Synapse

Tyranids Portal

Synapse Creatures leading the Tyranids

Synapse is the Tyranid Psychic Power which unites all of the Tyranids into the Hive Mind.^[1]

Synapse is projected by Synapse Creatures which are usually leaders such as Hive Tyrants, Tyranid Warriors and Broodlord or specialist psykers like Zoanthropes. These creatures have greatly increased synapse networks within their cortex and these act as psychic conduits for the Hive Mind to order nearby troops. Without the Synapse guiding them, most Tyranids will revert to a feral state, although some, such as Genestealers with their Brood Telepathy, can perform just as well without Synapse as they do with it.^[1][2]

Synapse Creatures

Synapse Creatures are some of the larger, more intelligent Tyranid organisms that act as psychic conduits or nodal relays through which a portion of the iron will of the Hive Mind flows to other lesser members of the hive. It is through Synapse that the swarms' natural Instinctive Behavior is overridden to the will of the Hive Mind.

Some standard Tyranid organisms can be adapted into becoming Synapse Creatures with Biomorphs. This has been seen with the Ravener Prime, which is equipped with a nodal Neuropredatory Crest.^[5]

Known Synapse Creatures include:

• Broodlord
• Dominatrix
• Hive Tyrant
• Maleceptor
• Neurotyrant
• Neurogaunt
  • Node-Beast
• Neurolictor
• Ravener Prime^[5]
• Tervigon
• Trygon Prime
• Tyranid Prime
  • Tyranid Warrior
    • Tyranid Shrike
• Zoanthrope
  • Neurothrope^[4]

Notes

In 2nd Edition this power was called Hive Mind.^[3]

Sources

• 1: Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition), pg. 28
• 2: Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition), pg. 6
• 3: Codex: Tyranids (2nd Edition), pg. 18
• 4: Codex: Tyranids (8th Edition), pg. 52
• 5: Kill Team: Typhon Dossier, pg. 24