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This is SprueSentry strategy commentary, not official rules. The parts of this detachment reprinted or amended in the Tyranids Faction Pack version 1.2, the release that arrived with the 26 August 2026 balance update, are confirmed against that document, re-checked on 27 August 2026. The rest of the stratagem and enhancement lists come from the 10th-edition codex and are cross-checked across two independent community rules mirrors. The Detachment Point cost and enhancement points come from the official Munitorum Field Manual version 1.3, updated 26 August 2026. Points move with every update, so confirm them in the Warhammer 40,000 app before a game.
In your Command phase, each Harvester unit can Regenerate one friendly Tyranids unit within 6" of it, once per unit per phase. A regenerating unit either has one model regain up to D3+1 lost wounds, or returns one destroyed Infantry model (excluding Characters) at full wounds, or up to 3 models if it is an Endless Multitude unit.
1CP. A Tyranids unit that just destroyed an enemy unit Regenerates immediately; a Harvester unit choosing to heal regains up to 3 wounds instead of D3.
1CP. When a Tyranids unit is destroyed, a Harvester unit within 6" of it Regenerates a friendly unit within 6" of itself.
2CP. A targeted Harvester unit gains Feel No Pain 5+, improving to 4+ if it is within range of an objective marker you control.
1CP. An objective marker you control that a Harvester unit is within range of stays yours until your opponent controls it.
1CP. A Tyranids unit gains Lethal Hits in melee; a Harvester unit also scores Critical Hits on unmodified 5+.
1CP. When a Harvester unit is destroyed, friendly Tyranids models add 1 to Wound rolls against the unit that killed it for the rest of the battle.
While a friendly Harvester model is within 12" of the bearer, that Harvester can Regenerate a unit within 9" instead of 6", widening the healing net.
Tyranids model only, excluding Monsters. The bearer's unit can be regenerated up to twice per phase instead of once.
Adds 1 to the Strength of melee weapons in the bearer's unit, and a permanent +1 Attack the first time that unit destroys an enemy in the Fight phase while within 6" of a Harvester.
While within 6" of a friendly Harvester unit, Heroic Intervention on the bearer's unit costs 1CP less and models in it gain Fights First. Reprinted in the Faction Pack's Rules Updates.
A Harvester monster and the strongest regeneration anchor. The Faction Pack added the Harvester keyword to its datasheet.
See the box: price and offersA Harvester monster with heavy self-sustain that becomes very hard to shift when topped up each turn.
See the box: price and offersA cheap Harvester to spread a second healing bubble. The Faction Pack raised its Move to 12" and rewrote Bio-stimulus.
See the box: price and offersAn Endless Multitude unit, so each regeneration returns up to 3 models rather than 1.
See the box: price and offersThe melee Endless Multitude block that recycles just as fast while holding the midfield.
See the box: price and offersThe Norn Assimilator is a Harvester, so it anchors the healing engine and takes the Norn stratagems as well.
Durable Battleline Warriors that hold the objectives your Harvesters keep healing.
A slow attrition core gains a fast tool for removing the enemy characters it cannot chase.
How to play Assimilation Swarm in 11th edition — the 2-DP Harvester detachment that heals your monsters and returns dead gaunts, refusing to die.
Sprue Sentry strategy commentary for 11th edition, not official rules. Games Workshop updates points and rules regularly; always confirm against the current official rules and latest update before a game.
Assimilation Swarm is the Tyranids self-healing detachment: a 2-Detachment-Point package that turns the swarm into a grinding, attritional force that keeps regrowing. It reflects Warhammer 40,000 11th edition.
This is SprueSentry strategy commentary, not official rules. The Tyranids Faction Pack version 1.2 reprints the Feed the Swarm detachment rule and the Instinctive Defence enhancement, and both are confirmed against that document. The rest of the lists come from the 10th-edition codex, cross-checked across two independent community rules mirrors. We re-checked the pack's amendments on 27 August 2026 against version 1.2, the release that arrived with the 26 August 2026 balance update. DP costs and points move with dataslates, so confirm them in the Warhammer 40,000 app before a game.
In your Command phase, each Harvester unit (Haruspex, Norn Assimilator, Psychophage, Pyrovore, Rippers) can regenerate one friendly Tyranids unit within 6" — once per unit per phase. The regenerated unit either has a model regain up to D3+1 wounds, or returns a destroyed non-Character Infantry model at full wounds (Endless Multitude units return up to 3 models). Spread your Harvesters so their bubbles overlap your monsters and gaunt blocks, and the army becomes a Necron-style wall that just won't stay dead.
Take it when you want a grindy, objective-holding army that refuses to die — a durable, sustainable list rather than an alpha strike. It's best with a core of Harvester monsters positioned so their 6" (9" via Biophagic Flow) bubbles cover your infantry and objective-holders. It's weaker if you need speed or heavy ranged damage. At 2 DP it leaves 1 DP for a support.
Sample gameplan: deploy Harvester monsters centrally so their auras cover your objective-holding gaunt blocks. Push onto objectives early, make a key marker sticky with Tyrannoformed, and hold. Each Command phase heal the most-threatened units, use Ablative Carapace for 4+ Feel No Pain on a contested objective, and Reclaim Biomass to undo casualties. Win on attrition and primary while the swarm keeps regrowing.
2 DP, leaving 1 DP at a 2,000-point game for a support detachment like Warrior Bioform Onslaught or Ambush Predators.
Feed the Swarm: each Harvester unit can regenerate a friendly Tyranids unit within 6" in your Command phase — healing D3+1 wounds or returning a destroyed Infantry model (up to 3 for Endless Multitude units). It turns the army into a self-healing wall.
Harvester monsters (Norn Assimilator, Haruspex, Psychophage) as regeneration anchors, backed by Termagant and Hormagaunt blocks that return up to 3 models per regeneration, plus Pyrovores or Rippers as extra bodies to spread the healing bubbles.
Regeneration only triggers off Harvester units, so losing your Harvesters or being pushed out of their 6"/9" range shuts the engine down. It also has low ranged output and no alpha strike, so fast scoring armies can out-tempo it.
Written by Sprue Sentry, grounded in the cited sources. Original commentary, not Games Workshop rules text.