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I'm new to tyrinids (all i have is a squad of Hormagaunts) and i was reading about biovores and they seem like all the tyrinids need... Long range artillery that fires mines that only explode on non tyrinid units? Anyone got any information that would help, should i get one/use one, are they good/bad and why

Thanks, Greenwing

Biovores are a fantastic units, the only reasons not to run them are because you're out of Heavy Support slots, you don't have backfield Synapse, or your wallet can't handle the ridiculous price.

Thanks, iv just never seen them played in a list before

 PrinceRaven wrote:
Biovores are a fantastic units, the only reasons not to run them are because you're out of Heavy Support slots, you don't have backfield Synapse, or your wallet can't handle the ridiculous price.

Except for the synapse part, this is exactly how I always describe Vaul's Wrath.

Biovores are kind of an interesting mess, to me.

You can take units of 1-3. Their guns are barrage, but if you miss, you place 1d3 spore mines. Not 1d3 spore mines per biovore, not 1 spore mine PER biovore, 1d3 spore mines for the unit.

So if you hit, you want more biovores, since you'll get more templates.
If you miss, it doesn't matter how many biovores you have, you get 1d3 spore mines.
If you want loose spore mines, you're better off with units of 1 biovore, since you get 1d3 spore mines regardless of the number of biovores you have.

It's also funny that spore mines themselves ignore cover, but biovore shots (which are supposed to be spore mines!) do not.

Really, the whole entry is a disconnected mess.


All of that said, Biovores are (like most Tyranid HS choices) a really solid choice, and generally cheaper (even as a full brood of 3) than other HS choices, even if they require a synpase baby sitter.

To add on to steamdragon - if the first shot misses, you place mines. The second and third can still hit. And if they do, you should be well in range for the newly formed spore mine(s) to assault, even at half the roll.

 streamdragon wrote:
All of that said, Biovores are (like most Tyranid HS choices) a really solid choice, and generally cheaper (even as a full brood of 3) than other HS choices, even if they require a synpase baby sitter.

...or a building.

Happyjew wrote:To add on to steamdragon - if the first shot misses, you place mines. The second and third can still hit. And if they do, you should be well in range for the newly formed spore mine(s) to assault, even at half the roll.

Incorrect. If the first shot misses you place mines and are done. You don't get to try the second or third templates.

ductvader wrote:

 streamdragon wrote:
All of that said, Biovores are (like most Tyranid HS choices) a really solid choice, and generally cheaper (even as a full brood of 3) than other HS choices, even if they require a synpase baby sitter.

...or a building.

But then where would my Prime + Venomthrope hide?!

Seriously though, am I the only one that finds it a little sad that the great devourer, galactic bug swarm and destroyer of worlds should be reduced to hiding in houses?

 streamdragon wrote:

Happyjew wrote:To add on to steamdragon - if the first shot misses, you place mines. The second and third can still hit. And if they do, you should be well in range for the newly formed spore mine(s) to assault, even at half the roll.

Incorrect. If the first shot misses you place mines and are done. You don't get to try the second or third templates.

Not true. At least not anymore.

The 5th ed codex specifically said place mines and not resolve the attack. The 6th ed codex lacks the "do not resolve the attack" clause, and as such, you still resolve the rest of the blasts.

Venoms can hide behind or on building if you're facing anyone not Tau...

I also don't think its too terrible because my store has a fair amount of terrain and so I place dilapidated buildings when I need them.

I apparently never loaded the codex onto my tablet, so I will have to wait for someone with access to review.

I am nearly 100% sure that the first template completely missing results in 1d3 spore mines and nothing else.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 ductvader wrote:
Venoms can hide behind or on building if you're facing anyone not Tau...

I also don't think its too terrible because my store has a fair amount of terrain and so I place dilapidated buildings when I need them.

Hiding behind a building has never really helped anything of mine. I suppose your opponent pool may be different, but my usual enemies rarely lack the ability to outflank, fly past, turbo boost, or simply ignore cover. YMMV of course.

And it should feel terrible. It feels like we've gone from an intergalactic ant swarm to an intergalactic cockroach nest. Instead of sweeping forward in a big carpet of bugs, we're lurking in dark spaces hoping noone sees us. (Which would be fine for a genestealer cult or something!)

ah well.

 streamdragon wrote:
I apparently never loaded the codex onto my tablet, so I will have to wait for someone with access to review.

I am nearly 100% sure that the first template completely missing results in 1d3 spore mines and nothing else.

I am 100% sure that said rule does not exist in the 6th edition codex and BIovore shots are resolved exactly like any other Multiple Barrage. It is the biggest buff Biovores received in the new book.