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This came up with my friend over AIM this morning. I said that a Diresword gets around the synapse immunity to instant-death due to the fact that it is worded as following: "If a model suffers any unsaved wounds from a diresword it must immediately pass a Leadership test for each wound suffered. If any of these tests are failed, the victim dies automatically and is removed regardless of remaining wounds." This is RAW on page 30 of Codex: Eldar. However, the Synapse rule on page 28 of Codex: Tyranids states that the synapse ability makes creatures automatically pass all Leadership based tests they are required to take. If it were even possible for a DA exarch to wound a fex (which it is not), then what would take precedence? The Diresword itself does not cause instant death RAW like the Force Weapon rules and the Wraithgun rules as they are written.

First of all, no Tyranids have Eternal Warrior and they are therefore not immune to Instant Death.

When within Synapse range they are immune to Instant Death caused by weapons with a Strength double the creature's Toughness.
This does not affect Instand Death caused in other ways or other effects that kill outright without being labeled Instant Death (like the Diresword).

When within Synapse range all Tyranids also auto-pass all Leadership tests except psychic tests.

So the Diresword's instant kill ability will never work against a Tyranid within Synapse range as it will pass any of the test it is required to make.

A Carnifex outside of Synapse range could still be affected though.
Carnifexes are T 6 so can be wounded by S 3. If they have Bonded Exoskeleton (+1 T) they can still be wounded by the Sword of Asur carried by Asurmen (S 4).

Actually, the Tyranid Codex has been Errata'd with wording that tyranids in synapse "are not affected by the Instant Death rule." and that it doesnt apply to rippers.

fraustdemon wrote:Actually, the Tyranid Codex has been Errata'd with wording that tyranids in synapse "are not affected by the Instant Death rule." and that it doesnt apply to rippers.

Yup. You can still ID a carnifex outside of Synapse, though, given the right circumstances.

Well the dire sword doesn't cause instant death so any refrence to instant death in the synapse rules isn't going to affect the dire sword.

On the other hand, the dire sword does require the nids to make a leadership test and nids in synapse automaticaly pass all leadership based tests. So in the end, it does make them immune to the effects of the dire sword. If you catch them outside of synapse though, it will affect them.

fraustdemon wrote:Actually, the Tyranid Codex has been Errata'd with wording that tyranids in synapse "are not affected by the Instant Death rule." and that it doesnt apply to rippers.

Thank you, missed that one.