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Competitive Innovations in 10th: Tally Ho pt.2

By Lowest of Men

It’s part 2 of Competitive Innovations, and chivalry continues to be back as the Imperial Knights face off with Genestealer Cults in our big Showdown. Elsewhere, various top factions continue to make their presence known as we head towards our next clutch of big supermajors, so there’s plenty to dig into.

Today Lowest of Men is covering:

  • Roll for Damage GT 2024
  • Dicing Death II GT
  • Iron Cage: September Slaughter
  • East Midlands Slam GT 1!
  • Harlequins Warhammer 40K GRAND TOURNAMENT 2024
  • Thunder Hammer – GameShelf Sept 2024 Warhammer 40K Tournament

If you’re looking for the following, check out Part 1 from Wednesday with Wings:

  • German Major Bayern 2024
  • EL Bunker, Bajio Open 2024
  • WARHAMMER 40K NATIONALS 2024
  • No Surrender 2024
  • War for the Forge 2024 40k GT
  • Riverhammer 2024

Roll for Damage GT 2024

97-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Fulham, SA, AU on September 13 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown – Imperial Knights versus Genestealer Cults

Linchpin – Raise Banners – Search and Destroy

Kyle Murray – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance)
Army List - Click to Expand

vs.

Peter Hatcliffe – Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge)
Army List - Click to Expand

Thoughts

Look, sometimes you have to stand back and bask in the glory of a hideous mismatch in the final rounds of an event. In this instance, the technical, recurring shenanigans of the GSC bounce directly into an absolute WALL of Imperial Knight Armigers, reinforced by a smattering of useful idiots from the Imperial Agents book. The agent plug ins are going to offer some nifty abilities to the IK, shoring up scoring pieces and giving them some ways to draw the opponent out onto the many, many guns without needing to expose valuable chassis. Knight armies lose when they drop down on Knights too quickly, so some trash is ideal for delaying this process.

The Biosantic GSC list is extremely cool and one of the flavours currently demonstrating that the book might have some potential after all. Triple abominant is a mood as these are really quite smashy in this detachment, with MSU aberrants to back them up and deliver them a logical choice. Purestrains add forward pressure and Ridgerunners supporting shooting that is entirely serviceable and helps boost the AP of the melee units. The issue this will have is that once the squishy melee units are exposed the Knights are going to commit a tiny massacre. I struggle to see how the GSC can connect into them hard enough with the assets they have, leaving them VERY dependant on wave two a) happening and b) happening quickly enough in the right places to help them stem a Knight push. In the event, it looks like the wall of steel triumphed, helping themselves to Linchpin’s BONKERS late game scoring…

Result

Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) Victory – 97 – 55

Kyle Murray – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

Imperial Knights - Armiger Helverins
Imperial Knights – Armiger Helverins
Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Imperial Knight Armigers

Thoughts

As above, Imperial Agents inject new life and possibilities for the IK, who have always boasted a tonne of output but lacked the guile of their Chaotic brothers in applying it. Cheap idiots may well be the answer, and I am very excited to see if the trends can continue and IK can make a sustained comeback with their help. Really well done on the event win!

Peter Hatcliffe – Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge) – 2nd Place

Credit: keewa

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Biosanctic Broodsurge Mixed Arms

Thoughts

A combined arms Biosanctic list capable of pushing a lot of melee pressure on the opponent from the get go whilst Ridgerunners snipe away in support. Cool to see some mining lasers on the Rockgrinders as i’ve been pondering these myself as another way of smuggling in some Anti-tank, and my heart sings at the return of a Bio-morph Adaptation Patriarch, ready to deal out some hurt with his claws. Excellent work on the top placing.

Wade Stringer – Death Guard (Plague Company) – 3rd Place

Credit: Robert “TheChirurgeon” Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Death Guard with Brigands

Thoughts

A tasty Death Guard list that brings some shenanigans to play. I really rate Typhus in a big slab of Poxwalkers as a deceptively durable, obnoxious tarpit, that once out and ensaring can stick around for ages as long as it avoids a massive counter strike. Typhus kills stuff, Zombies come back, jobs a good un. Elsewhere you’ve got Brigands for reliable anti-tank shooting, an unusually high number of cultists to force early trades and get the party started, and plenty of Plague Marines and Deathshroud for when it’s time to push. All in all, a very strong list! Great work.

Josh Engelke – Grey Knights (Teleport Strike Force) – 4th Place

Grey Knights Nemesis Dreadknights. Credit: Colin Ward

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Grey Knights Combined Arms

Thoughts

Grey Knights have been doing their thing for awhile now, and I’m running out of stuff to say about it. This list does all the Grey Knight things, and it does them well. Mists of Deimos is a sweet stratagem, Draigo fails 6 inch charges, Dreadknights are pretty cool. Excellent work on the top placing!

The Best of the Rest

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

  • 5th – Sam Young – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): BoF with Vahl Paragons, some Mortifiers, and a lot of the usual suspects.
  • 6th – Serena Mail – T’au Empire (Mont’ka): Triple Hammerhead, Triple Riptide Mont’ka pressure.
  • 7th – Leah Newell – Grey Knights: Interceptors join the usual GK suspects.
  • 8th – Lachlan Klenk – T’au Empire (Kauyon): Kauyon with plenty of Breachers and Skyrays.
  • 9th – Tyson Whitelaw – World Eaters: Plenty of Eightbound and Bezerkers backing up the usual characters.

Dicing Death II GT

58-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Portland, OR, United States on September 14 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Nicholas Fromme – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 1st Place

Credit: Keewa

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Bringers of Flame Goodstuff

Thoughts

Sisters are slapping folks about with Melta and Flamer, merrily dominating a decent chunk of events. The list archetype isn’t without predators, but it remains one of the armies to beat going into the London Grand Tournament. I’ve not seen a Sisters LGT win, but it feels entirely possible this time around! Great work on the event win.

Harry Gieringer – Salamanders (Firestorm Assault Force) – 2nd Place

Salamanders Sargeant Jovan. Credit: Rockfish
Salamanders Sargeant Jovan. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Salamanders Melta Rush

Thoughts

Someone took the ‘heroic melta infantry in transports’ memo and ran with it, with this novel Firestorm Salamanders list. Van Vets are cheap and stodgy, Devastators provide a cheap way into the transport based synergies of the detachment, and Vulkan’s little brother runs about force multiplying and being a nuisance. A really refreshing take on one of my favourite marine chapters, great to see them out in the wild!

Justin Francis – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault) – 3rd Place

Drukhari Archon. Credit: Corrode

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Skysplinter Goodstuff

Thoughts

Drukhari have been more or less figured out at this point, and this punchy build embodies the ‘what if no Beastmaster’ option – I can see the case for this, as the match ups in which his forward ‘jail’ energy is useful have declined and he often ends up being a fly on the windshield of an advancing army to minimal effect these days, freeing up more points for melee murder. 20 Incubi is a satisfying amount to bring to bear on the opponent and two Cronos help the violence to flow. Great work on the top placing.

Lukas Troller – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force) – 4th Place

Credit: “Contemptor” Kevin Stillman

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Wolf Jail Mixed Arms

Thoughts

Vindicators are just GOOD ok?! There are very few lists with access to full rerolls that DON’T want a giant massive god killing tank or two in there right now, and I love this inclusion of two into an otherwise fairly known entity in Wolf Jail. Clear screens, leave giant craters where enemy monsters and tanks were, it’s all good. A very strong iteration on a Pariah stalwart, great work.

The Best of the Rest

There was 1 more players on a 5-1 record. They were:

  • 5th – Rich Dudley – Drukhari (Realspace Raiders): Double Beastmaster / Six Talos Realspace Raid, very chonky indeed!

Iron Cage: September Slaughter

51-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Bedford, TX, US on September 14 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Justin Moore – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion) – 1st Place

Monolith with Death Rays. Credit: Rockfish
Monolith with Death Rays. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Silvertide Hypercrypt

Thoughts

You know, I was just wondering where Necron Warriors went yesterday. 40 of the blighters on display here, utilising the uppy downy nonsense of Hypercrypt, where you can pull a lot of very funny things with 3 inch deep striking screens of Warriors that then run away when you attack them. I heard tonnes about this when the book dropped but never really saw it in practice, so I am very excited that it has brought an event home here. Really well done on the top placing!

Colin Kay – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Canoness Preceptor Theshea Collumo (Credit: Thien Nguyendo)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Bringers of Flame Goodstuff

Thoughts

This one also has some Penitent Engines in! I do love those models. Really well done on the top placing.

The Best of the Rest

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

  • 3rd – Mark Cimmerian – Black Templars (Righteous Crusaders): Full Templars horde, yikes.
  • 4th – Kit Smith – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Double Monolith / Tesseract Vault Hypercrypt.
  • 5th – Brian Ellis – Emperor’s Children (Pactbound Zealots): Massed Noise Marines in Pactbound, very cool!!!
  • 6th – Nathaniel Bjorge – Tyranids (Vanguard Onslaught): Glorious Vanguard pressure.
  • 7th – Gregory Loots – Genestealer Cult (Outlander Claw): Forward pressure Outlander Claw with loads of Bikes and Purestrains.

East Midlands Slam GT 1!

35-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Irchester, England, United Kingdom on September 14 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Aidan Brocklehurst – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 1st Place

Credit: Evan “Felime” Siefring

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Bringers of Flame Goodstuff

Thoughts

Sisters expert Aidan slams in the usual suspects but slightly dials up the number of little melee characters (a penchant of his), to give him a bit more give and go in the skirmishing exchanges taking place around the tanks and out of the line of sight of the big old guns. Very effective, and a storming event win delivered. Really well done man!

The Best of the Rest

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

  • 2nd – Mathew Putney – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Silent King / Monolith Hypercrypt.
  • 3rd – Matthew Leverton – Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): Breachers anchoring a horde of scoring pieces and trash.
  • 4th – Liam Worswick – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Delicious chonky Invasion Fleet with a Zoan brick.
  • 5th – Paul Bridge – Thousand Sons: Chaff heavy Tsons with a Vortex Beast and Daemon Prince.
  • 6th – Jack Chapman – T’au Empire (Kauyon): Beautifully balanced Kauyon with double Skyray and Ghostkeel alongside plenty of scoring.

Harlequins Warhammer 40K GRAND TOURNAMENT 2024

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on September 14 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Matt Charles – Blood Angels (Sons of Sanguinius) – 1st Place

Blood Angel Death Company marines with jump packs. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Blood Angels Mixed Arms

Thoughts

A storming mixed arms BA list of the kind that has been very consistent since Pariah dawned. The slight change up is Gabriel Seth getting a final run out (*sobs*), in place of any of the other special BA characters. Seth gives his unit advance and charge and is an absolute melee blender, so he more than justifies his inclusion. I think my Seth will have to become a ‘captain’ in the new book (there’s a guy with SUSTAINED 3 that fits the bill), so I suggest you do the same Matt! Very well done on the event win.

The Best of the Rest

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

  • 2nd – Neil Wilson – Black Templars (Righteous Crusaders): A Partial Templar horde with some Terminators leading the way.
  • 3rd – Michael Armer – Aeldari (Battle Host): Avatar of Khaine, a big brick of Windriders, and a lot of utility.
  • 4th – Chris Broome – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Nightbringer and Void Dragon Hypercrypt dial it right back.
  • 5th – Graham Cooke – Chaos Knights: Massed War Dogs CK.

Thunder Hammer – GameShelf Sept 2024 Warhammer 40K Tournament

27-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Thunder Bay, ON, Canada on September 14 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Jake Wolfslied – Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host) – 1st Place

Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike
Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Custodes with Canis

Thoughts

A cheeky Custodes event win! They’ve been growing into Pariah, albeit in the hands of faction experts only.  This list keeps the Venatari Ingress nonsense that has helped Custodes to compete of late, but also sneaks Canis Rex in to provide some hard target removal where you’d often see Caladius. A very potent list, really well done on the event win!

The Best of the Rest

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

  • 2nd – Carter Sime – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, a Cerastus, and plenty of War Dogs.
  • 3rd – David Boer – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Mixed Arms IF with some Haruspex, hell yeah!
  • 4th – Justin Enders – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): THREE big Knights here before the Armigers step in. IK have had a great week!
  • 5th – Robert Gill – Leagues of Votann: 20 Hearthguard, two Land Forts and two Sagitaur, very cool.

Wrap Up

That’s us for this week folks! just a few more sleeps til the LGT. The meta is a touch stale at this point and I for one welcome a few points changes to get our juices flowing again, but it’s definitely cool to see a few emergent forces (IK, GSC, Votann) demonstrating that the game really is so balanced that almost anything can be made to work in the right hands. Expect a flood of Imperial Agent plug-ins very, very soon.

Lowest of Men, out!

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