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.
A shorter week this week with just five events firing while the rest of the Warhammer community spent the Easter break with their families. In this part we will cover:
A spicy game here putting one of the longer standing Marines builds against something altogether new and spicy. Fitting, really, that Josh, architect of the old, comes to bat here with the new against Chris! Ultramarines Gladius remains very potent, lots of output, Gulliman for force multiplying and mini-game antics, and Desolators for picking off hard to reach targets. It can’t afford a serious asset loss situation and you have to make every component sing, but the raw output is undeniable.
In the BA corner, an absolute wave of flying trash out ahead of transports and Bladeguard commits you to a pretty singular plan – stage, and go. If this connects en masse it is going to leave smoking craters in places pretty quickly. I am loathe to say this is a first turn game but between the massed stage and fight approach of the BA, and the Desolator antics of the Ultramarines, first turn momentum does feel pretty crucial for getting the party started before bad things can happen to you. In the event, it appears that the BA simply overran the Ultramarines – if you have a turn where you need to clear most of the BA army (a task even double Oaths will struggle with), then there will always be risk of this!
Result
Blood Angels Victory – 20-0
Josh Roberts – Blood Angels – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
BA Glasshammer GT List (2000 points)
Space Marines
Blood Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Liberator Assault Group
Brutal BA combat, proving the Liberation Assault Group remains powerful even after recent adjustments. Big packs of Assault Jump Pack Intercessors are ideal for sweeping aside units like Howling Banshees – kill the majority of the squad on impact and Fights First simply isn’t going to matter! Bladeguard have officially landed at ‘so cheap you might as well run 18’, and I think we will all suffer for it in the short term. I like the include of the Rage Fuelled captain with Sternguard so he can blitz regardless of positioning near objectives. Amazing work on the event win!
Christopher Radford – Ultramarines – 2nd Place
Model Credit: Games Workshop. Photo Credit: Kevin Stillman
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
UM Gladius – Glasshammer (1995 points)
Space Marines
Ultramarines
Strike Force (2000 points)
Gladius Task Force
Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (76), Data Version: v589
Archetype
Ultramarines Gladius with Desos
Thoughts
A powerful, well established meta-entity, Ultramarines Gladius continues to boss proceedings at the top of the game. Marines in general seem to be able to compete with quite an array of builds right now. Double Incursors get some early pressure on and amp up the vehicles to greater potential. The list seems well suited for going toe-to-toe with a whole host of enemies. Well done Chris!
Vik Vijay – Aeldari – 3rd Place
Aeldari Wave Serpent (photo courtesy of Musterkrux)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Vik | Ignite | Fireside 40K
Aeldari
Devoted of Ynnead
Strike Force (2000 Points)
An interesting spin on the conventional Ynnari MSU that packs in two big slabs of Swooping Hawks – the mortal wound scatter from these is very effective in the mirror and helps to brutalise a wider range of targets without being committed to an anti-tank role. It seems like Fire Dragons make way primarily here to fund more Reapers and Hawks – longer range and a wider range of target profiles all makes sense to me! Very well done on the top placing.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – Chaos Space Marines
+ DETACHMENT: Creations of Bile
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+ ALLIED UNITS: Legiones Daemonica
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Fabius Bile
+ ENHANCEMENT: Prime Test Subject (on Char1: Chaos Lord)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 17
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (4×2) – Assassination: 4 Characters – Cull The Horde: 3×5
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2x Fabius Bile (85 pts)
• 1x Fabius Bile
• 1x Rod of Torment
• 1x The Chirurgeon
• 1x Xyclos needler
• 1x Surgeon Acolyte
• 1x Surgeon Acolyte’s tools
• Warlord
1x Chaos Lord (125 pts)
• 1x Daemon hammer
• 1x Plasma pistol
• Prime Test Subject (+35 pts)
Creations of Bile tend towards an all-in approach, and this tempers it with a couple of gun tanks to keep opponents honest. One baby squad of Warp Talons feels a very nice include in a meta filled with T3 chaff running about, and otherwise the list doubles down on big bricks of murder. Lovely stuff.
The Best of the Rest
5th – Alex Ginns – Leagues of Votann: Basically everything Votann that isn’t Hearthguard!
10th – Paulie Wallis – Drukhari: Reaper’s Drukhari with Incubi, a Court, and a brick of Harlequins.
11th – Kyle Grundy – T’au Empire: Massed Suits in Ret Cadre, hell yeah!
12th – Joshua P – Chaos Space Marines: Chaos Cult Accursed with a smattering of tanks.
13th – Tim Oliver-Duckhouse – Imperial Knights: Canis, Cerastus, lots of Armigers.
14th – Ray Harkins – Chaos Knights: A Rampager, lots of Dogs and some Daemons.
15th – Jack Downing – T’au Empire: Aux Cadre Tau with Rampagers and plenty of gun.
16th – Paul Stewart – World Eaters: Vessels Eightbound spam with some Maulerfiends.
17th – Darren Chapman – Drukhari: Talos / Cronos spam in Realspace Raiders – I quite enjoy the big Scourge squad with Heat Lances.
18th – Korben Lowthorpe – Black Templars: Gladius Templars with Emperor’s Champion / Sword Brethren in the mix.
Gothcon 40k Open
58-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Västra Götalands län, SE on April 18 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Emil Söderholm – Deathwatch (Unknown Detachment) – 1st Place
Credit: Alfredo Ramirez
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Deathwatch
+ DETACHMENT: Black Spear Task Force
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Captain in Gravis Armour
+ ENHANCEMENT: The Tome of Ectoclades (on Char1: Captain in Gravis Armour)
& Thief of Secrets (on Char2: Judiciar)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 15
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (1×2) – Assassination: 4 Characters – Cull The Horde: 2×5
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Char1: 1x Captain in Gravis Armour (110 pts): Warlord, Master-crafted Heavy Bolt Rifle, Master-crafted Power Weapon
Enhancement: The Tome of Ectoclades (+30 pts)
Char2: 1x Judiciar (95 pts): Absolver Bolt Pistol, Executioner Relic Blade
Enhancement: Thief of Secrets (+25 pts)
Char3: 1x Lieutenant in Phobos Armour (55 pts): Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted Scoped Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
Char4: 1x Lieutenant in Phobos Armour (55 pts): Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted Scoped Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
10x Deathwatch Veterans (200 pts)
• 9x Model
3 with Astartes shield, Power weapon
4 with Deathwatch thunder hammer
2 with Close combat weapon, Infernus heavy bolter
• 1x Sgt: Astartes shield, Xenophase blade
5x Intercessor Squad (80 pts)
• 4x Intercessor
3 with Bolt Pistol, Bolt Rifle, Close Combat Weapon
1 with Astartes Grenade Launcher, Bolt Pistol, Bolt Rifle, Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Bolt Rifle, Power Fist
5x Deathwatch Terminator Squad (190 pts)
• 4x Deathwatch Terminator
1 with Storm Shield, Thunder Hammer
3 with Cyclone Missile Launcher, Storm Bolter & Power Fist, Cyclone Missile Launcher
• 1x Deathwatch Terminator Sergeant: Storm Shield, Thunder Hammer
5x Deathwatch Terminator Squad (190 pts)
• 4x Deathwatch Terminator
1 with Storm Shield, Thunder Hammer
3 with Cyclone Missile Launcher, Storm Bolter & Power Fist, Cyclone Missile Launcher
• 1x Deathwatch Terminator Sergeant: Storm Shield, Thunder Hammer
5x Deathwatch Terminator Squad (190 pts)
• 4x Deathwatch Terminator
1 with Storm Shield, Thunder Hammer
3 with Cyclone Missile Launcher, Storm Bolter & Power Fist, Cyclone Missile Launcher
• 1x Deathwatch Terminator Sergeant: Storm Shield, Thunder Hammer
5x Incursor Squad (80 pts)
• 4x Incursor
3 with Bolt Pistol, Occulus Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
1 with Haywire Mine, Bolt Pistol, Occulus Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
• 1x Incursor Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Occulus Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
5x Incursor Squad (80 pts)
• 4x Incursor
3 with Bolt Pistol, Occulus Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
1 with Haywire Mine, Bolt Pistol, Occulus Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
• 1x Incursor Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Occulus Bolt Carbine, Paired Combat Blades
10x Indomitor Kill Team (270 pts)
2 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle
2 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Deathwatch heavy bolter
2 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Melta rifle
1 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Multi-melta
3 with Flamestorm gauntlets, Twin power fists
10x Indomitor Kill Team (270 pts)
2 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle
2 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Deathwatch heavy bolter
2 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Melta rifle
1 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Multi-melta
3 with Flamestorm gauntlets, Twin power fists
1x Invader ATV (60 pts): Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Twin Bolt Rifle, Multi-melta
1x Rhino (75 pts): Armoured Tracks, Hunter Killer Missile, Storm Bolter
Archetype
Deathwatch Kill Teams
Thoughts
Deathwatch continue to sneak about ticking off crucial missions at the top of the game at the moment. Uppy downy, bolstered shooting, and a very nice suite of tools to adapt to different situations goes a long way on them! They want boards where tasty angles can be found, and there is definitely collapse risk to a build running so few units in total. That makes this event win all the more impressive – really well done!
Victor Bergenholtz – Grey Knights (Warpbane Taskforce) – 2nd Place
Grey Knights Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight. Credit: Colin Ward
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Grey Knights
+ DETACHMENT: Warpbane Task Force
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+ ALLIED UNITS: Imperial Knights & Agents of the Imperium
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight
+ ENHANCEMENT:
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 12
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (7×2) – Assassination: 4 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHARACTER
1x Castellan Crowe (90 pts)
• 1x Black Blade of Antwyr
• 1x Purifying Flame
• 1x Storm bolter
1x Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (210 pts)
• 1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Heavy incinerator
• 1x Heavy psycannon
• Warlord
1x Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (210 pts)
• 1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Heavy incinerator
• 1x Heavy psycannon
More teleporting Imperium mischief next, as Warpbane brings along a few Armigers to help anchor the midboard. OC 8 is a delicious thing to access on a single base, and alongside the Dreadknights it adds to the saturation of damage 3 available if opponents try to push. Much like Deathwatch, GK are hard to pilot right now but remain extremely versatile and deadly if able to get into their stride. Well done on the top placing.
Dag Samuelsson – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor) – 3rd Place
Custodian Guard. Credit: Edwin “Lupe” Moriarty
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
Adeptus Custodes
Lions of the Emperor
Strike Force (2000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Blade Champion (120 Points)
• 1x Vaultswords
Blade Champion (120 Points)
• 1x Vaultswords
Blade Champion (120 Points)
• 1x Vaultswords
Shield-Captain in Allarus Terminator Armour (155 Points)
• 1x Balistus grenade launcher
• 1x Guardian spear
• Enhancements: Superior Creation
Lions brings a lot of new life to Custodes, but sometimes, you’ve just gotta jam some Wardens and get ready to make 4s. Triple Blade Champ Warden is exceptional on boards where it can carefully orchestrate one on ones, and this list packs some heft in behind it with two squads of Guard. A solo Allarus Captain is a nice choice- loads of fun to be had there! Really well done on the top placing.
Olof Svensson – Leagues of Votann (Unknown Detachment) – 4th Place
Leagues of Votann Hearthkyn Warriors. Credit: Rich Nutter
The List
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Leagues of Votann
+ DETACHMENT: Oathband
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1990pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Einhyr Champion
+ ENHANCEMENT: Appraising Glare (on Char1: Brôkhyr Iron-master)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 14
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (3×2) + (2×4) – Assassination: 2 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
10x Hearthkyn Warriors (100 pts)
• 9x Hearthkyn Warrior
4 with Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Autoch-pattern bolter
1 with Pan spectral scanner, Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Autoch-pattern bolter
1 with Medipack, Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Autoch-pattern bolter
1 with Comms array, Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Autoch-pattern bolter
1 with Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, HYLas rotary cannon*
1 with Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, HYLas auto rifle*
• 1x Theyn: Weavefield crest, Close combat weapon, Etacarn plasma pistol, Kin melee weapon
10x Hearthkyn Warriors (100 pts)
• 9x Hearthkyn Warrior
4 with Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Autoch-pattern bolter
1 with Pan spectral scanner, Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Autoch-pattern bolter
1 with Medipack, Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Autoch-pattern bolter
1 with Comms array, Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Autoch-pattern bolter
1 with Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, HYLas rotary cannon*
1 with Autoch-pattern bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, HYLas auto rifle*
• 1x Theyn: Weavefield crest, Close combat weapon, Etacarn plasma pistol, Kin melee weapon
10x Cthonian Beserks (200 pts)
8 with Concussion maul
2 with Mole grenade launcher, Concussion maul
10x Cthonian Beserks (200 pts)
8 with Concussion maul
2 with Mole grenade launcher, Concussion maul
10x Hernkyn Yaegirs (90 pts)
8 with Close combat weapon, Bolt revolver and plasma knife
1 with APM launcher, Close combat weapon
1 with Close combat weapon, Magna-coil rifle
6x Hernkyn Pioneers (180 pts)
1 with Bolt revolver, Bolt shotgun, Magna-coil autocannon, Plasma knife
1 with Comms array, Bolt revolver, Bolt shotgun, Magna-coil autocannon, Plasma knife
2 with Bolt revolver, Bolt shotgun, HYLas rotary cannon, Magna-coil autocannon, Plasma knife
1 with Pan-spectral scanner, Bolt revolver, Bolt shotgun, Magna-coil autocannon, Plasma knife
1 with Rollbar searchlight, Bolt revolver, Bolt shotgun, Magna-coil autocannon, Plasma knife
6x Hernkyn Pioneers (180 pts)
1 with Bolt revolver, Bolt shotgun, Magna-coil autocannon, Plasma knife
1 with Comms array, Bolt revolver, Bolt shotgun, Magna-coil autocannon, Plasma knife
2 with Bolt revolver, Bolt shotgun, HYLas rotary cannon, Magna-coil autocannon, Plasma knife
1 with Pan-spectral scanner, Bolt revolver, Bolt shotgun, Magna-coil autocannon, Plasma knife
1 with Rollbar searchlight, Bolt revolver, Bolt shotgun, Magna-coil autocannon, Plasma knife
1x Hekaton Land Fortress (225 pts): Pan spectral scanner, Armoured wheels, MATR autocannon, SP heavy conversion beamer, 2x Twin bolt cannon
1x Hekaton Land Fortress (225 pts): Pan spectral scanner, Armoured wheels, MATR autocannon, SP heavy conversion beamer, 2x Twin bolt cannon
1x Sagitaur (115 pts): Armoured wheels, Twin bolt cannon, HYLas beam cannon
1x Sagitaur (115 pts): Armoured wheels, Twin bolt cannon, HYLas beam cannon
1x Sagitaur (115 pts): Armoured wheels, Twin bolt cannon, HYLas beam cannon
Archetype
Leagues of Votann Bezerk Forts
Thoughts
A build pioneered at last WTC, 20 Bezerks in Land Forts is no joke. These little guys punch up into almost anything, present a fight on death tarpit for MSU traders to drown in, and the Mole Launchers bring some nice indirect / slowing on top of that! 12 Pioneer bikers sit just behind absolutely hoovering things up. A really powerful, versatile build. Great work!
The Best of the Rest
There was 1 more players on a 5-1 records. They were:
5th – Björn Eriksson – Adeptus Custodes: Lions Warden spam.
Wrap Up
There we have it folks! Custodes assert some dominance, and a few of the niche Imperium picks break out amongst the usual suspects. Loads going on as we head into the summer of Chaos, get out and take names!
Lowest of Men, out.
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Sidhu – Chaos Daemons: Daemonic Incursion monster mash.
