Another week brings us more twists and turns in the metagame. This week Bringers of Flame players have truly locked in, achieving new heights of dominance, though Dark Angels and Thousand Sons continue to give them a run for their money. However, their ongoing efforts to purge all cultists of both heretical and xenos flavours have hit some notable snags, with two flavours of cultist unleashing some commanding performance. Amidst all of this, plenty of other armies are still putting up strong finishes – the front runners remain pretty clear, but armies in the next tier down (or even further, in the case of Genestealer Cults) can still put up a real fight.

Let’s take a closer look at what people have been getting up to, starting today with:

NOVA Open 2024 Grand Tournament
La Voz de Horus Open
Sunflower Showdown GT
Karnage at the Keep – August Royal

On Friday Lowest of Men will be taking over to review:

SUPER All Stars 2 – Hellstorm’s MAJOR Warhammer 40K Tournament
The Glasshammer GT – Wolverhampton
Malmö Game Week II
Hive City Gaming GT August 2024

NOVA Open 2024 Grand Tournament

364-player, 9-round Supermajor in Washington, DC, United States on August 30 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

The Ritual – Swift Action – Crucible of Battle

Tony Phillips – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame)
Army List - Click to Expand

Fast and Furious (2000 Points)

Adepta Sororitas
Bringers of Flame
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Canoness with Jump Pack (95 Points)
• 1x Ministorum hand flamer
• 1x Power weapon
• Enhancements: Fire and Fury

Dialogus (30 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Dialogus staff

Morvenn Vahl (160 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Fidelis
• 1x Lance of Illumination
• 1x Paragon missile launcher

Triumph of Saint Katherine (190 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistols
• 1x Relic weapons

BATTLELINE

Battle Sisters 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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Immolator (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Twin multi-melta

OTHER DATASHEETS

Castigator (150 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Castigator battle cannon
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Castigator (150 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Castigator autocannons
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Dominion Squad (115 Points)
• 1x Dominion Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Condemnor boltgun
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 9x Dominion
◦ 9x Bolt pistol
◦ 5x Boltgun
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Meltagun
◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Paragon Warsuits (210 Points)
• 1x Paragon Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Multi-melta
◦ 1x Paragon grenade launchers
◦ 1x Paragon war blade
• 2x Paragon
◦ 2x Bolt pistol
◦ 2x Multi-melta
◦ 2x Paragon grenade launchers
◦ 1x Paragon war blade
◦ 1x Paragon war mace

Seraphim Squad (85 Points)
• 1x Seraphim Superior
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 4x Seraphim
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Ministorum hand flamer

Seraphim Squad (170 Points)
• 1x Seraphim Superior
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 9x Seraphim
◦ 10x Bolt pistol
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 8x Ministorum hand flamer

Sisters Novitiate Squad (100 Points)
• 1x Novitiate Superior
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 9x Sister Novitiate
◦ 9x Autopistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Ministorum flamer
◦ 5x Novitiate melee weapons
◦ 1x Sacred Banner
◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Exported with App Version: v1.20.0 (44), Data Version: v464

vs.

Derek Apsche – Chaos Space Marines (Chaos Cult)
Army List - Click to Expand

cultists (2000 points)

Chaos Space Marines
Strike Force (2000 points)
Chaos Cult

CHARACTERS

Cypher (90 points)
• 1x Cypher’s bolt pistol
1x Cypher’s plasma pistol

Dark Apostle (95 points)
• 1x Dark Apostle
• 1x Accursed crozius
1x Bolt pistol
• Enhancement: Amulet of Tainted Vigour
• 2x Dark Disciple
• 2x Close combat weapon

Dark Commune (80 points)
• 1x Cult Demagogue
• Warlord
• 1x Autopistol
1x Commune stave
• Enhancement: Incendiary Goad
• 1x Mindwitch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Warp Curse
• 1x Iconarch
• 1x Autopistol
1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Blessed Blade
• 2x Commune blade

Dark Commune (75 points)
• 1x Cult Demagogue
• 1x Autopistol
1x Commune stave
• Enhancement: Warped Foresight
• 1x Mindwitch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Warp Curse
• 1x Iconarch
• 1x Autopistol
1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Blessed Blade
• 2x Commune blade

Fabius Bile (85 points)
• 1x Fabius Bile
• 1x Chirurgeon
1x Rod of Torment
1x Xyclos Needler
• 1x Surgeon Acolyte
• 1x Surgeon Acolyte’s tools

BATTLELINE

Cultist Mob (50 points)
• 1x Cultist Champion
• 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
• 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon

Cultist Mob (50 points)
• 1x Cultist Champion
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
• 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon

Cultist Mob (50 points)
• 1x Cultist Champion
• 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
• 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon

Traitor Guardsmen Squad (70 points)
• 1x Traitor Sergeant
• 1x Corrupted pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Traitor Guardsmen
• 9x Close combat weapon
1x Flamer
6x Lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

Accursed Cultists (180 points)
• 10x Mutant
• 10x Blasphemous appendages
• 6x Torment
• 6x Hideous mutations

ALLIED UNITS

Beasts of Nurgle (70 points)
• 1x Putrid appendages

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

Nurglings (40 points)
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth

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

Exported with App Version: v1.18.0 (46), Data Version: v464

Thoughts

First up, I should say, you’re going to get a double dose of opinions on this game – today I’ll be opining from the peanut gallery, but either later this week or early next we’re also going to have an interview with Chaos Cultist extraordinaire Derek, so check back in to see how wrong I get it.

Anyway – Cultists. Lots of them, moving fast, overwhelming the foe. Accursed Cultists are proving effective in pretty much all Chaos Space Marine lists, but the sheer speed and extra punch that Chaos Cult offers them really brings them into their own. The combination of ultra-fast movement, Advance/Charge and an uncapped number of Horde moves per turn let’s them get into the enemy, flatten a priority target then keep everything else bogged down for days, allowing the enormous depth of scoring units in the rest of the list to rack up reliable Secondary score, and in the case of Traitor Guard throw themselves onto objectives to deny Primary. Also worth highlighting here is that Fabius Bile is yet another Leader that you can actually just run as a durable lone model – between his Feel No Pain, once-per-turn shrug and reanimation ability, the effort opponents have to put in to reliably drop him is high enough that they may not bother, especially with so many Cultists to worry about.

Up against them is an iteration of the almighty Bringers of Flame, going a bit lighter on Dominions than normal in favour of more Seraphim and retaining the Warsuits, which some builds have been cutting. Plenty of armies can fold in the face of the sheer numbers that Chaos Cult unleash, but this isn’t one of them – the full Fire and Fury Seraphim Squad is a spectacular asset, the smaller units are great for making Traitor Guard cry and the presence of the Paragons as an anvil that’s borderline unkillable in the matchup (and has the numbers to flatten a unit once Vahl is factored in) is a big asset in this mission in particular.

The mission definitely helps the Sororitas relative to the default matchup between these lists. The Ritual ramps up the available scoring throughout the game, and that always helps the side that’s likely to gradually pull ahead on material, as it stops the other side countering this by pushing for an early lead/denial. The Paragons can almost certainly get one objective mostly on lockdown if they collaborate with some body-blocking tanks, and supplementing that with some bigger scores later on (or a Secret Mission) gives the Sororitas a convincing route through to a strong Primary score (though they probably can’t cap the Cultist Primary much either). That means this comes down to the Secondaries, and here again the Ritual helps. The Cultists have so many units (plus the benefits of Swift Action) that they’re always going to have some degree of advantage of positional ones, but the low number of objectives on the table at game start increases the risk of them stumbling on some early ones (and cuts off some possible Fixed choices too). Obviously the Sororitas have the same risk, and can’t afford to throw units in the trash, but I think it’s fair to say this mission ensures a real game. In the event, it was very close, but the Cult were able to overthrow the emperor’s loyal servents for the win.

Result

Chaos Space Marines (Chaos Cult) Victory – 89 – 86

Derek Apsche – Chaos Space Marines (Chaos Cult) – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Chaos Cult

Thoughts

Given we’re going to have an interview with Derek there’s not much point in me talking about this list further – it goes very fast and swarms things, and has a level of scoring redundancy almost unparalleled in 10th. Huge congratulations to Derek on another big win.

Tony Phillips – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 2nd Place

The List

See Showdown.

Archetype

Speedy Flame Sisters

Thoughts

Another list needing no introduction – this one goes fast and burns things. It’s one of the most murderous builds out there, and is able to take on hordes and heavy hitters with equal relish. The extra hand flamer units in this variant feel especially good, and if we see more cultist uprisings, I bet we’ll see more of those two. Congratulations to Tony on a close second.

Johnny Zoo – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Sex, Drugs, and Powderpuff Girls (1995 Points)

Chaos Space Marines
Renegade Raiders
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Chaos Lord (90 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Daemon hammer
• 1x Power fist

Dark Commune (90 Points)
• 1x Cult Demagogue
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Commune stave
◦ Enhancements: Mark of the Hound
• 1x Mindwitch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Warp Curse
• 1x Iconarch
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Chaos Icon
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Blessed Blade
◦ 2x Commune blade

Dark Commune (65 Points)
• 1x Cult Demagogue
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Commune stave
• 1x Mindwitch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Warp Curse
• 1x Iconarch
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Chaos Icon
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Blessed Blade
◦ 2x Commune blade

BATTLELINE

Cultist Mob (50 Points)
• 1x Cultist Champion
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
◦ 9x Autopistol
◦ 9x Brutal assault weapon

Legionaries (90 Points)
• 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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (75 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

Accursed Cultists (180 Points)
• 10x Mutant
◦ 10x Blasphemous appendages
• 6x Torment
◦ 6x Hideous mutations

Chaos Bikers (70 Points)
• 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
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun

Chaos Predator Destructor (140 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator autocannon

Chaos Vindicator (185 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Demolisher cannon
• 1x Havoc launcher

Exported with App Version: v1.20.0 (44), Data Version: v464

Archetype

Renegade Cultists

Thoughts

Accursed Cultitsts aren’t just for Chaos Cults any more, and this build joins the trend of just jamming three bricks into every Chaos Space Marine list and calling it good. Renegade Raiders doesn’t help them as much as the dedicated detachment does, but it’s still got an Advance/Charge, boosts to AP, and the option to Scout one of the Cultist units even with a Leader thanks to Mark of the Hound. You also get much greater killing power in the rest of the build, as Destructors are pretty much the perfect all-rounder engine of destruction with the Raider boosts. The overall combination plays a strong all-rounder game, which got it to the semi finals, but it eventually fell to the bigger fish of the overwhelming Cult horde. Well done to Johnny on the run.

TJ Lanigan – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Guy with Belt Buckle walks into a gaming convention (1995 points)

Thousand Sons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Cult of Magic

CHARACTERS

Ahriman (130 points)
• 1x Black Staff of Ahriman
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Psychic Stalk

Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (140 points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancement: Lord of Forbidden Lore

Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (105 points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol

Infernal Master (115 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• Enhancement: Arcane Vortex

Infernal Master (110 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal

Magnus the Red (440 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm

Thousand Sons Sorcerer (95 points)
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol

BATTLELINE

Rubric Marines (105 points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer

OTHER DATASHEETS

Mutalith Vortex Beast (150 points)
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex

Thousand Sons Cultists (55 points)
• 1x Thousand Sons Cultist Champion
• 1x Brutal assault weapon
1x Cultist firearm
• 9x Thousand Sons Cultist
• 9x Brutal assault weapon
6x Cultist firearm
1x Flamer
1x Grenade launcher
1x Heavy stubber

Tzaangor Enlightened (45 points)
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 2x Enlightened
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Fatecaster greatbow

Archetype

Double Mutalith Tsons

Thoughts

Rounding out the biggest event of the weekend, we’ve got the familiar sight of TJ winning with Thousand Sons. This should not remotely surprise regular readers, and I also don’t for a second believe that any upcoming nerfs will stop it happening again in the future. Great stuff as always from TJ.

The Best of the Rest

The rest of the top eight was as follows:

5th – Samuel Pope – Tyranids (Synaptic Nexus): Mega Nexus monster mash with a couple of Norns on top of the normal favourites.
6th – Riley Morris – T’au Empire (Mont’ka): Two Breacherfish, triple Hammerhead and triple Riptide.
7th – Travis King – Thousand Sons: Triple Mutalith Tsons.
8th – Mathew Burgoon – World Eaters: No-zerker World Eaters with Forgefiends and lots of Exalted.

La Voz de Horus Open

102-player, 7-round Major in España on August 31 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Alvaro Perez – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Army Roster (Imperium – Adepta Sororitas) [2,000pts] ++]

+ Configuration +

Battle Size: 2. Strike Force (2000 Point limit)

Detachment Choice: Bringers of Flame

Show/Hide Options: Agents of the Imperium are visible, Imperial Knights are visible, Legends are visible, Titans are visible, Unaligned Forces are visible, Unaligned Fortifications are visible

+ Epic Hero +

Morvenn Vahl [160pts]

Triumph of Saint Katherine [190pts]

+ Character +

Canoness [55pts]: Blessed blade, Condemnor boltgun, Iron Surplice of Saint Istalela

Dialogus [50pts]: Fire and Fury

Dialogus [30pts]

Palatine [60pts]: Plasma pistol, Righteous Rage

+ Battleline +

Battle Sisters Squad [115pts]

. 6x Battle Sister: 6x Bolt Pistol, 6x Boltgun, 6x Close combat weapon

. Battle Sister w/ Simulacrum Imperialus

. Battle Sister w/ Special or Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta

. Battle Sister w/ Special Weapon: Meltagun

. Sister Superior: Condemnor boltgun, Power weapon

+ Infantry +

Dominion Squad [115pts]

. 4x Dominion: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Boltgun, 4x Close combat weapon

. Dominion Superior: Condemnor boltgun, Power weapon

. Dominion w/ Simulacrum Imperialis

. Dominion w/ Special Weapon: Ministorum Flamer

Dominion Squad [115pts]

. 4x Dominion: 4x Bolt Pistol, 4x Boltgun, 4x Close combat weapon

. Dominion Superior: Condemnor boltgun, Power weapon

. Dominion w/ Simulacrum Imperialis

. Dominion w/ Special Weapon: Meltagun

Seraphim Squad [170pts]

. 5x Seraphim: 5x Close combat weapon

. . 5x 2 Bolt Pistols: 10x Bolt Pistol

. Seraphim Superior

. . Bolt Pistol and Plasma Pistol

. Seraphim with Special Weapons

. . 2x Ministorum Hand Flamers

. Seraphim with Special Weapons

. . 2x Ministorum Hand Flamers

. Seraphim with Special Weapons

. . 2x Ministorum Hand Flamers

. Seraphim with Special Weapons

. . 2x Ministorum Hand Flamers

Seraphim Squad [170pts]

. 5x Seraphim: 5x Close combat weapon

. . 5x 2 Bolt Pistols: 10x Bolt Pistol

. Seraphim Superior

. . Bolt Pistol and Plasma Pistol

. Seraphim with Special Weapons

. . 2x Ministorum Hand Flamers

. Seraphim with Special Weapons

. . 2x Ministorum Hand Flamers

. Seraphim with Special Weapons

. . 2x Ministorum Hand Flamers

. Seraphim with Special Weapons

. . 2x Ministorum Hand Flamers

+ Vehicle +

Castigator [150pts]: Castigator battle cannon, Hunter-Killer Missile, Storm bolter

Paragon Warsuits [210pts]

. Paragon Superior: Multi-melta, Paragon Storm Bolters, Paragon War Blade

. Paragon Warsuit: Multi-melta, Paragon Storm Bolters, Paragon War Blade

+ Dedicated Transport +

Immolator [115pts]: Hunter-Killer Missile, Twin Multi-melta

++ Total: [2,000pts] ++

Created with [BattleScribe]()

Archetype

Speedy Flame Sisters

Thoughts

Flame Sisters take down out second big event of the week, sporting a build that’s even better tuned for taking down enemy hordes than the Nova one. Running two full Seraphim units gives you redundancy on flamer Stratagems, and the tech of using Flamer Dominions with a Dialogus to deliver Fire and Fury gives even more flexibility in how to unleash these tricks, plus more reach out the gate. It also protects against anyone who brings enough indirect to actually threaten a Seraphim unit, which certainly isn’t many people, but could be something people try to handle this build. All in all, an especially well-tuned version of (probably) the game’s top list, and a well-earned trophy for Alvaro as a result.

Alejandro Tortosa – T’au Empire (Mont’ka) – 2nd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

T’au Empire Keziah

++ Army Roster (Xenos – T’au Empire) [2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size: 2. Strike Force (2000 Point limit)

Detachment: Mont’ka

Show/Hide Options

+ Epic Hero +

Darkstrider [60pts]

+ Character +

Cadre Fireblade [50pts]
. 2x Gun Drone: 2x Twin pulse carbine

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit [105pts]: 3x Burst cannon, Cyclic ion blaster, Strike Swiftly, Warlord
. 2x Gun Drone: 2x Twin pulse carbine

+ Battleline +

Breacher Team [100pts]
. Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui
. . Guardian Drone
. . Gun Drone
. 9x Breacher Fire Warriors: 9x Close combat weapon, 9x Pulse blaster, 9x Pulse pistol

+ Infantry +

Pathfinder Team [90pts]
. Gun Drone
. Pathfinder Shas’ui: Semi-automatic grenade launcher
. . Recon drone
. 3x Pathfinders w/ ion rifle: 3x Close combat weapon, 3x Ion rifle, 3x Pulse pistol
. 6x Pathfinders w/ pulse carbine: 6x Close combat weapon, 6x Pulse carbine, 6x Pulse pistol
. Shield Drone

Stealth Battlesuits [60pts]
. 2x Stealth Shas’ui w/ burst cannon: 2x Battlesuit fists, 2x Burst cannon
. Stealth Shas’vre: Battlesuit support system, Fusion blaster, Marker Drone, Shield Drone

+ Vehicle +

Broadside Battlesuits [180pts]
. Broadside Shas’ui: Heavy rail rifle, Twin smart missile system, Weapon support system
. . 2x Missile Drone: 2x Missile pod
. Broadside Shas’vre: Heavy rail rifle, Twin smart missile system, Weapon support system
. . 2x Missile Drone: 2x Missile pod

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits [110pts]
. Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui: 2x Burst cannon
. . Gun Drone
. . Shield Drone
. Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui: 2x Burst cannon
. . Gun Drone
. . Marker Drone
. Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre: 2x Burst cannon
. . Gun Drone
. . Shield Drone

Ghostkeel Battlesuit [160pts]: Battlesuit support system, Cyclic ion raker, Twin fusion blaster

Hammerhead Gunship [145pts]: Ion cannon, 2x Seeker missile
. 2 Accelerator burst cannons

Piranha [55pts]
. Piranhas: Piranha fusion blaster, 2x Seeker missile

Riptide Battlesuit [180pts]: Heavy burst cannon, Twin smart missile system
. 2x Missile Drone: 2x Missile pod

Riptide Battlesuit [180pts]: Ion accelerator, Twin smart missile system
. 2x Missile Drone: 2x Missile pod

Sky Ray Gunship [140pts]
. 2 Accelerator burst cannons

+ Dedicated Transport +

Devilfish [85pts]: 2x Seeker missile
. 2 Twin pulse carbines

++ Total: [2,000pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe ()

Archetype

Mont’ka Hulls

Thoughts

In second place, Mont’ka Tau engage in their traditional activity of zipping round the battlefield blasting stuff, hitting hard enough (and with enough units to soak a counterpunch) that the foe will struggle to get a foothold. The main thing I particularly like about this version is the Starscythe/Enforcer unit with Strike Swiftly. This unit massively shores up the game against any horde-style builds, and adding the ability to Scout it and your choice of Riptide (note the burst cannon on one) helps them start dropping bodies at speed. This unit is such a bargain that I struggle to imagine leaving home without it in a Tau army, and it’s great to see Alejandro using it to good effect!

Borja FM – Blood Angels (Gladius Task Force) – 3rd Place

Blood Angels Librarian Dreadnought. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Player Name: Borja Fernández Merchán
Factions Used: Space Marines – Blood Angels
Army Points: 2.000
Army Enhancements (list on which model): Fire Discipline (Apothecary Biologis)
Detachment Rule: Gladius Task Force – Combat Doctrines
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ed, Edd & Eddy (2000 points)

Space Marines
Blood Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Gladius Task Force

CHARACTERS

Apothecary Biologis (85 points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancement: Fire Discipline

Librarian in Phobos Armour (70 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Force weapon
1x Smite

OTHER DATASHEETS

Baal Predator (125 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Baal flamestorm cannon
2x Heavy flamer
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter

Centurion Devastator Squad (185 points)
• 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant
• 1x Centurion fists
1x Centurion missile launcher
1x Twin lascannon
• 2x Devastator Centurion
• 2x Centurion fists
2x Centurion missile launcher
2x Twin lascannon

Death Company Dreadnought (145 points)
• 1x Blood talons
1x Heavy flamer
1x Magna-grapple
1x Meltagun

Death Company Dreadnought (145 points)
• 1x Heavy flamer
1x Magna-grapple
1x Meltagun
1x Twin Furioso fists

Eradicator Squad (190 points)
• 1x Eradicator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
• 5x Eradicator
• 5x Bolt pistol
5x Close combat weapon
3x Melta rifle
2x Multi-melta

Inceptor Squad (130 points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators

Infiltrator Squad (100 points)
• 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

Librarian Dreadnought (170 points)
• 1x Blood Lance
1x Furioso fist
1x Furioso force halberd
1x Meltagun

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Combat knife
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

Exported with App Version: v1.18.0 (46), Data Version: v434

Archetype

Flying Centurions

Thoughts

Always nice to see a fringe classic get a last laugh before change sends it to the hall of fame. This spin on Gladius has popped up once or twice before, and leans on the enormous efficiency of the Baal Predator and Death Company Dreadnought datasheets in a list that can either Advance/Shoot or Advance/Charge the whole lot, then adds in Centurions/Eradicators teleporting with Wings of Sanguinius for some extra fun. Being able to launch such shockingly violent go turns in multiple ways makes this stand out from even other Gladius Task Force builds. Well done to Borja for helping it take flight once last time.

Shadowblade 40K – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force) – 4th Place

Apothecary Biologis. Credit: Craig “MasterSlowPoke” Sniffen

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

DA Opción 1 (2000 points)

Space Marines
Dark Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Gladius Task Force

CHARACTERS

Apothecary Biologis (85 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancement: Fire Discipline

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 points)
• 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

Deathwing Knights (235 points)
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Relic weapon
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution

Repulsor (180 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Hunter-slayer missile
1x Las-talon
1x Repulsor defensive array
1x Twin lascannon

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
2x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

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

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.18.0 (46), Data Version: v464

Archetype

Deathwing Knight GTF

Thoughts

It’s the Deathwing Knight Gladius list. Much like the Blood Angel list above, it can launch some shockingly brutal go turns, and these tend to result in key parts of the board being occupied by large men with huge shields. THis tends to represent a challenging situation for the foe. Great work from Shadowblade.

The Best of the Rest

There were 15 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

5th – Fran Bolaño – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): Speedy Flame Sisters with a lower Character count than normal, packing in triple Exorcist and some Penitent Engines instead.
6th – Ivan Andres – Orks (War Horde): Mechanised War Horde with loaded Kill Rigs and Trukks.
7th – Eduardo Muñoz – Drukhari(Skysplinter Assault): Talos-tastic Skysplinter with 3×2 of them, cutting down on Venoms to afford them.
8th – Jose DRAKST – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): More Talos, this time only two squads with a few more Venoms crammed back in.
9th – Gispano – Chaos Daemons: A Slaanesh/Nurgle tag team with Rotigus, a Gift GuO and Slimux with beasts acting as anvils, 30 Nurgling bases for disruption and two Keepers as hammers.
10th – César MP – Astra Militarum: Tank-heavy Guard, dialing back on the Bullgryn to pay for a second tank Commander and some Earthshaker Carriages.
11th – Miguel Durá – Leagues of Votann: Lots of Sagitaurs and bikes plus a couple Land Fortresses, cutting Hearthguard to pull it off.
12th – Gonzalo “Raven” de La Moneda – Death Guard: Plague Marine Rhinos, Destructors and Brigands.
13th – Rafa Gálvez – Chaos Daemons: A mix of monsters and cheap go-wide tools, adding three solo Fluxmasters as cheap objective filler, plus one big unit of Bloodcrushers as a missile.
14th – Jorge Tobar – Imperial Knights: A first sighting of new Imperial Agents tricks, with a squad of Sisters and an Immolator joining Canis, an Atrapos and Armigers to provide extra board presence and objective sticky-ing.
15th – Arcuos – Chaos Space Marines (Chaos Cult): Lots of Accursed Communes backed by Vindicators and an allied contingent of Syll’Esske and some Daemonettes.
16th – Roger Boira – T’au Empire (Mont’ka): Low Character Mont’ka with Riptides, Hammerheads and Ghostkeels plus lots of Pathfinders to soup everything up.
17th – Alvaro Enciso – Astra Militarum: Double Dorn and double Bullgryn, putting in some Rough Riders instead of a third unit.
18th – Hugo Barcia – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): An all-rounder spin on Invasion Fleet with a mix of monsters and utility stuff (including some Genestealers and a full Leaper unit for pressure), plus the unexpected appearence of a full squad of shockcannon Hive Guard.
19th – Sergio Littleboy – Chaos Knights: Dogs and Nurgle Daemons.

Sunflower Showdown GT

36-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Shawnee, KS, United States on August 31 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Treynor Wolfe – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

🔥 (1995 points)

Adepta Sororitas
Strike Force (2000 points)
Bringers of Flame

CHARACTERS

Canoness with Jump Pack (95 points)
• 1x Ministorum hand flamer
1x Power weapon
• Enhancement: Fire and Fury

Dialogus (30 points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Dialogus staff

Morvenn Vahl (160 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Fidelis
1x Lance of Illumination
1x Paragon missile launcher

Triumph of Saint Katherine (190 points)
• 1x Bolt pistols
1x Relic weapons

BATTLELINE

Battle Sisters 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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Immolator (115 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Twin multi-melta

OTHER DATASHEETS

Castigator (150 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Castigator autocannons
3x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter

Dominion Squad (115 points)
• 1x Dominion Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Condemnor boltgun
1x Power weapon
• 9x Dominion
• 9x Bolt pistol
5x Boltgun
9x Close combat weapon
4x Meltagun
1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Paragon Warsuits (210 points)
• 1x Paragon Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Multi-melta
1x Paragon grenade launchers
1x Paragon war blade
• 2x Paragon
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Multi-melta
2x Paragon grenade launchers
2x Paragon war blade

Seraphim Squad (170 points)
• 1x Seraphim Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Seraphim
• 10x Bolt pistol
9x Close combat weapon
8x Ministorum hand flamer

Exported with App Version: v1.18.0 (46), Data Version: v464

Archetype

Speedy Flame Sisters

Thoughts

I wasn’t kidding about this faction’s players locking in, OK. Props to Treynor for being one of them.

The Best of the Rest

There were 6 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Larson Wiley – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): Speedy flame sisters with added solo Mortifiers as roaming utility pieces.
3rd – Bill Boysen – Tyranids (Synaptic Nexus): Heavy monster mash with double Norn.
4th – Danny Gill – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Fairly standard all-rounder World Eaters with one extra squad of regular Eightbound.
5th – John Vuchetich – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Triple C’tan, triple Doomsday.
6th – Dan Sammons – Leagues of Votann: Sagitaur spam backed by a bunch of bike, Beserk and Hearthguard MSUs.
7th – John Indellicate – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Extremely Venom-heavy Skysplinter.

Karnage at the Keep – August Royal

29-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Kent, WA, United States on August 31 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Ken Bush – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix (1995 Points)

Adepta Sororitas
Bringers of Flame
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Canoness with Jump Pack (80 Points)
• 1x Blessed halberd
• Enhancements: Iron Surplice of Saint Istalela

Morvenn Vahl (160 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Fidelis
• 1x Lance of Illumination
• 1x Paragon missile launcher

Palatine (60 Points)
• 1x Palatine blade
• 1x Plasma pistol
• Enhancements: Righteous Rage

Triumph of Saint Katherine (190 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistols
• 1x Relic weapons

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Immolator (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Twin multi-melta

OTHER DATASHEETS

Castigator (150 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Castigator battle cannon
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Castigator (150 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Castigator autocannons
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Dominion Squad (115 Points)
• 1x Dominion Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Inferno pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 9x Dominion
◦ 9x Bolt pistol
◦ 5x Boltgun
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Meltagun
◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Exported with App Version: v1.20.0 (44), Data Version: v464

Archetype

Speedy Flame Sisters

Thoughts

You know it’s bad when the list titles start bargaining with the rules team.

Great stuff from Ken.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Adrian James – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Extra chunky Knights with Canis and two Atrapos. Atrapi?
3rd – Timothy Grant – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force): Deathwing Knight GTF.
4th – Jason Rider – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Terrifyingly top-heavy Raiders with two full Chosen units and two Lords of Skulls, each with a Warpsmith babysitter.
5th – Koen Klein – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): Champion-flavour Wolf Jail.

Wrap Up

…OK that was a lot of Bringers of Flame lists. I promise you that there’s more variety in part 2. Still some Bringers lists, but not *gestures upwards*. Find out who was successful in facing the fire and flames with Lowest of Men on Friday.

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Competitive Innovations in 10th: Cult Classics pt.1

NOVA Open 2024 Grand Tournament

The Showdown

The Ritual – Swift Action – Crucible of Battle

Thoughts

Result

Derek Apsche – Chaos Space Marines (Chaos Cult) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Tony Phillips – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Johnny Zoo – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

TJ Lanigan – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

La Voz de Horus Open

Alvaro Perez – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Alejandro Tortosa – T’au Empire (Mont’ka) – 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Borja FM – Blood Angels (Gladius Task Force) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Shadowblade 40K – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Sunflower Showdown GT

Treynor Wolfe – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Karnage at the Keep – August Royal

Ken Bush – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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