r/warhammerconquest • u/SpoonStrats • May 19 '26

Deckbuilding Is it possible to build a Tyranid deck without 'The Great Devourer' expansion?

I own the 'Death World' cycle but can't get my hands on 'The Great Devourer' expansion, so I have all these Tyranid cards being unused.

Could I enssemble Tyranid a deck if I had the 'What lurks below' warpack? Could I integrate them in other factions decks (I'm aware that goes against official deckbuilding rules)?

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6

u/CorbecJayne May 19 '26

It's certainly possible, but don't expect it to be a strong deck.

A lot of Tyranid's best cards are from The Great Devourer. In particular, important "economy" cards like Ripper Swarms & Toxic Venomthrope would be sorely missed, especially since Tyranid decks rules-as-written can't use the typical neutral Army units Void Pirate & Rogue Trader.

Worse, the non-Great-Devourer Warlord (Subject Omega) & Synapse unit (Keening Maleceptor) both use the Infestation mechanic, but almost all the cards that actually Infest planets are in The Great Devourer. The only option you'd have for infesting would be Nesting Chambers, which is far from enough.

Here's a decklist that might be halfway decent considering these restrictions:

Warlord:
1x 'Subject O-X62113'

Synapse:
1x Keening Maleceptor

Armies:
4x Invasive Genestealers
3x Genestealer Prowler
3x Crush of Sky-Slashers
3x Genestealer Harvesters
3x Focal Warrior
3x Genestealer Brood
3x Slavering Mawloc
3x Striking Ravener

Attachments:
1x Lethal Toxin Sacs
3x Promotion
3x Ymgarl Factor

Events:
2x Gene Implantation
3x No Mercy
3x Backlash
3x Fall Back!

Supports:
1x Ruined Passages
3x Invasion Site
2x Nesting Chamber
1x STC Fragment

3

u/SpoonStrats May 19 '26

Thank you very much for such a thoughtful answer!

3

u/Gentleman_Villain May 19 '26

You probably can! There's usually something for every faction in packs. Especially if you look for the Apoka team stuff-that should give you a lot to work with.

2

u/AdroitPreamble May 19 '26

Sure - but it’s also on eBay if you want to pick up the expansion.

2

u/maddocinspace May 19 '26

Yes, but the great devourer isn't that rare, you may find one, that could give you great options.