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P. 29 of the tyranid codex (quoted verbatim):

"Being essentially mindless a spore mine cluster is fearless as detailed on page 74 of the warhammer 40,000 rulebook. For the same reason, they canot capture table quarters, hold objectives or count as scoring units."

I can't believe it took me this long to actually find the unequivocal rule. But there you go, for everyone to see and to finally put it to rest.

Well, if that's the case, I can't argue then.

I feel like an idiot for not having just gone to the stupid codex in the first place. Oh well

I personally find that biovores just dont cut it for several reasons.
1. They take up a precious heavy slot
2. These slots are alreasy in great demand for zoanthropes and a decently kitted out fex.
3. They are not as consistant as a fex or a zoanthrope
4. Spore mines give away kill points.

This said, I will probably buy and use some at some point just because I like all things nid.

Just to reiterate, spore mines in fact don't give away kill point. That's what my post conclusively proved by my previous post, taken directly from the codex.

As for your other points, they're definitely valid. But the biovore has something carnifexes and zoanthropes don't have: 48" of range.

I wasn't aware that spore mines didn't give away KP (sorry I was in a rush this morning and didn't read the whole thread). That makes them slightly more viable. Will definately be having a go with them (at some point)!

Just remember to take 3! Anything less than that just doesn't work in my experience. See above comments for support on that--seems like most people agree with that assessment.

Of course. Anything nid ALWAYS comes in multiples.

Grunt_For_Christ wrote:P. 29 of the tyranid codex (quoted verbatim):

"Being essentially mindless a spore mine cluster is fearless as detailed on page 74 of the warhammer 40,000 rulebook. For the same reason, they canot capture table quarters, hold objectives or count as scoring units."

I can't believe it took me this long to actually find the unequivocal rule. But there you go, for everyone to see and to finally put it to rest.

This does not say that they can't contest... it says they are not scoring, they can't capture or hold. that's all, not a word on contesting.
Still, imo, you have to choose:
- can contest -> worth KP
- can not contest -> no KP
House rule in both cases.

(also remember, spore mines can run, nothing prevents them from doing so)

ahhh, but do they run in a random direction? Hopefully in the new dex (whenever that's due) they can move up to 2D6" inches. And all those other clarifications that are needed.

They move in a random direction.
Run has its own rules.

Including picking units in whatever order you like.
For example, the biovores shoot. Then choose spore mines to run... back over the scatter. If you can get 1d6+1 to be > 2d6-4 it's hard to miss. (you place the mines after the first, not scatter, so the numbers look odd and are still a bit off)

It is still a barrage.

That said, I find that it basically makes up lost ground. It is not as ground breaking. The rest of the thread covers why.

Arleucs wrote:

Grunt_For_Christ wrote:P. 29 of the tyranid codex (quoted verbatim):

"Being essentially mindless a spore mine cluster is fearless as detailed on page 74 of the warhammer 40,000 rulebook. For the same reason, they canot capture table quarters, hold objectives or count as scoring units."

I can't believe it took me this long to actually find the unequivocal rule. But there you go, for everyone to see and to finally put it to rest.

This does not say that they can't contest... it says they are not scoring, they can't capture or hold. that's all, not a word on contesting.
Still, imo, you have to choose:
- can contest -> worth KP
- can not contest -> no KP
House rule in both cases.

(also remember, spore mines can run, nothing prevents them from doing so)

I like this 'can contest=KP, cannot contest does not =KP' thing. That is very fair. And though I never thought of it, they technically can run.

I'm still not sure about your idea on contesting... Can you remember what it said in 4th about contesting? Was it even called contesting back then? I'm just trying to translate 4th into 5th and babblefish40k.com is down. Any ideas?

Guys, read about how Biovores shoot.

As far as I know(don't have my 'dex on me.) The wording goes like this.

"Each Biovore shoots as many spore mines as there are Biovores in the brood."

By that paraphrased wording, if you have three biovores, they each get to shoot THREE spore mines a turn.

If I'm wrong someone please correct me.....

SsevenN wrote:Guys, read about how Biovores shoot.

As far as I know(don't have my 'dex on me.) The wording goes like this.

"Each Biovore shoots as many spore mines as there are Biovores in the brood."

By that paraphrased wording, if you have three biovores, they each get to shoot THREE spore mines a turn.

If I'm wrong someone please correct me.....

This is something that I've been stewing over since the 'dex came out. I still haven't figured out how the wording is supposed to be interpreted. I believe the version I have says "Each Biovore brood shoots as many...", thus leading me to believe that if you have 3 biovores, you have 3 spore mines per shooting phase. I don't have my 'dex with me, and I apologize if it sounds like I'm implying that you left it out on purpose.

Another way to take it, especially in the way my brain is currently remembering the wording, is that you can choose a different type of mine for each biovore, thus being able to choose the type of "round" shot by your artillery (similar to the Thunderfire Cannon).

KaloranSLC wrote:

SsevenN wrote:Guys, read about how Biovores shoot.

As far as I know(don't have my 'dex on me.) The wording goes like this.

"Each Biovore shoots as many spore mines as there are Biovores in the brood."

By that paraphrased wording, if you have three biovores, they each get to shoot THREE spore mines a turn.

If I'm wrong someone please correct me.....

This is something that I've been stewing over since the 'dex came out. I still haven't figured out how the wording is supposed to be interpreted. I believe the version I have says "Each Biovore brood shoots as many...", thus leading me to believe that if you have 3 biovores, you have 3 spore mines per shooting phase. I don't have my 'dex with me, and I apologize if it sounds like I'm implying that you left it out on purpose.

Another way to take it, especially in the way my brain is currently remembering the wording, is that you can choose a different type of mine for each biovore, thus being able to choose the type of "round" shot by your artillery (similar to the Thunderfire Cannon).

*Waves hands in the air*

Anybody got the 'dex handy for a quick re-type of the exact wording?

The wording is "Each Biovore brood fires as many Spore Mines as there are Biovores in that brood."

With that wording, the whole brood shoots as many mines as there are Biovores (two biovores shoot two mines, etc.)

BlackDracoSLC wrote:The wording is "Each Biovore brood fires as many Spore Mines as there are Biovores in that brood."

With that wording, the whole brood shoots as many mines as there are Biovores (two biovores shoot two mines, etc.)

Thank you, sir. Without specifically saying "types of Spore Mines", I don't think my previous comment has any bearing. I also think that BlackDraco and I have had this discussion before.

I've had this discussion with a friend of mine for a long time and I can tell you that however many biovores there are in the brood, that's how many mines are pooped into the atmosphere. It's just like Draco said, if you have 2 biovores you shoot 2 mines.

You can also look in the codex with the entry (which is in the special rules section) that says explicitly 48", varies, varies, HEAVY 1. It's a terribly worded entry, but Draco is perfectly correct.

I have never played tryanids but when i fight them i don't find them to be much of a problem. I find my self begin more afraid of warriors with blast spam on them or close combat carnifexs. But the way you describes them does play into my interest of surprising the emeny with a sneak attack.

Biovores........well here is the thing about them IMHO.

They are a good ranged unit because of their 48" BUT they only have a leadership of 5 and no primal instincts [like what genestealers have, etc] so they NEED synapse in order to fire properly. So besides taking up a valuable heavy support choice you would also need to sacrifice a synapse creature to make sure that they can fire. Unless there is something I forgot about [cause I to dont have my codex on me and im a nid player who really needs it to play lol] then thats what you need.

I would however possibly take them in a 1,500+ point match because THEN and only THEN [unless house rules that you may have state otherwise] can you take Carnifixes as elite choices so then would it free up space in heavy support for a biovore.

So correct me if im wrong but biovores need that synapse support and if I am right and if people have been ignoring that fact then this can be your wake up post.

As long as the biovores doesn't want to move they will be fine Lurking (for +1 cover) and firing their weapons, even when out of synapse.

They do in fact, have Brood Telepathy.

i used to use them loads, but 5th kind of killed thier fun.

i never run alot of fex's, hate the things too much to spam them.
rather use the points for more dedicated units than a large scary beast that sits there screaming until a stray unit of letters or las shot kill him.


ill still use 3 bio's, but not if its an important game, thier ability to change damage through mine type makes them pretty decent, add pinning there aswell and they have a use.

allthough, i would use them for troop hunting, tank hunting with them will be slow, and i allways take 3 thropes for that since they get the job done quickly.


if there was no cap limit on bio's then i would possibly take 9 lol

i will take a three man biovore squad over a fex for the same point cost any time

biovores can function just like normal troops outside of synapse

EasyE wrote:i will take a three man biovore squad over a fex for the same point cost any time

biovores can function just like normal troops outside of synapse

I disagree.

Biovores = fail () if simply compared to a Carnifex. Even 3 Zoanthropes can cover that. (range lacking but 2+ save gets a lot of leeway)
Biovores can supliment them, and depending on factors, do so very well.

The issue really has been covered though. As a HS they are nice. . . until you compare them to the other options.
When taken outside of other options (i.e. reality itself) they are simply outclassed.

In a well made list, in the right scenario, and used well they can be a menace. 3 biovores in a bunker = PAIN.
Generally speaking? Fun unit with a scope outside that of the army they are included in. However current rules make them more of a useful novelty than a real unit choice.
Leaving the KP thing aside, as I have mentioned, they are the sole unit affected by DoW deplayment, pinning, and Instant Death* in normal games.

*Ripper swarm are not normal!!!! Fun and useful, sometimes akin to biovores. . . but not normal!

One problem I was thinking of is the fact that they have brood telepathy, they are LD5 and they like to sit next to a table edge. One dead model and chances are they will run straight off the table.

Also, I think I read in the codex that each biovore brood has to choose the same type of mine. No mixing and matching.

Bugsfromhell wrote:Biovores........well here is the thing about them IMHO.

They are a good ranged unit because of their 48" BUT they only have a leadership of 5 and no primal instincts [like what genestealers have, etc] so they NEED synapse in order to fire properly. So besides taking up a valuable heavy support choice you would also need to sacrifice a synapse creature to make sure that they can fire. Unless there is something I forgot about [cause I to dont have my codex on me and im a nid player who really needs it to play lol] then thats what you need.

I would however possibly take them in a 1,500+ point match because THEN and only THEN [unless house rules that you may have state otherwise] can you take Carnifixes as elite choices so then would it free up space in heavy support for a biovore.

So correct me if im wrong but biovores need that synapse support and if I am right and if people have been ignoring that fact then this can be your wake up post.

Yeah sorry about that, I found my codex and yes they have brood telepathy, but as Lukus83 said they have a LD5 and yes they could easily run off the table. And yes biovoures do have to have the same type of spore mine. So like I stated in my second point I personally would only take them if the game was 1,500+ points and I had Carnifex's in elite choices which would free up a heavy support for the biovour brood. Because a huge monsterous creature with a base strength value of 9 is a much better choice than an atillery unit with their max strength value is to roll a wound on a 4+ [that is good in some situations but in general strength 9 is better]. So only use them if its a weak horde army like orks or imperial guard where the armour save and toughness [for imperial guard anyway] isnt that high.

str3 ap3 barrage of three small blasts will kill MEQs.

Depending on squad size, it will kill more than a dakka fex per round- which does better than most other versions vs MEQs for ranged fighting.

Melee is a waste of a comparison.

Denying cover and armor saves at range for most models is nice - and something the Tyranid army simply lacks outside of bio-acid.

shrug