe is stagnating in terms of development, meaning Tyranids are learning how to beat each faction as they are with little change to worry about. Every time theyfight Space Marines, they learn a little more about how to effectively take them down, until one day they develop a weapon to do it instantly.
4The Shadow In The Warp
Cut A Planet Off Before They Get There
As the Hive Fleet zeros in on and approaches a planet, the Shadow In The Warp begins. It is basically the sound of the Hive Mind, described as billions of voices talking at once, and it drowns out any ability to relay messages off the planet either through technology or the Warp.
It’s not believed to be intentional, and just the sound of the Hive Mind, but is very effective at cutting a planet off from calling for reinforcements. Just about any person who has ever tried sending a message through the Shadow In The Warp is left brain-dead after just a millisecond of hearing it.
3The Hive Mind
Are They One Or Many?
The Tyranids operate as a Hive Mind, but the full extent of the Hive Mind is a mystery to the Imperium. There are many theories that the Hive Mind connects all the Hive Fleets and controls every Tyranid all at once, while others believe it to be the connection of many nearby Tyranids that then make up a Hive Fleet.
Many also believe the Tyranids seen in the Milky Way galaxy so far are just the beginning of a much larger force, and possibly a singular being that is the Hive Mind, controlling all Tryanids all at once even from such a great distance.
2They Eat Everything
Nothing Is Left Behind Tyranid Destruction
When attacking a planet, Tyranids consume everything even if it’s not biomass. Every material can be broken down and used by the Hive Fleet, even down to the atmosphere of a planet.
Should the Tyranids take a planet, they will spend a few days breaking down and destroying absolutely everything, leaving the planet as nothing more than a barren rock without a shred of life left behind. This also leads to the planet being forever inhospitable, never to be used by any other faction.
1They May Be The End Of The Galaxy
A Threat Beyond Scale
The threat of the Tyranids is clear to just about every faction in the 40K universe. Even though every Hive Fleet has been beaten back, the planets they consume are forever gone, leaving lasting damage to the galaxy.
It’s unclear how manyTyranids and Hive Fleetsare truly out there, but even at their current rate, they will slowly chip away at the galaxy’s resources until eventually the Imperium and the other factions can’t fight back anymore. While this process may take another 10,000 years, the Tyranids show no concern for time, and will gladly consume the galaxy one planet at a time.
