Ravener
A Ravener is a Tyranid species adapted for fast assaults, surprise raids and swift pursuits.
Contents
Overview
Raveners are capable of burrowing under the ground for long distances and moving over all manner of terrain at alarming speeds. They have spade-like Scything Talons for digging, snake-like bodies for agile movement, and thorax-mounted biomorphs such as Devourers and Deathspitters.[1b] They also bear some resemblance to the Tyranid Warrior species.[1a]
Raveners have highly sensitive auditory and visual senses that can detect a broad range of vibrations and energy bands, allowing them to hear small tremors on a planet's surface and also giving them the unique ability to "see" energy-forms emitted by Vox transmissions, sensor-stealth technology and even Teleport Homers. They can effectively hunt prey by detecting an unguarded signal and tracking it back to its origin. Thus the enemy's technology is turned against them, and any concealed outposts or infiltrators are not hidden from a Ravener.[1a]
Raveners, like many Tyranid organisms, are essentially unthinking beasts when not under the influence of the Hive Mind. They lose all sense of priority, reverting to the animalistic joy of chasing down a panicked and fleeing foe rather than attacking closer stationary targets.[1a]
Variations
Reports have emerged of "elite" broods of Raveners operating on worlds far beyond the reach of the Hive Mind for extended periods. These Raveners carry a number of unusual adaptations and Biomorphs unseen in previous examples. Tentatively designated "Kill Teams", they are amongst the most efficient and effective predator organisms used by the Tyranids. Such Raveners can lay dormant on worlds for potentially millennia until they are awakened or needed.[9a]
Variations include:
- Ravener Alpha
- Ravener Prime - Act as nodal hubs for their broods via their neuropredatory crest. The Hive Mind's influence spreads to nearby Ravener's, overriding their base instincts and coordinating them.[9b]
- Felltalon - Equipped with claws that secrete virulent toxins. Those infected by the poison who manage to survive and escape leave a trail of pathogens that the Felltalon can track.[9b]
- Tremorscythe - Equipped with nerve clusters that fill their hypersensory array, detecting not only their prey's movements but also their energy blooms, comm bursts, and minute chemical signatures.[9b]
- Wrecker - Equipped with increased muscle mass, oversized claws, and thickened carapaces. These living weapons are used to break into reinforced holdouts, armoured vehicles, bunkers, and tearing apart anything in their path.[9b]
- Venomspitter - Adapted to carry sac-like nodules that produce deadly toxins. From modified jaws, they can spit the poison in gobbets over considerable distances that douse enemy positions in venomous ooze.[9b]
Basic Info
| Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record [2] | |||
| Designation | Ravener | ||
| Common Title | Snake[5a], Slither-slasher[5a] | ||
| Species Name | Tyranicus ophidius subterra[5a], Tyranicus ophidicus subterra[6] | ||
| Average Height | 5 m (length) | ||
| Average Weight | 2 tonnes | ||
| First encountered | St Capilene | ||
| Role | Subterranean assault | ||
| Threat evaluation | High | ||
Images
Miniatures
Ravener miniature (5th edition)[1c]
Ravener miniature (4th Edition)[5b]
Ravener miniature (3rd Edition)[4]
Ravener variations (Kill Team: Typhon)[8]
Ravener variations (Kill Team: Typhon)[8]
Ravener variations (Kill Team: Typhon)[8]
Related Articles
Sources
- 1: Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition):
- 2: Imperial Armour Volume Four: The Anphelion Project, pg. 102
- 3: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, Single-player mission, "Into the Hive"
- 4: Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition), pg.32
- 5: Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition)
- 6: Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse, pg. 147
- 7: Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond Warhammer 40,000 - Ravener
- 8: Warhammer Community: Protect the Great Gun from Tyranid invasion in Kill Team: Typhon (posted 27/3/2025) saved page, original link: https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/n9qtzvsu/protect-the-great-gun-from-tyranid-invasion-in-kill-team-typhon/ (last accessed 27/3/2025)
- 9: Kill Team: Typhon Dossier
