Deathwing Knights. They’re pretty good again, it turns out. Dark Angels seem to have muscled on in and deposed Blood Angels as the Marines to beat, with their unique units now providing them with an ultra-potent all-rounder package. Other flexible builds like Bringers of Flame and Thousand Sons are also performing strongly, and Aeldari are creeping up in win rate once more, but the big breakout is actually from Drukhari, who’ve had another absolutely outstanding week, putting up the best win rate by a significant margin, and preying on the rest of the top factions with great enthusiam. A mixture of strong mission play, strong anti-Marine capabilities and enough redundancy to survive the onslaught of Tsons and Sisters seems to be a winning formula – will anyone be able to stop them?

If you want to try and hald the Drukhari menace yourself, there are still tickets available for the upcoming Goonhammer Open UK, taking place on 7th and 8th September in Leicester. Kill elves, win a Golden Ticket and a fancy belt, what’s not to love?

Josh Roberts, returning UK Goonhammer Open Championship Belt holder, Spring 2024

Check it our here.

Anyway, on to events that have already happened – today I’ll be starting with:

The North East Open 2024
Boise Cup 2024! (40k)
Winter Warfest
FactoruM Warhammer 40,000 GT July 2024
Free State MId Summer GT

On Friday we’ll have Lowest of Men covering:

Waterdeep GT 3ra Edición
Protect Ya Neck
Clowns Massacre
The Carolina Open Hosted by Away Games

We have, as ever, submitted the Showdowns for a Patron vote, and this week they’ve selected:

Outlander Claw GSC vs Imperial Knights at Winter Warfest
Realspace Raiders (yes, you read that right) Drukhari vs Chaos Knights at Clowns Massacre

The North East Open 2024

105-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on July 27 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Innes Wilson – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++++++++++++++++++++
Player: Innes “Lennon’t” Wilson
Team: Stat Check
Faction: Adeptus Astartes, Imperial Agents
Total Points: 1995
Detachment Rule:
Enhancements: Apothecary Biologis – Fire Discipline, Judiciar: The Honour Vehement

++++++++++++++++++++

The Same as Last Year (1995 points)

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

CHARACTERS

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

Azrael (105 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
1x The Lion Helm
1x The Sword of Secrets

Judiciar (85 points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade
• Enhancement: The Honour Vehement

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Thunder hammer
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 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

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

Deathwing Knights (235 points)
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Power weapon

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

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

Inner Circle Companions (180 points)
• 6x Inner Circle Companion
• 6x Calibanite greatsword
6x Heavy bolt pistol

Repulsor (180 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon
1x Hunter-slayer missile
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
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

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: v434

Archetype

Deathwing GTF

Thoughts

I present exhibit A. Or perhaps exhibit D. Killing Deathwing Knights is hard and killing three units of them is a total nightmare, giving this build a very strong bullying core, especially when you can Advance/Charge the whole lot on a go turn. They also provide great protection for the incredibly nasty Eradicator unit, which will cheerfully step out and blow multiple targets to bits at once, then skulk back into their Repulsor if anything tries to punish them. We’re in a melee-heavy metagame and this list is just a complete nightmare to handle with any sort of melee army, something that’s rounded out by the Inner Circle Companions/Judiciar squad, which basically no elite Infantry in the game can safely charge (except maybe full Primaris Crusader units). We would expect no less than an exceptionally strong build from Innes, and big congratulations on another major trophy.

Pearce Condren – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Yugioh (2000 points)

Thousand Sons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Cult of Magic

CHARACTERS

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

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

Infernal Master (90 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation

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

Thousand Sons Daemon Prince with Wings (180 points)
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon

Thousand Sons Sorcerer (130 points)
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancement: Lord of Forbidden Lore

Thousand Sons Sorcerer (115 points)
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal

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

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
9x Cultist firearm

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

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

Archetype

Rubricae/Character Tsons

Thoughts

There has been no point in 10th Edition where this has not been an extremely good army. I do not thing you need me to explain it to you any longer, and the fact it doesn’t massively rely on D2 weaponry to get stuff done can only help in a Deathwing Knight-heavy metagame. The Winged Daemon Prince is the only notable divergence from the norm, and I assume a nod to the Pariah missions generally demanding a bit more movement flexiblity from you. Seems to have worked out pretty well – congratulations to Pearce on undefeated second!

Will Whitaker – Adepta Sororitas (Penitent Host) – 3rd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Flaming, faithful and penitent (2000 Points)

Adepta Sororitas
Penitent Host
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Daemonifuge (85 Points)
• 1x Ephrael Stern
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Sanctity
• 1x Kyganil of the Bloody Tears
• 1x The Outcast’s Weapons

Dialogus (60 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Dialogus staff
• Enhancements: Psalm of Righteous Judgement

Ministorum Priest (75 Points)
• 1x Zealot’s vindictor
• Enhancements: Refrain of Enduring Faith

Ministorum Priest (65 Points)
• 1x Zealot’s vindictor
• Enhancements: Verse of Holy Piety

Triumph of Saint Katherine (190 Points)
• Warlord
• 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

Arco-flagellants (150 Points)
• 10x Arco-flagellant
• 10x Arco-flails

Arco-flagellants (45 Points)
• 3x Arco-flagellant
• 3x Arco-flails

Arco-flagellants (150 Points)
• 10x Arco-flagellant
• 10x Arco-flails

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

Repentia Squad (180 Points)
• 1x Repentia Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Neural whips
• 9x Sister Repentia
• 9x Penitent eviscerator

Repentia Squad (90 Points)
• 1x Repentia Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Neural whips
• 4x Sister Repentia
• 4x Penitent eviscerator

Archetype

Combined Arms Penitent Host

Thoughts

Rounding out the undefeated podium players, Will breaks from the crowd on Sisters by running Penitent Host instead of Bringers, though keeps a fair amount of the Bringers energy in terms of the supporting cast. Castigators are just tremendously efficient with bascially no help, and the Dominion/Immolator setup provides a healthy mix of utility and anti-tank punch. In this build, your opponent is inevitably going to start out somewhat on the back foot, and that’s going to give you a good initial window to inflict heavy attrition damage, then mop up whatever is left. The key Penitent stratagems are great for keeping the foe tied up for that little bit longer, and you can also catch people out with the fact that Fall Back/Shoot does work on Castigators or Dominions here, which not everyone will see coming. Builds like this, mixing a moderate contingent of detachment-focused tools with quality all-rounders, tend to take a bit longer to emerge, but often end up amongst the strongest choices in the long term, so well done to Will on putting this recipe together and taking it through five rounds unscathed.

Dave Taylor – Black Templars (Righteous Crusaders) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Lovely day for a crusade (2000 points)

Space Marines
Black Templars
Strike Force (2000 points)
Righteous Crusaders

CHARACTERS

Judiciar (70 points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade

Lieutenant (100 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Master-crafted power weapon
1x Neo-volkite pistol
1x Storm Shield
• Enhancement: Tännhauser’s Bones

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades

The Emperor’s Champion (75 points)
• 1x Black Sword
1x Bolt Pistol

BATTLELINE

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

Primaris Crusader Squad (280 points)
• 1x Primaris Sword Brother
• 1x Power weapon
1x Pyre pistol
• 11x Primaris Initiate
• 2x Astartes chainsword
11x Bolt pistol
5x Bolt rifle
11x Close combat weapon
6x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Power fist
• 8x Primaris Neophyte
• 8x Astartes chainsword
8x Bolt pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Black Templars Impulsor (90 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Multi-melta
1x Shield dome
2x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Black Templars Gladiator Lancer (170 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Lancer laser destroyer
1x Multi-melta
2x Storm bolter

Eradicator Squad (95 points)
• 1x Eradicator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
• 2x Eradicator
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
1x Multi-melta

Land Raider Redeemer (285 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Flamestorm cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Multi-melta
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin assault cannon

Primaris Sword Brethren (150 points)
• 1x Sword Brother Castellan
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 4x Primaris Sword Brother
• 1x Plasma pistol
2x Power weapon
2x Pyre pistol
1x Thunder hammer
1x Twin lightning claws

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

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

Archetype

Combined Arms Templars

Thoughts

Dark Angels may be on top right now, but despite several rounds of nerfs Black Templars are still going pretty strong. Similar to the Penitent Host, the Templars detachment is great for putting your foe on the back foot and keeping them there, at which point the various shooty toys this list is packing can make themselves known. The single gigantic Primaris Crusader brick is also a uniquely durable melee unit, one of the few things that can wade into the really nasty Fights First units that are about the metagame and get away with it, or alternatively absorb a charge from ten re-rolling Incubi and live to tell the table. That’s a great enabler for playing a melee game, and the fact that you also have your own Fight First threat via the Judiciar/Brethren is gravy. When melee dominates the metagame, it becomes important that you can cross a certain bar of “good at melee” before it’s worth investing heavily into it, and this build makes very effective use of the Templars’ tools to pull that off, well done Dave.

The Best of the Rest

There were 14 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

5th – James Greensmith – World Eaters: Eightbound-tastic World Eaters, going for the full six squads, most of them MSUs and one big Exalted brick for particularly crunchy targets.
6th – Allan Davidson – Ynnari: MSU keep-away/scoring Ynnari with three D-cannons. Please, they can’t nerf them any more. How is this still happening. Also a big Troupe with the Visarch, increasingly excellent tech right now.
7th – Tom Wright – Astra Militarum: Bullgryn, Russes and triple Basilisk. I mean at least with those they dropped the price back down I, guess.
8th – Daniel Whitaker – Aeldari: Speedy MSU Aeldari with Aspects to score and apply mild pressure, then three units of shooty Skyweavers and three War Walkers for biggers guns.
9th – Chris Cuerden – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): Lots of melee Infantry, including Bladeguard, Assault Intercessors and Wulfen, plus a few shooty platforms in support. Also Bjorn. Love Bjorn.
10th – Adam Gladders – Grey Knights: Triple MSU Terminators, triple Dreadknight.
11th – Kyle Grundy – T’au Empire (Kauyon): Go-wide shooting with Sky Rays, Riptides and the surprising include of plasma Fireknife units – look, the Space Marines aren’t going to atomise themselves are they?.
12th – Samuel Norton-Alexander – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): Speedy flame Sisters, going to two big Seraphim units.
13th – Nathan Whitbread – Black Templars (Ironstorm Spearhead): Gladiators for days plus a small counter-punch piece from the Emperor’s Champion and some Sword Brethren.
14th – Mike Tangney – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Extra shooty Skysplinter, adding a Voidraven (another great Marine killer) and some Ravagers, plus dipping into Harlequins for a couple of Lone Ops.
15th – David Leniewski – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): C’tan spam with a Tesseract Vault adding even more heft.
16th – Craig Bedford – Death Guard: Melee hull Death Guard with Bloat Drones and Karnivores led into battle by Mortarion.
17th – Ben Nattrass – Blood Angels (Sons of Sanguinius): Plenty of the usual jump pack suspects, but also lots of foot melee threats from Assault intercessor/Captain units in Impulsors and a double Death Company Rhino.
18th – Ratnu Vaidya – Chaos Knights: Dogs and a few Daemons.

Boise Cup 2024! (40k)

51-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Boise, ID, US on July 27 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Trenton Bates – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Cup (2000 Points)

Drukhari
Skysplinter Assault
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Archon (75 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Huskblade

Archon (95 Points)
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Huskblade
• Enhancements: Nightmare Shroud

Archon (75 Points)
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Huskblade

Beastmaster (105 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

Lelith Hesperax (85 Points)
• 1x Lelith’s blades

BATTLELINE

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

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

Court of the Archon (85 Points)
• 1x Lhamaean
• 1x Shaimeshi blade
• 1x Medusae
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Eyeburst
• 1x Sslyth
• 1x Shardcarbine
1x Splinter pistol
1x Sslyth battle-blade
• 1x Ur-ghul
• 1x Ur-ghul talons

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

Incubi (75 Points)
• 4x Incubi
• 4x Klaive
• 1x Klaivex
• 1x Klaive

Mandrakes (65 Points)
• 1x Nightfiend
• 1x Baleblast
1x Glimmersteel blade
• 4x Mandrake
• 4x Baleblast
4x Glimmersteel blade

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

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

Tantalus (230 Points)
• 1x Dire scythe blades
1x Pulse disintegrators

Exported with App Version: v1.18.0 (41), Data Version: v434

Archetype

Tantalus Skysplinter

Thoughts

Hmm, this one should also be exhibit D. Awkward. Let’s go with exhibit T, because there’s a Tantalus afoot. It’s great at killing Marines, it’s very tricksy to deal with thanks to Skysplinter’s reactive move, and it gives you the unique capability of transporting a full-sized Kabalite unit with a Court attached, which creates an extremely adaptable unit that’s great for Secret Missions. That plus all the other Transports give you one of Drukhari’s classic upsides, which is that fast mechanised builds can be hard for melee lists to deal with. They get a few more options in 10th thanks to changed to pile-ins, but in general you still have a tonne of agency to control how trades happen, which can be exploited to confound the mon-keigh and achieve victory – exactly what Trenton did here.

Jeff Elston – Aeldari (Battle Host) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Wraith Host (2000 points)

Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host

CHARACTERS

Farseer (80 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witchblade

Farseer Skyrunner (90 points)
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Witchblade

Karandras (90 points)
• 1x Arhra’s Bane
1x Isirmathil
1x The Scorpion’s Bite

Spiritseer (80 points)
• 1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witch staff
• Enhancement: The Weeping Stones

BATTLELINE

Guardian Defenders (100 points)
• 10x Guardian Defender
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Heavy Weapon Platform
• 1x Bright lance
1x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Falcon (140 points)
• 1x Bright lance
1x Pulse laser
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull

Howling Banshees (70 points)
• 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
• 1x Executioner
1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Howling Banshee
• 4x Banshee blade
4x Shuriken pistol

Shroud Runners (80 points)
• 3x Shroud Runner
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Ranger long rifle
3x Scatter laser
3x Shuriken pistol

Skyweavers (105 points)
• 2x Skyweaver
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Skyweaver haywire cannon
2x Star bolas

Striking Scorpions (65 points)
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
• 1x Mandiblasters
1x Scorpion chainsword
1x Scorpion’s claw
• 4x Striking Scorpion
• 4x Mandiblasters
4x Scorpion chainsword
4x Shuriken pistol

Support Weapons (135 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult

Warp Spiders (125 points)
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Death spinner
1x Death spinner
1x Powerblades
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Death spinner

Windriders (80 points)
• 3x Windrider
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Shuriken cannon

Wraithblades (340 points)
• 10x Wraithblade
• 10x Forceshield
10x Ghostaxe

Wraithblades (170 points)
• 5x Wraithblade
• 5x Forceshield
5x Ghostaxe

Wraithlord (145 points)
• 2x Aeldari flamer
2x Bright lance
1x Ghostglaive
1x Wraithbone fists

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

Archetype

Wraithblade Anvil Aeldari

Thoughts

Something deliciously different in the second undefeated slot here – a classic anvil plus mechanised/speedy hammer Aeldari list, but with Wraithblades in place of the Avatar. I think that’s a good shout – I’ve found there are a few too many things that can just take the Avatar clean out at the moment, but doubling the total wound count goes a long way to fixing that, and being 3W models means they’re still reasonably resilient against D2 stuff. Bouncing both Deathwing Knight builds when Fortune is up is not too shabby either. They’re also great for tying something up so Karandras and his squad can get involved out of the Falcon, and with wound re-rolls up they’ll do some great blending. Presumably that’ll distract foes enough for all the scoring and harrassment tools in the rest of the list to secure victory, and Jeff leveraged that capability to take undefeated second.

The Best of the Rest

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

3rd (4.5-0.5) – Jacob Gold – Tyranids (Crusher Stampede): Monster mash, but as Crusher Stampede. Nature is healing. Or possibly mutating. Makes use of Haruspex as cheap, crunchy pressure.
4th – Shaun Sharp – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force): The Lion leads an all-rounder Dark Angels force, with other notable highlights being a super stacked Impulsor of ICCs, two Redemptors and a Repulsor full of Eradicators.
5th – Tom Eldredge – Adeptus Mechanicus (Rad-Zone Corps): Two big Breacher units, Ironstriders adding even more shooting, and lots of Skitarii to gum up the table. Nice to see another detachment being tried!
6th – Anthony Gilman – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force): Another all-rounder Lion GTF build, this time doubling up on Deathwing Knights.
7th – Ryan Brown – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Destructors and brawlers, the centrepiece being big units each of Terminators and Chosen, with Abaddon able to flex between them as needed.
8th – Isaac Dale – Grey Knights: All-rounder Grey Knights with a bit of everything and a full Paladin/Grand Master block as a centrepiece.

Winter Warfest

39-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Ipswich, Queensland, AU on July 26 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Take and Hold – Inspired Leadership – Tipping Point

Dylon Hopkins – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance)
Army List - Click to Expand

comp 1 (1975 points)

Imperial Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (435 points)
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
1x Freedom’s Hand

Knight Crusader (470 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Avenger gatling cannon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Rapid-fire battle cannon
1x Stormspear rocket pod
1x Titanic feet
• Enhancement: Mysterious Guardian

BATTLELINE

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

Armiger Warglaive (150 points)
• 1x Meltagun
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

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

Vindicare Assassin (80 points)
• 1x Exitus pistol
1x Exitus rifle
1x Vindicare combat knife

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

vs.

Erik Lathouras – Genestealer Cult (Outlander Claw)
Army List - Click to Expand

Erik “The Alien Majesty” Lathouras (2000 points)

Genestealer Cults
Strike Force (2000 points)
Outlander Claw

CHARACTERS

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

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

BATTLELINE

Acolyte Hybrids with Autopistols (70 points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Cult claws and knife
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon
1x Cult claws and knife
3x Heavy mining tool

Acolyte Hybrids with Hand Flamers (75 points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s bio-weapons
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
• 4x Cult claws and knife
4x Hand flamer

Neophyte Hybrids (70 points)
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hybrid firearm
• 9x Neophyte Hybrid
• 9x Autopistol
9x Close combat weapon
1x Cult Icon
1x Flamer
1x Grenade launcher
5x Hybrid firearm
1x Mining laser
1x Seismic cannon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Goliath Truck (85 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Demolition charge cache
1x Heavy stubber
1x Twin autocannon

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

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

Atalan Jackals (90 points)
• 4x Atalan Jackal
• 2x Atalan power weapon
3x Atalan small arms
2x Close combat weapon
1x Grenade launcher
• 1x Atalan Wolfquad
• 1x Atalan small arms
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mining laser

Goliath Rockgrinder (120 points)
• 1x Clearance incinerator
1x Demolition charge cache
1x Drilldozer blade
1x Heavy stubber

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

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

Thoughts

The cult saddle up here, with long-time Genestealer fan Erik giving them Outlander Claw its first big runaround here. This build is super cool, able to take control of the table at speed, and ration threats out very effectively thanks to all the Transports, and playing a fantastic Primary denial game thanks to high OC speedy threats. It’s also got at least some big damage tools – the two big Ridgerunner units will put out some fairly serious pain, and being able to protect them very effectively with Rapid Feint or Deft Maneuvring helps them a bunch. I still don’t think this army wins a damage race against most foes, but it at least keeps them occupied for a prolonged period, and I also like the option of wound re-rolling Kelermorphs (via Fire Support) to potentially ruin someone’s day.

They’re up against fairly stern opposition though – Canis Rex and a teleport Crusader, plus a whole host of Armigers and some Assassins. Can you play Primary denial against Knights? Does that work?

Honestly it still kind of does, yeah, particularly as I think for the Cults two big Knights is probably the sweet spot for opposition – I think three bigs would potentially be able to just run them over, while one big and many Armigers would be too high a volume of units to play the denial game against. The map is also good news – it largely mitigates the impact of the teleporting Crusader, and lets the Cult fairly safely take 10VP turns while focusing on keeping the Knights on 5s. For that, this list is absolutely world class at depositing exactly 10OC worth of models onto an objective, which is enough to deny scoring for any flavour of Knight, plus use expendable hulls to block positions. It only takes a few Armigers getting picked up by mining lasers and/or tools to start making it tough for the Knights to contest space.

I think the fail case for the Cults is being forced into a situation where they try to kill a big Knight and fail, which is a realistic prospect with the numbers they’re packing. As the Knights, that means your goal is to force that situation – get Canis Rex onto the middle objective, body blocking it so stuff can’t trivially drop in and flip it, and demand that the Cults take their best shot. They might do so and kill you, but they probably won’t through Rotate (and trying to position the Crusader to Overwatch the first mining tool squad), and if you can take a 15VP turn in an aggressive position, you’re suddenly in teh driving seat in a way that will leave the Cult scrambling, especially as you’ll almost certainly be able to switch on Shoulder the Burden for the ensuing rampage.

Definitely a go big or go home sort of situation, all told. In the end, go home was the answer – either they went hard and got spiked down fast, or they underestimated the denial risk and got closed out of the game by a commanding margin.

Result

Genestealer Cult (Outlander Claw) Victory – 97 – 50

Erik Lathouras – Genestealer Cult (Outlander Claw) – 1st Place

The List

See showdown

Archetype

Mechanised Denial Claw

Thoughts

All covered in the Showdown – this build is world class at denying points, and has enough damage to neutralise key threats on the way to doing so, and that combination gave Erik a series of comfortable wins at very high margins. Great work from Erik.

The Best of the Rest

There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Joshua Woods – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): A classic double Rhino/Berzerker setup.
3rd – Dylon Hopkins – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis Rex, a teleporting Crusader and some Armigers, with two Assassins adding some extra flexibility.
4th – Jacob Warn – Tyranids (Vanguard Onslaught): Mawlocs, a Flyrant, and two big melee Warrior bricks.
5th – Jack Tinning – Tyranids (Synaptic Nexus): Monster mash and Zoanthrope MSUs as Synaptic Nexus.
6th – Ben Williamson – World Eaters: Eightbound-heavy World Eaters (though still squeezing in one Berzerker squad.
7th – Keith Birkett – Chaos Daemons: Be’lakor, Big Bird and the Gift GUO, adding double big Bloodcrusher units as hammer pieces.
8th – Roger Birkett- Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): All-rounder Gladius with a bit of everything, supported by Armigers and Assassins.

FactoruM Warhammer 40,000 GT July 2024

36-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Sutton Veny, England, United Kingdom on July 27 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Alex Fowler – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

RTT proven (2000 points)

Thousand Sons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Cult of Magic

CHARACTERS

Ahriman on Disc of Tzeentch (140 points)
• 1x Black Staff of Ahriman
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Psychic Stalk

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

Infernal Master (125 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• Enhancement: Lord of Forbidden Lore

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

Thousand Sons Daemon Prince (170 points)
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon

BATTLELINE

Tzaangors (65 points)
• 1x Twistbray
• 1x Tzaangor blades
• 9x Tzaangor
• 1x Brayhorn
1x Herd banner
9x Tzaangor blades

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Thousand Sons Chaos Spawn (65 points)
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations

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

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

Archetype

Mutalith Tsons

Thoughts

Rubricae build – consistently good. Mutalith build? Also consistently good! Gives you more options to proactively pile on the pressure at a cost of slightly less redundancy on Rituals, which feels pretty valuable with Drukhari all over the place. No Drukhari were actually harmed in the making of this trophy finish, but plenty of Space Marines were – well done to Alex on the win.

Rob Elver – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

IG scion (1995 points)

Astra Militarum
Strike Force (2000 points)
Combined Regiment

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

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (80 points)
• 1x Tempestor Prime
• Warlord
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Tempestus dagger
• Enhancement: Death Mask of Ollanius
• 4x Tempestus Scion
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Grenade launcher
1x Hot-shot volley gun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun

Tank Commander (220 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Militarum plasma cannon
• Enhancement: Grand Strategist

BATTLELINE

Tempestus Scions (100 points)
• 1x Tempestor
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Tempestus Scion
• 9x Close combat weapon
4x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster

Tempestus Scions (50 points)
• 1x Tempestor
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 4x Tempestus Scion
• 4x Close combat weapon
2x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun

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

Basilisk (140 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Earthshaker cannon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Hunter-killer missile

Bullgryn Squad (180 points)
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ‘ead
• 1x Brute Shield
1x Bullgryn maul
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Bullgryn
• 5x Brute Shield
5x Bullgryn maul
5x Close combat weapon

Cyclops Demolition Vehicle (25 points)

Ratling Snipers (60 points)
• 5x Ratling Sniper
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Sniper rifle

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 (60 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Sentinel chainsaw

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

Archetype

Dorn and Scion Deluxe

Thoughts

An innovative Guard build takes the second undefeated slot here. Because of the Dorn’s once-per game ablative ability, they’re pretty good tools to open hostilities with, and this build has a lot of its followup punch held in Reserves/Transports via the many, many Scions, which can be skewed between Deep Strike or on-board Chimeras as needed. If all else fails, the Bullgryn can pull their classic trick of standing on a point and absolutely refusing to die. I really like how all this comes together – the army ends up very flexible in how hard it swings out of the gate, able to tune between an alpha or beta strike plan as needed, something many won’t see coming from Guard. Great stuff from Rob.

The Best of the Rest

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

3rd – Ethan Wright – Black Templars (Righteous Crusaders): Triple Land Raider, one packed with a full Sword Brethren brick of death.
4th – Graham Howard – Chaos Space Marines (Pactbound Zealots): Destructor/Vindicator shooting with Abaddon.
5th – Jack Chapman – Ynnari: Go-wide MSUs of all stripes.
6th – Andy Taylor – Tyranids (Vanguard Onslaught): A terrifying one-two punch of maximum Genestealers (all with Broodlords) followed by two Norn Emissaries.

Free State MId Summer GT

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Holton, KS, US on July 27 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Cody Jiru – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Freeballin at Free State (2000 points)

Drukhari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Skysplinter Assault

CHARACTERS

Archon (95 points)
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Huskblade
• Enhancement: Nightmare Shroud

Archon (75 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Huskblade

Beastmaster (105 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

Lelith Hesperax (85 points)
• 1x Lelith’s blades

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Court of the Archon (85 points)
• 1x Lhamaean
• 1x Shaimeshi blade
• 1x Medusae
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Eyeburst
• 1x Sslyth
• 1x Shardcarbine
1x Splinter pistol
1x Sslyth battle-blade
• 1x Ur-ghul
• 1x Ur-ghul talons

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

Incubi (150 points)
• 9x Incubi
• 9x Klaive
• 1x Klaivex
• 1x Demiklaives

Mandrakes (65 points)
• 1x Nightfiend
• 1x Baleblast
1x Glimmersteel blade
• 4x Mandrake
• 4x Baleblast
4x Glimmersteel blade

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

Talos (160 points)
• 2x Talos
• 2x Talos gauntlet
2x Twin Drukhari haywire blaster
2x Twin liquifier gun

Tantalus (230 points)
• 1x Dire scythe blades
1x Pulse disintegrators

Voidraven Bomber (215 points)
• 1x Bladed wings
2x Dark scythe
1x Voidraven missiles

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

Archetype

Tarpit Tantalus

Thoughts

Brat summer is over, now it’s big boat summer, apparently, as we’ve got another Tantalus here. Despite that similarity with the last Drukhari build we looked at, the rest of the list here is a fair bit different – it doubles down on big shooty hulls with a Voidraven (which is exquisitely good at murdering Marines), and packs a bunch of Beastmasters and Talos to gum things up while the wicked darklight work is done. Finish up with a Raider full of ultraviolence for counter-charge purposes and you have a very nasty build indeed, and one that plays really well into lots of the big threats. Great stuff from Cody.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Dan Sammons – Leagues of Votann (Oathband): Sagitaurs for days.
3rd – Treynor Wolfe – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): Speedy flame Sisters.
4th – Clint Eubanks – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis and all of his squires.
5th – Harout Baltayan – Chaos Space Marines (Chaos Cult): A horde of Accursed Communes backed by some Vindicators and Legionaries.
6th – Marc Nuessen – Grey Knights: Four Dreadknights and a big Terminator brick with Draigo.
7th – Matthew Doughman – Imperial Knights: The ultra-rare quadruple big Knight, packing two Lancers and two Atrapos.

Wrap Up

Part 1 complete, will part 2 bring more challenges, or just more Thousand Sons, Deathwing and Drukhari domination? Find out on Friday!

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Competitive Innovations in 10th: Night of the Living Deathwing pt.1

The North East Open 2024

Innes Wilson – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Pearce Condren – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Will Whitaker – Adepta Sororitas (Penitent Host) – 3rd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Dave Taylor – Black Templars (Righteous Crusaders) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Boise Cup 2024! (40k)

Trenton Bates – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Jeff Elston – Aeldari (Battle Host) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Winter Warfest

The Showdown

Take and Hold – Inspired Leadership – Tipping Point

Thoughts

Result

Erik Lathouras – Genestealer Cult (Outlander Claw) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

FactoruM Warhammer 40,000 GT July 2024

Alex Fowler – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Rob Elver – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Free State MId Summer GT

Cody Jiru – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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