Welcome to Competitive Innovations, our weekly feature for a number of game lines across the tabletop wargame space. Each week our army list and tactics experts canvass the top tournaments for their game of specialty, looking at the week’s top match-ups and how they played out on the tabletop to let you know what’s hot, what’s not, and what might be coming next as the competitive meta evolves year-round.

Who is excited to play some Warhammer? You lot, apparently – this was one of the biggest weekends ever in terms of number of events, with just shy of 1000 players taking to the field across 19 GTs and majors, giving the new metagame a real workout.

That means it’s a triple threat week, and there’s more to talk about than we can squeeze into even three articles. Never fear, however – if you want the full breakdown of what I and my esteemed co-author Lowest of Men think about the new Metagame, I joined him on the 6+++ show last night to analyse the first weekend of the new metagame, which you can check out below.

With that out the way, onwards to the events. As mentioned above, we’re in three-parter territory, starting today with:

THE UKTC COVENTRY 40K GT : 3-Day
Rumble on the Rivers 40k GT
5. Corsair Open GT
Battle Against Breast Cancer 40K Event Hosted by Away Games
Dice Like Ice Grand Tournament – Q4 2024
Chimera Gaming Fall GT
The Portal Fall GT

On Friday Lowest of Men will cover:

THE UKTC COVENTRY 40K GT : 2-Day
2nd VTC Warhammer 40K
The Route 66 Warhammer 40,000 GT – FALL *GOLDEN TICKET QUALIFIER*
The GR: Meme Team GT – In co-operation with Cryptic Cabin
Palladium Games Presents: “the dumpster fire gt” Fall Edition
Queen City Orktoberfest 2024

Finally, on Saturday it will be me again, looking at:

Kippers’ Melee 2024
New York Open 3 (40k)
Goose Hunting Donuts
Gaelcon 2024
Safety’s Off Orktober GT
Battle Against Breast Cancer AZ

More parts means more democracy, and our Patrons have selected the following Showdowns:

Hallowed Martyrs vs Astra Militarum at the Away Games Battle Against Breast Cancer.
Hypercrypt Legion vs Kroot Hunting Pack at the Coventry 2-Day GT
Synaptic Nexus Tyranids vs Skysplinter Drukhari at Kippers melee

THE UKTC COVENTRY 40K GT : 3-Day

144-player, 8-round Major in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, England, United Kingdom on October 25 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Nassim Fouchane – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 1st Place

Leman Russ Exterminator. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Aquilons are a perfectly fine datasheet with no need for nerfs at all, leave them alone.

Astra Militarum
Combined Regiment
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Lord Solar Leontus (125 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Conquest
• 1x Konstantin’s hooves
• 1x Sol’s Righteous Gaze

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (70 Points)
• 1x Tempestor Prime
◦ 1x Command Rod
◦ 1x Tempestus dagger
• 4x Tempestus Scion
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun
◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
◦ 1x Hot-shot volley gun
◦ 1x Medi-pack
◦ 1x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Regimental Standard

Platoon Command Squad (60 Points)
• 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

Tank Commander (225 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Demolisher battle cannon
• 1x Heavy stubber
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Lascannon
• 2x Militarum plasma cannon

BATTLELINE

Catachan Jungle Fighters (55 Points)
• 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Laspistol
• 9x Jungle Fighter
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Flamer
◦ 7x Lasgun
◦ 1x Vox-caster

OTHER DATASHEETS

Bullgryn Squad (220 Points)
• 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

Bullgryn Squad (110 Points)
• 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

Hellhound (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Inferno cannon
• 1x Multi-melta

Leman Russ Battle Tank (170 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy stubber
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Lascannon
• 1x Leman Russ battle cannon
• 2x Multi-melta

Leman Russ Exterminator (170 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Exterminator autocannon
• 1x Heavy stubber
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Lascannon
• 2x Multi-melta

Ogryn Squad (60 Points)
• 1x Ogryn Bone ‘ead
◦ 1x Ripper gun
• 2x Ogryn
◦ 2x Ripper gun

Tempestus Aquilons (90 Points)
• 1x Tempestor Aquilon
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine
◦ 1x Sentry flamer
• 8x Tempestus Aquilon
◦ 8x Close combat weapon
◦ 6x Hot-shot lascarbine
◦ 1x Hot‐shot long‐las
◦ 1x Plasma carbine
• 1x Gunfighter
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine

Tempestus Scions (100 Points)
• 1x Tempestor
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 9x Tempestus Scion
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 5x Hot-shot lasgun
◦ 2x Hot-shot volley gun
◦ 2x Plasma gun

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (48), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Aquilon Goodstuff

Thoughts

Nassim gets straight to the point of showing that last weekend’s success wasn’t just a fluke, unleashing the power of Aquilons, Militarum shooting and the newly cheap goodness of Ogryns to take the trophy. I have now had The Aquilon Experience on the table, and let me tell you I do not care for it, as they force foes onto the defensive for huge swathes of the game, and are extremely difficult to fully protect against, especially an additional squad via Reinforcements once resources are low. That buys plenty of time for Guard guns to do their wicked work, and adding basic Ogryn helps provide additional board presence to win space, while also contributing a surprising amount of damage into a few key targets (notably Purestrain Genestealers, which are very much on the up). Nassim cut through two powerful Chaos Space Marine builds in the final two rounds, where the threat of Aquilons and terrain factors helped him force the opponent to engage, at which point the power of the shooting shines through and obliterates stuff. I think that’s a big part of why Aquilons are so strong – they cut off some possible play paths that opponents might use to try and counter the rest of the army’s strengths.

Fully expect this to be one of the defining builds of the next few months, and congratulations to Nassim on the win.

Stephen Box – Adepta Sororitas (Army of Faith) – 2nd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Cov (2000 Points)

Adepta Sororitas
Army of Faith
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Canoness with Jump Pack (75 Points)
• 1x Blessed halberd

Imagifier (65 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Boltgun
• 1x Close combat weapon

Junith Eruita (90 Points)
• 1x Mace of Castigation
• 1x Twin Ministorum heavy flamer

Morvenn Vahl (170 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Fidelis
• 1x Lance of Illumination
• 1x Paragon missile launcher

Palatine (50 Points)
• 1x Palatine blade
• 1x Plasma pistol

Triumph of Saint Katherine (250 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistols
• 1x Relic weapons

BATTLELINE

Battle Sisters Squad (105 Points)
• 1x Sister Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Ministorum hand flamer
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 9x Battle Sister
◦ 9x Bolt pistol
◦ 7x Boltgun
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Ministorum flamer
◦ 1x Ministorum heavy flamer
◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Immolator (125 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Twin multi-melta

OTHER DATASHEETS

Arco-flagellants (45 Points)
• 3x Arco-flagellant
◦ 3x Arco-flails

Castigator (160 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Castigator battle cannon
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Castigator (160 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Castigator autocannons
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Celestian Sacresants (150 Points)
• 1x Sacresant Superior
◦ 1x Ministorum hand flamer
◦ 1x Spear of the faithful
• 9x Celestian Sacresant
◦ 9x Anointed halberd
◦ 9x Bolt pistol

Paragon Warsuits (220 Points)
• 1x Paragon Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Multi-melta
◦ 1x Paragon grenade launchers
◦ 1x Paragon war blade
• 2x Paragon
◦ 2x Bolt pistol
◦ 2x Multi-melta
◦ 2x Paragon grenade launchers
◦ 2x Paragon war mace

Seraphim Squad (90 Points)
• 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

Zephyrim Squad (85 Points)
• 1x Zephyrim Superior
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
◦ 1x Sacred Banner
• 4x Zephyrim
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Power weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (48), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Hammerblow Sisters

Thoughts

In second place we have Stephen Box unleashing a Sororitas curveball. Rather than seeking efficiency from the popular Bringers of Flame detachment rule, this list can create a Castigator castle the wins grindy shooting races tremendously effectively via the aura version Blinding Radiance (plus Shield of Faith if Mortals are in play), and can unleash some apocalyptic melee hammer blows from either Junith’s Sacresants or the Warsuits with Faith and Fury switched on. You can also unleash an extremely nasty shooting punch by boosting up a Castigator with Divine Guidance, as if you shoot another Castigator and an Immolator first, you’re suddenly blasting away with AP-3 Ignore Cover heavy bolters and autocannons, which is very scary into almost anything. Taken together, this list needs a bit more planning around positioning than the Bringers builds, but has more options to adapt and concentrate pain if the opponent has the tools to outmatch it on efficiency, which might be a risk from armies like Votann and Tau. Great work from Stephen as always!

Ben Jones – Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

gsc (2000 points)

Genestealer Cults
Strike Force (2000 points)
Biosanctic Broodsurge

CHARACTERS

Abominant (95 points)
• 1x Power sledgehammer
• Enhancement: Predatory Instincts

Abominant (75 points)
• 1x Power sledgehammer

Biophagus (50 points)
• 1x Alchemicus Familiar
1x Autopistol
1x Chemical vials
1x Injector goad

Clamavus (50 points)
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon

Kelermorph (60 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Liberator autostubs

Patriarch (100 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Patriarch’s claws
• Enhancement: Biomorph Adaptation

BATTLELINE

Acolyte Hybrids with Autopistols (65 points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Leader’s bio-weapons
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon
1x Cult claws and knife
3x Heavy mining tool

Acolyte Hybrids with Hand Flamers (70 points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s bio-weapons
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
• 4x Cult claws and knife
4x Hand flamer

Neophyte Hybrids (65 points)
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Anointed pistol
1x Autopistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Neophyte Hybrid
• 9x Autopistol
9x Close combat weapon
1x Cult Icon
1x Flamer
5x Hybrid firearm
1x Mining laser
1x Seismic cannon
1x Webber

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Goliath Truck (85 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Demolition charge cache
1x Heavy stubber
1x Twin autocannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Aberrants (135 points)
• 1x Aberrant Hypermorph
• 1x Aberrant weapons
• 4x Aberrant
• 4x Aberrant weapons

Achilles Ridgerunners (75 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy mortar
1x Spotter
1x Twin heavy stubber

Hybrid Metamorphs (160 points)
• 1x Metamorph Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 9x Hybrid Metamorph
• 1x Cult Icon
8x Hand flamer
9x Metamorph mutations

Purestrain Genestealers (150 points)
• 10x Purestrain Genestealer
• 10x Cult claws and talons

Purestrain Genestealers (75 points)
• 5x Purestrain Genestealer
• 5x Cult claws and talons

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (51), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Aggro Broodsurge

Thoughts

Cults fortunes are very much on the rise in the new metagame, with this weekend giving them one of their best win rates since their book launched, and lots of players clearly excited to give them a go. Win rates aren’t everything though, and although they’re high there weren’t that many top finishes for the army this weekend, with two notable exceptions.

Ben leads the charge here with the Biosanctic Broodsurge, able to put truly staggering amounts of pain straight into the opponent’s face via a mix of Infiltrating Aberrants and Genestealers plus Surge moving Metamorphs. Even better, the opponent’s attempts to fight back have a lot of potential stumbling blocks – Mortal Wounds on death, Abominants getting back up, or an unfortunately timed Heroic Intervention can all thoroughly wreck a plan, and target prioritisation can also be messed with via Bio-Horror Revelation. Even better, access to Gene-Twisted Muscle means that nothing here is safe for the opponent to ignore, even if they somehow handle the blender that is the Biomorph Patriarch.

You also still get to play with some of the other advantages of Cults – Kelermorphs are super effective utility pieces, one Clamavus to protect parts of the field from Aquilons should be a lock in most builds, and the price point on the cheap battleline is now right, giving you scoring/denial pieces that you sometimes get to double dip on. God help the opponent if you also start making your rolls on Aberrants. This build looks super fun and it’s one of the most successful of the week for the faction – great work Ben.

Daniel Whitaker – Drukhari (Realspace Raiders) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Nerfed the wrong stuff (2000 points)

Drukhari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Realspace Raiders

CHARACTERS

Archon (85 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Huskblade

Lelith Hesperax (95 points)
• 1x Lelith’s blades

BATTLELINE

Wyches (90 points)
• 1x Hekatrix
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Hekatarii blade
1x Phantasm grenade launcher
• 9x Wych
• 9x Hekatarii blade
9x Splinter pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Venom (70 points)
• 1x Bladevanes
2x Splinter cannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Cronos (50 points)
• 1x Spirit syphon
1x Spirit vortex
1x Spirit-leech tentacles

Grotesques (160 points)
• 6x Grotesque
• 6x Liquifier gun
6x Monstrous weapons

Hellions (75 points)
• 1x Helliarch
• 1x Helliarch weapon
1x Phantasm grenade launcher
1x Splinter pistol
1x Splinter pods
• 4x Hellion
• 4x Hellglaive
4x Splinter pods

Incubi (85 points)
• 4x Incubi
• 4x Klaive
• 1x Klaivex
• 1x Demiklaives

Scourges (120 points)
• 1x Solarite
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Shardcarbine
• 4x Scourge
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Dark lance

Talos (160 points)
• 2x Talos
• 2x Talos gauntlet
2x Twin Drukhari haywire blaster
2x Twin liquifier gun

Voidraven Bomber (215 points)
• 1x Bladed wings
2x Dark scythe
1x Voidraven missiles

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (51), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Talos Spam

Thoughts

You would think, after previous incidents, that “will they just pivot to Talos?” might have been a consideration when nerfing Drukhari. After various ebbs and flows in the metagame, Talos have ended up perfectly positioned, with a nice flexible damage profile, and the universal resilience that a decent Feel No Pain and access to -1 to Wound provides. Combining them with Grotesques creates a build that can really go for the throat when required, as it has the numbers to bowl some more cagey lists off the table. That’s particularly strong against armies like Hypercrypt that want to play keepaway or techy builds like Genestealers, and since both of those look to be significant metagame factors, having that option is extremely valuable.

Full Grotesque bricks are also one of the few efficient Torrent units with enough output that Aquilons have to properly respect them, as they’re only narrowly short of picking up a whole squad with average dice, which forces serious consideration. Finally, the Voidraven returns, continuing the trend of being one of the few non-Hover Aircraft that’s actually worth taking, since the violence it can unleash the turn it arrives is significant enough that it’s a good tool to have on UKTC terrain, where it massively opens up your firing options. A great combination of tools here, and well done Dan on fourth place.

The Best of the Rest

There were 15 more players on 6-2+ records. They were:

5th (6.5-1.5) – Will B – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Crisis and Commander toolbox with some Sky Ray backup.
6th – Josh Roberts – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Legionary and Rubricae brawlers backed by Destructors.
7th – Greg Chamberlain – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Shooting-heavy Monster Mash with a central Norn anchor.
8th – Dom Maidlow – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Rubricae and Plague Marines in Rhinos with a big squad of Warp Talons.
9th – Rees Darvill – Imperial Knights: Canis and an Errant with Warglaives.
10th – Craig Bedford – Death Guard: Hefty Nurgle soup with Mortarion, Brigands and Rotigus.
11th – Tom Green – Leagues of Votann: Lots of Sagitaurs and MSUs of all stripes, one Land Fortress, and one fully decked out Thunderkyn/Iron Master unit.
12th – Brett Smith – Thousand Sons: Double Mutalith Tsons, making a strong pitch for joining the “triptide is inevitable, triptide is eternal” club.
13th – Sam Dickinson – World Eaters: One big Rhino Berzerker unit, lots of Eightbound.
14th – Louis Ballington – Dark Angels (Stormlance Task Force): The Lion and Deathwing Knights running at foes while yelling.
15th – Mark Crombleholme – Necrons (Obeisance Phalanx): 30 Lychguard with two Doomsdays and a big Immortal unit behind them.
16th – Mark Pocock – Blood Angels (Ironstorm Spearhead): Blood Angels named Characters, Baal Predators and Gladiators, plus one big unit of Death Company. Also, three solo ATVs, suggesting that 60pts for a fast multi-melta might be the point where you just take them on rate.
17th – Heiðar Þór Stefánsson – Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): Max Ironstriders plus two huge units each of Ruststalkers and Sterylizors.
18th – Scott Morris – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Swarmlord and some brawling melee Warrior units, backed by big shooty bugs.
19th – Josh Parry – Chaos Daemons: Big monsters and Bloodcrushers, with some Slaanesh Chariots as extra position holders.

Rumble on the Rivers 40k GT

82-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Fort Wayne, IN, United States on October 26 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Folger Pyles – Adeptus Custodes (Talons of the Emperor) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Mid AF (2000 points)

Adeptus Custodes
Strike Force (2000 points)
Talons of the Emperor

CHARACTERS

Blade Champion (110 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Vaultswords

Blade Champion (110 points)
• 1x Vaultswords

BATTLELINE

Custodian Guard (180 points)
• 4x Custodian Guard
• 3x Guardian spear
1x Misericordia
1x Praesidium Shield
1x Vexilla

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Anathema Psykana Rhino (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Caladius Grav-tank (215 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Twin arachnus heavy blaze cannon
1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon

Custodian Wardens (250 points)
• 5x Custodian Warden
• 5x Guardian spear
1x Vexilla

Prosecutors (40 points)
• 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior
• 1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 3x Prosecutor
• 3x Boltgun
3x Close combat weapon

Witchseekers (50 points)
• 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Witchseeker flamer
• 3x Witchseeker
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Witchseeker flamer

ALLIED UNITS

Inquisitor Draxus (95 points)
• 1x Dirgesinger
1x Power fist
1x Psychic Tempest

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (51), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Shield Host

Thoughts

Mid AF sounds about right, honestly. This build is pretty much exactly what Custodes were running pre-balance update, where it was OK, and it definitely still feels like it’s a little short of where an army should be. However, weakening some of the very top builds makes “mid” feel a bit better, allowing Custodes resilience and sweeping melee threat potential to shine that much more. They even have a pretty decent story against the Aquilon menace, as the large footprint of the Caladius combined with many of the units not caring that much about getting shot at with flamers blunts their impact somewhat. Folger has taken all that and turned it into a trophy, so big congratulations, although I have to assume that the penance for calling a Custodian “mid” lasts several hundred years, so good luck with that.

Garrett Stacy – Death Guard (Plague Company) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

you can do alot with 4 inches (1995 points)

Death Guard
Strike Force (2000 points)
Plague Company

CHARACTERS

Death Guard Icon Bearer (45 points)
• 1x Plague boltgun
1x Plague knife

Death Guard Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (70 points)
• 1x Curse of the Leper
1x Force weapon
1x Plague combi-bolter

Mortarion (300 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Rotwind
1x Silence
1x The Lantern

Typhus (80 points)
• 1x Master-crafted manreaper

BATTLELINE

Plague Marines (90 points)
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Heavy plague weapon
1x Plasma gun
• 4x Plague Marine
• 2x Heavy plague weapon
4x Plague knives
1x Plague spewer
1x Plasma gun

Plague Marines (90 points)
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Heavy plague weapon
1x Plasma gun
• 4x Plague Marine
• 1x Blight launcher
2x Heavy plague weapon
4x Plague knives
1x Plasma gun

Plague Marines (90 points)
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Heavy plague weapon
1x Plasma gun
• 4x Plague Marine
• 2x Heavy plague weapon
4x Plague knives
1x Plague spewer
1x Plasma gun

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Death Guard Rhino (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Havoc launcher
2x Plague combi-bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Death Guard Cultists (50 points)
• 1x Death Guard Cultist Champion
• 1x Brutal assault weapon
1x Cultist firearm
• 9x Death Guard Cultist
• 9x Brutal assault weapon
9x Cultist firearm

Deathshroud Terminators (220 points)
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
• 1x Manreaper
1x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 5x Deathshroud Terminator
• 5x Manreaper
5x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Poxwalkers (100 points)
• 20x Poxwalker
• 20x Improvised weapon

ALLIED UNITS

Nurglings (40 points)
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (51), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Brawler Death Guard

Thoughts

Forget Brigands and Destructors, this Death Guard build is all about scything through foes like so much wheat. With Mortarion’s new price tag and Deathshrouds drops from last time around you can get a tonne of melee pressure going here, and as is standard with Death Guard it can be really tricky to fight free of once Contagion range kicks in. That can be spread far and wide by Typhus, while the Terminator Sorcerors provide nice damage spikes that opponents need to play around. Garrett send us some thoughts on this one, and says that while the list can struggle a little at clearing Vehicles, it’s extremely good at clearing everything else, and can very much thrive if you find yourself up against lots of melee builds. Great work from Garrett on the win, and we’ll see if the metagame ends up looking right for this spin on Death Guard to really take off.

Kevin Leonard – Nurgle Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) – 3rd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Mono nurgle (2000 Points)

Chaos Daemons
Daemonic Incursion
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Great Unclean One (260 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Bilesword
• 1x Plague flail
• 1x Putrid vomit
• Enhancements: The Endless Gift

Great Unclean One (230 Points)
• 1x Bilesword
• 1x Plague flail
• 1x Putrid vomit

Great Unclean One (230 Points)
• 1x Doomsday bell
• 1x Plague flail
• 1x Putrid vomit

Rotigus (230 Points)
• 1x Gnarlrod
• 1x Streams of brackish filth

BATTLELINE

Nurglings (70 Points)
• 6x Nurgling Swarm
◦ 6x Diseased claws and teeth

Plaguebearers (110 Points)
• 1x Plagueridden
◦ 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
◦ 1x Daemonic Icon
◦ 1x Instrument of Chaos
◦ 9x Plaguesword

OTHER DATASHEETS

Plague Drones (110 Points)
• 1x Plaguebringer
◦ 1x Death’s heads
◦ 1x Foul mouthparts
◦ 1x Plaguesword
• 2x Plague Drone
◦ 1x Daemonic Icon
◦ 2x Death’s heads
◦ 2x Foul mouthparts
◦ 1x Instrument of Chaos
◦ 2x Plaguesword

Soul Grinder (180 Points)
• Daemonic Allegiance: Nurgle
• 1x Harvester cannon
• 1x Iron claw
• 1x Phlegm bombardment
• 1x Warpclaw

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (48), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Whoops all Anvils

Thoughts

Busy weekend for Nurgle it would seem, with Kevin’s daemonic hordes here racking up a second undefeated finish for the grandfather. This build asks opponents a simple question – can you fight through four Great Unclean Ones and three Soul Grinders before you run out of steam? If not, then another battlefield is being added to Nurgle’s garden. It’s not even just resilience – thanks to the Plague Drones, you can get a surprising burst of damage going with re-roll Wounds, particularly with the volume of melee attacks or the Indirect of the grinders. Taking this on looks truly daunting, and it’s very thematic to book, great stuff Kevin!

Brian Daugherty – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Angry Red Gorillas (2000 points)

World Eaters
Strike Force (2000 points)
Berzerker Warband

CHARACTERS

Angron (435 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Samni’arius and Spinegrinder

Lord Invocatus (140 points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Coward’s Bane
1x Juggernaut’s bladed horn

World Eaters Master of Executions (135 points)
• 1x Axe of dismemberment
1x Bolt pistol
• Enhancement: Berzerker Glaive

BATTLELINE

Jakhals (65 points)
• 1x Jakhal Pack Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Jakhal chainblades
• 1x Dishonoured
• 1x Skullsmasher
• 8x Jakhal
• 8x Autopistol
1x Icon of Khorne
7x Jakhal chainblades
1x Mauler chainblade

Khorne Berzerkers (180 points)
• 1x Khorne Berzerker Champion
• 1x Berzerker chainblade
1x Plasma pistol
• 9x Khorne Berzerker
• 7x Berzerker chainblade
7x Bolt pistol
1x Icon of Khorne
2x Khornate eviscerator
2x Plasma pistol

Khorne Berzerkers (90 points)
• 1x Khorne Berzerker Champion
• 1x Berzerker chainblade
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Khorne Berzerker
• 3x Berzerker chainblade
3x Bolt pistol
1x Khornate eviscerator
1x Plasma pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

World Eaters Rhino (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Combi-bolter
1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

Eightbound (140 points)
• 1x Eightbound Champion
• 1x Lacerators
• 2x Eightbound
• 2x Eightbound eviscerators

Exalted Eightbound (310 points)
• 1x Exalted Eightbound Champion
• 1x Paired Eightbound chainfists
• 5x Exalted Eightbound
• 5x Eightbound chainfist
5x Eightbound eviscerator

Exalted Eightbound (155 points)
• 1x Exalted Eightbound Champion
• 1x Paired Eightbound chainfists
• 2x Exalted Eightbound
• 2x Eightbound chainfist
2x Eightbound eviscerator

World Eaters Chaos Spawn (70 points)
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (51), Data Version: v488

Archetype

World Eaters

Thoughts

Look, I always feel bad if I end up calling a build “standard issue <faction>”, but that’s all I’ve got here. World Eaters’ relatively small roster means they don’t have as much variation as other factions, and this build is pretty much the “default” core you vary from. Enough Eightbound that can Scout to pressure the opponent if you need to and go first, a big Fight First Berzerker unit to cause headaches for melee armies, and Angron and the big Eightbound unit to smash stuff into tiny pieces at the pivotal moment. Consistently very effective, and looking strong in the new metagame, congratulations to Brian on piloting it to a strong finish.

The Best of the Rest

There were 8 more players on4-1 records. They were:

5th – Ben Isenhoff – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Brawler-heavy Raiders centred around a full Terminator squad.
6th – Alex Brudnicki – Orks (War Horde): Triple Kill Rig and some other mechanised friends.
7th – Conan Jennings – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force): Deathwing GTF with slightly fewer units now.
8th – Brenton Weiss – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Raider and Kabalite-heavy Skysplinter.
9th – Josh Sugar Howard – Space Marines (Ironstorm Spearhead): Ultra-shooty Marines with Predators, Gladiators and Redemptors.
10th – Alex Hollkamp – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Tank-heavy Raiders with one big Chosen brick.
11th – Marshall Arthurs – Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): Lots of MSUs and lots of boats, tripling up on both kinds of Skorpii.
12th – Allen Gonski – Imperial Knights: Canis/Atrapos/Lancer triple threat.

5. Corsair Open GT

42-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in München, BY, DE on October 25 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Max kanter – Leagues of Votann (Oathband) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Let’s fetz (2000 Points)

Leagues of Votann
Oathband
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Brôkhyr Iron-master (85 Points)
• 1x Brôkhyr Iron-master
◦ 1x Graviton hammer
◦ 1x Graviton rifle
◦ Enhancements: Appraising Glare
• 1x Ironkin Assistant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Las-beam cutter
• 1x E-COG
◦ 1x Plasma torch
• 1x E-COG
◦ 1x Manipulator arms
• 1x E-COG
◦ 1x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon

Einhyr Champion (75 Points)

• 1x Autoch-pattern combi-bolter
• 1x Darkstar axe
• 1x Weavefield Crest
• Enhancements: A Long List

Einhyr Champion (60 Points) warlord
• 1x Autoch-pattern combi-bolter
• 1x Darkstar axe
• 1x Weavefield Crest

BATTLELINE

Hearthkyn Warriors (100 Points)
• 1x Theyn
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x EtaCarn plasma pistol
◦ 1x Kin melee weapon
◦ 1x Weavefield Crest
• 9x Hearthkyn Warrior
◦ 9x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol
◦ 7x Autoch-pattern bolter
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Comms Array
◦ 1x HYLas auto rifle
◦ 1x HYLas rotary cannon
◦ 1x Medipack
◦ 1x Pan Spectral Scanner

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Sagitaur (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
• 1x HYLas beam cannon
• 1x Twin bolt cannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Cthonian Beserks (200 Points)
• 10x Cthonian Beserk
◦ 10x Concussion maul
◦ 2x Mole grenade launcher

Hekaton Land Fortress (225 Points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
• 1x MATR autocannon
• 1x Pan Spectral Scanner
• 1x SP heavy conversion beamer
• 2x Twin bolt cannon

Hernkyn Pioneers (180 Points)
• 6x Hernkyn Pioneer
◦ 6x Bolt revolver
◦ 6x Bolt shotgun
◦ 1x Comms Array
◦ 2x HYLas rotary cannon
◦ 6x Magna-coil autocannon
◦ 1x Pan Spectral Scanner
◦ 6x Plasma knife
◦ 1x Rollbar Searchlight

Hernkyn Yaegirs (90 Points)
• 1x Yaegir Theyn
◦ 1x Bolt revolver
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma knife
• 9x Hernkyn Yaegir
◦ 1x APM launcher
◦ 7x Bolt revolver
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Magna-coil rifle
◦ 7x Plasma knife

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (48), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Beserk Forts

Thoughts

Unlike Custodes, who have gone from mid to mid by staying largely the same, Votann have gone from good to great, putting up the best win rate of the weekend, albeit with a slightly lower rate of conversions to top finishes than some of their competitors. Max was not troubled by any such problems, unleashing this monster build that can unleash either full Beserk bricks or more tailored 5-model units as the situation demands. Votann are incredibly efficient and get lots of stuff on the table, and taking away some of the biggest predators (particularly the board-cleansing power of Thousand Sons) leaves them poised to stat check a lot of what’s out there. The question will be whether people can adapt to it – with Votann, what you see is kind of what you get, so if they become a faction people are gunning for, there may well be counters. I do think the adaptability of the big Beserks positions this list better than most, as it lets it handle any sort of all-out pressure plan, and deal with some of the thornier death bricks out there. Congratulations to Max, and hopefully the cunning forward planning serves you well.

The Best of the Rest

There were 4 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

2nd – Jan Reisenauer – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): Very go-wide Blood Angels with just Mephiston in the Character slot, then loads of jump MSUs of every flavour (notably including VanVets stepping up to the plate of having way too many inferno pistols) and many Predators.
3rd – Max Nitschinger – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Big shooty bugs.
4th – Manuel Wayand – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Abaddon and Obliterator gunline with a big Warp Talon unit to troubleshoot.
5th – Jens Gottfried – Genestealer Cult (Xenocreed Congregation): Lots of big units of melee Acolytes and Metamorphs.

Battle Against Breast Cancer 40K Event Hosted by Away Games

37-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Fredericksburg, VA, United States on October 26 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

The Ritual – Swift Action – Crucible of Battle

Cole Sowers – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment)
Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Astra Militarum
+ DETACHMENT: Combined Regiment
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Lord Solar Leontus
+ ENHANCEMENT: Grand Strategist (on Char4: Tank Commander)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 17
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (3×2) + (3×4) – Assassination: 6 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

6x Gaunt’s Ghosts (100 pts)
• 1x Ibram Gaunt
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Gaunt’s Chainsword
• 5x Tanith Ghost
• 1x Bragg’s autocannon
• 4x Straight Silver Knife
• 1x Corbec’s Hot-shot Lascarbine
• 1x Larkin’s Long-las
• 1x Lascarbine
• 1x Mkoll’s Straight Silver Knife
• 1x Rawne’s Lascarbine

1x Lord Solar Leontus (125 pts)
• 1x Conquest
• 1x Konstantin’s Hooves
• 1x Sol’s Righteous Gaze
• Warlord

5x Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (70 pts)
• 1x Tempestor Prime
• 1x Tempestus Dagger
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 4x Tempestus Scion
• 4x Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Hot-shot Lasgun
• 1x Hot-shot Laspistol
• 1x Medi-pack
• 1x Plasma Gun
• 1x Meltagun

4x Platoon Command Squad (60 pts)
• 1x Platoon Commander
• 1x Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Laspistol
• 2x Veteran Guardsman
• 2x Close Combat Weapon
• 2x Laspistol
• 2x Lasgun
• Master Vox, Medi-pack
• 1x Veteran Heavy Weapons Team
• 1x Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Laspistol
• 1x Mortar

1x Regimental Enginseer (45 pts)
• 1x Archeotech Pistol
• 1x Enginseer Axe
• 1x Servo-arm

1x Tank Commander (240 pts)
• 1x Armoured Tracks
• 1x Hunter-killer Missile
• 1x Demolisher Battle Cannon
• 1x Lascannon
• 2x Multi-melta
• 1x Heavy Stubber
• Grand Strategist (+15 pts)

BATTLELINE

10x Cadian Shock Troops (60 pts)
• 7x Shock Trooper
• 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant
• 1x Shock Trooper w/ Meltagun
• 1x Shock Trooper w/ Plasma Gun

OTHER DATASHEETS

10x Tempestus Scions (100 pts)
• 1x Tempestor
• 1x Power Fist
• 1x Plasma Pistol
• 9x Tempestus Scion
• 15x Close Combat Weapon
• 5x Hot-shot Lasgun
• 2x Meltagun
• 2x Plasma Gun

10x Attilan Rough Riders (120 pts)
• 9x Attilan Rough Rider
• 9x Hunting Lance
• 9x Lasgun
• 9x Laspistol
• 9x Steed’s Hooves
• 1x Rough Rider Sergeant
• 1x Lasgun
• 1x Laspistol
• 1x Steed’s Hooves
• 1x Hunting Lance

1x Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (240 pts)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy Stubber
• 2x Heavy Stubber
• 2x Multi-melta
• 1x Pulveriser Cannon
• 1x Co-axial Autocannon
• 1x Oppressor Cannon

1x Chimera (70 pts)
• 1x Armoured Tracks
• 1x Hunter-killer Missile
• 1x Lasgun Array
• 1x Chimera Heavy Flamer
• 1x Heavy Flamer
• 1x Heavy Stubber

vs.

Jeffrey Kolodner – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs)
Army List - Click to Expand

Order of the Eternal Crucible
-Hallowed Martyrs

Canoness Yda – Canoness – (50)
-Blessed Blade
-Condemnor Boltgun

Orator Superior Amalia — Junith Eruita (90)

Prioress Sabine – Morvenn Vahl (170)
— Warlord

Purifier Charity – Palatine (75)
– Plasma Pistol, Through Suffering, Strength

Purifier Patience – Palatine (70)
– Plasma Pistol, Mantle of Ophelia

Battle Sister Squad (105)
– Multi-Melta
– Simulacrum
– Power Weapon+Condemnor
– Meltagun

Crucible’s Reach — Immolator (125)
– Twin Multi-Melta
– Hunter-Killer Missile

Purifying Incandescence — Immolator (125)
– Twin Multi-Melta
– Hunter-Killer Missile

The Ashen Heart — Immolator (125)
– Twin Multi-Melta
– Hunter-Killer Missile

Refutation of Dross — Castigator (160)
-Castigator Battle Cannon
-Hunter-Killer Missile
-Storm Bolter

Ringing Purity — Castigator (160)
-Castigator Battle Cannon
-Hunter-Killer Missile
-Storm Bolter

The Feral — Mortifier (70)
-2x Heavy Bolter+Twin Buzz Blade
-Anchorite Sarcophagus

The Fool — Mortifier (70)
-2x Heavy Bolter+Twin Buzz Blade
-Anchorite Sarcophagus

The Refulgant Bulwark – Paragon Warsuits (220)
-3x Multi-Melta+Paragon Grenades
-3x Paragon War Mace

Celestian Sacresancts (75)
-4 Anointed Halberd
-1 Spear of the Faithful+Inferno Pistol

Sisters Novitiates (100)
-Power Weapon+Plasma Pistol
-Sacred Banner
-Simulacra
-2xFlamer
-Autopistols and Novitiate Blades

Madeline – Callidus Assassin (100)

Thoughts

Gut-punch guard face off against a very versatile Sisters build here, and this is very much a game about whether the latter can find a way to neutralise the extreme brutality of the former.

Being Hallowed Martyrs rather than Bringers definitely helps with that, because it opens up more options, and that’s doubly true on this mission, which is a big help to the Sororitas. It’s generally quite easy to tank an opponent’s early scoring on The Ritual if you’re the more mobile list, and the Sisters can combine that with judicious use of Divine Intervention to protect their own scoring to rack up a bit of a lead. It also allows them to build a strong defensive bubble to reduce the threat of the big drop Scion blob, which is one of the nastier tools on the guard side. Once they’ve done that, they’re in a reasonably good position to force one or more Dorns to commit, and can hopefully clear one out in response, which puts them in good stead to take control of the game.

Over on the Guard side, it feels like the goal is to find ways to force the Sisters off a cautious game, because if triple Dorns gets a go turn into their good stuff, the game swings hard towards the Militarum. The Rough Riders and Scions are definitely good tools to do that, as both are in the sweet spot where they hit hard enough to achieve a goal, but are still expendable (and Reinforcements is available to reload them to boot).

Both sides want to start cagey, and both sort of have the tools to do it, so who wins? I think the one tool here that might be able to break the game open is the option of reserving and Rapid Ingressing the Warsuits – because the Guard shooting is concentrated in relatively few units, there’s a decent shot of being able to find a safe spot to do this, and if these can punch into the Guard lines and do a two-phase murder rampage through a couple of Dorns, that is definitely game over. No idea if that’s what happened, but the Sisters did manage to pull it out.

Result

Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs) Victory – 93 – 65

Jeffrey Kolodner – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs) – 1st Place

Palatine Apraxia Val — Credit: Evan “Felime” Siefring