The Tenth Edition train is now fully barrelling down the track, as last week’s Tacoma/Show me double header is followed up by another week with two massive events, this time the Lone Star Open and Palm Springs Open – both featuring some fairly exciting new builds making serious waves at the top, even amongst continued Aeldari and GSC dominance. Let’s find out what players have been getting up to, as we take a look at:

Frontline Gaming Lone Star Open (supermajor)
Palm Springs Open by Dicebreaker (major)
Kraken GT 2023
The Battle for Middle Wisko
Le Griffon n’a qu’une tête

This week’s showdowns, voted for by the Goonhammer Patrons, are:

Tyranids vs AdMech (!) at the Palm Springs Open
~~Genestealer Cults vs Chaos Space Marines at The Battle for Middle Wisko~~ It was going to be this, but the Genestealer Cult list is redacted. Really following through 8th Edition’s book to the logical conclusion there. That means we’ll be looking at…
Aeldari vs Chaos Space Marines at the Lone Star Open

Yes folks you read that right – AdMech in the showdown. Fundamentally, that means someone already has this week’s moral victory, but let’s see who got the actual trophies as well.

Frontline Gaming Lone Star Open 40K Champs

214-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Allen, TX US on July 22 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Edit: The results for this event were updated in BCP after this article was compiled. The player previously in second place was moved to last place. The player’s list included an enhancement included that would not do anything under the rules, and there are numerous complaints bouncing around the internet about rules errors they made at the event. As far as I’m aware, there’s been no TO statement.

The Showdown

Mission L – Scorched Earth – Chilling Rain – Dawn of War

Russell Tassin – Black Legion: Abaddon, Terminators and guns – including some attached to a mighty Land Raider, which is carrying the smaller Terminator squad to battle. Also, Nurglings to screen.
Army List - Click to Expand

Black legion (2000 Points)

Chaos Space Marines
Slaves to Darkness
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Abaddon the Despoiler (280 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Drach’nyen
1x Talon of Horus

Chaos Lord in Terminator Armour (100 Points)
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Chainfist
1x Combi-weapon

BATTLELINE

Cultist Mob (55 Points)
• Mark of Chaos: Tzeentch
• 1x Cultist Champion
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Cultist firearm
• 9x Chaos Cultist
• 6x Close combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
6x Cultist firearm
1x Cultist grenade launcher
1x Flamer
1x Heavy stubber

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chaos Land Raider (255 Points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Soulshatter lascannon
1x Twin heavy bolter

Chaos Terminator Squad (390 Points)
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Terminator Champion
• 1x Chainfist
1x Combi-weapon
• 9x Chaos Terminator
• 2x Accursed weapon
1x Chainfist
9x Combi-weapon
6x Power fist

Chaos Terminator Squad (195 Points)
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Terminator Champion
• 1x Chainfist
1x Combi-weapon
• 4x Chaos Terminator
• 1x Accursed weapon
4x Combi-weapon
3x Power fist

Forgefiend (165 Points)
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Armoured limbs
2x Ectoplasma cannon
1x Ectoplasma cannon

Obliterators (160 Points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 2x Crushing fists
2x Fleshmetal guns

ALLIED UNITS

Nurglings (40 Points)
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth

vs.

Ben Jurek – Aeldari: Go-wide with a Wraithknight
Army List - Click to Expand

Tacoma (2000 Points)

Aeldari
Battle Host
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Autarch Wayleaper (80 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
1x Howling Banshee Mask
1x Star glaive

Death Jester (85 Points)
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• Enhancements: Fate’s Messenger

Farseer Skyrunner (100 Points)
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing spear
1x Twin shuriken catapult
• Enhancements: The Phoenix Gem

The Yncarne (270 Points)
• 1x Swirling soul energy
1x Vilith-zhar, the Sword of Souls

OTHER DATASHEETS

Fire Prism (150 Points)
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull

Night Spinner (170 Points)
• 1x Doomweaver
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull

Shadow Spectres (80 Points)
• 5x Shadow Spectre
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Prism rifle

War Walkers (95 Points)
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet

War Walkers (95 Points)
• 2x Shuriken cannon
1x War Walker feet

Warp Spiders (100 Points)
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Death spinner
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Death spinner

Wraithknight (475 Points)
• 1x Heavy wraithcannon
1x Heavy wraithcannon
2x Starcannon
1x Titanic feet

Thoughts

Chaos Space Marines had a pretty great weekend, all things considered, and Russell is right at the spearhead of that, sticking to his Black Legion guns and bringing Abaddon and a bunch of friends out to play. Also the guns, which are stuck to Obliterators, a Forgefiend and a Land Raider. Hell Yeah. The killing power of this list is wild – Nurgle Obliterators in Abaddon’s aura will scythe through most anything, and the Chaos Undivided Forgefiend (unlocking full re-rolls from Profane Zeal) might be the single best counter to the current metagame villain of 10-model Wraithguard units that’s available, because you have a legitimate shot of just flattening six or seven of them, massively reducing the sting when they shoot back. The list also has a tonne of neat tricks it can pull off – obviously going for Assault Ramp with the Landraider lets you hurl Terminators at the opponent however you do it, but bringing the Mark of Nurgle on the bus lets you protect it with Dark Obscuration, something that Abaddon’s big Terminator block can also do. It’s certainly condensed to a smaller number of units than some of the Aeldari builds, but the killing power genuinely rivals what the elves can put out, and the tricks it has access to are plausibly going to be more of a surprise coming from marine-shaped bodies than they would be from elves.

Speaking of elves – Ben’s got the Wraithknight/Go-wide version here, another of the game’s most murderous lists, and I assume breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn’t packing Wraithguard because of how legitimately great some of the Chaos stuff is at bodying them. The Wraithknight probably does have to start in Strategic Reserves, as with the LSO ruin rules (infinitely vertically blocking LOS unless you toe in) it’s unlikely to get an early shot on the Forgefiend, and the Land Raider can use Obscuration to protect itself, but the Eldar do still have plenty of units to start with – but honestly, they’re up against something so mean that despite their strengths, this feels seriously close on this mission.

Scorched Earth/Dawn of War is a pretty ideal setup for Chaos to try and challenge for a breakout win here, because they can focus hard on one flank initially, aim to use Obscuration to lock in torching a side objective, then pushing through to either the centre or the Aeldari home position. Scorched Earth is one of the harder missions to max Primary on (you have to burn your opponent’s home to do it at all, and can only get above 40 if you burn something in no-man’s land), and Chaos legitimately feel better equipped to pull that off here, which gives them an angle to score higher. The flipside is, of course, that the Aeldari are probably better at consistently scoring Secondaries, as the Chaos units are slower around the table, and also generally less expendable (at least once the Nurglings are gone). My feeling is that Chaos probably has to try and power play for 45 on Primary, while Eldar need to play keep-away and aim very strictly for 40 Primary, 40 Secondary, and throw all their resources at ensuring that Chaos never manage to burn the Aeldari home objective, and ideally tank their score by 5VP the turn after they burn a flank one (which is probably inevitable).

I think that’s achievable, but the Aeldari have to be incredibly careful not to throw away too many resources at once, because whatever they expose probably does get toasted. Having the Death Jester does help them a lot mind, both as a Lone Op who can sit on a flank with relative impunity, and also as a genuine threat to just gradually chew through Obliterators, which they match up nicely into. The Yncarne will, of course, help a bunch too, though there’s certainly a bunch of stuff here they could bounce off, which is plausibly problematic. In the end, this was extremely close, but it looks like the Aeldari were able to hit their win condition – I’m going to guess the scoreline for Ben’s 88 was 40 Primary, 38 Secondary, and he was able to keep Russell in the low 80s, taking the win.

Result

Aeldari Victory – 88 – 81

Ben Jurek – Aeldari – 1st Place

The List

See showdown

Archetype

Wraithknight & Prisms

Thoughts

OK look, I said other factions are making waves, but Aeldari and Genestealer Cults are still making the running. Ben’s version of Aeldari eschews the increasingly popular Waithguard brick to keep one Wraithknight, providing the sheer crushing power that almost nothing else can imitate (though Lone Star did dial them in a bit with some additional rules on how ruins work, reducing the power of Towering), and spend the rest of his points on a mix of go-wide firepower, the Yncarne, and mobile Aspect Warriors ready to lock in Secondaries when they arise. That creates a build that can comfortably erase pretty much anything from the table, scores Secondaries reliably, and can brutally punish a mis-timed kill on one of its more fragile units. There are armies that can challenge it (see the Black Legion’s wall of Obliterators nearly pulling off an upset), but as long as the player knows what they’re doing (as Ben emphatically does), the odds are pretty much always going to be in its favour. Well done to Ben on taking a big trophy.

Eric Tadt – Genestealer Cult – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Genestealer Cults Acolyte Iconward. Credit: That Gobbo

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

First list (2000 points)
Genestealer Cults
Strike Force (2000 points)
Ascension Day

CHARACTER

Acolyte Iconward (50 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Autopistol
1x Cult claws

Biophagus (50 points)
• 1x Alchemicus Familiar
1x Autopistol
1x Chemical vials
1x Injector goad

Clamavus (40 points)
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon

Nexos (90 points)
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancement: Meticulous Planner

Primus (70 points)
• 1x Cult bonesword
1x Scoped needle pistol
1x Toxin injector claw

Reductus Saboteur (55 points)
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Demolition charges
1x Remote explosives

BATTLELINE

Acolyte Hybrids (150 points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 9x Acolyte Hybrid
• 5x Cult claws and knife
4x Cult claws and knife
4x Demolition charges
5x Hand flamer

Neophyte Hybrids (160 points)
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
• 19x Autopistol
19x Close combat weapon
1x Cult Icon
4x Grenade launcher
11x Hybrid firearm
4x Seismic cannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Aberrants (330 points)
• 1x Aberrant Hypermorph
• 1x Heavy power weapon
1x Hypermorph tail
• 9x Aberrant
• 9x Heavy power weapon

Achilles Ridgerunners (75 points)
• 1x Heavy mortar
1x Ridgerunner wheels
1x Survey Augur
1x Twin heavy stubber

Archetype

Horde and Aberrants

Thoughts

Your mostly extremely standard GSC horde build, with the only major thing to highlight being the increasing number of toolkit Characters, giving the list a bit more flexibility, particularly for the mirror and against fast Aeldari threats. That clearly paid off for Eric, as he defeated two of his fellow Cult players, including a very close game in the final round to secure his undefeated record!

Robert Moreland – Astra Militarum – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

(1995 Points)

Astra Militarum
Combined Regiment
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Gaunt’s Ghosts (115 Points)
• 1x Ibram Gaunt
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Gaunt’s chainsword
• 1x Colm Corbec
• 1x Corbec’s hot-shot lascarbine
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Elim Rawne
• 1x Rawne’s lascarbine
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Hlaine Larkin
• 1x Larkin’s long-las
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x ’Try Again’ Bragg
• 1x Bragg’s autocannon
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Oan Mkoll
• 1x Lascarbine
1x Mkoll’s straight silver knife

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

Platoon Command Squad (60 Points)
• 1x Platoon Commander
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
• 4x Veteran Guardsman
• 4x Close combat weapon
3x Lasgun
4x Laspistol
1x Master Vox
1x Medi-pack
1x Regimental Standard
1x Sniper rifle

Regimental Enginseer (45 Points)
• 1x Archeotech pistol
1x Enginseer axe
1x Servo-arm

Ursula Creed (55 Points)
• 1x Duty and Vengeance
1x Power weapon

BATTLELINE

Cadian Shock Troops (65 Points)
• 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant
• 1x Chainsword
1x Laspistol
• 9x Shock Trooper
• 9x Close combat weapon
7x Lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster

Death Korps of Krieg (65 Points)
• 1x Death Korps Watchmaster
• 1x Chainsword
1x Laspistol
• 9x Death Korps Trooper
• 9x Close combat weapon
7x Lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun
1x Sniper rifle

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chimera (85 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Chimera multi-laser
1x Heavy bolter
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lasgun array

OTHER DATASHEETS

Banesword (515 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Lascannon
2x Lascannon
1x Quake cannon
1x Twin heavy bolter
2x Twin heavy bolter 2x Twin heavy bolter

Heavy Weapons Squad (60 Points)
• 3x Las small arms
3x Mortar
3x Weapons team close combat weapons

Hellhound (125 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy flamer
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Inferno cannon

Rapier Laser Destroyer Battery (90 Points)
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Laser destroyer

Scout Sentinels (50 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Sentinel chainsaw

Tempestus Scions (60 Points)
• 1x Tempestor
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 4x Tempestus Scion
• 4x Close combat weapon
2x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot volley gun
1x Plasma gun

ALLIED UNITS

Callidus Assassin (115 Points)
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades

Archetype

Big tank and friends.

Thoughts

Rack up another one for a single gigantic threat with a whole bunch of small, efficient guns around it. The Banesword rules, having one of the more appealing big guns, and in the current metagame the ability to force enemy explosions on a 3+ is very real. 2+ saves on a thing that’s very frequently going to be in cover is also a seriously tough nut to crack (especially with Ursula able to drop Armoured Might on it for free), and that means that you can start it on the board against Knights (really only Wraithknights force you to pull it with Lord Solar, and Robert’s one loss was, in fact, against Ben). Outside that core monstrosity, Rapiers are ultra-efficient backfield shooting (and also good out of Strategic Reserves to punk enemy stuff), while Hellhounds provide a nice way to get out on the board and push out some Overwatch. Being able to pressure the opponent might also help bait out a key offensive Stratagem, which can then be tagged by the Callidus, reducing the opponent’s ability to handle the Banesword in mid-late game, and the Callidus and Gaunt’s Ghosts provide a very powerful set of movement utility tools to handle objectives. Really big fan of this – bypassing stacked Indirect in favour of a much more aggressive, big-tank focused list looks like a whole bunch of fun, congratulations to Robert.

4th – Robert Hawkins – Genestealer Cult

This is short because I’ve promotes it from the best of the rest

Horde, Aberrants…and a Shadowsword. Neat. That’ll teach any Imperial Knights who think they’re funny, I guess. Extremely awesome move.

The Best of the Rest

There were 17 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

Bump all these placings up by one.

5th – Robert Hawkins – Genestealer Cult: Horde, Aberrants…and a Shadowsword. Neat. That’ll teach any Imperial Knights who think they’re funny, I guess.
6th – Noah Beddome – Imperial Knights: Aggro Knights with a Warden and Valiant.
7th – Russell Tassin – Black Legion: Abaddon with two units of Terminators (one ten-man, one five in a Land Raider) plus shooty gunline tools like Forgefiends and Obliterators. Came very close to taking the whole event, huge props to Russell.
8th – Robin Roberts – Genestealer Cult: Horde with Aberrants, plus a unit of Purestrains as a utility piece.
9th – Clifton “Murica” Russell – Genestealer Cult: Horde without Aberrants, backing the masses up with some Manticores and a Wyvern instead.
10th – Junior Aflleje – Imperial Knights: Firepower at ranges both long and short, bringing two Crusaders and a Valiant.
11th – Micah McComb – Chaos Space Marines: Abaddon with a Terminator brick and gunline stuff, plus two Dark Communes, each leading a full Accursed unit, which feels like something of a sleeper hit.
12th – Red Powell – World Eaters: Angron, Invocatus, a Daemon friend and a whole bunch of Berserkers.
13th – Mathew Tweedel – Chaos Space Marines: Another Abaddon/double Dark Commune build, here adding some Possessed as well.
14th – Da Xie – Aeldari: Prisms, Spinners and Spiders, plus the new public enemy #1 of the full Wraithguard unit.
15th – Kevin McCormick – Chaos Knights: A Desecrator and a bunch of Dogs.
16th – Justin Moore – Thousand Sons: Magnus and the boyx with a Mutalith and Scarabs.
17th – Nick “Doots” Toomey – Necrons: Lots of spicy shooting behind a single big Warrior unit and the super Transcendent.
18th – Austin Martin – Aeldari: Aspect-heavy Aeldari, adding a full unit each of Reapers and Scorpions with their corresponding Phoenix Lord to the standard Spiders.
19th – Nicholas Henry – Necrons: Double Lychguard with shooting and super Transcendent backup.
20th – Kit Smith Hanna – Chaos Daemons: Be’lakor monster mash with lots of Greater Daemons and some Soul Grinders.
21st – Jason Rider – Chaos Space Marines: Triple Lord of Skulls, triple Warpsmith, no mercy.
22th – Michael Ramos – Aeldari: Prisms, an Avatar and a Wraithknight. Also still running a couple of D-cannons even at their silly new price point, please just re-write the datasheet GW

Palm Springs Open 40k GT II By Dicehammer

111-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Palm Springs, CA US on July 22 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Mission A – Take and Hold – Chilling Rain – Search and Destroy

Joel Wilson – Tyranids:
Army List - Click to Expand

gaunt carpet (2000 points)
Tyranids
Strike Force (2000 points)
Invasion Fleet

CHARACTER

Deathleaper (80 points)
• 1x Lictor claws and talons

Hive Tyrant (220 points)
• 1x Heavy venom cannon
1x Monstrous bonesword and lash whip

Neurotyrant (105 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes
1x Psychic scream

BATTLELINE

Hormagaunts (140 points)
• 20x Hormagaunt talons

Termagants (120 points)
• 20x Termagant devourer
20x Xenos claws and teeth

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (65 points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
1x Spore Mine launcher

Lictor (75 points)
• 1x Lictor claws and talons

Maleceptor (165 points)
• 1x Massive scything talons
1x Psychic overload

Neurogaunts (90 points)
• 2x Neurogaunt Nodebeast
• 2x Xenos claws and teeth
• 20x Neurogaunt
• 20x Xenos claws and teeth

Venomthropes (70 points)
• 3x Toxic lashes

Zoanthropes (90 points)
• 1x Neurothrope
• 1x Warp Blast
1x Xenos claws and teeth
• 2x Zoanthrope
• 2x Warp Blast
2x Xenos claws and teeth

vs.

Jason McKenzie – Cult Mechanicus:
Army List - Click to Expand

Agents of Discord (2000 points)
Adeptus Mechanicus
Strike Force (2000 points)
Rad-Cohort

CHARACTER

Arch-Magos Dominus Belisarius Cawl (185 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Arc scourge
1x Cawl’s Omnissian axe
1x Mechadendrite hive
1x Solar atomiser

Skitarii Marshal Varnax – Heretek of the Broken Cog (55 points)
• 1x Archeotech pistol
1x Control stave
• Enhancement: Archived Purge Protocols

Magos Gladius Dominus Valdinox – Genetor of Zaiphon Prime (95 points)
• 1x Omnissian axe
1x Phosphor serpenta
1x Volkite blaster
• Enhancement: Omni-Steriliser

Magos Prime Dominus Arkvaul – Conductor of the Ghost Interface (110 points)
• 1x Omnissian axe
1x Phosphor serpenta
1x Volkite blaster
• Enhancement: Master Annihilator

Tech-Priest Enginseer Kairi – The Shadow Eclipse (45 points)
• 1x Archeotech pistol
1x Omnissian axe
1x Servo-arm

BATTLELINE

Skitarii Vanguard (100 points)
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Radium carbine
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebus

OTHER DATASHEETS

Ironstrider Ballistarii (150 points)
• 3x Ironstrider feet
3x Twin cognis lascannon

Kataphron Breachers (300 points)
• 6x Heavy arc rifle
6x Hydraulic claw

Kataphron Destroyers (240 points)
• 6x Close combat weapon
6x Cognis flamer
6x Heavy grav-cannon

Pteraxii Skystalkers (70 points)
• 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Pteraxii Skystalker
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Flechette carbine

Serberys Sulphurhounds (65 points)
• 1x Serberys Sulphurhound Alpha
• 1x Cavalry arc maul
1x Clawed limbs
1x Phosphor blast pistol
1x Sulphur breath
• 2x Serberys Sulphurhound
• 2x Clawed limbs
2x Sulphur breath
2x Twin phosphor pistols

Sicarian Infiltrators (80 points)
• 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Sicarian Infiltrator
• 4x Flechette blaster
4x Taser goad

ALLIED UNITS

Exaction Squad (35 points)
• 1x Proctor-Exactant
• 1x Arbites combat shotgun
1x Arbites shotpistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Exaction Vigilant
• 1x Arbites Medi-kit
2x Arbites combat shotgun
1x Arbites grenade launcher
4x Arbites shotpistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Executioner shotgun
1x Soulguilt Scanner

Thoughts

Hell yeah, AdMech in a Showdown! It’s no secret that AdMech’s options are pretty rough right now, but there’s certainly some decent stuff in there, and Jason’s build here makes smart use of it. Kataphrons with a Tech Priest Dominus in charge are an actual good unit, especially when you factor in the ability of one of the Dominii to bring along the ultra-volkite nightmare blaster and hand out 6-8 Mortal Wounds per turn. Ironstriders may lack the sheer killing power they packed last edition, but they’re at least very cheap for how durable they are, allowing you to add some anti-tank that won’t just melt. All the little utility stuff that’s been used here is at least OK too, and I think this is a very effective way to approach the codex, and pretty well pitched for the metagame. In particular, I think the key decision is taking just a single Battleline unit and (presumably) planning to park it hidden near the Breachers and one Ironstrider unit for the Marshall to buff, treating it as a castle setup rather than trying to bring enough Battleline to cover the board, as Skitarii just aren’t worth it.

Unfortunately, having carved through both an Aeldari horror and a powerful GSC build, it finds itself up against another completely left-field build in the final – Gaunt carpet. Variants on this seem to pop up every edition, and yup, it sure does look pretty real here. Gaunts going up to a 5+ base save and Venomthropes providing an even more powerful defensive aura than previously makes the lift of trying to chew through the horde extremely nasty, especially with Maleceptors providing an even further reduction in enemy lethality up close (and just being efficiently priced durable monsters). The Skulking Horrors ability on Termagants is also a complete nightmare with this many of them on the table, and the units having such a big footprint, because the army ends up getting a massive amount of repositioning in each opponent’s turn, weaving and undulating like the hive tendrils they are.

A lot of lists are just going to get swamped by that, and bluntly the AdMech here are one of them, particularly on this simplest of missions. They’re not even abnormally short on anti-horde stuff (though some of it can get no-selled by Skulking), but they can’t really remove hidden Venomthropes, and aren’t going to be able to clear enough of the horde through Stealth and Cover to stop the Breachers and Destroyers getting stuck in combat, at which point it’s incredibly over. For AdMech to pull off a win here I think they have to go full on harebrained scheme mode – something like using the nine Ironstrider bases to bodily block the Gaunts from ever touching the Destroyers, and hoping that smoking a unit each on Overwatch and regular shooting is enough to tip the tide. Reader – either it wasn’t tried, or it wasn’t enough.

Result

Tyranids Victory – 100 – 30

Joel Wilson – Tyranids – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Gaunt Horde

Final Round Matchup

100 – 30 Victory against Jason McKenzie – Cult Mechanicus.

Thoughts

Alex Spathopoulos – Aeldari – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Busted (1995 Points)

Aeldari
Battle Host
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Autarch Wayleaper (80 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Howling Banshee Mask
1x Reaper launcher
1x Star glaive

Death Jester (85 Points)
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• Enhancements: Fate’s Messenger

Farseer (65 Points)
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witchblade

Illic Nightspear (65 Points)
• 1x Aeldari power sword
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Voidbringer

OTHER DATASHEETS

Fire Prism (150 Points)
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull

Rangers (55 Points)
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Ranger long rifle
5x Shuriken pistol

Shadow Spectres (80 Points)
• 5x Shadow Spectre
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Prism rifle

Support Weapons (105 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult

Swooping Hawks (75 Points)
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
• 1x Aeldari power sword
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hawk’s talon
• 4x Swooping Hawk
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Lasblaster

Voidweaver (100 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Prismatic cannon
2x Shuriken cannon

Vypers (75 Points)
• 1x Bright lance
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Wraithbone hull

War Walkers (95 Points)
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet

Warp Spiders (100 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

Archetype

Pure Go-wide Aeldari

Thoughts

Look, Alex has titled his own list “Busted” so I’m not sure I feel any great need to dig deep on this. Mostly, it just serves as an illustration of the depth of the challenge that sorting out the Aeldari index represents – no Wraithknights, no Wraithguard, no Yncarne, but an undefeated second place finish nonetheless.

Jake Jesionowski – Necrons – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

PSO (1995 Points)

Necrons
Awakened Dynasty
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

C’tan Shard of the Nightbringer (255 Points)
• 1x Gaze of death
1x Scythe of the Nightbringer

Overlord (110 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Resurrection Orb
1x Voidscythe
• Enhancements: Hypermaterial Ablator

Plasmancer (55 Points)
• 1x Plasmic lance

Technomancer (80 Points)
• 1x Canoptek Cloak
1x Staff of light
• Enhancements: Veil of Darkness

Transcendent C’tan (290 Points)
• 1x Crackling tendrils
1x Seismic assault
• Enhancements: Sempiternal Weave

BATTLELINE

Immortals (140 Points)
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Tesla carbine

OTHER DATASHEETS

Canoptek Reanimator (95 Points)
• 2x Atomiser beam
1x Reanimator’s claws

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

Cryptothralls (40 Points)
• 2x Scouring eye
2x Scythed limbs

Deathmarks (65 Points)
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Synaptic disintegrator

Doomsday Ark (185 Points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer array

Flayed Ones (70 Points)
• 5x Flayer claws

Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (45 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss destructor

Lychguard (190 Points)
• 10x Dispersion Shield
10x Hyperphase sword

Archetype

Double C’tan and Friends

Thoughts

This list is mean, bringing a whole bunch of power pieces. The obvious ones are the Lychguard, two C’tan (including the practically mandatory super Transcendant) and some Doomsdays, but it’s also got a first top four showing for my pet Necron unit, which is a Plasmancer with Tesla Immortals. Because this unit is often re-rolling wounds for free, Critical Hits on 5+ combines with Sustained Hits 2 to give it horrifying damage output into a wide variety of targets, and it’s a particularly nice tool into Genestealers (though Joel’s Gaunt Carpet could still tank it). Even if you don’t trust me to tell you hot Necron tips, trust in Jake managing to take it to 5-1 at a major, only losing to the eventual winner.

Grant Kauffman – Chaos Daemons – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Daemons v5 (2000 Points)

Chaos Daemons
Daemonic Incursion
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Be’lakor (325 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Betraying Shades
1x The Blade of Shadows

Great Unclean One (310 Points)
• 1x Bilesword
1x Plague flail
1x Putrid vomit
• Enhancements: The Endless Gift

Lord of Change (255 Points)
• 1x Bolt of Change
1x Rod of sorcery
1x Staff of Tzeentch
• Enhancements: The Everstave

Shalaxi Helbane (400 Points)
• 1x Lash of Slaanesh
1x Pavane of Slaanesh
1x Snapping claws
1x Soulpiercer

The Changeling (75 Points)
• 1x Infernal Flames
1x The Trickster’s Staff

BATTLELINE

Nurglings (40 Points)
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth

Plaguebearers (145 Points)
• 1x Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 9x Plaguesword

OTHER DATASHEETS

Flamers (65 Points)
• 1x Pyrocaster
• 1x Flamer mouths
1x Flickering Flames
• 2x Flamer
• 2x Flamer mouths
2x Flickering Flames

Flamers (130 Points)
• 1x Pyrocaster
• 1x Flamer mouths
1x Flickering Flames
• 5x Flamer
• 5x Flamer mouths
5x Flickering Flames

Flesh Hounds (70 Points)
• 1x Gore Hound
• 1x Burning roar
1x Collar of Khorne
1x Gore-drenched fangs
• 4x Flesh Hound
• 4x Collar of Khorne
4x Gore-drenched fangs

Archetype

Monster Mash

Thoughts

Daemons continue to overperform our predictions off the back of Monster Mash builds like this, combining the strong Greater Daemon datasheets, the best cheap board control stuff and Be’lakor’s anti-shooting aura to craft something that can actually compete. Not having to worry about getting the big hitters gunned down out of the gate by Knights or Aeldari is genuinely game-changing to the army’s ability to get some stuff done, and I like the inclusion of a Great Unclean One with the Endless Gift to provide something that can tank massive incoming hurt after close engagement is joined as well, particularly if all those utility pieces can push out the Shadow of Chaos.

As covered last week Greater Daemons are cool (the Changeling too – so mysterious), so we’re very happy to see this style working out, well done Grant.

The Best of the Rest

There were 8 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

5th – Logan Heath – Aeldari: Go-wide shooting with Vypers as well as the usual stuff.
6th – Wyatt Swift-Ramirez – Genestealer Cult: Horde & Aberrants with some extra shooting from some mining laser Ridgerunners and a Basilisk.
7th – Arthur Tu – Chaos Space Marines: Double Accursed Commune with lots of Chosen on top.
8th – Marc Merrill – Aeldari: Prisms & Wraithguard.
9th – Mike McTyre – Blood Angels: Gladius Task Force with a full unit of Death Company lead by Lemartes as the Blood Angels spice.
10th – Luke Ehlert – Tyranids: Monster mash with plenty of Zoanthropes and Biovores in support.
11th – Jason McKenzie – Adeptus Mechanicus: See showdown
12th – Daniel Reddehase – Chaos Daemons: Monster Mash and Flamers, also featuring a Great Unclean One alongside the usual suspects.

Kraken GT 2023 – OCC Qualifier

41-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Auckland, Auckland NZ on July 21 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Sean Sullivan – Ynnari – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Auckland self hatred (2000 points)
Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host

CHARACTER

Farseer (65 points)
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witchblade

Spiritseer (80 points)
• 1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witch staff
• Enhancement: Fate’s Messenger

The Yncarne (270 points)
• 1x Swirling soul energy
1x Vilith-zhar, the Sword of Souls

Yvraine (100 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Kha-vir, the Sword of Sorrows
1x Storm of Whispers

BATTLELINE

Guardian Defenders (110 points)
• 10x Guardian Defender
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Heavy Weapon Platform
• 1x Bright lance
1x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Fire Prism (150 points)
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull

Night Spinner (170 points)
• 1x Doomweaver
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull

Rangers (55 points)
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Ranger long rifle
5x Shuriken pistol

Warp Spiders (100 points)
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Death spinner
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Death spinner

Wraithguard (310 points)
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Wraithcannon

ALLIED UNITS

Ravager (95 points)
• 1x Bladevanes
3x Dark lance

Archetype

Go-wide shooty Ynnari

Final Round Matchup

97 – 76 Victory against Sterling Arnet – Aeldari.

Thoughts

Look, the Eldar players keep self-titling these things stuff like “Auckland self hatred” and who can really disagree? This is all the standard go-wide shooty Eldar stuff plus three Dark Lance Ravagers paid for by the modest price of having to take Yvraine as Warlord instead of an Autarch Wayleaper (whose CP gain only works as Warlord). That seems like a pretty reasonable trade, since the Battle Host re-rolls are extremely good on Ravagers, and the other hits are pretty much all here. Yvraine isn’t even a bad model – she keeps Guardians alive pretty reasonably via a 5+ Feel No Pain and being able to revive their platform endlessly, and her shooting attack is no joke. Realistically, Eldar don’t need to do this to do horrific things to you, but they can, so be aware of that, and also offer congratulations to Sean on both the win and his policy of radical list-naming honesty.

The Best of the Rest

There were 3 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

2nd – sterling Arnet – Aeldari: Wraithknight/Wraithguard tag team.
3rd – Louis Thomson-Gregg – Ynnari: Pretty much the same list as Sean with the same team name, so clearly a collaborative concoction.
4th – Ngaire Edgar-Wilson – Aeldari: Wraithknight and two big Wraithguard units, for when your opponent really needs a one-way trip to the warp.

The Battle for Middle Wisko 40K GT

40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Stevens Point, WI US on July 22 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

This event was allowing each player to nominate one piece of terrain to block Line of Sight even for Towering units.

Eric Forsman – Genestealer Cult – 1st Place

The List

It just says the following:

Redacted: Team USA

Presumably the Inquisition will be along to black bag me any moment now.

Archetype

Mystery GSC

Final Round Matchup

100 – 66 Victory against Matthew Monsour – Chaos Space Marines.

Thoughts

Do you actually need to keep your army list secret when you’re playing a faction with a 70%+ win rate? Do you really? Really? I guess I still have to say congratulations, but I’m shaking my head the whole time so that everyone knows I disapprove.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Matthew Monsour – Chaos Space Marines: A Dark Commune, Abaddon and a mighty eight Nurgle Obliterators. Wrong god for that number, shameful.
3rd – Tyler Johnson – Asuryani: Spinners, Prisms, 10 Wraithguard.
4th – Nasty Girl – Aeldari: Prisms, Wraithguard and a Wraithknight.
5th – Dakota Kramer – Asuryani: Prisms, a Spinner, Wraithknight.
6th – Kevin Leonard – Chaos Daemons: Tzeentch-flavoured Monster Mash, combining Be’lakor with triple Lord of Change (one being Kairos) and triple Soul Grinder.
7th – Jason Moskalik – Necrons: Double Lychguard with the super C’tan and lots of Lokhust Heavies.

Le Griffon n’a qu’une tête

All the lists for this event can be found on MiniHeadQuarters.

This event was using WTC scoring for the games, so there were a lot more draws than usual (hence only two players in the Best of the Rest).

Velorr – Genestealer Cults – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

CHARACTER
Biophagus (80 points)
• Enhancement: Inscrutable Cunning
Clamavus (40 points)
Nexos (50 points)

Nexos (90 points)
• Warlord
• Enhancement: Meticulous Planner
Primus (70 points)
Reductus Saboteur (55 points)
Reductus Saboteur (55 points)

BATTLELINE
Acolyte Hybrids (150 points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 9x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon
9x Cult claws and knife
4x Demolition charges
4x Hand flamer

Acolyte Hybrids (150 points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 9x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon
9x Cult claws and knife
4x Demolition charges
4x Hand flamer

Acolyte Hybrids (75 points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon
2x Cult claws and knife
1x Hand flamer
2x Heavy mining tool

OTHER DATASHEETS

Aberrants (330 points)
• 1x Aberrant Hypermorph
• 1x Heavy power weapon
1x Hypermorph tail
• 9x Aberrant

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

Achilles Ridgerunners (75 points)
• 1x Heavy mining laser
1x Spotter
1x Twin heavy stubber

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

Archetype

Horde and Aberrants

Final Round Matchup

91-78 Victory vs Paxki – Aeldari

Thoughts

A few more big guns than usual thanks to a squad of laser Ridgerunners, but mostly business as usual – hurl Aberrants at people early if the opponent can’t handle them, brutally annihilate them with Acolytes and the horde if not. Well done to Velorr on the win.

The Best of the Rest

Two more players finished on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Paxki – Aeldari: Ynnari-flavoured if not actually technically Ynnari – the full Triumverate, with the Visarch leading a Troupe as a mid-field bully unit, plus a full Wraithguard unit.
3rd – SergentBILKO – Genestealer Cult: A more elite GSC setup than normal, adding two full Purestrain units to the regular mix.

Wrap Up

Will any of these rising threats be able to unseat the metagame’s most powerful factions? I mean probably not, but it’s great that people are at least making a game of it, and we’ll see how things go next week.

Competitive Innovations in 10th: Stars and Springs

Frontline Gaming Lone Star Open 40K Champs

The Showdown

Mission L – Scorched Earth – Chilling Rain – Dawn of War

Thoughts

Result

Ben Jurek – Aeldari – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Eric Tadt – Genestealer Cult – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Robert Moreland – Astra Militarum – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

4th – Robert Hawkins – Genestealer Cult

The Best of the Rest

Palm Springs Open 40k GT II By Dicehammer

The Showdown

Mission A – Take and Hold – Chilling Rain – Search and Destroy

Thoughts

Result

Joel Wilson – Tyranids – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Final Round Matchup

Thoughts

Alex Spathopoulos – Aeldari – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Jake Jesionowski – Necrons – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Grant Kauffman – Chaos Daemons – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Kraken GT 2023 – OCC Qualifier

Sean Sullivan – Ynnari – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Final Round Matchup

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

The Battle for Middle Wisko 40K GT

Eric Forsman – Genestealer Cult – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Final Round Matchup

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Le Griffon n’a qu’une tête

Velorr – Genestealer Cults – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Final Round Matchup

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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