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Hey so I was wondering and can't find a good answer anywhere. What happens to the gene cult when the swarm comes?

Do they love it like a long lost lover and a goal complete? Do they rejoice like their God has come?

Or are the kinda mindless once the swarm comes their mind returns to the hive?

Or are the brood lords seperate altogether and have their own personality? Like they do not want to return to the hive but want to create their own cult which in turn calls the hive. So kinda like they will always serve the hive because it is who they are it is not a choice but they do not want to serve?

It's complicated. In the latest rendition of the GSC, they have a vague idea that their "Creators" are coming. As the Hive Fleet approaches, there is much anticipation and they initiate rebellion, etc. Once it arrives, they may even fight alongside the Hive Fleet. And, then living member of the GSC marches into an acid pool and gets turned into bio-matter.

Technically, the GSC "Broodmind" is not the same as the Tyranid Hive Mind. More independent. So, GSC Broodlord and Genestealers don't join the Hive Fleet.

The purestrains and patriarch are entirely overcome by the hive mind, and act like regular tyranids.
Some sneak onto transports escaping the planet (usually in advance of the tyranids arrival, as it's hard for ships to escape with a hive fleet in mid-invasion).

As for the hybrids, it depends on the fluff. Some depicts them being controlled by the hive mind and marching into digestion pools.

In most of the modern fluff though, the hybrids keep their minds, and joyfully follow their gods around like lost puppies. Celebrating and trying to help them kill all the non-believers.

The tyranids for their part avoid killing the hybrids.
At least until there are no defenders left in the area. Then they turn on the cultists and kill them all too.
Depending on the cult, some happily submit to being torn apart, and some might try to fight back.

Genestealer cults are GW's interpretation of lovecraftian styled cults. You might want to read some of his work to get a better feeling for it

Arson Fire wrote:
The purestrains and patriarch are entirely overcome by the hive mind, and act like regular tyranids.
Some sneak onto transports escaping the planet (usually in advance of the tyranids arrival, as it's hard for ships to escape with a hive fleet in mid-invasion).

As for the hybrids, it depends on the fluff. Some depicts them being controlled by the hive mind and marching into digestion pools.

In most of the modern fluff though, the hybrids keep their minds, and joyfully follow their gods around like lost puppies. Celebrating and trying to help them kill all the non-believers.

The tyranids for their part avoid killing the hybrids.
At least until there are no defenders left in the area. Then they turn on the cultists and kill them all too.
Depending on the cult, some happily submit to being torn apart, and some might try to fight back.

You are covering exceptions to the rule. Which is cool, some purestrains may move on to start new cults. But, basically saying what I did. They up-rise before the Hive Fleet arrives, join in the fight if there is one. Then, the Hive Fleet consumes them.

It's pretty directly stated, at least in the new fluff, that most cults don't realize their 'ascension' involves dying and being turned into biological gruel.

They fight alongside the nid invasion early on - and the tyranids ignore them - but once the world is largely conquered the nids turn on them and start to rip the cultists apart, which comes as a very unwelcome surprise.

The new fluff makes them seem like dupes in al honesty.

They are raised on the idea that their saviours are coming from the stars. Everything is directed to bringing that day closer. They are taught that when the star saviours arrive they will unite with them in some sort of nirvana/paradise/heavenly state.

In reality they are tools, the Hive Mind is infecting their genomes and making them into cannon fodder troops who cause trouble and disruption ahead of their invasions to make life easier for it. When the 'saviours' do land the purestrains are subsumed into the Hive Mind and turn on their brethren, the rest are left to quickly realise that they have been used and played, but by then it is too late...

It's a pretty sad story to be honest. I really like this fluff!