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.
Today we have:
Cascade Clash: Descent – 40k Major Fall 2024
MOAB 40K 2024
Geekfest – Autumn – Warhammer 40K GT
Clan Wars Scottish Open 6
The Great Game – Gongaii GT Fall 2024
On Wednesday Boon did an admirable job covering for Wings, and reviewed:
Hanseatic Alliance Open 2024
Alba GT 2024
BZU 40K GT 10/5-6/2024
Dragon Fall Championship
Paragon City Games Warhammer 40K Store Championships
The Spice Must Flow GT
Cascade Clash: Descent – 40k Major Fall 2024
82-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Mount Vernon, WA, United States on October 05 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Matchup & Mission – Space Wolves versus Necrons
Jaden Iwaasa – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force) Army List - Click to Expand
Space Wolves – 2024/09 – Sighhhh (1990 Points)
Space Marines
Space Wolves
Stormlance Task Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Bjorn the Fell-Handed (180 Points)
• 1x Assault cannon
• 1x Heavy flamer
• 1x Trueclaw
Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf (80 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Storm Shield
Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf (80 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Storm Shield
Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf (80 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Storm Shield
Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf (110 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Relic Shield
• Enhancements: Hunter’s Instincts
Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf (100 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Relic Shield
Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf (100 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Relic Shield
OTHER DATASHEETS
Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 3x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 3x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
Exported with App Version: v1.21.0 (49), Data Version: v469
Thoughts
Look, sometimes your cute, technical, finely poised Awakened Dynasty list built around a couple of crucial stat check units gets run over by howling Wolves, and that’s ok.
Result
Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force) Victory – 100 – 26
Jaden Iwaasa – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force) – 1st Place
Credit: “Contemptor” Kevin Stillman
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Space Wolves – 2024/09 – Sighhhh (1990 Points)
Space Marines
Space Wolves
Stormlance Task Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Bjorn the Fell-Handed (180 Points)
• 1x Assault cannon
• 1x Heavy flamer
• 1x Trueclaw
Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf (80 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Storm Shield
Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf (80 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Storm Shield
Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf (80 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Storm Shield
Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf (110 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Relic Shield
• Enhancements: Hunter’s Instincts
Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf (100 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Relic Shield
Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf (100 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Relic Shield
OTHER DATASHEETS
Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 3x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 3x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
Exported with App Version: v1.20.0 (44), Data Version: v464
Archetype
Wolf Jail
Thoughts
Awooo! Wolf Jail is still good. A remarkable few months for lots and lots of Thunderwolves, the reactive moving and defensive shenanigans of Storm Lance, and the cheap go-wide utility of Scouts and JPIs. Really well done on the event win!
Steven Ross – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 2nd Place
Skorpekh Lord. Credit: Chris Cowie
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Awake Me Up When Pariah Ends (2000 points)
Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Awakened Dynasty
Exported with App Version: v1.21.0 (49), Data Version: v469
Archetype
Awakened Dynasty Pivot
Thoughts
Don’t let the shellacking in the final fool you – you can do some very cool things with an Awakened Dynasty list like this. There is an awful lot of mission play, and the durability of the Wraith and Lychguard bricks provide crucial pivot and absorption points for the rest of the list to counter off and launch defensive strikes. Szeras and the Lords act as mini missiles with revive potential in this detachment, and the entire thing can leave you activation locked and drowning in deceptively durable small units. Really well done on the top placing.
Tommy Aguilu – Grey Knights (Teleport Strike Force) – 3rd Place
Grey Knight Paladins. Credit: Colin Ward
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Imperium – Grey Knights – Draigo’s Summer Slam – [2000pts]
# ++ Army Roster ++ [2000pts]
## Configuration
Battle Size: Incursion (1000 Point limit)
Detachment: Teleport Strike Force
Show/Hide Options: Agents of the Imperium are visible, Imperial Knights are visible, Legends are visible, Titans are visible, Unaligned Forces are visible, Unaligned Fortifications are visible
## Character [260pts]
Brotherhood Librarian [135pts]: Nemesis Force Weapon, Purge Soul, Inescapable Wrath, Combi-Weapon
Grand Master [125pts]: Nemesis Force Weapon, Sigil of Exigence, Psycannon
## Battleline [450pts]
Brotherhood Terminator Squad [210pts]:
• 1x Justicar: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Terminator: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Terminator with Ancient’s Banner: Ancient’s Banner, Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Terminator with Heavy Weapon: Nemesis Force Weapon, Incinerator
• 1x Terminator with Narthecium: Narthecium, Nemesis Force Weapon
Strike Squad [120pts]:
• 3x Grey Knight: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Grey Knight with Heavy Weapon: Close combat weapon, Incinerator
• 1x Justicar: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
Strike Squad [120pts]:
• 3x Grey Knight: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Grey Knight with Heavy Weapon: Close combat weapon, Incinerator
• 1x Justicar: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
## Infantry [450pts]
Paladin Squad [450pts]:
• 4x Paladin: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Paladin with Ancient’s Banner: Ancient’s Banner, Nemesis Force Weapon, Psycannon
• 4x Paladin with Heavy Weapon: Nemesis Force Weapon, Psycannon
• 1x Paragon: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
## Vehicle [615pts]
Nemesis Dreadknight [205pts]: Nemesis Daemon Greathammer, Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon
Nemesis Dreadknight [205pts]: Nemesis Daemon Greathammer, Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon
Nemesis Dreadknight [205pts]: Nemesis Daemon Greathammer, Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon
## Allied Units [100pts]
Callidus Assassin [100pts]: Neural shredder, Phase sword and poison blades
Archetype
Mixed Arms GK
Thoughts
Grey Knights continue their middling Pariah season, with the army itself struggling a bit with nerfs and the new demands of the mission pack, which reward armies packing the centre more than those skirting the edges outside of the precarious secret mission life. This list is a good example of well rounded, take all comers GK – able to handle a wide range of profiles – and that’s probably the best approach right now. Very well done on the top placing.
Stu Angel – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 4th Place
Credit: Robert “TheChirurgeon” Jones
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
(2000 Points)
Thousand Sons
Cult of Magic
Strike Force (2000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (140 Points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Prosperine khopesh
• 1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancements: Lord of Forbidden Lore
Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (105 Points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Prosperine khopesh
• 1x Warpflame pistol
Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (105 Points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Prosperine khopesh
• 1x Warpflame pistol
Exported with App Version: v1.20.0 (44), Data Version: v464
Archetype
Vortex Beast / Character Spam Tsons
Thoughts
Thousand Sons continue to jam Vortex Beasts on points and then counter attack with a hail of vicious mind bullets. This formula is well established now and has its predators, but remains so devastating into armies that cannot connect with them on their own terms. Really well done on the top placing!
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 5-1 records. They were:
5th – Koen Klein – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): Champions of Russ Thunderwolf / Wulfen spam.
6th – Jordan G – Tyranids (Synaptic Nexus): Synaptic Nexus big bug time with double Tfex.
7th – Adrian James – Imperial Knights: Triple big Knight / Armiger IK.
8th – Ruben Zhao – Blood Angels (Gladius Task Force): Shooty Blood Angels Gladius with a cheeky Librarian Dreadnought.
MOAB 40K 2024
52-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Sylvania, New South Wales, AU on October 04 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Brodie Middleton – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 1st Place
Bullgryn. Credit: Corrode
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Last March of the Bulls (1990 Points)
Astra Militarum
Combined Regiment
Strike Force (2000 Points)
18 Bullgryn do the business for the Astra Militarum, as plenty of cheap infantry score, and Leman Russ provide punishing support fire. The throwawy unit of Scout Sentinels give the list some otherwise lacking turn one pressure, and are a good candidate for Reinforcements! As well. Guard have had a very solid few months, and we wait to see what the slate does for their boneheaded anchor unit… Very well done on the event win Brodie!
Woody Wu – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
Logan Grimnar as Santa Claus. Credit: Kevin Stillman
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly.
Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground.
The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don’t care what humans think is impossible.(1995 Points)
Space Marines
Space Wolves
Stormlance Task Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Harald Deathwolf (85 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Glacius
Logan Grimnar on Stormrider (180 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Flurry of teeth and claws
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x The Axe Morkai
Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf (90 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Storm Shield
• 1x Thunder hammer
• Enhancements: Hunter’s Instincts
Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf (80 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Storm Shield
• 1x Thunder hammer
Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf (80 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Storm Shield
• 1x Thunder hammer
Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf (125 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
• 1x Relic Shield
• 1x Thunder hammer
• Enhancements: Fury of the Storm
Exported with App Version: v1.20.0 (44), Data Version: v464
Archetype
Wolf Jail
Thoughts
More wolf jail! I always like the versions with a Vindicator or two in for problem solving. Not a tonne to say here, this thing has been working like a charm for some time now! Really well done on the top placing.
The Best of the Rest
There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
Exported with App Version: v1.18.0 (46), Data Version: v464
Archetype
Kauyon Skytide
Thoughts
Riptides and Skyrays en masse in Kauyon with a horde of scoring trash out in front. It gets the job done you know! Tau remain very powerful and capable of putting up serious hurt if they can navigate their way to a good connect in turns 3-5 that breaks the enemy back and brings home some belated primary. Really well done on the event win!
The Best of the Rest
There were 8 more players on X-1 records. They were:
2nd – Blair Macdonald – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Big Boi Daemons with Beasts of Nurgle and Brigands in support.
3rd – Mike Chapeau – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Big Knights and Armigers baby.
4th – Matthew Reeson – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): Quite hull-lite BoF with Vahl Paragons and some Repentia.
5th – Adam MacLeod – Astra Militarum: 18 Bullgryn Guard.
6th – Stefan Samson – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Silent King / Tesseract Vault Hypercrypt.
8th – Connor Campbell – Slaanesh Daemons: Belakor inspired Slaanesh with some Soulgrinders.
9th – Ryan Hebb – Chaos Daemons: Big Monster Mash Daemons with supporting utility.
Clan Wars Scottish Open 6
33-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Scotland, GB on October 05 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Innes Wilson – Black Templars (Ironstorm Spearhead) – 1st Place
Black Templars Gladiator Lancer. Credit: SRM
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + PLAYER NAME: Innes “Weekend Off” Wilson + TEAM NAME: Stat Check + FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Black Templars + DETACHMENT: Ironstorm Spearhead + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1980pts + + WARLORD: Char2: Techmarine + ENHANCEMENT: Master of the Machine War (on Char1: Lieutenant with Combi-weapon)
& Target Augury Web (on Char2: Techmarine) + NUMBER OF UNITS: 14 + SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (8×2) – Assassination: 2 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHARACTER
1x Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (90 pts)
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Paired Combat Blades
• Master of the Machine War (+20 pts)
I’m calling this an overcorrection. Innes plays sneaky fragile nonsense for a few weeks and something deep inside calls for shooting people repeatedly to death with big tanks and planes once more! Ironstorm still has tremendous volume shooting and reach – in a world of many many combat or mixed arms armies all vying with each other, just hitting the delete button definitely poses real challenges for a lot of opponents! Very well done on the event win.
The Best of the Rest
There were 3 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
2nd – Allan Davidson – Ynnari (Battle Host): D-Cannon and Shoot and Scoot Ynnari.
3rd – Bruce Duffy – Death Guard (Plague Company): Rhino rush Plague Marines. Was there some pact to bring back the pre-Pariah meta for this one lads?
4th – Tim Dagnall – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Vanella style WE with Rhinos Angron and Eightbound.
The Great Game – Gongaii GT Fall 2024
30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Forest Grove, OR, United States on October 05 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Isaac Terada – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 1st Place
Tzaangor Shaman. Credit Mike Bettle-Shaffer.
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
“Magnus made the best possible decision with the information available to him at the time.” (1990 Points)
Thousand Sons
Cult of Magic
Strike Force (2000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Ahriman on Disc of Tzeentch (140 Points)
• 1x Black Staff of Ahriman
• 1x Inferno bolt pistol
• 1x Psychic Stalk
Exported with App Version: v1.20.0 (44), Data Version: v464
Archetype
Tsons Goodstuff
Thoughts
I like a cheeky Tzaangor Shaman as the cheapest way into Cabal shenanigans. Otherwise, very much business as usual here! Tsons have had a very, very good year. Really well done on the event win!
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
2nd – Ben Freeman – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Ret Cadre Tau with tonnes of Battle Suits and Ghostkeel.
4th – AJ Edman – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Silent King / Monolith / DDA Necrons.
5th – Daniel Mindlin – Grey Knights: Dreadknight skew GK with some Subductors.
Wrap Up
Go on, give us a slate. It’s time!
Lowest of Men, out.
Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com. Want articles like this linked in your inbox every Monday morning? Sign up for our newsletter. And don’t forget that you can support us on Patreon for backer rewards like early video content, Administratum access, an ad-free experience on our website and more.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
3rd Party Cookies
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!