The new Codex: Tyranids is available to pre-order from Saturday. We’ve seen how Synaptic Imperatives let you channel the Hive Mind’s alien will, and dissected a few of the buffs in store for the largest and the smallest bioforms. Now, we’re looking at Hyper-adaptations, a unique and thematic rule that lets you adapt your whole army to counter your opponent, even after both players have deployed.
Each hive fleet has evolved differently throughout their galactic eating binges, developing its own Hive Fleet Adaptations to defeat ever-tougher foes. For example, Hive Fleet Jormungandr specialises in burrowing organisms, creating Tunnel Networks to launch devastating assaults on its enemies.
Each Hive Fleet Adaptation also includes an Adaptive element – in the case of Jormungandr, your swarming hordes can use tunnels and trenches to defend against Blast weapons.
But what happens when you find yourself up against an enemy without Blast weapons? Well, thanks to the Hyper-adaptations rule, you can swap out this Adaptive element at the start of the game! There are three whole tables of biomorphologies to choose from – Feed, Hunt, or Lurk – and each hive fleet has access to two of them. Jormungandr, for example, can select an alternative from the Hunt or Lurk Biomorphologies tables.
So why not go on the Hunt instead, and evolve some Augmented Ferocity to get your Parasite of Mortrex stuck into the enemy’s flanks all the sooner?
Or if you’re staring down an army that can challenge your biggest bugs in melee, you can Lurk instead. Plump for Unfeeling Resilience to keep your hulking Harpies and towering Tyrannofexes fighting at full capacity, even if they’re injured.
Another hive fleet – say, Hive Fleet Gorgon, infamous for its adaptive hypertoxins – might be able to choose from the Feed table instead. Has your opponent deployed behind Defensible terrain, like the new Stockades from Battlezone: Fronteris? Evolve your army to be Wreathed in Shadow, and they won’t be able to fire Overwatch or Set to Defend.
These new Hyper-adaptations give you an incredible amount of flexibility, allowing you to change your army to suit your opponent for each game – after both armies are deployed and you’ve decided who has the first turn. With 15 different biomorphologies to choose from, you’ll be able to adapt to deal with any foe, and then it’s feeding time for the Tyranids.
Make sure you grab your new Codex: Tyranids on pre-order this Saturday, along with the Parasite of Mortrex and the Tyranids Combat Patrol. In the meantime, check out the full Tyranids range and get your Hive Mind to work planning the perfect army.