Summary
Warhammer 40kis the biggest tabletop wargame in the world and is only growing bigger. With the high-profile release ofSpace Marine 2and increasing hype surrounding an Amazon TV deal, more people are discovering the hobby than ever before.Warhammer 40kis not just a tabletop game though; collecting, painting, and even converting the models can be as important and enjoyable as playing for many people.
Choosing a first faction to collect can be daunting, asmany great modelsare spread across numerous armies. However, one of the most iconic factions in40kis theTyranids. These giant space bugs are simple and to the point. They are essentially giant monsters with a singular goal: to consume all biomass in the galaxy. In the 10th Edition ofWarhammer 40k, the Tyranids are front and center, with fantastic new models and lore to go with them. For new hobbyists,there has never been a better time to start a Tyranid army.
7The Lore
Devouring The Galaxy
While many factions in theWarhammer 40ksetting have complex, often tragic backstories, the Tyranids' only desire is to eat. Known as the Great Devourer, the Tyranids are a collective Hive Mind that consumes all the biomatter on a planet. This intangible drive guides the Tyranids with a ferocious intelligence, and has a presence even in the Warp.
They areone of the greatest threatsin theWarhammer 40kuniverse, with tendrils entering the galaxy from every direction. Each Hive Fleet contains billions of Tyranid bioforms, and this could only be the beginning. There could be trillions of Tyranids waiting to enter the galaxy, which would mean an unending apocalypse for every planet. However, even among the Tyranids, each Hive Fleet has distinctive characteristics and goals. Hive Fleet Tiamet is rumored to be building strange structures, while Hive Fleet Leviathan has been known to attack key locations, such as the planet Baal. Tyranids are enemies to every faction in the setting — Chaos, Ork, Human, or Tau — and are an unstoppable force that is only growing bigger.
6Painting
Simple And Fun
The Tyranids are one ofthe best factionsinWarhammer 40kfor new painters. With simple color schemes and large model areas, they offer new hobbyists the chance to learn and practice painting techniques that will help them improve quickly. As with many factions in the setting, there is no single way to pay a Tyranid army. Each Hive Fleet has a distinctive coloring, which allows players the chance to be creative, using the established color schemes or inventing their own.
In the 1st Edition ofWarhammer 40k, the Tyranids were depicted as large red monsters, while in the latest edition, this has been changed to white and purple. Tyranids are fun and easy to paint, and work very well with contrast paints. While painting Tyranids can become a little tedious for some, as there can be a lot of models that end up looking the same, a fully-painted Tyranid army is a wonderful sight and looks great on both the tabletop and the display shelf.
5Gameplay
Diverse And Fun
Asone of the major factionsofWarhammer 40k’s10th Edition, the Tyranids have enjoyed many new and updated models and are one of the first codex releases of the current edition. On the tabletop, Tyranids have a nice selection of ranged and melee models which are good against many different armies. However, they are primarily an up-close-and-personal army, where strength in numbers is the best form of attack.
While the Tyranids have not been the strongest army in this edition of the game, they remain a threatening force to deal with. The rules and stats ofWarhammer 40kare constantly changing; each update can radically alter the pecking order of factions. For new players, the Tyranids are a simple-to-play army that is great for learning the sometimes complex rules ofWarhammer 40k,and is unlikely to drop too far down the list of powerful armies at any point.
4Model Range
A Horde Of Monsters
With the start ofWarhammer 40k’s10th Edition and the rise of Hive Fleet Leviathan, the Tyranid model range has enjoyed a significant update. For new and returning hobbyists, there has never been a better time to start collecting Tyranids. Their model range offers everything from the smaller Hormagaunts and Termagants, to larger models like the Norn Emissary, Neurotyrant, Deathleaper, and Screamer Killer.
The larger options can make excellent centerpiece models for an army and can be deadly on the tabletop. The Tyranid model range is large and diverse and has some of the best-sculpted models in modernWarhammer 40k.
3In Media
Not Only A Model Range
As one of the most iconic enemies in theWarhammer 40ksetting, the Tyranids are well-represented in otherWarhammermedia. There have beenseveral book releasesinvolving the Tyranids.The Devastation of Baalby Guy Haley depicts Hive Fleet Leviathan’s invasion of the Blood Angel’s home system and the desperate defense by the Astartes against the overwhelming force.
Deathworlderby Victoria Hayward follows asquad of Catachan Jungle fighterson a last desperate mission on a dying world. The book depicts the slow process by which the Tyranids devour all biomass, destabilizing the planet as they do. In video games, Tyranid players have been treated to their best depiction yet inSpace Marine 2,where Lieutenant Titus carves through thousands of Tyranids on a mission of redemption.
2Fun Community
A Strong Collection Of Memes
Like with every faction inWarhammer 40k, the Tyranids enjoy a strong online community. On various sites, such as Facebook and Reddit, new Tyranid players can join like-minded hobbyists in discussing their favorite big bugs. From gaming advice, painting tips, or just fun discussions about the hobby, joining a community is a positive way of making new, like-minded friends.
Players will often share their latest paint jobs or conversions on these sites, which can be a great inspiration for those new to the hobby. In addition to this, the community is a great way to keep up to date with any rumors or news involving the Tyranid faction orWarhammeras a whole.
1Big Hungry Bugs
An Iconic Army To Collect
Of all theWarhammer 40kfactions, the Tyranids are the easiest to understand. There are no stories of betrayal, honor, or loyalty, no former empires, and no complex characters. These are ravenous monsters from outside the galaxy whose only goal is to devour, and their fans love them for it.
If big, hungry monster bugs sound appealing, then this is the faction to choose. The Tyranids may be simple creatures, but they can besome of the most funto play. They offer basic yet detailed models that are a lot of fun to paint, they have a wonderful range of miniatures that can be adaptable against any army, and they have a fun community surrounding them online. Tyranids are an icon ofWarhammer40k,and one of the best factions to collect.
