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For this scenario, say I have a group of Tyranid Shrikes, equipped with Boneswords locked in combat with a Wraithknight.

Codex: Tyranids states the Bonesword as:

S User, AP3, Melee, Life Drain

Life Drain: Any To Wound roll of a 6 made by this weapon has the Instant Death special rule.

The Wraithknights Toughness is 8, the Shrikes S is 4 - and according to the BRB, S4 can not possibly hurt T8.

But with Life Drain, could Shrikes kill a Wraithknight or equivalent if they rolled a 6 when rolling to wound? Or would the Wraithknight be unharmed?

Thanks in advance

instant death doesn't automatically mean you wound.

it just means if you wound the model does not get FnP and if it fails its save(s) it is removed as a casualty unless it has EW.

instant death is only applied after the model suffers a wound from something that causes instant death.

if you have toxin sacs its a whole different story as you now wound on a 4+ (which you get to reroll if your strength is greater than their toughness) and 6s are instant death.

Ahh ok thanks, Toxin Sacs it is then

the rule for boneswords specifically say that;

“Life Drain: Any To Wound roll of a 6 made by this weapon has the Instant Death special rule.”

Excerpt From: Games Workshop Ltd. “Codex: Tyranids.” iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Meaning you could be strength 1 fighting toughness 10 and if you rolled a 6, it would still be instant death.

Yes?

 Wilson wrote:
Meaning you could be strength 1 fighting toughness 10 and if you rolled a 6, it would still be instant death.

Yes?

Yes.
It's Instant Death, but you've failed to wound.

And Instant Death requires that you inflict an unsaved wound.
No wound, no death.

 Wilson wrote:
the rule for boneswords specifically say that;

“Life Drain: Any To Wound roll of a 6 made by this weapon has the Instant Death special rule.”

Excerpt From: Games Workshop Ltd. “Codex: Tyranids.” iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

Meaning you could be strength 1 fighting toughness 10 and if you rolled a 6, it would still be instant death.

Yes?

I think you now need to look-up the Instant Death rule. As listed above, the instant death rule just means that any model wounded by an attack with this special rule is removed as a casualty. The problem with str4 vs t8 is that even a roll of a 6 does not cause a wound. So if there is no wound, then Instant Death never gets to kick in.

Ah alright it's more of the whole wound on a 6 thing that got me but sounds like you're right.

For an example of something that would be able to wound, regardless of the model's Toughness take a look at the wording of the Sniper special rule.