Synapse creatures

TyranidsIcon — Variant Imperial icon used for identifying Tyranid hive fleet activity.

Synapse creatures are some of the larger, more intelligent Tyranid bioforms that act as psychic conduits or nodal relays through which a portion of the iron will and vast intellect of the Hive Mind flows to other lesser members of the hive. It is through the psychic connection provided by synapse creatures that the Tyranid swarms' natural, animalistic and instinctive behaviours are overridden to serve the self-aware will of the Hive Mind.

This nodal distribution creates an inherent vulnerability for Tyranid swarms, however, as the targeting and destruction of a synapse creature can lead to the loss of the Hive Mind's control over portions of its swarm in a given area. This results in the affected bioforms rampaging uncontrollably which makes them far easier for enemy forces to eliminate as all coordination and intelligent strategy is lost.