Reclamation Pool

Tyranids Portal

Reclamation Pool^[2]

Reclamation pools, or digestion pools,^[5] are a vital part of a Tyranid invasion.^[2]

Overview

Bio-ship Capillary Tubes feeding on a Digestion Pools.^[11]

Digestion pools act as a planet-wide series of external stomach for a hive fleet. They break down biomass of both Tyranid and prey-creature alike. This bubbling bio-gruel is then drawn up through monolithic capillary towers and questing bio-ship capillary tubes to be subsequently assimilated by the alien fleet and the genetic secrets of those conquered are unlocked.^[5]

Invasion Stages

Each invasion goes through identifiable stages. First comes the identification and infiltration of a prey world, when Mycetic Spores land vanguard creatures such as Genestealers and Lictors. These become active, probing defences and assessing the world's ability to resist an attack.^[1]

Next comes the subjugation phase, when the planet's defenders are assaulted and overwhelmed by swarms of Tyranid creatures. After all major resistance has been overcome, comes the consumption phase as the planet's atmosphere is changed and all genetic material is broken down into reclamation pools. Creatures such as Rippers and Malanthropes consume all the planet's biological material before jumping into the pools and being consumed themselves.^[1]

In the final stages of a Tyranid invasion, the pools are then harvested by hive ships which enter low orbit and pump the gene-rich biological soup on board via Capillary Tubes that dock with Capillary Towers on the world's surface.^[1] Thus the bubbling bio-gruel is drawn all the way up to the alien fleet.^[5]

Images

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  ^[3]

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  ^[4]

See also

• Species of Tyranid
• Capillary Towers

Sources

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• 1: Imperial Armour Volume Four - The Anphelion Project, ^[Help]
• 2: White Dwarf 255, pg. 34
• 3: Games Workshop: Black Gobbo 46 - No Lifeguard on Duty Intro (Saved archive page, dated 8 Jan 2007, last accessed 2 January 2025, original link: http://us.games-workshop.com/games/40k/tyranids/terrain/digestion_pool/default.htm)
• 4: Games Workshop: Black Gobbo 46 - No Lifeguard on Duty: Make A Simple Digestion Pool (Saved archive page, dated 8 Jan 2007, last accessed 2 January 2025, original link: http://us.games-workshop.com/games/40k/tyranids/terrain/digestion_pool/3simple.htm)
• 5: Apocalypse War Zone: Valedor, pg. 22