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[[Image:<gallery heights="160px" widths="220px" mode="packed" caption="">Kroot shaper2.gif|thumbKroot ShaperFleshShaper.jpg|centerFlesh Shaper{{Fn|200px4}}WarShaper.jpg|A Kroot War Shaper{{Fn|4}}Warshaper2.jpg|War Shaper]]{{Fn|4}}</gallery>
**{{Endn|3a4}}: pg[https://www.warhammer-community. 32 com/2024/01/19/lvo-preview-2024-dont-get-caught-by-the-new-kroot-hunting-pack/ LVO Preview 2024 – Don’t Get Caught by the New Kroot Hunting Pack (Posted on 18/01/2024)] (Last accessed on 18/01/2024)
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[[Image:ShaperArt.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Kroot Shaper{{Fn|2}}]]
'''Shapers''' make up the leadership of the [[Kroot]], both as individual [[Kindreds]] fighting under the [[Tau Empire]] or as mercenary forces, and oversee the consumption, direction and distribution of genetic material among the most basic Kroot and between various Kroot forces. A document written by [[Genetor#Offices and Titles|Xeno Genetor Adept]] Mikulas Grenchov refers to a "Shaper caste".{{Fn|3a3}}
==Overview==
The Shapers lead individual Kindreds into battle, directing them as a [[Imperial Guard Sergeant|Sergeant]] would. {{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}} War Shapers are specialized Shapers who are seasoned battlefield commanders and command all Kroot forces in the field. They are exemplary warriors who wield [[bladestave]]s and [[prey-hook]]s, or [[dart-bow]]s and [[tri-blade]]s.{{Fn|4}} A large kindred is typically run by a [[Master Shaper]], while a group consisting of multiple kindreds may be headed by a [[Shaper Council]] of three to five kroot, who act as overseers to the other shapers, and ensure that shapers do not lead their warriors down a dangerous evolutionary path. Occasionally a '''Shaper Chief''' may rise to power in times of emergency and unite hundreds of kindreds as a single army.{{Fn|2}}{{Fn|3}}
The other job of a shaper Shaper is to direct the evolution of the Kroot in their Kindred by consuming certain enemies. For example, if a Shaper wanted his Kindred to become more muscular, he would have them pursue [[Ork]]s; likewise a Shaper who wanted more agile or swift Kroot would direct the Kindred to hunt [[Eldar]]. {{Fn|3}} Shapers who specialize in this, are known as Flesh Shapers and are vicious masters of ritual butchery. They take strong personal pride in guiding their fellow Kroots' carnivorous practices and in doing so the Flesh Shapers ensure only the finest genetic material makes it into their pack's evolutionary heritage.{{Fn|4}} The Imperium has designated them these Shapers as '''Primary Intermediate Trophic'''.{{Fn|3}}
The Shaper as many powers and traits among them are an instinctual understanding of the foes wounds and abilities, if he has devoured an example of the foe's race.{{Fn|2}}
They also have shamanistic powers, due to them being the focus of Kroot ancestor worship of their Kindred, practising rituals that seem to fill them supernatural powers, usually involving a sonorous chant and access to the powders, rocks and bones kept within the Shaper’s fetish pouch. Among these powers are '''Ancestral Blessing''', calling the warrior spirits of his ancestors to aid the Shaper and his allies, '''Blood of the Stalker''', daubing himself and his allies skin with the blood of a local predator and with a prayer to gain favour of the ancestors and grant helping them with hunts, and '''Prophetic Dream''', visions from their ancestors that grant him foreknowledge of the future that is often difficult to understand, vision which may relate to something in the next week or even years.{{Fn|2}}
==Known Shapers==
*[[Anghkor Prok]]
*[[Opikh Tak]]
*[[Pechallai]] - fought against [[Hive Fleet]] [[Gorgon (Hive Fleet)|Gorgon]] on [[Sha'draig]] in 900-901.[[M41]].{{Fn|1}}
==Images==
==Sources==
*{{Endn|1}}: [[Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition)]], pgs. 18-21
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Deathwatch: Mark of the Xenos]], pg. 16
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Chapter Approved 2004]], pg. 32-35
===Uncited===
*[[Codex: Tau (3rd Edition)]]{{Cite this}}
