It’s me (Wings) in charge again today, freeing me to be monstrously self-indulgent and write about a Showdown I was in. I won’t say that no one can stop me, because there are several people who probably could, but they won’t, so you’ll have to put up with it.
Today I’m covering:
- Open de Carcassonne
- The Saffron Walden GT
- AZ Warhammer 40K League 2024 Spring Championship
- Winchester 40K GT – May 2024
If you’re looking for any of the following, go check out part 1:
- The Richmond Open 40K Event Hosted By Away Games
- Slagmark Fyn
- Clan Wars Scottish Open 5
- Loaded Dice Games May the 4th Open
- PCG Hosts Lightly Salted’s 40k Spring GT
Open de Carcassonne
All the lists for this event can be found in MiniHeadQuarters.
This event was pre-Dataslate.
AltF4 – Grey Knights – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Char1: 1x Brotherhood Librarian (110 pts): Nemesis Force Weapon, Purge Soul, Combi-Weapon Char2: 1x Brotherhood Librarian (125 pts): Warlord, Nemesis Force Weapon, Purge Soul, Combi-Weapon Char3: 1x Brotherhood Librarian (110 pts): Nemesis Force Weapon, Purge Soul, Combi-Weapon Char4: 1x Brotherhood Techmarine (60 pts): Flamer, Omnissian Power Axe, Plasma Cutter, Servo-arms, Bolt pistol Char5: 1x Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (230 pts): Nemesis Daemon Greathammer, Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon 5x Brotherhood Terminator Squad (210 pts) 5x Brotherhood Terminator Squad (210 pts) 5x Strike Squad (125 pts) 1x Grey Knights Land Raider Redeemer (260 pts): Armoured tracks, 2x Flamestorm Cannon, Hunter-killer Missile, Multi-melta, Storm Bolter, Twin Assault Cannon 1x Nemesis Dreadknight (185 pts): Nemesis Daemon Greathammer, Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon 1x Nemesis Dreadknight (185 pts): Nemesis Daemon Greathammer, Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon 1x Nemesis Dreadknight (185 pts): Nemesis Daemon Greathammer, Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon
Enhancement: Inescapable Wrath (+15 pts)
Enhancement: Sigil of Exigence (+30 pts)
• 1x Justicar: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Terminator: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Terminator with Ancient’s Banner: Ancient’s Banner, Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Terminator with Heavy Weapon: Nemesis Force Weapon, Incinerator
• 1x Terminator with Narthecium: Narthecium, Nemesis Force Weapon
• 1x Justicar: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Terminator: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Terminator with Ancient’s Banner: Ancient’s Banner, Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Terminator with Heavy Weapon: Nemesis Force Weapon, Incinerator
• 1x Terminator with Narthecium: Narthecium, Nemesis Force Weapon
• 3x Grey Knight: 3 with Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
• 1x Grey Knight with Heavy Weapon: Close combat weapon, Incinerator
• 1x Justicar: Nemesis Force Weapon, Storm Bolter
Archetype
Dreadknights and Terminators
Thoughts
Brotherhood Terminators are a really good deal, whether in an MSU or a full brick with Draigo, and they’d been creeping up in popularity prior to the Dataslate, as seen in action here. It gives you a nice bit of diversity in how you can attack foes, and helps on the heavy tables that are common in Europe. Given other top players like Dreadknights and Librarians have now gone up in cost, expect to see even more of them (especially as they make the Redeemer even better value). Well done AltF4 for taking the win.
Loukas – Astra Militarum – 2nd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Char1: 4x Platoon Command Squad (60 pts) Char2: 1x Tank Commander (220 pts): Armoured Tracks, Hunter-killer Missile, Demolisher Battle Cannon, Lascannon, 2x Multi-melta, Heavy Stubber Char3: 1x Tank Commander (205 pts): Armoured Tracks, Hunter-killer Missile, Demolisher Battle Cannon, Lascannon, 2x Multi-melta, Heavy Stubber Char4: 1x Lord Solar Leontus (125 pts): Warlord, Conquest, Konstrain’s Hooves, Sol’s Righteous Gaze Char5: 1x Ursula Creed (55 pts): Duty and Vengeance, Power Weapon 10x Death Korps of Krieg (65 pts): Death Korps Watchmaster, 5x Death Korps Trooper, Death Korps Trooper w/ Death Korps Medi-pack, Death Korps Trooper w/ Grenade Launcher, Death Korps Trooper w/ Meltagun, Death Korps Trooper w/ Plasma Gun 6x Bullgryn Squad (160 pts) 6x Bullgryn Squad (160 pts) 10x Kasrkin (100 pts) 10x Kasrkin (100 pts) 1x Basilisk (135 pts): Armoured Tracks, Earthshaker Cannon, Hunter-killer Missile, Heavy Bolter 1x Basilisk (135 pts): Armoured Tracks, Earthshaker Cannon, Hunter-killer Missile, Heavy Bolter 1x Manticore (180 pts): Armoured Tracks, Hunter-killer Missile, Storm Eagle Rockets, Heavy Bolter 1x Manticore (180 pts): Armoured Tracks, Hunter-killer Missile, Storm Eagle Rockets, Heavy Bolter 1x Scout Sentinels (60 pts): Close Combat Weapon, Hunter-killer Missile, Sentinel Chainsaw, Lascannon 5x Ratling Snipers (60 pts): 5 with Close Combat Weapon, Sniper Rifle
• 2x Veteran Guardsman
1 with Master Vox, Close Combat Weapon, Lasgun, Laspistol
1 with Medi-pack, Close Combat Weapon, Lasgun, Laspistol
• 1x Platoon Commander: Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Pistol, Power Fist
• 1x Veteran Heavy Weapons Team: Close Combat Weapon, Laspistol, Mortar
Enhancement: Grand Strategist (+15 pts)
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ‘ead: Brute Shield, Bullgryn Maul
• 5x Bullgryn: 5 with Brute Shield, Bullgryn Maul
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ‘ead: Brute Shield, Bullgryn Maul
• 5x Bullgryn: 5 with Brute Shield, Bullgryn Maul
• 9x Kasrkin Trooper
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Lasgun
1 with Melta mine, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Laspistol
1 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Marksmen Rifle
1 with Vox-caster, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot lasgun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Meltagun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Gun
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant: Power Weapon, Plasma Pistol
• 9x Kasrkin Trooper
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Lasgun
1 with Melta mine, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Laspistol
1 with Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot Marksmen Rifle
1 with Vox-caster, Close Combat Weapon, Hot-shot lasgun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Meltagun
2 with Close Combat Weapon, Plasma Gun
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant: Power Weapon, Plasma Pistol
Archetype
Pre-Dataslate Guard
Thoughts
This build has been discussed to death, and while I think it probably ended up as merely part of A-tier rather than actually S-tier, it’s fair to say we’re leaving a period where Guard outperformed pretty much everyone except 40K Fireside and Nassim’s predictions. Well done to Loukas for racking up a second place finish with it to close.
Anthanora – Blood Angels (Sons of Sanguinius) – 3rd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER Char1: Captain (80pts): • 1x Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted Bolt Rifle, Melee Weapon, • 1 with Bolt Pistol, • 1 with Master-crafted Bolt Rifle, • 1 with Power Fist Char2: Captain (80pts): • 1x Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted Bolt Rifle, Melee Weapon, • 1 with Bolt Pistol, • 1 with Master-crafted Bolt Rifle, • 1 with Power Fist Char3: Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70pts) • 1x Paired Combat Blades, • 1x Combi-weapon Char4: Sanguinary Priest with Jump Pack (90pts): • 1x Astartes Chainsword, • 1x Bolt Pistol Char5: Lemartes (110pts): • 1x Bolt Pistol, • 1x The Blood Crozius, • 1x Warlord Char6: The Sanguinor (140pts): • 1x Encarmine Broadsword BATTLELINE 5x Assault Intercessor Squad (75pts): • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant, • 1 with Plasma Pistol, Thunder Hammer, • 4x Assault Intercessors, • 4 with Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol 5x Assault Intercessor Squad (75pts): • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant, • 1 with Plasma Pistol, Thunder Hammer, • 4x Assault Intercessors, • 4 with Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol OTHER DATASHEETS 10x Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (260pts): • 10x Death Company Marine, • 10 with Power Fist, Inferno Pistol 5x Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (130pts): • 5x Death Company Marine, • 5 with Power Fist, Inferno Pistol 5x Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (130pts): • 5x Death Company Marine, • 5 with Power Fist, Inferno Pistol 5x Infiltrator Squad (100pts): • 1x Infiltrator Sergeant, • 1 with Marksman Bolt Carbine, Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, • 4x Infiltrators, • 4 with Marksman Bolt Carbine, Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Helix Gauntlet, Infiltrator Comms Array 5x Scout Squad (65pts): • 1x Scout Sergeant, • 1 with Astartes chainsword, Bolt Pistol • 2x Scout, • 1 with Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Missile Launcher, • 1 with Scout Sniper Rifle, Close Combat Weapon, Bolt Pistol, • 2x Scouts, • 2 with Astartes Shotgun, Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon 5x Scout Squad (65pts): • 1x Scout Sergeant, • 1 with Astartes chainsword, Bolt Pistol • 2x Scout, • 1 with Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Missile Launcher, • 1 with Scout Sniper Rifle, Close Combat Weapon, Bolt Pistol, • 2x Scouts, • 2 with Astartes Shotgun, Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon 10x Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (210pts): • 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant, • 1 with Vanguard Veteran Weapon, Storm Shield, • 9x Vanguard Veterans, • 9 with Vanguard Veteran Weapon, Storm Shield Gladiator Lancer (160pts): • 1x Armoured Hull, • 1x Icarus Rocket Pod, • 1x Ironhail Heavy Stubber, • 1x Lancer Laser Destroyer, • 1x 2 Storm Bolters Impulsor (80pts): • 1x Armoured Hull, • 1x Ironhail Heavy Stubber, • 1x Bellicatus Missile Array, • 1x 2 Fragstorm Grenade Launchers Impulsor (80pts): • 1x Armoured Hull, • 1x Ironhail Heavy Stubber, • 1x Bellicatus Missile Array, • 1x 2 Fragstorm Grenade Launchers
Archetype
Transport Sons
Thoughts
Lots of your common or garden Sons of Sanguinius flying nonsense here, but the build is set apart by the two Impulsors with an MSU of Assault Intercessors and a Captain each. The beauty of Sons, as was the case with Blood Angels in 8th and 9th, is that the detachment trait pushes their offence hard enough that even small units like this are suddenly terminal threats, and this is a really nice way to get some additional board control down. A layer of Transport wrapping around a counterpunch unit is going to be super good in an Ork-heavy metagame, and the cost of that package stayed the same while other stuff in the builds went up, so I think it’s got real potential for wider use. Well done Anthanora for trying out something clever and new!
Druchii – Adepta Sororitas – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Characters Char1: Junith Eruita (90 points) Char2: Morvenn Vahl (145 points) Char3: Chanoinesse (65 points) Line 10x Soeurs de Bataille (100 points) Others Immolator (115 points) Rhino Sororitas (75 points) Rhino Sororitas (75 points) 10x Arco-Flagellants (150 points) 10x Arco-Flagellants (150 points) 2x Croisés (25 points) 2x Croisés (25 points) 10x Escouade Repentia (110 points) 5x Escouade Séraphine (70 points) 5x Escouade Séraphine (70 points) Castigator (140 points) 3x Exo-harnais Parangon (170 points) Exorcist (180 points) Exorcist (180 points) Machines de Pénitence (60 points)
-Lance-flammes lourd du Ministorum jumelé, La Masse de Castigation
-Fidelis, Lance-missiles Parangon, Lance d’Illumination
-Pistolet Inferno, Lame bénite
Enhancement: Epée de Saint Ellynor
-6 Bolter, 9 Pistolet bolter, Fuseur, Multi-fuseur, 9 Arme de corps à corps, Simulacrum Imperialis
-1x Sœur Supérieure, Pistolet Inferno, Arme énergétique
-Bolter lourd, Missile traqueur, Multi-fuseur jumelé, Chenilles blindées
-Bolter storm, Missile traqueur, Chenilles blindées
-Bolter storm, Missile traqueur, Chenilles blindées
-10 Arco-Fléaux
-10 Arco-Fléaux
-2 Arme énergétique
-2 Arme énergétique
-9 eviscerator de pénitent, 1x Repentia Supérieure, Pistolet bolter, Fouets Neuraux
-4 Pistolet bolter, 4 Lance-flammes léger du Ministorum, 4 Arme de corps à corps
-1x Séraphine Supérieure, Pistolet à plasma, Arme énergétique
-4 Pistolet bolter, 4 Lance-flammes léger du Ministorum, 4 Arme de corps à corps
-1x Séraphine Supérieure, Pistolet à plasma, Arme énergétique
-3 Bolter lourd, Missile traqueur, Obusier Castigator, Chenilles blindées
-3 Pistolet bolter, 3 Lance-grenades Parangon, 3 Multi-fuseur, 2 Lame de guerre Parangon, Masse de guerre Parangon
-Bolter lourd, Lance-missiles Exorcist, Missile traqueur, Chenilles blindées
-Bolter lourd, Lance-missiles Exorcist, Missile traqueur, Chenilles blindées
-Lance-flammes de pénitent, Scies circulaires de pénitent jumelées
Archetype
All-rounder Sisters
Thoughts
Lots of the standard Sisters hits here, with a marginal skew towards hulls via the inclusion of multiple Exorcists. That’s another thing that’ll help out on heavy Euro tables, but there’s not much more to say beyond that – this is all stuff that’s known good. Well done to Druchii on rounding out the top four, though why you aren’t playing Drukhari with that name is beyond me.
The Best of the Rest
There were 6 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 5th – Kahr-Noss – Tyranids (Unending Swarm): The detachment isn’t actually listed here, but I’m taking an educated guess based upon the presence of 110 horde infantry of various stripes, supported by Exocrines and Maleceptors.
- 6th – Paulo_LaSamba – Blood Angels (Sons of Sanguinius): 10 of each Death Company flavour, a big Jump Intercessor unit and a Redeemer.
- =7th – Pinpin – Imperial Knights: Canis, lots of Armigers and some Voidsmen with an Inquisitor.
- =7th – Asthenia – Aeldari: Go-wide Aspects, plenty of indirect, and a big Troupe in a Wave Serpent to threaten objective flips.
- 9th – Cédric – Chaos Space Marines: Abaddon and a shooty core of Vindicators and an Obliterator unit, then Raptors and Legionaries to go wide.
- 10th – Skully – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Double C’tan and some Immortals, then leaning in to the power of the Monolith a bit with a full Skorpekh brick to send through the portal.
The Saffron Walden GT
40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on May 04 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
This event was pre-Dataslate.
Luke Townsend – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Chaos Daemons CHARACTERS Be’lakor (350 points) Bloodthirster (320 points) Great Unclean One (260 points) Rendmaster on Blood Throne (150 points) Skullmaster (100 points) BATTLELINE Nurglings (40 points) Nurglings (40 points) Nurglings (40 points) Plaguebearers (110 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Bloodcrushers (220 points) Bloodcrushers (220 points) Flesh Hounds (70 points) Flesh Hounds (70 points) Exported with App Version: v1.13.0 (41), Data Version: v373
They see me rolling… (1990 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Daemonic Incursion
• Warlord
• 1x Betraying Shades
1x The Blade of Shadows
• 1x Great axe of Khorne
1x Hellfire breath
• 1x Bilesword
1x Plague flail
1x Putrid vomit
• Enhancement: The Endless Gift
• 1x Attendants’ hellblades
1x Blade of blood
• 1x Blade of blood
1x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth
• 1x Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
9x Plaguesword
• 1x Bloodhunter
• 1x Hellblade
1x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• 5x Bloodcrusher
• 1x Daemonic Icon
5x Hellblade
1x Instrument of Chaos
5x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• 1x Bloodhunter
• 1x Hellblade
1x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• 5x Bloodcrusher
• 1x Daemonic Icon
5x Hellblade
1x Instrument of Chaos
5x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• 1x Gore Hound
• 1x Burning roar
1x Collar of Khorne
1x Gore-drenched fangs
• 4x Flesh Hound
• 4x Collar of Khorne
4x Gore-drenched fangs
• 1x Gore Hound
• 1x Burning roar
1x Collar of Khorne
1x Gore-drenched fangs
• 4x Flesh Hound
• 4x Collar of Khorne
4x Gore-drenched fangs
Archetype
Bloodcrusher Spam
Thoughts
All evidence suggests that Bloodcrushers are going to be serious players in the metagame that’s to come, given they were leading the charge on wins like this beforehand and didn’t catch any nerfs. They can roll over any C’tan that are still kicking around (impact Mortals and volume S6 Lance D1+1 attacks are the perfect foil to those), and are newly relevant for carving through Ork hordes. Add in their previous predator, the Adeptus Custodes, getting a real kicking and everything’s coming up Bloodcrusher. Well done to Luke on the win, and hopefully we’ll see plenty more from his Daemonic hordes as the new metagame evolves.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on X-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Jack Tite – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs): Triple Arcos and triple Castigator with the triumph, and doing the powerful flex of choosing to run an army legal under the new points (quite a bit under using the old).
- 3rd – Harley Scully – Aeldari (Battle Host): Go-wide Aspects and indirect with one big Troupe.
- 4th – Leigh Churchward – Chaos Space Marines (Slaves to Darkness): Abaddon Predator gunline with double Accursed Commune to protect it, and Warp Talons to cause mischief.
- 5th – Jamie East – Leagues of Votann: Sagitaur spam with three units of Beserks.
- 6th – Christopher Axe – Chaos Space Marines: A big unit each of Raptors and Legionaries (with Haarken and Lucius respectively) backed by a tonne of gun platforms.
AZ Warhammer 40K League 2024 Spring Championship
30-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Glendale, AZ, United States on May 04 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
This event was pre-Dataslate.
Timothy Borowiec – Necrons (Canoptek Court) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Necrons CHARACTERS C’tan Shard of the Nightbringer (255 points) C’tan Shard of the Void Dragon (270 points) Hexmark Destroyer (70 points) Technomancer (80 points) Technomancer (75 points) Technomancer (60 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Canoptek Doomstalker (135 points) Canoptek Doomstalker (135 points) Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Deathmarks (65 points) Tomb Blades (75 points) Exported with App Version: v1.12.0 (40), Data Version: v357
two codexes released the same day and one of them is not like the other, and I’d rather be playing the bad codex because it’s my favourite army and I have over 10000 points of it with current points which means I have a problem phone for help, my number is 123-HELP (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Canoptek Court
• 1x Gaze of death
1x Scythe of the Nightbringer
• 1x Canoptek tail blades
1x Spear of the Void Dragon
1x Voltaic storm
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Dimensional Sanctum
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Hyperphasic Fulcrum
• Warlord
• 1x Staff of light
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayer
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayer
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
• 3x Feeder mandibles
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
• 3x Feeder mandibles
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
• 3x Feeder mandibles
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 5x Deathmark
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Synaptic disintegrator
• 3x Tomb Blade
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Shadowloom
2x Twin gauss blaster
1x Twin tesla carbine
Archetype
Pre-nerf Court
Thoughts
I fear there is little to say here – we all know that this build was one of the very best pre-Dataslate lists, and needs considerable re-tooling afterwards. The only thing I’ll highlight is that taking lots of Scarabs might see a bit more use, as they’re genuinely not bad in Court, and still very cheap. Otherwise, congratulations to Timothy.
The Best of the Rest
There were 2 more players on 5-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Daniel Olivas – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Extra transport-tastic Skysplinter, adding a third Raider and fifth Venom to the standard 2/4 setup, compensating by cutting out Scourges.
- 3rd – Justin Winfrey – Chaos Space Marines (Slaves to Darkness): Abaddon with double Accursed Commune and gunline tools, plus one full Khorne Chosen squad.
Winchester 40K GT – May 2024
All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
This event was super well run with custom terrain sets that I liked, and you should come to their next one – I’ll certainly be back. Their website is here.
The Showdown
Vital Ground – Targets of Opportunity – Dawn of War
Me, Wings – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty)
Army List - Click to Expand Slate awakened (1995 Points) Necrons CHARACTERS Chronomancer (65 Points) C’tan Shard of the Void Dragon (290 Points) Illuminor Szeras (175 Points) Lokhust Lord (100 Points) Overlord with Translocation Shroud (85 Points) Plasmancer (65 Points) Royal Warden (40 Points) Skorpekh Lord (95 Points) Technomancer (105 Points) BATTLELINE Immortals (150 Points) Necron Warriors (200 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Canoptek Reanimator (75 Points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 Points) Flayed Ones (60 Points) Lokhust Destroyers (30 Points) Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (150 Points) Skorpekh Destroyers (90 Points)
Awakened Dynasty
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Chronomancer’s stave
• 1x Canoptek tail blades
1x Spear of the Void Dragon
1x Voltaic storm
• Warlord
• 1x Eldritch Lance
1x Impaling legs
• 1x Lord’s blade
1x Resurrection Orb
• Enhancements: Veil of Darkness
• 1x Overlord’s blade
1x Resurrection Orb
• 1x Plasmic lance
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Relic gauss blaster
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
1x Flensing claw
1x Hyperphase harvester
• Enhancements: Enaegic Dermal Bond
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancements: Nether-realm Casket
• 10x Immortal
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Tesla carbine
• 20x Necron Warrior
• 20x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss flayer
19x Gauss reaper
• 2x Atomiser beam
1x Reanimator’s claws
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 5x Flayed One
• 5x Flayer claws
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannon
• 3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Gauss destructor
• 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
• 1x Plasmacyte
3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
vs.
My nemesis, Sam Nash – Thousand Sons
Army List - Click to Expand ITT (2000 Points) Thousand Sons CHARACTERS Ahriman on Disc of Tzeentch (140 Points) Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (115 Points) Infernal Master (90 Points) Infernal Master (90 Points) Infernal Master (115 Points) Magnus the Red (440 Points) Thousand Sons Sorcerer (130 Points) Thousand Sons Sorcerer (115 Points) BATTLELINE Rubric Marines (105 Points) Rubric Marines (105 Points) Rubric Marines (105 Points) Rubric Marines (105 Points) Rubric Marines (105 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Thousand Sons Rhino (75 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Thousand Sons Cultists (55 Points) Thousand Sons Cultists (55 Points) Thousand Sons Cultists (55 Points)
Cult of Magic
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Black Staff of Ahriman
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Psychic Stalk
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• Enhancements: Arcane Vortex
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
• Enhancements: Lord of Forbidden Lore
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
• Enhancements: Umbralefic Crystal
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Havoc launcher
1x Inferno combi-bolter 1x Inferno combi-bolter
• 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
• 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
• 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
Thoughts
Oh I see how it is. Two weeks ago Sam beat me in round 5 of the Oxford GT playing for a top four spot, and I swore I’d get him next time. I have to admit, I thought I’d have more time for a training montage.
This matchup…does not thrill me. I was trying out something new, mostly because I wanted to put my Skorpekh on the table, and the good news is that this Awakened build had been performing well up to this point. The Skorpekh are a neat little package with how durable an Enhanced lord is, and the Warrior brick had overperformed my expectations considerably. My main complaint was not having enough throwaway scoring units, but that doesn’t super matter in this game, as with Targets of Opportunity I’m definitely going Tactical anyway.
More the issue here is that the Warrior brick is a huge liability against Thousand Sons, as they can use Twist of Fate to just evaporate the unit. The Immortals have a slightly better time of it simply because they threaten to do much the same back to multiple units of Rubricae if they get the first strike, forcing a bit of caution. That doesn’t stop this being tough though, but I did have a plan.
The nature of the map meant that both the mid-field objectives would be pretty vulnerable to stuff coming out of Strategic Reserves, so I put the Void Dragon into that to ensure I had a high pressure play that could be unleashed on whichever side it was needed. From there, the goal is to just try and stop him scoring Primary as much as possible, while picking up Secondaries and hoping that I can collapse one flank enough to eke out some late game Primary.
This gets a lot easier if I go second, which I did not, but the opening was OK I sent Wraiths onto one objective (on the side he was more heavily concentrated on) and left the other clear, with the Warriors and Szeras ready to make a play for it turn two. I’d also deployed my Flayed Ones very aggressively to box him in, and charged them into some cultists turn 1, aiming for Engage and BEL. Unfortunately they failed to kill the Cultists, so I only got the Engage, but it still tangled up his early movement considerably.
I turned out to have left a gap behind them and the Skorpekh that the Umbralefic unit could just warp into, but this was actually fine – they smoked the non-Lord Skorpekh, but were guaranteed to rolled up in response, and crucially meant he now couldn’t get an additional unit across to the far side of the table if the Warriors pushed, giving them the best possible chance of tanking a turn. The Wraiths also narrowly survived the fusilade of firepower unleashed on them, though sadly were depleted enough that Overwatch sealed the deal the following turn.
Still, this gave me a narrow route into the game, but unfortunately it fell through pretty quickly. The Void Dragon came in on his heavy side, made it into combat with a re-roll and did some OK shooting damage, but whiffed in combat and didn’t kill enough Rubricae to flip the objective (before dying messily). Meanwhile, Magnus used Indirect alongside a smaller number of Rubricae on the other flank to still roll up the Warriors in a single turn, and that was kind of game – I teleported the Destroyers over to obliterate Ahriman to make me feel better, but it was extremely over, and the game closed out a few turns later with my last model being Szeras encircled by a squad of Cultists, who he shamefully only managed to kill two of.
I’ll get you next next time, I guess.
In all seriousness, this was a useful exercise, because it showed that I 100% need some specific anti-Thousand Sons tech if I want to run this build that was otherwise very good. They’re going to be a major part of the metagame, so the matchup being this much of a nightmare is a problem. My current plan is to cut the Destroyers for a smaller shooting threat, a Canoptek Spyder for the Gloom Prism and change. That lets me move the Veil of Darkness over to the Warriors, giving them a chance to actually do something meaningful in this game before they die horribly. That’s the theory anyway, tune back in next month to see how it goes when I roll it out again.
Result
++ Overwhelming (82-40) Thousand Sons Victory ++
++ Humiliation for loser Wings ++
Sam Nash – Thousand Sons – 1st Place
The List
See Showdown
Archetype
Rubricae Tsons
Thoughts
It’s post-Dataslate Tsons! It looks quite a lot like pre-Dataslate Tsons, only going harder on Cultists as space fillers since they’re now super cheap. Otherwise, it’s your usual recipe of tricks galore and incredible damage concentration when it really matters. Congratulations to Sam!
The Best of the Rest
There were two more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – James “One_Wing” Grover – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): See showdown.
- 3rd – Joshua Cowlard – Orks (Bully Boyz): Many Meganobz, one Nobz unit and two squads of Boyz in five Trukks and a Tellyporta, with Warbikers to carry out early skirmishing.
Wrap Up
I love putting myself in the newspaper, it’s big and clever. Now I don’t have another event for a month, and I weep. Lots of exciting Warhammer coming up though, so see you next week as we delve into more of it.
