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.
It’s a little bit of a quiet one this week, presumably as the Americans recover from LVO, but Australia has boldly forged onwards into a new ITC season with a massive supermajor, and we’ve got a collection of GTs to look at as well.
A couple of notes up-top:
- If you haven’t already checked out our massive review of the Aeldari Codex, check it out here. As a known elf afficionado, I cannot wait for this thing to come into play.
- Tickets are still available for the Goonhammer Open UK in Leicester on March 22nd/23rd. Check out the details here.
And now, on to the events. This week it’s just me, and I’m covering:
- Uprising Adelaide 2025
- Rose City Rampage
- Winchester 40K GT – January 2025
- 2. Schwarzwald GT
- Castle Con 40k Tournament
Our patrons have been provided with their weekly dose of delicious democracy, and have selected the following Showdown:
- Scintillating Legion vs Black Spear Task Force at Uprising Adelaide
Uprising Adelaide 2025
179-player, 8-round Supermajor in Highbury, South Australia, AU on January 24 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Take and Hold – Raise Banners – Tipping Point
Mission details right there in the BCP event, top marks.
Matt Morosoli – Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion) The army list at home: CHARACTERS Daemon Prince of Chaos with Wings (200 points) Kairos Fateweaver (270 points) – WARLORD Lord of Change (270 points) BATTLELINE Pink Horrors (140 points) Pink Horrors (140 points) Plaguebearers (110 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Burning Chariot (115 points) Burning Chariot (115 points) Flamers (150 points) Flamers (150 points) Screamers (85 points) Screamers (85 points) Screamers (170 points)
Army List - Click to Expand
Mom: ” We have good army lists at home(2000 points)”
Chaos Daemons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Scintillating Legion
• Daemonic Allegiance: Tzeentch
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
• Enhancement: Neverblade
• 1x Infernal Gateway
1x Staff of Tomorrow
• 1x Bolt of Change
1x Staff of Tzeentch
• Enhancement: Infernal Puppeteer
• 10x Pink Horror
• 10x Coruscating Pink Flames
1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
10x Pink claws
• 10x Pink Horror
• 10x Coruscating Pink Flames
1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
10x Pink claws
• 1x Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
9x Plaguesword
• 1x Fire of Tzeentch
1x Flamer mouths
1x Screamer bites
• 1x Fire of Tzeentch
1x Flamer mouths
1x Screamer bites
• 1x Pyrocaster
• 1x Flamer mouths
1x Flickering Flames
• 5x Flamer
• 5x Flamer mouths
5x Flickering Flames
• 1x Pyrocaster
• 1x Flamer mouths
1x Flickering Flames
• 5x Flamer
• 5x Flamer mouths
5x Flickering Flames
• 3x Screamer
• 3x Lamprey bite
• 3x Screamer
• 3x Lamprey bite
• 6x Screamer
• 6x Lamprey bite
vs.
Callum German – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) Deathwatch (1995 points) Space Marines CHARACTERS Captain in Gravis Armour (105 points) Librarian in Phobos Armour (70 points) Lieutenant in Phobos Armour (80 points) Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points) BATTLELINE Deathwatch Veterans (100 points) Intercessor Squad (80 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Centurion Devastator Squad (370 points) Indomitor Kill Team (270 points) Indomitor Kill Team (270 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Spectrus Kill Team (200 points) ALLIED UNITS Callidus Assassin (100 points)
Army List - Click to Expand
Of course my army is different colours…its Deathwatch
Deathwatch
Strike Force (2000 points)
Black Spear Task Force
• Warlord
• 1x Boltstorm gauntlet
1x Power fist
1x Relic chainsword
• Enhancement: Thief of Secrets
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Force weapon
1x Smite
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Master-crafted bolt carbine
1x Paired combat blades
• Enhancement: Beacon Angelis
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• 1x Watch Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shield
1x Xenophase blade
• 4x Deathwatch Veterans
• 1x Astartes shield
1x Black Shield blades
2x Deathwatch thunder hammer
1x Power weapon
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Power fist
• 4x Intercessor
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Bolt rifle
4x Close combat weapon
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 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
• 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle
2x Deathwatch heavy bolter
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists
• 3x Auto boltstorm gauntlets
3x Fragstorm grenade launcher
3x Twin power fists
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle
• 3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
2x Melta rifle
1x Multi-melta
• 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle
2x Deathwatch heavy bolter
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists
• 3x Auto boltstorm gauntlets
3x Fragstorm grenade launcher
3x Twin power fists
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle
• 3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
2x Melta rifle
1x Multi-melta
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine
• 3x Kill Team Infiltrator
• 3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
3x Deathwatch marksman bolt carbine
1x Helix Gauntlet
• 1x Kill Team Infiltrator with bolt sniper rifle
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Instigator Bolt Carbine
• 4x Kill Team Infiltrator with Deathwatch occulus bolt carbine
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Deathwatch occulus bolt carbine
4x Paired combat blades
• 2x Kill Team Infiltrator with combat knife
• 2x Combat knife
2x Special-issue bolt pistol
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades
Thoughts
Oh no. The day has finally arrived, much sooner than I had hoped. I have to attempt to comprehend the Scintillating Legion. Happily this build is relatively easy to do that with – you get access to redeploys, some extra mobility tricks, a Lord of Change that can melt stuff from behind walls, and one turbo-nasty melee threat. Using the Neverblade on a Winged Daemon Prince is a neat choice, because it stacks with their built in Malefic Destruction ability to just absolutely dust something once-per-game, and this game is one in which it’s phenomenal, as it’ll go through Deathwatch stuff like a hot knife. Backing that with accumulated shooting that will cause some real damage, plus very sticky objective holders from the Horrors and great mobile scoring pieces creates a powerful, if mind-bending creation.
Up against it we have a particularly brutal Deathwatch list, eschewing some of the more go-wide options to go full chonk. Site-to-Site Teleportation lets you do Ultravanguard-style teleporting Centurions, and having a Spectrus team lets you maintain the option of having two bouncy threats if you need to target the Centurions on a given turn. Two Indomitor teams provide a powerful anvil to anchor that strategy around, and you’ve got some cheap stuff to go out and score, plus some backfield Infiltrators to go with it. This list is just vicious, and if you’re up against it you’re certainly very happy to have the option to blast it from behind walls or threaten to alpha off a whole unit. I was a little surprised to see boltstorm gauntlets rather than flamestorm gauntlets in the Indomitor teams though, as it feels like you’re sacrificing some Overwatch potential to add more volume, which the army can already handle.
So, two armies with good redeploys and shooting, Deathwatch with more durability, and thus the option of going full send, Tzeentch with more options to make stuff happen without fully committing in a cagier game. No particular help from the mission. Tricky. I would probably end up handing this one to the Deathwatch on the basis that I think both armies want to go second here, but Deathwatch has more of a plan going first. If you’re playing a cautious game from either side here you’re looking for opportunities to pick off the opponent’s smaller units at a profit, and Tzeentch can definitely do that going second thanks to Puppeteer, and use the threat projection from the Daemon Prince to stop an Indomitor team being too bold. Going first, however, they’re going to be in a tough spot as committing enough stuff to score is going to risk them getting cleared out. The Deathwatch, on the other hand, have the option of going aggro on the play and potentially bowling the Daemons over. The forces of Chaos do have good tools into most of what’s here, but not so much into the Centurions, and absolutely not if the Deathwatch full send with multiple big tools at once.
It could still go wrong, but I think there’s a reasonable chance it works, and I’d tap them to win on that basis. Naturally, master of Chaos Matt has used the powers of Tzeentch to bamboozle me here, and took a narrow victory despite (I still think) the game slightly favouring the Deathwatch.
Result
Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion) Victory – 82 – 75
Matt Morosoli – Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand The army list at home: CHARACTERS Daemon Prince of Chaos with Wings (200 points) Kairos Fateweaver (270 points) – WARLORD Lord of Change (270 points) BATTLELINE Pink Horrors (140 points) Pink Horrors (140 points) Plaguebearers (110 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Burning Chariot (115 points) Burning Chariot (115 points) Flamers (150 points) Flamers (150 points) Screamers (85 points) Screamers (85 points) Screamers (170 points)
Mom: ” We have good army lists at home(2000 points)”
Chaos Daemons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Scintillating Legion
• Daemonic Allegiance: Tzeentch
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
• Enhancement: Neverblade
• 1x Infernal Gateway
1x Staff of Tomorrow
• 1x Bolt of Change
1x Staff of Tzeentch
• Enhancement: Infernal Puppeteer
• 10x Pink Horror
• 10x Coruscating Pink Flames
1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
10x Pink claws
• 10x Pink Horror
• 10x Coruscating Pink Flames
1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
10x Pink claws
• 1x Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
9x Plaguesword
• 1x Fire of Tzeentch
1x Flamer mouths
1x Screamer bites
• 1x Fire of Tzeentch
1x Flamer mouths
1x Screamer bites
• 1x Pyrocaster
• 1x Flamer mouths
1x Flickering Flames
• 5x Flamer
• 5x Flamer mouths
5x Flickering Flames
• 1x Pyrocaster
• 1x Flamer mouths
1x Flickering Flames
• 5x Flamer
• 5x Flamer mouths
5x Flickering Flames
• 3x Screamer
• 3x Lamprey bite
• 3x Screamer
• 3x Lamprey bite
• 6x Screamer
• 6x Lamprey bite
Archetype
Scintillating Legion
Thoughts
A big win for Tzeentch here in Matt’s hands, and it’s worth saying that I think the Deathwatch list from the final is one of the tougher things for this to face because it matches it in redeploys and has greater durability. Against armies that can’t just body you, the threat diversity (many units get real nasty when you pop Pyrogenesis), speed and attrition are going to create a steep uphill challenge, and I think this really showcases what the Tzeentch detachment can do. Great work from Matt!
Callum German – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) – 2nd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Deathwatch (1995 points) Space Marines CHARACTERS Captain in Gravis Armour (105 points) Librarian in Phobos Armour (70 points) Lieutenant in Phobos Armour (80 points) Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points) BATTLELINE Deathwatch Veterans (100 points) Intercessor Squad (80 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Centurion Devastator Squad (370 points) Indomitor Kill Team (270 points) Indomitor Kill Team (270 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Spectrus Kill Team (200 points) ALLIED UNITS Callidus Assassin (100 points)
Of course my army is different colours…its Deathwatch
Deathwatch
Strike Force (2000 points)
Black Spear Task Force
• Warlord
• 1x Boltstorm gauntlet
1x Power fist
1x Relic chainsword
• Enhancement: Thief of Secrets
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Force weapon
1x Smite
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Master-crafted bolt carbine
1x Paired combat blades
• Enhancement: Beacon Angelis
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• 1x Watch Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shield
1x Xenophase blade
• 4x Deathwatch Veterans
• 1x Astartes shield
1x Black Shield blades
2x Deathwatch thunder hammer
1x Power weapon
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Power fist
• 4x Intercessor
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Bolt rifle
4x Close combat weapon
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 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
• 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle
2x Deathwatch heavy bolter
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists
• 3x Auto boltstorm gauntlets
3x Fragstorm grenade launcher
3x Twin power fists
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle
• 3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
2x Melta rifle
1x Multi-melta
• 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle
2x Deathwatch heavy bolter
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists
• 3x Auto boltstorm gauntlets
3x Fragstorm grenade launcher
3x Twin power fists
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle
• 3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
2x Melta rifle
1x Multi-melta
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine
• 3x Kill Team Infiltrator
• 3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
3x Deathwatch marksman bolt carbine
1x Helix Gauntlet
• 1x Kill Team Infiltrator with bolt sniper rifle
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Instigator Bolt Carbine
• 4x Kill Team Infiltrator with Deathwatch occulus bolt carbine
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Deathwatch occulus bolt carbine
4x Paired combat blades
• 2x Kill Team Infiltrator with combat knife
• 2x Combat knife
2x Special-issue bolt pistol
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades
Archetype
Crunchy Deathwatch
Thoughts
Mostly covered in the Showdown – this is just an alarmingly daunting Infantry army to face off against, and will grind a lot of stuff cleanly into the dust. Deathwatch – no joke, and able to use diverse strategies to great effect as Callum demonstrated here.
Joshua Brodie – Raven Guard (Vanguard Spearhead) – 3rd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Shrikes Shuffling Sneaky Boiz (2000 points) Space Marines CHARACTERS Captain (80 points) Captain (80 points) Kayvaan Shrike (100 points) Librarian in Phobos Armour (70 points) BATTLELINE Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points) Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Impulsor (80 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (160 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Centurion Devastator Squad (370 points) Inceptor Squad (240 points) Inceptor Squad (240 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Reiver Squad (80 points) Scout Squad (70 points) Exported with App Version: v1.26.0 (67), Data Version: v541
Raven Guard
Strike Force (2000 points)
Vanguard Spearhead
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• Warlord
• 1x Blackout
1x The Raven’s Talons
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Force weapon
1x Smite
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Shield Dome
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 9x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 9x Astartes chainsword
7x Heavy bolt pistol
2x Plasma pistol
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Assault bolters
5x Close combat weapon
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Marksman bolt carbine
• 1x Reiver Sergeant
• 1x Combat knife
1x Grapnel Launcher
1x Reiver Grav-chute
1x Special issue bolt pistol
• 4x Reiver
• 4x Combat knife
4x Grapnel Launcher
4x Reiver Grav-chute
4x Special issue bolt pistol
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 3x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
Archetype
Ravanguard
Thoughts
A spin on the traditional Vanguard Centurion build here, sacrificing a little of the raw threat and full Deep Strike from the Ultramarine version in favour of better Primary play, particularly from a points denial point of view. Shrike’s Lone Operative Jump squad has always been a great piece for both objective play and as a threat, but he’s also by far the biggest winner from the Balance Dataslate handing out boosted OC to some units. OC2 Jump Intercessors are even better value than normal, and a fantastic tool for reliably saying “no” to your opponent’s scoring plans for the turn, and Shrike’s own unit is even stronger. The list leans into this further with some cheap but lethal Assault Intercessor/Captain units that can be fired out one at a time to maul something, flip an objective, then demand an answer. It takes a lot to justify dropping Ultramarines, but the superior ability to bully an opponent’s scoring plans is a genuine draw to this variant, and could increase in value further if Aeldari are as good as they look. Congratulations to Joshua on the third-place finish and cool list design.
Lachlan Booth – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Red Ultramarines (2000 points) Space Marines CHARACTERS Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points) Marneus Calgar (200 points) Roboute Guilliman (345 points) BATTLELINE Intercessor Squad (80 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Ballistus Dreadnought (130 points) Ballistus Dreadnought (130 points) Ballistus Dreadnought (130 points) Company Heroes (95 points) Gladiator Reaper (160 points) Inceptor Squad (240 points) Inceptor Squad (240 points) Invader ATV (60 points) Invader ATV (60 points) Invader ATV (60 points)
Ultramarines
Strike Force (2000 points)
Gladius Task Force
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• 1x Marneus Calgar
• 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar
• 2x Victrix Honour Guard
• 2x Victrix power sword
• Warlord
• 1x Emperor’s Sword
1x Hand of Dominion
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Power fist
• 4x Intercessor
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Bolt rifle
4x Close combat weapon
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter
• 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
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
2x Tempest bolter
1x Twin heavy onslaught gatling cannon
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Assault bolters
5x Close combat weapon
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Multi-melta
1x Twin bolt rifle
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Multi-melta
1x Twin bolt rifle
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Multi-melta
1x Twin bolt rifle
Archetype
Bobby G’s Flying Gun Club
Thoughts
Bobby G, Gladius, many guns, you know the deal by now. This version does mix up the normal formula, teching for the (accurate) assumption of many Space Marines in the meta by adding a big brick of plasmaceptors, and building on that for a full shooty gun club.
Ethan Armstrong – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force) – 5th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Kadosh Celestial Flame (1995 points) Grey Knights CHARACTERS Brother-Captain (105 points) Castellan Crowe (90 points) Kaldor Draigo (125 points) BATTLELINE Brotherhood Terminator Squad (420 points) Strike Squad (120 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Nemesis Dreadknight (210 points) Nemesis Dreadknight (210 points) Paladin Squad (215 points) Purifier Squad (250 points) Purifier Squad (125 points) Purifier Squad (125 points) Exported with App Version: v1.25.0 (65), Data Version: v538
Strike Force (2000 points)
Warpbane Task Force
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Psycannon
• Enhancement: Radiant Champion
• 1x Black Blade of Antwyr
1x Purifying Flame
1x Storm bolter
• Warlord
• 1x Scourging
1x Storm bolter
1x The Titansword
• 1x Terminator Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 9x Brotherhood Terminator
• 1x Ancient’s Banner
2x Incinerator
1x Narthecium
9x Nemesis force weapon
6x Storm bolter
• 1x Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Grey Knight
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Incinerator
3x Nemesis force weapon
3x Storm bolter
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Paragon
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Paladin Ancient
• 1x Ancient’s Banner
1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Psycannon
• 3x Paladin
• 3x Nemesis force weapon
2x Psycannon
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Knight of the Flame
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Purifying Flame
1x Storm bolter
• 9x Purifier
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Incinerator
5x Nemesis force weapon
9x Purifying Flame
5x Storm bolter
• 1x Knight of the Flame
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Purifying Flame
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Purifier
• 4x Nemesis force weapon
4x Purifying Flame
4x Storm bolter
• 1x Knight of the Flame
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Purifying Flame
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Purifier
• 4x Nemesis force weapon
4x Purifying Flame
4x Storm bolter
Archetype
Terminator Warpbane
Thoughts
“What the hell Wings?” you ask, “Why is there a fifth list?”. Well, it’s by far the biggest event of the week, Ethan sent me a full writeup of their list that goes above and beyond what’s needed for Best of the Rest, and it’s for a faction that’s still very much being tinkered and experimented with, so you get one more this week. Enjoy, and take it away Ethan!
Ethan: 30 Purifiers, 15 terminators and a dream. My list building here involved looking at a lot of the tech being taken with the new Grotmas detachment such as the servitor Techmarine block or the Purgation squad indirect skew and found it really unimpressive at playing into common meta threats. All of these units rely on being babysat by MSU purifier squads to turn on their output in the absence of durable units on objectives, resulting in a need to play very conservatively with up to 375 points of your list to use the army rule. The new detachment needs to be able to hold the midboard in order to gain re-rolls and the OC on Terminators/Paladins allow you to push this angle to maintain re-rolls into your opponents turns and away from purely relying on the purifiers.
The output available here is utterly disgusting, some turns you roll upwards of 100 dice with full hit re-rolls from an elite army. You don’t need 6 NDKS to kill vehicles anymore, you just reroll hits and wounds instead! Full hit re-rolls on both the Paladins (for sustained from the BroCap) and Terminators (Lethals on the charge) push their output to pretty absurd levels and a unit of 5 purifiers with a full melee loadout becomes a really powerful trading piece for 1cp to re-roll wounds. Often if units of purifiers get chipped to 2 models, the +1 to wound makes them monstrous trading pieces on relatively few dice which happened relatively often throughout the event.
In terms of piloting, the list absolutely sends it most games, I tabled or near tabled the majority of my opponents over the 8 games and reserved the 10 terminators for a RI+heroic threat far more often than I’d thought I would going in. Draigo minds not from where the charge comes. Hopefully other people give the power list version of this another look in, as I honestly believe it is the best way to play the new detachment and is a blast to play as a bonus!
The Best of the Rest
There were 2 more players on 7-1 records. They were:
- 6th – Tyler Walsh – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): A hilarious Protocol of the Eternal Revenant skew list with tonnes of Characters, including 3x Skorpekh Lords with Skorpekh MSUs. Tyler also sent me some notes, just in time to sneak them in pre-publication.
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER 1x Illuminor Szeras (175 pts) 1x Imotekh the Stormlord (100 pts) 1x Hexmark Destroyer (75 pts) 1x Hexmark Destroyer (75 pts) 1x Lokhust Lord (100 pts) 1x Plasmancer (60 pts) 1x Skorpekh Lord (95 pts) 1x Skorpekh Lord (80 pts) 1x Skorpekh Lord (80 pts) 1x Technomancer (105 pts) BATTLELINE 10x Immortals (150 pts) OTHER DATASHEETS 5x Flayed Ones (60 pts) 5x Flayed Ones (60 pts) 3x Skorpekh Destroyers (90 pts) 3x Skorpekh Destroyers (90 pts) 3x Skorpekh Destroyers (90 pts) 1x Lokhust Destroyers (35 pts) 3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (165 pts) 6x Canoptek Wraiths (230 pts) 1x Canoptek Reanimator (75 pts)
• 1x Eldritch lance
• 1x Impaling legs
• Warlord
• 1x Gauntlet of Fire
• 1x Staff of the Destroyer
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• 1x Lord’s blade
• Nanoscarab amulet
• Veil of Darkness (+20 pts)
• 1x Plasmic lance
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
• 1x Flensing claw
• 1x Hyperphase harvester
• Enaegic Dermal Bond (+15 pts)
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
• 1x Flensing claw
• 1x Hyperphase harvester
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
• 1x Flensing claw
• 1x Hyperphase harvester
• 1x Staff of light
• Nether-realm Casket (+20 pts)
• 10x Immortal
• 10x Close combat weapon
• 10x Gauss blaster
• 5x Flayed One
• 5x Flayer claws
• 5x Flayed One
• 5x Flayer claws
• 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
• 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
• Plasmacyte
• 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
• 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
• Plasmacyte
• 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
• 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
• Plasmacyte
• 1x Lokhust Destroyer
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Gauss cannon
• 3x Destroyer
• 3x Close combat weapon
• 3x Enmitic exterminator
• 6x Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
• 6x Vicious claws
• 2x Atomiser beam
• 1x Reanimator’s claws
Tyler: This character-heavy style of Awakened list leverages two unique strats: Protocol of the Eternal Revenant and Protocol of the Undying Legions. Being able to lean in on the resilience of the characters and Wraith brick is a strong gameplan against many armies, and the accumilated value of the resurrecting characters, both in terms of the VP they score and the output they do, is more than worth the CP.
This particular composition of units also has a lot of internal synergy, and is able to leverage all 5 good strats effectively without finding itself with too many targets for the same strat. It doesn’t look like it does much damage on paper, but lots of lethals and access to full rerolls also helps. You often have slightly more resources than your opponent expects by the end of turn 3, and they have slightly fewer (or they are tied up) and you can snowball that advantage in the later turns.
- 7th – Stuart Trainer – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): All-rounder Invasion Fleet with a mix of Exocrines, Maleceptors, one Norn, and a larger-than-normal Hormagaunt contingent.
Rose City Rampage
40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Portland, OR, United States on January 25 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Jonathan Sebert – Orks (War Horde) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Orks CHARACTERS Beastboss (80 Points) Beastboss (80 Points) Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun (65 Points) Ghazghkull Thraka (235 Points) Warboss (75 Points) Zodgrod Wortsnagga (80 Points) BATTLELINE Beast Snagga Boyz (95 Points) Beast Snagga Boyz (95 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Trukk (65 Points) Trukk (65 Points) Trukk (65 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Battlewagon (160 Points) Breaka Boyz (140 Points) Flash Gitz (160 Points) Gretchin (80 Points) Gretchin (40 Points) Meganobz (105 Points) Stormboyz (65 Points) Stormboyz (65 Points) Stormboyz (65 Points) Tankbustas (120 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.26.0 (2), Data Version: v541
Ghaz’s New Toyz – Horde (2000 Points)
War Horde
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Beast Snagga klaw
• 1x Beastchoppa
• 1x Shoota
• 1x Beast Snagga klaw
• 1x Beastchoppa
• 1x Shoota
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Shokk attack gun
• 1x Ghazghkull Thraka
• Warlord
◦ 1x Gork’s Klaw
◦ 1x Mork’s Roar
• 1x Makari
◦ 1x Makari’s stabba
• 1x Attack squig
• 1x Kombi-weapon
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x Twin sluggas
• 1x Da Grabzappa
• 1x Squigstoppa
• 9x Beast Snagga Boy
◦ 9x Choppa
◦ 9x Slugga
• 1x Beast Snagga Nob
◦ 1x Power snappa
◦ 1x Slugga
• 9x Beast Snagga Boy
◦ 9x Choppa
◦ 9x Slugga
• 1x Beast Snagga Nob
◦ 1x Power snappa
◦ 1x Slugga
• 1x Big shoota
• 1x Spiked wheels
• 1x Wreckin’ ball
• 1x Big shoota
• 1x Spiked wheels
• 1x Big shoota
• 1x Spiked wheels
• 4x Big shoota
• 1x Deff rolla
• 1x Lobba
• 1x Zzap gun
• 1x ‘Ard Case
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 1x Rokkit pistol
◦ 1x Smash hammer
• 5x Breaka Boy
◦ 4x Smash hammer
◦ 1x Tankhammer
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Kaptin
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 1x Snazzgun
• 9x Flash Git
◦ 9x Choppa
◦ 9x Snazzgun
• 20x Gretchin
◦ 20x Close combat weapon
◦ 20x Grot blasta
• 2x Runtherd
◦ 2x Runtherd tools
◦ 2x Slugga
• 10x Gretchin
◦ 10x Close combat weapon
◦ 10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
◦ 1x Runtherd tools
◦ 1x Slugga
• 3x Meganob
◦ 3x Twin killsaws
• 4x Stormboy
◦ 4x Choppa
◦ 4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga
• 4x Stormboy
◦ 4x Choppa
◦ 4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga
• 4x Stormboy
◦ 4x Choppa
◦ 4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 1x Rokkit pistol
◦ 1x Smash hammer
• 5x Tankbusta
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Pulsa Rokkit
◦ 5x Rokkit launcha
Archetype
All-rounder War Horde
Thoughts
Honestly a bit of everything in our next winning build, taking advantage of Orks suddenly being very feature-complete Datasheet-wise. Improved Tankbustas with an Attack Gun Big Mek give you an anti-tank shooting threat that demands actual respect, while still being low commitment, and Breaka Boyz help with heavy infantry and crunchy builds up close, stopping your momentum getting spiked in crucial games, especially with Ghaz about as well. Running as War Horde further amps up the momentum, and the overall list feels very well suited to a metagame that seems to particularly reward being able to body an opponent when required. Excellent Orky work from Jonathan.
Tom Martin – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Astra Militarum CHARACTERS Gaunt’s Ghosts (110 points) Platoon Command Squad (60 points) Tank Commander (240 points) Tank Commander (225 points) Ursula Creed (55 points) BATTLELINE Catachan Jungle Fighters (65 points) Catachan Jungle Fighters (65 points) Infantry Squad (60 points) Infantry Squad (60 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Taurox (65 points) Taurox (65 points) Taurox (65 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Heavy Weapons Squad (50 points) Hellhound (125 points) Hellhound (125 points) Leman Russ Battle Tank (170 points) Leman Russ Exterminator (170 points) Scout Sentinels (165 points) Tempestus Scions (60 points)
Its not 150 infantry dont stress (2000 points)
Combined Regiment
• 1x Ibram Gaunt
• Warlord
• 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
• 1x Platoon Commander
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Veteran Guardsman
• 4x Close combat weapon
3x Lasgun
4x Laspistol
1x Master Vox
1x Medi-pack
1x Plasma gun
1x Regimental Standard
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Multi-melta
• Enhancement: Grand Strategist
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Multi-melta
• 1x Duty and Vengeance
1x Power weapon
• 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
• 9x Jungle Fighter
• 9x Close combat weapon
2x Flamer
7x Lasgun
• 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
• 9x Jungle Fighter
• 9x Close combat weapon
2x Flamer
7x Lasgun
• 1x Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Guardsman
• 9x Close combat weapon
8x Lasgun
1x Plasma gun
• 1x Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Guardsman
• 9x Close combat weapon
8x Lasgun
1x Plasma gun
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin autocannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin autocannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin autocannon
• 3x Heavy Weapon Team
• 3x Las small arms
3x Mortar
3x Weapons team close combat weapons
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Inferno cannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Multi Melta
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Inferno cannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Leman Russ battle cannon
2x Plasma cannon
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Exterminator autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Multi-melta
• 3x Scout Sentinel
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Hunter-killer missile
3x Lascannon
3x Sentinel chainsaw
• 1x Tempestor
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Tempestus Scion
• 4x Close combat weapon
2x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun
Archetype
Pressure Combined Regiment
Thoughts
Another build that’s well set up to pressure the foe here, using easy-to-hide Tauroxes and a big (respawnable) Scout Sentinel brick to get into the mid-board and start messing with scoring, and backing that up with an ultra-efficient tank suite to gun down anything that dares poke out of cover to try and deal with that. Nothing too out there, just effective use of the strong fundamentals that have carried guard all the way from the Index, tweaked slightly for additional Primary play, well done Tom.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – Lukas Troller – Orks (Taktikal Brigade): Extra mechanised Taktikal brigade with loads of Flash Gitz and melee infantry in a Trukk convoy.
- 4th – Brennan Larson – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Shooty bug spectacular with two big Genestealer/Broodlord units to run interference. Also, early leader in the “best list name of the year” contest.
- 5th – Ryan Cherewich – Death Guard (Plague Company): Max Deathshrouds and Brigands with nasty Characters and one big Plague Marine unit.
- 6th – Alex Pina – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force): The Hertel Deathwatch build with one big Indomitor and Talonstrike team each and supporting Veterans plus Terminator MSUs.
- 7th – Ty Skelton – Chaos Daemons (Blood Legion): Be’lakor, a Bloodthirster, and a fully tooled-up Bloodcrusher/Bloodmaster unit with two Rendmasters to amp it up. Lots of smaller stuff supporting to control the board and bully with the detachment rule.
Winchester 40K GT – January 2025
39-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on January 25 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Nicholas Willingale – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Never was a fan of Shakespeare! Space Marines CHARACTERS Captain (105 points) Judiciar (85 points) BATTLELINE Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points) Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points) Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Impulsor (80 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Ballistus Dreadnought (130 points) Ballistus Dreadnought (130 points) Ballistus Dreadnought (130 points) Incursor Squad (80 points) Incursor Squad (80 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Predator Destructor (130 points) Predator Destructor (130 points) Predator Destructor (130 points) Scout Squad (70 points) Storm Speeder Hammerstrike (125 points)
To BA or not to BA, that is the question! (2000 points)
Blood Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Liberator Assault Group
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• Enhancement: Speed of the Primarch
• Warlord
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade
• Enhancement: Gift of Foresight
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Shield Dome
2x Storm bolter
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter
• 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
• 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
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
3x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hammerstrike missile launcher
2x Krakstorm grenade launcher
1x Melta destroyer
Archetype
Shooty Oath Liberator
Thoughts
Liberator Assault Force is one of the best all-rounder Marine detachments, and this build puts a quite different spin on the option of running it without any actual Blood Angels units (so that you get Wound-boost Oaths) than we saw from Innes a few weeks back. The principle of using the combined power of Oaths and Liberator to go wider with true threats than anyone else can manage is the same, but here we’ve got a much more shooty setup, using the cheap and cheerful Ballistus Dreads and Destructors to provide great all-rounder shooting. Opponents are discouraged from closing in by cheap melee threats that hit absurdly harder than their price tag would suggest. There’s also just so much here, providing extreme redundancy and letting it trade very aggressively when the situation demands. Very powerful, all-told, and gives you some different options if you run up against foes who somehow can clear out four or five Marine units a turn. Well designed and played from Nicholas.
Brett Keable – Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Adeptus Mechanicus CHARACTERS Tech-Priest Dominus (80 Points) Tech-Priest Manipulus (95 Points) Technoarcheologist (45 Points) Technoarcheologist (45 Points) BATTLELINE Skitarii Rangers (85 Points) Skitarii Rangers (85 Points) Skitarii Vanguard (95 Points) Skitarii Vanguard (95 Points) Skitarii Vanguard (95 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Ironstrider Ballistarii (150 Points) Kataphron Breachers (320 Points) Kataphron Destroyers (210 Points) Onager Dunecrawler (155 Points) Onager Dunecrawler (155 Points) Pteraxii Sterylizors (80 Points) Sicarian Infiltrators (70 Points) Sydonian Dragoons with Taser Lances (70 Points) Sydonian Dragoons with Taser Lances (70 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.26.0 (2), Data Version: v541
No robots 🙁 (2000 Points)
Haloscreed Battle Clade
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Omnissian axe
• 1x Phosphor serpenta
• 1x Volkite blaster
• Enhancements: Sanctified Ordnance
• 1x Magnarail lance
• 1x Omnissian staff
• Enhancements: Cognitive Reinforcement
• Warlord
• 1x Mechanicus pistol
• 1x Servo-arc claw
• 1x Mechanicus pistol
• 1x Servo-arc claw
• 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Galvanic rifle
• 9x Skitarii Ranger
◦ 1x Arc rifle
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 6x Galvanic rifle
◦ 1x Omnispex
◦ 1x Plasma caliver
◦ 1x Transuranic arquebus
• 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Galvanic rifle
• 9x Skitarii Ranger
◦ 1x Arc rifle
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 6x Galvanic rifle
◦ 1x Omnispex
◦ 1x Plasma caliver
◦ 1x Transuranic arquebus
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Radium carbine
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
◦ 1x Arc rifle
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma caliver
◦ 6x Radium carbine
◦ 1x Transuranic arquebus
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Radium carbine
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
◦ 1x Arc rifle
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma caliver
◦ 6x Radium carbine
◦ 1x Transuranic arquebus
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Radium carbine
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
◦ 1x Arc rifle
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma caliver
◦ 6x Radium carbine
◦ 1x Transuranic arquebus
• 2x Ironstrider Ballistarii
◦ 2x Ironstrider feet
◦ 2x Twin cognis lascannon
• 6x Kataphron Breacher
◦ 6x Heavy arc rifle
◦ 6x Hydraulic claw
• 6x Kataphron Destroyer
◦ 6x Close combat weapon
◦ 6x Cognis flamer
◦ 6x Kataphron plasma culverin
• 1x Cognis heavy stubber
• 1x Dunecrawler legs
• 1x Neutron laser
• 1x Cognis heavy stubber
• 1x Dunecrawler legs
• 1x Neutron laser
• 1x Pteraxii Sterylizor Alpha
◦ 1x Flechette blaster
◦ 1x Pteraxii talons
◦ 1x Taser goad
• 4x Pteraxii Sterylizor
◦ 4x Phosphor torch
◦ 4x Pteraxii talons
• 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps
◦ 1x Flechette blaster
◦ 1x Taser goad
• 4x Sicarian Infiltrator
◦ 4x Flechette blaster
◦ 4x Taser goad
• 1x Phosphor serpenta
• 1x Taser lance
• 1x Phosphor serpenta
• 1x Taser lance
Archetype
Shooty Haloscreed
Thoughts
An undefeated finish for the new AdMech hotness here, leaning into the toolbox style of play that the Halo Override detachment rule pushes by bringing guns for every occasion. The big innovation here is that Haloscreed makes Kataphron Destroyers an actual real unit, and while they’re still not as good as Breachers, they’re vastly cheaper, helping you get a critical mass of threats on the board while still packing enough Skitarii to score and sacrifice themselves for the Omnissiah. Destroyers do also help a bunch in a metagame with lots of Marine MSUs, as they will make multiple units fully disappear in a single volley, and threaten to comfortably lift a whole unit on overwatch, which can be a serious challenge to play around. This list feels like it succeeds because of how cheaply it manages to set up what can be overwhelming ranged firepower, giving it plenty of space to buy all the supporting toys you could possibly want, and it’s set up to really maximise the power of the new detachment. Great work from Brett.
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – Joshua Cowlard – Orks (War Horde): Heavily mechanised melee-focused War Horde.
- 4th – Stephen Carmichael-Wilson – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Nurgle Monster mash with Soul Grinders and Great Unclean Ones galore.
- 5th – James “One_Wing” Grover – Necrons (Canoptek Court): It’s me! I never like playing armies once we’ve got a new set of rules for them being reviewed, as my head is in the future, so the elves are on the shelf for a few weeks. Instead, I got Canoptek Court out to see if it had a place in the current meta. It worked pretty well – I was on two Wraith bricks, a tooled-up Immortal unit, two Doomstalkers and the Void Dragon, and the sheer resilience of Wraith units is as awesome as ever – though I got thoroughly out-durabilitied by Stephen’s list above as my one loss! I’ll be tweaking the list a bit for Beachhead in a few weeks to cover some weaknesses. I had a Reaminator and Triarch Stalker which didn’t do anything, and want a Royal Warden instead of Imotekh in the Immortal unit, which frees up a few more points for some mobile scoring pieces and upgrading Voidy to the Nightbringer – with the amount of Daemons in the meta, you really want to get the latter in.
- 6th – William Samms – Ultramarines (Vanguard Spearhead): Ultra shooty teleporting Centurions with supporting Ballistus Dreads and Bobby G.
2. Schwarzwald GT
38-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Titisee-Neustadt, BW, Deutschland on January 25 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
William Fuhrimann – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Chaos Space Marines CHARACTERS Chaos Lord (105 Points) Cypher (90 Points) Fabius Bile (85 Points) BATTLELINE Cultist Mob (50 Points) Cultist Mob (50 Points) Legionaries (90 Points) Legionaries (90 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Chaos Rhino (75 Points) Chaos Rhino (75 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Chaos Bikers (70 Points) Chaos Bikers (70 Points) Chaos Predator Annihilator (130 Points) Chaos Predator Annihilator (130 Points) Chaos Predator Destructor (140 Points) Chaos Predator Destructor (140 Points) Chaos Predator Destructor (140 Points) Chosen (250 Points) Raptors (90 Points) Warp Talons (125 Points)
We are so fucking back
Renegade Raiders
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Daemon hammer
• 1x Plasma pistol
• Enhancements: Dread Reaver
• 1x Cypher’s bolt pistol
• 1x Cypher’s plasma pistol
• 1x Fabius Bile
• Warlord
◦ 1x Chirurgeon
◦ 1x Rod of Torment
◦ 1x Xyclos Needler
• 1x Surgeon Acolyte
◦ 1x Surgeon Acolyte’s tools
• 1x Cultist Champion
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
◦ 9x Autopistol
◦ 9x Brutal assault weapon
• 1x Cultist Champion
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
◦ 9x Autopistol
◦ 9x Brutal assault weapon
• 1x Aspiring Champion
◦ 1x Chaos Icon
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Heavy melee weapon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
◦ 2x Astartes chainsword
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Heavy melee weapon
◦ 1x Lascannon
• 1x Aspiring Champion
◦ 1x Chaos Icon
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Heavy melee weapon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
◦ 2x Astartes chainsword
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Heavy melee weapon
◦ 1x Lascannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 1x Biker Champion
◦ 1x Chaos Icon
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Combi-bolter
◦ 1x Power fist
• 2x Chaos Biker
◦ 2x Astartes chainsword
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Combi-bolter
◦ 2x Plasma gun
• 1x Biker Champion
◦ 1x Chaos Icon
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Combi-bolter
◦ 1x Power fist
• 2x Chaos Biker
◦ 2x Astartes chainsword
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Combi-bolter
◦ 2x Plasma gun
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator twin lascannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator twin lascannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator autocannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator autocannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator autocannon
• 1x Chosen Champion
◦ 1x Boltgun
◦ 1x Chaos Icon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 9x Chosen
◦ 6x Accursed weapon
◦ 6x Bolt pistol
◦ 3x Boltgun
◦ 4x Combi-weapon
◦ 2x Paired accursed weapons
◦ 3x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 1x Raptor Champion
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Raptor
◦ 2x Astartes chainsword
◦ 2x Bolt pistol
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Meltagun
• 1x Warp Talon Champion
◦ 1x Warp claws
• 4x Warp Talon
◦ 4x Warp claws
Archetype
Predator Spam
Thoughts
Why is 10th Edition the one where they finally pressed the “make Predators good” button? Experts (i.e. me) are still unclear, but you can’t argue with results. Much like some of the previous few lists, in Renegade Raiders they’re very cheap for how powerful of a threat they are, letting you pack in plenty of other juice (like a big Chosen brick) to unleash on the foe. That once again adds up to an army that’s just a lot, there’s so much here that needs actual attention to put down, and will do you tremendous violence if you leave it alone, and it was clearly a very effective setup – great work William.
Jan Reisenauer – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Char1: 1x Commander Dante (130 pts): Warlord, Perdition, The Axe Mortalis 5x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 pts)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Blood Angels
+ DETACHMENT: Liberator Assault Group
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Commander Dante
+ ENHANCEMENT:
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 17
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (6×2) – Assassination: 1 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Pack
3 with Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol
1 with Astartes Chainsword, Plasma Pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack: Plasma Pistol, Power Fist
5x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 pts)
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Pack
3 with Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol
1 with Astartes Chainsword, Plasma Pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack: Plasma Pistol, Power Fist
5x Incursor Squad (80 pts)
• 4x Incursor
3 with Bolt Pistol, Occulus Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
1 with Haywire Mine, Bolt Pistol, Occulus Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
• 1x Incursor Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Occulus Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
5x Infiltrator Squad (100 pts)
• 4x Infiltrator
2 with Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Marksman Bolt Carbine
1 with Helix Gauntlet, Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Marksman Bolt Carbine
1 with Infiltrator Comms Array, Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Marksman Bolt Carbine
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Marksman Bolt Carbine
3x Sanguinary Guard (130 pts)
1 with Sanguinary Banner, Encarmine Blade, Inferno Pistol
2 with Encarmine Blade, Angelus Boltgun
3x Sanguinary Guard (130 pts)
1 with Sanguinary Banner, Encarmine Blade, Inferno Pistol
2 with Encarmine Blade, Angelus Boltgun
3x Sanguinary Guard (130 pts)
1 with Sanguinary Banner, Encarmine Blade, Inferno Pistol
2 with Encarmine Blade, Angelus Boltgun
5x Scout Squad (70 pts)
• 1x Scout Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Astartes Chainsword
• 4x Scouts: 4 with Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Combat Knife
5x Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (110 pts)
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack: Vanguard Veteran Weapon, Inferno Pistol
• 4x Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs: 4 with Vanguard Veteran Weapon, Inferno Pistol
5x Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (110 pts)
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack: Vanguard Veteran Weapon, Inferno Pistol
• 4x Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs: 4 with Vanguard Veteran Weapon, Inferno Pistol
1x Predator Annihilator (130 pts): Armoured Tracks, Hunter Killer Missile, Predator Twin Lascannon, Storm Bolter, 2x Lascannon
1x Predator Annihilator (130 pts): Armoured Tracks, Hunter Killer Missile, Predator Twin Lascannon, Storm Bolter, 2x Lascannon
1x Predator Destructor (130 pts): Armoured Tracks, Hunter Killer Missile, Predator Autocannon, Storm Bolter, 2x Lascannon
1x Predator Destructor (130 pts): Armoured Tracks, Hunter Killer Missile, Predator Autocannon, Storm Bolter, 2x Lascannon
1x Predator Destructor (130 pts): Armoured Tracks, Hunter Killer Missile, Predator Autocannon, Storm Bolter, 2x Lascannon
1x Vindicator (175 pts): Armoured Tracks, Demolisher Cannon, Hunter Killer Missile, Storm Bolter
Archetype
Also Predator Spam
Thoughts
Edition of the Predator intensifies. This is like a synthesis of some of the last few lists – Liberator so everything is a threat (albeit going with actual Blood Angels for Sanguinary Guard), massively go-wide, lots of Predators, plenty of redundancy, things of this nature. Looks like a recipe for success, congratulations to Jan for giving us yet another spin on it.
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – Benjamin Rüegger – Leagues of Votann (Oathband): Full Sagitaur spam.
- 4th – Sebastian Auwärter – Ynnari (Battle Host): Massively go-wide Ynnari with lots of small shooty units.
- 5th – Florian DoltharSodjath Sauter – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment): Double Dorn all-rounder regiment.
- 6th – Nicolas Link – Genestealer Cult (Outlander Claw): Primary denial mech claw, leaning even harder on just putting endless bodies on objectives than normal.
Castle Con 40k Tournament
30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Rochester, MN, United States on January 25 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Nicholas Bialek – Adeptus Custodes (Talons of the Emperor) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Adeptus Custodes CHARACTERS Blade Champion (110 points) Blade Champion (110 points) Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike (180 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Anathema Psykana Rhino (75 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Caladius Grav-tank (215 points) Caladius Grav-tank (215 points) Custodian Wardens (250 points) Custodian Wardens (250 points) Prosecutors (40 points) Vertus Praetors (225 points) Vertus Praetors (225 points) Witchseekers (50 points) Witchseekers (50 points) Exported with App Version: v1.26.0 (67), Data Version: v541
Pinch of Salt! (1995 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Talons of the Emperor
• Warlord
• 1x Vaultswords
• 1x Vaultswords
• 1x Interceptor lance
1x Salvo launcher
• Enhancement: Aegis Projector
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Twin arachnus heavy blaze cannon
1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Twin arachnus heavy blaze cannon
1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon
• 5x Custodian Warden
• 5x Guardian spear
1x Vexilla
• 5x Custodian Warden
• 5x Guardian spear
1x Vexilla
• 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior
• 1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 3x Prosecutor
• 3x Boltgun
3x Close combat weapon
• 3x Vertus Praetor
• 3x Interceptor lance
3x Salvo launcher
• 3x Vertus Praetor
• 3x Interceptor lance
3x Salvo launcher
• 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Witchseeker flamer
• 3x Witchseeker
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Witchseeker flamer
• 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Witchseeker flamer
• 3x Witchseeker
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Witchseeker flamer
Archetype
Gut-punch Talons
Thoughts
Finishing up the lists for this week, we’ve got Custodes taking full advantage of bikes being good again. Fair’s fair, they were at least in the wilderness for longer than Deathwing Knights. This takes the standard two Warden brick, two Caladius core and gives it much more aggressive reach with two Bike units, one of which is further augmented on all fronts with a Shield Captain. Getting to dip into the Talons stratagem toolbox for free on Bikes is really, really good, and this gives you a way of setting that up without having to use a less mobile Infantry unit, maximising pressure potential, and helping you adapt to skew in lots of directions. I’m honestly a little surprised we haven’t seen more use of larger bike units since the Dataslate, so it’s good to see their potential deployed to full effect, congratulations Nicholas.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Zach LaFontaine – Death Guard (Plague Company): All-rounder Plague Company with Mortarion at the head.
- 3rd – Milan Grubl – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): Crunchy Warpbane with three Dreadknights and a Land Raider with lots of Purifiers in it.
- 4th – Jack Patschull – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis and a Warden supported by Armigers and an Immolator with Sisters in it.
- 5th – Isaac Nelson – Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade): Charged up Kastelan robots with lots of Sydonian Dragoons and Ruststalkers to protect them.
- 6th – Kristopher Pals – Chaos Space Marines (Veterans of the Long War): Mostly shooty Veterans with two big melee threats from some Chosen and a Warp Talon brick.
Wrap Up
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