Tyranids 7th Edition
Tyranids Tactical Summary as of 10-26-16
The Tyranids have developed from just Genestealers into the Big Bad of the Warhammer 40k universe. Tyranids have mostly been a narrative device for many evocative stories, a force of nature than anything else. Games Workshop has done an excellent job expanding Tyranids from the Space Hulk origin into the existential threat to all life in the galaxy.
The Tyranids just like there history have gone through many play style iterations. The Tyranids started out very limited with shooting from Warriors and Assault from Carnifexes and Genestealers. As the Tyranid range grew so did the possibilities, for a long time it was a mass swarm army, then moved to high volume shooting army. These days Tyranids are defined by one unit the Flying Hive Tyrant. Throughout Tyranid history they been designed around the idea of Synapse. Synapse is a extension of the fluff, but has always been a tool to force Tyranid players to take an assortment of units. Sadly, it has gotten to the point that most competitive Tyranid players take only Synapse creatures.
The Tyranids really struggle by not being properly updated since the start of the second half of 7th edition; leaving very few players willing to give this army a chance at this point. Tyranids have a dearth of shitty units, but they don’t have a bad selection of Formations. Like the Orks, Tyranids have formations that are powerful, but go unseen because of the amount of models you need to be effective. Powerful Tyranid Formations make Gargoyles, Harpies, Crones, and Exocrines playable, but fatigue has set in and no one is really giving them a try. Tyranids have great potential to counter the current meta (especially with Genestealer Cult help), but you won’t see any of that until 8th edition Warhammer 40k drops to save the day.
Below you find all the quick reference material you need to build an competitive or fluffy Tyranids army.
As of 10-26-2016 Tyranids Detachments are…
- Combined Arms Detachment
- Allied Detachment
- Hive Fleet Detachment
(See tabs for details)
Combined Arms Detachment
Force Organization
Compulsory: 1 HQ, 2 Troops
Optional: 1 HQ, 4 Troops, 3 Elites, 3 FA, 3 HS, 1 Lord of War, 1 Fortification
Restrictions: All units chosen must have the same Faction (or have no Faction).
Command Benefits:
Ideal Mission Commander: If this Detachment is chosen as your Primary Detachment, you can choose to re-roll the result on the Warlord Trait table.
Objective Secured: All Troops units from this Detachment have the Objective Secured special rule. A unit with this special rule controls objectives even if an enemy scoring unit is within range of the objective marker, unless the enemy unit also has this special rule.
Source: Warhammer 40k 7th ed. Rule Book
Allied Detachment
Compulsory: 1 HQ, 1 Troop
Optional: 1 Troop, 1 Elite, 1 FA, 1 HS
Restrictions: This Detachment cannot be your Primary Detachment. Your Warlord can never be chosen from this Detachment. All units chosen must have the same Faction (or no Faction). All units chosen must have a different Faction to any of the units in your Primary Detachment (or no Faction).
Command Benefits:
Objective Secured: All Troops units from this Detachment have the Objective Secured special rule. A unit with this special rule controls objectives even if an enemy scoring unit is within range of the objective marker, unless the enemy unit also has this special rule.
Source: Warhammer 40k 7th ed. Rule Book
Hive Fleet Detachment
Force Organization
Compulsory: 1 HQ, 3 Troops
Optional: 2 HQ, 6 Troops, 3 Elites, 3 FA, 3 HS, 1 LoW
Restrictions: All units chosen must have the Tyranids Faction. If your Warlord is from this Detachment, then you must roll on the Hive Fleet Leviathan Warlord Traits table to see which Warlord Trait it has.
Command Benefits:
Adapted Instincts: You can re-roll the Instinctive Behavior roll for any unit in this detachment.
Ideal Mission Commander: If this Detachment is chosen as your Primary Detachment, you can choose to re-roll the result on the Warlord Traits table.
Source: Campaign: Shield of Baal: Leviathan
As of 10-25-2016 Tyranids Unique Item groups are…
- Tyranid Bio-artefact
(See tabs for details)
A model may replace any pair of scything talons with one of the following. Only one of each Tyranid Bio-artefact may be taken per army.
Maw-Claws of Thyrax 10 pts:
Range -, Str User, AP 5, Type: Melee, Rending, Assimilate – If this weapon’s close combat attacks cause an enemy model to be removed as a casualty, the model equipped with the Maw-claws of Thyrax gains the Preferred Enemy special rule against all units chosen from the same codex as the model removed as a casualty.
Miasma Cannon 25 pts:
Miasmic Spit Range 36 inches, Str 1, AP 54, Type: Assault 1, Blast, Poison 2+. Miasmic spray Range Template, Str 1, AP 4, Type: Assault 1, Poison 2+
The Norn Crown 40 pts:
A model with the Norn Crown adds 6? to its synapse range.
The Ymgarl Factor 40 pts:
At the start of every Assault phase, a model with the Ymgarl Factor must alter their form into one of the three listed below. The bonus gained lasts until the end of the phase. The same form cannot be chosen in two consecutive turns. Slashing Claws: The model has +1 Strength. Tentacled Limbs: The model has +1 Attack. Protective Carapace: The model’s armour save is improved by 1.
Reaper of Obliterax 45 pts:
Range -, Str +1, AP 3, Melee, Shred, Swiftstrike, Life Drain – Life Drain: Any To Wound roll of a 6 made by this weapon has the Instant Death special rule.
As of 10-25-16
The next section features all the various Formations each faction has. Expand each Formation for detailed information for, including (red highlighted) links to shopping lists for each Formation.
Lictor Forest Brood Formation
Restrictions: The Lictor Forest Brood contains 5 Lictors. All models in this formation are a single brood, even though this is a larger number of models than is normally allowed in a single Lictor brood.
Special Rules:
Deadly Fruit: Models from this Formation that are within a Forest have the Shrouded special rule instead of the Stealth special rule. In addition, models from this Formation that are deployed within a Forest using the Infiltrate special rule can be set up within 6? of an enemy model.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Onslaught – Rising Leviathan I
Manufactorum Genestealers Formation
Manufactorum Genestealers Formation
Requirments: 5 Genestealer Broods
Restrictions: Manufactorum Genestealer Broods may not include additional Genestealers.
Special Rules: Hit & Run.
Unsuspected: Models from this Formation that are deployed within a Building or Ruins using the Infiltrate special rule can be set up within 6? of an enemy model.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Onslaught – Rising Leviathan I
Deathleaper Assassin Brood Formation
Deathleaper Assassin Brood Formation
Requirments: Deathleaper, 5 Lictor Broods
Restrictions: The Lictor Broods in this Formation are individual units each consisting of a single model.
Special Rules: Preferred Enemy (Character and Independent Character).
Paranoia and Ill Discipline: Any enemy unit within 12? of one or more models from this Formation suffers a -1 penalty to their Leadership characteristic.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Onslaught – Rising Leviathan I
Broodlord Hunter Pack Formation
Broodlord Hunter Pack Formation
Requirments: 3 Genestealer Broods
Restrictions: One Genestealer Brood must include a Broodlord. Only one Broodlord can be taken in the Formation.
Special Rules:
Hidden Beneath the City: Units from this Formation that arrive from Reserve can be set up in an unoccupied Building. Alternatively, they can be set up in Ruins terrain, as long as they are set up more than 6? away from any enemy models.
Hunting Pack: Select an enemy unit when the Broodlord from this Formation is deployed. All models from this Formation have the Preferred Enemy special rule against models from the nominated enemy unit.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Onslaught – Rising Leviathan I
Gargoyle Bio-Bombs Formation
Requirments: 3 Spore Mine Clusters, 3 Gargoyle Broods
Restrictions: None.
Special Rules:
Wings of Death: If a Spore Mine Cluster from this Formation starts a move (including a Run or charge move) within 6? of a Gargoyle unit from this Formation, then the Spore Mine Cluster can move 6? if it is the Movement phase, and does not halve the distance rolled if it Runs or charges.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Invasion- Rising Leviathan I
Incubator Node Formation
Requirments: 1 Tervigon, 3 Termagant Broods
Restrictions: None.
Special Rules:
Hyper-progenitive: When rolling to see how many Termagants the Tervigon from this Formation spawns, you must re-roll any rolls of a 1.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Invasion – Rising Leviathan II
Synaptic Swarm Formation
Requirments: 1 Tyranid Prime, 3 Tyranid Warrior Broods
Restrictions: None
Special Rules:
Synaptic Conduits: All models in this Formation have a synapse range of 18?.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Invasion – Rising Leviathan II
Skyblight Swarm Formation
Requirments: 1 Hive tyrant, 1 Hive Crone, 2 Harpies, 3 Gargoyle Broods
Restrictions: The Hive Tyrant must take the Wings Biomorph.
Special Rules:
Objective Secured: All Gargoyle units from this Formation have the Objective Secured special rule. A unit with this special rule controls Objective Markers even if an enemy scoring unit is within range of the Objective Marker, unless the enemy unit also has this special rule.
Skyswarm: Each time a Gargoyle Brood from this Formation is completely destroyed, roll a D6: on a 4+ you can immediately place a new unit into Ongoing Reserve that is identical in terms of the original number of models, weapons and upgrades to the unit that was just destroyed. These new units count as being part of the original Formation, so roll a D6 as described above if they are subsequently destroyed. Victory points are awarded as normal for new units in this Formation that have been completely destroyed.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Invasion – Rising Leviathan II
Living Artillery Node Formation
Living Artillery Node Formation
Requirments: 1 Exocrine, 3 Biovore Broods, 1 Tyranid Warrior Broods
Restrictions: The Tyranid Warrior Brood in this Formation must include a model that has taken an item from the Basic Bio-cannons list.
Special Rules:
Organic Bombardment: All ranged weapons fired by models in this Formation have the Pinning special rule. In addition, models in this Formation that are within 12? of this Formation’s Tyranid Warrior Brood can re-roll the scatter dice when firing weapons with the Blast or Barrage special rule.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Invasion – Rising Leviathan II
Endless Swarm Formation
Requirments: 3 Termagant Broods, 2 Hormagaunt Broods, 1 Tyrant Warrior Brood
Restrictions: None.
Special Rules:
Endless Swarm: Each time a Hormagaunt or Termagant Brood from this Formation is completely destroyed, roll a D6: on a 4+ you can immediately place a new unit into Ongoing Reserve that is identical in terms of the original number of models, weapons and upgrades to the unit that was just destroyed. These new units count as being part of the original Formation, so roll a D6 as described above if they are subsequently destroyed. Victory points are awarded as normal for new units in this Formation that have been completely destroyed.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Invasion – Rising Leviathan II
Bioblast Node Formation
Requirments: 1 Tyrand Warrior Brood, 3 Carnifex broods, 1 Tyrannofex
Restrictions: The Tyranid Warrior Brood in this Formation must include a model that has taken an item from the Basic Bio-cannons list. Carnifex models in this Formation must take at least one option from the Monstrous Bio-cannons list.
Special Rules:
Bio-deluge: All units in this Formation have the Split Fire special rule. In addition, models in this Formation that are within 12? of this Formation’s Tyranid Warrior Brood can re-roll failed To Wound rolls of 1 in the Shooting phase.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Onslaught – Rising Leviathan III
Wrecker Node Formation
Requirments: 1 Tyrnaid Warrior Brood, 3 Carnifex Broods
Restrictions: The Tyranid Warrior Brood in this Formation cannot take items from the Basic Biocannons list. Carnifex models in this Formation cannot take options from the Monstrous Bio-cannons list.
Special Rules:
Rampage of Destruction: Carnifexes in this Formation inflict D3+1 Hammer of Wrath hits instead of the usual D3. In addition, models in this Formation that are within 12? of this Formation’s Tyranid Warrior Brood can re-roll failed To Wound rolls of 1 in the Assault phase.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Onslaught – Rising Leviathan III
Tyrant Node Formation
Requirments: 1 Hive Tyrant, 1 Tyrant Guard Brood, 1 Venomthrope Brood
Restrictions: The unit of Tyrant Guard must include three models. The Hive Tyrant cannot be equipped with Wings.
Special Rules:
Command Node: The Hive Tyrant in this Formation adds 6? to its synapse range.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Onslaught – Rising Leviathan III
Subterranean Swarm Formation
Requirments: 1 Trygon prime, 1 Trygon, 1 Mawloc, 3 Ravener Broods
Restrictions: None.
Special Rules:
They Came From Below…: All units in this Formation must be placed in Reserve. Make a single Reserve Roll for the entire Formation. When the Formation arrives from Reserve, deploy the Trygon Prime first, by Deep Strike, using its Subterranean Assault special rule. Once the Trygon Prime’s final position has been established, the Formation’s three Ravener Broods immediately enter play. Place the Ravener units so that all of their models are wholly within 6” of the Trygon Prime’s base and in unit coherency. These models cannot be placed within 1” of enemy models or within impassable terrain; if any models cannot be placed, these excess models are removed as casualties. The Formation’s Ravener Broods cannot move in the Movement phase or charge on the same turn they arrive, but can shoot or Run. The Formation’s Trygon and Mawloc enter play via Deep Strike as usual.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Onslaught – Rising Leviathan III
Living Tide Formation
Restrictions: The units in this Formation must adhere to all of the restrictions detailed in each of the corresponding Formation datasheets. The units in this Formation retain all of the special rules specified in the corresponding Formation datasheets.
Special Rules: Fear.
Synaptic Command Network: As long as the Hive Tyrant from the Tyrant Node Formation has not been removed as a casualty, then all other Synapse Creatures from this Formation that are within its synapse range add 6? to their own synapse range.
The Swarm Unleashed: As long as the Hive Tyrant from the Tyrant Node Formation has not been removed as a casualty, you can re-roll failed results when rolling to see if a Termagant, Hormagaunt or Gargoyle Brood from this Formation that has been completely destroyed is replaced.
Source: Dataslate: Tyranid Onslaught – Rising Leviathan III
Hypertoxic Node Formation
Requirments: 1 Hive Tyrant, 1 Toxicrene, 3 Vemonthrope Broods
Restrictions: The Hive Tyrant must take the Toxin Sacs biomorph.
Special Rules:
Hypertoxic: Any hit inflicted by a model in this Formation that has the Poisoned special rule gains the Instant Death Special rule on a To Wound roll of a 6. Hits inflicted by a Toxicrene in this formation have the Instant Death special rule on a roll of 5 or 6.
Miasma of Death: The Hive Tyrant in this Formation has the Toxic Miasma biomorph. In addition, the Hive Tyrant and any models in this Formation that are within 12? of the Hive Tyrant can use their Toxic Miasma in each of their turns, rather than only once per battle.
Source: Campaign: Shield of Baal: Leviathan
Skytyrant Swarm Formation
Requirments: 1 Hive Tyrant, 2 Gargoyle Broods
Restrictions: The Hive Tyrant must take the Wings biomorph.
Special Rules:
Command Node: The Hive Tyrant in this Formation adds 6? to its synapse range.
Monstrous Flock: The Hive Tyrant and Gargoyles in this Formation are a single unit. The Hive Tyrant can use the Look Out, Sir rule to attempt to re-allocate any Wounds that it suffers onto a Gargoyle model from the unit, and will pass Look Out, Sir rolls on a 2+. The Hive Tyrant cannot leave the unit during the battle, and can only use the Gliding flight mode. The combined unit counts as 3 units for Victory Points purposes if it is completely destroyed.
Source: Campaign: Shield of Baal: Leviathan
Sporefield Formation
Requirments: 3 Mucolid Spore Clusters, 3 Spore Mine Clusters
Restrictions: None.
Special Rules:
Advance Wave: All units in this Formation have the Infiltrate special rule.
Sporefield: Each time a Mucolid Spore Cluster or Spore Mine Cluster from this Formation is completely destroyed, roll a D6: on a 4+ you can immediately place a new unit into Ongoing Reserve that is identical in terms of the original number of models, weapons and upgrades to the unit that was just destroyed. These new units count as being part of the original Formation, so roll a D6 as described above if they are subsequently destroyed. Victory points are awarded as normal for new units in this Formation that have been completely destroyed.
Source: Campaign: Shield of Baal: Leviathan
Skytide Formation
Requirments: 1 Skyblight Swarm Formation, 1 Skytyrant Swarm Formation, 1 Sporefield Formation
Restrictions: None
Special Rules:
Synaptic Command Network: All other Synapse Creatures from this Formation that are within synapse range of the Hive Tyrant from the Skytyrant Swarm Formation add 6? to their own synapse range.
The Swarm Unleashed: As long as the Hive Tyrant from the Skytyrant Node Formation has not been removed as a casualty, you can re-roll failed results when rolling to see if a Gargoyle Brood, Mucolid Spore Cluster or Spore Mine Cluster from this Formation that has been completely destroyed is replaced.
Source: Campaign: Shield of Baal: Leviathan
Phodian Annihilation Swarm Formation
Phodian Annihilation Swarm Formation
Requirments: 1 The Children of Cryptus, 1 Phodian Hive Warriors, 1 Beast of Phodia
Restrictions: None
Special Rules:
Crawl from the Shadows: All models in this Formation have teh Stealth special rule. Models that already have the Stealth special rule also have the Shrouded Special rule.
Unnatural Intelligence: Whilst the Spawn of Cryptus is alive, all units in this Formation have the Preferred Enemy special rule.
Source: Campaign: Shield of Baal: Deathstrom
Hive Vanguard Formation
Requirments: 1 Hive Tyrant, 1 Tyranid Warrior Unit, 1 Gargoyle Unit
Restrictions: None
Special Rules:
Swoop Forth: If at the start of this Formation’s movement phase, the Hive Vanguard’s unit of Gargolyles is within 18? of its Hive Tyrant, it can swoop forth instead of moving; remove the unit from the battlefield, even if locked in combat. It then immediately arrives anywhere on the board using the rules for Deep Strike. it will not scatter if it attempts to Deep Strike within 6? of the Tyranid Warriors from this Formation
Source: Start Collecting: Tyranids
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