MeinMMO editor Caro inevitably came across tabletop miniatures due to her love for painting them and also Warhammer. While she’s not (yet) fully engaged with the lore and the politics, she is certainly captivated by the small and large voracious alien insects.
About a year ago, after falling for Dungeons & Dragons, I also became obsessed with miniatures, and regular visits to local tabletop shops have become a must on every city visit. I found myself increasingly interested in Warhammer, particularly in their miniatures.
I am aware of how huge the fanbase is and how much lore, politics, and worldbuilding exists in the universe. Personally, Warhammer didn’t captivate me as quickly as D&D did.
While I had the feeling in D&D (despite similar amounts of lore): You can really do anything here
, I somehow didn’t feel interested enough in Space Marines, the armies full of heavy armor, and all the politics that are so prominent in Warhammer.
I thought I had written off Warhammer and its armies for myself… If it weren’t for a species of little guys that I instantly fell in love with: Tyranids.
I could present you with a substantial lore piece through some research and play the mini-Benedict, our true Warhammer expert here at MeinMMO – but he beat me to it:
I would like to express from the perspective of a curious Warhammer candidate why the Tyranids, by the way, the strongest faction in all of Warhammer 40,000, are simply perfect for me.
First, they simply have an unbeatable design
The design of the Tyranids was the reason I became aware of them in the first place. Heavy armor and armored vehicles leave me cold, but monsters that can partially look like raptors, xenomorphs, Kaiju creatures with blades or tentacles, or even just everything combined?
How could I ever find a man in an armored suit cooler than these things?
Especially the swarm lord has captured my heart, my first Tyranid that I have already bought and also fully painted.
However, my other favorites include the parasite of Mortrex (bat-alien cutie), the Hormagaunts (raptor-alien cuties), but also the chunk of a Harridan (dragon-alien cutie), which costs a whopping 430 euros and which I probably could never afford with good conscience, but still simply find awesome.
Secondly, their goal is straightforward, yet understandable
Tyranids essentially have only one goal, and that is to eat. Eat as much as possible. Everything is food. And eating is great. I respect that.
Tyranids don’t take oaths, follow no empire, build no weapons, hold no grudges – in short: They are uncomplicated gluttons who couldn’t care less who or what stands before them. Everything is biomass for them.
In a world where the lore goes deep, the Tyranids are refreshingly simple, and I find that simply chill as a beginner.
Thirdly, Tyranids are blank canvases
Yes, in a metaphorical sense, all unpainted miniatures are blank gray canvases, but I find this particularly relevant with Tyranids. Among the Tyranids, there are various types, all of whom follow the hive mind, but among them, there are no named legends as in other armies from Warhammer. Or at least not enough that have their own stories or are in the spotlight. They are simply the creatures.
As someone who tends to ascribe too much personality to my miniatures quickly, even though they are plastic figures, this is ideal. My painted Tyranid emerges from my thought process, is not already part of the lore, but is “just” one of many. And that is exactly what I find so beautiful. Because that makes it “mine”.
What do you think of Tyranids? Are you also a fan of the voracious aliens? Or have you fallen in love with another army? Let us know in the comments!
Tyranids have a very deep connection to food, so it’s not surprising that someone came up with a … special idea: A whole Tyranid army that literally becomes biomass for fans: Tyranids literally eat their way through the universe of Warhammer 40,000, but can you turn the tables
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