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.

Welcome to part 2 of CI, where we’ve got a little bit of a schedule shakeup due to availability – Lowest of Men will now be covering tomorrow’s part, and I (Wings) am with you again for a Friday special. We’ve stuck to the same allocation of events, so that means today is:

Kippers’ Melee 2024
New York Open 3 (40k)
Goose Hunting Donuts
Gaelcon 2024
Safety’s Off Orktober GT
Battle Against Breast Cancer AZ

Tomorrow will be:

THE UKTC COVENTRY 40K GT : 2-Day
2nd VTC Warhammer 40K
The Route 66 Warhammer 40,000 GT – FALL *GOLDEN TICKET QUALIFIER*
The GR: Meme Team GT – In co-operation with Cryptic Cabin
Palladium Games Presents: “the dumpster fire gt” Fall Edition
Queen City Orktoberfest 2024

And if you’re looking for the following, check out part 1 from Wednesday:

THE UKTC COVENTRY 40K GT : 3-Day
Rumble on the Rivers 40k GT
5. Corsair Open GT
Battle Against Breast Cancer 40K Event Hosted by Away Games
Dice Like Ice Grand Tournament – Q4 2024
Chimera Gaming Fall GT
The Portal Fall GT

Kippers’ Melee 2024

84-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Nanaimo, BC, Canada on October 26 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Burden of Trust – Prepared Positions – Search and Destroy

Alex Conn – Tyranids (Synaptic Nexus)
Army List - Click to Expand

FemininomeNorn!

++ Army Roster (Xenos – Tyranids) [1,995pts] ++

+ Configuration +

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

Detachment: Synaptic Nexus

Show/Hide Options: Legends are visible, Unaligned Forces are visible, Unaligned Fortifications are visible

+ Epic Hero +

Deathleaper [80pts]

Old One Eye [150pts]

The Swarmlord [240pts]: Warlord

+ Character +

Neurotyrant [135pts]: Psychostatic Disruption

+ Battleline +

Gargoyles [85pts]

. 10x Gargoyles: 10x Blinding Venom, 10x Fleshborer

Gargoyles [85pts]

. 10x Gargoyles: 10x Blinding Venom, 10x Fleshborer

+ Infantry +

Barbgaunts [55pts]

. 5x Barbgaunt: 5x Biocannon, 5x Xenos Claws and Teeth

Biovores [50pts]: Biovore

Lictor [60pts]

Neurolictor [90pts]

Raveners [75pts]

. 3x Ravener: 3x Ravener claws and talons, 3x Thoracic bio-weapon

+ Monster +

Maleceptor [170pts]

Norn Emissary [275pts]

++ Total: [1,995pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe ()

vs.

Jesse Baker – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault)
Army List - Click to Expand

Kicking and screaming

Drukhari
Skysplinter Assault
Strike Force
(1995 Points)

CHARACTERS

Archon (85 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Huskblade
• 1x Splinter pistol

Beastmaster (120 Points)
• 1x Beastmaster
◦ 1x Agoniser
◦ 1x Splinter pods
• 1x Clawed Fiend
◦ 1x Clawed Fiend fists
• 2x Khymerae
◦ 2x Khymerae talons
• 3x Razorwing Flock
◦ 3x Razorwing feathers

Haemonculus (60 Points)
• 1x Haemonculus tools and scissorhands
• 1x Stinger pistol

Lelith Hesperax (95 Points)
• 1x Lelith’s blades

Succubus (45 Points)
• 1x Succubus weapons

BATTLELINE

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

Wracks (120 Points)
• 1x Acothyst
◦ 1x Wrack blades
• 9x Wrack
◦ 2x Hexrifle
◦ 2x Liquifier gun
◦ 2x Ossefactor
◦ 2x Stinger pistol
◦ 9x Wrack blades

Wyches (90 Points)
• 1x Hekatrix
◦ 1x Blast pistol
◦ 1x Hekatarii blade
◦ 1x Phantasm grenade launcher
• 9x Wych
◦ 9x Hekatarii blade
◦ 9x Splinter pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Raider (80 Points)
• 1x Bladevanes
• 1x Dark lance

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Cronos (50 Points)
• 1x Spirit syphon
• 1x Spirit vortex
• 1x Spirit-leech tentacles

Mandrakes (70 Points)
• 1x Nightfiend
◦ 1x Baleblast
◦ 1x Glimmersteel blade
• 4x Mandrake
◦ 4x Baleblast
◦ 4x Glimmersteel blade

Ravager (110 Points)
• 1x Bladevanes
• 3x Dark lance

Scourges (120 Points)
• 1x Solarite
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Shardcarbine
◦ 1x Solarite weapon
• 4x Scourge
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Dark lance

Scourges (120 Points)
• 1x Solarite
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Shardcarbine
◦ 1x Solarite weapon
• 4x Scourge
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Drukhari haywire blaster

Thoughts

A shooting skewed Drukhari build up against bugzilla here, and this feels like it’s going to ba a rough one for the elves. Norn Emissaries feel like they were practically built for Burden of Trust, whereas the Drukhari toys on show here are uh, not. Norns have really got everything going for them here – OC15 trumps many of the ways Drukhari might try and take objectives here, they blank some of the incoming threat (those haywire Scourges are very sad), and up against Drukhari they don’t even suffer too badly from their normal issue with lower S than you’d like. If you’re the Tyranids here, your plan is to walk these onto two mid-board objectives and demand the Drukhari do something about them, using Gargoyles to try and bully the final mid-field one to keep the Drukhari score super low.

That’s a very strong plan, and might be insurmountable, especially in concert with Swarmy tanking Drukhari stratagems. Realistically, your choices from the elf side are either to go all-in on killing one of the two Norns, or focus hard on protecting one mid-board objective, aim to pick up 20VP from that and guarding home, and then use a Secret mission to get the rest of the way. The Tyranids are a bit lower on drops than some lists, and don’t really have the reach to punk the Ravagers if they’re careful, so if you can land 40 on the Primary and sweep up everything else, you might get there on Secondary lead. The problem with that is that if the bugs spot that you’re committed to it then a team of Swarmy, Old One-Eye and some Maleceptors can rock in to try and punch you off your point and there’s the failure case of Shadow disrupting your scoring enough for you to just lose. Maybe that means you do just have to swing at one of the Norns and hope? This is an exceptionally rough matchup from the Drukhari side, and I’m not hugely surprised to see them go down

Result

Tyranids (Synaptic Nexus) Victory – 92 – 61

Alex Conn – Tyranids (Synaptic Nexus) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

FemininomeNorn!

++ Army Roster (Xenos – Tyranids) [1,995pts] ++

+ Configuration +

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

Detachment: Synaptic Nexus

Show/Hide Options: Legends are visible, Unaligned Forces are visible, Unaligned Fortifications are visible

+ Epic Hero +

Deathleaper [80pts]

Old One Eye [150pts]

The Swarmlord [240pts]: Warlord

+ Character +

Neurotyrant [135pts]: Psychostatic Disruption

+ Battleline +

Gargoyles [85pts]

. 10x Gargoyles: 10x Blinding Venom, 10x Fleshborer

Gargoyles [85pts]

. 10x Gargoyles: 10x Blinding Venom, 10x Fleshborer

+ Infantry +

Barbgaunts [55pts]

. 5x Barbgaunt: 5x Biocannon, 5x Xenos Claws and Teeth

Biovores [50pts]: Biovore

Lictor [60pts]

Neurolictor [90pts]

Raveners [75pts]

. 3x Ravener: 3x Ravener claws and talons, 3x Thoracic bio-weapon

+ Monster +

Maleceptor [170pts]

Norn Emissary [275pts]

++ Total: [1,995pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe ()

Archetype

Double Norn

Thoughts

As covered in the Showdown, this build is an absolute champion at walking onto two objectives and staying there, which is broadly how you win games of 10th Edition. Very cool to see the Norn get some proper exercise, well done Alex.

Stu Angel – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

(2000 Points)

Thousand Sons
Cult of Magic
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (115 Points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Prosperine khopesh
• 1x Warpflame pistol

Infernal Master (125 Points)
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Inferno bolt pistol
• 1x Screamer Invocation
• Enhancements: Umbralefic Crystal

Infernal Master (130 Points)
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Inferno bolt pistol
• 1x Screamer Invocation
• Enhancements: Arcane Vortex

Infernal Master (105 Points)
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Inferno bolt pistol
• 1x Screamer Invocation

Magnus the Red (465 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
• 1x Gaze of Magnus
• 1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm

Thousand Sons Sorcerer (140 Points)
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancements: Lord of Forbidden Lore

BATTLELINE

Rubric Marines (110 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 (160 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 (50 Points)
• 1x Aviarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 2x Enlightened
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Fatecaster greatbow

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (48), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Rubricae Tsons

Thoughts

Nearly 18 months into the edition we once more we find ourselves asking “have Thousand Sons been nerfed enough to drop below a 55% win rate” and the answer remains no. So that’s nice for them. It’s also nice for me because I don’t have to explain this list, anyone who has been anywhere near a tournament this Edition knows what’s going on. Well done to Stu for going undefeated despite being down a whole unit from a few weeks ago.

Kyle Smith – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 3rd Place (Undefeated)

Loyalist Knight Atrapos. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Early Lunch! (1990 points)

Imperial Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance

CHARACTERS

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

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (425 points)
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
1x Graviton singularity cannon

BATTLELINE

Armiger Helverin (140 points)
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Warglaive (150 points)
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (51), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Anti-Heavy Knights

Thoughts

Rounding out the undefeated players here we’ve got a Knight build tuned for murdering lists full of big tanks and monsters, which turned out to be an extremely good pick for this first week of the new metagame. Crunchy lists are everywhere, this trio will do violently unpleasant things to them, and other top builds have a slightly harder time killing big Knights. Access to Sustained Hits sweeps on all the models means this build has an answer to more numerous foes as well, meaning it’s going to have a shot against weirder experiments too. Big fan of big Knights, good stuff Kyle.

Idavoll Heimdall – Necrons (Obeisance Phalanx) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Necrontyr Rally Racers (2000 points)

Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Obeisance Phalanx

CHARACTERS

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

Overlord (100 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Resurrection Orb
1x Voidscythe
• Enhancement: Warrior Noble

Overlord (85 points)
• 1x Resurrection Orb
1x Voidscythe

OTHER DATASHEETS

Annihilation Barge (105 points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Gauss cannon
1x Twin tesla destructor

Canoptek Reanimator (75 points)
• 2x Atomiser beam
1x Reanimator’s claws

Canoptek Spyders (75 points)
• 1x Automaton claws
1x Fabricator Claw Array (Aura)
1x Gloom Prism (Aura)
2x Particle beamer

Doomsday Ark (190 points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer array

Lychguard (170 points)
• 10x Lychguard
• 10x Dispersion Shield
10x Hyperphase sword

Lychguard (170 points)
• 10x Lychguard
• 10x Warscythe

Triarch Praetorians (100 points)
• 5x Triarch Praetorian
• 5x Rod of covenant

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (51), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Obeisance Lychguard Spam

Thoughts

While Awakened Dynasty and Hypercrypt took the event wins for Necrons this week, Obeisance Phalanx was hot on their heels thanks to how the points and rules tweaks have fallen out. One unit of Lychguard tends to die easy, but three is a very different prospect, and access to +1 to Wound and Fight on Death makes them a real pain to deal with. At 100pts, MSU Triarch Praetorians are also finally “real”, and fill a neat versatile role that Necrons have sometimes struggled with. Combining with that, Doomsday Arks need no help to be great on the offence, and this detachment gives them a potent defensive tool in -1D, which can either help them win a shooting race, or be used to make one of those Annihilation Barges extra durable on a point. Really great to see some lesser-used Necron toys tried out, plus for this detachment to be thriving without Szarekh, nice work Idavoll.

The Best of the Rest

There were 12 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

5th – Brandon St Pierre – Death Guard: Rhino Plague Marines, Destructors, and Plaguebursts.
6th – Kevin Hamilton – Blood Angels (The Lost Brethren): Loads of foot Death Company MSUs, one big flying squad and supporting shooting.
7th – Ian Harris – Death Guard: Big Deathshroud units and lots of Daemon engines, including a scuttling horde of Defilers.
8th – Jesse Baker – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Skysplinter pivoting to Wracks in Raiders as an all-rounder threat.
9th – David Ball – Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): Four Infantry blocks with triple Venatari support.
10th – Alexey Sidorenko – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): All-rounder Skysplinter with Talos and Ravagers as heavier hitters.
11th – Nicholas James – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): The glorious triumverate of Ventris, Bobby G and Calgar with various elite Marine units backing them up.
12th – Liam Bath – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Double C’tan, triple Doomsday and double Triarch Stalker.
13th – Aaron Guest – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): two big Warrior bricks with Szeras support, a couple of Doomsdays, and a unit each of Wraiths and Skorpekh.
14th – Mike Garcia – Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): Pure Infantry spam centred around lots of Custodian Guard squads.
15th – Jake Reuser – Genestealer Cult (Outlander Claw): Heavy-duty Outlander with big Jackal squads, max Ridgerunners and 30 Purestrains, plus loads of Clamavus (Clamavi?) to hold the fort.
16th – Tim Thomsen – World Eaters: Eightbound-heavy World Eaters with some War Dogs and a Forgefiend for fire support.

New York Open 3 (40k)

45-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in New York, NY, United States on October 26 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

David Gross – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

List (2000 Points)

Astra Militarum
Combined Regiment
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Gaunt’s Ghosts (100 Points)
• 1x Ibram Gaunt
◦ 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

Lord Solar Leontus (125 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Conquest
• 1x Konstantin’s hooves
• 1x Sol’s Righteous Gaze

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (70 Points)
• 1x Tempestor Prime
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Tempestus dagger
• 4x Tempestus Scion
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Grenade launcher
◦ 1x Hot-shot volley gun
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun

Platoon Command Squad (60 Points)
• 1x Platoon Commander
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 2x Veteran Guardsman
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Lasgun
◦ 2x Laspistol
◦ 1x Master Vox
◦ 1x Regimental Standard
• 1x Veteran Heavy Weapons Team
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Laspistol
◦ 1x Mortar

Tank Commander (225 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Demolisher battle cannon
• 1x Heavy stubber
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Lascannon
• 2x Multi-melta

BATTLELINE

Catachan Jungle Fighters (55 Points)
• 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Laspistol
• 9x Jungle Fighter
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Flamer
◦ 7x Lasgun
◦ 1x Vox-caster

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chimera (70 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Chimera heavy flamer
• 1x Heavy flamer
• 1x Heavy stubber
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Lasgun array

OTHER DATASHEETS

Attilan Rough Riders (120 Points)
• 1x Rough Rider Sergeant
◦ 1x Goad lance
◦ 1x Lasgun
◦ 1x Laspistol
◦ 1x Power sabre
◦ 1x Steed’s hooves
• 9x Rough Rider
◦ 9x Hunting lance
◦ 9x Lasgun
◦ 9x Laspistol
◦ 9x Steed’s hooves

Hellhound (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Chem cannon
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile

Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (240 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Co-axial autocannon
• 1x Heavy stubber
• 2x Heavy stubber
• 2x Multi-melta
• 1x Oppressor cannon
• 1x Pulveriser cannon

Scout Sentinels (55 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Lascannon
• 1x Sentinel chainsaw

Tempestus Aquilons (90 Points)
• 1x Tempestor Aquilon
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine
◦ 1x Sentry flamer
• 8x Tempestus Aquilon
◦ 8x Close combat weapon
◦ 6x Hot-shot lascarbine
◦ 1x Hot‐shot long‐las
◦ 1x Plasma carbine
• 1x Gunfighter
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hot-shot lascarbine

Tempestus Scions (100 Points)
• 1x Tempestor
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 9x Tempestus Scion
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 5x Hot-shot lasgun
◦ 2x Meltagun
◦ 2x Plasma gun

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (48), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Double Dorn

Thoughts

Big murderous tanks, great board control, great Deep Strikers – as is already becoming clear, Guard are one of the factions to beat in the new metagame. Worth highlighting that one big unit of Rough Riders makes an appearence in this build and several other top ones, suggesting they’ve gone up in value. Perhaps without access to as many Bullgryn to hold the fort, a counter-punch melee unit is what the faction needs to cut off a potential way of fighting back against them (plus in builds like this with only one Aquilon unit, you might use Reinforcements on the cavalry). Worth considering if you’re a guard player, as they’ve clearly served David well here!

Evan Tomchin – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

XV8 Crisis Battlesuit Team. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

New Ret Cad. New UPDATE (2000 Points)

T’au Empire
Retaliation Cadre
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (95 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Fusion blaster
• 3x Fusion blaster
• 2x Shield Drone

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (110 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 2x Burst cannon
• 1x Cyclic ion blaster
• 2x Gun Drone
• 1x High-output burst cannon
• Enhancements: Prototype Weapon System

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (100 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Cyclic ion blaster
• 3x Plasma rifle
• 2x Shield Drone
• Enhancements: Starflare Ignition System

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (80 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Cyclic ion blaster
• 2x Shield Drone
• 3x T’au flamer

OTHER DATASHEETS

Broadside Battlesuits (180 Points)
• 1x Broadside Shas’vre
◦ 1x Crushing bulk
◦ 1x Heavy rail rifle
◦ 2x Missile Drone
◦ 1x Seeker missile
◦ 1x Weapon Support System
• 1x Broadside Shas’ui
◦ 1x Crushing bulk
◦ 1x Heavy rail rifle
◦ 2x Missile Drone
◦ 1x Seeker missile
◦ 1x Weapon Support System

Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (130 Points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Plasma rifle
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 4x Plasma rifle
◦ 1x Shield Drone

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (110 Points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Burst cannon
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Burst cannon
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (110 Points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
◦ 2x T’au flamer
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
◦ 4x T’au flamer

Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits (150 Points)
• 1x Crisis Sunforge Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Fusion blaster
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone

Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
• 1x Cyclic ion raker
• 1x Ghostkeel fists
• 1x Twin fusion blaster

Kroot Carnivores (65 Points)
• 1x Long-quill
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Kroot carbine
◦ 1x Kroot pistol
• 9x Kroot Carnivore
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 8x Kroot rifle
◦ 1x Tanglebomb launcher

Pathfinder Team (90 Points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Pulse carbine
◦ 1x Pulse pistol
◦ 1x Recon Drone
◦ 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Ion rifle
◦ 6x Pulse carbine
◦ 9x Pulse pistol

Piranhas (60 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Piranha fusion blaster
• 2x Seeker missile
• 2x Twin pulse carbine

Riptide Battlesuit (190 Points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
• 2x Missile Drone
• 1x Riptide fists
• 1x Twin plasma rifle

Stealth Battlesuits (60 Points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit Support System
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Homing Beacon
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Burst cannon

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (48), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Crisis Toolbox

Thoughts

Fans of blasting Ace of Spades out of shoulder-mounted speakers rejoice, because Retaliation Cadre is leading the charge for Tau this week. The combination of very versatile damage output and depth of resources is a good one for a new metagame, as you never quite know what you’re going to get, and that’s clearly paid off here. Starscythes with flamers also go up in value (and they were already fantastic) with Guard as a top contender, as they’re a huge deterrent to any sort of Aquilon or Scion shenanigans. I’m sure tuned Kauyon and Mont’ka builds will be popping up soon as well, but right now it’s all about the Cadre, congratulations Evan for taking the most fun Tau detachment to an undefeated finish.

The Best of the Rest

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

3rd – Anthony Triano – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Double C’tan and Triple Doomsday with the Silent King.
4th – Vinny D’Arco – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Single C’tan and Triple Doomsday with the Silent King, adding an extra Triarch Stalker and some chaff instead of the second star god.
5th – Jasper Biski – Orks (War Horde): Massive Beast Snagga units in Battle Wagons with various supporting MSU threats.
6th – Geraint De Jesus – Tyranids (Vanguard Onslaught): Genestealer and Mawloc surprises, with all sorts of Lictor backing them up.
7th – Dominic Galeano – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): Most of the same pre-dataslate hits, just in smaller numbers.

Goose Hunting Donuts

40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Тюмень, Тюменская обл., Россия on October 26 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Андрей Островский – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ) – 1st Place

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (Credit: Musterkrux)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Лимит нелимитов или исповедь игрока на 24 собаках (2000 points)
Space Marines
Space Wolves
Strike Force (2000 points)
Champions of Russ

CHARACTERS

Bjorn the Fell-Handed (190 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Heavy flamer
1x Trueclaw
1x Twin lascannon

Captain (105 points)
• 1x Master-crafted power weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• Enhancement: Black Death

Chaplain with Jump Pack (75 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Crozius arcanum

Librarian (80 points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Force weapon
1x Smite
• Enhancement: Frost Weapon

Lieutenant (65 points)
• 1x Master-crafted power weapon
1x Neo-volkite pistol
1x Storm Shield

Wolf Guard Pack Leader in Terminator Armour (40 points)
• 1x Cyclone missile launcher
1x Power fist
1x Storm bolter

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (150 points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Thunder hammer
• 9x Assault Intercessor
• 9x Astartes chainsword
9x Heavy bolt pistol

Blood Claws (210 points)
• 1x Blood Claw Pack Leader
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Power fist
• 14x Blood Claw
• 12x Astartes chainsword
14x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
2x Meltagun

Intercessor Squad (80 points)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Thunder hammer
• 4x Intercessor
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Bolt rifle
4x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points)
• 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

Brutalis Dreadnought (160 points)
• 1x Brutalis talons
1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber
1x Twin multi-melta

Gladiator Lancer (160 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Lancer laser destroyer
2x Storm bolter

Incursor Squad (80 points)
• 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

Land Raider (240 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Godhammer lascannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Multi-melta
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin heavy bolter

Redemptor Dreadnought (210 points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin storm bolter

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 1x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Combat knife
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle

Archetype

All-Rounder Space Wolves

Thoughts

A bit of everything here, mostly serving to highlight that with even more improvements from the latest FAQ, Champions of Russ is now a premium all-rounder detachment, especially when you pair it with Space Wolves access to unique things like a slightly bigger foot melee blender unit and Bjorn. Well done Андрей.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Alex Voronkov – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment): Triple Dorn and some Demolisher backup.
3rd – Vasiliy Golik – Necrons (Obeisance Phalanx): 20 Lychguard, lots of Triarch Stalkers, Szarekh, and a big unit of Praetorians.
4th – Илья Колесников – Chaos Space Marines (Fellhammer Siege-Host): Abaddon and big Infantry bricks of Chosen and Rubricae to maximise the grindiness the detachment (sort of) offers.
5th – Ildar Khasanov – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Defiantly Character-heavy Skysplinter.

Gaelcon 2024

34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Dublin, D, Ireland on October 26 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Mark Morrow – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 1st Place

Immortals With Tesla Carbines. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

AWAKENING – eyes wide open (2000 Points)

Necrons
Awakened Dynasty
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Chronomancer (85 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Chronomancer’s stave
• Enhancements: Veil of Darkness

Illuminor Szeras (175 Points)
• 1x Eldritch Lance
• 1x Impaling legs

Overlord (85 Points)
• 1x Resurrection Orb
• 1x Voidscythe

Psychomancer (55 Points)
• 1x Abyssal lance

Skorpekh Lord (95 Points)
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
• 1x Flensing claw
• 1x Hyperphase harvester
• Enhancements: Enaegic Dermal Bond

Technomancer (105 Points)
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancements: Nether-realm Casket

BATTLELINE

Immortals (150 Points)
• 10x Immortal
◦ 10x Close combat weapon
◦ 10x Tesla carbine

OTHER DATASHEETS

Canoptek Reanimator (75 Points)
• 2x Atomiser beam
• 1x Reanimator’s claws

Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 Points)
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
◦ 3x Feeder mandibles

Canoptek Wraiths (250 Points)
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
◦ 6x Particle caster
◦ 6x Vicious claws

Cryptothralls (60 Points)
• 2x Cryptothrall
◦ 2x Scouring eye
◦ 2x Scythed limbs

Doomsday Ark (190 Points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
• 1x Doomsday cannon
• 2x Gauss flayer array

Flayed Ones (60 Points)
• 5x Flayed One
◦ 5x Flayer claws

Lokhust Destroyers (35 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Gauss cannon

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

Skorpekh Destroyers (90 Points)
• 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
◦ 1x Plasmacyte
◦ 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (48), Data Version: v488

Archetype

All-Rounder Awakened

Thoughts

Speaking of all-rounder detachments, Awakened Dynasty is very much one of those, and although not much changed for them they’ve seen a bit of a surge this week with a variety of builds, some going for a bit of everything like this, some focused on Warriors. I suspect that’s because of the age-old Necron factor of them falling somewhat flat against overtuned builds – because some amount of utility from Reanimation is baked into their points, if you’re running into armies that can consistently just vanish a unit (Thousand Sons, mostly) then things get very tough for you. toning down the most vicious stuff does a disproportionate amount to help this kind of build, and they even get cheaper firepower to boot, so it would appear Necron goodstuff is back on. I do also think that the full Immortal unit is one of the most underutilised tools in the arsenal, so big fan of seeing them out and about – they’re another thing on the “Aquilons actually have to think twice” list thanks to Sustained Hits 2 as well. Good work Phaeron Mark.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Ryan Lynch – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic): Double Mutalith.
3rd – Peter Scott – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): An actual Abominant with loads of War Dogs to support.
4th – Dara Meehan – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Standard-issue World Eaters with plenty of Eightbound and a Rhino Berzerker brick.
5th – Chris Mullan – Astra Militarum: Double Dorn, double Aquilon and lots of Ogryns to hold positions.

Safety’s Off Orktober GT

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Taylors, SC, United States on October 26 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Robin Roberts – Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension) – 1st Place

Genestealer Cult Jackal Alphus — Credit: Keewa

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Star God’s Angels Vroom Vroom with Xtra Cheese (2000 points)

Genestealer Cults
Strike Force (2000 points)
Host of Ascension

CHARACTERS

Benefictus (85 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Psionic Cascade
• Enhancement: Assassination Edict

Clamavus (50 points)
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon

Jackal Alphus (55 points)
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Cult sniper rifle

Kelermorph (60 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Liberator autostubs

Primus (100 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Cult bonesword
1x Scoped needle pistol
1x Toxin injector claw
• Enhancement: A Chink In Their Armour

Primus (80 points)
• 1x Cult bonesword
1x Scoped needle pistol
1x Toxin injector claw

Reductus Saboteur (65 points)
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Demolition charges
1x Remote explosives

Sanctus (65 points)
• 1x Sanctus bio-dagger
• Enhancement: Prowling Agitant

BATTLELINE

Acolyte Hybrids with Autopistols (65 points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Leader’s bio-weapons
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon
1x Cult claws and knife
3x Heavy mining tool

Neophyte Hybrids (130 points)
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
• 19x Autopistol
19x Close combat weapon
1x Cult Icon
2x Grenade launcher
11x Hybrid firearm
2x Mining laser
2x Seismic cannon
2x Webber

OTHER DATASHEETS

Achilles Ridgerunners (150 points)
• 2x Achilles Ridgerunner
• 2x Armoured hull
2x Heavy mining laser
2x Spotter
2x Twin heavy stubber

Achilles Ridgerunners (75 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy mortar
1x Spotter
1x Twin heavy stubber

Atalan Jackals (160 points)
• 8x Atalan Jackal
• 4x Atalan power weapon
6x Atalan small arms
4x Close combat weapon
2x Grenade launcher
• 2x Atalan Wolfquad
• 2x Atalan small arms
2x Close combat weapon
2x Mining laser

Purestrain Genestealers (75 points)
• 5x Purestrain Genestealer
• 5x Cult claws and talons

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (51), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Bricks and Bikes

Thoughts

A surprising return for the plan of just punching people out with big Neophyte units, supplemented by the addition of loads of bikes to occupy space, and improved by the rapid return of Neophytes if you make your Ambush roll. Having both a Benefictus and the Chink in the Armour Primus means that you’ve got two blocks coming in with Lethal Hits, ensuring you can take out pretty much whatever you decide to shoot at, and likely getting to double dip on one of those units by pulling them with Return to the Shadows. The Prowling knife Sanctus is cute too – the numbers on them aren’t too bad, you can do some cute jank with the reactive move, and they give you a way to tee up Coordinated Trap in a pinch. Well done Robin.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Duncan Buchanan – Leagues of Votann (Oathband): Lots of MSUs of all stripes and double Land Fortress.
3rd – Timothy Huebscher – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): A Despoiler and lots of War Dogs.
4th – Nick Kirkendall – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Monster Mash with the Dakkafex unit.

Battle Against Breast Cancer AZ

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Glendale, Arizona, US on October 26 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Jason Flanzer – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 1st Place

Necron Warriors w/ Gauss Reapers. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Walter Special (1990 Points)

Necrons
Awakened Dynasty
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Hexmark Destroyer (70 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols

Illuminor Szeras (175 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Eldritch Lance
• 1x Impaling legs

Orikan the Diviner (80 Points)
• 1x Staff of Tomorrow

Plasmancer (65 Points)
• 1x Plasmic lance

Royal Warden (60 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Relic gauss blaster
• Enhancements: Veil of Darkness

Royal Warden (60 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Relic gauss blaster
• Enhancements: Nether-realm Casket

Skorpekh Lord (80 Points)
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
• 1x Flensing claw
• 1x Hyperphase harvester

Skorpekh Lord (95 Points)
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
• 1x Flensing claw
• 1x Hyperphase harvester
• Enhancements: Enaegic Dermal Bond

BATTLELINE

Necron Warriors (200 Points)
• 20x Necron Warrior
◦ 20x Close combat weapon
◦ 20x Gauss reaper

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Ghost Ark (125 Points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
• 2x Gauss flayer array

OTHER DATASHEETS

Canoptek Reanimator (75 Points)
• 2x Atomiser beam
• 1x Reanimator’s claws

Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 Points)
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
◦ 3x Feeder mandibles

Flayed Ones (60 Points)
• 5x Flayed One
◦ 5x Flayer claws

Lokhust Destroyers (35 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Gauss cannon

Ophydian Destroyers (90 Points)
• 3x Ophydian Destroyer
◦ 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons

Skorpekh Destroyers (90 Points)
• 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
◦ 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons

Exported with App Version: v1.22.0 (48), Data Version: v488

Archetype

Skorpekh and Warriors

Thoughts

More Awakened Dynasty, this time leaning on the fact that the meta is mostly not currently built for mid-durability hordes, and using that to overwhelm the foe with Warriors while firing squads of Skorpekh at them in a leisurely fashion. Great plan, honestly, and I also like the choice of Leaders/Enhancements to ensure one Warrior unit can be skewed towards offence and one for defence. No Doomsdays even! Good stuff Jason.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Gareth Hunt – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Pure melee pressure spamming Skorpekh and Wraiths.
3rd – Terek Haehl – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): A brawler list iwth a big Death Company unit, full Sanguinary entourage for Dante, and a full squad of Terminators with access to Fights First from Speed of the Primarch.
4th – Don Hooson – Death Guard (Plague Company): Defilers, Deathshrouds and Destructors, with an additional cameo from a Despoiler.
5th – Collin Watson – Adepta Sororitas – (Hallowed Martyrs): Lots of hulls, a Warsuit hammer and some big squads of Arco-flagellants.
6th – Alex Sabin – Thousand Sons: Double Mutalith Tsons.

Wrap Up

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[40K] Competitive Innovations in 10th: Dataslate Deluge pt.2

Kippers’ Melee 2024

The Showdown

Burden of Trust – Prepared Positions – Search and Destroy

Thoughts

Result

Alex Conn – Tyranids (Synaptic Nexus) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Stu Angel – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Kyle Smith – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 3rd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Idavoll Heimdall – Necrons (Obeisance Phalanx) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

New York Open 3 (40k)

David Gross – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Evan Tomchin – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Goose Hunting Donuts

Андрей Островский – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Gaelcon 2024

Mark Morrow – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Safety’s Off Orktober GT

Robin Roberts – Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Battle Against Breast Cancer AZ

Jason Flanzer – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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