The metagame is (presumably) on borrowed time, and this week it’s the Astra Militarum’s turn to take a big swing at the Necron menace, with a reasonable degree of success. The Thousand Sons and Sororitas are getting in on the action too, and as a result the robot dominance isn’t quite as extreme as it could be, though still sufficient to make it clear that some sort of nerf bat application is required. Hopefully that’s coming sooner rather than later.
Today we’ll be covering:
- The Oxford 40k Super Major
- The Wardome 40K GT
- ALL STARS WARM UP – Hellstorm’s 40K Tournament Series
- Team Hobby Chest 40k Open – Grand Tournament
- The Pantheon Invades Shirecon GT
- Southwest Smoker 40k GT
- Other Realms 40K Hell Dive GT
On Friday we’ll have Lowest of Men covering:
- Fantasia Fanatic XLV – 40K
- Grand Tournament 40K – Grand Clash 2024
- ELBCOAST CUP X – GT
- NGT’24 – Nidaros Grand Tournament
- Nemesis 40k Spring 2024
- Grand Tournament of Contempt
This week’s showdowns will be:
- Astra Militarum vs Adepta Sororitas at the Oxford Super Major (with guest commentary from Nassim Fouchane, one of the finalists)
- Thousand Sons vs Adepta Sororitas at the Grand Tournament of Contempt.
THE OXFORD 40K SUPER MAJOR
246-player, 7-round Supermajor in England, United Kingdom on April 20 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Priority Targets – Chilling Rain – Crucible of Battle
Nassim Fouchane – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) V13) Oxford GT (1995 Points) Astra Militarum CHARACTERS Lord Solar Leontus (125 Points) Platoon Command Squad (60 Points) Tank Commander (205 Points) Tank Commander (205 Points) Ursula Creed (55 Points) BATTLELINE Catachan Jungle Fighters (55 Points) Catachan Jungle Fighters (55 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Basilisk (135 Points) Bullgryn Squad (160 Points) Bullgryn Squad (160 Points) Bullgryn Squad (160 Points) Kasrkin (100 Points) Kasrkin (100 Points) Manticore (180 Points) Manticore (180 Points) Scout Sentinels (60 Points)
Army List - Click to Expand
Combined Regiment
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Conquest
1x Konstantin’s hooves
1x Sol’s Righteous Gaze
• 1x Platoon Commander
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 2x Veteran Guardsman
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Lasgun
2x Laspistol
1x Master Vox
1x Regimental Standard
• 1x Veteran Heavy Weapons Team
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
1x Mortar
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Militarum plasma cannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Militarum plasma cannon
• 1x Duty and Vengeance
1x Power weapon
• 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
• 9x Jungle Fighter
• 9x Close combat weapon
2x Flamer
7x Lasgun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
• 9x Jungle Fighter
• 9x Close combat weapon
2x Flamer
7x Lasgun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Earthshaker cannon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ’ead
• 1x Brute Shield
1x Bullgryn maul
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Bullgryn
• 5x Brute Shield
5x Bullgryn maul
5x Close combat weapon
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ’ead
• 1x Brute Shield
1x Bullgryn maul
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Bullgryn
• 5x Brute Shield
5x Bullgryn maul
5x Close combat weapon
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ’ead
• 1x Brute Shield
1x Bullgryn maul
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Bullgryn
• 5x Brute Shield
5x Bullgryn maul
5x Close combat weapon
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
1x Melta Mine
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
1x Melta Mine
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm eagle rockets
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm eagle rockets
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Sentinel chainsaw
vs.
Vik Vijay – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs) Hallowed Martyrs “She was an angel, pure as righteous destruction. She laid low the twisted and lifted the hearts of the righteous. At her passing, a million voices cried out her name. Shall we ever again see her like?“ CHARACTERS Saint Celestine (135 Points) | Warlord Triumph of Saint Katherine (125 Points) Canoness (65 Points) BATTLELINE 10x Battle Sisters Squad (100 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS 10x Arco-flagellants (150 Points) 10x Arco-flagellants (150 Points) 10x Arco-flagellants (150 Points) 5x Seraphim Squad (70 Points) 5x Seraphim Squad (70 Points) 5x Seraphim Squad (70 Points) 10x Zephyrim Squad (120 Points) 5x Zephyrim Squad (60 Points) 2x Crusaders (25 Points) 2x Crusaders (25 Points) Castigator (140 Points) Castigator (140 Points) Castigator (140 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Immolator (115 Points) Sororitas Rhino (75 Points) Sororitas Rhino (75 Points)
Army List - Click to Expand
Adepta Sororitas | Vik | Ignite | 2000
• Celestine
• The Ardent Blade
• 2x Geminae Superia
• Power Weapon & Bolt Pistol
• Relic Weapons & Bolt pistols
• Blessed Blade
• Condemnor Boltgun
• Enhancements: Blade of Saint Ellynor
• Sister Superior
Condemnor Boltgun
Power Weapon & Bolt Pistol
• 9x Battle Sister
1x Multi-Melta
1x Meltagun
1x Simulacrum Imperialis
7x Boltgun
9x Bolt Pistol
• 10x Arco-flails
• 10x Arco-flails
• 10x Arco-flails
• Seraphim Superior
Power Weapon & Plasma Pistol
• 4x Seraphim
4x Ministorum Hand Flamer
4x Bolt Pistol
• Seraphim Superior
Power Weapon & Plasma Pistol
• 4x Seraphim
4x Ministorum Hand Flamer
4x Bolt Pistol
• Seraphim Superior
Power Weapon & Plasma Pistol
• 4x Seraphim
4x Ministorum Hand Flamer
4x Bolt Pistol
• Zephyrim Superior
Power Weapon & Plasma Pistol
Sacred Banner
• 9x Zephyrim
9x Power Weapon & Bolt pistol
• Zephyrim Superior
Power Weapon & Plasma Pistol
Sacred Banner
• 4x Zephyrim
4x Power Weapon & Bolt Pistol
• 2x Power weapon
• 2x Power weapon
• 1x Castigator battle cannon
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Castigator battle cannon
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Castigator battle cannon
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Twin Multi-Melta
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter
Thoughts
Two titans of the UK scene clash here, and Nassim was kind enough to give us his thoughts on this game, so without further ado, here they are!
Nassim: Salam Alaiykum all! Imperial Guard vs Sisters, two armies that have arguably been the talk of the current metagame, facing off in the finals.
So my thoughts going into this is that I have an attrition advantage thanks to the indirect into Vik’s decently weak infantry. They’re very susceptible to the Basilisk & Manticores when you factor in Fields of Fire and that means if I play defensively can aim for a small win by attritioning him down, as long as I ride out the waves of sisters that will come crashing at me.
Here are Vik’s thoughts going into this as well: “So I was in a little bit of a rush going into the game as I had to bounce straight over from the semi-finals, which led to some sloppy deployment that caused me some serious issues turn 1, putting me way behind on points. Game plan would’ve ideally been to keep things super cagey and try to win on a secondary differential. As soon as any chance of that disappeared, the only other option was violence”
Vik gave me an opportunity to give him a 0 very early on by shooting a unit off his home objective and charging 6 Bullgryn into his expansion objective on his T2, and I also built up a 6VP Secondary lead. This meant that I had neutered the scoring advantage of Sisters quite early on and was almost assured a win if Vik was to play passive or mildly aggressive and go for trading.
Vik is able to recognise this immediately and decides to move his army forward, as he now realised that his main strengths in the matchup were gone, and he needed to leverage arguably his one remaining advantage, which is the sheer amount of stuff he has.
With that in mind, he claps back turn 2 and makes a few key charges to stay in the game, aggressively pushing me back from my side objective to keep me to 5s for the rest of the game, neutering my second turn advantage by battleshocking units to prevent me from using Reinforcements on them, making the attrition battle harder for me, especially as he had cleared a majority of the Bullgryn by that turn by trading his Arco-flagellants.
By the end of the game I wasn’t able to hold enough of the midboard and had lost too many resources to hold onto a second primary objective, which also affected my ability to score cards. I also gave him a few key slingshots to get a Triumph into the midboard, which I couldn’t deal with.
Overall well played by Vik, despite having no time to really rest after his game with Kyle, and bouncing back after what for some would be a game ending turn 1, congrats!
Wings: Thanks for the insight Nassim (and Vik) – really shows that knowing when you have to completely tear up your plan and go for broke is a key skill to triumph at the top!
Result
Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs) Victory – 84 – 65
Vik Vijay – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs) – 1st Place
The List
See Showdown
Archetype
Go-wide Sisters
Thoughts
Board control for days is the plan here, with huge numbers of units to create constant scoring pressure, and Castigators for some heavy damage lifting when required. Notably absent to pay for this is Morvenn Vahl, and Vik covered the thinking behind this on his (very good) 40K Fireside Podcast last week – Warsuits just don’t work very well on UKTC tables. It’s hard to get them into staging positions when deployed on the table, and you can’t generally hide them in a good spot out of rapid ingress. Instead, you’ve got more units and more stuff (in the form of the Castigators) that shoots down side lanes, plus the Zephyrim to attack another angle of the current UKTC pack. With both the day two missions currently having six objectives, one of the most important ways to start building a point differential is to have options for tanking the opponent to a 5pt turn by flippnig a “safe” objective and the Zephyrim do that very effectively thanks to their speed. I ended up on Canoptek Court rather than Hypercrypt for similar reasons and didn’t regret it at all, and I’d definitely encourage anyone planning on hitting UKTC events this year to follow Vik’s example and look for similar units in your faction. Congratulations to Vik on yet another big trophy!
Nassim Fouchane – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 2nd Place
The List
See Showdown
Archetype
Tarpit Guard
Thoughts
A Bullgryn-tastic build from Nassim here, joining Vik’s list in being well tuned for UKTC. The current maps mean that if you have more than two artillery tanks you start being at a risk of getting sniped down side lanes, and Tank Commanders work well with those lanes, providing extra pressure, and often trading up if the opponent tries to counter them. Add in the durability of the Bullgryn and the ability of Kasrkin to play a wide variety of utility roles (stacking Move! Move! Move! and extra OC is another great way to flip objectives) and you have a versatile and highly deadly list. Well done to Nassim on the second place finish!
Sam Nash – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 3rd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand BISH BASH BOSH V3 (2000 Points) Astra Militarum CHARACTERS Lord Solar Leontus (125 Points) Platoon Command Squad (60 Points) Tank Commander (220 Points) Tank Commander (205 Points) Ursula Creed (55 Points) BATTLELINE Infantry Squad (60 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Chimera (70 Points) Chimera (70 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Basilisk (135 Points) Bullgryn Squad (160 Points) Bullgryn Squad (80 Points) Bullgryn Squad (80 Points) Kasrkin (100 Points) Kasrkin (100 Points) Manticore (180 Points) Manticore (180 Points) Scout Sentinels (60 Points) Scout Sentinels (60 Points)
Combined Regiment
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Conquest
1x Konstantin’s hooves
1x Sol’s Righteous Gaze
• 1x Platoon Commander
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
• 2x Veteran Guardsman
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Lasgun
2x Laspistol
1x Master Vox
1x Regimental Standard
• 1x Veteran Heavy Weapons Team
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
1x Mortar
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Multi-melta
• Enhancements: Grand Strategist
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Multi-melta
• 1x Duty and Vengeance
1x Power weapon
• 1x Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 7x Guardsman
• 7x Close combat weapon
6x Lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Heavy Weapons Team
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
1x Mortar
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Chimera multi-laser
1x Heavy bolter
1x Lasgun array
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Chimera multi-laser
1x Heavy bolter
1x Lasgun array
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Earthshaker cannon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ’ead
• 1x Brute Shield
1x Bullgryn maul
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Bullgryn
• 5x Brute Shield
5x Bullgryn maul
5x Close combat weapon
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ’ead
• 1x Brute Shield
1x Bullgryn maul
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Bullgryn
• 2x Brute Shield
2x Bullgryn maul
2x Close combat weapon
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ’ead
• 1x Brute Shield
1x Bullgryn maul
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Bullgryn
• 2x Brute Shield
2x Bullgryn maul
2x Close combat weapon
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
1x Melta Mine
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
1x Melta Mine
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Storm eagle rockets
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Storm eagle rockets
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Sentinel chainsaw
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Sentinel chainsaw
Archetype
Slightly Less Tarpitty Guard
Thoughts
I have unusually direct experience with this one, as Sam and I faced off in round 5 for a chance at the top four, and my “poor”, “defenceless” robots got blown up. Rude. Anyway, this is similar to Nassim’s build, but dials back on Bullgryn a little for a Basilisk and an extra Scout Sentinel. Sam used these to extremely good effect in our game, with the second Sentinel meaning that he could pretty much always have one Spotting a key target, cycling them in via Reinforcements as fast as I could kill them, and then using free Overlapping Fields of Fire to methodically eliminate all opposition. It’s very effective! Well done Sam, and I’ll get you next time.
Kyle Grundy – T’au Empire (Kauyon) – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Tournament List (1995 points) T’au Empire CHARACTERS Commander Shadowsun (100 points) Commander in Crisis Battlesuit (80 points) Darkstrider (60 points) Longstrike (140 points) BATTLELINE Breacher Team (90 points) Breacher Team (90 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Devilfish (75 points) Devilfish (75 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points) Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points) Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points) Hammerhead Gunship (130 points) Pathfinder Team (90 points) Pathfinder Team (90 points) Riptide Battlesuit (165 points) Riptide Battlesuit (165 points) Riptide Battlesuit (165 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Kauyon
• Warlord
• 1x Advanced Guardian Drone
1x Battlesuit fists
1x Command-link Drone (Aura)
1x Flechette launcher
2x High-energy fusion blaster
1x Light missile pod
1x Pulse pistol
• 1x Battlesuit fists
4x Cyclic ion blaster
2x Shield Drone
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Shade
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Railgun
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin smart missile system
• 1x Support turret missile system
• 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Guardian Drone
1x Gun Drone
1x Pulse blaster
1x Pulse pistol
• 9x Breacher Fire Warrior
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Pulse blaster
9x Pulse pistol
• 1x Support turret missile system
• 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Guardian Drone
1x Gun Drone
1x Pulse blaster
1x Pulse pistol
• 9x Breacher Fire Warrior
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Pulse blaster
9x Pulse pistol
• 1x Accelerator burst cannon
1x Armoured hull
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin smart missile system
• 1x Accelerator burst cannon
1x Armoured hull
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin smart missile system
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Cyclic ion raker
1x Ghostkeel fists
1x Twin fusion blaster
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Cyclic ion raker
1x Ghostkeel fists
1x Twin fusion blaster
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Cyclic ion raker
1x Ghostkeel fists
1x Twin fusion blaster
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Railgun
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin smart missile system
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gun Drone
1x Pulse carbine
1x Pulse pistol
1x Recon Drone
1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
• 9x Pathfinder
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Ion rifle
6x Pulse carbine
9x Pulse pistol
1x Shield Drone
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gun Drone
1x Pulse carbine
1x Pulse pistol
1x Recon Drone
1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
• 9x Pathfinder
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Ion rifle
6x Pulse carbine
9x Pulse pistol
1x Shield Drone
• 1x Ion accelerator
2x Missile Drone
1x Riptide fists
1x Twin smart missile system
• 1x Ion accelerator
2x Missile Drone
1x Riptide fists
1x Twin smart missile system
• 1x Ion accelerator
2x Missile Drone
1x Riptide fists
1x Twin smart missile system
Archetype
Go-wide Shooty Tau
Thoughts
The Gundam menace rounds out the top four here, packing in three Riptides and three Ghostkeels, a heady mixture of mobility and shooting, again very effective along the side channels you can use on UKTC. Breachers and Pathfinders pulling off mobility stunts/objective flips with Devilfish plus some extra troubleshooters in a lone Commander and Longstrike complete the picture here, and you end up with a build that’s happy trading shots with almost anything, as early on the ablative protections on the Ghostkeels give it the edge, and later the power of Kauyon kicks in. Goodness only knows what Kyle is going to unleash once Mont’ka is available!
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on either 5-0 or 4.5-0.5 records. Normally for UKTC events I only hit 5-0s here, but in this case two of the 4.5-0.5s drew in round 5 on the top table, so it’s worth getting them in here for the full picture.
- 5th – Greg Chamberlain – Leagues of Votann: A Hearthguard-heavy build, going for two full blocks in Deep Strike and a squad in a Land Fortress, threatening high-volume hurt at pretty much any stage in the game.
- 6th – Ashley Brown – Adeptus Custodes: Infantry spam with the full six blocks.
- 7th (4.5) – Jonathan Partridge – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Monster mash with a mix of the tough ones (Maleceptors), the cheap ones (Exocrines) and the fast ones (Trygons) with some utility pieces to fill. Notable among them is a 5-model Genestealer unit, as throwaway Infiltrators are especially strong on the current UKTC terrain, a sharp choice!
- 8th (4.5) – Ben Piddington – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): An unusually pressure-intensive Hypercrypt build that adds a full block of Lychguard to send through the Monolith portal with Imotekh.
- 9th (4.5) – Samuel Smith – Chaos Space Marines: The surprise return of two big blocks of Accursed Cultists, supported by more skirmishing units, cheap shooting, and Rotigus to help gum up the mid-board while the Cultists get on with their work.
The Wardome 40K GT
77-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in New Caney, TX, US on April 20 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Alberto Nicolás “The Carthaginian” – T’au Empire (Kauyon) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand T’au Empire CHARACTERS Cadre Fireblade (40 points) Cadre Fireblade (40 points) Commander Farsight (90 points) Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (125 points) BATTLELINE Breacher Team (90 points) Breacher Team (90 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Devilfish (75 points) Devilfish (75 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Crisis Battlesuits (400 points) Crisis Battlesuits (200 points) Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points) Kroot Hounds (30 points) Kroot Hounds (30 points) Kroot Hounds (30 points) Piranha (55 points) Piranha (55 points) Piranha (55 points) Stealth Battlesuits (60 points) Stealth Battlesuits (60 points) Tetras (80 points) Tetras (80 points) Tetras (80 points) Exported with App Version: v1.11.0 (39), Data Version: v352
Carthaginian Tau (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Kauyon
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fireblade pulse rifle
1x Gun Drone
1x Shield Drone
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fireblade pulse rifle
1x Gun Drone
1x Shield Drone
• 1x Dawn Blade
1x High-intensity plasma rifle
• Warlord
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Cyclic ion blaster
3x Cyclic ion blaster
2x Shield Drone
• Enhancement: Exemplar of the Kauyon
• 1x Support turret missile system
• 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Guardian Drone
1x Gun Drone
1x Pulse blaster
1x Pulse pistol
• 9x Breacher Fire Warrior
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Pulse blaster
9x Pulse pistol
• 1x Support turret missile system
• 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Guardian Drone
1x Gun Drone
1x Pulse blaster
1x Pulse pistol
• 9x Breacher Fire Warrior
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Pulse blaster
9x Pulse pistol
• 1x Accelerator burst cannon
1x Armoured hull
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine
• 1x Accelerator burst cannon
1x Armoured hull
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine
• 1x Crisis Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
3x Cyclic ion blaster
2x Shield Drone
1x Shield Generator
• 5x Crisis Shas’ui
• 5x Battlesuit fists
15x Cyclic ion blaster
10x Shield Drone
5x Shield Generator
• 1x Crisis Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
3x Cyclic ion blaster
2x Shield Drone
1x Shield Generator
• 2x Crisis Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
5x Cyclic ion blaster
1x Fusion blaster
4x Shield Drone
2x Shield Generator
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Cyclic ion raker
1x Ghostkeel fists
1x Twin fusion blaster
• 4x Kroot Hound
• 4x Ripping fangs
• 4x Kroot Hound
• 4x Ripping fangs
• 4x Kroot Hound
• 4x Ripping fangs
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Piranha fusion blaster
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Piranha fusion blaster
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Piranha fusion blaster
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Battlesuit fists
1x Fusion blaster
1x Homing Beacon
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Battlesuit fists
1x Fusion blaster
1x Homing Beacon
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon
• 2x Tetra
• 2x Close combat weapons
4x Pulse rifle
• 2x Tetra
• 2x Close combat weapons
4x Pulse rifle
• 2x Tetra
• 2x Close combat weapons
4x Pulse rifle
Archetype
Crisis Tau
Thoughts
Every week I assume I’ve seen my last cyclic ion block, and every week they’re back again. This Tau build uses that nightmare shooting brick as a full on centrepiece, filling out with a whole bunch of units that can skirmish, bully charge and move block for as long as is necessary for hot plasma death to tidy up the table. It’s been enduringly effective, and it’s no surprise to see them get yet another riotous sendoff in Alberto’s hands.
Russell Tassin – Black Legion (Slaves to Darkness) – 2nd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Chaos Space Marines CHARACTERS Abaddon the Despoiler (310 Points) Master of Possession (80 Points) BATTLELINE Legionaries (90 Points) Legionaries (90 Points) Legionaries (90 Points) Legionaries (90 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Chaos Rhino (75 Points) Chaos Rhino (75 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Chaos Bikers (85 Points) Chaos Predator Destructor (130 Points) Chaos Predator Destructor (130 Points) Chaos Predator Destructor (130 Points) Chaos Terminator Squad (195 Points) Helbrute (140 Points) Possessed (140 Points) ALLIED UNITS Nurglings (40 Points) Plaguebearers (110 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.12.0 (35), Data Version: v357
Black Legion In Black and Gold Reborn (2000 Points)
Slaves to Darkness
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Drach’nyen
1x Talon of Horus
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Rite of Possession
1x Staff of possession
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 1x Aspiring Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Lascannon
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 1x Aspiring Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Lascannon
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 1x Aspiring Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Meltagun
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 1x Aspiring Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Meltagun
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Biker Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Combi-bolter
1x Power fist
• 2x Chaos Biker
• 2x Astartes chainsword
2x Close combat weapon
2x Combi-bolter
2x Meltagun
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Heavy bolter
1x Predator autocannon
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Terminator Champion
• 1x Chainfist
1x Combi-weapon
• 4x Chaos Terminator
• 1x Accursed weapon
4x Combi-weapon
3x Power fist
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Helbrute fist
1x Multi-melta
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Possessed Champion
• 1x Hideous mutations
• 4x Possessed
• 4x Hideous mutations
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth
• 1x Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
9x Plaguesword
Archetype
Brawler CSM 2024
Thoughts
A cool re-vamp of the Chaos Space Marine brawler builds from last year, used to great effect by one of the faction’s most dedicated and successful players. The gunline of Abaddon with a Helbrute and Destructors is extremely legit at grinding stuff out at range, and the Rhinos full of Slaanesh Legionaries provide some quality threat projection to keep those tools safe. Abaddon’s unit is also great as a counter-charge piece, and a unit of Plaguebearers is an interesting way of filling a mid-durability position holder slot, which CSM don’t really have at this price. Great to see some effective tinkering here, well done Russell!
David Villareal – Adeptus Mechanicus (Explorator Maniple) – 3rd Place
Credit: Pendulin
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Adeptus Mechanicus CHARACTERS Tech-Priest Enginseer (45 Points) Tech-Priest Enginseer (45 Points) Tech-Priest Manipulus (75 Points) Technoarcheologist (60 Points) Technoarcheologist (45 Points) BATTLELINE Skitarii Rangers (90 Points) Skitarii Vanguard (80 Points) Skitarii Vanguard (80 Points) Skitarii Vanguard (80 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Ironstrider Ballistarii (100 Points) Ironstrider Ballistarii (100 Points) Kataphron Breachers (290 Points) Pteraxii Skystalkers (65 Points) Sicarian Infiltrators (140 Points) Sydonian Dragoons with Taser Lances (180 Points) Sydonian Dragoons with Taser Lances (180 Points) Sydonian Dragoons with Taser Lances (180 Points) ALLIED UNITS Callidus Assassin (90 Points) Lord Inquisitor Kyria Draxus (75 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.11.1 (34), Data Version: v352
Please fix admech Gdubs (2000 Points)
Explorator Maniple
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Mechanicus pistol
1x Omnissian axe
1x Servo-arm
• 1x Mechanicus pistol
1x Omnissian axe
1x Servo-arm
• 1x Magnarail lance
1x Omnissian staff
• Enhancements: Logis
• Warlord
• 1x Mechanicus pistol
1x Servo-arc claw
• Enhancements: Magos
• 1x Mechanicus pistol
1x Servo-arc claw
• 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Ranger
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
6x Galvanic rifle
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
1x Transuranic arquebus
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebus
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebus
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebus
• 2x Ironstrider Ballistarii
• 2x Ironstrider feet
2x Twin cognis lascannon
• 2x Ironstrider Ballistarii
• 2x Ironstrider feet
2x Twin cognis lascannon
• 6x Kataphron Breacher
• 6x Heavy arc rifle
6x Hydraulic claw
• 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Pteraxii Skystalker
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Flechette carbine
• 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 9x Sicarian Infiltrator
• 9x Flechette blaster
9x Taser goad
• 3x Sydonian Dragoon
• 3x Phosphor serpenta
3x Taser lance
• 3x Sydonian Dragoon
• 3x Phosphor serpenta
3x Taser lance
• 3x Sydonian Dragoon
• 3x Phosphor serpenta
3x Taser lance
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades
• 1x Dirgesinger
1x Power fist
1x Psychic Tempest
Archetype
Explorator Pressure
Thoughts
A first showing for this AdMech detachment in a top four here, making use of the pressure tools of the Explorator maniple. As my haters on Reddit will be delighted to tell you, I think there are more interesting things in the AdMech book than most give it credit for (even though it is, to be clear, way too weak), and I’m happy to see some of those tried out. Explorator Maniple gives you lots of tools to heavily pressure one or two objectives and substantially boost the capabilities one one Infantry unit in your army. Unsurprisingly, that’s used here with three of the book’s better datasheets – a big unit of Infiltrators and lots of Sydonian Dragoons to keep opposing positions under pressure, and a full unit of buffed Breachers to annihilate anything foolish enough to stand on an objective, using Incense Exhausts to tank reprisals. Skystalkers and Infantry fill out the utility/objective play side of things, while some Ironstriders help blast large targets, and you end up with a pleasingly aggressive force that has sone good staying power when the foe hits back. I do wish their big transport synergy Stratagem cost 1CP instead of 2, but it’s nice to see that you can make something happen with these tools. Well done David.
Kit Smith – Dark Angels (Ironstorm Spearhead) – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER 1x Techmarine (80 pts) 1x Techmarine (75 pts) 1x Techmarine (95 pts) 1x Azrael (105 pts) OTHER DATASHEETS 5x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (85 pts) 5x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (85 pts) 1x Ravenwing Darkshroud (115 pts) 1x Redemptor Dreadnought (210 pts) 1x Redemptor Dreadnought (210 pts) 1x Redemptor Dreadnought (210 pts) 1x Storm Speeder Thunderstrike (160 pts) 1x Stormraven Gunship (240 pts) 1x Stormraven Gunship (240 pts) ALLIED UNITS 1x Callidus Assassin (90 pts)
• 1x Forge Bolter
• 1x Grav-pistol
• 1x Omnissian Power Axe
• 1x Servo-arm
• Adept of the Omnissiah (+25 pts)
• 1x Forge Bolter
• 1x Grav-pistol
• 1x Omnissian Power Axe
• 1x Servo-arm
• Master of the Machine War [Aura] (+20 pts)
• 1x Forge Bolter
• 1x Grav-pistol
• 1x Omnissian Power Axe
• 1x Servo-arm
• Target Augury Web [Aura] (+40 pts)
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
• 1x The Sword of Secrets
• Warlord
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma Pistol
• 1x Power Fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Pack
• 6x Astartes Chainsword
• 3x Heavy Bolt Pistol
• 1x Plasma Pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma Pistol
• 1x Power Fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Pack
• 6x Astartes Chainsword
• 3x Heavy Bolt Pistol
• 1x Plasma Pistol
• 1x Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Assault cannon
• 1x Icarus Rocket Pod
• 1x Redemptor Fist
• 1x Macro Plasma Incinerator
• 1x Onslaught Gatling Cannon
• 1x Twin Fragstorm Grenade Launcher
• 1x Icarus Rocket Pod
• 1x Redemptor Fist
• 1x Macro Plasma Incinerator
• 1x Onslaught Gatling Cannon
• 1x Twin Fragstorm Grenade Launcher
• 1x Icarus Rocket Pod
• 1x Redemptor Fist
• 1x Macro Plasma Incinerator
• 1x Onslaught Gatling Cannon
• 1x Twin Fragstorm Grenade Launcher
• 1x Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Stormfury Missiles
• 1x Thunderstrike Las-talon
• 1x Twin Icarus Rocket Pod
• 1x Armoured Hull
• 1x Hurricane Bolter 2 Hurricane Bolters
• 2x Stormstrike Missiles
• 1x Twin Heavy Plasma Cannon
• 1x Twin Multi-melta
• 1x Armoured Hull
• 1x Hurricane Bolter 2 Hurricane Bolters
• 2x Stormstrike Missiles
• 1x Twin Heavy Plasma Cannon
• 1x Twin Multi-melta
• 1x Neural shredder
• 1x Phase sword and poison blades
Archetype
Darkstormravens
Thoughts
Crunch meta has been a bit quieter this week, partially because the UKTC terrain sets don’t favour it quite as much, but it’s very much on show here in the form of the nastiest shooting Marines can muster. If you can keep Stormravens supplied with CP they’re appallingly deadly, so combining that and extra protection from a Darkshroud makes Dark Angels the best place to run two. Great work from Kit.
The Best of the Rest
There were 2 more players on 5-1 records. They were:
- 5th – Justin Moore – T’au Empire: Triptide and a big Crisis block, which so far so expected, but the Crisis Team is fully loaded on plasma rifles instead of cyclics. Presumably Justin was either very worried about Custodes, or didn’t want the last outing of a full Crisis squad to be marred by them self-immolating.
- 6th – Colin McDade – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): The double C’tan, triple Immortal and Monolith special.
ALL STARS WARM UP – Hellstorm’s 40K Tournament Series
51-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on April 20 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Josh Roberts – Necrons (Canoptek Court) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Necrons CHARACTERS Illuminor Szeras (160 points) Plasmancer (55 points) Plasmancer (55 points) Plasmancer (55 points) Technomancer (80 points) Technomancer (60 points) Technomancer (60 points) BATTLELINE Immortals (70 points) Immortals (70 points) Immortals (70 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Canoptek Acanthrites (85 points) Canoptek Acanthrites (85 points) Canoptek Doomstalker (135 points) Canoptek Doomstalker (135 points) Canoptek Doomstalker (135 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Lokhust Destroyers (30 points)
Hellstorm GT List (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Canoptek Court
• Warlord
• 1x Eldritch Lance
1x Impaling legs
• 1x Plasmic lance
• 1x Plasmic lance
• 1x Plasmic lance
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Dimensional Sanctum
• 1x Staff of light
• 1x Staff of light
• 5x Immortal
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Tesla carbine
• 5x Immortal
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Tesla carbine
• 5x Immortal
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Tesla carbine
• 3x Canoptek Acanthrites
• 3x Cutting beam
3x Voidblade
• 3x Canoptek Acanthrites
• 3x Cutting beam
3x Voidblade
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayer
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayer
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayer
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannon
Archetype
Canoptek Court
Thoughts
Josh’s robot rampage continues, as does the trend of gradually shaving out Immortals from the units. In the current meta, five with a Plasmancer gives a lot of the same output, and here frees up the points to go triple on both Wraiths and Doomstalkers, leaving a build that’s a nightmare to take off the board and that presents a very real grindy damage threat. Congratulations to Josh.
The Best of the Rest
There were 8 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Jonny Simmons – Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): Board control and objective power from the Hunter Cohort here, mixing lots of Pteraxii and Infiltrators with Battleline galore and two big Breacher blocks for damage.
- 3rd – Nathan Roberts – Death Guard (Plague Company): Maximum go-wide hull skew here, using Predators, Daemon Engines (including an allied Soul Grinder) and a trio of allied Knights, while cutting down everything else to Nurglings, Cultists and Typhus as a finesse piece.
- 4th – Dom Maidlow – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment): All the standard Guard hits with an extra dose of artillery via a second Basilisk.
- 5th – Mark Pilkington – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): A Monolith, lots of Heavy Lokhusts, a Warrior brick to tarpit and a surprise inclusion of a full Skorpekh squad to blast through the portal.
- 6th – Paul Croghan – Necrons (Canoptek Court): Triple Wraiths and Doomstalkers with lots of Lokhusts in support.
- 7th – Connor Nicholls – Blood Angels (Sons of Sanguinius): Mega jump pack aggro plus a big foot Death Company squad to stage and counter-charge.
- 8th – Michael Duff – Black Templars (Ironstorm Spearhead): It’s a day of triples, three Reapers, three Valiants and three Destructors, with Transport-riding stuff to fill.
- 9th – Brant Wilson – Adeptus Custodes: Infantry spam with triple Guard and Wardens.
Team Hobby Chest 40k Open – Grand Tournament
36-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Jacksonville, NC, United States on April 20 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Michael Mann – Orks (Waaagh! Tribe) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Orks CHARACTERS Beastboss (100 Points) Beastboss on Squigosaur (165 Points) Deffkilla Wartrike (95 Points) Kaptin Badrukk (80 Points) Mozrog Skragbad (195 Points) Warboss (65 Points) Warboss (65 Points) Warboss in Mega Armour (105 Points) BATTLELINE Beast Snagga Boyz (105 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Trukk (65 Points) Trukk (65 Points) Trukk (65 Points) Trukk (65 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Flash Gitz (190 Points) Gretchin (40 Points) Gretchin (40 Points) Meganobz (150 Points) Nobz (110 Points) Nobz (110 Points) Nobz on Warbikes (125 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.12.0 (35), Data Version: v357
Possible Orks list (2000 Points)
Waaagh! Tribe
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Beast Snagga klaw
1x Beastchoppa
1x Shoota
• 1x Beastchoppa
1x Slugga
1x Squigosaur’s jaws
• 1x Deffkilla boomstikks
1x Killa jet
1x Snagga klaw
• Enhancements: Supa-Cybork Body
• 1x Choppa
1x Da Rippa
1x Slugga
• Warlord
• 1x Big Chompa’s jaws
1x Gutrippa
1x Thump gun
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin slugga
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin slugga
• 1x Big shoota
1x ’Uge choppa
• Enhancements: Follow Me Ladz
• 1x Beast Snagga Nob
• 1x Power snappa
1x Slugga
• 9x Beast Snagga Boy
• 9x Choppa
9x Slugga
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Kaptin
• 1x Choppa
1x Snazzgun
• 9x Flash Git
• 9x Choppa
9x Snazzgun
• 1x Runtherd
• 1x Grot-smacka
1x Slugga
• 10x Gretchin
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
• 1x Grot-smacka
1x Slugga
• 10x Gretchin
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Grot blasta
• 5x Meganob
• 5x Twin killsaw
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga
• 4x Nob
• 4x Power klaw
4x Slugga
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga
• 4x Nob
• 4x Power klaw
4x Slugga
• 3x Nobz on Warbikes
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Power klaw
3x Slugga
3x Twin dakkagun
Archetype
Trukk-Heavy Goodstuff
Thoughts
The Orks have a lot to look forward to in their new book, but this build gives one old friend a fitting sendoff. Badrukk’s Flash Gitz provide a nasty shooting threat out of Strat Reserves or from behind a wall, while a pressure wave of nasty stuff in Trukks runs the foe down. Does have one unusual tech choice in adding some biker Nobz to the Supa-Cybork Deffkilla – that makes the unit actually hit decently well in addition to being a pain to kill, so is certainly interesting. The codex is going to shake up Orks in a big way soon, but I do still think there will be a place for all-rounder builds like this, and well done to Michael for giving Da Kaptin a proper last run.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Robin Roberts – Genestealer Cult (Ascension Day): Shooty Infantry and a big Aberrant unit, going back to playing the hits here.
- 3rd – Nate Maxfield – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic): Tsons with a bit of extra heft from a Mutalith and Daemon Prince, alongside the usual suspects Character and Rubric-wise.
- 4th – Mike Robertson – T’au Empire (Kauyon): Gunline Tau heavy on Broadsides and Crisis suits.
- 5th – Reynolds Wagemaker – Thousand Sons: Double Mutalith, using lots of chaff Cultists and Enlightened to free up points.
- 6th – Alex Ramsey – Adepta Sororitas: Standard all-rounder Sisters stuff with the Vahl/Paragon brick.
The Pantheon Invades Shirecon GT
32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Sylvania, NSW, Australia on April 19 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Jordan McGregor – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Adepta Sororitas CHARACTERS Canoness (50 points) Missionary (40 points) Saint Celestine (135 points) BATTLELINE Battle Sisters Squad (100 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Immolator (115 points) Sororitas Rhino (75 points) Sororitas Rhino (75 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Arco-flagellants (150 points) Castigator (140 points) Castigator (140 points) Castigator (140 points) Crusaders (25 points) Death Cult Assassins (35 points) Exorcist (180 points) Repentia Squad (110 points) Repentia Squad (110 points) Repentia Squad (110 points) Seraphim Squad (70 points) Seraphim Squad (70 points) Seraphim Squad (70 points) Zephyrim Squad (60 points) Exported with App Version: v1.12.0 (40), Data Version: v357
Sisters of Slaughter (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Hallowed Martyrs
• 1x Brazier of holy fire
1x Chainsword
1x Condemnor boltgun
• 1x Chainsword
1x Holy pistol
1x Ministorum shotgun
• Enhancement: Saintly Example
• 1x Celestine
• Warlord
• 1x The Ardent Blade
• 2x Geminae Superia
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Power weapon
• 1x Sister Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Condemnor boltgun
1x Power weapon
• 9x Battle Sister
• 9x Bolt pistol
7x Boltgun
9x Close combat weapon
1x Meltagun
1x Multi-melta
1x Simulacrum Imperialis
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Twin multi-melta
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 10x Arco-flagellant
• 10x Arco-flails
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Castigator battle cannon
3x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Castigator battle cannon
3x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Castigator battle cannon
3x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 2x Crusader
• 2x Power weapon
• 2x Death Cult Assassin
• 2x Death Cult power blades
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Exorcist missile launcher
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Repentia Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Neural whips
• 9x Sister Repentia
• 9x Penitent eviscerator
• 1x Repentia Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Neural whips
• 9x Sister Repentia
• 9x Penitent eviscerator
• 1x Repentia Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Neural whips
• 9x Sister Repentia
• 9x Penitent eviscerator
• 1x Seraphim Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 4x Seraphim
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Ministorum hand flamer
• 1x Seraphim Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 4x Seraphim
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Ministorum hand flamer
• 1x Seraphim Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 4x Seraphim
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Inferno pistol
• 1x Zephyrim Superior
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
1x Sacred Banner
• 4x Zephyrim
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Power weapon
Archetype
All-rounder Sisters
Thoughts
Another spin on the Sisters formula, going for a mix of good shooting output from tanks and high-threat melee from the Repentia, plus the normal surfeit of scoring stuff to fill. Yet another sign of how flexible the faction can be, well done to Jordan for putting together this version and taking a trophy!
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Joshua Brodie – Raven Guard (Ironstorm Spearhead): A pleasingly thematic spin on Ironstorm, combining lots of Gladiators and a Repex with Eliminators and Assault Intercessors, naturally including a big unit of the latter with Shrike. Eliminators are good in Ironstorm anyway, and the Shrike squad has definite merit – Lone Op on them lets you get in a big mobile threat without opening up a vulnerability in the defensive profile you present to enemy guns.
- 3rd – Arian Fanaeian – Ultramarines (Ironstorm Spearhead): A Stormraven supping on CP from Calgar instead of Azrael.
- 4th – Michael House – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic): Extra Character-heavy Tsons with a winged Daemon Prince alongside some of the usuals.
- 5th – Adam Woznowski – Adeptus Custodes: Three Infantry blocks, and two each of Caladius Tanks and 3-model Allarus squads.
- 6th – Craig Dewes – Space Marines: Unknown army list of mystery.
Southwest Smoker 40k GT
32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Las Cruces, NM, US on April 20 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Jon Camacho – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Thousand Sons CHARACTERS Ahriman on Disc of Tzeentch (140 Points) Magnus the Red (440 Points) Thousand Sons Daemon Prince with Wings (210 Points) Tzaangor Shaman (85 Points) Tzaangor Shaman (80 Points) BATTLELINE Rubric Marines (210 Points) Tzaangors (65 Points) Tzaangors (65 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Mutalith Vortex Beast (165 Points) Mutalith Vortex Beast (165 Points) Thousand Sons Chaos Spawn (65 Points) Thousand Sons Chaos Spawn (65 Points) Thousand Sons Chaos Spawn (65 Points) Tzaangor Enlightened (90 Points) Tzaangor Enlightened (90 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.12.0 (35), Data Version: v357
Mutant mayhem (2000 Points)
Cult of Magic
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Black Staff of Ahriman
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Psychic Stalk
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
• Enhancements: Arcane Vortex
• 1x Mutating orbs
1x Shaman’s stave
• Enhancements: Lord of Forbidden Lore
• 1x Mutating orbs
1x Shaman’s stave
• Enhancements: Athenaean Scrolls
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 9x Rubric Marine
• 9x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
9x Warpflamer
• 1x Twistbray
• 1x Tzaangor blades
• 9x Tzaangor
• 1x Brayhorn
1x Herd banner
9x Tzaangor blades
• 1x Twistbray
• 1x Tzaangor blades
• 9x Tzaangor
• 1x Brayhorn
1x Herd banner
9x Tzaangor blades
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 5x Enlightened
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Fatecaster greatbow
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 5x Enlightened
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Fatecaster greatbow
Archetype
Top-heavy Tsons
Thoughts
An unusually low Character build of Tsons here, going instead for extra heft from Mutaliths and a tooled-up Daemon Prince, and supporting them with actual shooty squads of Tzaangor Enlightened with Shamans. Honestly somewhat intriuging – the complete package on those squads is quite a big headache to deal with, and they’re extremely good at punishing Necron Characters in particular, which is obviously excellent in the current metagame! I’m sure Tzeentch is particularly proud of the admirable twist Jon has added to the mix here.
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Colin Kay – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs): Fire and Character-heavy Sororitas, packing extra Leaders and extra Immolators.
- 3rd – Peyton Gage – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Monster Mash with five big hitters, favouring shooting and durability on most and Shalaxi as a hammer.
- 4th – Jack Kosidowski – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic): All-rounder Tsons adding lots of Spawn for board presence on the cheap.
- 5th – Rob Gonzales – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Five C’tan and a Monolith.
Other Realms 40K Hell Dive GT
28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Honolulu, HI, US on April 20 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
David Stoffey – Grey Knights (Teleport Strike Force) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Grey Knights 1990/2000
125 Kaldor Draigo
75 Castellan Crowe
110 Librarian
230 Grand Master in Dreadknight w/ Nemesis Daemonhammer, Heavy Psycannon, Heavy Incinerator, & Sigil of Exigence
185 Nemesis Dreadknight w/ Nemesis Daemonhammer, Heavy Psycannon, & Heavy Incinerator
185 Nemesis Dreadknight w/ Nemesis Daemonhammer, Heavy Psycannon, & Heavy Incinerator
185 Nemesis Dreadknight w/ Nemesis Daemonhammer, Heavy Psycannon, & Heavy Incinerator
125 5x Strike Marines
420 10x Terminators w/ 2x Psycannons, ancient, & apothecary
260 10x Purifiers w/ 4x Incinerators
90 Callidus Assassin
Archetype
Dreadknights and big blocks
Thoughts
Lots of the Grey Knight favourites on show here, with loads of Dreadknights to act as a vicious spearhead, Crowe’s Purifiers to evaporate enemy infantry, and a full Terminator block to present a terrifying alpha threat alongside Draigo, and one that can usually tank some reprisals to boot. More direct than some variants on Grey Knights, no dancing away with Paladins here, but very hard to handle, and perfectly tuned to exploit the tiniest mistake. Well done to David!
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Alexander Eslinger-Davis – Aeldari: The Avatar supported by lots of dakka.
- 3rd – Nathan Gontarz – Necrons (Canoptek Court): Immortals, Doomstalkers and Wraiths, plus two big Scarab units (which are surprisingly useful in Court).
- 4th – Jonathan Gormon – T’au Empire: Triptide with various mid-tier shooting threats in support.
- 5th – Brian Whitt – Death Guard: Plaguebursts, two Rhino Plague Marine units and the Nurgle all-star tag team of Rotigus and Mortarion as gigantic hammers.
Wrap Up
A bumper week again, it seems. Lowest of Men will be taking the helm on Friday with plenty more to look at, and if you’re battling this weekend, make sure your faction leaves the current metagame in a blaze of glory!
