Warhammer 40k Tyranid Tactics

In Tyranid Tactics I will be studying tactics of the Tyranids in the Warhammer 40k universe. These pages are written with the expectation that you own a copy of rules book, a copy of the Tyranid Codex, and have read them. Having played a few games will help too.

The Tyranid Codex gives the Tyranid army huge amounts of flexibility. You can design your force to suit the style of play that you enjoy most. The cost of this flexibility is the need to spend time and adapt your models to reflect the special abilities that model has.

As usual, these pages are written with the expectation that you have a copy of the main Warhammer 40k RuleBook and the Tyranid Codex. If you do not have these you will need to get them or have access to them if you have someone you can share with.

Changes from 2005 to 2010 Tyranid Codex

For those that know the previous Codex: Tyranids will find that close combat monstrous creatures have gone up in points to account for the "Run!" rule that allows then to dash across the gaming table at double speed (OK 1.5 times speed)! Shooting weapons have been discounted accordingly.
Following the lead started with other Codices (Codex's) the points costs for models now includes all the basic requirements that the model needs to play. An example of this is the Tyranid Hive Tyrant. The Tyranid Hive Tyrant entry now includes close combat weapons, Toxin Sac, Adrenal Gland and psychic power upgrades included in the basic points price.

The following chapters examines each of the force organization options available.

• Tyranid HQ Tactics
  
  In this section we willlook at the Tyranid HQ choices and the Tyranid HQ tactics. This includes the adaptable Tyranid Hive Tyrant and the truly monstorus Tyranid Tervigon.
• Tyranid Hive Tyrant
  
  The Tyranid Hive Tyrant is the iconic leader of the Tyranid army. As this is a monstrous creature with psychic powers and fantastic close combat skills, it is no wonder that he is freared by all.
• Tyranid Tervigon
  
  Warhammer 40k Tyranid Tervigon tactics for this monstrous HQ choice.
• Tyranid Elite Tactics
  
  In this section we will look at the Tyranid Elite choices and their tactics. These include the adaptable Tyranid Warrior, the psychic Tyranid Zoanthrope, and sneeky Tyranid Lictor and the new Tyranid Venomthrope too.
• Tyranid Troop Tactics
  
  This this section we will look at the Broods of the Tyranid troop choices and the Tyranid brood tactics
• Tyranid Fast Attack Tactics
  
  In this section we will look at the Tyranid army fast attack options and their tactics.
• Tyranid Heavy Support Tactics
  
  Warhammer 40k Tyranid Tactics for the Tyranid Heavy Support options. The Biovore, Mawloc and Trygon tactics are all covered here.
• Tyranid Carnifex Tactics
  
  Tactics for the Tyanid Carnifex heavy support unit choice. this section also includes tactics for 'Old One Eye' Tyranid special character.
• Tyranid Tyranofex Tactics
  
  The Tyranid Tyranofex is the largest unit choice in the Warhammer 40k Tyranid Codex. Here we will look at the Tyranid Tyranofex tactics.
• Genestealer Cults
  
  The Tyranid army is a 'spin off' of the origanal army called 'Genestealer Clults' that was part of the Space Hulk rules. The Genestealer cult is no longer an 'official' army, but as it is still a favorate of mine, what I have is here!
• Tyranid Gallery
  
  Gallery of Warhammer 40k Tyranid pictures.

General Tyranid Tactics

Ok, now we will have a look at some broarder tactics for Tyranids. For more detailed tactics please visit the sub-pages. I have detailed the tactics on a unit by unit basis on those pages. However in this section I will be looking at how the whole Tyranid army functions as one.

Tyranids as an Assault Army

The Tyranid army is probably the most assault specialised army in the game.  Assault armies are devastating close up, but generally to not have much in the way of ranged weapons. This means that you will have to run the enemy's guns until you get in to close combat.

There are several ways to do this. One is that you have so many troops that your opponent just cannot shoot them all, another is that you use sneaky tactics like infiltration and deep strike, to start closer.

Always try to use the cover available to minimise your casualties.

Tyranids as a Deep stike Army

The Tyranids have more deep strike capabilities than most armies. This comes in several forms, but the effect is the same. Deep Strike comes in the form of Deep striking from winged creatures, or tunnelling from tunnelling creatures, and then other creatures can drop in by mytric spore!

If you are playing a deep stike army you will want a Tyranid Hive Tyrant on the table as fast as possible. This is because the Tyranid Hive Tyrant has  an upgrade that has a special rule that meant that you should get 66% of your reserves on during the secund turn instread of the usual 50%.

> Also see Sneaky Tactics.

The Tyranid Hive Mind

One of the core Tyranid features / characteristics, is the 'Hive Mind'. Basically the Tyranid HQ creatures are needed to keep order in the ranks, or the smaller creatures start following their own instinctive actions.

The problem with instinctive behavior is that it is predictable. Your opponent will know what your forces will do and use this to their advantage.

The usual formation whe playing Tyranids is to have a Hive maind as a canteral point and then the smaller creatures with one model in side the  hive mind range, generally forward of the hive mind creature. This keeps the smaller creatures in control without bunching then all together.