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So the tyranids wipe out a planet, how does it actually collect and store the biomass. Is there a special species that consumes the material and transports it? Or is it all consumed and reused on the planet itself.

Rippers eat stuff and then haul themselves into pools of gunk that is sucked up into other creatures and eventually to the hive ships.

That's one way.

Genestealers cults have been known to foment religious movements where planetary populations willingly throw themselves into those pools I just mentioned.

That's another way. I'm sure there are more.

I dunno why but I was imagining lumbering tyranid monsters devouring the dead and all biological matter. Rippers make more sense I suppose.

That role is fulfil.led by the malanthrope. It's a gigantic Venomthrope-esque beast that can only be described as an uber ripper. However almost all of the ways involve "eat, throw yourself in the bubbling pool, up the capilary towers".

Thank you both for the quick responses. Ruins one idea for a model but gives me some new ones.

Melchiour wrote:I dunno why but I was imagining lumbering tyranid monsters devouring the dead and all biological matter. Rippers make more sense I suppose.

Yes, malanthropes (IA 4 has them I know), they are in the wake of the tyranid advance, and consume biomass behind the main swarm using lethal toxins.

Then there are tyranid constructs. They look like giant chitanous finger-nails that stick out of the ground and "optimize" the planet's atmosphere.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Footsloggin wrote:

Melchiour wrote:I dunno why but I was imagining lumbering tyranid monsters devouring the dead and all biological matter. Rippers make more sense I suppose.

Yes, malanthropes (IA 4 has them I know), they are in the wake of the tyranid advance, and consume biomass behind the main swarm using lethal toxins.

Then there are tyranid constructs. They look like giant chitanous finger-nails that stick out of the ground and "optimize" the planet's atmosphere.

MechaEmperor7000 wrote:That role is fulfil.led by the malanthrope. It's a gigantic Venomthrope-esque beast that can only be described as an uber ripper. However almost all of the ways involve "eat, throw yourself in the bubbling pool, up the capilary towers".

Thats it! capillary towers...