The Tyrannic Wars are the Imperium’s running war against the Tyranid hive fleets, and they’ve been going on since late M41. Each one has cost the Imperium more than the last, and there’s no sign of it ending.
What the Tyrannic Wars actually are
These aren’t one campaign. They’re a series of separate conflicts against different hive fleets, grouped together because the enemy is always the same: the Tyranids. The Imperium treats them as one of its highest-priority wars, and it’s easy to see why.
The fighting is concentrated on the Eastern Fringe, though later wars have pushed further afield. The scale is brutal. Imperial Guard regiments are being wiped out faster than new ones can be shipped in, and thousands of worlds have been stripped to lifeless husks. Plenty of minor races caught in the path simply don’t exist anymore.
First Tyrannic War (745.M41)
This is where the Imperium met the Tyranids for the first time. Hive Fleet Behemoth hit the Eastern Fringe and ate Tyran outright.
Behemoth was stopped, but only just, when the Ultramarines held the line at the Battle for Macragge. It broke the fleet, though the cost to the Chapter was savage.
- Fall of Tyran
- Battle for Macragge
- Lacrima Dolorosa Crusade
Second Tyrannic War (990-993.M41)
Hive Fleet Kraken was next. It carved through the Imperium and was again edged out rather than crushed.
The Ichar IV campaign and the battle at Iyanden are the ones people remember, along with the loss of Sotha.
- Ichar IV Campaign
- Battle of Iyanden
- Fall of Sotha
Third Tyrannic War (997.M41 onwards)
Hive Fleet Leviathan arrived, and unlike the previous two it never really stopped. This war is still listed as ongoing.
Tarsis Ultra and the Cryptus campaign were early flashpoints, but the Devastation of Baal is the one that shook the Imperium hardest.
- Battle of Tarsis Ultra
- Cryptus Campaign
- Devastation of Baal
Fourth Tyrannic War (Era Indomitus)
At some point during the Era Indomitus, the biggest Leviathan push yet hit the Western Reaches of Segmentum Pacificus. Three huge tendrils came in at once, which the Imperium named Nautilon, Promethor and Grendyllus.
Sources don’t pin down an exact start date for this one. It’s generally treated as the current phase of the war.
Who’s fighting, and the veterans
The Ultramarines carry a lot of the weight. After Macragge, Marneus Calgar seconded warriors to the Deathwatch to get them experience against xenos, and Chaplain Cassius turned that experience into a dedicated formation: the Tyrannic War Veterans.
Not everyone liked the idea, since the Codex Astartes doesn’t cover it. Calgar called the Conclave of Hera to settle the argument, then sent the veterans to prove themselves on Espandor. They did, and they were formally recognised. Today over half the Ultramarines’ First Company are Tyrannic War Veterans, and some successor Chapters like the Imperial Reavers field their own.
Key facts
- The Tyrannic Wars began in late M41 and are fought mainly by the Imperium against Tyranid hive fleets.
- The First War started in 745.M41 when Hive Fleet Behemoth destroyed Tyran and was beaten at Macragge.
- The Second War (990-993.M41) saw Hive Fleet Kraken narrowly defeated.
- The Third War began in 997.M41 with Hive Fleet Leviathan and is still ongoing.
- The Fourth War broke out in the Era Indomitus with three Leviathan tendrils hitting Segmentum Pacificus.
- Thousands of planets and many minor races have been wiped out across the wars.
FAQ
How many Tyrannic Wars have there been?
Four so far, starting in 745.M41 with Behemoth and running through Kraken, Leviathan, and the current Leviathan push into Segmentum Pacificus.
Which hive fleet was the first the Imperium fought?
Hive Fleet Behemoth, which destroyed Tyran before being defeated by the Ultramarines at Macragge.
Are the Tyrannic Wars over?
No. The Third and Fourth Wars are both treated as ongoing, and Leviathan is still the main threat.