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.
We’re back for part 2, this time with Lowest of Men in the driving seat, covering:
Denver 40K Fight Club January Open 2025
Guild War I
The Brawl GT – Beachhead Warm Up!
North Sea Slam IRONMAN 2025
Warpstorm
Part 1 on Wednesday looked at:
The Nottingham 40k Super-Major
Winter War Grand Tournament
Red Dragon GT – January 40k
GT QUALIFIER MODENA – GT Italiano 2025
We Have LVO at Home GT
Grand Clash – Warhammer 40k Tournament – 2 Day GT
Part 3 tomorrow will cover:
Exterminatus X Big Ben 10
A Grimdark New Years, SGA Finals
NYKO 2025
Hawaii “War on the Shore” Charity GT 2025
Fight for the Fallen GT
Good luck to everyone participating in the LVO, which kicks off in a few hours – can’t wait to see what rises to the top!
Denver 40K Fight Club January Open 2025
86-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Denver, CO, US on January 11 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Terraform – Stalwarts – Crucible of Battle
Nicholas Rosasco – Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager) Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Aeldari – Drukhari + DETACHMENT: Reaper’s Wager + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts + + WARLORD: Char1: Archon + ENHANCEMENT: Webway walker (on Char2: Archon) + NUMBER OF UNITS: 19 + SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (5×2) – Assassination: 5 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
5x Scourges (130 pts)
• 4x Scourge with Heavy Weapon
• 4x Close combat weapon
• 4x Dark Lance
• 1x Solarite
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Solarite Weapon
• 1x Shardcarbine
5x Scourges (130 pts)
• 4x Scourge with Heavy Weapon
• 4x Close combat weapon
• 4x Dark Lance
• 1x Solarite
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Solarite Weapon
• 1x Shardcarbine
11x Troupe (165 pts)
• 1x Lead Player
• 1x Aeldari power sword
• 1x Fusion Pistol
• 3x Player with Fusion Pistol
• 3x Fusion Pistol
• 3x Harlequin’s Special Weapon
• 7x Player with Harlequin’s Special Weapon
• 7x Harlequin’s Special Weapon
• 7x Shuriken Pistol
Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (64), Data Version: v525
Thoughts
A very finely poised showdown here, as the resurgent Orks face off against the newly endowed Drukharlequins. I’ve played this match up a bunch and it is deceptively fair Warhammer- the Drukhari pack an awful lot of splinter fire and good volume damage pieces for helping them cleave through Greenskins. The Court of the Archons especially do a number on Ork profiles, and the battleshocks built in via the Medusae can catch out efforts to use stratagems and push back. Talos and Voidraven respectively can help cut through the more armoured Ork targets, and there is plenty of reach and punch for threatening to make the Tide go backwards, something it absolutely doesn’t want to do.
In return, the Orks have plenty going for them themselves. Bringing shooting back in is crucial, and the big slabs of Flash Gitz here are ideal for creating control lanes and hoovering up any elves that stray into the open. Painboy Ork boy bricks will be durable enough in the Waaagh turn to buy time and threaten primary dominance, and Ghaz is a very frightening prospect as well. I suspect this one would hinge on the mid game engagements, and who is able to break through for a crucial pip of primary / secondary control. In the event, the Orks squeaked a hard earned win in what was doubtless a very tough showdown worth of a final! Well done both.
Result
Orks (Green Tide) Victory – 95 – 80
Joel Davis – Orks (Green Tide) – 1st Place
Shoota Boyz. Credit: Rockfish
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Enter Army Name (1995 points)
Orks
Strike Force (2000 points)
Green Tide
CHARACTERS
Boss Snikrot (95 points)
• 1x Mork’s Teeth
1x Slugga
Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (64), Data Version: v525
Archetype
Green Tide
Thoughts
It’s good to be green. Orks hit back hard after the recent changes to the Waaagh, and the release of the Taktikal Brigade. This Green Tide version presents a body skew in an era of elite mech armies teching for each other, which is a very canny choice. Plenty of the usual suspects here but the added mini game of some 60 5+++ toting Boyz does a lot of work into the field right now! Really well done on the event win.
Michael Mann – Orks (Taktikal Brigade) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
Big Mek in Mega Armour. Credit: Rockfish
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Taktikal time (2000 Points)
Orks
Taktikal Brigade
Strike Force (2000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Big Mek in Mega Armour (125 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Grot Oiler
• 1x Kustom Force Field
• 1x Kustom mega-blasta
• 1x Power klaw
• Enhancements: Mek Kaptin
Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun (75 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Grot Assistant
• 1x Shokk attack gun
• Enhancements: Gob Boomer
Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun (65 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Grot Assistant
• 1x Shokk attack gun
Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun (65 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Grot Assistant
• 1x Shokk attack gun
Nobz (105 Points)
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga
• 4x Nob
◦ 4x Power klaw
◦ 4x Slugga
Nobz (105 Points)
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga
• 4x Nob
◦ 4x Power klaw
◦ 4x Slugga
Nobz (105 Points)
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga
• 4x Nob
◦ 4x Power klaw
◦ 4x Slugga
Exported with App Version: v1.25.0 (2), Data Version: v538
Archetype
LOOT LOOT Taktikal Brigade
Thoughts
Taktikal Brigade looks like an early winner from Grotmas, and this list highlights some of it’s power. Legions of Orks with access to Stealth and Cover is a real problem for a lot of armies, and crucially Taktikal can be more patient with the Waagh, and isn’t dependant on it to win games. Lootas with Shokk gunz shoot phenomenally hard with rerolls on objectives, Flash Gitz are revitalised in this detachment, and there is enough left over to ensure a brutal combat punch too. Note the baby squads of Burna Boyz – excellent skirmish and bait pieces – unlike a lot of the other Ork builds, Taktikal often has to lure the opponent out first, so you’d best have a way of doing that! Really well done on the placing.
Brandon Roddy – Raven Guard (Vanguard Spearhead) – 3rd Place
Kayvaan Shrike infiltrating as a Crimson Fist. Credit: Corrode
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Shrike Force (1995 Points)
Space Marines
Raven Guard
Vanguard Spearhead
Strike Force (2000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Chaplain with Jump Pack (100 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Crozius arcanum
• Enhancements: The Blade Driven Deep
Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (1), Data Version: v525
Archetype
Raven Guard are SO back
Thoughts
My heart sings at the emergence of these Shrike lists, and I want to personally shout out every Raven Guard fan making them work at the moment when Ultramarines are RIGHT THERE. You guys are heroes. Shrike is a great little character, giving a decent combat unit Lone Op, and he is a great melee blender with the new Oaths on his Twin-Linked claws. Otherwise this is business as usual Vanguard Marines, but it’s really very good. Excellent work!
Tom Cohen – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 4th Place
Necron Ophydian Destroyers. Credit: Colin Ward
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Necrons + DETACHMENT: Starshatter Arsenal + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 0pts + + ENHANCEMENT: + NUMBER OF UNITS: 17 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Starshatter is also here! I think the go-wide Destroyer melee ahead of the guns is the absolute way to play it, and this list leaves the SK at home in favour of a Command Barge to get in even more stuff. Flexible, effective, and deadly! Who doesn’t love a cheeky Ghost Ark. Well done on the placing.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 5-1 records. They were:
5th – Patrick Love – Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion): Glorious Tzeentch nonsense with Kairos, two big birds and lots of utility.
6th – Nicholas Rosasco – Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager): The Reaper’s Wager build from the showdown.
7th – Cael Titus – Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension): Host GSC with Neo bricks, lots of Flacos and a big Aberrant slab.
8th – Ken Purvis – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Old school Skysplinter with some Talos plugged in.
9th – Gabe Perez – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): The usual chonky Nid monsters.
Guild War I
48-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Stoughton, WI, United States on January 11 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (1), Data Version: v525
Archetype
Mont’ka Pressure
Thoughts
The Tau slap back with a glorious return to forward pressure Mont’ka. There are a fair few armies in the meta that don’t want to be pushed back assertively by a wall of gun, and Mont’ka gives you some fantastic tools for doing that. Tau can go-wide with both anti-tank and anti-infantry shooting that outshines their competitors, it’s just about making sure the blows land. If the Skyrays and Hammerheads can do work for multiple turns, it’s usually game over. Really well done on the event win!
“Zulu Company” 10x Catachan Jungle Fighters (65 pts)
• 9x Jungle Fighter
6 with Close Combat Weapon, Lasgun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Flamer
1 with Vox-caster, Close Combat Weapon, Lasgun
• 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant: Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol
“Autumn Guard” 20x Death Korps of Krieg (130 pts)
• 18x Death Korps Trooper
11 with Close Combat Weapon, Lasgun
1 with Death Korps of Krieg Medi-pack, Close Combat Weapon, Lasgun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Grenade Launcher
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Meltagun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Gun
• 2x Death Korps Watchmaster: 2 with Power Weapon, Plasma Pistol
“Foxtrot Battalion” 20x Death Korps of Krieg (130 pts)
• 18x Death Korps Trooper
11 with Close Combat Weapon, Lasgun
1 with Death Korps of Krieg Medi-pack, Close Combat Weapon, Lasgun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Grenade Launcher
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Meltagun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Gun
• 2x Death Korps Watchmaster: 2 with Power Weapon, Plasma Pistol
“Fireteam Alpha” 10x Tempestus Scions (120 pts)
• 9x Tempestus Scion
4 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Lasgun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Volleygun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Gun
1 with Vox-caster, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Laspistol
• 1x Tempestor: Power Fist, Plasma Pistol
“Fireteam Bravo” 10x Tempestus Scions (120 pts)
• 9x Tempestus Scion
4 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Lasgun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Meltagun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Gun
1 with Vox-caster, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Laspistol
• 1x Tempestor: Power Fist, Plasma Pistol
“Fireteam Eagle” 10x Tempestus Scions (120 pts)
• 9x Tempestus Scion
4 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Lasgun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Meltagun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Gun
1 with Vox-caster, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Laspistol
• 1x Tempestor: Power Fist, Plasma Pistol
“Fallen Dawn” 10x Tempestus Scions (120 pts)
• 9x Tempestus Scion
4 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Lasgun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Meltagun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Gun
1 with Vox-caster, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Laspistol
• 1x Tempestor: Power Fist, Plasma Pistol
“Jericho Vanguard” 5x Tempestus Scions (60 pts)
• 4x Tempestus Scion
1 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Lasgun
1 with Close Combat Weapon, Meltagun
1 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Gun
1 with Vox-caster, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Laspistol
• 1x Tempestor: Power Fist, Plasma Pistol
“Skyhammers” 3x Heavy Weapons Squad (50 pts): 3 with Close Combat Weapon, Las Small Arms, Mortar
“Wraith Breakers” 3x Heavy Weapons Squad (50 pts): 3 with Close Combat Weapon, Las Small Arms, Mortar
“Arcadia Fire” 3x Heavy Weapons Squad (50 pts): 3 with Close Combat Weapon, Las Small Arms, Mortar
“The Crimson Rain” 10x Kasrkin (110 pts)
• 9x Kasrkin Trooper
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Lasgun
1 with Melta mine, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Laspistol
1 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Marksman Rifle
1 with Vox-caster, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot lasgun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Meltagun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Gun
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant: Power Weapon, Plasma Pistol
“Skyfall Brigade” 10x Tempestus Aquilons (110 pts)
• 9x Tempestus Aquilon
7 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot lascarbine
1 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot long las
1 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma carbine
• 1x Tempestor Aquilon: Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Laspistol, Power Weapon, Sentry hot-shot volleygun
Another podium for Bridgehead infantry bodies – a lot of livingly named units here, so well done for that. Cheeky Ogryn Bodyguard adds durability, the Armoured Sentinel screens and provides a little bit of additional solidity, and the masses of bodies get the job done. So much OC and output here! Well done on the top placing.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
3rd – Kevin Leonard – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess): Slaanesh Daemons with two Keepers, a lot of Fiends and some Seekers!
4th – Gary Frank – Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): Golden slabs with triple Blade Champ, Wardens and Venatarii.
Newly announced England squad hero Josh takes names with his beloved Orks. Plugging the nasty shooting of Tankbustas into the brutal forward pressure of War Horde seems to be a winning recipe, and he jams Trukks, lads and Ghaz into the mix to keep the opponent on the back foot until they have no hope of a winning score. Fantastic work mate!
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
2nd – Mark Davies – World Eaters (Vessels of Wrath): A tasty mix of Eightbound, Terminators and Berzerkers in Vessels.
3rd – Mark Vickery – Aeldari (Battle Host): Delicious go-wide Aspects with Jain-Zar, Karandras and Eldrad in tow.
4th – Peter Balchin – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): A grab-bag of IF monsters with two squads of Zoanthropes.
5th – David Bannister – Ynnari (Battle Host): Brutal triple Fire Prism Ynnari.
6th – Dom Finnis – Black Templars (Righteous Crusaders): Epic double Land Raider Templars. Double Infiltrators for those pesky drop armies.
North Sea Slam IRONMAN 2025
37-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Den Haag, ZH, Nederland on January 11 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Justin Jansen – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess) – 1st Place
Slaves to Darkness Daemon Prince. Credit: SRM
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Chaos Daemons (1995 points)
Legion of Excess
CHARACTERS
Daemon Prince of Chaos with Wings (180 points)
• Daemonic Allegiance: Slaanesh
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (64), Data Version: v525
Archetype
Slaanesh Infantry Horde.
Thoughts
Slaanesh are taking no prisoners at the start of the Grotmas meta, with their no-sell stratagems and brutal output taking them to new heights. I like the non-god specific compromises here – having sticky objectives is simply too good to pass up, so Plaguebearers remain everyone’s best mate. A couple of Keepers and plenty of the cheaper pieces is emerging as a key blueprint for the detachment. Really well done on the event win!
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
2nd – Ruud Steenbakkers – Imperial Agents (Imperialis Fleet): A delightfully janky IA build with triple Deathwatch Kill team and lots of Navy Breachers.
3rd – Dino Kho – Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): Broodsurge goodstuff with plenty of MSU infantry.
4th – Ruben Stapel – Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile): Huron Blackheart and Terminators in Creations, I LOVE it.
5th – Sjors Meijer – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): Massed Sang Guard and Death Company in LAG.
Warpstorm
30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Cloughmills, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom on January 11 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Exported with App Version: v1.25.0 (2), Data Version: v538
Archetype
Taktikal Brigade Mixed Arms
Thoughts
Another win for Taktikal highlighting the range of plug ins you now have at your disposal – Breaka Boyz provide long-bemoaned Damage 3, and the blend of shooting and combat here means it can stay or go as required. Orks are eating well, and as more people hobby up Tankbustas and Breaks, I expect we will see even more of them! Very well done on the event win.
The Best of the Rest
There were 2 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
2nd – Aidan “GULLMAN” Lee – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force): An Astraeus and Sternguard in amongst the Kill Teams, yikes!
3rd – Michael McConkey – Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): Two big combat bricks in Metamorphs and Melee Acos alongside the Broodsurge MSU.
Wrap Up
There we are folks! The meta is in full swing- it looks like Orks and Slaanesh are creeping up to claim the crown of biggest Grotmas winners, and the recent nerfs to Starshatter probably only compound this. Tonnes of armies being tried out though – imagine Shrike being a legit take in 2025, I am SO chuffed. Have a great time out there and keep on exploring all the exciting options! See you again next time.
Lowest of Men, out.
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