Genestealer
In the fictional Warhammer 40,000 setting, the Tyranids are a nomadic alien race comprising many genetically engineered forms. The Genestealers, or Corporaptor Hominii, is one biological subgroup of the Tyranids[1]. "Genestealer" is also the name of the second boxed expansion for the 1st edition of the board game Space Hulk, also by Games Workshop.
In 4th Edition of the game, there are two subgroups of the Genestealers: the Broodlord and the Genestealer[1]. In the 2nd Edition of the game, there are five subgroups, representing the Genestealer Cult variant army:Genestealer Patriarchs, Genestealer Magus, Genestealers, Genestealer Hybrids, and Brood Brothers[2].
For information concerning biomorphs and other mutable genetic characters of the Genestealers in the game, see the Tyranid Genetics page.
Background
Genestealers appeared in the first edition of Warhammer 40,000 (Rogue Trader), but at the time were not related to Tyranids. They were simply noted as an "enigmatic monster ... from one of the moons of Ymgarl", now "spread throughout space" and "threatening to become a real menace"[3]. Since then it has been revealed that they are the advance forces of a Tyranid invasion and are now often seen as part of a Tyranid army.
The Genestealer Cult was a sub army introduced twice for Warhammer 40,000. The first time was in Issue 41 of the Citadel Journal, titled Codex: Genestealer Cults. This official supplemental Codex provided official rules for using Patriarchs, Maguses, Hybrids and Broodbrother units. It even included rules for a "Transport Coven Limousine." Later, in the first Codex Tyranids, these rules were incorporated as the "Genestealer Cult Army List" and included all of the characters in their previous form sans Limousine[2].
In the Codex for 3rd Edition, there was no rules provided for the Genestealer Cults[4]. With the introduction of the Broodlord in 4th Edition, Genestealers could once again be fielded as their own army[1]. Before the 4th edition, the 3rd edition genestealers were the oldest models in use to date(they were the same ones from Rogue Trader and the Space Hulk game).
Genestealers reproduce by introducing their genetic material into a host from another species; this is normally a human, but can theoretically be any humanoid race. The Genestealers have no genders, and require a creature of any species, any gender. The Genestealer will find a suitable host and hypnotise them using its unusual, alien eyes. The Genestealer then thrusts its long, whip-like tongue into the body of the host where it deposits its genetic material, or DNA. Several hours later the infected victim wakes up from the incident, with no wounds or any recollection of what happened. The new host of the Genestealer DNA will go on about its normal life, and eventually reproduce, thus giving birth to a Genestealer hybrid.
Newly born creatures, although fundamentally Genestealers, will have characteristics inherited from the host parent. Thus a Genestealer/human may have a vaguely humanoid head, or only two arms instead of the usual four, and perhaps its tail will be shortened or missing. A Genestealer of four or more generations consistent human parentage would pass for a human on cursory inspection, although a closer look would reveal a bluish skin, sharp pointed teeth and rather disturbing stare. In their original incarnation before their integration as part of the larger Tyranid force, Genestealers on their home world exploited a large leech-like creature called a Csith as their usual mate. Matings with a Csith always produce natural Genestealers, no matter what its parentage otherwise.
Genestealer Species
Genestealer
Genestealers have the same basic body structure as all other Tyranids. They appear as roughly man-sized, six limbed creatures with a very sturdy chitin-like exoskeleton and, unusually for Tyranids, an endoskeletal cranium. There are other species of tyranids with this trait, like hormagaunts and termagaunts.
Their two lower limbs are legs; another pair of limbs are extremely sharp claws which are used for tearing apart foes in close combat - these claws are so sharp that they can even hack through extremely well armored enemies, such as Space Marine Terminators, with ease. The other set of limbs are arms as well, but their nature varies depending on the type of species used to create the Genestealers or the needs of the Hive Mind. Genestealers are known for their incredible agility and great skill in close combat[2].
Genestealers were first encountered by the Imperium of Man on the moons of Ymgarl[2]. After this encounter, Genestealers were further encountered on large derelict ships known as "space hulks"- these ship-borne encounters being the subject of the aforementioned Space Hulk game. With the invasion of Hive Fleet Behemoth, it was discovered that the Genestealer was in fact a part of the Tyranid race. Genestealers perform two roles for the Tyranid armies: first, they are often found in the Tyranid armies acting as assault troops; second, they can be found as an advance force of the Tyranids, aiding planetary invasions through the use of their unusual reproduction method.
Ymgarl Genestealer
By Third Edition, it was released that Imperial researchers concluded that the Ymgarl Genestealer is a form which became separated from the Tyranids, and, having completely lost its psychic link to the Hive Mind, has reverted to a feral state[4]. Ymgarl Genestealers appear quite different from normal Genestealers, and this is also believed by the Imperials to be due to the separation from the Hive Mind, and generations of breeding almost exclusively with a native lifeform of the Ymgarl moons. The original Ymgarl Genestealers had a maw full of tentacles as illustrated in the original WH40K 1st edition book, which was not implemented in the later figures, although the tentacles was revisited with the current 4th edition model set, as Feeder Tendrils.
Broodlord
The Broodlord, or Corporaptor Primus, is the ultimate product of Genestealer evolution and is a new creation for the Tyranids in 4th Edition of Warhammer[1]. The Broodlord is immensely strong, agile and durable, which makes it a superb hand to hand warrior. In addition to their already potent melee combat abilities, the Broodlord also has a few Tyranid Biomorphs or weapon-symbiotes to chose from beyond just its standard rending claws and scything talons.
The Broodlord acts as an assault commander for Tyranid armies, personally leading attacks while bearing the "synapse" ability frequently observed in higher forms of Tyranids. They are the only subgroup species of the Genestealers line in the recent edition of the Tyranid Codex. In the 3rd Edition of the game, there was no organizational structure of the Cult given rules. The addition of the Broodlord, while not a complete reproduction of a Patriarch, Magus, or Hybrids, does allow a player to field a "whole" Genestealer army[1]. However, unlike the traditional Cult that rises up, takes its followers from among the local populace and psychically dominantes them, and then worship the Tyranids as gods, the army lead by the Broodlord is an infiltrating vanguard that operates in a similar manner to the Lictor.
The original model for the Broodlord looked very similar to the Patriarch model used for the the Genestealer cult. The current model is slimmed down and resembles a taller version of the standard Genestealer.
Genestealer Cultists
All of the members of this unusual "family" of hosts, Hybrids and Genestealers become psychically linked to each other, and become fiercely loyal to their "family". Over time, the "family" grows as its members continue to breed and bring in more members, and the "family" will eventually grow large and become a Genestealer cult, sometimes worshipping some vaguely defined entity which will 'deliver' the worshippers and their planet from the harshness of life in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.
The psychic link maintained by the "family" or the cult - henceforth "brood" - acts as a psychic beacon, attracting the forces of the Tyranids to their planet. As more members are brought into the group, the psychic beacon grows stronger. As shown with the events leading up to the Tyranid invasion of Ichar IV (Kelly and Chambers, 2004), a brood can eventually grow so large that it will eventually begin conducting sabotage or causing riots. Broods have even been observed rebelling against Imperial authority, attempting to seize ruling power over the planet for themselves. The ultimate goal (whether the brood knows it or not) is to sow discord or even neutralize planetary defenses in order to ease the Tyranid conquest and consumption of the planet.
Although Genestealers are frequently born from other species, they are said to lack creative intelligence [5]. They are unable to wield weapons, even those of the species from which they are born; Hybrids have some degree of intelligence and are able to make use of weapons. Genestealers do have incredible animal cunning, however - they have even been seen acting as a sort of scout for Tyranid armies, stalking ahead of the main force.
Patriarch
A Patriarch is the originator of a brood[2]. As the first Genestealer of the group, all other members are psychically linked through it; this leads it to attain a level of intelligence much higher than that of other Genestealers. Over time, it can become a very powerful psyker, and it grows much larger than an average Genestealer, becoming much stronger and more resistant to damage.
As the Tyranids approach the planet that the Patriarch calls home, it will fall under the power of the Tyranid Hive Mind, and begin leading attacks on vulnerable positions to facilitate the inevitable invasion. It is assumed that it knows nothing of its role in the Tyranid invasion, and once the Tyranids are successful, it and the brood are also consumed by the Hive Fleet. Patriarchs are known to live for hundreds of years. They are seen by the cult as a "father" figure, and should their destruction come to pass, the cult would be thrown into disarray. The loss of the Patriarch and its hold on the cult would likely lead to its destruction; the sudden absence of the telepathic link from the Patriarch would lead the remainder of the cult to revert to little more than feral monsters.
Magus
The Magus is a special mutation of Genestealer that appears almost entirely human, except it is always bald and has a pronounced bone structure[2]. The Magus, unlike other Genestealers, is highly intelligent and is a powerful psyker, but is absolutely dedicated to serving the Patriarch. It uses its human appearance to act as the face of the brood, and relays the orders of the Patriarch to the members of the brood. Like the Patriarch, it presumably knows nothing of its role in the Tyranid invasion it is aiding. Magi are the exact opposite of the Genestealer, highly intelligent beings that are nonetheless extremely vulnerable in close combat.
Hybrids
A Hybrid is created by a Genestealer implanting DNA into a host organism. The organism grows and slowly absorbs parts of the host after it emerges as its own organism[2]. The host is then slave to the new organism. The hybrid offspring range from looking human to looking like a genestealer cross, having four arms, or looking completely like genestealers.
Brood Brothers
The Brood Brothers are those who have been infected by the Genestealer DNA and have been taken over mentally by their offspring. They worship the Patriarch and battle mindlessly for the Genestealer Cult[2]. Their main duty is to join with the local population of the infested planet and allow for the Cult to take over.
In 2nd Edition of Warhammer 40,000, they were able to enter into combat like the Imperial Guard, ally with renegade Imperial Troops, or use "liberated" vehicles once owned and operated by the Planetary Defense Force of the planet which they are infesting[2]. They were lead into battle by command squads formed of Hybrids
Speculative Connections
Please see the Tyranid Genetics page for speculative connections involving Genestealer DNA.
References
- ^ a b c d e Kelly, Phil (2004). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tyranids (3rd Edition ed.). Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-650-X.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i Chambers, Andy. Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tyranids (1st Edition ed.). Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-872372-90-2.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help) - ^ Priestley, Rick (1992). Rogue Trader. Eastwood: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-872372-27-9.
- ^ a b Kelly, Phil (2004). Warhammer 40,000 Codex: Tyranids (2nd Edition ed.). Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-650-X.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Priestley, Rick (1993). Warhammer 40,000 - Codex Imperialis (1st Edition ed.). Nottingham: Games Workshop.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
- Spurrier, Simon (2006). Xenology. Nottingham: Black Library. ISBN 1-84416-282-6.
- http://oz.games-workshop.com/games/40k/tyranids/articles/genesis.htm, section on Genestealers.
- Genestealer origins with early artwork