Tyranid Zoanthrope

Tyranid Zoanthrope

Zoanthropes are a species of Tyranid created solely to harness the potential psychic power of the Hive Mind, in fact a type of psychic artillery used in Tyranid planetary invasions and a synapse creature used to convey the commands of hive spirits to lesser Creatures.

Originally thought to be a mutant tribe of Tyranid Warrior due to close physical resemblance, more recent encounters with the Zoanthrope tribe have reported a different physical structure, apparently evolved through harvesting lifeforms present in the path of the Hive Fleets. Various pieces of evidence suggest that these later incarnations of zoanthropes were enhanced by Eldar DNA. Zoanthropes have stunted bodies and limbs supporting bloated heads so heavy they would snap their necks under their weight - but fueled by psychic powers, they seem to transcend their mortal limits, floating and drifting across the battlefield.

Despite their seeming frailty, zoanthropes are deadly opponents. Zoanthropes possess batteries of psychic power, which they can use to defend themselves by projecting a constant psychic barrier, or launch attacks powerful enough to shatter enemy battle tanks, penetrate adamantium plates, or even topple powerful titans. However, zoanthropes are predisposed to sedentary behavior, an attitude adopted to preserve their psychic power when not in the presence of the hive mind. They also care little about events beyond their immediate reach, placing their own survival above all else.

Despite their power, however, zoanthropes sometimes appear to be victims of their own vast energy reserves, and there have been numerous aftermath reports of zoanthropes "burning out" in battle. Their skulls were observed to crack and bleed out, causing them to fall limp to the ground. Psykers who witnessed these events compare it to the dangers of the warp that normal psykers can endure when psychic energy overloads their minds.

This kit can alternatively be built as three Venomthropes, three Zoanthropes or as two Zoantrophs and one Neurotroph.