Epic Tyranid Gallery

EPIC TYRANID GALLERY

Tyranids

11.03.04: A small update to this page... of all the figures on my website, my epic tyranids have attracted the most positive feedback over the past couple of years. However, recently I recieved the biggest compliment of all, someone has copied them! In fact, Sven from Germany has done better than that and actually improved on some of my paint schemes in my opinion! See his Tyranids, as well as Eldar, the rare Squats, and the start of an Imperial Guard army at Sven's Epic section. Also, I have almost finished painting a 40k tyranid army in the same scheme, it can be seen here.

Originally started as small sideline, my Tyranids have rapidly become as large as my other epic forces, and are my first fully completed epic force. I majored in Zoology at University, so it is probably not suprising that an army of 'bugs' appeal to me.

For the entire force I stuck with a nice simple painting technique which allowed me to complete them quickly; Citadel Bubonic Brown base coat, washed with Chestnut ink. Drybrushed with Bubonic Brown, Red gory bits washed with Chestnut ink. Details picked out in Bleached Bone, Bestial Brown, Scorched Brown, and black.

Also of note is the basing for the infantry. Instead of the strip bases I used plastic counters 2cm in diameter (same width as old plastic square bases), to give a more hordelike effect.

Here is the Supreme Commander - the Dominatrix, and what a big bad bug she is too... The only war engine class unit with the 'Save' special ability, and only Commander able to give a reroll by supporting rather than being involved in a close combat. Shame she is also worth 490 points...

The supreme close combat war machine in Epic - the Hierophant. The ripper tentacles stop enemy war machines from using their close combat weapons. Plus the Hieorphant has a 20cm move and the ability to climb straight over terrain impassable to other war machines. Nonetheless a Hierophant is very vulnerable to Critical hit causing weapons in the standard Epic40k rules, so we use a house rule giving it 5 bio-plasma shields (an Adeptus Titanicus II rule) which count as void shields. This makes the Hierophant much more terrifying and unstoppable and worth paying 480 points for. (I should also mention that we give the Dominatrix 2 bio-plasma shields to make her a bit tougher and balanced point-wise.)

Here is a rear view of the Hierophant.

Here are two Hierodules - smaller cousins of the Hierophant. We use a houserule giving them 3 bio-plasma shields.

Here is a Harridan and 8 Gargoyle stands - a standard flight swarm, of which I have two. The only air defence the Tyranids have, Gargoyles defeating enemy aircraft mainly by being sucked into their engines I think... they die in large numbers in any case.

Here is my standard Trygon swarm, 12 Assault Spawn, 2 Zoanthropes, 1 Tyrant, 2 Warriors. A fearsome close combat unit in its own right it can also carry another infantry based detachment, such as the Biovore or Genestealer based swarms.

There are 3 different types of assault spawn, but their purpose is the same... carry smaller bugs and rampage through enemy units. Here are the three types, from left to right; Haruspex, Trygon, and Malefactor. My two 'Trygon' swarms each have 8 Trygons, 3 Haruspex, and 1 Malefactor.

Speaking of Genestealers here is a standard assault swarm I use. 3 Tyrants, 8 Genestealers, 8 Hormagaunts. This swarm can drop in mycetic spores, or be carried by a Trygon Swarm (or just scuttle about by themselves the old fashioned way...). For a cheaper option I replace one or two Tyrants with Tyranid Warriors.

Biovores. Oh how opponents learn to hate these things, they pile on blast marker suppression by the score, and at a range of 60cm as well. Like the Genestealer swarm above the Biovore swarm can drop in mycetic spores, be carried in Trygons, or scuttle (or perhaps waddle would be better term for the fat and slow biovores).

Nicknamed 'tomato chuckers' by my opponents, here is my first Dactylis swarm. Call them what you will they are still artillery with 60cm range, barrage ability, and armour 6.

More 'tomato chuckers' - another Dactylis swarm.

An Exocrine swarm. In numbers they provide a powerful anti-armour spearhead.

Carnifex. I sometimes use up to 12 of these in a big mycetic swarm, along with a couple of Lictors and 3 Hive Tyrants. Effective unless the opponent has lots of anti-tank guns. Rampage ability guarantees they will cause a lot of damage in close combat whatever the outcome.

Hive Tyrants. Most swarms have 1 to 3 of these as part of the '3 Synapse brood' command requirement. Expensive at 50 points each, but they have high armour, firepower and assault, together with Save and Psyker ability. Somehow I have ended up with 15 Tyrants, which is probably a little excessive for this size of force.

Zoanthropes. Used to add cheap psychic ability to swarms, the only problem is their slow movment compared to most tyranid creatures.

Whatever happens in a game, Termagants are usually dying by the score. Used in huge numbers by themselves, or in lesser amounts to add support to higher grade broods, they are still a valuable part of the swarm.

Finally here is a shot of the entire force, over 6000 points in Epic40k.

Well not quite the entire force, soon after the army shot above was taken, I painted up another two sprues worth of infantry, and here they are... but that is it for now ;)