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.

Sinister spectral energy abounds this week as the Aeldari, especially the Ynnari, get into their stride. The win rate is still middle of the road, suggesting that the new book is a lot harder to play well than the Index, but the most morbid Aeldari Detachment put up a disproportionate number of top finishes across a triple threat 15-event weekend, and plenty of the usual suspects are pivoting to it. It isn’t all about the Aeldari though – Knights continue to thrive, especially as they’re pretty good at kicking elves to death, and we’ve started seeing the first builds from the new Guard book unleashed as well (though notably not at the largest event of the week, where it wasn’t live).

Everything’s still being shaken up, all told, and we’ve got the gigantic Manchester UKTC supermajor firing in the UK this coming weekend, so we’ll see what happens when the island’s finest smash all their new toys into one another. Let us read the runes from the past week to see if we can divine the future, starting with the following events today:

Cherokee Open 2025 – 40k Champs
6. Corsair Open GT
Heroes of the mid table winter 2025
Top Gun: Callsign Chilli
Toys of Mass Destruction – Hertfordshire Spring GT

In a break from normal three-part scheduling, we’ll follow straight up on Thursday with:

Milwaukee GT III
Oxford Onslaught 4
Waterloo Games Store Championship 40K Event Hosted by Away Games
casi casi GT 2.0
HWP Salty Classic GT February 2025

Finally on Friday we’ll look at:

NRW 40K Singles 2025 – Alpine Cup
22 & 23 Feb 2025 – OWN’s Breaking Point GT at Primal Nerds
Fire & Blood GT
DaBoyz GT Golden Sprue 2025 40K 1v1
I Torneo Iberian Open 2025 Cripta de los Héroes

Three parts means triple democracy for our patrons, and this week they have selected the following Showdowns:

Imperial Knights vs. Taktikal Brigade at the Cherokee Open.
Devoted Of Ynnead vs. Imperial Knights at OWN’s Breaking Point GT
Bridgehead Strike vs. Aspect Host at the Milwaukee GT

Cherokee Open 2025 – 40k Champs

287-player, 8-round Supermajor in Cherokee, NC, United States on February 21 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Purge the Foe – Rapid Escalation – Crucible of Battle

Brian Jones – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance)
Army List - Click to Expand

Brian Jones Cherokee Open (1995 Points)

Imperial Knights
Noble Lance
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (450 Points)
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
• 1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
• 1x Freedom’s Hand

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (450 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
• 1x Graviton singularity cannon
• Enhancements: Mysterious Guardian

BATTLELINE

Armiger Helverin (130 Points)
• 2x Armiger autocannon
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
• 1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

Callidus Assassin (100 Points)
• 1x Neural shredder
• 1x Phase sword and poison blades

Sisters of Battle Immolator (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Immolation flamers

Sisters of Battle Squad (115 Points)
• 1x Sister Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Condemnor boltgun
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 9x Battle Sister
◦ 9x Bolt pistol
◦ 7x Boltgun
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Multi-melta
◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Subductor Squad (100 Points)
• 1x Proctor-Subductor
◦ 1x Arbites shotpistol
◦ 1x Nuncio-acquila
◦ 1x Shock maul
• 9x Subductor
◦ 9x Arbites shotpistol
◦ 9x Shock maul
• 1x Cyber-mastiff
◦ 1x Mechanical bite

Exported with App Version: v1.27.0 (3), Data Version: v569

vs.

Steven Crawley – Orks (Taktikal Brigade)
Army List - Click to Expand

Orks (1995 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 (65 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Grot Assistant
• 1x Shokk attack gun

Warboss (90 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
• 1x Kombi-weapon
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x Twin sluggas
• Enhancements: Mork’s Kunnin’

Warboss (75 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
• 1x Kombi-weapon
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x Twin sluggas

BATTLELINE

Stormboyz (65 Points)
• 4x Stormboy
◦ 4x Choppa
◦ 4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Trukk (65 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
• 1x Spiked wheels
• 1x Wreckin’ ball

OTHER DATASHEETS

Flash Gitz (160 Points)
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Kaptin
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 1x Snazzgun
• 9x Flash Git
◦ 9x Choppa
◦ 9x Snazzgun

Gretchin (40 Points)
• 10x Gretchin
◦ 10x Close combat weapon
◦ 10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
◦ 1x Runtherd tools
◦ 1x Slugga

Nobz (105 Points)
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga
• 4x Nob
◦ 4x Power klaw
◦ 4x Slugga

Tankbustas (120 Points)
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 1x Rokkit pistol
◦ 1x Smash hammer
• 5x Tankbusta
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Pulsa Rokkit
◦ 5x Rokkit launcha

Exported with App Version: v1.27.0 (3), Data Version: v569

Thoughts

The dream team of an Atrapos and Canis Rex face off against Taktikal Brigade here, and someone is going to get pounded into the ground with maximum prejudice. Unfortunately for the Orks, they are short an absolutely key unit for this matchup – Steven’s Taktikal build cuts Breaka Boyz in favour of cramming in more activations and going a bit wide. That’s very defensible in an eight-round event as it boosts reliably, and it really only hurts you in matchups where, for example, two big Knights are coming right at you. Welp.

That doesn’t quite make this unwinnable for the Orks, but it’s fundamentally going to turn hard on whether they successfully take a big swing into one of the tall boys, especially on this mission. The one possible weakness of the Knight build in the matchup is being much less able to afford to lose a few Armigers while fighting for objectives, but on Purge that doesn’t matter too much, as the Knights can at least keep pace on scoring while being very cautious.

No Breaka Boyz as a counter-charge threat and no way to force a Primary advantage leaves the Knights able to dictate the tempo of the game, not a situation Orks ever want to be in. I wonder if there’s maybe some really sneaky, really cautious route to victory via Secret Mission, but that’s going to be tough and rely on a very explosive final few turns. Otherwise, the odds are in the Knight’s favour, and they were able to capitalise effectively.

Result

Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) Victory – 87 – 50

Brian Jones – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

Loyalist Knight Atrapos. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Brian Jones Cherokee Open (1995 Points)

Imperial Knights
Noble Lance
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (450 Points)
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
• 1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
• 1x Freedom’s Hand

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (450 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
• 1x Graviton singularity cannon
• Enhancements: Mysterious Guardian

BATTLELINE

Armiger Helverin (130 Points)
• 2x Armiger autocannon
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
• 1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

Callidus Assassin (100 Points)
• 1x Neural shredder
• 1x Phase sword and poison blades

Sisters of Battle Immolator (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Immolation flamers

Exported with App Version: v1.27.0 (3), Data Version: v569

Archetype

Double Bigs

Thoughts

The master of the Freeblade Lance returns, appropriately unleashing Canis Rex to claim victory here. I’m always a fan of big Knights doing things, and I also really like the deeper investment in Immolators and adding some Subductors as well to keep the drop count up while still getting the brutal threat of two bigs. It also ups the reliability in its way – you might not think of melta as needing Ignore Cover support, but ensuring that 3+ saves never get a chance to spike can matter a lot against other heavy hitting forces. Well done to Brian on his triumph!

Chris Bingham – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 2nd Place (7.5-0.5)

Imperial Knights - Armiger Helverins — Imperial Knights – Armiger Helverins
Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

They hate us cuz we canis (2000 Points)

Imperial Knights
Noble Lance
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (450 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
• 1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
• 1x Freedom’s Hand

BATTLELINE

Armiger Helverin (130 Points)
• 2x Armiger autocannon
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
• 1x Meltagun
• 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
• 1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

Callidus Assassin (100 Points)
• 1x Neural shredder
• 1x Phase sword and poison blades

Sisters of Battle Immolator (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Immolation flamers

Sisters of Battle Squad (115 Points)
• 1x Sister Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Inferno pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 9x Battle Sister
◦ 9x Bolt pistol
◦ 7x Boltgun
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Multi-melta
◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Exported with App Version: v1.27.0 (3), Data Version: v569

Archetype

Canis and Friends

Thoughts

A double header for Knights here, albeit with a slightly more conventional build in second place, focusing on the raw efficiency of putting down Canis Rex and a whole bunch of Armigers. You still very much want the one Immolator to turn on Ignore Cover for the Helverins, and that’s present and correct, but otherwise the plan here leans more on redundancy, at a cost of not being quite as brutal if it goes full send. That seems to have worked well for Chris, as he ground his way to the final round undefeated, and was only held to a draw at the last by a powerful monster mash Tyranid build. Well done Chris!

Ben Andraka – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ PLAYER NAME: Ben Andraka
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Tyranids
+ DETACHMENT: Invasion Fleet
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: The Swarmlord
+ ENHANCEMENT: Perfectly Adapted (on Char1: Neurotyrant)
& Adaptive Biology (on Char2: Winged Hive Tyrant)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 14
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (6×2) + (2×4) – Assassination: 3 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

1x The Swarmlord (240 pts)
• 1x Bone Sabres
• 1x Synaptic Pulse
• Warlord

1x Neurotyrant (120 pts)
• 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes
• 1x Psychic scream
• Perfectly Adapted (+15 pts)

1x Winged Hive Tyrant (225 pts)
• 1x Tyrant talons
• 1x Monstrous Bonesword and Lash Whip
• Adaptive Biology (+25 pts)

OTHER DATASHEETS

1x Biovores (50 pts)
• 1x Biovore
• 1x Chitin-barbed Limbs
• 1x Spore Mine Launcher

1x Lictor (60 pts)
• 1x Lictor Claws and Talons

1x Neurolictor (90 pts)
• 1x Piercing Claws and Talons

3x Raveners (75 pts)
• 3x Ravener
• 3x Ravener claws and talons
• 3x Armoured Thorax

6x Zoanthropes (200 pts)
• 1x Neurothrope
• 1x Chitinous claws and teeth
• 1x Warp Blast
• 5x Zoanthrope
• 5x Chitinous claws and teeth
• 5x Warp Blast

1x Exocrine (135 pts)
• 1x Bio-plasmic Cannon
• 1x Powerful Limbs

1x Haruspex (125 pts)
• 1x Grasping Tongue
• 1x Ravenous Maw
• 1x Shovelling Claws

1x Maleceptor (170 pts)
• 1x Massive Scything Talons
• 1x Psychic Overload

1x Norn Emissary (260 pts)
• 1x Monstrous rending claws
• 1x Monstrous scything talons
• 1x Psychic tendril

1x Tyrannofex (190 pts)
• 1x Powerful Limbs
• 1x Stinger Salvoes
• 1x Rupture Cannon

Archetype

Monster Toolbox

Thoughts

Toolbox Monster Mash, I’m in love. I’m a sucker for both parts of that equation, and this build whips, deploying a wide variety of different big bugs to help it adapt to the fairly broad metagame we’re currently seeing. Particularly notable in that regard is the choice of a Winged Hive Tyrant in place of the more conventional foot-slogging option. The Flyrant lets you get your Stratagem discounts into place where they’re most needed, and the current metagame also makes Paroxysm especially strong. Aeldari, Orks and Genestealer Cults all utilise melee threats with a low number of high quality attacks, so losing attacks is disastrous. Imagine charging a Howling Banshee squad into something and getting to roll a grand total of six dice. Monstrous. Shouldn’t be allowed. Smart choice though. Great to see some unusual options separate a build from the pack, congratulations to Ben.

Steven Crawley – Orks (Taktikal Brigade) – 4th Place

Wrecka Krew Tankbusta Gunners by Craig “MasterSlowPoke” Sniffen

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Orks (1995 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 (65 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Grot Assistant
• 1x Shokk attack gun

Warboss (90 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
• 1x Kombi-weapon
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x Twin sluggas
• Enhancements: Mork’s Kunnin’

Warboss (75 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
• 1x Kombi-weapon
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x Twin sluggas

BATTLELINE

Stormboyz (65 Points)
• 4x Stormboy
◦ 4x Choppa
◦ 4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Trukk (65 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
• 1x Spiked wheels
• 1x Wreckin’ ball

OTHER DATASHEETS

Flash Gitz (160 Points)
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Kaptin
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 1x Snazzgun
• 9x Flash Git
◦ 9x Choppa
◦ 9x Snazzgun

Gretchin (40 Points)
• 10x Gretchin
◦ 10x Close combat weapon
◦ 10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
◦ 1x Runtherd tools
◦ 1x Slugga

Nobz (105 Points)
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga
• 4x Nob
◦ 4x Power klaw
◦ 4x Slugga

Tankbustas (120 Points)
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 1x Rokkit pistol
◦ 1x Smash hammer
• 5x Tankbusta
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Pulsa Rokkit
◦ 5x Rokkit launcha

Exported with App Version: v1.27.0 (3), Data Version: v569

Archetype

Shooty Taktial Brigade

Thoughts

As covered in the Showdown, this is a fairly shooty-skewed version of Taktikal Brigade, going for a lighter set of melee shock troops than normal in favour of more board presence, more redundancy and maxing out on Tankbustas. I can certainly see why that’s an appealing option for an eight round event – if you want to win over that many rounds, you need reliability as well as raw power, which this list offers, and Steven was able to pilot it to the top tables with very strong scores all the way through until finally falling to Brian. Congratulations on a really strong run.

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 7-1 records, and I’ve also put in the 10th placed player who got paired up into Chris’s Knights in round eight and held him to a draw. They were:

5th – Collin Cochran – Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile): Two big Possessed bricks and various brawler units in Rhinos.
6th – Robin Roberts – Genestealer Cult(Host of Ascension): Horde Neophytes and Jackals with a load of Leaders.
7th – Patrick Martin – Tyranids (Assimilation Swarm): Tarpit Monster Mash mixing up various Harvesters with two full Tyrant Guard bricks.
8th – Andrew Vawter – Ultramarines (Stormlance Task Force): Super Storm Raven and speedy Dreadnoughts.
9th – Nick Herting – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): I Can’t Believe it’s Not Blood Angels with a mix of melee MSUs, Ballistus Dreads and Vindicators.
10th – Ryan Karrer – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Shooty monster mash adding a Zoanthrope unit for some more focused obliteration.

6. Corsair Open GT

55-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in München, BY, DE on February 21 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Fritz Peters – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Necrons Corsair (2000 Points)

Necrons
Starshatter Arsenal
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

Lokhust Lord (95 Points)
• 1x Lord’s blade
• 1x Resurrection Orb
• Enhancements: Miniaturised Nebuloscope

Overlord (110 Points)
• 1x Resurrection Orb
• 1x Voidscythe
• Enhancements: 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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Canoptek Reanimator (75 Points)
• 2x Atomiser beam
• 1x Reanimator’s 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 Heavy Destroyers (165 Points)
• 3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
◦ 3x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Enmitic exterminator

Lychguard (170 Points)
• 10x Lychguard
◦ 10x Dispersion Shield
◦ 10x Hyperphase sword

Ophydian Destroyers (80 Points)
• 3x Ophydian Destroyer
◦ 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons
◦ 1x Plasmacyte

Tomb Blades (75 Points)
• 3x Tomb Blade
◦ 3x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Particle beamer
◦ 3x Shadowloom

Exported with App Version: v1.27.0 (3), Data Version: v569

Archetype

Starshatter

Thoughts

While it has fallen off from being the definitively best Necron detachment, Starshatter still poses a big threat, and I think this is an especially strong implementation, judiciously cutting down on Characters to cram in one more major threat than such lists normally manage. The Silent King/triple Doomsday setup with a Lychguard counter-charge unit and a Reanimator is quite the thing, especially as there’s still a decent scattering of scoring pieces, and honestly looking at this is giving me one of those moments if I’m wondering if the only thing holding a list archetype back is people getting too cute with it. Something that I, to be clear, have never once been guilty of. No sir.

Anyway, great work from Fritz for keeping the Necrons in the conversation while less dedicated Xenos fans flip over to Aeldari.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Roman Kleiber – Aeldari (Aspect Host): A big Reaper brick and lots of Fire Dragons/Banshees, with a couple of Serpents to ride in and Phoenix Lords and Autarchs at the helm. Also features some scatter Windriders as a longer-ranged threat.
3rd – Nikolai Stocks – Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade): A big beautiful robot brick, supported by maximum Ruststalkers and a mix of Duneriders and Disintegrators.
4th – Matthias Murr – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): I Can’t Believe it’s Not Blood Angels with Inceptors and Predators for the shooting.
5th – Marc E. – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead): An absolute wall of Aspect Warrior MSUs with a few Kabalites as glue.
6th – Kay Kleinvogel – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike): New Codex Bridgehead, here mostly just swapping out double Russ Commander for double Dorn Commander when it comes to the heavier stuff.

Heroes of the mid table winter 2025

43-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Langley Twp, BC, CA on February 22 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Noah Beddome – Orks (Green Tide) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Group swim (2000 Points)

Orks
Green Tide
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Painboy (80 Points)
• 1x Grot Orderly
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x ‘Urty syringe

Warboss (100 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
• 1x Kombi-weapon
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x Twin sluggas
• Enhancements: Brutal But Kunnin’

Warboss (85 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
• 1x Kombi-weapon
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x Twin sluggas
• Enhancements: Ferocious Show Off

Weirdboy (65 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Weirdboy staff
• 1x ‘Eadbanger

BATTLELINE

Boyz (160 Points)
• 19x Boy
◦ 17x Choppa
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Rokkit launcha
◦ 17x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga

Boyz (80 Points)
• 9x Boy
◦ 9x Choppa
◦ 9x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Trukk (65 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
• 1x Spiked wheels

OTHER DATASHEETS

Flash Gitz (80 Points)
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Kaptin
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 1x Snazzgun
• 4x Flash Git
◦ 4x Choppa
◦ 4x Snazzgun

Gretchin (40 Points)
• 10x Gretchin
◦ 10x Close combat weapon
◦ 10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
◦ 1x Runtherd tools
◦ 1x Slugga

Kommandos (120 Points)
• 1x Bomb Squig
• 1x Distraction Grot
• 9x Kommando
◦ 1x Breacha ram
◦ 1x Burna
◦ 6x Choppa
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Rokkit launcha
◦ 6x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga

Lootas (50 Points)
• 1x Spanner
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Rokkit launcha
• 4x Loota
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Deffgun

Stormboyz (65 Points)
• 4x Stormboy
◦ 4x Choppa
◦ 4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga

Tankbustas (120 Points)
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 1x Rokkit pistol
◦ 1x Smash hammer
• 5x Tankbusta
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Pulsa Rokkit
◦ 5x Rokkit launcha

Tankbustas (120 Points)
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 2x Rokkit pistol
• 5x Tankbusta
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Pulsa Rokkit
◦ 5x Rokkit launcha

Exported with App Version: v1.27.0 (3), Data Version: v569

Archetype

Green Tide 2025

Thoughts

Rolling people over in Boyz will never not be in fashion somewhere, and here’s the Green Tide once more ready to roll over and flatten people. The advantage of playing a build like this is that it’s at least somewhat target agnostic – there are lots of different top builds out there each with different threat and target profiles, but Green Tide only really cares if other lists are routinely teching for hordes, as anything else can either be flattened or our-scored as required. Tankbustas are also a great pickup for the detachment, providing some relatively self-sufficient threats that stop the foe’s big toys being able to operate as freely as they’d like. I like this version of Tide, and it also seems great if Ynnari are the future – doesn’t matter how fast they can go if the entire board is carpeted in Boyz. Well done Noah!

Stu Angel – Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Genestealer Cults
+ DETACHMENT: Host of Ascension
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char4: Primus
+ ENHANCEMENT: Assassination Edict (on Char1: Benefictus)
& Our Time is Nigh (on Char2: Benefictus)
& A Chink in Their Armour (on Char4: Primus)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 22
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (4×2) – Assassination: 6 Characters – Cull The Horde: 4×5
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Benefictus (85 pts): Close Combat Weapon, Psionic Cascade
Enhancement: Assassination Edict (+15 pts)
Char2: 1x Benefictus (90 pts): Close Combat Weapon, Psionic Cascade
Enhancement: Our Time is Nigh (+20 pts)
Char3: 1x Benefictus (70 pts): Close Combat Weapon, Psionic Cascade
Char4: 1x Primus (100 pts): Warlord, Cult Bonesword, Scoped Needle Pistol, Toxin Injector Claw
Enhancement: A Chink in Their Armour (+20 pts)
Char5: 1x Reductus Saboteur (65 pts): Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Demolition Charges, Remote Explosives
Char6: 1x Reductus Saboteur (65 pts): Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Demolition Charges, Remote Explosives

5x Acolyte Hybrids with Autopistols (65 pts)
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
1 with Cult Icon, Cult Claws and Knife
3 with Heavy Mining Tool
• 1x Acolyte Leader: Autopistol, Leader’s Bio-weapons
10x Acolyte Hybrids with Hand Flamers (140 pts)
• 9x Acolyte Hybrid
1 with Cult Icon, Cult Claws and Knife
8 with Cult Claws and Knife, Hand Flamer
• 1x Acolyte Leader: Hand Flamer, Leader’s Cult Weapons
5x Acolyte Hybrids with Hand Flamers (70 pts)
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
1 with Cult Icon, Cult Claws and Knife
3 with Cult Claws and Knife, Hand Flamer
• 1x Acolyte Leader: Hand Flamer, Leader’s Cult Weapons
20x Neophyte Hybrids (130 pts)
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Seismic Cannon
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Mining Laser
10 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
1 with Cult Icon, Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Grenade Launcher
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Webber
• 1x Neophyte Leader: Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
20x Neophyte Hybrids (130 pts)
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Seismic Cannon
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Mining Laser
10 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
1 with Cult Icon, Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Grenade Launcher
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Webber
• 1x Neophyte Leader: Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
20x Neophyte Hybrids (130 pts)
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Seismic Cannon
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Mining Laser
10 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
1 with Cult Icon, Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Grenade Launcher
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Webber
• 1x Neophyte Leader: Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
20x Neophyte Hybrids (130 pts)
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Seismic Cannon
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Mining Laser
10 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
1 with Cult Icon, Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Grenade Launcher
2 with Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Webber
• 1x Neophyte Leader: Autopistol, Close Combat Weapon, Hybrid Firearm

5x Hybrid Metamorphs (80 pts)
• 4x Hybrid Metamorph
1 with Cult Icon, Metamorph Mutations
3 with Hand Flamer, Metamorph Mutations
• 1x Metamorph Leader: Leader’s Bio-weapons, Hand Flamer
5x Hybrid Metamorphs (80 pts)
• 4x Hybrid Metamorph
1 with Cult Icon, Metamorph Mutations
3 with Hand Flamer, Metamorph Mutations
• 1x Metamorph Leader: Leader’s Bio-weapons, Hand Flamer
5x Purestrain Genestealers (75 pts): 5 with Cult Claws and Talons
5x Purestrain Genestealers (75 pts): 5 with Cult Claws and Talons
5x Purestrain Genestealers (75 pts): 5 with Cult Claws and Talons
1x Achilles Ridgerunners (85 pts): Survey Augur, Armoured Hull, Twin Heavy Stubber, Heavy Mortar
1x Achilles Ridgerunners (85 pts): Survey Augur, Armoured Hull, Twin Heavy Stubber, Heavy Mortar
1x Achilles Ridgerunners (85 pts): Survey Augur, Armoured Hull, Twin Heavy Stubber, Heavy Mortar
1x Goliath Truck (85 pts): Demolition Charge Cache, Goliath Wheels, Heavy Stubber, Twin Autocannon

Archetype

Horde Host

Thoughts

Hey speaking of horde builds that make elves sad, Genestealer Cults snuck up into the top five faction win rates this weekend, and among the elite few holding true to faith in the Star Children, Stu was the one who secured an undefeated finish. Much like the Orks above, Stu’s build here mainly cares whether the foe has any way of handling 80 Neophytes, and if they don’t then the prognosis is very bad. It’s also well protected against deep strike builds via the sheer number of drops and models it deploys, and doubling up on Beneficti for Lethal Hits means it can spike out a key target or two against almost anything. Also a fan of the Metamorph MSUs with new Cult Ambush – they only run you 2RP to bring back (same as Acolytes) but provide a better mix of melee and flamer threat, while also adding good early game value from Scout. Neat little choice, and it helps this build ascend that extra level of flexibility, great work from Stu.

The Best of the Rest

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

3rd – Darren Thibault – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess): Medium-heavy Legion, using Shalaxi and a Keeper and adding lots of Fiends and a flying Daemon Prince.
4th – Aiden McFaull – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic): Double Mutalith, plus a lighter scattering of Characters than normal to pay for extra cultists and some Tzaangors.
5th – Liam Bath – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Herohammer-heavy Awakened with the Nightbringer, some Wraiths and couple of Doomsdays for the heavy lifting.
6th – Jind Singh – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): A Gallant and a dirty dozen Armigers.
7th – Daniel Knight – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis Rex, nine Armigers and some Agents support.

Top Gun: Callsign Chilli

30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand on February 21 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Alex Dugmore – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Chaos Daemons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Legion of Excess

CHARACTERS

Keeper of Secrets (290 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Phantasmagoria
1x Shining Aegis
1x Snapping claws
1x Witstealer sword

Keeper of Secrets (290 points)
• 1x Phantasmagoria
1x Shining Aegis
1x Snapping claws
1x Witstealer sword

The Masque of Slaanesh (85 points)
• 1x Serrated claws

Tormentbringer on Exalted Seeker Chariot (170 points)
• 1x Exalted Seeker tongues
1x Lashes of torment
1x Ravaging claws
• Enhancement: False Majesty (Aura)

BATTLELINE

Daemonettes (100 points)
• 1x Alluress
• 1x Slashing claws
• 9x Daemonette
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
9x Slashing claws

OTHER DATASHEETS

Beasts of Nurgle (65 points)
• 1x Putrid appendages

Fiends (210 points)
• 1x Blissbringer
• 1x Barbed tail and dissecting claws
• 5x Fiend
• 5x Barbed tail and dissecting claws

Seekers (80 points)
• 1x Heartseeker
• 1x Lashing tongue
1x Slashing claws
• 4x Seeker
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
4x Lashing tongue
4x Slashing claws

Archetype

Heavy Hitter Excess

Thoughts

Fiends and Keepers kids, Fiends and Keepers. Two great datasheets that taste great together. I assume, anyway. Presumably all of Slaanesh’s creations taste great. If you want raw, direct melee power, you can’t do much better than this right now, especially if you include the Tormentbringer for Fight On Death (again, imagine elves charging that, get clawed idiots). It’s also well known that when Aeldari go on a rampage, Slaanesh arises in response, so well done to Alex for playing the part of the Great Enemy so well.

The Best of the Rest

There were 3 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Tim Ho – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): Dogs and Nurglings, with a lone Poxbringer as a deep strike scoring piece.
3rd – Dan Hayden – Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead): Ultra crunchy spearhead with triple Telemon and triple Vendread.
4th – Ryan de Heer – Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile): Pure melee Bile, going for double big Possessed brick, brawlers in Rhinos, and a full Warp Talon unit as a roving threat.

Toys of Mass Destruction – Hertfordshire Spring GT

29-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on February 22 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Martyn Cooper – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Gt v1 (2000 Points)

Aeldari
Devoted of Ynnead
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

The Yncarne (250 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Swirling soul energy
• 1x Vilith-zhar

BATTLELINE

Ynnari Kabalite Warriors (110 Points)
• 1x Sybarite
◦ 1x Blast pistol
◦ 1x Phantasm grenade launcher
◦ 1x Sybarite weapon
• 9x Kabalite Warrior
◦ 1x Blaster
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Dark lance
◦ 1x Shredder
◦ 1x Splinter cannon
◦ 5x Splinter rifle

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Ynnari Venom (70 Points)
• 1x Bladevanes
• 1x Splinter cannon
• 1x Splinter cannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

D-cannon Platform (125 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x D-cannon
• 1x Shuriken catapult

Dark Reapers (90 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Tempest launcher
• 4x Dark Reaper
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Reaper launcher

Fire Dragons (100 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Firepike
• 4x Fire Dragon
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Dragon fusion gun

Howling Banshees (90 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
◦ 1x Executioner
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Howling Banshee
◦ 4x Banshee blade
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Shroud Runners (80 Points)
• 3x Shroud Runner
◦ 3x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Long rifle
◦ 3x Scatter laser
◦ 3x Shuriken pistol

Striking Scorpions (75 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
◦ 1x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 1x Scorpion’s claw
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Striking Scorpion
◦ 4x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Warp Spiders (95 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Death weavers
◦ 1x Spinneret rifle
• 4x Warp Spider
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Death spinner

Wraithlord (140 Points)
• 2x Bright lance
• 2x Flamer
• 1x Ghostglaive
• 1x Wraithbone fists

Exported with App Version: v1.27.0 (3), Data Version: v569

Archetype

Go Wide Ynnari

Thoughts

And finally, after slow rolling through the rest of the events, we get our first Ynnari win, with Martyn betraying the Astra Militarum to try out the Ynnari. His build has two of the things seen in many of the most successful iterations of the army – a lot of units and Wraithlords. On the former, Martyn does break from the norm a little – he’s got the many Aspect MSUs that are common to pretty much all strong Aeldari lists, but also triples down on Venoms with split Kabalite units. I think this is a good choice – because you can put all the good guns into one half of the squad each time, you get three very mobile shooting platforms with reasonable punch and stickiness (and gigantic reach via triggering Star Engines during Lethal Intent), and then three cheap throwaway units at a bargain price point. Very nice.

The Wraithlords…man I’m so mad about these. Every time these have been nearly good for like three editions I’ve mind tricked myself into trying them out and been disappointed. I even looked at their new datasheet and thought “that looks neat in Ynnari”, but convinced myself I must be overrating them again. Nope – turns out they’re a really, really good all-rounder platform in Ynnari, providing a bit of anti-tank that doesn’t die to a stiff breeze, and forcing some genuinely tricky choices on opponents when they can threaten a Lethal Intent or Fight First. Rest assured, I will not be making the same mistake next time I take my Ynnari out, and will be copying Martyn shamelessly. Congratulations on the win.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Mathew Putney – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): The Silent King and a Tesseract Vault as fancy centrepieces, with some Wraiths to tarpit.
3rd – Chris Paterson – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead): Shooty Ynnari with a big unit of Incubi with both Yvraine and the Visarch to dominate the mid-field (and the option to split one of the leaders out to a smaller unit if needed), and a couple of Fire Prisms and some Windriders to blast stuff.
4th – Stephen Heron – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess): Full send triple Keeper/Shalaxi horror.
5th – John Watson – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Monster Mash with mostly shooty bugs and a Norn Emissary to seize a key objective.

Wrap Up

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[40k] Competitive Innovations in 10th: The Only Good Elf pt.1

Cherokee Open 2025 – 40k Champs

The Showdown

Purge the Foe – Rapid Escalation – Crucible of Battle

Thoughts

Result

Brian Jones – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Chris Bingham – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 2nd Place (7.5-0.5)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Ben Andraka – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Steven Crawley – Orks (Taktikal Brigade) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

6. Corsair Open GT

Fritz Peters – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Heroes of the mid table winter 2025

Noah Beddome – Orks (Green Tide) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Stu Angel – Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Top Gun: Callsign Chilli

Alex Dugmore – Chaos Daemons (Legion of Excess) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Toys of Mass Destruction – Hertfordshire Spring GT

Martyn Cooper – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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