Von Ryan's Leapers

Von Ryan's Leapers are a nimble, mid-sized strain first catalogued during a hive fleet incursion for their uncanny ability to scale sheer walls, ceilings, and ruins, striking from directions no defender thinks to guard. Lithe and long-limbed, they swarm across the vertical battlefield in bounding leaps, using height and cover to close on their prey before the enemy realises the threat is already upon them.

Bred by the Hive Mind for hunting through the dense terrain of cities and hive-spires, they excel at flushing out targets that hide behind barricades or hunker down on rooftops, dropping among them in a flurry of talons. Their agility also lets them harry and reposition faster than heavier organisms, worrying at an enemy's flanks and rear. For the Tyranids, Von Ryan's Leapers embody the swarm's terrifying adaptability, a reminder that in the shadow of the Great Devourer, no wall is too high and no vantage point truly safe.