Raveners

InfiltrationSeek & Destroy

KILL GRADE [5]

1	2	3	4	5
1	2	3	4	5

What to Know

Tactical Overview

Unleash the Ravener kill team! This 5-model Tyranid force (1 Prime + 4 specialists) is a fast, melee-focused ambush predator. Set up operatives underground via Burrow, then emerge from your Tunnel network to strike with lethal precision. Operatives are quick (7" Move) but fragile (5+ Save, 20-21 Wounds). Unique rules like Predatory Instincts (double Fight actions) and ploys like Death From Below make them devastating in close combat. Control the board with subterranean terror!

Core Abilities

Unusual Shooting ✓

Felltalon: Toxic Lunge: inflict damage on enemy within 2" or on TUNNEL

Unusual Melee ✓

Firefight Ploy: Subterranean Horror: defender strikes first in fight on tunnel

Super Conceal ✗

Out of Order Movement ✓

Burrow: deploy underground before first turnPredatory Instincts: free Burrow during counteractionStrategic Ploy: Writhe Out of Sight: free Burrow action immediatelyOperative: Subterranean Ambush: interrupt enemy activation to activateFirefight Ploy: Slithering Evasion: allows Fall Back/Charge during counteraction

Activation Manipulation ✓

Predatory Instincts: can counteract regardless of order and change order during counteractionTremorscythe: Subterranean Ambush: interrupt enemy activation to activate this operative

APL Modifiers ✓

Prime: Treats enemy APL as 1 lower for marker control when within 3".

Bitter Demise ✓

Death Frenzy: Firefight ploy inflicts D3 damage on enemies when incapacitated.Metamorphic Flesh: Faction equipment heals D3 wounds when activated.

Block Rerolls ✓

Operative: Neuropredatory Crest: opponent cannot reroll attack or defence dice when within 3"

Damage Reduction ✓

Operative: Wrecker: Reinforced Carapace: reduce damage by 1 if 4+Metamorphic Flesh: regain up to D3 wounds on activation

Faction Rules

Burrow: Set up operatives underground; activate to emerge or burrow with movement penalty.
Tunnel: Place sequential tunnel markers to create a network for movement and deployment.
Predatory Instincts: Operatives can perform two Fight actions per activation and counteract with order changes.

Strategic Ploys

Death From Below: Grants Balanced or Ceaseless to melee weapons
Whipcord Emergence: Allows reroll of defence dice when shot
Tunnel Lurkers: Operative on TUNNEL gains cover unless close
Writhe Out of Sight: Free Burrow action, possible Fall Back or Reposition

Firefight Ploys

Slithering Evasion: Fall Back for 1 less AP, Charge from control range
Subterranean Horror: Defender resolves first attack dice in Fight
Death Frenzy: Incapacitated operative damages enemies in control range
Burrowing Strike: Inflict damage on enemies after Burrow action

Equipment

Chromatospore Camouflage: Retain one additional cover save when shot at
Acid Blood: 5+ to inflict 1 damage when damaged in fight/retaliation
Heightened Senses: Once per battle, reroll initiative dice if conditions met
Metamorphic Flesh: Regain up to D3 wounds when activated

Rules Commentary

4 Q&As

If a friendly RAVENER TREMORSCYTHE operative attempts to shoot or fight against the specified enemy operative in its Subterranean Ambush rule, but is prevented from doing so by an opponent's rule (e.g. SANCTIFIER CONFESSOR Commanding Declamation, NOVITIATE Blinding Aura) is the activation/counteraction still cancelled?

No. Continue its activation/counteraction as though the requirements of the Subterranean Ambush rule have been fulfilled.

Are RAVENER operatives underground considered 'in the killzone' for the second victory points paragraph of the Implant tac op?

Yes. Note that other tac ops (e.g. Surveillance) would still require those operatives to be in the killzone.

Can an expended friendly TREMORSCYTHE operative counteract to interrupt an enemy operative's activation with the Subterranean Ambush rule if there are still other ready friendly RAVENER operatives?

Yes.

When my TREMORSCYTHE operative interrupts my opponent's activation, if the enemy operative is incapacitated (and therefore its activation cannot be continued), who activates next? Equally, if it isn't incapacitated and then continues its activation, who activates next?

Your opponent in both cases, as the TREMORSCYTHE operative has used your activation.

Operative Selection

1 RAVENER PRIME operative
4 RAVENER operatives selected from the following list:
- FELLTALON
- TREMORSCYTHE
- VENOMSPITTER
- WARRIOR
- WRECKER

Other than WARRIOR operatives, your kill team can only include each operative on this list once.

Operative Datacards

6 operatives

Prime

3 7" 5+ 21

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Tail blade	4	3+	3/4	Range 3" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Rending Rending If you retain any critical successes, you can retain one of your normal successes as a critical success instead. , Silent Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order. Tail blade - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Rending If you retain any critical successes, you can retain one of your normal successes as a critical success instead. Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order.
⚔ Scything talons & rending claws	5	3+	4/5	Rending Rending If you retain any critical successes, you can retain one of your normal successes as a critical success instead. Scything talons & rending claws - Weapon Rules Rending If you retain any critical successes, you can retain one of your normal successes as a critical success instead.

Additional Rules

Neuropredatory Crest

Whenever determining control of a marker, treat the total APL stat of enemy operatives that contest it as 1 lower if at least one of those enemy operatives is within 3" of this operative. Note this isn't a change to the APL stat, so any changes are cumulative with this. Whenever an enemy operative is within 3" of this operative: - Your opponent must spend 1 additional AP for that enemy operative to perform the Pick Up Marker and mission actions. - Your opponent cannot re-roll their attack or defence dice for that operative.

Synaptic Link (STRATEGIC GAMBIT)

If this operative isn't incapacitated. Roll one D6 and compare the result to the number of the current turning point; if the result is: - Twice as high or higher, you gain 1CP. - Less, inflict damage on this operative equal to the result. - Any other result, nothing happens.

Felltalon

3 7" 5+ 20

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Pincer tail	4	3+	3/4	Range 3" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Silent Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order. Pincer tail - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order.
⚡ Toxic glands	4	3+	3/4	Range 6" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Silent Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order. , Poison Toxic glands - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order.
⚔ Toxic scythes	5	3+	4/5	Lethal 5+ Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. , Shock Shock The first time you strike with a critical success in each sequence, also discard one of your opponent's unresolved normal successes. , Poison Toxic scythes - Weapon Rules Lethal Your successes equal to or greater than x are critical successes. Shock The first time you strike with a critical success in each sequence, also discard one of your opponent's unresolved normal successes.

Additional Rules

Poison

In the Resolve Attack Dice step, if you inflict damage with any critical successes, the operative this weapon is being used against gains one of your Poison tokens (if it doesn't already have one). Whenever an operative that has one of your Poison tokens is activated, inflict D3 damage on it.

Unique Actions

Toxic Lunge 1AP

Select one enemy operative within 2" of this operative. Alternatively, if this operative is underground, select one enemy operative on your TUNNEL. Inflict D3+2 damage on that enemy operative and it gains one of your Poison tokens (if it doesn't already have one). This operative can perform this action while underground (this takes precedence over the normal Burrow rules).

Tremorscythe

3 7" 5+ 20

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Pincer tail	4	3+	3/4	Range 3" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Silent Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order. Pincer tail - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order.
⚔ Scything talons & rending claws	5	3+	4/5	Rending Rending If you retain any critical successes, you can retain one of your normal successes as a critical success instead. Scything talons & rending claws - Weapon Rules Rending If you retain any critical successes, you can retain one of your normal successes as a critical success instead.

Additional Rules

Subterranean Ambush

Once per turning point, after an enemy operative performs an action in which it moves more than 2" and ends within 2" of your TUNNEL, if this operative is underground and is either ready or hasn't counteracted during this turning point, you can interrupt that enemy operative's activation/counteraction to use this rule. If you do, activate or counteract with this operative (as appropriate), but during the same activation/counteraction it must fight against or shoot against that enemy operative, and cannot do so against any other enemy operatives until it does (if this isn't possible, this operative's activation/counteraction is cancelled and this rule hasn't been used). After completing this operative's activation/counteraction, continue that enemy operative's activation/counteraction (if possible).

Hypersensory Hunter

This operative can perform the Charge action while it has a Conceal order if it performed the Burrow action during its activation/counteraction.

Venomspitter

3 7" 5+ 20

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Pincer tail	4	3+	3/4	Range 3" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Silent Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order. Pincer tail - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order.
⚡ Venom bolt (blast)	4	3+	3/5	Range 8" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Blast 2" Blast The target you select is the primary target. After shooting the primary target, shoot with this weapon against each secondary target in an order of your choice. Secondary targets are other operatives visible to and within x of the primary target. Secondary targets are in cover and obscured if the primary target was. , Poison Venom bolt (blast) - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Blast The target you select is the primary target. After shooting the primary target, shoot with this weapon against each secondary target in an order of your choice. Secondary targets are other operatives visible to and within x of the primary target. Secondary targets are in cover and obscured if the primary target was.
⚡ Venom bolt (focused)	4	3+	4/5	Range 8" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Piercing 1 Piercing The defender collects x less defence dice. If the rule is Piercing Crits x, this only comes into effect if you retain any critical successes. , Poison Venom bolt (focused) - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Piercing The defender collects x less defence dice. If the rule is Piercing Crits x, this only comes into effect if you retain any critical successes.
⚔ Scything talons	5	3+	4/5	-

Additional Rules

Poison

Unique Actions

Distend Dorsal Sac 1AP

Until this operative has shot with its venom bolt, until it performs this action again or until it performs the Burrow action (whichever comes first), all profiles of its venom bolt have the Lethal 5+ weapon rule, have 1 added to their Atk stat and the Range 8" weapon rule removed.

Warrior

3 7" 5+ 20

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Pincer tail	4	3+	3/4	Range 3" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Silent Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order. Pincer tail - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order.
⚔ Scything talons	5	3+	4/5	-

Additional Rules

Instinctive Behaviour

Whenever this operative is shooting against, fighting against or retaliating against a wounded enemy operative, or an enemy operative that performed the Fall Back action during this turning point, this operative's weapons have the Lethal 5+ weapon rule.

Wrecker

3 7" 4+ 20

NAME	ATK	HIT	DMG	WR
⚡ Bone mace	4	3+	3/4	Range 3" Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. , Piercing 1 Piercing The defender collects x less defence dice. If the rule is Piercing Crits x, this only comes into effect if you retain any critical successes. , Silent Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order. Bone mace - Weapon Rules Range Only operatives within x of the active operative can be valid targets. Piercing The defender collects x less defence dice. If the rule is Piercing Crits x, this only comes into effect if you retain any critical successes. Silent An operative can perform the Shoot action with this weapon while it has a Conceal order.
⚔ Scything talons & crushing claws	5	3+	4/5	Crush Scything talons & crushing claws - Weapon Rules

Additional Rules

Reinforced Carapace

Normal and Critical Dmg of 4 or more inflicts 1 less damage on this operative.

Crush

Whenever you strike, you and your opponent roll-off, adding 1 to your result if the operative this weapon is being used against has a Wounds stat of 9 or less. If you win, inflict additional damage on that operative equal to the difference between the dice results (to a maximum of 3 additional damage).

Faction Rules

3 rules

Burrow

Faction Rule

Set up operatives underground; activate to emerge or burrow with movement penalty.

Raveners 💀

RAVENERS will emerge from their tunnels to strike at unsuspecting victims, then disappear again before their foe can properly react.

When setting up a RAVENER kill team before the battle, your first two operatives must be set up as normal. Each other friendly RAVENER operative thereafter can be set up underground: place it to one side instead of in the killzone. In the Firefight phase, friendly RAVENER operatives set up underground are activated and can counteract as normal. Whenever a friendly RAVENER operative is underground, it cannot perform any actions other than Burrow. At the end of the battle, each friendly RAVENER operative that's underground is incapacitated.

Tunnel

Faction Rule

Place sequential tunnel markers to create a network for movement and deployment.

Raveners 💀

RAVENERS dig extensive tunnel networks in the ground and foundations beneath their prey's feet, enabling the Hive Mind's elite creations to outmanoeuvre and ambush their prey.

At the end of the Set Up Operatives step, place your Tunnel marker numbered '0' on the killzone floor, wholly within your drop zone and touching your killzone edge. As a STRATEGIC GAMBIT in the first four turning points, you can place your next numbered Tunnel marker on the killzone floor wholly within 5" of your preceding Tunnel marker. This means that, as the battle progresses, you can have a series of sequentially numbered Tunnel markers (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4). Once you have placed five Tunnel markers, don't place any more (i.e. if your battle lasts more than four turning points). Your Tunnel markers and the area between your sequentially numbered markers (i.e. between 0 and 1, 1 and 2, etc.), create your TUNNEL. In a killzone that uses the close quarters rules (e.g. Killzone: Tomb World), your TUNNEL and the distance between your Tunnel markers can be measured through Wall terrain. In a killzone that uses the hazardous areas rules (e.g. Killzone: Bheta Decima), for the purposes of the Restricted Movement rule, parts of a Tunnel marker that are touching a hazardous area are treated as a hazardous area. In this example, operative A is on your TUNNEL as it's on the area between markers 0 and 1. Operative B is also on your TUNNEL as it's touching one of your Tunnel markers. Operative C is not on your TUNNEL as markers 1 and 3 are not sequential, so the area between those markers is not part of your TUNNEL.

Predatory Instincts

Faction Rule

Operatives can perform two Fight actions per activation and counteract with order changes.

Raveners 💀

Seemingly driven by an all-consuming hunger, and with hyper-adapted reflexes, RAVENERS are deadly blurs of muscle, talons and fangs.

During each friendly RAVENER operative's activation, it can perform two Fight actions. Each friendly RAVENER operative can counteract regardless of its order. Whenever it does: - You can change its order first, or change its order instead of performing an action (for the latter, still treat it as having counteracted this turning point). - During that counteraction, if it doesn't perform a mission action it can perform a free Burrow action.

Strategy Ploys

4 ploys

Death From Below

Strategy Ploy

Grants Balanced or Ceaseless to melee weapons

Raveners 💀

Spurred by an imperative from the Hive Mind, RAVENERS will coordinate lunges from the depths of their TUNNEL network to eviscerate unwary prey that have strayed too close.

Whenever a friendly RAVENER operative is fighting:

If it's performed the Burrow action during that activation/counteraction, its melee weapons have the Balanced weapon rule.
If it's on your TUNNEL, its melee weapons have the Ceaseless weapon rule.

Whipcord Emergence

Strategy Ploy

Allows reroll of defence dice when shot

Raveners 💀

Whether lunging from a rubble-strewn entrance to their network of TUNNELS or bursting forth in a shower of debris to snatch at prey, RAVENERS can surprise even elite sentinels.

Whenever an operative is shooting a friendly RAVENER operative:

If that friendly operative has performed the Burrow action during that turning point, you can re-roll one of your defence dice.
If that friendly operative is on your TUNNEL, you can re-roll any of your defence dice.

Tunnel Lurkers

Strategy Ploy

Operative on TUNNEL gains cover unless close

Raveners 💀

RAVENERS are horrifically adept at remaining all but invisible, partially submerged amidst broken terrain, until the moment they lunge.

Whenever a friendly RAVENER operative is on your TUNNEL it's in cover, unless it's within 2" of the active operative. Treat this as cover provided by Light terrain (therefore it's affected by rules that prevent this, e.g. Seek Light and Vantage terrain).

Writhe Out of Sight

Strategy Ploy

Free Burrow action, possible Fall Back or Reposition

Raveners 💀

Few organisms are as capable of slithering away into darkness in the blink of an eye as RAVENERS. The question then is, where did they go…?

Select one friendly RAVENER operative in the killzone. That friendly operative can immediately perform a free Burrow action. If it's within 2" of your TUNNEL, it can immediately perform a free Fall Back or Reposition action before it does so.

Firefight Ploys

4 ploys

Slithering Evasion

Firefight Ploy

Fall Back for 1 less AP, Charge from control range

Raveners 💀

The secretion-slick carapace and unholy speed of a Ravener enables them to avoid becoming bogged down against dangerous prey.

Use this firefight ploy during a friendly RAVENER operative's activation or counteraction, before or after it performs an action. During that activation/ counteraction, that operative can: - Perform the Fall Back action for 1 less AP. - Perform the Charge action while within control range of an enemy operative, and can leave that operative's control range to do so (but then normal requirements for that move apply).

Subterranean Horror

Firefight Ploy

Defender resolves first attack dice in Fight

Raveners 💀

Those who think to trap a Ravener by tackling it at its brood burrow invite only their own demise, as the bioform uses hidden tunnels to encircle its prey before striking from an unexpected angle.

Use this firefight ploy when an enemy operative is performing the Fight action and selects a friendly RAVENER operative on your TUNNEL to fight against. In the Resolve Attack Dice step of that sequence, you resolve the first attack dice (i.e. defender instead of attacker).

Death Frenzy

Firefight Ploy

Incapacitated operative damages enemies in control range

Raveners 💀

Raveners can be compelled by the Hive Mind to fight in a last surge of biostimulated aggression, even as their own bodies fail.

Use this firefight ploy when a friendly RAVENER operative is incapacitated. Before that operative is removed from the killzone, inflict D3 damage on each enemy operative within its control range (roll separately for each). If that friendly operative is a VENOMSPITTER that's currently benefitting from the effects of its Distend Dorsal Sac action, inflict 2D3 damage instead.

Burrowing Strike

Firefight Ploy

Inflict damage on enemies after Burrow action

Raveners 💀

The last sight for many operatives fighting Raveners is a blur of their own uniform as they disappear into the depths of a xenos burrow.

Use this firefight ploy when a friendly RAVENER operative performs the Burrow action. Before that operative is removed from the killzone, or after setting it up on your TUNNEL , inflict D3+1 damage on each enemy operative within its control range (roll separately for each). You cannot use this ploy in the Strategy phase, or during a FELLTALON operative's activation or counteraction if it performs the Toxic Lunge action (and vice versa).

Faction Equipment

4 items

Chromatospore Camouflage

Faction Equipment

Retain one additional cover save when shot at

Acid Blood

Faction Equipment

5+ to inflict 1 damage when damaged in fight/retaliation

Heightened Senses

Faction Equipment

Once per battle, reroll initiative dice if conditions met

Metamorphic Flesh

Faction Equipment

Regain up to D3 wounds when activated

Universal Equipment

0 items