Welp, it’s finally happened, this week we’re going to three parts.
That’s because the past weekend was an absolutely astounding blowout of 40K, featuring ~1200 players participating in 16 GT+ events (around half of them majors) and that doesn’t even account for there being at least three major+ sized team events happening across Europe. That’s so much goddamn Warhammer.
Hopefully this is indicative that players are having a great time in the current metagame (I certainly have been), and this week we’ve got some more big swings at the top. Necrons have clearly been biding their time, and have put in a pretty commanding performance, hitting the dangerous double of most played faction and highest win rate for the weekend. That seems to be driven by the rise of Hypercrypt Legion – while Canoptek Court has a marginally higher overall win rate, Hypercrypt has a much higher prevalence now, and crucially (from a look at Stat Check’s latest dashboard), has a spectacularly better matchup into Adeptus Custodes than Court does. Given how popular Custodes are too (and still going pretty strong), that makes Hypercrypt a much more reliable route to a strong finish, so a wide-ranging pivot to it has probably taken a cap off Necrons performance potential (especially with some practiced players.
That’s not to say it’s all going the Necrons way mind – Grey Knights have put in some strong performances, Thousand Sons and Aeldari continue to eke out life after nerfs, and there’s plenty of great performances from other armies as well. While evidence mounts that C’tan need a bit of point hike, the metagame is excitingly diverse overall, and there are very few factions you can’t put in a strong performance with if you know what you’re doing. There’s even a 4-1 finish from Deathwatch. I literally cannot remember the last time that happened.
Anyway, on to what we’ve got for you. We’re doing part 1 with me today, part 2 with Lowest of Men on Friday, and part 3 from me again on Saturday. These will include:
Today:
- Frontline Gaming Cherokee Open 2024 Warhammer 40K Champs
- The Art of Warp 8ème Ed.- OPEN
- Milwaukee Warhammer 40k GT
- BrewHammer GT5
- Heroes Of The Mid Tables Winter GT 2024
- TOK-spelen
Friday:
- Scheunenkloppen Open – War Zone Erkelenz 2: GT 2024
- Octopoutre Solo – W40k – Hérault Quest
- Dice Arcade GT
- Alliance Open 40K Masters
- Geekfest – Warhammer 40K GT
Saturday:
- Games of Westeros XVII
- Broadsword Wargaming 40K ITC Winter Major III
- Norcal Open GT 2024
- Game Knight Warhammer 40,000 Grand Tournament
- HWP Salty Classic GT February 2024
Our showdowns will be:
- Drukhari vs Tau at The Art of Warp
- Aeldari vs Tau at Geekfest
- Stormlance Space Wolves vs Imperial Knights at the Norcal Open GT
Frontline Gaming Cherokee Open 2024 Warhammer 40K Champs
246-player, 9-round Supermajor in Cherokee, NC, US on February 23 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Noah Neundorfer – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand + Configuration + Battle Size: 2. Strike Force (2000 Point limit) Detachment Choice: Cult of Magic + Epic Hero + Ahriman [3Cabal Points, 130pts] Magnus the Red [4Cabal Points, 440pts] + Character + Exalted Sorcerer [2Cabal Points, 120pts]: Prosperine khopesh, Umbralefic Crystal, Warpflame pistol Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch [2Cabal Points, 115pts]: Prosperine khopesh, Warpflame pistol Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch [2Cabal Points, 140pts]: Lord of Forbidden Lore, Prosperine khopesh, Warpflame pistol Infernal Master [2Cabal Points, 105pts]: Arcane Vortex + Battleline + Rubric Marines [1Cabal Points, 210pts]: Icon of Flame Rubric Marines [1Cabal Points, 210pts]: Icon of Flame Rubric Marines [1Cabal Points, 105pts]: Icon of Flame Tzaangors [65pts]: Brayhorn, Herd banner Tzaangors [65pts]: Brayhorn, Herd banner + Beast + Thousand Sons Chaos Spawn [65pts] Thousand Sons Chaos Spawn [65pts] + Monster + Mutalith Vortex Beast [165pts] ++ Total: [18Cabal Points, 2,000pts] ++ Created with BattleScribe ()
“If I get on Goonhammer with Tzaangors it’ll be hilarious”
++ Army Roster (Chaos – Thousand Sons) [18Cabal Points, 2,000pts] ++
. Aspiring Sorcerer: Warpflame pistol
. 9x Rubric Marine w/ warpflamer: 9x Close combat weapon, 9x Warpflamer
. Aspiring Sorcerer: Warpflame pistol
. 9x Rubric Marine w/ warpflamer: 9x Close combat weapon, 9x Warpflamer
. Aspiring Sorcerer: Warpflame pistol
. 4x Rubric Marine w/ warpflamer: 4x Close combat weapon, 4x Warpflamer
. Pistol and chainsword
. 9x Tzaangor blades: 9x Tzaangor blades
. Pistol and chainsword
. 9x Tzaangor blades: 9x Tzaangor blades
Archetype
Magnus and the Goats
Thoughts
Never count Thousand Sons out – their combination of tricks and astonishing spike damage output continue to keep them relevant, and being relatively good into Necrons puts them in an excellent position in a robot-heavy metagame. This build, as the title calls out, adds some Tzaangors as flexible early chaff, crucially providing a way to park a lot of OC on an objective without committing Rubricae and precious Characters, avoiding it being easily flipped with movement shenanigans. Full Warpflamer units provide further discouragement to any opponent planning sneaky teleporting shenanigans, and if you need to go on the offence you’ve got Magnus and a Mutalith as the tip of the spear. This build can handle pretty much anything the world throws at it, and has a very high mastery ceiling, which Noah has elegantly demonstrated with victory at the weekend’s biggest event!
Joshua Campbell – Necrons (Canoptek Court) – 2nd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Necrons CHARACTERS C’tan Shard of the Nightbringer (255 points) C’tan Shard of the Void Dragon (270 points) Plasmancer (55 points) Technomancer (80 points) Technomancer (75 points) Transcendent C’tan (275 points) BATTLELINE Immortals (140 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Canoptek Doomstalker (135 points) Canoptek Doomstalker (135 points) Canoptek Reanimator (75 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Lokhust Destroyers (30 points) Lokhust Destroyers (30 points) Exported with App Version: v1.10.1 (38), Data Version: v336
WRAITHS ARE FUN AND BALANCED AND ANYONE WHO DISAGREES WITH ME HAS TO GET WITHIN 12 INCHES FOR ME TO HEAR YOU (1995 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Canoptek Court
• 1x Gaze of death
1x Scythe of the Nightbringer
• 1x Canoptek tail blades
1x Spear of the Void Dragon
1x Voltaic storm
• Warlord
• 1x Plasmic lance
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Dimensional Sanctum
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Hyperphasic Fulcrum
• 1x Crackling tendrils
1x Seismic assault
• 10x Immortal
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Tesla carbine
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayer
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayer
• 2x Atomiser beam
1x Reanimator’s claws
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannon
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannon
Archetype
Canoptek Court
Thoughts
Narrowly losing out to Noah in a knife-edge finals, Joshua bucks the trend of people switching to Hypercrypt by staying on the Court plan, deploying a build that I think is pretty much the best version of the detachment. Generically good long-ranged shooting is something that many Necron builds don’t have, so taking advantage of Doomstalkers being fantastic in Court is a way of throwing a curveball at people preparing for Hypercrypt (and definitely help in the sometimes tricky Custodes game). That’s especially true if you’re making good use of their Overwatch capabilities – hitting on 5s with full re-rolls is far more deadly than opponents are often expecting, and can tilt the balance of forces your way at a key moment. I also like the Transcendant here, as it ensures you stay mobile if the Wraiths die too fast. Huge fan of this, and if I wanted to take Court to an event I’d pretty much use this exact 2K. Great stuff from Joshua!
Chris Chance – Blood Angels (Sons of Sanguinius) – 3rd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Space Marines CHARACTERS Captain with Jump Pack (105 points) Lemartes (110 points) Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points) Sanguinary Priest with Jump Pack (90 points) Techmarine (55 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (85 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (85 points) Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (260 points) Gladiator Lancer (160 points) Gladiator Lancer (160 points) Gladiator Reaper (150 points) Inceptor Squad (130 points) Inceptor Squad (130 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (210 points) Exported with App Version: v1.10.1 (38), Data Version: v336
Cherokee Open (2000 points)
Blood Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Sons of Sanguinius
• Warlord
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• Enhancement: Artisan of War
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x The Blood Crozius
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• 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
• 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
• 10x Death Company Marine with Jump Pack
• 10x Inferno pistol
10x Power fist
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Lancer laser destroyer
2x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Lancer laser destroyer
2x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
2x Tempest bolter
1x Twin heavy onslaught gatling cannon
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
4x Marksman bolt carbine
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
4x Marksman bolt carbine
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 9x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 9x Storm Shield
9x Vanguard Veteran weapon
Archetype
LANCE and Lancers
Thoughts
What a difference +1S (and, to be fair, a metagame shift) makes. With Necrons and Custodes on a rampage, pushing various melee units past the crucial S6 breakpoint on the charge (and Death Company to a sweet S10) lets you take huge chunks out of the metagame, and access to Only in Death Does Duty End gives you an A+ trade game into other factions that want to fight up close. Supplement that with Marine shooting that works well without any Stratagem support (Lancers, Inceptors and a Reaper) and it turns out you’ve got a seriously potent build, which Chris took to a fantastic finish. Very much a fan of doubling up on Infiltrators too, in a Hypercrypt-heavy Metagame it lets you screen out a huge backfield area while the push threats go and do the business.
Daniel Reddehase – Death Guard (Plague Company) – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Death Guard CHARACTERS Biologus Putrifier (50 Points) Foul Blightspawn (50 Points) Lord of Contagion (80 Points) Malignant Plaguecaster (65 Points) Malignant Plaguecaster (65 Points) Typhus (80 Points) BATTLELINE Plague Marines (180 Points) Plague Marines (90 Points) Plague Marines (90 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Death Guard Rhino (75 Points) Death Guard Rhino (75 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Deathshroud Terminators (240 Points) ALLIED UNITS Nurglings (40 Points) Nurglings (40 Points) Nurglings (40 Points) Rotigus (230 Points) War Dog Brigand (170 Points) War Dog Brigand (170 Points) War Dog Brigand (170 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.10.1 (30), Data Version: v336
Rise my brothers (2000 Points)
Plague Company
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Hyper blight grenades
1x Injector pistol
1x Plague knives
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plague sprayer
• Warlord
• 1x Plagueblade
• 1x Corrupted staff
1x Plague Wind
1x Plague bolt pistol
• 1x Corrupted staff
1x Plague Wind
1x Plague bolt pistol
• 1x Master-crafted manreaper
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Heavy plague weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 9x Plague Marine
• 3x Bubotic weapons
4x Heavy plague weapon
9x Plague knives
2x Plague spewer
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Heavy plague weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Plague Marine
• 1x Bubotic weapons
2x Heavy plague weapon
4x Plague knives
1x Plague spewer
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Heavy plague weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Plague Marine
• 1x Bubotic weapons
2x Heavy plague weapon
4x Plague knives
1x Plague spewer
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
1x Plague combi-bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
1x Plague combi-bolter
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
• 1x Manreaper
1x Plaguespurt gauntlet 1x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 5x Deathshroud Terminator
• 5x Manreaper
5x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth
• 1x Gnarlrod
1x Streams of brackish filth
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Avenger chaincannon
1x Daemonbreath spear
1x Havoc multi-launcher
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Avenger chaincannon
1x Daemonbreath spear
1x Havoc multi-launcher
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Avenger chaincannon
1x Daemonbreath spear
1x Havoc multi-launcher
Archetype
Crunchy Death Guard
Thoughts
Rounding out the final four we have a new spin on the ultra-durable Death Guard builds that were doing well pre-dataslate, aiming to present a very solid target profile to build up an early lead in attrition. Just how Nurgle likes it.
With a few increases on some of their core tools they’ve pivoted a little on the exact inclusions, taking Typhus as a little solo threat and now going hard on a big unit of Deathshrouds as a threat from Deep Strike rather than using more Rhino Plague Marines, and adding in the new smiling face of Rotigus in the Daemon contingent. I’m honestly a little surprised we haven’t seen him tried before – he’s pretty aggressively priced (even more so post-dataslate) for how dangerous and durable he is, and the combination of a strong Torrent weapon and his slowing aura makes him great at anchoring the mid board or causing problems on a flank by himself. He’s shown up in multiple X-1+ builds this weekend, with Daniel’s performance here being the jewel in the crown, and I’m glad to see Death Guard continuing to thrive, so congratulations!
The Best of the Rest
The rest of the top eight were:
- 5th – Mark Cimmerian – Orks: Bosshammer Goodstuff, taking Ghaz alongside some Squigbosses as central heavy hitters, then piling on the pressure with Badrukk’s Gitz in a transport, Bikers and a Battlewagon full of Boyz. Two Weirdboyz add even more ways to pressure/score.
- 6th – Daniel Hesters – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Top-heavy Hypercrypt, going with the Nightbringer, a Monolith and the Silent King, backed by a Heavy Destroyer squad and 3 Skorpekh with a Lord to send through the Portal in an emergency (a unit I’ve been looking at speculatively, so I guess I’m trying them out at some point now).
- 7th – Collin Cochran – Chaos Knights: A Rampager takes their dogs for a walk.
- 8th – Jordan Sorchevich – Adeptus Custodes: The standard four core blocks template we discussed last week, with 2×3 units of Venatari as the flex picks.
The Art of Warp 8ème Ed.- OPEN
97-player major. All the lists for this event can be found in MiniHeadQuarters.
Players in 2nd-4th place all went 4.5-0.5.
The Showdown
Priority Target – Chilling Rain – Sweeping Engagement
Aimée – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault)
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTERS Archon (85 points) Archon (95 points) Drazhar (75 points) Lelith Hesperax (85 points) BATTLELINE Kabalite Warriors (110 points) Wracks (60 points) Wyches (90 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Raider (80 points) Raider (80 points) Venom (70 points) Venom (70 points) Venom (70 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Cronos (50 points) Incubi (75 points) Incubi (75 points) Incubi (75 points) Mandrakes (65 points) Mandrakes (65 points) Ravager (115 points) Reavers (60 points) Reavers (60 points) Reavers (60 points) Scourges (110 points) Scourges (110 points) Scourges (110 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Huskblade
• Enhancement: Spiteful Raider
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Huskblade
• Enhancement: Nightmare Shroud
• 1x The Executioner’s demiklaives
• 1x Lelith’s blades
• 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
• 1x Acothyst
• 1x Stinger pistol
1x Wrack blades
• 4x Wrack
• 1x Hexrifle
1x Liquifier gun
1x Ossefactor
4x Wrack blades
• 1x Hekatrix
• 1x Hekatarii blade
1x Phantasm grenade launcher
1x Splinter pistol
• 9x Wych
• 9x Hekatarii blade
9x Splinter pistol
• 1x Bladevanes
1x Dark lance
• 1x Bladevanes
1x Dark lance
• 1x Bladevanes
1x Splinter cannon
1x Splinter cannon
• 1x Bladevanes
1x Splinter cannon
1x Splinter cannon
• 1x Bladevanes
1x Splinter cannon
1x Splinter cannon
• 1x Spirit syphon
1x Spirit vortex
1x Spirit-leech tentacles
• 4x Incubi
• 4x Klaive
• 1x Klaivex
• 1x Demiklaives
• 4x Incubi
• 4x Klaive
• 1x Klaivex
• 1x Demiklaives
• 4x Incubi
• 4x Klaive
• 1x Klaivex
• 1x Demiklaives
• 1x Nightfiend
• 1x Baleblast
1x Glimmersteel blade
• 4x Mandrake
• 4x Baleblast
4x Glimmersteel blade
• 1x Nightfiend
• 1x Baleblast
1x Glimmersteel blade
• 4x Mandrake
• 4x Baleblast
4x Glimmersteel blade
• 1x Bladevanes
3x Dark lance
• 1x Arena Champion
• 1x Agoniser
1x Bladevanes
1x Cluster caltrops
1x Heat lance
1x Splinter pistol
• 2x Reaver
• 2x Bladevanes
2x Splinter pistol
2x Splinter rifle
• 1x Arena Champion
• 1x Agoniser
1x Bladevanes
1x Cluster caltrops
1x Heat lance
1x Splinter pistol
• 2x Reaver
• 2x Bladevanes
2x Splinter pistol
2x Splinter rifle
• 1x Arena Champion
• 1x Agoniser
1x Bladevanes
1x Cluster caltrops
1x Heat lance
1x Splinter pistol
• 2x Reaver
• 2x Bladevanes
2x Splinter pistol
2x Splinter rifle
• 1x Solarite
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Shardcarbine
1x Solarite weapon
• 4x Scourge
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Dark lance
• 1x Solarite
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Shardcarbine
1x Solarite weapon
• 4x Scourge
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Dark lance
• 1x Solarite
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Shardcarbine
1x Solarite weapon
• 4x Scourge
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Drukhari haywire blaster
vs.
Wigmard – T’au Empire (Kauyon)
Army List - Click to Expand Characters Char1: Commander Shadowsun (100 points) Char2: Commander Farsight (90 points) Char3: Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (125 points) Line 10x Breacher Team (90 points) Others Devilfish (75 points) 3x Stealth Battlesuits (60 points) 4x Kroot Hounds (30 points) Krootox Riders (35 points) Sky Ray Gunship (130 points) Sky Ray Gunship (130 points) Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points) Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points) 3x Crisis Battlesuits (200 points) 6x Crisis Battlesuits (400 points) 2x Tetras (80 points) 2x Tetras (80 points) Piranha (55 points)
-Warlord
-2 High-energy fusion blaster, Flechette pod, Light missile pod, Pulse pistol, Battlesuit Fists, Command-link Drone (Aura), Advanced Guardian Drone
-High-intensity plasma rifle, Dawn Blade
-Cyclic ion blaster, 3 Additionnal Cyclic ion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, 2 Shield Drone
Enhancement: Exemplar of the Kauyon
-9 Pulse blaster, 9 Pulse pistol, 9 Close combat weapon
-1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui, Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol, Support turret missile system, Close combat weapon, Shield Drone, Guardian Drone
-2 Twin pulse carbine, Accelerator burst cannon, 2 Seeker missile, Armoured hull
-2 Burst cannon, 2 Battlesuit Fists
-1x Stealth Shas’vre, Fusion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, Homing beacon, Battlesuit Support System, Shield Drone, Marker Drone
-4 Ripping fangs
-Kroot cannon, Krootox fists
-Seeker Missile Rack, 2 Accelerator burst cannon, Armoured hull
-Seeker Missile Rack, 2 Accelerator burst cannon, Armoured hull
-Cyclic ion racker, Twin fusion blaster, Poings de Ghostkeel, Battlesuit Support System
-Cyclic ion racker, Twin fusion blaster, Poings de Ghostkeel, Battlesuit Support System
-1x 1ère Crisis Shas’ui, 2 Cyclic ion blaster, Fusion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, Shield Generator, 2 Shield Drone
-1x 2nd Crisis Shas’ui, 2 Cyclic ion blaster, Fusion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, Shield Generator, 2 Shield Drone
-1x Crisis Shas’vre, 2 Cyclic ion blaster, Fusion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, Battlesuit Support System, Shield Drone, Marker Drone
-1x 1ère Crisis Shas’ui, 3 Cyclic ion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, Shield Generator, 2 Shield Drone
-1x 2nd Crisis Shas’ui, 3 Cyclic ion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, Shield Generator, 2 Shield Drone
-1x 3rd Crisis Shas’ui, 3 Cyclic ion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, Shield Generator, 2 Shield Drone
-1x 4th Crisis Shas’ui, 3 Cyclic ion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, Shield Generator, 2 Shield Drone
-1x 5th Crisis Shas’ui, 3 Cyclic ion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, Shield Generator, 2 Shield Drone
-1x Crisis Shas’vre, 3 Cyclic ion blaster, Battlesuit Fists, Battlesuit Support System, Shield Drone, Marker Drone
-4 Pulse rifle, 2 Close combat weapon
-4 Pulse rifle, 2 Close combat weapon
-2 Twin pulse carbine, Piranha fusion blaster, 2 Seeker missile, Armoured hull
Thoughts
We’ve got ourselves a mid 9th-Edition classic here, mobile, Transport-heavy Drukhari vs shooty Tau. As always, the deciding factor here is going to be whether the Drukhari can get into touch and rip stuff up in melee before the Tau can annihilate them with extreme prejudice, and honestly both sides feel like they’ve got some real assets here. Skysplinter is, of course, extremely well equipped to get stuff into Tau-murdering position, with Venoms able to zip up, unload some Incubi and Pounce on the Prey, doubly dangerous with the Nightmare Shroud Archon. Incubi with the stacked bonuses they get from an Archon will take a serious chunk out of a Crisis unit in one swing, and avoiding that is certainly a challenge. The speed with which the Scourges can pick off the Tetras is also an issue, Tau really want re-rolls going into the late game here, but if they try and do damage early they might not have the assets left to do it.
All that said, the Tau list here does feel like it has a better shot at this game than some – Ghostkeels provide some strong roving threats, and splitting the shooting of the army out between Skyrays and the smaller suits as well as big Crisis units helps with opening up transports to get to the squishy elves inside. Too many eggs in the Crisis team basket and there might not be enough activations to push back on a key turn, but this build has options. The Drukhari also have to reckon with Lelith’s squad being relatively unimpressive in this game, which weighs them down somewhat. I don’t think it takes too many mistakes from the Drukhari here for them to run out of stuff, although Swooping Mockery does give them a bit of a contingency when used with the small Venoms.
I suspect the difficulty comes on Secondaries here – Drukhari basically get a free 38 or 39 if they go Bring it Down/Deploy, and can play cautiously for a big end-game score on this mission, while it’s way harder for Tau to reliably score without giving up assets. Scourges are a huge pain for Tau to deal with too, as they don’t have great stocks of Indirect to pick them out, and that one Haywire unit is going to cause palpitations by threatening to just waste a suit or two a turn with almost no counterplay. The Drukhari can focus on methodically eliminating targets that enable the Tau scoring, slowing the big Crisis unit down with chaff in the mid-game, and riding their vastly superior scoring game to victory. It would appear that exactly that happened here, with a strong Drukhari triumph.
Result
Drukhari Victory – 20-0
Aimée – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault) – 1st Place
The List
See showdown
Archetype
Skysplinter Go-Wide
Thoughts
Elves, everywhere, all at once. That’s the Skysplinter plan, and Aimée’s build here does it even better than most. I quite like the choice to skip out on a big Incubi squad, as it ensures that the key hitters are riding in easy-to-hide Venoms, and as discussed in the Showdown Incubi can hit plenty hard even with five. Bad elves are back!
ManX – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion) – 2nd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand == Necrons Detachment = 1995pts Characters : Battlelines : 20 Necrons Warriors with Gauss Flayers [200pts] Others :
C’Tan Shard of the Nightbringer [255pts]
C’Tan Shard of the Voidragon [270pts]
WARLORD: Technomancer “Technosyndrome” Dimentionnal Overseer (10) [70pts]
Chronomancer “Zéboulon” with Osteoclave Fulcrum (20) [70pts]
6 Canoptek Wraith with Particle Casters & Vicious Claws [220pts]
5 Deathmarks [65pts]
5 Deathmarks [65pts]
1 Doomsday Arch [200pts]
1 Doomsday Arch [200pts]
1 Monolith with 4 Death Rays [350pts]
1 Lokhust Destroyer [30pts]
Archetype
Warrior Hypercrypt
Thoughts
Hypercrypt makes some waves in second place here, combining the known tools of Wraiths, C’tan and a Monolith with some mixups from the standard. For board control, you’ve got a full Warrior blob with a Chronomancer to zap around and cause headaches, able to steal even the most well-protected of objectives with a Chronomancer move (and numerous enough to take full advantage of the ability to zap to a Monolith on demand). At the killing end, you’ve got a pair of Doomsday Arks, which do seem pretty great in Hypercrypt. The sheer unwieldiness of the model tells against them in Tenth, but Hypercrypt doesn’t care about that, and like with Doomstalkers in Canoptek it gives you a capability that Necrons don’t always have access to, plus shooting that’s great for Custodes-killing. A nice spin on a strong build, and a well-deserved second place here!
Albios – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 3rd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER Char2: 1x Ahriman (130pts) Char 3 :Exalted Sorcerer (120pts) Char 4 :Exalted Sorcerer (125pts) Char 5: Infernal Master (105pts) Char 6: Infernal Master (90pts) BATTLELINE 5x Rubric Marines (105 points) 5x Rubric Marines (105 points) 10x Rubric Marines (210 points) 10x Rubric Marines (210 points) 10x Rubric Marines (210 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORT 1x Thousand Sons Rhino (75 points) 1x Thousand Sons Rhino (75 points)
Char1: 1x Magnus the Red (440 points)
• 1x Blade of Magnus, 1x Gaze of Magnus, 1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm
• Warlord
1x Inferno bolt pistol, 1x Psychic Stalk 1x Black Staff of Ahriman
1x Astral Blast, 1x Warpflame pistol, 1x Force weapon, 1x Umbralefic Crystal
1x Astral Blast, 1x Warpflame pistol, 1x Force weapon, 1x Lord of Forbidden Lore
1x Inferno bolt pistol, 1x Screamer Invocation, 1x Force weapon, 1x Arcane Vortex
1x Inferno bolt pistol, 1x Screamer Invocation, 1x Force weapon
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer with 1x Force weapon, 1x Warpflame pistol, 1x Warpsmite
• 1x Rubric Marine with 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Soulreaper cannon, 1x Icon of Flame
• 3x Rubric Marine with 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer with 1x Force weapon, 1x Warpflame pistol, 1x Warpsmite
• 1x Rubric Marine with 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Soulreaper cannon, 1x Icon of Flame
• 3x Rubric Marine with 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer with 1x Force weapon, 1x Warpflame pistol, 1x Warpsmite
• 1x Rubric Marine with 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Soulreaper cannon, 1x Icon of Flame
• 8x Rubric Marine with 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer with 1x Force weapon, 1x Warpflame pistol, 1x Warpsmite
• 1x Rubric Marine with 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Soulreaper cannon, 1x Icon of Flame
• 8x Rubric Marine with 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer with 1x Force weapon, 1x Warpflame pistol, 1x Warpsmite
• 1x Rubric Marine with 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Soulreaper cannon, 1x Icon of Flame
• 8x Rubric Marine with 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Warpflamer
• 1x Armoured tracks, 1x Havoc launcher, 1x Inferno combi-bolter, 1x Inferno combi-weapon
• 1x Armoured tracks, 1x Havoc launcher, 1x Inferno combi-bolter, 1x Inferno combi-weapon
Archetype
Rubric-heavy Tsons
Thoughts
Another Thousand Sons build next, here going all-in on the quality of Rubricae and Characters to get things done. It’s prodigiously hard to shift on WTC terrain, and gives enough board coverage that you can start to restrict the ability of armies like Hypercrypt to drop where they want, which Tsons builds with fewer bodies might struggle a little with. I did worry on a first read that it might get rolled by Custodes on heavy terrain, but it took a 20-0 win in that matchup, so clearly that was not a problem. My assumption there is that a combination of Magnus being great against them with Rhino-based staging, which Custodes are going to struggle to counter, was enough to flip the script. Great stuff from Albios.
Noble6 – Dark Angels (Ironstorm Spearhead) – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Char1: 1x Techmarine (75 pts): Forge Bolter, Grav-pistol, Omnissian Power Axe, Servo-arm Char2: 1x Techmarine (95 pts): Forge Bolter, Grav-pistol, Omnissian Power Axe, Servo-arm Char3: 1x Techmarine (80 pts): Forge Bolter, Grav-pistol, Omnissian Power Axe, Servo-arm Char4: 1x Azrael (105 pts): Warlord, Lion’s Wrath, The Sword of Secrets 5x Assault Intercessor Squad (75 pts) 4x Company Heroes (95 pts) 1x Ravenwing Darkshroud (115 pts): Close Combat Weapon, Heavy bolter 1x Redemptor Dreadnought (210 pts): Redemptor Fist, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Heavy Flamer, Twin Fragstorm Grenade Launcher 1x Redemptor Dreadnought (210 pts): Redemptor Fist, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Heavy Flamer, Twin Fragstorm Grenade Launcher 1x Redemptor Dreadnought (210 pts): Redemptor Fist, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Heavy Flamer, Twin Fragstorm Grenade Launcher 1x Repulsor Executioner (220 pts): Armoured Hull, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, Icarus Rocket Pod, Ironhail Heavy Stubber, Repulsor Executioner Defensive Array, Twin Heavy Bolter, Twin Icarus Ironhail Heavy Stubber, Heavy Laser Destroyer 1x Storm Speeder Thunderstrike (160 pts): Close Combat Weapon, Stormfury Missiles, Thunderstrike Las-talon, Twin Icarus Rocket Pod 1x Stormraven Gunship (240 pts): Armoured Hull, Hurricane Bolter 2 Hurricane Bolters, 2x Stormstrike Missiles, Twin Heavy Plasma Cannon, Twin Multi-melta
Enhancement: Master of the Machine War [Aura] (20 pts)
Enhancement: Target Augury Web [Aura] (40 pts)
Enhancement: Adept of the Omnissiah (25 pts)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant: Heavy Bolt Pistol, Power Fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors: Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol
5x Intercessor Squad (80 pts)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Bolt Rifle, Power Fist
• 4x Intercessors: Bolt Pistol, Bolt Rifle, Close Combat Weapon
• 2x Company Veteran
1 with Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Master-crafted Bolt Rifle
1 with Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Master-crafted Heavy Bolter, Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Ancient: Bolt Pistol, Bolt Rifle, Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Company Champion: Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted Power Weapon
Archetype
Dark Ironstormraven
Thoughts
Rounding out the top four here, we have a reminder that Ironstorm Dark Angels can put out a terrifying amount of damage, and a Stormraven with Azrael to feed it a constant stream of CP can just loom over the battlefield and murder stuff. On WTC terrain the fact you can choose to put it in Aircraft mode rather than hovering still is also seriously relevant, as one of the ways a list like this can fail on heavy terrain is if the opponent can just hide and take late scoring on missions like Priority Target. With a Stormraven swooping in and no-scoping for massive damage from turn 2 that’s not going to work, and it ensures this list can adapt to terrain with the best of them. Well done Noble6 on taking 4th.
The Best of the Rest
There were 8 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 5th – Matanza – Genestealer Cult: Extra pressure cult, using three units of Purestrains and some Catachans in a Chimera to put the opponent on the back foot.
- 6th – Albattard – Black Templars (Ironstorm Spearhead): Loads of Crusader MSUs, two Reapers and a Lancer, plus two Redemptors for some heft.
- 7th – Yrian – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): The double C’tan, triple Immortals, Szeras and Monolith build.
- 8th – le_venerable – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Monster mash with a squad of Genestealers to cause early havoc.
- 9th – Boneblade – Leagues of Votann: All-rounder Votann with a bit of everything.
- 10th – Wydjaz – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force): Chunky Dark Angels with a full Deathwing Knights unit and a squad of Aggressors in a Redeemer.
- 11th – Aken – Chaos Knights: Whoops all dogs.
- 12th – Wigmard – T’au: See showdown.
Milwaukee Warhammer 40k GT
80-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in New Berlin, WI, United States on February 24 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Eric Forsman – Grey Knights (Teleport Strike Force) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Grey Knights CHARACTERS Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (230 points) Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (200 points) Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (200 points) BATTLELINE Strike Squad (125 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Grey Knights Land Raider Redeemer (260 points) Nemesis Dreadknight (185 points) Nemesis Dreadknight (185 points) Nemesis Dreadknight (185 points) ALLIED UNITS Armiger Helverin (140 points) Armiger Helverin (140 points) Armiger Helverin (140 points) Exported with App Version: v1.10.1 (38), Data Version: v336
“Grey” Knights
(1990 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Teleport Strike Force
• Warlord
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• Enhancement: Sigil of Exigence
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Grey Knight
• 4x Nemesis force weapon
4x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Flamestorm cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Multi-melta
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin assault cannon
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber
Archetype
Pacific Rim Mode
Thoughts
Oh we’re doing this again are we? Much like Triptide, Dreadknight spam always comes back around, and given the huge buffs they were handed in the Dataslate, this was only a matter of time. This list combines extreme target profile skew with the ability to apply intense pressure at speed and ranged output that is exquisitely designed for murdering Custodes. Going all hammers means it can actually take a crack at C’tan too, and I think this list probably just bowls many Necron lists over without them really being able to hurt it. Access to Mists of Deimos also makes the army way harder to engage with than opponents expect, putting them one mistake way from getting brutally murdered at any moment. I do rather like the Land Raider as a finishing touch too – one of the possible weaknesses of the build is not being able to screen enough of the board, but the Redeemer creates a hefty Overwatch deathzone that only the bravest of foes will drop into.
I’m not sure there’s that much to say beyond that – this looks like a brutally nasty new DPS check you can throw at people, and unleashing it on an unsuspecting metagame fired Eric straight to the top!
Derek Glassman – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTERS Lord Solar Leontus (125 points) Platoon Command Squad (60 points) Tank Commander (205 points) Tank Commander (205 points) Ursula Creed (55 points) BATTLELINE Death Korps of Krieg (65 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Basilisk (135 points) Bullgryn Squad (160 points) Bullgryn Squad (160 points) Cyclops Demolition Vehicle (25 points) Cyclops Demolition Vehicle (25 points) Kasrkin (100 points) Kasrkin (100 points) Kasrkin (100 points) Manticore (180 points) Manticore (180 points) Scout Sentinels (60 points) Scout Sentinels (60 points) Exported with App Version: v1.10.1 (38), Data Version: v336
Astra Militarum
Strike Force (2000 points)
Combined Regiment
• Warlord
• 1x Conquest
1x Konstantin’s hooves
1x Sol’s Righteous Gaze
• 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 Medi-pack
• 1x Veteran Heavy Weapons Team
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
1x Mortar
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Militarum plasma cannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Multi-melta
• 1x Duty and Vengeance
1x Power weapon
• 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Death Korps Trooper
• 9x Close combat weapon
1x Death Korps Medi-pack
1x Grenade launcher
6x Lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Earthshaker cannon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
• 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
• 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
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
1x Melta Mine
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
1x Melta Mine
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
1x Melta Mine
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm eagle rockets
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm eagle rockets
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Sentinel chainsaw
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Sentinel chainsaw
Archetype
Pressure Guard
Thoughts
In an undefeated second we’ve got the Astra Militarum, continuing to show that they’ve evolved into real contenders. The formula here is pretty much the standard one – Bullgryn give you great tarpits at a bargain price, Kasrkin hit like trucks when you need spike damage and Tank Commanders are ultra-difficult to trade with profitably (as long as you don’t roll a 1, so uh, don’t). It’s hard to move out onto the board and come out ahead against this early, but access to premium indirect fire means you’re kind of stuffed if you hesitate as well. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t – such is the fate of those who face the Emperor’s finest under the command of Derek.
Jordan C Rakow – Grey Knights (Teleport Strike Force) – 3rd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Grey Knights CHARACTERS Brotherhood Techmarine (60 Points) Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (230 Points) Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (235 Points) BATTLELINE Strike Squad (125 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Grey Knights Land Raider Redeemer (260 Points) Interceptor Squad (135 Points) Interceptor Squad (135 Points) Interceptor Squad (135 Points) Nemesis Dreadknight (185 Points) Nemesis Dreadknight (185 Points) Nemesis Dreadknight (185 Points) ALLIED UNITS Callidus Assassin (90 Points) Inquisitorial Henchmen (40 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.10.1 (30), Data Version: v336
Tourney GK (2000 Points)
Teleport Strike Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Boltgun
1x Flamer
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Plasma cutter
1x Servo-arms
• Warlord
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• Enhancements: Sigil of Exigence
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• Enhancements: First to the Fray
• 1x Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Grey Knight
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Incinerator
3x Nemesis force weapon
3x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Flamestorm cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Multi-melta
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin assault cannon
• 1x Interceptor Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Interceptor
• 4x Nemesis force weapon
4x Storm bolter
• 1x Interceptor Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Interceptor
• 4x Nemesis force weapon
4x Storm bolter
• 1x Interceptor Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Interceptor
• 4x Nemesis force weapon
4x Storm bolter
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades
• 4x Inquisitorial Acolyte
• 4x Acolyte firearm
4x Acolyte melee weapon
1x Eviscerator
1x Plasma pistol
Archetype
Pacific Rim Mode
Thoughts
More Dreadknight spam here, although very slightly dialing back on how many and cutting Helverins in order to buy lots of Interceptors. I swear to god if these just turn into Dreadknights and Interceptors again…
Anyway – still lots of high speed pressure, less ranged output but more objective play and better answers to hordier builds. Right now, it didn’t do quite as well as the full skew, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the increased flexibility of this variant let it pull ahead in a few weeks if people start teching hard on anti-tank. We’ll see soon enough I’m sure, right now congratulations to Jordan on 3rd.
Ben Cherwien – Black Templars (Firestorm Assault Force) – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Space Marines CHARACTERS High Marshal Helbrecht (120 Points) Judiciar (80 Points) Lieutenant (65 Points) The Emperor’s Champion (75 Points) BATTLELINE Crusader Squad (75 Points) Crusader Squad (75 Points) Crusader Squad (75 Points) Crusader Squad (75 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Black Templars Impulsor (85 Points) Black Templars Impulsor (85 Points) Rhino (75 Points) Rhino (75 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Inceptor Squad (130 Points) Infiltrator Squad (100 Points) Land Raider Redeemer (260 Points) Primaris Sword Brethren (140 Points) Primaris Sword Brethren (140 Points) Primaris Sword Brethren (140 Points) Scout Squad (65 Points) Scout Squad (65 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.10.1 (30), Data Version: v336
Bt bros for days (2000 Points)
Black Templars
Firestorm Assault Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Ferocity
1x Sword of the High Marshals
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade
• Enhancements: Champion of Humanity
• 1x Master-crafted power weapon
1x Neo-volkite pistol
1x Storm Shield
• 1x Black Sword
1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Sword Brother
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Inferno pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Initiate
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt Pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Meltagun
1x Multi-melta
• 1x Sword Brother
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Inferno pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Initiate
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt Pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Meltagun
1x Multi-melta
• 1x Sword Brother
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Inferno pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Initiate
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt Pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Meltagun
1x Multi-melta
• 1x Sword Brother
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Inferno pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Initiate
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt Pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Meltagun
1x Multi-melta
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Multi-melta
1x Shield dome
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Multi-melta
1x Shield dome
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Flamestorm cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Multi-melta
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin assault cannon
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Combat knife
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Combat knife
Archetype
All-rounder Firestorm Templars
Thoughts
Sigismund’s strongest soldier Ben returns for the umpteenth time to these pages, continuing to sport the Firestorm Templars build that took him to the LVO top eight. While very slightly reduced in number thanks to points increases, this still provides a great mix of boosts to the massed melta (great on drive-bys with the Rhinos and Impulsors), fantastic synergy with the Redeemer (which Templars can pack with the nastiest passengers of pretty much any Marines), and nightmare blender potential when Sword Brethen use Crucible of Battle. Templars are by far the best way to play Marines at the moment, and this build is a great showcase of what they can do from one of their most successful pilots.
The Best of the Rest
There were 8 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 5th – Tyler Devries – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Taking top heavy to whole new levels here (or throwing back to 9th perhaps), going with three Monoliths and the Silent King, appropriately named as “Szarekh’s moving castle”.
- 6th – Kevin Leonard – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): …and then there’s this one called “Pyramid Scheme” (another A+ name) using three Monoliths and a Tesseract Vault.
- 7th – Devin Orchard – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Extra-shooty Hypercrypt with lots of Deathmarks and gun tanks, a unit of Wraiths to screen, and lots of Lokhust Heavies.
- 8th – Orin Daniel – Chaos Space Marines (Slaves to Darkness): All-rounder CSM which frees up points compared to old builds by using Predator Destructors, and takes the increasingly popular Haarken/Raptor unit.
- 9th – Christian Valle – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Triple C’tan backed by Immortals and a Wraith brick, also featuring some solo Psychomancers as utility pieces (surprisingly versatile in Hypercrypt).
- 10th – John Miller – Adeptus Custodes: Four block classic, two Caladius tanks in the flex slot.
- 11th – David T. – Thousand Sons: A big unit of Scarabs shows up for the first time in a while, lending their heft to Magnus and a Daemon Prince.
- 12th – Jordan Nach – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force): A big Deathwing Command Squad, Hellblaster brick and Sternguard squad as centrepieces, with a Repulsor for one unit to ride in and small supporting stuff.
BrewHammer GT5
44-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Scotland, GB on February 24 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Josh Roberts – Necrons (Canoptek Court) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Necrons CHARACTERS Illuminor Szeras (160 points) Plasmancer (55 points) Plasmancer (55 points) Plasmancer (55 points) Technomancer (75 points) Technomancer (80 points) Technomancer (60 points) BATTLELINE Immortals (140 points) Immortals (70 points) Immortals (70 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Canoptek Acanthrites (85 points) Canoptek Acanthrites (85 points) Canoptek Doomstalker (135 points) Canoptek Doomstalker (135 points) Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points)
Brewhammer GT List (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Canoptek Court
• Warlord
• 1x Eldritch Lance
1x Impaling legs
• 1x Plasmic lance
• 1x Plasmic lance
• 1x Plasmic lance
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Hyperphasic Fulcrum
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Dimensional Sanctum
• 1x Staff of light
• 10x Immortal
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Tesla carbine
• 5x Immortal
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Tesla carbine
• 5x Immortal
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Tesla carbine
• 3x Canoptek Acanthrites
• 3x Cutting beam
3x Voidblade
• 3x Canoptek Acanthrites
• 3x Cutting beam
3x Voidblade
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayer
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayer
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
• 3x Feeder mandibles
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
• 3x Feeder mandibles
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
Archetype
Court Wraith Spam
Thoughts
The lack of Cynosure of Eradication hasn’t prised Josh off the plan of murdering people with massed Wraiths and Immortals. The plan’s pretty simple – three full Wraith units is an exceptional tarpit, and the damage from Doomstalkers and Plasmancer/Szeras-buffed Immortals adds up fast. I do still think builds like this run a little bit of a risk of getting rolled by heavy melee opposition like Custodes, but adding Acanthrites as early bait and the ability to dance around with Reactive Subroutines on the Wraiths mitigates that a lot, and Szeras is no slouch at gradually punking the golden boys to boot. All that is to say that if you have painted 18 Wraiths there’s no need to despair – as Josh shows here, there’s huge power in the Court if you know what you’re doing.
The Best of the Rest
There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Jonny Simmons – Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): Loads of Skitarii (some in Duneriders), two squads of Kataphrons and a Sterylizor squad as hammers, and utility stuff to fill.
- 3rd – Geoff Webb – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Triple Immortal, Double C’tan and Monolith.
- 4th – Rich Butler – WAAGHALLA – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): A slightly cagier take on World Eaters than normal, using lots of Rhinos for staging, and supporting them with Bloodcrushers and Bloodletters that can potentially zap in from Deep Strike.
- 5th – Gavin Heritage – Leagues of Votann: Sagitaur Spam backed by 10/5 Hearthguard.
- 6th – Scott Pirie – Chaos Daemons: Daemonic superstars, taking Be’lakor, Rotigus, Kairos and Shalaxi at the top, then Horrors and Screamers to control the board around them.
- 7th – Garron Owen – Ultramarines (Vanguard Spearhead): The classic Calgar/Cents/Aggressor setup, with Eradicators in support.
- 8th – Andrew Mulholland – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Very go-wide, splitting a bunch of Kabalites into Venoms and backing them with Talos and a full Lelith Wych unit for when some heavier impacts are required.
Heroes Of The Mid Tables Winter GT 2024
40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Langley Twp, BC, CA on February 24 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Kasra Houshidar – Ultramarines (Vanguard Spearhead) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Space Marines CHARACTERS Apothecary Biologis (80 Points) Marneus Calgar (185 Points) Uriel Ventris (75 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Centurion Devastator Squad (370 Points) Company Heroes (95 Points) Eradicator Squad (190 Points) Eradicator Squad (95 Points) Inceptor Squad (130 Points) Inceptor Squad (260 Points) Inceptor Squad (260 Points) Scout Squad (65 Points) Scout Squad (65 Points) ALLIED UNITS Callidus Assassin (90 Points) Inquisitorial Henchmen (40 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.10.1 (30), Data Version: v336
Vanguard of Macragge (2000 Points)
Ultramarines
Vanguard Spearhead
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancements: The Blade Driven Deep
• 1x Marneus Calgar
• Warlord
• 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar
• 2x Victrix Honour Guard
• 2x Victrix power sword
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Invictus
1x Sword of Idaeus
• 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant
• 1x Centurion fists
1x Centurion missile launcher
1x Twin lascannon
• 5x Devastator Centurion
• 5x Centurion fists
5x Centurion missile launcher
5x Twin lascannon
• 1x Ancient
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Company Champion
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 2x Company Veteran
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
1x Master-crafted bolt rifle
1x Master-crafted heavy bolter
• 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
• 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
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Assault bolters
2x Close combat weapon
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 1x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 1x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades
• 4x Inquisitorial Acolyte
• 4x Acolyte firearm
4x Acolyte melee weapon
1x Eviscerator
1x Plasma pistol
Archetype
Vanguard Ultramarines
Thoughts
Kasra’s Ultramarines (which you can see in glorious detail here) go Lennon-mode, using the tried and tested combo of deep striking/teleporting Centurions and a bunch of other nasty Deep Strike shooting to get the job done. Like a lot of recent spins on this, it shaves some points by swapping the big Aggressor brick out for Eradicators, still providing a formidible all-rounder unit in combination with Calgar and the Apothecary, and also giving the list a pretty terrifying answer for C’tan and vehicle-heavy builds like the new Dreadknight hotness. Another Marine build that’s much deadlier than the faction’s overall win rate might suggest, and a great performance from Kasra here.
The Best of the Rest
There were N more players on X-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Liam Bath – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Triple C’tan and Doomsdays to deal damage, Wraiths to gum stuff up.
- 3rd – Noah Beddome – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): A Knight Lancer piles on pressure alongside a bunch of dogs.
- 4th – Garry Sacco – Black Templars (Firestorm Assault Force): Brutal mechanised Templars, packing lots of Sword Brethren and some Centurion Devastators, using a RepEx and Redeemer for mobility.
- 5th – Ryan Burns – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force): Full Deathwing Knights brick, plus an Aggressor squad.
- 6th – Mike Garcia – Adeptus Custodes: Four block (though cutting Kyria for some Witchseekers) and a pair of Caladius tanks.
- 7th – Chris Powell – Chaos Daemons: Incredible meme energy, running six Khorne Daemon Princes and three Rendmasters to send their damage to the moon.
TOK-spelen
28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Hallands län, SE on February 24 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Alexander Bertilsson – Orks (Waaagh! Tribe) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand 190 Flashgitz X10 1995
195 mozzrog skragbad
90 warboss Follow me ladz, warlord
65 warboss
65 warboss
80 beastnob on smashasquig Eadwhoppas killchoppa
95 Deffkilla wartrike Super cybork body
80 Kaptin badrukk
65 Trukk
65 trukk
65 trukk
110 Nobz X5 powerclaw
110 Nobz X5 powerclaw
220 Nobz X10 powerclaw
250 squighog Boyz X6
40 gretchin
40 gretchin
40 Gretchin
65 stormboyz X5
65 stormboyz X5
Archetype
Ork Goodstuff
Thoughts
Last but not least, the Greenskins haven’t gone anywhere, and this classic all-rounder build is still plenty capable of krumpin’. Hugely nasty melee if all the Nobz all hit around the same time, good mechanised shooting from the Gitz, fantastic anchoring from the ultra-durable Squighogs, and a nice little flex piece from the lone Deffkilla trike, who is a bargain basement roaming character once you stick the Cybork Body on him. Orks is never beaten, a description that is particularly accurate when applied to Alexander’s run here!
The Best of the Rest
There was one more players on a 4-1 record. Lotta draws. They were:
- 2nd – Andreas Holm – T’au Empire (Kauyon): A very go-wide spin on Tau, taking three Riptides and three solo Crisis Commanders to provide lots of mobile threats.
Wrap Up
That’s it for part 1, but as mentioned up top we’re really only getting started – check back in later in the week for much, much more.