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.

The power of Grotmas is fully unleashed this week, bringing us an incredibly broad overhaul of army lists across a wide variety of factions. I made some predictions last week about which ones would shine brightest out of the bunch, and now we can start building up a picture of what the real metagame looks like. We’ll have plenty more next week too – we’ve got the gigantic Nottingham GT in the UK this weekend, which will have almost as many players by itself as the ten events we’re covering this week. Even with just one week of GTs we’ve got some early leaders, but which ones will the metagame be able to adapt to, and which ones will run rampant? Only time will tell.

We’re back to our normal schedule this week – you’ve got me today covering:

2025 Glass City GT
Frost Spite GT
LVOCan’t-Go!
Saffron Slam X
The PNW Warlord’s LVO PREP GT

On Friday Lowest of Men will take over, covering:

Everwinter: Winter Assault ITC Major
Hammer In The New Year 2025
Ironbound V
Defcon 2025 – Warhammer 40k
Wild Hunt GT: Battle for New Year’s Day

This week’s showdowns, the voting hotly contested as the Patrons try to decide which shiny new thing they want to see first. They’ve ended up selecting:

T’au Auxiliary Cadre vs. Champions Of Russ at PNW Warlords
Bridgehead Strike Militarum vs. Solar Spearhead Custodes at Everwinter

2025 Glass City GT

96-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Toledo, OH, United States on January 04 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Zachary Morales – Dark Angels (Vanguard Spearhead) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Dark Knights (2000 points)

Space Marines
Dark Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Vanguard Spearhead

CHARACTERS

Azrael (115 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
1x The Lion Helm
1x The Sword of Secrets

Librarian in Terminator Armour (100 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Force weapon
1x Smite
• Enhancement: The Blade Driven Deep

Techmarine (55 points)
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 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

Centurion Devastator Squad (370 points)
• 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant
• 1x Centurion fists
1x Centurion missile launcher
1x Twin lascannon
• 5x Devastator Centurion
• 5x Centurion fists
5x Centurion missile launcher
5x Twin lascannon

Deathwing Knights (250 points)
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Relic weapon
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution

Inner Circle Companions (180 points)
• 6x Inner Circle Companion
• 6x Calibanite greatsword
6x Heavy bolt pistol

Predator Destructor (130 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon
1x Storm bolter

Scout Squad (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

Scout Squad (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle

Vindicator (175 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter

Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (64), Data Version: v525

Archetype

Dark Angel Vanguard

Thoughts

Not the first thing you’d have guessed for a Marine build out the gate here. A lot of the hype is currently centred around Ultramarines, as it turns out combining Bobby G with +1W Oaths is pretty good. Instead, we’ve got a Dark Angel Vanguard build that you could have knocked together in the old metagame, using the classic Strat Reserve bouncing Centurions alongside some nasty Dark Angels melee units. What gives?

A few things, I think. First up, in a new and uncertain metagame, there’s generally increased value in having access to a plan to just body your opponent, rolling them clean over while they find their feet with whatever new nonsense they’re trying. Infiltrating Deathwing Knights are very much the sort of thing you’re looking for in that regard, tough enough to just pin foes down and keep them there. The other factor at play is that, with the reduction in power on Armour of Contempt, the Cover from Vanguard is much more of a differentiator, particularly on 2+ save stuff like the Vindicators and Centurions here. If fewer opponents are planning for chewing through 2+ saves with +1, having a lot of them gets way stronger.

Bring it all together with Azrael and ICCs as a very flexible blender/CP battery, and you’ve got a pretty spicy list that’s definitely a bit of a surprise. Time will tell if this catches on or if optimised Ultramarines builds overtake it (and if I had to guess, I’d bet on that), but this is a really smartly timed and tuned build to take an early major trophy, congratulations Zachery.

Conan Jennings – Ultramarines (Ironstorm Spearhead) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

The G Storm (2000 Points)

Space Marines
Ultramarines
Ironstorm Spearhead
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (90 Points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Paired combat blades
• Enhancements: Master of Machine War

Marneus Calgar (200 Points)
• 1x Marneus Calgar
◦ 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar
• 2x Victrix Honour Guard
◦ 2x Victrix power sword

Roboute Guilliman (345 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Emperor’s Sword
• 1x Hand of Dominion

BATTLELINE

Intercessor Squad (80 Points)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Bolt rifle
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Intercessor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Bolt rifle
◦ 4x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Ballistus Dreadnought (130 Points)
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Ballistus lascannon
• 1x Ballistus missile launcher
• 1x Twin storm bolter

Company Heroes (95 Points)
• 1x Ancient
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Bolt rifle
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Company Champion
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 2x Company Veteran
◦ 2x Bolt pistol
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Master-crafted bolt rifle
◦ 1x Master-crafted heavy bolter

Incursor Squad (80 Points)
• 1x Incursor Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Occulus bolt carbine
◦ 1x Paired combat blades
• 4x Incursor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Haywire Mine
◦ 4x Occulus bolt carbine
◦ 4x Paired combat blades

Scout Squad (70 Points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
◦ 1x Astartes chainsword
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
◦ 2x Astartes shotgun
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Missile launcher
◦ 1x Scout sniper rifle

Storm Speeder Hammerstrike (125 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Hammerstrike missile launcher
• 2x Krakstorm grenade launcher
• 1x Melta destroyer

Vindicator (175 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Demolisher cannon
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (1), Data Version: v525

Archetype

Bobby G Starts Blasting

Thoughts

…speaking of Bobby G Ultramarines, say hello to the current Marine stat check build. Can you survive being blasted into oblivion by six turbo-charged firing platforms? You’d better hope so! Ironstorm having access to +1 to Wound, multiple Oath targets and loads of Stratagems/CP is ultra vicious, because at any moment a Vindicator can pop Mercy is Weakness and just evaporate something clean off the table. You also get plenty of durability via all the 2+ Saves, and have strong counter-charge potential from the Primarch or his assistant if the opponent tries to run you down. Not super complicated, but very, very strong, well done Conan on taking undefeated second place.

Folger Pyles – Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead) – 3rd Place (Undefeated)

Telemon Heavy Dreadnought. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Adeptus Custodes
+ DETACHMENT: Solar Spearhead
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Telemon Heavy Dreadnought
+ ENHANCEMENT: Adamantine Talisman (on Char1: Blade Champion)
& Augury Uplink (on Vehi3: Telemon Heavy Dreadnought)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 12
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (8×2) – Assassination: 2 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Blade Champion (135 pts): Vaultswords
Enhancement: Adamantine Talisman (+25 pts)

4x Custodian Wardens (200 pts)
• 3x Custodian Warden (Guardian Spear): 3 with Guardian Spear
• 1x Custodian Warden: Vexilla, Guardian Spear
4x Prosecutors (40 pts)
• 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior: Boltgun, Close combat weapon
• 3x Prosecutor: 3 with Boltgun, Close combat weapon
4x Prosecutors (40 pts)
• 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior: Boltgun, Close combat weapon
• 3x Prosecutor: 3 with Boltgun, Close combat weapon
1x Caladius Grav-tank (215 pts): Armoured hull, Twin lastrum bolt cannon, Twin arachnus heavy blaze cannon
1x Caladius Grav-tank (215 pts): Armoured hull, Twin lastrum bolt cannon, Twin arachnus heavy blaze cannon
Char2: 1x Telemon Heavy Dreadnought (240 pts): Armoured feet, Warlord, Augury Uplink, Spiculus bolt launcher, Arachnus storm cannon, Telemon Caestus & twin plasma projector
1x Telemon Heavy Dreadnought (215 pts): Armoured feet, Spiculus bolt launcher, Arachnus storm cannon, Telemon Caestus & twin plasma projector
1x Telemon Heavy Dreadnought (215 pts): Armoured feet, Spiculus bolt launcher, Arachnus storm cannon, Telemon Caestus & twin plasma projector
1x Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought (160 pts): Combi-bolter, Contemptor combat weapon, Multi-melta
1x Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought (160 pts): Combi-bolter, Contemptor combat weapon, Multi-melta
1x Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought (160 pts): Combi-bolter, Contemptor combat weapon, Multi-melta

Archetype

Solar Dreadnought Spam

Thoughts

Another heavy hitter in undefeated third place, this one aiming to trump some of the other powerful shooting builds by dint of being able to go hard on pressure as well. Extra fast wall-hacking Telemons put foes under pressure at speed, and triple Venerable Dreadnought gives you layered pressure. The latter aren’t the toughest things in the world, but getting back up the first time they die (usually) makes them a huge nightmare for target prioritisation, particularly because if the opponent wants to use melee to one-turn one, they risk losing some tools to Fight on Death. For anything that tries to stay really far away from the Dreadnoughts, the Caladius tanks provide some longer-ranged firepower, and any foe who gets too close has to worry about the turbo Blade Champion ruining their day – the Adamantine Talisman is exceptional with their flexible modes. Some variants of this list also use the new and improved jetbikes, but Folger has stuck to all hulls to keep the target profile nice and uniform.

This build excels at putting opponents firmly on the back foot and keeping them there, and definitely feels like it’s got a good story to tell against other hull-heavy lists. Congratulations to Folger, glad you finally get to play with rules that don’t feel mid.

Lyle Dixon – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Fleet Does the Flying, Guard Does the Dying (2000 points)

Astra Militarum
Strike Force (2000 points)
Bridgehead Strike Force

CHARACTERS

Death Korps Marshal (60 points)
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon

Gaunt’s Ghosts (110 points)
• 1x Ibram Gaunt
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Gaunt’s chainsword
• 1x Colm Corbec
• 1x Corbec’s hot-shot lascarbine
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Elim Rawne
• 1x Rawne’s lascarbine
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Hlaine Larkin
• 1x Larkin’s long-las
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x ‘Try Again’ Bragg
• 1x Bragg’s autocannon
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Oan Mkoll
• 1x Lascarbine
1x Mkoll’s straight silver knife

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (70 points)
• 1x Tempestor Prime
• Warlord
• 1x Command Rod
1x Tempestus dagger
• 4x Tempestus Scion
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot volley gun
1x Master Vox
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (70 points)
Ignore Overwatch Enhancement
• 1x Tempestor Prime
• 1x Command Rod
1x Tempestus dagger
• 4x Tempestus Scion
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot volley gun
1x Medi Pack
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (70 points)
Big Boy Vox Enhancement
• 1x Tempestor Prime
• 1x Command Rod
1x Tempestus dagger
• 4x Tempestus Scion
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot volley gun
1x Master Vox
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun

Platoon Command Squad (60 points)
• 1x Platoon Commander
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Veteran Guardsman
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Grenade launcher
2x Lasgun
4x Laspistol
1x Medipack
1x Plasma gun
1x Regimental Standard

Sly Marbo (65 points)
• 1x Envenomed blade
1x Ripper pistol

Ursula Creed (55 points)
• 1x Duty and Vengeance
1x Power weapon

BATTLELINE

Catachan Jungle Fighters (65 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

Death Korps of Krieg (130 points)
• 2x Death Korps Watchmaster
• 2x Plasma pistol
2x Power weapon
• 18x Death Korps Trooper
• 18x Close combat weapon
1x Death Korps Medi-pack
2x Grenade launcher
12x Lasgun
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun

Tempestus Scions (120 points)
• 1x Tempestor
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 9x Tempestus Scion
• 9x Close combat weapon
4x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster

Tempestus Scions (60 points)
• 1x Tempestor
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Tempestus Scion
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster

OTHER DATASHEETS

Attilan Rough Riders (120 points)
• 1x Rough Rider Sergeant
• 1x Hunting lance
1x Lasgun
1x Laspistol
1x Steed’s hooves
• 9x Rough Rider
• 9x Hunting lance
9x Lasgun
9x Laspistol
9x Steed’s hooves

Heavy Weapons Squad (50 points)
• 3x Heavy Weapon Team
• 3x Las small arms
3x Mortar
3x Weapons team close combat weapons

Kasrkin (110 points)
• 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

Ogryn Bodyguard (40 points)
• 1x Brute Shield
1x Bullgryn maul
1x Close combat weapon

Tempestus Aquilons (110 points)
• 1x Tempestor Aquilon
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hot-shot lascarbine
1x Sentry hot‐shot volley gun
• 8x Tempestus Aquilon
• 8x Close combat weapon
7x Hot-shot lascarbine
1x Plasma carbine
• 1x Gunfighter
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hot-shot lascarbine

Archetype

Infantry Spam Bridgehead

Thoughts

Rounding out our top four we have Bridgehead, which performed very strongly across the scene. Turns out that, right now, you don’t even really need to mess around with Taurox Primes to deliver Scion death, you can just drop lots of them from the sky. Whether that will remain true as people start adapting to this and learning to screen it out is something we’ll find out in the next few weeks, but right now you can anchor the board with Krieg units, pack a small number of on-board counterpunches like the Kasrkin, then rain death from above. If the opponent is incautious with tangling your stuff up you can also take big bites out of them with Fire on My Position, a stratagem that perfectly combines flavour and very real function.

This build was a very real breakout hit, and you even see some players using it (as is the case here) doing some mild pre-optimisation for the mirror – Mortar Teams go up in value by providing coverage in the backfield, and gradually taxing the assets of Infantry-heavy foes. Didn’t come up for Lyle here, and he made it undefeated to the final round before falling to the might of the Custodes Dreadnoughts above. Great work Lyle.

The Best of the Rest

There were 12 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

5th – Charles Roller – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King and a couple of Doomsdays supported by Destroyers and a Triarch Stalker.
6th – Kyle Trayah – Chaos Space Marines (Veterans of the Long War): An unusual melee pressure build spamming maximum Possessed, presumably planning to roll over foes who haven’t quite figured out their new detachments yet.
7th – Happy Killmore – Tyranids (Vanguard Onslaught): On a similar note, all-in max Genestealer Vanguard.
8th – Jake Gray – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Monster mash.
9th – Scott Ketcham – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs): Crunchy Martyrs with Castigators, Vahl’s squad and some supporting Helverins.
10th – Christian Valle – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King, triple Doomsday and a big block of Wraiths.
11th – Jordan Nach – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Durability-skew with two Wraith units and a couple of C’tan.
12th – Joshua Minnich – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess): Be’lakor and a Keeper leading a wide variety of Slaanesh nasties, most notably a lot of Fiends, supported by an Epitome unit to earth wounds into.
13th – David DeLisle – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Monster mash with a Norn.
14th – Brad Chester – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): Go-wide melee-focused Liberator, taking a lot of small units with Characters and adding one big flamer Aggressor brick as an overwatch threat/hammer.
15th – Garrett Stacy – Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): A horde Skitarii build, marching/sprinting 150 bodies up the table with Cawl in the midst to hand out cover.
16th – Gary Frank – Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): Pure melee pressure, combining three Blade Champion Warden squads with lots of Venatari

Frost Spite GT

48-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Phoenix, AZ, United States on January 04 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Ben Jurek – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

55 burgers 55 fries 55 scions 55 guys (1990 Points)

Astra Militarum
Bridgehead Strike
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (85 Points)
Enhancement: Shroud Projector
• 1x Tempestor Prime
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Tempestus dagger
• 4x Tempestus Scion
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hot-shot lasgun
◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
◦ 1x Hot-shot volley gun
◦ 1x Medi-pack
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (95 Points)
Enhancement : Bombast class vox array
• 1x Tempestor Prime
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Tempestus dagger
• 4x Tempestus Scion
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hot-shot lasgun
◦ 2x Hot-shot laspistol
◦ 1x Master Vox
◦ 1x Medi-pack
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun

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

Ursula Creed (55 Points)
• 1x Duty and Vengeance
• 1x Power weapon

BATTLELINE

Cadian Shock Troops (65 Points)
• 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Chainsword
• 9x Shock Trooper
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 7x Lasgun
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Vox-caster

Catachan Jungle Fighters (65 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

Tempestus Scions (120 Points)
• 1x Tempestor
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 9x Tempestus Scion
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Hot-shot lasgun
◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
◦ 2x Meltagun
◦ 2x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Vox-caster

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Taurox (65 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Twin autocannon

Taurox Prime (90 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Taurox gatling cannon
• 1x Twin Taurox hot-shot volley gun

OTHER DATASHEETS

Attilan Rough Riders (120 Points)
• 1x Rough Rider Sergeant
◦ 1x Hunting lance
◦ 1x Lasgun
◦ 1x Laspistol
◦ 1x Power sabre
◦ 1x Steed’s hooves
• 9x Rough Rider
◦ 9x Hunting lance
◦ 9x Lasgun
◦ 9x Laspistol
◦ 9x Steed’s hooves

Tempestus Aquilons (110 Points)
• 1x Tempestor Aquilon
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 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 Melta carbine
• 1x Gunfighter
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine

Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (1), Data Version: v525

Archetype

Tank Commander Bridgehead

Thoughts

Another showing for Bridgehead at the top of our second event, this time dialing back the pure Infantry spam in favour of adding some Tank Commanders for a bit of on-board firepower. A very respectable choice since they need exactly zero help from detachment rules to be good, and in this detachment they do get the nasty surprise Advance/Shoot that opponents might not see coming if they assume everything is for Infantry. It also helps if you run into someone who happens to have the tools to properly screen you out, providing an alternative angle of attack. I think I’d bet on slightly more balanced variants like this ending up on top as time goes on, but right now this was a bit of an outlier among the top builds, so well done Ben for devising and unleashing it.

The Best of the Rest

There were 4 more players on 5-1 records, and I’ve added the 6th place player since they got paired up into Ben in the finals. They were:

2nd – Gwenn Godfrey – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs): Crunchy hull Martyrs with one big block of Sacresants as an extra counter-charge threat.
3rd – Daniel Olivas – Ynnari (Battle Host): The Yncarne gets an outing, coming out to play alongside small units in Transports, Voidwavers and a decked out Yvraine/Visarch Troupe.
4th – Tanner Floyd – Dark Angels (Stormlance Task Force): New Outriders turbo-charge a couple of powerful bike Characters (Samael and a Chaplain) while a wall of Advance/Charge Knights plus the Lion get stuck in.
5th – Donovan Sailo – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): Dreadknights, no-scope Purgation squads and a double Purifier Rhino.
6th – Terek Haehl – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): A giant Terminator unit with a Speed of the Primarch Chaplain as one centrepiece alongside Dante and a full Sanguinary squad, supported by lots of small units.

LVOCan’t-Go!

37-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in St. Albert, AB, CA on January 04 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Scotty Bee – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Shatter Arse (2000 points)

Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Starshatter Arsenal

CHARACTERS

Imotekh the Stormlord (100 points)
• 1x Gauntlet of Fire
1x Staff of the Destroyer

Overlord with Translocation Shroud (115 points)
• 1x Overlord’s blade
1x Resurrection Orb
• Enhancement: Dread Majesty

Technomancer (110 points)
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Chrono-Impedance Fields

The Silent King (420 points)
• 1x Szarekh
• Warlord
• 1x Sceptre of Eternal Glory
1x Staff of Stars
1x Weapons of the Final Triarch
• 2x Triarchal Menhir
• 2x Annihilator beam
2x Armoured bulk

BATTLELINE

Immortals (70 points)
• 5x Immortal
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Tesla carbine

OTHER DATASHEETS

Canoptek Spyders (75 points)
• 1x Automaton claws
1x Fabricator Claw Array (Aura)
1x Gloom Prism (Aura)
2x Particle beamer

Canoptek Wraiths (230 points)
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Vicious claws

Doomsday Ark (190 points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer array

Flayed Ones (60 points)
• 5x Flayed One
• 5x Flayer claws

Lokhust Destroyers (35 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannon

Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (165 points)
• 3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Gauss destructor

Lychguard (170 points)
• 10x Lychguard
• 10x Dispersion Shield
10x Hyperphase sword

Archetype

Starshatter with Lychguard

Thoughts

This one is absolutely not a surprise, because Starshatter is obviously and incredibly good. The Silent King and Doomsdays with access to all the additional buffs are clear potent centrepieces, and supporting them with Lokhust Heavies as troubleshooters makes clear sense. That’s not what’s truly wild about the detachment though – it’s not just the obvious picks, it makes everything better, and we’re seeing (also slightly cheaper) Wraiths return as a tarpit, and some units like Lychguard (seen here) get pushed over the top by access to a reactive move, +1 to Wound and re-roll auras. I expect we’ll see quite a bit of variety in the flex slots for Starshatter as the metagame twists and turns because of this, but this is clearly excellent out the gate, congratulations to Scotty.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Ben Greenlay – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): Dreadknights and a double Purifier Land Raider, with a couple of Helverins adding further firepower.
3rd – Anthony Dalla Lana – Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile): Melee pressure Creations with two large Possessed units, three stacked Rhinos and some Huntsmen.
4th – Jonah Sinclair – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment): Hull spam Regiment with lots of Hydras and Russes.
5th – Kieren Trimbee – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): Department of gory eviscerations. (War Dog spam, if that wasn’t clear.)
6th – Scott Fox – Tyranids (Crusher Stampede): Double Norn Assimilator as the centrepieces for a monster mash build.

Saffron Slam X

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on January 04 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Jack Tite – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) – 1st Place

Regal Skulls Primaris Watch Master. Credit: Kevin Genson

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Deathwatch
+ DETACHMENT: Black Spear Task Force
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Captain with Jump Pack
+ ENHANCEMENT: The Tome of Ectoclades (on Char1: Captain with Jump Pack)
& Thief of Secrets (on Char2: Judiciar)
& Beacon Angelis (on Char3: Watch Master)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 12
+ SECONDARY: – Assassination: 3 Characters – Cull The Horde: 4×5
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

1x Captain with Jump Pack (115 pts)
• 1x Relic Shield
• 1x Thunder Hammer
• Warlord
• The Tome of Ectoclades (+30 pts)

1x Judiciar (95 pts)
• 1x Absolver Bolt Pistol
• 1x Executioner Relic Blade
• Thief of Secrets (+25 pts)

1x Watch Master (130 pts)
• 1x Vigil spear
• Beacon Angelis (+25 pts)

BATTLELINE

10x Deathwatch Veterans (200 pts)
• 9x Model
• 3x Power weapon
• 4x Deathwatch thunder hammer
• 2x Close combat weapon
• 2x Frag cannon
• 3x Astartes shield
• 1x Sgt
• 1x Xenophase blade
• Astartes shield

5x Intercessor Squad (80 pts)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Astartes Grenade Launcher
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Bolt Rifle
• 1x Thunder Hammer
• 4x Intercessors
• 4x Bolt Pistol
• 4x Bolt Rifle
• 4x Close Combat Weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

5x Incursor Squad (80 pts)
• 4x Incursor
• 4x Bolt Pistol
• 4x Occulus Bolt Carbine
• 4x Paired Combat Blades
• Haywire Mine
• 1x Incursor Sergeant
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Occulus Bolt Carbine
• 1x Paired Combat Blades

10x Indomitor Kill Team (270 pts)
• 10x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor
• 7x Bolt pistol
• 7x Close combat weapon
• 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle
• 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter
• 2x Melta rifle
• 1x Multi-melta
• 3x Auto boltstorm gauntlets
• 3x Fragstorm grenade launcher
• 3x Twin power fists

5x Sternguard Veteran Squad (100 pts)
• 1x Sternguard Veteran Sergeant
• 1x Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Sternguard Bolt Pistol
• 1x Power Fist
• 1x Sternguard Bolt Rifle
• 4x Sternguard Veteran
• 4x Close Combat Weapon
• 4x Sternguard Bolt Pistol
• 3x Sternguard Bolt Rifle
• 1x Sternguard Heavy Bolter

10x Talonstrike Kill Team (290 pts)
• 1x Kill Team Sergeant
• 1x Power Fist
• 1x Plasma pistol
• 5x Heavy Intercessor
• 5x Close Combat Weapon
• 5x Plasma exterminators
• 4x Intercessor
• 4x Astartes Chainsword
• 2x Heavy Bolt Pistol
• 2x Plasma pistol

Archetype

Kill Team Violence

Thoughts

Deathwatch warp back in at our next event, with Jack unleashing the power of the new and improved Indomitor teams and brand new Talonstrike teams to create a flexible mobile infantry force. Both of these units are dangerous both in shooting and melee thanks to the mix of included models, and until opponents see this in action I think they’re going to understimate just how stuff they can obliterate stuff. The combination of Kraken Rounds and the Talonstrike teams seems particularly vicious – on the turn they drop in, those plasma exterminators can be hitting at AP-5, an ideal remedy to all those 2+ Save tanks that are around.

You also get to build some very nasty flex pieces, as both the free Rapid Ingress on the big Veteran brick and spicing up some new Sternguard with a blender Judiciar to make them risky to charge is cute. Lots of fun stuff going here, and great to see Deathwatch back in the game after their cruel six month exile, great stuff from Jack as always.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Nicholas Willingale – Chaos Space Marines (Soulforged Warpack): Go-wide engines and hulls, throwing down an impressive wall of twisted steel.
3rd – Jack Sayer – Orks (War Horde): Mechanised War Horde with Breaka Boyz as new threats.
4th – Ed Symons – Ultramarines (Ironstorm Spearhead): Bobby G leading Vindicators and Redemptors.
5th – George Hutley – Ultramarines (Vanguard Spearhead): Classic Deep Strike shooty Vanguard with Centurions and lots of Inceptors.
6th – Harley Scully – Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): Many small Skitarii units backed up by some Skorpy Ds, Ironstriders, and one big Sterylizor squad for thorny problems.

The PNW Warlord’s LVO PREP GT

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Ellensburg, WA, United States on January 04 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

The Ritual – Swift Action – Crucible of Battle

Koen Klein – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ)
Army List - Click to Expand

Champions of Yiff 🐺 (1995 points)

Space Marines
Space Wolves
Strike Force (2000 points)
Champions of Russ

CHARACTERS

Logan Grimnar (115 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Storm bolter
1x The Axe Morkai

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 (100 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Crushing teeth and claws
1x Power fist
1x Relic Shield

OTHER DATASHEETS

Invader ATV (60 points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Twin bolt rifle

Scout Squad (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
2x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle

Thunderwolf Cavalry (240 points)
• 1x Thunderwolf Cavalry Pack Leader
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
1x Heirloom weapon
1x Storm Shield
• 5x Thunderwolf Cavalry
• 5x Crushing teeth and claws
5x Heirloom weapon
5x Storm Shield

Vindicator (175 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter

Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (64), Data Version: v525

vs.

Donald Plummer – T’au Empire (Auxiliary Cadre)
Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – T’au Empire
+ DETACHMENT: Auxiliary Cadre
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Commander Shadowsun
+ ENHANCEMENT: Admired Leader (on Char3: Firesight Team)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 21
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (6×2) + (1×4) – Assassination: 4 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

1x Commander Shadowsun (100 pts)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Flechette launcher
• 2x High-energy fusion blaster
• 1x Light missile pod
• 1x Pulse pistol
• Warlord

1x Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (95 pts)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Cyclic ion blaster
• 1x High-output burst cannon
• 2x Missile pod
• 2x Twin pulse carbine

1x Ethereal (50 pts)
• 1x Honour stave

1x Firesight Team (90 pts)
• 1x Close combat weapons
• 1x Longshot pulse rifles
• 1x Pulse pistol
• Admired Leader (+20 pts)

OTHER DATASHEETS

10x Kroot Carnivores (65 pts)
• 1x Long-quill
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Kroot pistol
• 1x Kroot rifle
• 1x Kroot Carnivore
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Tanglebomb launcher
• 8x Kroot Carnivores
• 8x Close combat weapon
• 8x Kroot rifle

10x Pathfinder Team (90 pts)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Pulse carbine
• 1x Pulse pistol
• 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
• 1x Twin pulse carbine
• 1x Drone burst cannon
• Shield Drone, Recon drone
• 1x Drone burst cannon
• 9x Pathfinders
• 9x Close combat weapon
• 6x Pulse carbine
• 9x Pulse pistol
• 3x Ion rifle

3x Stealth Battlesuits (60 pts)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Fusion blaster
• Battlesuit support system, Homing beacon, Marker Drone, Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
• 2x Burst cannon

5x Vespid Stingwings (65 pts)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
• 1x Neutron blaster
• 1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwings
• 4x Neutron blaster
• 4x Stingwing claws

3x Krootox Rampagers (95 pts)
• 3x Krootox Rampagers
• 3x Hunting blades
• 3x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
• 3x Rampager fists

5x Kroot Hounds (40 pts)
• 5x Kroot Hounds
• 5x Ripping fangs

2x Broadside Battlesuits (180 pts)
• 1x Broadside Shas’vre
• 1x Crushing bulk
• 2x Missile pod
• 1x Heavy rail rifle
• 1x Seeker missile
• Weapon support system
• 1x Broadside Shas’ui
• 1x Crushing bulk
• 2x Missile pod
• 1x Heavy rail rifle
• 1x Seeker missile
• Weapon support system

3x Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (130 pts)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 2x Missile pod
• 1x Twin pulse carbine
• Marker Drone
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
• 4x Missile pod
• 2x Twin pulse carbine
• 2x Shield Drone

1x Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 pts)
• 1x Ghostkeel fists
• 1x Cyclic ion raker
• 1x Twin fusion blaster
• Battlesuit support system

1x Hammerhead Gunship (145 pts)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Ion cannon
• 2x Seeker missile
• 2x Accelerator burst cannon

1x Sky Ray Gunship (140 pts)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Seeker missile rack
• 2x Accelerator burst cannon

Thoughts

Tau test out their Grotmas presents here, up against Champions wolf jail, aiming to pull off the tried and true strategy of rolling the T’au over. This definitely a game where some of the new toys that the Auxiliary Cadre brings to bear come in handy, as being able to take more cheap scoring stuff and still have them contribute to your game plan is really valuable in an Action-heavy mission like the Ritual. It being a game where the scoring starts slow is also just helpful to the Tau in general, as it means that the Wolves normal plan of locking in a victory with early Primary denial isn’t as strong, and the option of using Admired Leader to push a unit of Vespid to OC2 and then auto-Advance them to flip an objective lets the Tau play some of that game themselves.

Having more ways of interacting in the Fight Phase is also really important here, as the Tau have access to both the Krootox Rampagers to counter-charge into some stragglers, or Interlocking Maneuvres to pull them out of a fight where they’ve mostly tanked the hit. That’s a big improvement on the previous posture in this kind of game, where even a mauled melee threat hitting combat would still get to heap pressure on the Tau, either forcing a Fall Back or soaking up the shots of a good unit. Reducing the extent to which its a disaster to leave, say, three models left in one of those big units of ThunderCav takes a lot of pressure off the Tau, as they very much do have the shooting to clear the Wolves off the table eventually, but now they’re a lot less constrained while they do so. I do think the mission is helping amplify the capabilities of the new Detachment in this game, but on pretty much any mission this looks significantly more positive than it would for some of the older detachments, and that paid off here with a win for the Tau.

Result

T’au Empire (Auxiliary Cadre) Victory – 88 – 69

Donald Plummer – T’au Empire (Auxiliary Cadre) – 1st Place

Vespid Stingwings Kill Team. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

CHARACTER

1x Commander Shadowsun (100 pts)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Flechette launcher
• 2x High-energy fusion blaster
• 1x Light missile pod
• 1x Pulse pistol
• Warlord

1x Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (95 pts)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Cyclic ion blaster
• 1x High-output burst cannon
• 2x Missile pod
• 2x Twin pulse carbine

1x Ethereal (50 pts)
• 1x Honour stave

1x Firesight Team (90 pts)
• 1x Close combat weapons
• 1x Longshot pulse rifles
• 1x Pulse pistol
• Admired Leader (+20 pts)

OTHER DATASHEETS

5x Vespid Stingwings (65 pts)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
• 1x Neutron blaster
• 1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwings
• 4x Neutron blaster
• 4x Stingwing claws

3x Krootox Rampagers (95 pts)
• 3x Krootox Rampagers
• 3x Hunting blades
• 3x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
• 3x Rampager fists

5x Kroot Hounds (40 pts)
• 5x Kroot Hounds
• 5x Ripping fangs

1x Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 pts)
• 1x Ghostkeel fists
• 1x Cyclic ion raker
• 1x Twin fusion blaster
• Battlesuit support system

1x Hammerhead Gunship (145 pts)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Ion cannon
• 2x Seeker missile
• 2x Accelerator burst cannon

1x Sky Ray Gunship (140 pts)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Seeker missile rack
• 2x Accelerator burst cannon

Archetype

All-rounder Auxiliary

Thoughts

Tau mastermind Donald unleashes the new Cadre here, leaning on Vespid as powerful objective flippers and carriers of the buff aura, and packing some Rampagers for counter-punch. Most of what’s here was covered above, but I do think that the use of a Firesight Marksman is worth highlighting. I must confess that I had fully forgotten that these weren’t banished to resin prison, and they offer quite a bit to this detachment as an Infiltrating Lone Operative. If you need to hand out Admired Leader to ranging scouts they can easily set up to do that, and if you need a second bubble of Lone Op Stealth Projectors (alongside Shadowsun) in shooty matchups they’ve got your back for that as well. It’s a cool addition that really puts a bow on everything here, congratulations Donald.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Nicholas Fromme – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess): Two Keepers, lots of Fiends, an Epitome wound battery, and a Soul Grinder to use it.
3rd – Koen Klein – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): Champion Wolf Jail with a couple of Vindicators.
4th – Joel Rodgers – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): A no-Dreadknight spin on Warpbane using lots of Purifiers and Purgation Squads loaded across Land Raiders and Razorbacks.
5th – Jordan Schnur – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King, triple Doomsdays and a big rolling unit of regular Lokhusts to maximise buff value.

Wrap Up

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[40k] Competitive Innovations in 10th: New Wave pt.1

2025 Glass City GT

Zachary Morales – Dark Angels (Vanguard Spearhead) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Conan Jennings – Ultramarines (Ironstorm Spearhead) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Folger Pyles – Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead) – 3rd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Lyle Dixon – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Frost Spite GT

Ben Jurek – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

LVOCan’t-Go!

Scotty Bee – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Saffron Slam X

Jack Tite – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

The PNW Warlord’s LVO PREP GT

The Showdown

The Ritual – Swift Action – Crucible of Battle

Thoughts

Result

Donald Plummer – T’au Empire (Auxiliary Cadre) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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