Welcome to Competitive Innovations, our weekly feature for a number of game lines across the tabletop wargame space. Each week our army list and tactics experts canvass the top tournaments for their game of specialty, looking at the week’s top match-ups and how they played out on the tabletop to let you know what’s hot, what’s not, and what might be coming next as the competitive meta evolves year-round.
We’re back for part 2 of Competitive Innovations, with a healthy mix of top finishes for your perusal. We’ve got a first-time event win for one of the lesser-utilised Grotmas Detachments, we’ve got AdMech, we’ve got a Fortification for some fucking reason; it’s simply all happening on the tournament tables.
Today we’ll cover:
- Milwaukee GT III
- Oxford Onslaught 4
- Waterloo Games Store Championship 40K Event Hosted by Away Games
- casi casi GT 2.0
- HWP Salty Classic GT February 2025
Yesterday (Wednesday) we looked at:
- Cherokee Open 2025 – 40k Champs
- 6. Corsair Open GT
- Heroes of the mid table winter 2025
- Top Gun: Callsign Chilli
- Toys of Mass Destruction – Hertfordshire Spring GT
Tomorrow (Friday) we’ll review:
- NRW 40K Singles 2025 – Alpine Cup
- 22 & 23 Feb 2025 – OWN’s Breaking Point GT at Primal Nerds
- Fire & Blood GT
- DaBoyz GT Golden Sprue 2025 40K 1v1
- I Torneo Iberian Open 2025 Cripta de los Héroes
Milwaukee GT III
56-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in New Berlin, WI, United States on February 22 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Scorched Earth – Inspired Leadership – Crucible of Battle
Ben Cherwien – Aeldari (Aspect Host) Aeldari CHARACTERS Autarch (75 Points) Baharroth (115 Points) Fuegan (120 Points) Lhykhis (120 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Wave Serpent (115 Points) Wave Serpent (115 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Dark Reapers (180 Points) Dark Reapers (90 Points) Fire Dragons (200 Points) Howling Banshees (90 Points) Howling Banshees (90 Points) Striking Scorpions (75 Points) Striking Scorpions (75 Points) Striking Scorpions (75 Points) Swooping Hawks (170 Points) Warp Spiders (95 Points) Warp Spiders (95 Points) Warp Spiders (95 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.27.0 (3), Data Version: v569
Army List - Click to Expand
9” 😉 (1990 Points)
Aspect Host
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Reaper launcher
• 1x Star glaive
• Warlord
• 1x Fury of the Tempest
• 1x Shining Blade
• 1x Fire Axe
• 1x Searsong
• 1x Brood Twain
• 1x Spider’s Fangs
• 1x Weaverender
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Twin bright lance
• 1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Twin bright lance
• 1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Missile launcher
• 9x Dark Reaper
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Reaper launcher
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Tempest launcher
• 4x Dark Reaper
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Reaper launcher
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Firepike
• 9x Fire Dragon
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Dragon fusion gun
• 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
◦ 1x Executioner
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Howling Banshee
◦ 4x Banshee blade
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
◦ 1x Executioner
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Howling Banshee
◦ 4x Banshee blade
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
◦ 1x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 1x Scorpion’s claw
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Striking Scorpion
◦ 4x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
◦ 1x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 1x Scorpion’s claw
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Striking Scorpion
◦ 4x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
◦ 1x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 1x Scorpion’s claw
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Striking Scorpion
◦ 4x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hawk’s talon
• 9x Swooping Hawk
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Lasblaster
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Powerblade array
• 4x Warp Spider
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Death spinner
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Death weavers
◦ 1x Spinneret rifle
• 4x Warp Spider
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Death spinner
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Death weavers
◦ 1x Spinneret rifle
• 4x Warp Spider
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Death spinner
vs.
Wesley St. Hines – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike) [Points: 2000, Faction: Astra Militarum, Detachment: Bridgehead Strike] Character
Army List - Click to Expand
Stock Standard Meta Guard with 0 Innovative Ideas
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
└ Militarum Tempestus Command Squad [Points: 100, Warlord: ✓]
Model
└ Tempestor Prime [Weapon: Command Rod]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot pistol + Hot-shot lasgun + Medic]
Enhancement
└ Bombast-Class Vox-Array [Points: 25]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot volley gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot pistol + Master vox]
└ Militarum Tempestus Command Squad [Points: 75]
Model
└ Tempestor Prime [Weapon: Command Rod]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot pistol + Hot-shot lasgun + Medic]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot volley gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Militarum Tempestus Command Squad [Points: 75]
Model
└ Tempestor Prime [Weapon: Command Rod]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot pistol + Hot-shot lasgun + Medic]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot volley gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Catachan Command Squad [Points: 65]
Model
└ Catachan Commander [Ranged: Plasma pistol, Melee: Power fist]
└ Veteran Guardsman (CCS) [Weapon: Lasgun, Wargear: Master vox]
└ Veteran Guardsman (CCS) [Weapon: Lasgun, Wargear: Regimental standard]
└ Veteran Guardsman (CCS) [Weapon: Lasgun, Wargear: Medi-pack]
└ Veteran Guardsman (CCS) [Weapon: Plasma Gun]
Epic Hero
└ Ursula Creed [Points: 65]
└ Gaunt’s Ghosts [Points: 110]
Battleline
└ Catachan Jungle Fighters [Points: 65]
Model
└ 2x Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Flamer]
└ Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Lasgun + Vox-caster]
└ Catachan Jungle Fighters [Points: 65]
Model
└ 2x Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Flamer]
└ Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Lasgun + Vox-caster]
└ Catachan Jungle Fighters [Points: 65]
Model
└ 2x Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Flamer]
└ Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Lasgun + Vox-caster]
└ Death Korps of Krieg [Points: 130, Models: 20]
Model
└ Death Korps Watchmaster [Melee Weapon: Power weapon, Ranged Weapon: Plasma pistol]
└ Death Korps Watchmaster [Melee Weapon: Power weapon, Ranged Weapon: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ 2x Death Korps Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Death Korps Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Meltagun]
└ 2x Death Korps Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Lasgun + Medi-pack]
Infantry
└ Catachan Heavy Weapons Squad [Points: 50]
Model
└ 3x Heavy Weapons Team (Catachan) [Loadout: Mortar]
└ Catachan Heavy Weapons Squad [Points: 50]
Model
└ 3x Heavy Weapons Team (Catachan) [Loadout: Mortar]
└ Catachan Heavy Weapons Squad [Points: 50]
Model
└ 3x Heavy Weapons Team (Catachan) [Loadout: Mortar]
└ Kasrkin [Points: 110]
Model
└ Kasrkin Sergeant [Melee Weapon: Power weapon, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ 2x Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot marksman rifle]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot + Vox]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + Melta mine]
└ Kasrkin [Points: 110]
Model
└ Kasrkin Sergeant [Melee Weapon: Power weapon, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ 2x Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot marksman rifle]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot + Vox]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + Melta mine]
└ Ogryn Bodyguard [Points: 40, Weapon: Bullgryn maul, Weapon/Shield: Brute Shield]
└ Tempestus Scions [Points: 130, Models: 10]
└ Tempestor [Melee Weapon: Power fist, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + vox-caster]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot volley gun]
└ Tempestus Scions [Points: 130, Models: 10]
└ Tempestor [Melee Weapon: Power fist, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + vox-caster]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot volley gun]
└ Tempestus Scions [Points: 130, Models: 10]
└ Tempestor [Melee Weapon: Power fist, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + vox-caster]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Tempestus Scions [Points: 130, Models: 10]
└ Tempestor [Melee Weapon: Power fist, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + vox-caster]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Tempestus Aquilons [Points: 110]
Model
└ Tempestor Aquilon [Loadout Options: Power weapon, Pistol Options: Hot-shot laspistol]
└ Tempestus Aquilons [Loadout Options: Plasma carbine]
└ Tempestus Aquilons [Loadout Options: Hot-shot long-las]
Fortification
└ Aegis Defence Line [Points: 145]
Thoughts
Aspect Host blasts into a Showdown here, albeit facing what may be one of the very worst matchups for it. Not only does Bridgehead’s playstyle match well into MSU-heavy Aeldari anyway, this build doesn’t even have Tank Commanders of any flavour to provide some high-value targets for things like Fire Dragons. In the abstract I think the builds with two Dorn or Russ Commanders are better, but in this matchup being able to full send with Infantry is definitely superior, and leaves the Asuryani with almost nothing they can do about it. Even the Aegis Defence line, mostly here as a meme as far as I’m aware, actually does something here, taking the ten Fire Dragon unit from “bad” to “comically bad” if it has to shoot something hiding behind it.
Having Baharroth and Lhykhis in the Phoenix corner does help a little here, as they’re very much the kind of things you want, both able to do their thing from safety, inflict genuinely substantial losses, and then maybe bug out to do it all again. Having lots of Scorpions is also valuable, as it maybe gives the Aeldari a very narrow path to victory – just deploy them as aggressively as possible, hope you win the roll-off, then combine them with the speedy threats to fully box in Bridgehead’s ability to go big. Far from a reliable plan, but anything like a standard game plan is going to be a washout for the Aeldari, so you may as well go for it. Unfortunately, whether because he went second or because even that wasn’t enough, Ben’s elves weren’t even really able to scratch the militarum here.
Result
Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike) Victory – 91 – 25
Wesley St. Hines – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand [Points: 2000, Faction: Astra Militarum, Detachment: Bridgehead Strike] Character
Stock Standard Meta Guard with 0 Innovative Ideas
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
└ Militarum Tempestus Command Squad [Points: 100, Warlord: ✓]
Model
└ Tempestor Prime [Weapon: Command Rod]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot pistol + Hot-shot lasgun + Medic]
Enhancement
└ Bombast-Class Vox-Array [Points: 25]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot volley gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot pistol + Master vox]
└ Militarum Tempestus Command Squad [Points: 75]
Model
└ Tempestor Prime [Weapon: Command Rod]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot pistol + Hot-shot lasgun + Medic]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot volley gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Militarum Tempestus Command Squad [Points: 75]
Model
└ Tempestor Prime [Weapon: Command Rod]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot pistol + Hot-shot lasgun + Medic]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Hot-shot volley gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ Tempestus Scion – Command Squad [Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Catachan Command Squad [Points: 65]
Model
└ Catachan Commander [Ranged: Plasma pistol, Melee: Power fist]
└ Veteran Guardsman (CCS) [Weapon: Lasgun, Wargear: Master vox]
└ Veteran Guardsman (CCS) [Weapon: Lasgun, Wargear: Regimental standard]
└ Veteran Guardsman (CCS) [Weapon: Lasgun, Wargear: Medi-pack]
└ Veteran Guardsman (CCS) [Weapon: Plasma Gun]
Epic Hero
└ Ursula Creed [Points: 65]
└ Gaunt’s Ghosts [Points: 110]
Battleline
└ Catachan Jungle Fighters [Points: 65]
Model
└ 2x Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Flamer]
└ Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Lasgun + Vox-caster]
└ Catachan Jungle Fighters [Points: 65]
Model
└ 2x Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Flamer]
└ Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Lasgun + Vox-caster]
└ Catachan Jungle Fighters [Points: 65]
Model
└ 2x Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Flamer]
└ Jungle Fighter [Ranged Weapon: Lasgun + Vox-caster]
└ Death Korps of Krieg [Points: 130, Models: 20]
Model
└ Death Korps Watchmaster [Melee Weapon: Power weapon, Ranged Weapon: Plasma pistol]
└ Death Korps Watchmaster [Melee Weapon: Power weapon, Ranged Weapon: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ 2x Death Korps Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Death Korps Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Meltagun]
└ 2x Death Korps Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Lasgun + Medi-pack]
Infantry
└ Catachan Heavy Weapons Squad [Points: 50]
Model
└ 3x Heavy Weapons Team (Catachan) [Loadout: Mortar]
└ Catachan Heavy Weapons Squad [Points: 50]
Model
└ 3x Heavy Weapons Team (Catachan) [Loadout: Mortar]
└ Catachan Heavy Weapons Squad [Points: 50]
Model
└ 3x Heavy Weapons Team (Catachan) [Loadout: Mortar]
└ Kasrkin [Points: 110]
Model
└ Kasrkin Sergeant [Melee Weapon: Power weapon, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ 2x Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot marksman rifle]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot + Vox]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + Melta mine]
└ Kasrkin [Points: 110]
Model
└ Kasrkin Sergeant [Melee Weapon: Power weapon, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ 2x Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot marksman rifle]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot + Vox]
└ Kasrkin Trooper [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + Melta mine]
└ Ogryn Bodyguard [Points: 40, Weapon: Bullgryn maul, Weapon/Shield: Brute Shield]
└ Tempestus Scions [Points: 130, Models: 10]
└ Tempestor [Melee Weapon: Power fist, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + vox-caster]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot volley gun]
└ Tempestus Scions [Points: 130, Models: 10]
└ Tempestor [Melee Weapon: Power fist, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + vox-caster]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot volley gun]
└ Tempestus Scions [Points: 130, Models: 10]
└ Tempestor [Melee Weapon: Power fist, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + vox-caster]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Tempestus Scions [Points: 130, Models: 10]
└ Tempestor [Melee Weapon: Power fist, Pistol: Plasma pistol]
Model
└ Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Hot-shot laspistol + vox-caster]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Plasma gun]
└ 2x Tempestus Scion [Ranged Weapon: Meltagun]
└ Tempestus Aquilons [Points: 110]
Model
└ Tempestor Aquilon [Loadout Options: Power weapon, Pistol Options: Hot-shot laspistol]
└ Tempestus Aquilons [Loadout Options: Plasma carbine]
└ Tempestus Aquilons [Loadout Options: Hot-shot long-las]
Fortification
└ Aegis Defence Line [Points: 145]
Archetype
All Infantry Bridgehead
Thoughts
Should we be worried when a list wins a (fairly stacked) event down 150pts for a meme? Maybe a bit, yeah. This build is just incredibly nasty for any other Infantry-based build to take on, and with so many top players trying Infantry MSU-heavy Aeldari, it’s prime hunting season for the Scions. Well done to Wesley on the victory!
The Best of the Rest
There were 9 more players on 4-1+ records. They were:
- 2nd (4.5-0.5) – Matthew Root – Orks (Taktikal Brigade): Mostly shooty Taktikal Brigade with a few Beast Snagga units in Trukks for some melee heft.
- 3rd – Ben Cherwien – Aeldari (Aspect Host): See Showdown.
- 4th – Drew Schietinger – Chaos Space Marines (Pactbound Zealots): Hull-tastic Pactbound with Predators, Vindicators, Helbrutes and Daemon Engines.
- 5th – JP Marquart – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): Extra-shooty Warpbane with five Dreadknights and three Purgation squads.
- 6th – John Van Dusen – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Shooty bug Monster Mash.
- 7th – Gary Frank – Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead): Hull-maxed Solar Spearhead with triple Telemon and Vendread, plus two Caladius tanks.
- 8th – Kevin Leonard – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Ultra hefty pure-Nurgle Daemons with triple GuO, triple Soul Grinder and Rotigus.
- 9th – James “Boon” Kelling – Aeldari (Seer Council): Our boy Boon puts his money where his mouth is by unleashing a mind-bending Seer Council build with multiple Guardian deathstars and supporting Aspect Warriors and shooty pieces.
- 10th – Jason Moskalik – Salamanders (Firestorm Assault Force): A defiantly on-brand Salamanders build with lots of MSUs, a Land Raider Redeemer to Firestorm max, and Infernus Marines to wander round with Vulkan and Adrax.
Oxford Onslaught 4
50-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Drayton, England, United Kingdom on February 22 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
I went along to this one for the Saturday (unfortunately I had to work on the Sunday at short notice) and did my part to keep the Ynnari win rate down by getting kicked in by Chaos Knights and Aspect Host (literally and figuratively, respectively). As always, the TO Michael ran a fantastic event, even bringing along ample supplies of delicious home-made rocky road for the attendees. More of this sort of thing, especially when it’s within 20 minutes of my house!
Laurence Elliott – Chaos Daemons (Plague Legion) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand “It’s not good by any measure” “This is one of the worst detachments I have ever seen in the three editions I’ve been playing 40K” “This sucks” Chaos Daemons CHARACTERS Daemon Prince of Chaos (225 points) Epidemius (80 points) Great Unclean One (250 points) Rotigus (230 points) Sloppity Bilepiper (70 points) BATTLELINE Blue Horrors (125 points) Nurglings (40 points) Nurglings (40 points) Nurglings (40 points) Plaguebearers (110 points) Plaguebearers (110 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Beasts of Nurgle (65 points) Beasts of Nurgle (65 points) Plague Drones (110 points) Seekers (80 points) Soul Grinder (180 points) Soul Grinder (180 points) Exported with App Version: v1.27.0 (71), Data Version: v569
“I genuinely don’t understand how this Detachment rule got printed.”
Strike Force (2000 points)
Plague Legion
• Daemonic Allegiance: Nurgle
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
• Enhancement: Droning Shroud (Aura)
• Warlord
• 1x Balesword and Nurgling attendants
• 1x Bilesword
1x Plague flail
1x Putrid vomit
• Enhancement: Font of Spores (Aura)
• 1x Gnarlrod
1x Streams of brackish filth
• 1x Marotter
• Enhancement: Cankerblight (Aura)
• 10x Blue Horror
• 10x Blue claws
10x Coruscating Blue Flames
• 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 Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
9x Plaguesword
• 1x Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
9x Plaguesword
• 1x Putrid appendages
• 1x Putrid appendages
• 1x Plaguebringer
• 1x Death’s heads
1x Foul mouthparts
1x Plaguesword
• 2x Plague Drone
• 1x Daemonic Icon
2x Death’s heads
2x Foul mouthparts
1x Instrument of Chaos
2x Plaguesword
• 1x Heartseeker
• 1x Lashing tongue
1x Slashing claws
• 4x Seeker
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
4x Lashing tongue
4x Slashing claws
• Daemonic Allegiance: Nurgle
• 1x Harvester cannon
1x Iron claw
1x Phlegm bombardment
1x Warpclaw
• Daemonic Allegiance: Nurgle
• 1x Harvester cannon
1x Iron claw
1x Phlegm bombardment
1x Warpsword
Archetype
Heavy Plague Legion
Thoughts
Someone actually went and did it, always worthy of serious respect to win an event with a detachment so rare that I have to go and look up everything it does to write about it. The Nurgle Daemon datasheets are much, much more dangerous than they might appear on first read, particularly as they do stacking buffs quite a bit more effectively than the other gods. You can, of course, just unleash that in Daemonic Incursion, but you can also decide that you want the enemy to take Battle-shock tests, so many Battle-shock tests, more Battle-shock tests than have ever been rolled in a single battle before. Plenty of currently popular armies really struggle if they fail a test at the wrong time (a bunch of Aeldari tricks vanish, Orders fall off of Bridgehead and Taktikal Brigade, many such cases), and running this list provides them with an ample well of opportunities to do so, especially via suddenly surging the Bilepiper’s unit forwards with Murkshadows.
The Font of Spores Enhancement is also incredibly real for Nurgle Daemons, being genuinely transformative for the damage output of an army that’s mostly on AP-1 and AP-2 at baseline, and I think a lot of players are going to look at this and not quite realise that it can actually murder them. You do sacrifice the mobility of Incursion, of course, but Laurence’s build addresses that by taking lots of small units for board presence, and adding a mobile, hard-to-shoot Daemon Prince as a roving threat. It’s super, super cool to see something so unique doing well, congratulations on the win!
The Best of the Rest
There were 8 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Paulie Wallis – Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager): Pipped to the post by Laurence, Paulie has assured me that playing the “just good stratagems” detachment into the Nurgle Daemons is quite painful. His list has plenty of the standard Drukhari skirmishing pieces, but with the advent of the new Aeldari book adds the powerful options of a large Troupe with a Shadowseer to Infiltrate and cause problems, and a single Voidweaver as a hard-to-shoot scoring piece and a way to reset the Wager if things line up right.
- 3rd – Richard Gaskell – Orks (War Horde): Infantry-heavy Horde with one large Flash Gitz unit and some Tankbustas to provide dakka.
- 4th – Sam Palmer – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Double Wraiths and double Doomsday as an anchor and threats respectively, plus a full Skorpekh murder brick as shock troops.
- 5th – Tom Spicer – Dark Angels (Stormlance Task Force): Stormraven Stormlance, but with the mixup of going Dark Angels to take the Lion and a Samael/Outrider unit as extra nasty threats.
- 6th – Daniel Latham – Ultramarines (Vanguard Spearhead): Another Stormraven here, this one “sneaky”, somehow. Love a sneaky plane. Teleporting Centurions also feature, as you’d expect.
- 7th – Harley Bessant – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Lots of suits of many shapes and sizes, including a double Broadside unit.
- 8th – Olly Bannister – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Crisis toolbox with lots of scoring chaff.
- 9th – Liam Keane – Aeldari (Aspect Host): a very aggressive Aspect Host build with lots of units, and a full Autarch-buffed Reaper squad, cutting down to only Lhykhis and Asurmen on the Phoenix front to afford it. Brutally murdered me in round 3, and it seemed to work!
Waterloo Games Store Championship 40K Event Hosted by Away Games
32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Mechanicsville, VA, United States on February 22 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Mark Hertel – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Space Marines CHARACTERS Librarian (65 Points) Marneus Calgar (200 Points) Roboute Guilliman (345 Points) BATTLELINE Assault Intercessor Squad (75 Points) Intercessor Squad (80 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Impulsor (80 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 Points) Company Heroes (95 Points) Desolation Squad (200 Points) Land Raider Redeemer (285 Points) Land Raider Redeemer (285 Points) Sternguard Veteran Squad (200 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.26.0 (2), Data Version: v541
Guilliman’s Autozone 2, electric boogaloo (2000 Points)
Ultramarines
Gladius Task Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Smite
• 1x Marneus Calgar
◦ 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar
• 2x Victrix Honour Guard
◦ 2x Victrix power sword
• Warlord
• 1x Emperor’s Sword
• 1x Hand of Dominion
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
◦ 1x Hand flamer
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
◦ 1x Astartes grenade launcher
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Bolt rifle
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Intercessor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Bolt rifle
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
• 1x Armoured hull
• 2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
• 1x Ironhail heavy stubber
• 1x Shield Dome
• 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 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 Desolation Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Castellan launcher
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Vengor launcher
• 4x Desolation Marine
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Castellan launcher
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Superkrak rocket launcher
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 2x Flamestorm cannon
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Multi-melta
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Twin assault cannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 2x Flamestorm cannon
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Multi-melta
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Twin assault cannon
• 1x Sternguard Veteran Sergeant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Sternguard bolt pistol
◦ 1x Sternguard bolt rifle
• 9x Sternguard Veteran
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Sternguard bolt pistol
◦ 7x Sternguard bolt rifle
◦ 2x Sternguard heavy bolter
Archetype
Bobby G Car Club
Thoughts
Apparently the lure of multiple Land Raiders was simply too much to resist, and after a productive outing with Deathwatch at the LVO, Mark has returned to big blue tanks. Fiery ones this time, set up to roast anything so foolish as to come within Overwatch range, and with some Sternguard to leap out and flense anything too resilient for the Redeemers. Mark duly got to roast multiple flavours of elves on the way to victory, so great stuff there!
The Best of the Rest
There were 3 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Austin Wingfield – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): Melee herohammer galore here, using a full squad each of Wolf Guard and Assault Centurions as seriously heavy hitters.
- 3rd – Edward Appel – Aeldari (Aspect Host): Maximum Aspect MSUs with a triumverate of Asurmen, Lhykhis and Jain Zar in charge.
- 4th – Michael Armstrong – World Eaters (Vessels of Wrath): Angron and a kool-aid Daemon Prince as the Character centrepieces, one big squad of Berzerkers with a Master for volume and Fight First deterrence, and lots of Exalted Eightbound for more murder.
casi casi GT 2.0
30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile on February 22 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Jose Tomas Vega – Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Adeptus Mechanicus CHARACTERS Belisarius Cawl (150 points) Cybernetica Datasmith (65 points) Tech-Priest Manipulus (95 points) Tech-Priest Manipulus (70 points) BATTLELINE Skitarii Rangers (85 points) Skitarii Rangers (85 points) Skitarii Vanguard (95 points) Skitarii Vanguard (95 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Ironstrider Ballistarii (150 points) Kastelan Robots (360 points) Kataphron Breachers (320 points) Kataphron Destroyers (210 points) Pteraxii Skystalkers (70 points) Sicarian Infiltrators (70 points) Sicarian Ruststalkers (75 points)
Air Fryer Señores (1995 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Haloscreed Battle Clade
• Warlord
• 1x Arc scourge
1x Cawl’s Omnissian axe
1x Mechadendrite hive
1x Solar atomiser
• 1x Mechanicus pistol
1x Power fist
• Enhancement: Transoracular Dyad Wafers
• 1x Magnarail lance
1x Omnissian staff
• Enhancement: Cognitive Reinforcement
• 1x Magnarail lance
1x Omnissian staff
• Enhancement: Sanctified Ordnance
• 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Ranger
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
6x Galvanic rifle
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
1x Transuranic arquebus
• 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Ranger
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
6x Galvanic rifle
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
1x Transuranic arquebus
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebus
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebus
• 2x Ironstrider Ballistarii
• 2x Ironstrider feet
2x Twin cognis lascannon
• 4x Kastelan Robot
• 4x Heavy phosphor blaster
4x Kastelan fist
4x Kastelan phosphor blaster
• 6x Kataphron Breacher
• 6x Heavy arc rifle
6x Hydraulic claw
• 6x Kataphron Destroyer
• 6x Close combat weapon
6x Cognis flamer
6x Kataphron plasma culverin
• 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Pteraxii Skystalker
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Flechette carbine
• 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Sicarian Infiltrator
• 4x Flechette blaster
4x Taser goad
• 1x Sicarian Ruststalker Princeps
• 1x Transonic blades and chordclaw
• 4x Sicarian Ruststalker
• 4x Transonic blades
Archetype
Haloscreed Castle
Thoughts
The robots are unleashed here, teaming up with Kataphrons and Cawl for a truly terrifying shooty castle. Boosted defences from various accumulated buffs will make enemy firepower very unreliable, while ready access to re-rolls for both Kataphron units combined with their extremely broadly applicable damage output ensure that pretty much nothing in the game is safe to pop its head out. If stuff gets too close – robot time. Switch on conqueror protocol and punt them into the sun. You can’t even really pin the build down thanks to Guided Retreat, and it gets some good reactive skirmishing on the chaff from Analytical Divination. Taking this on means hitting it hard and fast through the boosted overwatch of the destroyers, then keeping it boxed in long enough to take victory, which is no mean feat, and Jose took a series of commanding victories on the way to the trophy.
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Renaud “El Berga” – Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile): Streamlined but ultra murderous Creations – two full Possessed units, a full squad each of Chosen and Warp Talons, then three Brigands for cost-effective fire support.
- 3rd – Bruno Fajardo – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): Lots of small Infantry units, Astorath with a full Death Company squad as a full-bore hammer, and some Lancers as ranged threats.
- 4th – Juan Díaz – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Ultra aggro triple big Knights, using Canis, an Errant and a Lancer.
- 5th – Cristian del Basto – Adeptus Custodes (Missing List): Army list imprisoned in Black Vaults.
HWP Salty Classic GT February 2025
27-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Plantation, FL, United States on February 22 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Shane Ragland – Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Chaos Space Marines CHARACTERS Chaos Lord (125 points) Cypher (90 points) Fabius Bile (85 points) BATTLELINE Cultist Mob (50 points) Cultist Mob (50 points) Legionaries (90 points) Legionaries (90 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Chaos Rhino (75 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Chaos Predator Destructor (140 points) Chaos Predator Destructor (140 points) Chosen (250 points) Possessed (240 points) Possessed (120 points) Possessed (240 points) Raptors (90 points) Warp Talons (125 points) Exported with App Version: v1.28.0 (72), Data Version: v574
Tongue Bath (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Creations of Bile
• 1x Daemon hammer
1x Plasma pistol
• Enhancement: Prime Test Subject
• 1x Cypher’s bolt pistol
1x Cypher’s plasma pistol
• 1x Fabius Bile
• Warlord
• 1x Chirurgeon
1x Rod of Torment
1x Xyclos Needler
• 1x Surgeon Acolyte
• 1x Surgeon Acolyte’s tools
• 1x Cultist Champion
• 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
• 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon
• 1x Cultist Champion
• 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
• 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon
• 1x Aspiring Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Lascannon
• 1x Aspiring Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Lascannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon
• 1x Chosen Champion
• 1x Boltgun
1x Chaos Icon
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 9x Chosen
• 6x Accursed weapon
6x Bolt pistol
3x Boltgun
4x Combi-weapon
2x Paired accursed weapons
3x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 1x Possessed Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Hideous mutations
• 9x Possessed
• 9x Hideous mutations
• 1x Possessed Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Hideous mutations
• 4x Possessed
• 4x Hideous mutations
• 1x Possessed Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Hideous mutations
• 9x Possessed
• 9x Hideous mutations
• 1x Raptor Champion
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Raptor
• 2x Astartes chainsword
2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma gun
• 1x Warp Talon Champion
• 1x Warp claws
• 4x Warp Talon
• 4x Warp claws
Archetype
Aggro Creations
Thoughts
Winning this week’s commitment to the bit award, Shane decided that the normal two full blocks of Possessed wasn’t enough, and added five more as a treat. In a world where there are quite a lot of small, high quality units around that seems pretty decent, as even five will comfortably carve through some Tankbustas or an Aspect Warrior squad, and die far harder than those units at similar-ish price points, and also lets you project Advance/Charge threat in more places. Past the extra Possessed this is Bile’s business as usual, a very nasty melee build with some cheap and cheerful shooting backing it up. Well done to Shane on the win.
The Best of the Rest
There were 3 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – David Miloseski – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Lots of big nasty Daemons and two units of Pink Horrors to soak up pain.
- 3rd – Christopher Herron – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): The Silent King, triple Doomsdays, plenty of cheap and cheerful Characters/Skorpekh squads and one Lokust Heavy unit.
- 4th – Trevor Ritter – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic): Extremely character-heavy Tsons that also brings a Scarab Occult MSU.
Wrap Up
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