Hive Tyrant
Hive Tyrants are monstrous Tyranid creatures, who act as the main Synapse links to the Hive Mind within medium-sized Tyranid ground forces, thus coming to be the closest thing to a leader unit that can be commonly found.
They are extremely powerful, large and strong and may make use of massive close combat strength or specially augmented ranged bio-weaponry, although they excel in both.
They appear to be either a more complex and highly evolved form of Tyranid Warrior or evolved from a completely different and higher genus.2 They are highly mutable, including the development of unfeasibly large scythes or extra thick body carapace. They are also highly psychic and their relationship to the Hive Mind is even closer than that of the Tyranid Warriors2, allowing them to act as control nodes for the lesser beings around them. Some forms are born with wings giving them a major advantage over other Tyrants, however they are more vulnerable to heavy weapons and anti-tank weapons, in fact they lack the stronger Tyranids' carapace armour.1
Some Imperial techno-magi believe that Hive Tyrants are the consort-minds of the Norn-Queen that forms the repository of the Hive Fleet's own collective consciousness, which would mean they completely embody the Hive Mind, but their destruction would not diminish it in any way.2
| Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record | |||
| Designation | Hive Tyrant | Main Weaponry | 4x scything claws |
| Common Title | Overfiend | ||
| Species Name | Tyranicus praefactor | Secondary Weaponry | Fangs and claws |
| Average Height | 6.1m | ||
| Average Weight | 6 tonnes/Winged Strains 4.9 tonnes | Tertiary Weaponry | None |
| First encountered | Tyran | ||
| Role | Battlefield command | ||
| Threat evaluation | Very high | ||
Older Background
In Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, the term "Hive-tyrant" applied to the ruler and primogenitor of the whole Hive Fleet - they were described as immensely psychic, huge, bloated with eggs and virtually immobile. The destruction of this Hive-tyrant would disperse the fleet. This description fits the Norn-Queen of more recent publications. It was during the second edition of the game that the position of the Tyranid Hive Tyrant in the Tyranid hierarchy changed to its current position; not the highest embodiment of the hive-mind, but the largest version commonly encountered in battle.3
Images
4th Edition
- Tyranid Hive Tyrant 4th Edition 3.JPG
3rd Edition
2nd Edition
Forgeworld
Winged Hive Tyrant
Hive Tyrant with Scything Talons
