The twists and turns of the metagame continue, this week bringing the Thousand Sons and Adepta Sororitas to the forefront after a few weeks of Dark Angel domination. There’s still plenty of other stuff going on, but as you’ll quickly see these two factions stand out for the week both on top performances and win rates. At the other end of the spectrum, it’s looking like Orks, Genestealer Cults and Chaos Space Marines probably need the most help the next time that a balance update rolls around, something I’m going to try and dig into more in the next few weeks.

Today though, it’s part 1 of Competitive Innovations as usual, and I’ll be covering:

THE LEEDS 40K SUPER MAJOR
Warhammer 40,000 Throne of Skulls
BrewHammer GT 6
North and South GT 2024
Come the Apocalypse GT – 2024
The Saffron Slam IX

On Friday we’ll have Lowest of Men in charge looking at:

Krootcon 2024
Mountain View Mayhem 4th Annual 40k Charity Tournament
Medhammer GT 2024
Games and Stuff 40K Event Hosted by Away Games
Brighton 40k GT VIII
Hydra GT III 2024

THE LEEDS 40K SUPER MAJOR

219-player, 7-round Supermajor in England, United Kingdom on August 17 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Jack Tite – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame) – 1st Place

Canoness with chainsword. Credit: Corrode

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Burn (2000 points)

Adepta Sororitas
Strike Force (2000 points)
Bringers of Flame

CHARACTERS

Canoness (55 points)
• 1x Brazier of holy fire
1x Condemnor boltgun
1x Hallowed chainsword
• Enhancement: Iron Surplice of Saint Istalela

Canoness (65 points)
• 1x Brazier of holy fire
1x Condemnor boltgun
1x Hallowed chainsword
• Enhancement: Manual of Saint Griselda

Triumph of Saint Katherine (190 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Bolt pistols
1x Relic weapons

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Immolator (115 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Twin multi-melta

OTHER DATASHEETS

Castigator (150 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Castigator battle cannon
3x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter

Castigator (150 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Castigator autocannons
3x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter

Dominion Squad (115 points)
• 1x Dominion Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Condemnor boltgun
1x Power weapon
• 9x Dominion
• 9x Bolt pistol
5x Boltgun
9x Close combat weapon
4x Meltagun
1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Paragon Warsuits (210 points)
• 1x Paragon Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Multi-melta
1x Paragon storm bolters
1x Paragon war blade
• 2x Paragon
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Multi-melta
2x Paragon storm bolters
2x Paragon war blade

Seraphim Squad (170 points)
• 1x Seraphim Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Seraphim
• 10x Bolt pistol
9x Close combat weapon
8x Ministorum hand flamer

Seraphim Squad (85 points)
• 1x Seraphim Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 4x Seraphim
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Ministorum hand flamer

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438

Archetype

Speedy Flame Sisters

Thoughts

Jack was a rapid adopter of the Bringers of Flame when the Sororitas codex landed, and here he’s turned that preparation and practice into a supermajor trophy. Most of this is business as usual for Bringers, with one major exception – Vahl gets cut for an additional hull, though Paragon Warsuits are still here as a countercharge/position holder threat. I’m guessing that’s a mix of Castigators being really good on UKTC terrain, so you want all three, wanting to cut down on Characters for Fixes with that many hulls about, and maybe just that you can get what you need from the Warsuits without Vahl – they’re great at soaking up a bit of punishment with Shield of Aversion, and still discourage high value targets from getting too close, especially with the Manual of Saint Griselda to keep high-value Miracle dice flowing. Finally, it also reduces the number of eggs you have in any one basket, helping maintain the depth of threats that Sororitas could afford prior to their book cranking up both quality and price. It’s an unusual choice despite all that, but it was clearly the right one here – big congratulations to Jack!

Nathan Roberts – Tyranids (Crusher Stampede) – 2nd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Crusher stampede (2000 Points)

Tyranids
Crusher Stampede
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

The Swarmlord (240 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Bone sabres
• 1x Synaptic pulse

BATTLELINE

Gargoyles (85 Points)
• 10x Gargoyle
◦ 10x Blinding venom
◦ 10x Fleshborer

Hormagaunts (65 Points)
• 10x Hormagaunt
◦ 10x Hormagaunt talons

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (50 Points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
• 1x Spore Mine launcher

Exocrine (135 Points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
• 1x Powerful limbs

Lictor (55 Points)
• 1x Lictor claws and talons

Maleceptor (170 Points)
• 1x Massive scything talons
• 1x Psychic overload

Pyrovores (35 Points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
• 1x Flamespurt

Trygon (170 Points)
• 1x Bio-electric pulse
• 1x Trygon scything talons

Tyrannofex (190 Points)
• 1x Powerful limbs
• 1x Rupture cannon
• 1x Stinger salvoes

Archetype

Mega Monster Mash

Thoughts

Hell yeah, love to see that. Crusher Stampede emerges from the depths of 9th Edition with a build designed to be utterly overwhelming. Chewing through this many monster is always a challenge, but here it’s going to be a nightmare. You have a whole bunch of efficient and durable beasts, you can auto-explode them with Corrosive Viscera to both chip the enemy down and switch on hit boosts for the rest of your stuff, and you back it all up with the Swarmlord to tank enemy Stratagems. Many armies rely on Stratagems to punch up into this kind of thing, so taxing them can sometimes lock them out, and on UKTC terrain it’s especially good now that Untrammelled Ferocity lets you walk through walls – most maps have a good near-centre staging point where Swarmy can lurk, then when it’s murder time he can burst out and go wild. Triple Tyrannofex with access to Swarm Guided Salvos is also legitimately one of the nastiest ways to set up anti-tank in Tyranids, providing a unique angle against hull spam builds. Super cool, super deadly, congratulations to Nathan!

Stephen Box – Adepta Sororitas (Army of Faith) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Faith (2000 Points)

Adepta Sororitas
Army of Faith
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Canoness with Jump Pack (75 Points)
• 1x Ministorum hand flamer
• 1x Power weapon

Dialogus (30 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Dialogus staff

Hospitaller (50 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Chirurgeon’s tools

Morvenn Vahl (160 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Fidelis
• 1x Lance of Illumination
• 1x Paragon missile launcher

Palatine (65 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Palatine blade
• Enhancements: Blade of Saint Ellynor

Triumph of Saint Katherine (190 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistols
• 1x Relic weapons

BATTLELINE

Battle Sisters Squad (115 Points)
• 1x Sister Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Ministorum hand flamer
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 9x Battle Sister
◦ 9x Bolt pistol
◦ 7x Boltgun
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Ministorum flamer
◦ 1x Multi-melta
◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Castigator (150 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Castigator battle cannon
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Castigator (150 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Castigator autocannons
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Celestian Sacresants (150 Points)
• 1x Sacresant Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Hallowed mace
• 9x Celestian Sacresant
◦ 9x Bolt pistol
◦ 9x Hallowed mace

Paragon Warsuits (210 Points)
• 1x Paragon Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Multi-melta
◦ 1x Paragon grenade launchers
◦ 1x Paragon war mace
• 2x Paragon
◦ 2x Bolt pistol
◦ 2x Multi-melta
◦ 2x Paragon grenade launchers
◦ 2x Paragon war mace

Seraphim Squad (85 Points)
• 1x Seraphim Superior
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 4x Seraphim
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Ministorum hand flamer

Zephyrim Squad (90 Points)
• 1x Zephyrim Superior
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
◦ 1x Sacred Banner
• 4x Zephyrim
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Power weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (43), Data Version: v438

Archetype

All-rounder Brawler Sisters

Thoughts

In third place we’ve got another Sisters build, this time showing off the Army of Faith. The core principle of “take three Castigators on UKTC” remains very much in effect, but rather than Dominions that’s supplemented by some brawling squads of Sacresants with Hospitaliers. These are able to make great use of the UKTC-style ruins to stage and strike, and Army of Faith gives you access to Faith and Fury and Divine Guidance to push their damage over the top, really helping fend the foe away from your precious Castigators.

Putting the opponent on the back foot like that gives you time to do plenty of scoring with Jump Pack units leaping into and out of Deep Strike via Angelic Descent, and in a metagame with lots of Thousand Sons about it’s also really valuable to be able to drop Shield of Faith either as an AoE defensive buff or to stop Vahl’s Warsuit unit getting owned. Finally, you can use all those Miracle Dice you’ll rack up to do some horrendous Character hunting with the Blade Palatine, which can be crucial for tilting things in your favour against lists like Black Templars. Very cool to see a non-Bringers build podium, congratulations to Stephen!

Kyle Grundy – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Retaliation Cadre (Mass crisis) (2000 points)

T’au Empire
Strike Force (2000 points)
Retaliation Cadre

CHARACTERS

Commander Farsight (105 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Dawn Blade
1x High-intensity plasma rifle

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (95 points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Cyclic ion blaster
3x Plasma rifle
2x Shield Drone

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (110 points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Cyclic ion blaster
2x Gun Drone
3x Plasma rifle
• Enhancement: Prototype Weapon System

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (100 points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
4x Missile pod
2x Shield Drone
• Enhancement: Starflare Ignition System

Darkstrider (60 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Shade

BATTLELINE

Breacher Team (100 points)
• 1x Support turret
• 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Guardian Drone
1x Gun Drone
1x Pulse blaster
1x Pulse pistol
• 9x Breacher Fire Warrior
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Pulse blaster
9x Pulse pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Devilfish (85 points)
• 1x Accelerator burst cannon
1x Armoured hull
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine

OTHER DATASHEETS

Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (130 points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Gun Drone
1x Marker Drone
1x Missile pod
1x Missile pod
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Gun Drone
4x Missile pod
2x Shield Drone

Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (130 points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Gun Drone
1x Marker Drone
1x Plasma rifle
1x Plasma rifle
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Gun Drone
4x Plasma rifle
2x Shield Drone

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (110 points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Burst cannon
1x Burst cannon
1x Gun Drone
1x Marker Drone
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
4x Burst cannon
2x Gun Drone
2x Shield Drone

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (110 points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Gun Drone
1x Marker Drone
1x T’au flamer
1x T’au flamer
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Gun Drone
2x Shield Drone
4x T’au flamer

Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits (150 points)
• 1x Crisis Sunforge Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
2x Fusion blaster
1x Gun Drone
1x Marker Drone
• 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
4x Fusion blaster
2x Gun Drone
2x Shield Drone

Pathfinder Team (90 points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gun Drone
1x Pulse carbine
1x Pulse pistol
1x Recon Drone
1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
1x Shield Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Ion rifle
6x Pulse carbine
9x Pulse pistol

Stealth Battlesuits (60 points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Battlesuit fists
1x Fusion blaster
1x Homing Beacon
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon

Vespid Stingwings (65 points)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
• 1x Neutron blaster
1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwing
• 4x Neutron blaster
4x Stingwing claws

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438

Archetype

Crisis Spam

Thoughts

Going full Gundam mode here, I see. This build leans on the extremely aggressive price of Fireknife and Starscythe teams to get a lot of Crisis suits onto the table, and also mixing and matching squads to provide a lot of flexibility in how they’re used. Farsight’s Stratagem discount working properly again is really good for Retaliation Cadre, as it lets you reliably slam Torchstar Gambit to keep the pressure up without sacrificing units. It’s also interesting to see an uptick in plasma rifles being used right now, presumably a result of them being less dead if you run into Deathwing Knights than more D2 missiles would be, and being pretty strong at clearing out Blood Angels units as well. It’s also pretty funny to be able to 3″ drop a plasma unit and utterly annihilate something at point-blank range with The Shortened Blade, especially good with the Prototype Weapon System Commander. All that is great backing for the strong mixture of scoring, screening and objective flipping that Tau get from Breacherfish, Stealths, Pathfinders and Vespid, ensuring that even if the enemy does manage to fight their way out from under the gun of the Crisis teams, they’ll probably be too far behind to stop the Greater Good taking a points victory. Big congratulations to Kyle for showing off that Crisis suits can get there in style!

The Best of the Rest

There were 3 more players on 5-0 records after the Swiss. They were:

5th – Rowan Hesse – Astra Militarum: Two big Krieg tarpits and a Bullgryn unit to hold the foe up, Rough Riders and Russes to hammer the foe while they deal with it.
6th – Lewis Smith – T’au Empire (Kauyon): A Tiger Shark and a bunch of Riptides and Breacherfish.
7th – James Webster – Thousand Sons: Double Mutalith Tsons.

Warhammer 40,000 Throne of Skulls

74-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on August 17 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

This event was 1750pts and was running with highlander rules, so no duplicates other than Battleline and Dedicated Transports. It also had soft score elements, so it is possible that the final ranking at the tournament didn’t match the pure game scores in BCP.

Robert Percival – Death Guard (Plague Company) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

I am the Lord of the Plagues said he! (1750 points)

Death Guard
Strike Force (2000 points)
Plague Company

CHARACTERS

Biologus Putrifier (60 points)
• 1x Hyper blight grenades
1x Injector pistol
1x Plague knives

Death Guard Chaos Lord (65 points)
• 1x Plague fist
1x Plasma pistol

Foul Blightspawn (60 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plague sprayer

Lord of Contagion (95 points)
• 1x Plagueblade
• Enhancement: Deadly Pathogen

Mortarion (325 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Rotwind
1x Silence
1x The Lantern

Tallyman (45 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Infected plasma pistol

Typhus (80 points)
• 1x Master-crafted manreaper

BATTLELINE

Plague Marines (180 points)
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Heavy plague weapon
1x Plasma gun
• 9x Plague Marine
• 3x Bubotic weapons
4x Heavy plague weapon
9x Plague knives
2x Plague spewer

Plague Marines (180 points)
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Heavy plague weapon
1x Plasma gun
• 9x Plague Marine
• 2x Blight launcher
3x Heavy plague weapon
2x Meltagun
9x Plague knives
2x Plague spewer

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Death Guard Rhino (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Havoc launcher
1x Plague combi-bolter
1x Plague combi-bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Death Guard Cultists (50 points)
• 1x Death Guard Cultist Champion
• 1x Brutal assault weapon
1x Cultist firearm
• 9x Death Guard Cultist
• 9x Brutal assault weapon
7x Cultist firearm
1x Flamer
1x Heavy stubber

Death Guard Predator Destructor (130 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Plague combi-bolter
1x Predator autocannon

Deathshroud Terminators (240 points)
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
• 1x Manreaper
1x Plaguespurt gauntlet
1x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 5x Deathshroud Terminator
• 5x Manreaper
5x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Poxwalkers (50 points)
• 10x Poxwalker
• 10x Improvised weapon

ALLIED UNITS

Nurglings (40 points)
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438

Archetype

Melee Pressure Death Guard

Thoughts

Unlike many Death Guard builds that pack shooty hulls galore, this build just wants to wash over foes with a big tide of Plague Marines, Deathshrouds and Mortarion, and honestly more power to Robert for going with that plan. Mortarion brawls particularly well on GW terrain, which gives him some extra value, and plans that aim to overwhelm the foe tend to do a bit better in smaller game sizes as long as you can still pack a critical mass of the relevant stuff, as they’re more likely to struggle to clear you fast enough. This classic Nurgle plan was enough to take first place on generalship, great stuff!

Paul O’Boyle – Black Templars (Righteous Crusaders) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Black Templar Crusader squad equipped with two power fists — Black Templar Crusader Squad. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Brother (1745 Points)

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

CHARACTERS

Castellan (100 Points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Master-crafted power weapon
• Enhancements: Tännhauser’s Bones

Chaplain Grimaldus (120 Points)
• 1x Chaplain Grimaldus
◦ 1x Artificer crozius
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
• 3x Cenobyte Servitor
◦ 3x Close combat weapon

High Marshal Helbrecht (120 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Ferocity
• 1x Sword of the High Marshals

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
◦ 1x Hand flamer
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 4x Heavy bolt pistol

Primaris Crusader Squad (280 Points)
• 1x Primaris Sword Brother
◦ 1x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 11x Primaris Initiate
◦ 7x Astartes chainsword
◦ 11x Bolt pistol
◦ 11x Close combat weapon
◦ 7x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 4x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 4x Power fist
• 8x Primaris Neophyte
◦ 8x Astartes chainsword
◦ 8x Bolt pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 3x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma pistol

Eradicator Squad (190 Points)
• 1x Eradicator Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Melta rifle
• 5x Eradicator
◦ 5x Bolt pistol
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Melta rifle
◦ 2x Multi-melta

Inceptor Squad (130 Points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Plasma exterminators

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

Primaris Sword Brethren (300 Points)
• 1x Sword Brother Castellan
◦ 1x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 9x Primaris Sword Brother
◦ 5x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 2x Plasma pistol
◦ 5x Power weapon
◦ 2x Thunder hammer
◦ 2x Twin lightning claws

Scout Squad (65 Points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Boltgun
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 3x Boltgun
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Missile launcher

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (43), Data Version: v438

Archetype

All-Rounder Templars

Thoughts

Speaking of “harder to deal with in smaller game sizes”, I present a squad of 20 Primaris Crusaders with Grimaldus, If a unit is normally something that would take a whole army unleashing hell on it to clear, then deploying it in a setting where “a whole army” is only 7/8ths as big is a smart plan. That’s particularly true when you back it up with a list that’s all killer, no filler – the triple threat of the Redeemer, Eradicators and Sword Brethren gives you almost all of the punch you’d see with a normal Templars build, where other armies are going to find themselves missing some of the tools they’d get in a conventional setup. That seems to have gone well for the Templars, as Paul blasted his way to undefeated second place!

John Oates – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Deathwing 1750 ToS (1750 Points)

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

CHARACTERS

Asmodai (70 Points)
• 1x Crozius arcanum and power weapon
• 1x Heavy bolt pistol

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

Captain with Jump Pack (100 Points)
• 1x Relic Shield
• 1x Thunder hammer
• Enhancements: The Honour Vehement

Lion El’Jonson (300 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Arma Luminis
• 1x Fealty

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 4x Heavy bolt pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Gladiator Lancer (160 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
• 1x Ironhail heavy stubber
• 1x Lancer laser destroyer

Infiltrator Squad (100 Points)
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Helix Gauntlet
◦ 1x Infiltrator Comms Array
◦ 4x Marksman bolt carbine

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

Repulsor (180 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Hunter-slayer missile
• 1x Las-talon
• 1x Repulsor defensive array
• 1x Twin lascannon

Scout Squad (65 Points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
◦ 1x Astartes chainsword
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Boltgun
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Combat knife
◦ 1x Missile launcher
◦ 1x Scout sniper rifle

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (43), Data Version: v438

Archetype

Lion Goodstuff

Thoughts

In third place we’ve got a creative answer to the problem of not being able to take more than one unit of Deathwing Knights – add the Lion! As is the emerging theme, stuff that’s extra tough is extra good when foes have fewer and less focused resources to handle them, and this feels like the ideal format for him. Running as Dark Angels also gives a tonne of flexibility and unique add-ons, be it Azrael for extra CP or the Asmodai/Companions unit for extra murder. For the Companions, while in normal Strike Force I prefer the Judiciar to Asmodai, in this format I think the latter is a better choice – you have fewer units to play with, so squeezing consistent extra punch (plus breadth of targets) out of a squad is better than it being a counter-piece in some matchups. Good choice, and well rewarded with third.

Wayne Jimmison – Orks (Bully Boyz) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Goffs (1750 points)

Orks
Strike Force (1750 points)
Bully Boyz

CHARACTERS

Ghazghkull Thraka (235 points)
• 1x Ghazghkull Thraka
• Warlord
• 1x Gork’s Klaw
1x Mork’s Roar
• 1x Makari
• 1x Makari’s stabba

Warboss (75 points)
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin sluggas
• Enhancement: ‘Eadstompa

BATTLELINE

Boyz (85 points)
• 9x Boy
• 9x Choppa
9x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Trukk (65 points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels

OTHER DATASHEETS

Battlewagon (160 points)
• 4x Big shoota
1x Deff rolla
1x Grabbin’ klaw
1x Wreckin’ ball
1x Zzap gun
1x ‘Ard Case

Deffkoptas (100 points)
• 3x Deffkopta
• 2x Kopta rokkits
1x Kustom mega-blasta
3x Slugga
3x Spinnin’ blades

Gorkanaut (280 points)
• 1x Deffstorm mega-shoota
1x Klaw of Gork
2x Rokkit launcha
1x Skorcha
2x Twin big shoota

Gretchin (40 points)
• 10x Gretchin
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
• 1x Runtherd tools
1x Slugga

Killa Kans (125 points)
• 3x Killa Kan
• 3x Kan klaw
3x Rokkit launcha

Meganobz (240 points)
• 6x Meganob
• 6x Kombi-weapon
6x Power klaw

Nobz (210 points)
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga
• 9x Nob
• 5x Big choppa
4x Power klaw
9x Slugga

Stormboyz (65 points)
• 4x Stormboy
• 4x Choppa
4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga

Warbikers (70 points)
• 2x Warbiker
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Twin dakkagun
• 1x Boss Nob on Warbike
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin dakkagun

Archetype

Aggro Crunchy Orks

Thoughts

Concluding our theory of “just throw nasty stuff at them”, we’ve got double Waaagh Ghaz/Meganobz and an actual Gorkanaut getting stuck in, with regular Nobz and some utility tools as cleanup. Not particularly complex, but hilarious and highly effective, and part of the charm of restricted listbuilding events is they let stuff like Gorkanauts, which don’t normally quite get there, actually perform. Well done to Wayne for taking fourth place in style.

The Best of the Rest

There were 10 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

5th – Richard Lloyd – Blood Angels (Sons of Sanguinius): Heavy duty Blood Angels that are mostly footslogging outside of one big Jump Intercessor unit. A teleporting Terminator unit is the centrepiece, bringing the joyful threat of S10 power fists to bear.
6th – Jack Masters – Chaos Knights: Triple bigs as Chaos gets to shine with fewer guns to worry about, leaning towards melee with a Lancer and Rampager at the fore.
7th – Willem te Slaa – Astra Militarum: A rainbow of armoured death, sporting various flavours of Russ, a Dorn, and a big Krieg unit to keep the foe occupied.
8th – Aidan McElroy – Iron Hands (Gladius Task Force): A grim, monochrome array of Iron Hands tanks with Feirros overseeing them.
9th – Ryan Elliott – Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): All three Forge World Dreadnoughts and a Caladius, supporting three four-model Guard units as an Infantry core.
10th – Tom Gavaghan – Imperial Knights: High output brutality from a Castigator and teleporting Valiant, plus a full Rogue Trader/Voidsmen unit as an Infiltration threat.
11th – Louis Gouldsbrough – Ultramarines (Ironstorm Spearhead): Calgar with Company Heroes and a bunch of different tanks.
12th – Jack Painter – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Battlesuits on parade, one unit of every type except the Stormsurge.
13th – Alan Percival – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force): Another Lion build, very similar to the third-place list but with the Judiciar instead of Asmodai.
14th – Kyle Naisbitt – Death Guard: No Mortarion, and it turns out that in singleton that means you need to take one of almost everything else to fill an army!

BrewHammer GT 6

46-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Scotland, GB on August 17 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Matthew Moran – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

. Tsons (1995 points)

Thousand Sons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Cult of Magic

CHARACTERS

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

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

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

Infernal Master (110 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal

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

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

Tzaangor Shaman (60 points)
• 1x Mutating orbs
1x Shaman’s stave

BATTLELINE

Rubric Marines (210 points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 9x Rubric Marine
• 9x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
8x Warpflamer

Rubric Marines (105 points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Thousand Sons Rhino (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Havoc launcher
1x Inferno combi-bolter
1x Inferno combi-bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Thousand Sons Cultists (55 points)
• 1x Thousand Sons Cultist Champion
• 1x Brutal assault weapon
1x Cultist firearm
• 9x Thousand Sons Cultist
• 9x Brutal assault weapon
9x Cultist firearm

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

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438

Archetype

Rubricae/Character Tsons

Thoughts

After the Mutalith madness that was the WTC, we’re back to the standard Rubricae/Character formula here, adding a bit of extra speedy scoring with Enlightened. This continues to be one of the most consistently effective Strategies in the entire of 10th Edition. Well done to Matthew for unleashing Tzeentch’s fury.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Joe Robertson – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): All-rounder Hypercrypt with the Silent King, Void Dragon and Monolith on the heavy end, then lots of Immortals and scoring stuff to pull wild stunts with.
3rd – Matt Bell – Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): Three Warden bricks (all with Blade Champions for max aggro), two Caladius Tanks, Venatari to fill.
4th – Ryan Cook – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment): Max Bullgryn bonanza backed by Manticores, Russes and a Dorn.
5th – Gavin Heritage – Blood Angels (Sons of Sanguinius): Jump Pack onslaught with two Death Company units (one with Lemartes) and a VanVet/Priest squad.
6th – Brodie Atkinson – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): Speedy Flame Sisters.
7th – Jan Tickell – Imperial Knights: Aggressive double bigs with Canis and a Lancer.
8th – Graeme Guyan – Chaos Knights: A Lancer and a whole lot of dogs.

North and South GT 2024

37-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Hobart, TAS, AU on August 16 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Ethan Armstrong – Grey Knights (Teleport Strike Force) – 1st Place

Grey Knights Paladins. Credit: Colin Ward

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

(1980 points)

Grey Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Teleport Strike Force

CHARACTERS

Grand Master (125 points)
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• Enhancement: Sigil of Exigence

Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (230 points)
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer
• Enhancement: Domina Liber Daemonica

Kaldor Draigo (125 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Scourging
1x Storm bolter
1x The Titansword

BATTLELINE

Brotherhood Terminator Squad (420 points)
• 1x Terminator Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 9x Brotherhood Terminator
• 1x Ancient’s Banner
2x Incinerator
1x Narthecium
9x Nemesis force weapon
6x Storm bolter

Strike Squad (120 points)
• 1x Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Grey Knight
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Incinerator
3x Nemesis force weapon
3x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Nemesis Dreadknight (205 points)
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammer

Paladin Squad (450 points)
• 1x Paragon
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Paladin Ancient
• 1x Ancient’s Banner
1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Psycannon
• 8x Paladin
• 8x Nemesis force weapon
4x Psycannon
4x Storm bolter

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438

Archetype

Terminator Grey Knights

Thoughts

The Grand Master Paladin unit makes a return, which I always like to see because I think it’s been consistently undervalued. Damage Reduction is always highly prized, and a unit that throws out massed D2 offence both at range and up close is the perfect counter to it. Lemartes got you down? Psycannons. Deathwing Knights ruining your day? Simply chop them up with force weapons perfectly statted to send them skulking back to the rock. Supplement that with high quality units like the Dreadknights and one of the best options on forcing a Secret Mission in the game from the Brotherhood Terminators and you’ve got yourself a list. Well done to Ethan for taking a trophy with it.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Tyler Walsh – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): Heavier-duty Flame Sisters adding Celestine to one of the Seraphim squads and packing two units of non-Vahl Warsuits.
3rd – Lance Glover – Ultramarines (Vanguard Spearhead): Teleporting Centurions and infiltrating Calgar Aggressors return.
4th – Zachary Lennon – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force): Mostly the standard Deathwing Knight GTF build, but swapping one unit out for the Lion.
5th – Andy T – Chaos Knights: Full send triple Rampagers and six Karnivores. King.
6th – Liam Hogwood – Chaos Space Marines (Chaos Cult): Would it shock you to learn that this army contains Cultists – perhaps even lots of Cultists? Well it does.

Come the Apocalypse GT – 2024

31-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Dothan, AL, US on August 17 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Cliff Nelson – Black Templars (Righteous Crusaders) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Ol’ Reliable (2000 points)

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

CHARACTERS

Chaplain Grimaldus (120 points)
• 1x Chaplain Grimaldus
• 1x Artificer crozius
1x Plasma pistol
• 3x Cenobyte Servitor
• 3x Close combat weapon

High Marshal Helbrecht (120 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Ferocity
1x Sword of the High Marshals

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

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (80 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• Enhancement: Witchseeker Bolts

BATTLELINE

Primaris Crusader Squad (280 points)
• 1x Primaris Sword Brother
• 1x Power weapon
1x Pyre pistol
• 11x Primaris Initiate
• 7x Astartes chainsword
11x Bolt pistol
11x Close combat weapon
11x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Power fist
• 8x Primaris Neophyte
• 8x Astartes chainsword
8x Bolt pistol

Primaris Crusader Squad (140 points)
• 1x Primaris Sword Brother
• 1x Power weapon
1x Pyre pistol
• 5x Primaris Initiate
• 3x Astartes chainsword
5x Bolt pistol
5x Close combat weapon
5x Heavy bolt pistol
2x Power fist
• 4x Primaris Neophyte
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Infiltrator Squad (100 points)
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438

Archetype

Primaris Crusader Spam

Thoughts

As recently demonstrated at the WTC and Warmaster, rolling your opponent over with lots of Primaris Crusaders is very effective. This build diversifies a bit more than the pure spam variant, adding Lancers for ranged threat projection and some Infiltrators to hold the fort, but the core plan of overwhelming foes with dozens of angry superhumans riled up by the good word of the Emperor remains the same. Sure seems to have worked, great stuff from Cliff.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Charles Barber – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Extra go-wide Skysplinter with bonus Venoms.
3rd – Brandon Lovato – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Heavy Hypercrypt with Szarekh, double C’tan and double Doomsday.
4th – Bjorn Cantrell – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment): Catachan and Chimera screen, double Dorn and Triple Vanquishers at the back.
5th – William Blair – Imperial Knights: Triple bigs with Canis, an Atrapos and a Lancer, plus Coteaz to try and harvest CP.
6th – Mike Bridgmon – World Eaters: Extra Berzerker-heavy World Eaters, replacing a big Exalted brick with five Terminators to shave points.

The Saffron Slam IX

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on August 17 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Burden of Trust – Raise Banners – Crucible of Battle

James Marsden – T’au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack)
Army List - Click to Expand

Kroot (1995 Points)

T’au Empire
Kroot Hunting Pack
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Ethereal (50 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Honour stave
• 2x Shield Drone

Kroot Flesh Shaper (55 Points)
• 1x Kroot scattergun
• 1x Twin ritualistic blades

Kroot Lone-spear (100 Points)
• 1x Blast javelin
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Hunting javelin
• 1x Kalamandra’s bite
• Enhancements: Kroothawk Flock

Kroot Lone-spear (90 Points)
• 1x Blast javelin
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Hunting javelin
• 1x Kalamandra’s bite

Kroot Trail Shaper (85 Points)
• 1x Kroot rifle
• 1x Shaper’s blade
• Enhancements: Nomadic Hunter

Kroot Trail Shaper (65 Points)
• 1x Kroot rifle
• 1x Shaper’s blade

Kroot War Shaper (70 Points)
• 1x Dart-bow and tri-blade
• 1x Kroot pistol
• 1x Shaper’s blade
• Enhancements: Root-carved Weapons

Kroot War Shaper (60 Points)
• 1x Bladestave and prey-hook
• 1x Kroot pistol
• 1x Shaper’s blade

BATTLELINE

Kroot Carnivores (150 Points)
• 1x Long-quill
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Kroot pistol
◦ 1x Kroot rifle
• 19x Kroot Carnivore
◦ 19x Close combat weapon
◦ 17x Kroot rifle
◦ 2x Tanglebomb launcher

Strike Team (75 Points)
• 1x Support turret
• 1x Fire Warrior Shas’ui
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Guardian Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Pulse pistol
◦ 1x Pulse rifle
• 9x Fire Warrior
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Pulse pistol
◦ 9x Pulse rifle

OTHER DATASHEETS

Hammerhead Gunship (145 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Railgun
• 2x Seeker missile
• 2x Twin smart missile system

Kroot Farstalkers (85 Points)
• 1x Kroot Kill-broker
◦ 1x Farstalker firearm
◦ 1x Kroot pistol
◦ 1x Ritual blade
• 9x Kroot Farstalker
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 8x Farstalker firearm
◦ 9x Kroot pistol
◦ 1x Londaxi tribalest
• 2x Kroot Hound
◦ 2x Ripping fangs

Kroot Hounds (40 Points)
• 5x Kroot Hound
◦ 5x Ripping fangs

Krootox Rampagers (110 Points)
• 3x Krootox Rampagers
◦ 3x Hunting blades
◦ 3x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
◦ 3x Rampager fists

Krootox Riders (105 Points)
• 3x Krootox Rider
◦ 3x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Krootox fists
◦ 3x Repeater cannon

Stealth Battlesuits (60 Points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Homing Beacon
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
◦ 1x Battlesuit Support System
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Burst cannon

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (43), Data Version: v438

vs.

Samuel Squires – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment)
Army List - Click to Expand

Guard honestly! (2000 points)

Astra Militarum
Strike Force (2000 points)
Combined Regiment

CHARACTERS

Cadian Command Squad (80 points)
• 1x Cadian Commander
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• Enhancement: Grand Strategist
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Laspistol
1x Plasma gun
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman with Master Vox
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Master Vox
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman with Medi-pack
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Medi-pack
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman with Regimental Standard
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Regimental Standard

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

BATTLELINE

Cadian Shock Troops (60 points)
• 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant
• 1x Chainsword
1x Laspistol
• 9x Shock Trooper
• 9x Close combat weapon
1x Grenade launcher
7x Lasgun
1x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster

Catachan Jungle Fighters (55 points)
• 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
• 9x Jungle Fighter
• 9x Close combat weapon
2x Flamer
7x Lasgun
1x Vox-caster

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

Hellhound (115 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy flamer
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Inferno cannon

Leman Russ Battle Tank (170 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Leman Russ battle cannon
2x Plasma cannon

Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (240 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Co-axial autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
2x Heavy stubber
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon

Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (240 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Co-axial autocannon
2x Heavy bolter
1x Heavy stubber
2x Heavy stubber
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon

Scout Sentinels (60 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Plasma cannon

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

Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438

Thoughts

The Kroot have been a bit formant since the initial flurry of experimentation post-Tau codex, but they’re back here, beligerent and numerous as ever. This is a classic horde build, using the speed, volume and relative durability of bodies (5+ Invulnerable into 5+ Feel No Pain is no joke on any sort of big unit) to lock the foe down, scoring massively on Primary. Hunting pack gives them some nice speed boosts on top of the durability, great screening from the Kroothawk Lone-spear, and a bit of chip damage threat via Stratagems. Also, you’re Tau so you can have Hammerheads, the perfect low-commitment tank because just by existing they force enemies to be more circumspect than they’d like.

They’re up against an extremely murderous Guard build here, mind, with a pretty good setup as far as Kroot killing goes. A good number of Catachans is the screen you want, while Dorns and regular Russes give you the mix of decent rate of fire and output you want, with the former also being good against Hammerheads thanks to their once-per-game damage prevention. The Kroot can definitely go swarm mode here, but they’re going to need to hit combat en-masse pretty sharpish. This feels like a turn where both sides really want first turn to carve out space, but I think the Kroot have better options to just sacrifice a few resources to try and lock that in – I would certainly be using Stealths and the Farstriders to box in Catachan scouts to make sure that the Kroot get the first crack at board control.

The mission also feels like it favours the Kroot thanks to their Lone Operatives and access to Hidden Hunters, which can be used to force some extra Primary. Banners is also probably a wash if the Guard go first, with both sides likely to put them up across the whole mid-board, but if the Kroot go first it’ll just be them raking in those points.

All together, I think the Guard do have a chance here if they go first – but they really need to go first, whereas the Kroot have a plan either way. Given that, they’re favoured, and they ended up taking a comfortable victory.

Result

T’au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) Victory – 99 – 56

James Marsden – T’au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) – 1st Place