Warrior Genus
The Red Terror
The Red Terror was a larger, unique variant of Ravener once encountered by the Imperium. It was particularly feared for its ability to swallow people whole. It first appeared in the mines of the planet Devlan. It tore its way through to the command centre. The brave Lieutenant Borales and Captain Lowe made a courageous defence, but the Red Terror could not be stopped. Without warning, the Red Terror shoved the two gallant heroes into its great maw, devouring them whole. It then turned its sights on the civilians of Devlan. The people of Devlan eventually drove it away, but at great cost. More than twenty men were killed during the assault, including the late lieutenant and captain. Though this was the first and last time the Red Terror was ever recorded to have been seen, it is entirely possible that all other encounters with the creature simply yielded no survivors.
The Red Terror was given a special model and rules in the Third Edition Codex.[1]
Lictor
Lictor, or Tyranicus Chameleo, is an elite attacker that is able to ambush and deep strike. They first appeared in the Second Edition of Warhammer.[2]
They operate as scouts and they produce a pheromone that attracts other Tyranids to follow behind them. They also operate as loners, which, when combined with their stealth, represents their assassin like nature.
Death Leaper
First appearing in the Third Edition of Warhammer 40,000, Death Leaper is a particularly vicious Lictor introduced during the Canadian Rise of the Swarm campaign. It was originally encountered by a Space Marine named Brother Erasmus. The two fought and both were wounded, Brother Erasmus losing an eye and an arm. As a result of the damage sustained in this battle, Death Leaper's chitinous exoskeleton provides it with less protection than most Lictors, but Death Leaper's stealth is unsurpassed, and it is able to conceal itself in places where normal Lictors would be unable to hide.
Notably, whereas Old One Eye and The Red Terror were considered "Tyranid Monstrous Creatures" and could be fielded without the opponent's permission, Death Leaper is unique in that its online stats specifically refer to it as a "special character," and state that an opponent's permission must be sought in order to use it (as is the case with special characters of other races). However, this rule is now invalid, as you do not need permission to use special characters anymore.
A fourth edition "Death Leaper" was also heavily involved in the summer 2006 campaign, Medusa V, introduced as an entirely new species of the Lictor genus, and its reclamation was the central objective for the Tyranid forces involved in the campaign. However, the "aftermath" information states that only one of them survived the planet's fall, escaping in a captured human vessel. This Death Leaper, however; is identical to the Rise of the Swarm Death Leaper in name only, and acts simply as a "special edition" version of the lictor model if the supplemental rules for it are not used.[3]
Carnifex
Carnifex, or Carnifex Primus (literally "flesh-maker", Latin for "butcher" or "executioner"[4]), is a monstrous creature that acts like a living tank. They first appeared in Rogue Trader[5] and in their current form for Second Edition of Warhammer.[2]
As Tyranids are constantly evolving their forces, many different variants of the Carnifex exist. However, all Carnifexes share some common characteristics: they are very large creatures, standing significantly larger than a man; they have thick carapaces, which provide excellent protection from damage, and they frequently use some of the bio-weaponry utilized by the Tyranids. They are comparable to the Space Marine and Ork Dreadnoughts in purpose.
There are four major variations of close combat Carnifexes: the Carnifex Vorantii, the Carnifex Ululare, the Carnifex Bilius, and the Carnifex Arbylis. These are more commonly known as:
- Thornback: bears enhancements that resemble large spikes or thorns and are used to push through an enemy's lines.
- Screamer-Killer: the first type of Carnifex encountered by the Imperium.[5] It is known for emitting a piercing shriek before crashing into its foes.
- Bile-beast: spews acidic fluids onto its foes before attacking in close combat using its huge crab-like claws.
- Stone-crusher: siege variant Carnifex that was originally introduced for Cities of Death, and then modeled and released by Forge world. It is armed with huge wrecking claws, capable of tearing down the thickest of fortifications, a heavier version of a scything tail, and battering rams; used for crashing into enemy ranks, and fortresses. Other sightings of this creature have been seen with a large wrecking-ball looking symbiotes.
There are also several different ranged "Gun-fexes" who are altogether more useful then their close combat brethren, due to the fact that carnifexes are rather slow compared to other assault troops.
The popular options for the Gun-fex usually are
- Sniperfex: a Carnifex that is loaded with barbed strangler and venom canon or just 2 venom cannons, capable of "sniping" opponents from far away.
- Dakkafex/Devilfex: a Carnifex that is loaded with 2 twin-linked Devourer, giving them a lot of closer range shots that are high-strength that is capable of demolishing infantry and light vehicles. Dakka refers to the Ork chant Dakkadakka which is used to describe a volley of gunfire or really just any ammunition at all.
Old One-Eye
Old One-Eye was a monstrous Carnifex mutation with gigantic pincers and a missing eye. The creature was found on Macragge centuries after Hive Fleet Behemoth was destroyed. Originally presumed dead, Old One Eye tore apart the ship transporting its body. Later the Tyranids persistently raided the system where it was left, suggesting it "called" the forces to it. Notoriously hard to kill, it had the ability to rapidly regenerate even apparently fatal wounds, which led some to speculate that it was a genetic experiment of the Hive Mind. Something of interest to note is that it failed to regenerate the aforementioned lost eye, the scar burned down to the bone.[1] This could suggest some vulnerability to the thermally energetic, electrically charged combination natures of plasma weapons, the same weapons that caused the scar.
Some of its features now appear on the carnifex, suggesting its traits were later deemed useful, notably the giant crab-claws and regenerative abilities, although the "prototype" versions work differently than those of its "parent."
Old One-Eye was given a special model and rules in the Third Edition Codex.[1]
Speculative Connections
Please see the Tyranid Genetics page for speculative connections involving Warrior Genus DNA.
References
- ^ a b c 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) - ^ a b 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) - ^ Morgan, Steve (2006). Fall of Medusa V (1st Edition ed.). Nottingham: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-84154-748-4.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ University of Notre Dame Online Latin Dictionary
- ^ a b Priestley, Rick (1992). Rogue Trader. Eastwood: Games Workshop. ISBN 1-872372-27-9.
- "Tyranids – The Carnifex Revealed". Games Workshop. Retrieved 2006-06-15.