2023 World Championships 40k Player Profile: Art of War’s Quinton Johnson

The first ever World Championships of Warhammer are this week and we couldn’t be more excited. As part of our event coverage, we’re interviewing competitors from around the world about how they secured an invite, their plans for the event, and what they’re hoping to accomplish.

Competitor Profile

Player name: Quinton Johnson (The Art of War)
Age: 22*
Country of Origin: USA
Where you won your ticket: ATC

* Goonhammer is not responsible for any psychic damage this causes

Let’s start with the basics. What army are you bringing to the World Championships, and why did you choose them?

Asuryani. (Go ahead and ring the bell of shame but I promise I didn’t bandwagon). I’m a long-time Aeldari player – as Anthony Vanella once said, I have the Aeldari keyword in real life – and with my pointy-eared boys and girls at the top of the meta, I had no excuse not to bring the army that I love.

Run us through your list a little bit. What made you choose this list, and why do you enjoy playing it?

Quinton's List - Click to Expand

This is the final iteration of a list that I’ve been playing with, and doing well at, tournaments in the past few months. I’ve come to favor the Avatar of Khaine over the Yncarne, since he protects my nightspinners better than she does.

I’ve got two farseers, which is unusual amongst Eldar players it seems, but I really value them as offensive units, and I think the reliability I gain from having two is instrumental. Personally, the nightspinners are a bit bland, but hey, how can I not? This worlds.

What does the list do well against? What match-ups are you hoping to avoid?

This list plays very well into the field at large. It’s got a reasonable CSM matchup (although not perfect, it’s just playable) and the addition of Khaine really helps against people who are experienced with and expecting the Yncarne.

I don’t want to play into necrons (because I can’t kill warriors) or the mirror (because that’s a terrible abyss I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy). I’m also terrified of a really good CSM player, since their raw power means that the onus is on me to screen out their reserves well.

Whirlwind Ironstorm is also an issue, since it’s effective into my spinners, as well as Aircraft with long range guns.

Fixed or Tactical?

Depends on the game! I love tactical if there’s not an easy fixed plan, but I find myself going Bring it down or Assassinate + Homers more often than not.

The World Championships of Warhammer isn’t the largest event ever, but it’s certainly the first of its kind. What was your road getting to the event like? Was it something you were aiming for?

Ever since Games Workshop announced the tournament, I knew that I really wanted to go! It seemed like an absolute blast, and a great opportunity to test myself against a wide array of the best players in the world – nobody in that room is a slouch. I went with Art of War to the American Team Championship, which gave out a ticket, and I was honored that we won that event, securing my chance to compete with the best.

How does it feel to be going to the event? Are you nervous? Excited? How does it compare to LVO?

Terricited? Is that a real word? It’s a mix of emotions, which is cool since I’m usually pretty inured to the stress of events. I’ve been to LVO three times, and the thing that separates it from the WCW for me is that there isn’t a lot of fat at the start of the event. Usually, LVO has a bunch of attendees who are looking to have a blast in Las Vegas, show off their gorgeous armies, or experience competitive 40k for the first time and so aren’t necessarily looking to win the event. It takes until round 4 or 5 until you start competing against the best players in the world.

Well, round 5 of LVO starts at round 1 of WCW. My usually pretty high goals for an event have been lowered significantly, I just want to have a positive record at the end of the event.

How do you feel about the event’s unique country-based scoring? Does it add excitement to later rounds for you?

Absolutely! It reminds me a lot of the way WTC works. The most stressed I’ve ever been about a Warhammer game was one that I wasn’t even playing in – one that I was coaching at WTC. Having something that’s larger than just your personal standing is a great way of motivating people to play their best, even if the game tilts away from them early.

How do you expect the competition to be different from other events? Is there anything you’re doing differently to prepare?

I think the competition is going to be super stiff. Like really, really difficult. I’m taking a little more time in preparation than I usually do – which is to submit a list and call it good enough – and sitting down with the rest of the Art of War crew to review the lists in my pod. Phewy, they’re all really, really good!

How do you expect you’ll do at the event? What’s a “good event” look like for you, record-wise?

I’m not sure how many rounds I’ll end up playing, but I expect it’ll be around the 4-4 or 5-3 mark. I think anything above perfectly balanced (as all things should be) will be considered an awesome event for me. I’d be stoked with 6-2.

How do you feel about 10th edition competitive play heading into this event? How does the meta feel to you right now?

It’s… fine? Solid B-. Which is actually a huge improvement over what the early stages of 10th edition were – I think with a few taps to Eldar, CSM and marines, we could end up in an awesome meta that’s the best there’s ever been. I’m really excited and optimistic about the future of Warhammer and looking forward to what GW has to offer.

You’re currently still in the hunt for the ITC crown this year, and this event could replace one of your scores. How does that factor into your plans?

I’ve got a bunch of RTTs at the bottom of my roster, and so this event could boost me up a bunch! I don’t have many events left in the season, and I don’t know if I’ll be attending LVO this year, but if the crown is within striking distance, I might just go for it!

Thanks again for taking the time to answer our questions. Good luck at the event!

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