Necromunda: Malstrain Coalescence Turns Up The Grotesque Factor In The 40k Universe
Did you think things in the Grimdark couldn’t get much more gross and weird? Necromunda just said, “Hold my beer.”
There’s not a whole lot of ways to slice this one: it’s comically repulsive and distorted. It is, in fact, the definition of grotesque. But don’t take my word for it. Check out the new Malstrain Coalescence for yourself:
“We told you that the Malstrain was weird – but even we were taken aback by the new Malstrain Coalescence, a fleshy chimaera of man and genestealer mutated by the weird energies polluting the devastated Hive Secundus. Yes, it’s the new champion of the grotesque on Necromunda, beating out Ortruum 8-8 and the House Delaque Spyker…”
Malstrain Coalescence
This thing really amps up the body-horror and weird factor. It’s clearly some sort of Tyranid/Human hybrid abomination. I think it looks more like a man crossed with a Zoanthrope than a Genestealer personally. Which is fitting because it does get access to Wyrd Powers so that’s a plus…I guess.
Aside from the gross-out factor this miniature also amps up the wonder I have about the Malstrain Genestealers of Hive Secundus. We were told during the Warhammer Preview show that the experimentation with the Genestealers led to some massive genetic mutations. We were also told that these Malstrain members also had their own sort of psychic beacon that essentially repelled the Hive Mind and just might keep the planet free of a future Tyranid invasion.
…Because of the LORE
I know that right now the focus is on the gross and weird that’s happening. We’re getting some really cool miniatures out of this and we’re getting to explore the world of Necromunda even more. But I think this has some much deeper lore implications. If the Malstrain Genestealers do repulse the Hive Mind then I think it’s only a matter of time before someone else starts to notice.
Imagine if the Inquisition found out. Depending on which member found out you might see a Kill Team sent in to capture a specimen. Could the Imperium weaponize this as some kind of defense against the Tyranids? Or what about the Aeldari? Or any other sentient race that would like to avoid their biomass getting absorbed.
Right now Hive Secundus is just some hunting ground for the rich of Necromunda to go on safari. And, theoretically, GW could leave it that way. But if they ever did want to pull the trigger on this lore thread and actually make it so there was a real answer to the Tyranids this might be it. But then again this is the Grimdark. You know even if the Imperium did find out and tried to weaponize this option it would backfire spectacularly.
In anycase, it seems like GW is really letting the Malstrain design push the boundaries of grotesque miniatures in a different, non-chaosy direction. I’m glad that this mutation is more xeno-flavored than chaos at least. I can’t wait to see what else GW has in store. Do you think we’ll get a Malstrain Patriarch or a full on Malstrain Genestealer Cult army? That would be wild.
Place your bets: Will this lore tidbit about the Malstain ever get used or will GW keep the answer to the Tyranids in their back pocket?
