Most Dangerous Tyranid Bioforms, Ranked

Summary

• Tyranids are a unified species led by the powerful and intelligent Hive Mind, evolving to adapt to threats.
• Tyranids consist of deadly bioforms like Trygons, Lictors, Zoanthropes, Broodlords, and more, each fulfilling specific roles.
• Swarmlords are feared Hive Tyrant bioforms, powerful leaders created by the Hive Mind in dire situations.

Coming from outside the Milky Way, in the Warhammer 40k universe, the Tyranids may be the biggest threat to all life in the galaxy. These ravenous alien creatures are driven by an unending hunger to consume all biomass. The vast swarms can strip a planet bare, leaving only a dead, lifeless rock in their wake.

Tyranids are not individual monsters. Each creature is part of the powerful and intelligent Hive Mind that leads the Tyranids with malice and hunger. These near-unstoppable aliens can take many forms as the Hive Mind adapts to new threats. From colossal, slow-moving monsters to fast and agile assassins or cunning battlefield leaders, Tyranids are a multi-faceted species with a single terrible purpose.

10

Trygon

Deadly Burrowing Monsters

Trygons are towering bioforms specializing in stealth missions. Burrowing deep underground, these large serpentine monsters emerge behind enemy lines, dealing massive damage before their victims can react.

They attack with six massive arms and bioelectric charges powerful enough to kill. Combined with other Trygons, these charges can arc from creature to creature, creating a powerful bioelectric field. The Trygons evolved from the much smaller Raveners, who sometimes follow Trygons into battle. However, these bioforms are not only deadly warrior strains. They also sow fear and panic among enemies, as now one can know when or where a Trygon may strike next.

9

Lictor

Invisible Deadly Assassins

While most Tyranids are designed to overwhelm planets, the Lictor bioform is the opposite. The Hive Mind created these fast-moving hunters for a singular purpose, such as assassination, scouting, or infiltration. Their chameleon-like skin allows them to hide in plain sight, waiting for the opportunity to strike.

Several off-shoot strains of the Lictor are specialized killers. The most notable are the Deathleaper, designed to sow fear among its enemies, and the Neurolictor, with its ability to implant terrors directly into the minds of its victims. While the Lictors are fewer than other Tyranid strains, their presence can undermine the morale and resolve of even the most hardened veterans of war.

8

Zoanthrope

Elite Psychic Strains

While a Zoanthrope may appear weak in the body, with their legs and torsos severally atrophied, in truth, they are one of the most dangerous strains of bioform the Hive Mind has created. Zoanthropes harness the raw psychic power of the Hive Mind, unleashing devastating warp attacks or even blocking artillery bombardments.

However, of all the Zoanthrope strains, the Neurothrope is the most dangerous. This evolved bioform can use the life force of its enemies to power its psychic attacks, and is much larger than the common Zoanthrope strain.

7

Broodlord

The Vanguard of a Tyranid Invasion

After a planet has fallen to a Genestealer Cult uprising, a psychic wave calls out to the Tyranid Hive fleets. Upon arrival, the Genestealers, linked to the Genestealer Patriarch, are taken over by the Hive Mind.

Broodlords are monstrous bioforms that the Hive Mind creates to take command of the Genestealer population in the early stages of an invasion. Emerging from sewers and hidden places, the Broodlords attack without warning, causing havoc among the desperate remnants of a planetary force. These bioforms can quickly turn a battle using the embedded Genestealers to deal significant damage to enemy lines.

6

Norn Emissary

A Single-Minded Hunter

A Norn Emissary is a purposefully bred monster created by a Hive Fleets Norn-Queen for a singular goal. They are savagely intelligent, cunning, and psychically powerful. Much larger than even Hive Tyrants, a Norn Emissary is sent into battle to accomplish specific strategic tasks, from killing important commanders to capturing specific key targets.

These terrifying monstrosities are highly effective at what they do, with few in the galaxy able to stop them. Their large size, formidable weapons, and psychic abilities are a match for even the greatest warriors of the Imperium. A Norn Emissary is given more autonomy than most Tyranid bioforms, and is imbued with strategic knowledge for its singular goal. These creatures can turn the tide of battles by decimating the enemy’s command structure with speed, aggression, and terrible strength.

5

Hierophant Bio-Titan

A Towering and Unstoppable Threat

Hierophants are colossal walking monsters that glide over battlefields with ease. Only the most powerful weapons can pierce their chitinous armor as droves of enemies are melted with their giant bio-cannons, and their long legs pierce armored tanks.

Spewing deadly bio-plasma onto their unlucky foes, Hierophants are the largest Tyranids encountered in the setting and are equal in size to Imperial Titans. While the Hierophant is a literal walking death machine that deals untold amounts of devastation, the bioform can be taken out by large artillery or ordnance.

4

Harridan

A Gliding Titan of Death

The Harridan is the largest flying Tyranid bioform ever encountered. This colossal titan sweeps across enemy skies, delivering death to unfortunate souls unable to escape its enormous talons or devastating bio-cannons. Hundreds can die in seconds when a Harridan emerges from above.

While the Harridan is slower than many Imperial Flyers, its immense strength is more than a match for the average Thunderhawk. However, its true danger lies in what it carries. Harridans are brood mothers to the Gargoyle strain of Tyranid. Countless Gargoyles can attach themselves to the underbelly of the flying monster, swarming over prey at a moment’s notice.

3

Rippers

Stripping Planets Bare

The Rippers may be one of the smallest bioforms of Tyranid, but they are undoubtedly one of the most destructive. These small maggot-like monsters are by far the most numerous Tyranid form and are used to strip planets of all biomass.

Any creature caught in the waves of Rippers will be quickly consumed by thousands of jaws, working as one for the Hive Mind. Rippers will appear en masse near the final stages of a planet’s death in untold millions. They gorge themselves fat on biomass before throwing themselves into the reclamation pools to be turned into brand-new Tyranids. These monsters may be small, but they are the unstoppable planet killers of the Tyranid species.

2

Hormagaunts

The Unending Swarm

The Hormagaunts are the common footsoldiers of a Tyranid army. While individual Hormagaunts are fast and deadly enemies that can be easily killed by the average Guardsman, their danger lies in numbers.

The Hive Mind unleashes Hormagaunts in their millions, creating unending swarms of razor-sharp teeth and slashing claws. Entire armies can be overwhelmed by the sheer force of a Hormagaunt swarm, working as one mind for a single purpose. With no fear of death, Hormagaunts strike in unending waves until the enemy is completely consumed.

1

Swarmlord

The Pinnacle of Tyranid Evolution

When the Tyranids arrive on a planet, their vast swarms are led by powerful bioforms named Hive Tyrants. While these Tyranid generals are some of the most cunning and dangerous creatures in the setting, they can sometimes fail. In these rare circumstances, the Hive Mind unleashes something even worse.

The Swarmlord is an ancient and feared Hive Tyrant bioform that is said to be the most powerful synapse creature the species ever created. After death, these rarely-seen monsters are remade with the same memories and experiences, thus becoming ever more powerful with each rebirth. They can appear in any hive fleet when the situation is most dire. In battle, they are unstoppable weapons of fury, directing their forces with knowledge gained over untold millions of years.