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.
Lowest of Men: We’re back baby! Very excited to see what the new meta is cooking. If I were to guess before reading downwards, I would say… plenty of Marines, Necrons, some Guard and some Orks. Maybe even a cheeky Daemon or two. Let’s find out!
Ok, one of the new meta menaces rears its head here- spoilers, not the Custodes. Bridgehead Guard goes to some very silly places, with full carpets of bodies with deceptively spicy output that also pack a jail factor via the enormous waves of scouting units in the Catachans and Kasrkin. It’s not that you can’t hurt it – you most certainly can, though the Krieg brick may serve as an excellent spoiler- the problem is that you are likely to get tangled up in outer layers as the rest of it lays down an absolute hail of fire with decent buffs.
The Custodes list packs a lot of what has made Solar Spearhead exciting out the gate- newly boosted Dreadnoughts with better movement and output as they begin to take damage, a solid detachment for the wonderful anti-tank of the Caladius, and a forward wave of Praetors to make trouble between the lines. Custodes are great anti-elite damage, but I worry a little that Solar Spearhead may find itself a gatekeeper / bridesmaid in the new meta into armies with the output to delete the vehicles and assets to drown and out OC the elite forces. That very much appears to be how this went down, with a storming win for the Astra Militarum.
Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (1), Data Version: v525
Archetype
Guard Infantry Carpet
Thoughts
No tanks, only lads is a real flex. This list, as alluded to above, can fill the board with chaff that stings a lot more than you’d expect. There are a few flex pieces in Marbo for scoring, but mostly this is deceptively dangerous Plasma, Melta and Las weaponry hidden amidst a horde that counters much of the anti-elite and tank skewing currently happening in the game. Fantastic work on the event win, we can expect to see more of Bridgehead!
Samuel Pope – Tyranids (Assimilation Swarm) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
Termagaunts. Credit: Rockfish
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Uhhhh respawn take 2 (2000 points)
Tyranids
Strike Force (2000 points)
Assimilation Swarm
Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (64), Data Version: v525
Archetype
Assimilation Swarm Horde
Thoughts
Speaking of infantry skew, here comes Assimilation Swarm! This detachment got a few buffs recently and has always had serious drowning potential, via the many regens, feel no pains and shenanigans around Harvester units it can put out. It will definitely pack the surprise factor and Shadows means it has a very real Primary game with the opponent trying to claw out board control before they get kneecapped by Battleshock. Really cool to see this lesser seen detachment back out, Tyranids have so many fun options to cook with in 10th! Well done on the top placing.
Zach Point – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 3rd Place
The Silent King. Credit: Pendulin
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Halloween Town is a fantasy world populated by various monsters and supernatural beings. Jack Skellington, the well-respected Silent King, leads the town in organizing the annual Halloween celebrations. This year, however, Jack grows tired of the same routine and longs for something new. Upon discovering trees containing doors to other holiday-themed worlds, Jack stumbles through the one leading to Christmas Town and is fascinated by the unfamiliar holiday.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Necrons + DETACHMENT: Starshatter Arsenal + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts + + WARLORD: Char2: The Silent King + ENHANCEMENT: Chrono-impedance Fields (on Char1: Skorpekh Lord)
& Demanding Leader (on Char2: Technomancer) + NUMBER OF UNITS: 14 + SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (3×2) + (1×6) – Assassination: 4 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Char1: 1x Imotekh the Stormlord (100 pts): Gauntlet of Fire, Staff of the Destroyer
Char2: 3x The Silent King (420 pts): Warlord
• 1x Szarekh: Sceptre of Eternal Glory, Staff of Stars, Weapons of the Final Triarch
• 2x Triarchal Menhir: 2 with Annihilator beam, Armoured bulk
Char3: 1x Skorpekh Lord (105 pts): Enmitic annihilator, Flensing claw, Hyperphase harvester
Enhancement: Chrono-impedance Fields (+25 pts)
Char4: 1x Technomancer (95 pts): Staff of light
Enhancement: Demanding Leader (+10 pts)
Aha! It begins. Starshatter is real, real good, buffing up Necron shooting but also, more sneakily, its combat. This list points the way with a few combat counter-pieces worked in to complement the somewhat inevitable triple Doomsday Ark and Destroyers. Wraiths are a great spoiler unit that got a little cheaper again in the slate, so having a brick feels very helpful in allowing Starshatter to do what it wants, which is prompting and then winning a straight shoot out. Congratulations on the top placing!
Casey Glynn – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 4th Place
Imotekh the Stormlord. Credit: Pendulin
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Necrons + DETACHMENT: Starshatter arsenal + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts + + WARLORD: Char2: The Silent King + ENHANCEMENT: Chrono-impedance Fields (on Char1: Hexmark Destroyer)
& Dread Majesty (on Char2: Overlord) + NUMBER OF UNITS: 16 + SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (3×2) + (1×6) – Assassination: 4 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Char1: 1x Imotekh the Stormlord (100 pts): Gauntlet of Fire, Staff of the Destroyer
Char2: 3x The Silent King (420 pts): Warlord
• 1x Szarekh: Sceptre of Eternal Glory, Staff of Stars, Weapons of the Final Triarch
• 2x Triarchal Menhir: 2 with Annihilator beam, Armoured bulk
Char3: 1x Hexmark Destroyer (100 pts): Close combat weapon, Enmitic disintegrator pistols
Enhancement: Chrono-impedance Fields (+25 pts)
Char4: 1x Overlord (115 pts): Overlord’s blade, Tachyon arrow
Enhancement: Dread Majesty (+30 pts)
5x Flayed Ones (60 pts): 5 with Flayer claws
5x Flayed Ones (60 pts): 5 with Flayer claws
3x Ophydian Destroyers (80 pts): 3 with Ophydian hyperphase weapons
3x Ophydian Destroyers (80 pts): 3 with Ophydian hyperphase weapons
3x Skorpekh Destroyers (90 pts): 3 with Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
3x Skorpekh Destroyers (90 pts): 3 with Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
3x Skorpekh Destroyers (90 pts): 3 with Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
2x Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (110 pts): 2 with Close combat weapon, Enmitic exterminator
2x Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (110 pts): 2 with Close combat weapon, Enmitic exterminator
1x Doomsday Ark (190 pts): Armoured bulk, Doomsday cannon, 2x Gauss flayer array
1x Doomsday Ark (190 pts): Armoured bulk, Doomsday cannon, 2x Gauss flayer array
1x Triarch Stalker (110 pts): Stalker’s forelimbs, Heavy gauss cannon array
Archetype
Starshatter Goodstuff
Thoughts
This take on the Arsenal packs in go wide MSU destroyers- again, made better by the hit buffs and a very key piece in making the army actually function – and forgoes one Doomsday Ark to get a Triarch Stalker in. This unit is very good with scout and a big footprint for blocking things and luring out enemy efforts so the real guns can get involved. Fantastic work on the event win.
The Best of the Rest
There were 8 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
5th – Brendan Coster – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Go-wide MSU Hypercrypt, shaking off the nerfs and thriving regardless!
Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (1), Data Version: v525
Archetype
Starshatter Goodstuff
Thoughts
Lure em out, blast em, hoover up. Starshatter takes an event win here with a model that’s going to work well for it for the foreseeable. I like the inclusion of the Canoptek Spyder here to offer some protection against mortals – Thousand Sons and Drukhari will both have an honest go at hosing down DDAs with mortal wounds and haywire, so you’d best be able to absorb it so you can retaliate! Really well done on the event win.
The Best of the Rest
There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
2nd – Max Berlove – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Starshatter with a Wraith Brick as an anchor.
3rd – Scott Horras “Heresy” – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment): Triple Rogal Dorn heroics in Combined Regiment.
4th – Andrew Gonyo – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike): Infantry carpet Bridgehead with a couple of cheeky Taurox.
5th – Charles Craig – World Eaters (Vessels of Wrath): Vessels of Wrath WE with triple Winged Daemon Prince! You have my attention, and my respect.
6th – Luke Purcell – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): A proper Ultramarines Gladius grab bag with Sternguard, tanks and some counter punch in Gulliman.
7th – Brandon Van Den Eng – Orks (Taktikal Brigade): Twenty Flash Gitz in Taktikal, absolutely baller.
8th – Harley Austin – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Triple Rhino, double Pred and double Vindi in Renegade Raiders.
Ironbound V
32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Västerbottens län, Sverige on January 04 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Mattias Lindvall-Östling – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 1st Place
Credit: Robert “TheChirurgeon” Jones
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – Thousand Sons + DETACHMENT: Cult of Magic + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1990pts + + WARLORD: Char1: Magnus the Red + ENHANCEMENT: Umbralefic Crystal (on Char4: Infernal Master)
& Arcane Vortex (on Char5: Infernal Master)
& Lord of Forbidden Lore (on Char6: Thousand Sons Daemon Prince) + NUMBER OF UNITS: 15 + SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (2×2) + (1×4) – Assassination: 7 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Char1: 1x Magnus the Red (465 pts, 4 Cabal Points): Warlord, Blade of Magnus, Gaze of Magnus, Tzeentch’s Firestorm
Char2: 1x Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (115 pts, 2 Cabal Points): Arcane Fire, Force weapon, Warpflame pistol
Char3: 1x Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (115 pts, 2 Cabal Points): Arcane Fire, Force weapon, Warpflame pistol
Char4: 1x Infernal Master (105 pts, 2 Cabal Points): Force weapon, Inferno bolt pistol, Screamer Invocation
Char5: 1x Infernal Master (125 pts, 2 Cabal Points): Force weapon, Inferno bolt pistol, Screamer Invocation
Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal (+20 pts)
Char6: 1x Infernal Master (130 pts, 2 Cabal Points): Force weapon, Inferno bolt pistol, Screamer Invocation
Enhancement: Arcane Vortex (+25 pts, +0 Cabal Points)
Char7: 1x Thousand Sons Daemon Prince (205 pts, 2 Cabal Points): Hellforged weapons, Infernal cannon
Enhancement: Lord of Forbidden Lore (+35 pts, +0 Cabal Points)
5x Rubric Marines (110 pts, 1 Cabal Points)
• 4x Rubric Marine
1 with Icon of Flame, Close combat weapon, Soulreaper cannon
3 with Close combat weapon, Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer: Force weapon, Warpsmite, Warpflame pistol
5x Rubric Marines (110 pts, 1 Cabal Points)
• 4x Rubric Marine
1 with Icon of Flame, Close combat weapon, Soulreaper cannon
3 with Close combat weapon, Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer: Force weapon, Warpsmite, Warpflame pistol
5x Rubric Marines (110 pts, 1 Cabal Points)
• 4x Rubric Marine
1 with Icon of Flame, Close combat weapon, Soulreaper cannon
3 with Close combat weapon, Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer: Force weapon, Warpsmite, Warpflame pistol
10x Thousand Sons Cultists (55 pts, 0 Cabal Points)
• 9x Cultist
6 with Brutal assault weapon, Cultist firearm
1 with Brutal assault weapon, Flamer
1 with Brutal assault weapon, Grenade launcher
1 with Brutal assault weapon, Heavy stubber
• 1x Thousand Sons Cultist Champion: Brutal assault weapon, Cultist firearm
10x Thousand Sons Cultists (55 pts, 0 Cabal Points)
• 9x Cultist
6 with Brutal assault weapon, Cultist firearm
1 with Brutal assault weapon, Flamer
1 with Brutal assault weapon, Grenade launcher
1 with Brutal assault weapon, Heavy stubber
• 1x Thousand Sons Cultist Champion: Brutal assault weapon, Cultist firearm
2x Thousand Sons Chaos Spawn (65 pts): 2 with Hideous Mutations
2x Thousand Sons Chaos Spawn (65 pts): 2 with Hideous Mutations
1x Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 pts, 0 Cabal Points): Betentacled maw, Mutalith claws, Warp vortex
Archetype
Thousand Sons Goodstuff
Thoughts
What is dead may never die. In this case, Tsons just CANNOT stop turning up no matter how many nerfs they get struck down by. In this instance I think the wider meta has served them – Custodes dreadnoughts and Doomsday Arks don’t like being hosed with damage, which gives Tsons an in into some of the new, elite Grotmas threats. Really cool to see that they can still hang, very well done on the event win.
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
2nd – Axel Linder – Ultramarines (Vanguard Spearhead): Devastator Vanguard with Gulliman and Sternguard providing post-slate reinforcements.
3rd – André Persson – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): OH. MY. WORD. Triple Bloodthirster allies for World Eaters. I love it. This event appears to have allowed doubles armies to be in play.
4th – Ludvig Advin – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): A Drukhari Tyranid soup! Ok yep, definitely some doubles in the mix.
5th – Elias Holmgren – Leagues of Votann (Oathband): Triple Land Fort Votann.
Defcon 2025 – Warhammer 40k
28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Östergötlands län, Sweden on January 04 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Joel Larsson – Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host) – 1st Place
Adeptus Custodes Blade Champion painted by Crab-stuffed Mushrooms
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + PLAYER NAME: Joel Larsson + FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Adeptus Custodes + DETACHMENT: Shield Host + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts + ALLIED UNITS: Agents of the Imperium + + WARLORD: Char1: Valerian + ENHANCEMENT: + NUMBER OF UNITS: 15 + SECONDARY: – Assassination: 5 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
All-in Custodes infantry pressure takes an event win here, pipping their Dreadnought cousins to first place. Still very chunky, still more than capable of jamming, absorbing, and rolling over opponents. Awesome to see them succeed and to see a Jetbike Captain sneaking into the mix as well!
The Best of the Rest
There was 1 more player on a 4-1 record. They were:
2nd – David Klang – Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead): Telemon and Caladius heavy Solar Spearhead.
Wild Hunt GT: Battle for New Year’s Day
28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Montague, MI, United States on December 31 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Lyle Dixon – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike) – 1st Place
Exported with App Version: v1.24.0 (64), Data Version: v525
Archetype
Bridgehead Infantry Carpet
Thoughts
A few tech choices here, as Bridgehead slams lots of bodies but also packs a tasteful Rough Rider counter charge and some Mortars for picking enemies out of ruins. This detachment appears to have legs. Many of them, in cute little Khakis. Really well done on the event win!!
The Best of the Rest
There were 3 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
2nd – Kyle Sams – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force): Lots of Kill Teams and an Impulsor in the NEWLY REVIVED Deathwatch detachment!! Yayy!!!
3rd – Ben Isenhoff – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment): Multiple Rogal Dorns, Rough Riders and plenty of bodies in Combined Regiment.
4th – Brenton Weiss – Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile): Triple Predator Creations of Bile with MSU Warp Talons. Love it.
Wrap Up
There you have it folks! I wasn’t a mile out in the guesswork – Starshatter and Bridgehead are making big waves, but there is a smattering of push melee in and amongst it too and a few of the newly returned armies seeing play makes me happy. Will it stay this way, or are there undiscovered gems waiting to break through? Find out next week!
Lowest of Men, out.
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