Not too much of a results-oriented preamble this week (other than to say “hey, some people found Custodes builds that work”), as I’m technically on holiday this week (and we’ll have guest cover next week), but since we still don’t have a Balance Dataslate, I thought it was worth very quickly re-stating the key things I want to see happen in it to keep the game interesting for another few months:
- Tyranids need some sort of rules hit, probably targeting Leviathan and the Reaper of Obliterax.
- Necrons need something tweaked to make their ability to lock in 100pts in some games less overwhelming. I think the easiest route here is to change Eternal Conquerors and the Nihilakh dynasty so that only CORE units (excluding vehicles) get Objective Secured – that still gives play to a whole bunch of the units, but stops Scarabs being quite so impossible to stop, and avoids people pivoting to Ark spam. Also, take CORE off the Silent King.
- Harlequins and Sisters need a mild tuning down, probably both on their best Secondaries. In theory Harlequins maybe need a rules change too, but damned if I know what’s left to change without gutting something fundamental.
- Custodes (yes, even after they managed to have one good week), Adeptus Mechanicus, Craftworlds, Chaos Space Marines and Marines need some Secondary changes. AdMech and Custodes need some of theirs to change to end of turn scoring, Craftworlds need some of them made a bit broader in what can score them (likely including the Avatar in Wrath of Khaine and Shroud Runners in Scout) to increase list variety a bit. Marines could, honestly, go back to old Oaths and probably should. Chaos should have their Action Secondaries brought in line with the way other Nephilim ones score.
- Marines and AdMech could do with some more general boosts on datasheets and/or army-level rules.
There’s a bunch of other bits of micro-tuning I’d like to see, but that feels like it hits on the key points.
This week we’re going to be looking at:
- Kippers’s Melee
- Battle Ready Wargaming By South Georgia Havoc
- Kirtonian Total Carnage
- The Pecking Order: Turkey Wars
- Glasshammer GT
- Leodis Games GT
This week’s showdowns are going to be (three voted by Goonhammer Patrons, one I’m wildcarding in):
- Emperor’s Chosen vs. House Taranis at Kippers’ Melee
- Emperor’s Children vs. Tau at Kirtonian Carnage
- Daemonic Dogwalker vs. Necrons at the Leodis Games GT
- Necrons vs. Ferrymen with Daemons at the Pecking Order
Let’s hit it!
Kippers’ Melee 2022 – 10 Year Anniversary
100-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Nanaimo, BC, CA on October 15 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Matchup & Mission – Death and Zeal
Sean Haworth – Imperial Knights: House Taranis running an Errant and Paladin set up for the big Calculated Targeting combo. + Configuration + Chivalric Oath: Oath: Defend the Realm, Oath: Lay Low The Tyrants Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim Questor Allegiance: House Taranis, Questor Mechanicus + Lord of War + Armiger Helverins [24 PL, 465pts, -1CP] Armiger Warglaives [16 PL, 290pts] Armiger Warglaives [16 PL, 290pts] Knight Errant [25 PL, 495pts, -2CP]: Exalted Court: Master Tactician, Heirloom: Judgement, Heirlooms of the Household, Knight Baron, Martial Tradition: Machine Focus, Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber, Reaper Chainsword, Stormspear Rocket Pod, Warlord Trait (Taranis): Knight of Mars Knight Paladin [25 PL, 460pts, -3CP]: Character (Knight Lance), Exalted Court: Princeps, Heirloom: Sanctuary, Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber, Reaper Chainsword, Revered Paragon, Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Ion Bulwark, Warlord Trait: Revered Knight ++ Total: [106 PL, 2,000pts] ++
Army List - Click to Expand
++ Super-Heavy Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Imperial Knights) [106 PL, 2,000pts, ] ++
. Armiger Helverin: Heirloom: The Bastard’s Helm, Heirlooms of the Household, Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Helverin: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Helverin: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Warglaive: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Warglaive: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Warglaive: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Warglaive: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Rapid-Fire Battle Cannon w/ Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
vs.
Mike Garcia – Adeptus Custodes: Shooting/hull-heavy Emperor’s Chosen Goodstuff with lots of dreadnoughts and two units of Bikes. + Configuration + Detachment Type / Shield Host: Adeptus Custodes, Emperor’s Chosen Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim + HQ + Trajann Valoris [8 PL, 200pts]: 1. Master of Martial Strategy, 2. Champion of the Imperium, Misericordia, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord, Watcher’s Axe + Troops + Custodian Guard Squad [7 PL, 150pts] + Elites + Vexilus Praetor [6 PL, 105pts]: Castellan Axe, Misericordia, Vexilla Magnifica + Fast Attack + Vertus Praetors [12 PL, 255pts] Vertus Praetors [12 PL, 255pts] ++ Vanguard Detachment -3CP (Imperium – Adeptus Custodes) [55 PL, 1,035pts, -6CP] ++ + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [-3CP] Detachment Type / Shield Host: Adeptus Custodes, Emperor’s Chosen + HQ + Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike [10 PL, 180pts, -3CP]: 3. Superior Creation, 4. Impregnable Mind, Castellan’s Mark, Interceptor Lance, Misericordia, Salvo Launcher, Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: The Emperor’s Heroes, Stratagem: Victor of the Blood Games, Tip of the Spear + Elites + Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought [9 PL, 170pts]: Achillus Dreadspear, 2x Lastrum Storm Bolter Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought [9 PL, 170pts]: Achillus Dreadspear, 2x Lastrum Storm Bolter Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought [8 PL, 155pts]: Combi-bolter, Dreadnought Combat Weapon, Multi-Melta Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought [8 PL, 155pts]: Combi-bolter, Dreadnought Combat Weapon, Multi-Melta + Heavy Support + Caladius Grav-tank [11 PL, 205pts]: Twin Iliastus Accelerator Cannon, Twin Lastrum Bolt Cannon ++ Total: [100 PL, 2,000pts] ++
Army List - Click to Expand
++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adeptus Custodes) [45 PL, 965pts, 6CP] ++
. 3x Custodian w/ Sentinel Blade & Praesidium Shield: 3x Praesidium Shield, 3x Sentinel Blade
. 3x Praetor w/ Salvo Launcher & Misericordia: 3x Interceptor Lance, 3x Misericordia, 3x Salvo Launcher
. 3x Praetor w/ Salvo Launcher & Misericordia: 3x Interceptor Lance, 3x Misericordia, 3x Salvo Launcher
Thoughts
Gold is back in fashion this week, it would seem. The Custodes list here isn’t especially complex but is terrifying to face – it’s a wall of T6 or greater stuff with invulns, anti-mortal defences and offensive output that works very well with the combination of Trajann and the Emperor’s Chosen trait. With everything being so durable, and lots of units that can spike a target, Might of the Emperor becomes good in some matchups (probably not this one, but in general), and in some games might even be willing to roll the dice on Stand Vigil. One unit to highlight in particular is the use of the bog standard Venerable Contemptor with multi-melta, who seems to have exploded into popularity this week at the same time as Custodes have suddenly seen some success. I think that makes sense over the Galatus in the current metagame – with so many Knight armies around, you’re often going to be fighting T7 units with damage reduction, and the Galatus sucks at that. Melee damage reduction does still impact on the Contemptor, but swinging at S14 and popping off some multi-melta shots on the way in gives it far more game in that, or in fact this matchup.
As well as that advantage, Custodes have a couple more to play with. The big Mechanicus Mortal combo is far less good here than normal thanks to the Emperor’s Chosen trait – it can still turn a unit into so much slag, but now has a failure case that could cause calamity at a pivotal moment. The other is that having Bring it Down as effectively a freebie is very helpful, though the Custodes are still going to be up against it on the Secondary front, as their other choices are at best swingy. I figure they probably have to grit their teeth and take Grind and Stand Vigil, and then if they end up on first turn, just go full YOLO mode and try and clear the table at speed. They have a lot of units that will reliably put quite a lot of pain on an Armiger, and there aren’t that many Armigers – clear out the Warglaives and the Errant, and suddenly the Knights might struggle to continue to contest primary, giving the Custodes an angle to win, even if their Secondary total will be nowhere near max. The Knights Secondaries are certainly going to be more comfortable than the Custodes, but several of their likely picks do also start falling apart if they fall behind (though they have a better prospect of putting up a big win). As it played out, the Custodes were able to push through on just enough points to overcome the Knights.
Result
Adeptus Custodes Victory – 79 – 75
Mike Garcia – Adeptus Custodes – 1st Place
The List
See showdown
Thoughts
Navigating a list where you’re frequently going to have to pick some awkward Secondaries to first place in a six-round event is a phenomenal achievement, so huge congratulations to Mike here. As mentioned in the showdown (and as will come up several more times in this article) I do really like the Venerable Contemptor right now, and they feel like a key ingredient here. I would desperately love to find a way to get an Inquisitor into this to add options, but will freely admit that I can’t easily work out where I’d start making cuts to free the points – losing any of the units here feels like it makes the army considerably weaker, suggesting that it’s extremely well-tuned as is!
Idavoll Heimdall – Necrons – 2nd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand + Configuration + Dynasty Choice: Dynasty: Szarekhan Gametype: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim + Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander + The Silent King [21 PL, 2CP, 400pts]: Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord Trait (Szarekhan): The Triarch’s Will ++ Spearhead Detachment -3CP (Necrons) [90 PL, -6CP, 1,598pts] ++ + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [-3CP] Dynasty Choice: Circumstance of Awakening: Relentlessly Expansionist, Dynastic Tradition: Eternal Conquerors, Dynasty: + HQ + Illuminor Szeras [8 PL, -1CP, 145pts] Lord [5 PL, -2CP, 90pts]: Rarefied Nobility, Relic: Voltaic Staff, Resurrection Orb, Staff of Light, Stratagem: Relic, Warlord Trait (Codex 5): Implacable Conqueror (Aura) + Elites + Lychguard [14 PL, 200pts]: 8x Lychguard Triarch Stalker [7 PL, 125pts]: Heat Ray + Fast Attack + Tomb Blades [4 PL, 69pts] Tomb Blades [4 PL, 69pts] + Heavy Support + Doomsday Ark [8 PL, 160pts] Doomsday Ark [8 PL, 160pts] Lokhust Destroyers [7 PL, 125pts] Lokhust Destroyers [7 PL, 125pts] + Flyer + Doom Scythe [9 PL, 165pts] Doom Scythe [9 PL, 165pts] ++ Total: [111 PL, 2CP, 1,998pts] ++
++ Supreme Command Detachment 0CP (Necrons) [21 PL, 8CP, 400pts] ++
. 2x Triarchal Menhir: 2x Annihilator Beam
. Rarefied Nobility: Warlord Trait (Codex 1): Enduring Will
. Hyperphase Sword and Dispersion Shield
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer, Shadowloom
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer, Shadowloom
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer, Shadowloom
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer, Shadowloom
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer, Shadowloom
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer, Shadowloom
. 2x Lokhust Destroyer: 2x Gauss Cannon
. Lokhust Heavy Destroyer (Gauss Destructor)
. 2x Lokhust Destroyer: 2x Gauss Cannon
. Lokhust Heavy Destroyer (Gauss Destructor)
Archetype
Extra-shooty Eternal Expanisionists
Thoughts
Some neat changes from the standard Necron formula here, going for a far more shooty build than is standard, taking advantage of the Silent King providing full hit re-rolls to Doomsday Arks. The pre-game move has good synergy with these, as it lets you get them into a firing position without sacrificing the ability to shoot on high power turn one. The Arks, Doom Scythes and Destroyers all shooting at once is pretty formidible, and a unit of Lychguard with some quality babysitters gives the list something to push the middle with while the opponent is blasted to dust. I don’t think it’s going to be quite as reliable at scoring Secondaries as the standard builds, but does have the advantage that people teching for sweeping through Skorpekh and Scarabs aren’t going to find great targets here. Cool to see some different units used too, so well done to Idavoll.
Sean Haworth – Imperial Knights – 3rd Place
The List
See Showdown
Archetype
Taranis with Calculated Combo
Thoughts
All covered in the showdown – Taranis gives you extra durability (especially valuable since you have access to Machine Spirit Resurgent) and the easiest route for consistently setting up a Mortal Wound bonanza with Calculated Targeting, making it one of the strongest Mechanicus builds. We seem to broadly have three different strong Imperial Knight builds kicking round (this, Freeblade Lance, Custom Imperialis) and that’s a very healthy sign – great work from Sean taking this option all the way to the finals.
Kevin Hamilton – Adeptus Custodes – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand + Configuration + Detachment Type / Shield Host: Adeptus Custodes, Emissaries Imperatus Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim + Stratagems + Stratagem: Open the Vaults [-1CP]: Additional Relics + HQ + Trajann Valoris [8 PL, 200pts]: 1. Master of Martial Strategy, 2. Champion of the Imperium, Stratagem: Warlord Trait Valerian [7 PL, 130pts] + Troops + Prosecutors [3 PL, 60pts]: Prosecutor Sister Superior Sagittarum Custodians [7 PL, 150pts] Sagittarum Custodians [7 PL, 150pts] Sagittarum Custodians [7 PL, 150pts] Sagittarum Custodians [7 PL, 150pts] + Elites + Allarus Custodians [3 PL, 60pts] Allarus Custodians [3 PL, 60pts] Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought [8 PL, 155pts]: Multi-Melta Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought [8 PL, 155pts]: Multi-Melta Vexilus Praetor in Allarus Terminator Armor [6 PL, -1CP, 115pts]: (Emissaries Imperatus): Voice of the Emperor, Fulminaris Aggressor, Misericordia, Stratagem: The Emperor’s Heroes, Vexilla Magnifica ++ Super-Heavy Auxiliary Detachment -3CP (Imperium – Imperial Knights) [24 PL, -3CP, 465pts] ++ + Configuration + Chivalric Oath: Mixed Army Detachment Command Cost [-3CP] Questor Allegiance: Custom, Questor Imperialis + Lord of War + Armiger Helverins [24 PL, 465pts]: Freeblade, Martial Tradition: Hunters of Beasts, Questor Imperialis ++ Total: [98 PL, 1CP, 2,000pts] ++
++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adeptus Custodes) [74 PL, 4CP, 1,535pts] ++
. 4x Prosecutor: 4x Boltgun
. 3x Sagittarum w/ Misericordia: 3x Adrastus Bolt Caliver, 3x Misericordia
. 3x Sagittarum w/ Misericordia: 3x Adrastus Bolt Caliver, 3x Misericordia
. 3x Sagittarum w/ Misericordia: 3x Adrastus Bolt Caliver, 3x Misericordia
. 3x Sagittarum w/ Misericordia: 3x Adrastus Bolt Caliver, 3x Misericordia
. Allarus w/ Castellan Axe & Misericordia
. Allarus w/ Castellan Axe & Misericordia
. Armiger Helverin: Questor Ironhail Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Helverin: Questor Ironhail Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Helverin: Questor Ironhail Heavy Stubber
Archetype
Emissaries Sagittarum Spam with Freeblades
Thoughts
That bit earlier about lists teched to obliterate Scarabs and Skorpekh? Yeah they look a bit like this! This army has very broadly applicable firepower (Helverins with Hunters of Beasts are some of the best all-round shooting out there), and is very good at making a grinding advance while withering the enemy away, while being surprisingly hard to counter-charge thanks to Fight First on all the Emissaries units. The Helverins are also very good at protecting Banners that the army has raised, or zooming forward to steal an objective as a sacrifice that doesn’t break Might of Terra against a melee army, helping give more Secondary options to the Custodes We also see a second showing for the humble Venerable Contemptor here, further solidifying my belief that they’re well positioned at the moment – they’re dangerous enough that they often can’t be ignored, and very attractively priced. Well done to Kevin for ensuring that the Custodes placing drought ends in style by taking half the top four slots at this major!
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 5-1 records. They were:
- 5th – Shayne Mitchell – Imperial Knights: a fairly violent looking Taranis build, with a Warden and Errant ready to push up the table, and the Warden able to radio in extra objective control to Armigers as needed thanks to Master of Vox.
- 6th – Jake Reuser – Tau: :clap: Tau :clap: Sept :clap: Triptide :clap:.
- 7th – Patrick Greatbatch – Emperor’s Children: Noise Marines and Terminators with Abaddon, plus a big unit of Chosen and the option to deploy either then or some Noise Marines in a Dreadclaw.
- 8th – Brandon St. Pierre – Drukhari: Drukhari Goodstuff with Grotesques, Ravagers and a ten-model unit of Test of Skill/Stimulant Innovators Hellions as an extra hammer blow.
- 9th – Patrick Owens – Tau: Heavy-duty Tau Sept with two big Crisis units, Sun Sharks, Commanders/Longstrike/Aun’va and Kroot to fill.
- 10th – David Dykes – Adepta Sororitas: Go-wide Bloody Rose Goodstuff with small units of pretty much all the hits, and bulked-up Repentia squads.
Battle Ready Wargaming’s South Ga Havoc 40k Major
54-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Valdosta, Georgia, US on October 15 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Marcus Johnson – Adepta Sororitas – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand + Configuration + Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim Order Convictions: Order: Bloody Rose + No Force Org Slot + Hospitaller [3 PL, 50pts] Repentia Superior [2 PL, 40pts] + HQ + Canoness [5 PL, 100pts, -1CP]: Blessed Blade, Bolt pistol, Stratagem: Saint in the Making, Warlord Trait: Blazing Ire Morvenn Vahl [14 PL, 280pts, -1CP]: Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord, Warlord Trait: 2. Righteous Rage + Troops + Battle Sister Squad [3 PL, 55pts] Battle Sister Squad [3 PL, 55pts] Battle Sister Squad [3 PL, 55pts] + Elites + Death Cult Assassins [1 PL, 26pts] Dialogus [3 PL, 50pts]: 1. Refrain of Blazing Piety Dogmata [4 PL, 65pts, -1CP]: 4. Litany of Enduring Faith, 5. Verse of Holy Piety, Relic: The Sigil Ecclesiasticus, Stratagem: Relic Sisters Repentia [6 PL, 112pts] Sisters Repentia [6 PL, 112pts] Sisters Repentia [6 PL, 112pts] + Fast Attack + Zephyrim Squad [8 PL, 140pts] Zephyrim Squad [8 PL, 140pts] Zephyrim Squad [4 PL, 75pts] + Heavy Support + Retributor Squad [6 PL, 150pts]: Armourium Cherub Retributor Squad [6 PL, 150pts]: Armourium Cherub Retributor Squad [6 PL, 150pts]: Armourium Cherub + Dedicated Transport + Sororitas Rhino [4 PL, 80pts] ++ Total: [101 PL, 3CP, 1,997pts] ++
++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adepta Sororitas) [101 PL, 1,997pts, 3CP] ++
. Word of the Emperor
. 4x Battle Sister: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Boltgun, 4x Frag & Krak grenades
. Sister Superior: Chainsword
. . Bolt Pistol & Boltgun
. 4x Battle Sister: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Boltgun, 4x Frag & Krak grenades
. Sister Superior: Chainsword
. . Bolt Pistol & Boltgun
. 4x Battle Sister: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Boltgun, 4x Frag & Krak grenades
. Sister Superior: Chainsword
. . Bolt Pistol & Boltgun
. 2x Death Cult Assassins: 2x Death Cult power blades
. 8x Sisters Repentia: 8x Penitent Eviscerator
. 8x Sisters Repentia: 8x Penitent Eviscerator
. 8x Sisters Repentia: 8x Penitent Eviscerator
. 8x Zephyrim: 8x Bolt pistol, 8x Frag & Krak grenades, 8x Power sword
. Zephyrim Superior: Bolt pistol, Zephyrim Pennant
. 8x Zephyrim: 8x Bolt pistol, 8x Frag & Krak grenades, 8x Power sword
. Zephyrim Superior: Bolt pistol, Zephyrim Pennant
. 4x Zephyrim: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Power sword
. Zephyrim Superior: Bolt pistol
. Retributor Superior: Chainsword
. . Bolt Pistol & Boltgun
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor Superior: Chainsword
. . Bolt Pistol & Boltgun
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor Superior: Chainsword
. . Bolt Pistol & Boltgun
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
. Retributor w/ Heavy Weapon: Multi-melta
Archetype
Bloody Rose Goodstuff
Final Round Matchup
79 – 68 Victory against Steven Crawley – T’au Sept.
Thoughts
You very much know the drill here, but there is one more unusual option in the Dialogus, who I think does quite a bit here – she can boost up the value of Acts of Faith to lock in charges with all those Repentia, and having a source of Refrain is very valuable in case you run into Abaddon or C’tan, both common. A nice personal touch from Marcus there, otherwise very much business as usual.
Andy Patton – Black Legion – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [-3CP] Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim Legion: Black Legion + HQ + Daemon Prince with Wings [11 PL, -2CP, 180pts]: 3. Hatred Incarnate, Aspiring Lord, Death Hex, G’holl’ax, the Decayed, Gifts of Chaos, Hellforged sword, Mark of Nurgle, Wings Dark Apostle [6 PL, 110pts]: Illusory Supplication, Mark of Slaanesh Lord Discordant on Helstalker [10 PL, -2CP, 190pts]: 2. Indomitable, Aspiring Lord, Baleflamer, Gifts of Chaos, Gorget of Eternal Hate, Mark of Tzeentch, Techno-virus injector + Troops + Cultists Mob [2 PL, 50pts] Cultists Mob [2 PL, 50pts] Legionaries [7 PL, 135pts]: Chaos Icon, Mark of Slaanesh + Elites + Chaos Terminator Squad [19 PL, -1CP, 385pts]: Mark of Slaanesh Rubric Marines [13 PL, 228pts]: Icon of Flame + Fast Attack + Raptors [13 PL, 141pts]: Mark of Slaanesh Raptors [13 PL, 141pts]: Mark of Khorne + Dedicated Transport + Chaos Rhino [4 PL, 90pts]: Combi-flamer ++ Supreme Command Detachment +3CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [15 PL, 2CP, 300pts] ++ + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [3CP] Legion: Black Legion + Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander + Abaddon the Despoiler [15 PL, -1CP, 300pts]: 3. Merciless Overseer, 5. Eternal Vendetta, 6. Paragon of Hatred, Stratagem: Warlord Trait ++ Total: [115 PL, 2,000pts] ++
++ Battalion Detachment -3CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [100 PL, -2CP, 1,700pts] ++
. 2x Dark Disciple: 2x Close combat weapon
. 9x Chaos Cultist w/ cultist firearm: 9x Cultist firearm, 9x Frag & Krak grenades
. Cultist Champion
. . Autopistol and brutal assault weapon
. 9x Chaos Cultist w/ cultist firearm: 9x Cultist firearm, 9x Frag & Krak grenades
. Cultist Champion
. . Autopistol and brutal assault weapon
. Aspiring Champion: Bolt pistol, Power sword
. 3x Marine w/ astartes chainsword: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Marine w/ balefire tome: Balefire tome, Infernal Gaze
. Chaos Terminator: Chainfist, Combi-melta
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-melta, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-melta, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Terminator Champion: Black Rune of Damnation, Chainfist, Combi-melta, Trophies of the Long War
. Aspiring Sorcerer: Inferno bolt pistol, Warptime
. 8x Rubric Marine w/ warpflamer: 8x Warpflamer
. 5x Raptor: 5x Astartes chainsword, 5x Bolt pistol, 5x Frag & Krak grenades
. Raptor Champion: Astartes chainsword, Bolt pistol
. 5x Raptor: 5x Astartes chainsword, 5x Bolt pistol, 5x Frag & Krak grenades
. Raptor Champion: Astartes chainsword, Bolt pistol
Archetype
Black Legion
Thoughts
Nice to see Abaddon leading his own boys into battle, and this list is very much set up to take advantage of him. Warpflamer Rubricae with re-rolling wounds and Let the Galaxy Burn are quite the thing, and with full hit and wound re-rolls each Raptor unit can be a very scary missile as well. The other standout piece here is the Lord Discordant, who has got to be one of the very toughest characters it’s possible to build right now – half damage, effectively a 0+/4++, and even if you do push some damage through he shrugs the first hit each turn thanks to being Tzeentch. He’s a great one-two punch with the Daemon Prince too – he ties something valuable up, the Daemon Prince rocks in and annihilates it. Good use of Abaddon, good use of access to the Black Legion warlord trait table, and a cool build overall from Andy.
The Best of the Rest
There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – Nick Antzoulatos – Necrons: Violent Eternal Expansionists with max Skorpekh, a full Lokhust brick and a unit of Wraiths to boot.
- 4th – Steven Crawley – Tau: Tau Sept with a big Crisis squad and a pair of Riptides (who very much love the Tau Sept Trait).
- 5th – Philip Hall – Creations of Bile: Big units each of Chosen and Terminators, with Possessed, Abaddon and a Discolord backing them up.
- 6th – Jeremy Stan – Adeptus Custodes: Emperor’s Chosen Goodstuff with three units of Bikes and a couple of basic multi-melta Venerable Contemptors (following this week’s theme).
- 7th – Chris Palmer – Tyranids: Leviathan goodstuff, one big unit of Warriors and lots of monsters of various flavours, including a Maleceptor.
- 8th – Jeff Bodeen – Blood Angels: The go-wide version of jump pack spam with extra Death Company and a Death Company Captain to make Fury of the Lost practical.
- 9th – Teddy Wood – Chaos Daemons: Skarbrand, Be’lakor, a turbo-Bloodthirster and lots of Flamers.
Kirtonian Total Carnage II
54-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on October 15 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Matchup & Mission – The Scouring
David LaPorta – T’au Sept: All-rounder Tau Sept with two Crisis units, two Breacherfish and nasty HQs. + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [3CP] Sept Choice: T’au Sept + Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander + Commander Shadowsun [8 PL, -1CP, 150pts]: 5. Exemplar of the Kauyon, 2x Dispersed Fusion Blaster, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord ++ Battalion Detachment -3CP (T’au Empire) [92 PL, 1CP, 1,848pts] ++ + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [-3CP] Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim Sept Choice: T’au Sept + HQ + Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit [10 PL, -2CP, 230pts]: 1. Precision of the Hunter, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Solid-image Projection Unit, Stratagem: Promising Pupil, Stratagem: Relic, T’au Flamer, Thermoneutronic Projector Longstrike [9 PL, 160pts]: Railgun + Troops + Breacher Team [5 PL, 85pts] Breacher Team [5 PL, 85pts] Strike Team [4 PL, 80pts] + Elites + Crisis Battlesuits [20 PL, 435pts] Crisis Battlesuits [20 PL, 435pts] + Fast Attack + Kroot Hounds [1 PL, 24pts] Kroot Hounds [1 PL, 24pts] + Heavy Support + Broadside Battlesuits [5 PL, 100pts] + Dedicated Transport + Devilfish [6 PL, 95pts] Devilfish [6 PL, 95pts] ++ Total: [100 PL, 3CP, 1,998pts] ++
Army List - Click to Expand
++ Supreme Command Detachment +3CP (T’au Empire) [8 PL, 2CP, 150pts] ++
. 2x Shield Drone: 2x Shield Generator
. 2x Gun Drones
. . 2x Gun Drone: 4x Pulse Carbine
. 9x Breacher Fire Warrior: 9x Pulse Blaster, 9x Pulse Pistol
. 9x Breacher Fire Warrior: 9x Pulse Blaster, 9x Pulse Pistol
. Fire Warrior Shas’ui: Pulse Rifle
. 9x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Rifle: 9x Pulse Pistol, 9x Pulse Rifle
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. Crisis Shas’vre: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. 4x Shield Drone: 4x Shield Generator
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. Crisis Shas’vre: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. 4x Shield Drone: 4x Shield Generator
. 4x Kroot Hound: 4x Ripping Fangs
. 4x Kroot Hound: 4x Ripping Fangs
. Broadside Shas’vre: Heavy Rail Rifle, Stabilised Optics, Twin Smart Missile System
. 2x Gun Drones
. . 2x Gun Drone: 4x Pulse Carbine
. 2x Gun Drones
. . 2x Gun Drone: 4x Pulse Carbine
vs.
Mani Cheema – Emperor’s Children & Daemons: The servants of Slaanesh packing Tzeentch Flamers behind them. TR: 5 Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts] Icon of Slaanesh, 1 Blastmaster, 3x Chainsword & Bolt Pistol, Noise Champion with Power Fist EL: 10 Chaos Terminators [19 PL, 415pts, -1CP] Mark of Slaanesh Tzeentch Daemon Vanguard Detachment – [22 PL, 380pts, -3CP] EL: 4 Flamers of Tzeentch [6 PL, 100pts] Pyrocaster Black Legion Supreme Command Detachment – [15 PL, 300pts] ++ Total: [99 PL, 1CP, 2,000pts] ++
Army List - Click to Expand
Emperor’s Children Battalion Detachment – [62 PL, 1,320pts]
HQ: Dark Apostle [6 PL, 110pts, -1CP] 2 Dark Disciples, Mark of Slaanesh, Illusory Supplication, Trait: Eternal Vendetta
HQ: Master of Possession [7 PL, 120pts] Mark of Slaanesh, Mutated Invigoration, Pact of Flesh
TR: 5 Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts] Icon of Slaanesh, 1 Blastmaster, 3x Chainsword & Bolt Pistol, Noise Champion with Power Fist
TR: 5 Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts] Icon of Slaanesh, 1 Blastmaster, 3x Chainsword & Bolt Pistol, Noise Champion with Power Fist
TR: 5 Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts] Icon of Slaanesh, 1 Blastmaster, 3x Chainsword & Bolt Pistol, Noise Champion with Power Fist
TR: 5 Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts] Icon of Slaanesh, 1 Blastmaster, 3x Chainsword & Bolt Pistol, Noise Champion with Power Fist
— 1 Terminator with Chainfist & Combi-Flamer
— 2 Terminators with Power Fist & Combi-Flamer
— 2 Terminators with Power Fist & Heavy Flamer
— 2 Terminators with Power Fist & Combi-Bolter
— 2 Terminators with Accursed Weapon & Combi-Bolter
— 1 Terminator Champion with Chainfist, Combi-Flamer & Black Rune of Damnation
HQ: Changecaster [4 PL, 80pts] Bolt of Change, Infernal Flames, Ritual dagger
EL: 4 Flamers of Tzeentch [6 PL, 100pts] Pyrocaster
EL: 4 Flamers of Tzeentch [6 PL, 100pts] Pyrocaster
PR: Abaddon the Despoiler [15 PL, 300pts] – WARLORD
Thoughts
To part the curtain, I often write bits of this article out of order, this is the last bit I’m filling, and I have turned out to have less time to write on holiday than expected, so this is going to be quick (as publish time is only a couple hours away).
With that in mind, this game gets added straight to the long list of matchups brutally murdered by one of the more skewing missions in the Nephilim pack. There is, bluntly, zero way for the Tau to play this game that doesn’t leave them wide open to the Emperor’s Children playing exactly the kind of game they want (unless it’s taking place on planet bowling ball). Contesting the Primary at all is going to mean placing themselves in potential strike range of units staged behind any mid-board Obscuring pieces, while stealing the Chaos objectives is going to be super challenging thanks to wide-ranging access to Heroic via Incessant Disdain, and the threat of Abaddon just sitting in the middle of one threatening to Heroic and murder whatever comes close. The Flamers are also extremely nasty into most of the Tau list, and the fact that any of the Noise Marines can deploy point-and-click no Overwatch with Excruciating Frequencies just serves to further lock out any good options.
My guess is that the Tau just have to live in a world where they believe they can evaporate the Chaos list entirely (which, to be fair, they’re pretty well built for on any mission where Chaos don’t entirely control the flow of battle), go for something like No Prisoners, Assassinate and Kauyon Decisive Action, then play to clear stuff early and swing back hard late game, leaning on the relative weakness of CSM Secondaries to step them getting a big lead. I’d not be optimistic in their position though, and the score would suggest that’s well founded.
Result
Chaos Victory – 91 – 35
Mani Cheema – Emperor’s Children – 1st Place
The List
See Showdown
Archetype
Emperor’s Children and Daemons
Final Round Matchup
91 – 35 Victory against David LaPorta – T’au Sept.
Thoughts
I wouldn’t be shocked if someone on the GW FAQ team has looked at this list, sighed, and started revising the CSM/Daemons FAQ, but as it stands this is an extremely formidible build, being able to lash out very effectively from the solid Terminator core, and brutally punishing some lists with the threat of flamers out of Deep Strike.
The Best of the Rest
There were 9 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
The Pecking Order: Turkey Wars 2022 GT
50-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Olympia, Washington, US on October 15 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Matchup & Mission – The Scouring
Nicolas Ohlsen-Johnson – Necrons: Murderous Eternal Expansionists with lots of Scarabs and Skorpekh. ++ Outrider Detachment -3CP (Necrons) [64 PL, 1,245pts, 2CP] ++ + Configuration + Dynasty Choice: Circumstance of Awakening: Relentlessly Expansionist, Dynastic Tradition: Eternal Conquerors, Dynasty: Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim + No Force Org Slot + Viral Construct [1 PL, 15pts]: Canoptek Plasmacyte Viral Construct [1 PL, 15pts]: Canoptek Plasmacyte + HQ + Time Keeper S’andtokh (Chronomancer )[5 PL, 75pts, -1CP]: Aeonstave, Dynastic Heirlooms, Relic: Veil of Darkness + Elites + Skorpekh Destroyers [8 PL, 180pts] Skorpekh Destroyers [8 PL, 180pts] + Fast Attack + Canoptek Scarab Swarms [6 PL, 135pts] Canoptek Scarab Swarms [6 PL, 135pts] Canoptek Scarab Swarms [2 PL, 45pts] Tomb Blades [4 PL, 60pts] Tomb Blades [4 PL, 60pts] Tomb Blades [4 PL, 60pts] + Heavy Support + Lokhust Destroyers [15 PL, 285pts] ++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Necrons) [19 PL, 355pts, -2CP] ++ + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [-2CP] Dynasty Choice: Circumstance of Awakening: Relentlessly Expansionist, Dynastic Tradition: Eternal Conquerors, Dynasty: + No Force Org Slot + Viral Construct [1 PL, 15pts]: Canoptek Plasmacyte + HQ + Kamagitekh the Seeker (Technomancer) [6 PL, 80pts]: Arkana: Cortical Subjugator Scarabs, Canoptek Cloak + Troops + Immortals [4 PL, 80pts]: 5x Immortal, Tesla Carbine + Elites + Skorpekh Destroyers [8 PL, 180pts] ++ Supreme Command Detachment +2CP (Necrons) [21 PL, 400pts, 4CP] ++ + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [2CP] Dynasty Choice: Circumstance of Awakening: Relentlessly Expansionist, Dynastic Tradition: Eternal Conquerors, Dynasty: + Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander + The Silent King [21 PL, 400pts, 2CP]: Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord Trait (Szarekhan): The Triarch’s Will ++ Total: [104 PL, 4CP, 2,000pts] ++
Army List - Click to Expand
. 2x Skorpekh Destroyer (Reap-Blade): 2x Hyperphase Reap-Blade
. 4x Skorpekh Destroyer (Thresher): 4x Hyperphase Threshers
. 2x Skorpekh Destroyer (Reap-Blade): 2x Hyperphase Reap-Blade
. 4x Skorpekh Destroyer (Thresher): 4x Hyperphase Threshers
. 9x Canoptek Scarab Swarm: 9x Feeder Mandibles
. 9x Canoptek Scarab Swarm: 9x Feeder Mandibles
. 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm: 3x Feeder Mandibles
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. 6x Lokhust Destroyer: 6x Gauss Cannon
. Lokhust Heavy Destroyer (Gauss Destructor)
. 2x Skorpekh Destroyer (Reap-Blade): 2x Hyperphase Reap-Blade
. 4x Skorpekh Destroyer (Thresher): 4x Hyperphase Threshers
. 2x Triarchal Menhir: 2x Annihilator Beam
vs.
Jason Byrd – Nurgle: Ferrymen Plague Marine Spam with a Nurgle Daemon detachment to provide some Nurglings for screening and a Bilepiper for ObSec manipulation. + Configuration [6CP] + Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP] Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim Plague Company: The Ferrymen + Stratagems [-1CP] + Gifts of Decay [-1CP]: Additional Relics [-1CP] + HQ [14 PL, 255pts] + Malignant Plaguecaster [5 PL, 90pts]: 1. Miasma of Pestilence, 4. Putrescent Vitality, Blight grenades, Corrupted staff, Krak grenades, Smite Typhus [9 PL, 165pts]: 2. Gift of Contagion, 6. Gift of Plagues, Blight grenades, Master-crafted manreaper, Smite + Troops [54 PL, 940pts] + Plague Marines [12 PL, 210pts] Plague Marines [12 PL, 210pts] Plague Marines [12 PL, 210pts] Plague Marines [12 PL, 210pts] Poxwalkers [3 PL, 50pts] Poxwalkers [3 PL, 50pts] + Elites [26 PL, -3CP, 450pts] + Biologus Putrifier [4 PL, -1CP, 65pts]: 4. Arch-Contaminator, Hyper blight grenades, Injector pistol, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Plague Skull of Glothila, Plaguechosen [-1CP] Deathshroud Terminators [9 PL, 150pts] Foul Blightspawn [5 PL, -2CP, 90pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Plague sprayer, Revolting Stench-vats, Stratagem: Relic [-1CP], Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], The Droning, Unholy death’s head grenade, Warlord Plague Surgeon [4 PL, 75pts]: Balesword, Blight grenades, Bolt pistol, Krak grenades Tallyman [4 PL, 70pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Plasma pistol ++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Chaos – Daemons) [18 PL, -2CP, 355pts] ++ + Configuration + Chaos Allegiance: Nurgle Detachment Command Cost [-2CP] + HQ + Sloppity Bilepiper [5 PL, 85pts] + Troops + Nurglings [3 PL, 60pts] Nurglings [3 PL, 60pts] Plaguebearers [7 PL, 150pts]: Daemonic icon, Instrument of Chaos ++ Total: [112 PL, 2,000pts] ++
Army List - Click to Expand
++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Chaos – Death Guard) [94 PL, 2CP, 1,645pts] ++
. Plague Champion [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Plasma pistol, Power fist
. 2x Plague Marine w/ blight launcher [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Blight launcher, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. 2x Plague Marine w/ cleaver [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Great plague cleaver, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. 2x Plague Marine w/ flail [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Flail of corruption, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. Plague Marine w/ icon and sigil [21pts]: Blight grenades, Boltgun, Icon of despair, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Sigil of decay
. Plague Marine w/ plague spewer [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Plague spewer
. Plague Marine w/ special weapon [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Meltagun, Plague knife
. Plague Champion [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Plasma pistol, Power fist
. 2x Plague Marine w/ blight launcher [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Blight launcher, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. 2x Plague Marine w/ cleaver [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Great plague cleaver, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. 2x Plague Marine w/ flail [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Flail of corruption, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. Plague Marine w/ icon and sigil [21pts]: Blight grenades, Boltgun, Icon of despair, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Sigil of decay
. Plague Marine w/ plague spewer [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Plague spewer
. Plague Marine w/ special weapon [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Meltagun, Plague knife
. Plague Champion [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Plasma pistol, Power fist
. 2x Plague Marine w/ blight launcher [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Blight launcher, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. 2x Plague Marine w/ cleaver [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Great plague cleaver, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. 2x Plague Marine w/ flail [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Flail of corruption, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. Plague Marine w/ icon and sigil [21pts]: Blight grenades, Boltgun, Icon of despair, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Sigil of decay
. Plague Marine w/ plague spewer [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Plague spewer
. Plague Marine w/ special weapon [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Meltagun, Plague knife
. Plague Champion [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Plasma pistol, Power fist
. 2x Plague Marine w/ blight launcher [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Blight launcher, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. 2x Plague Marine w/ cleaver [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Great plague cleaver, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. 2x Plague Marine w/ flail [42pts]: 2x Blight grenades, 2x Flail of corruption, 2x Krak grenades, 2x Plague knife
. Plague Marine w/ icon and sigil [21pts]: Blight grenades, Boltgun, Icon of despair, Krak grenades, Plague knife, Sigil of decay
. Plague Marine w/ special weapon [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Meltagun, Plague knife
. Plague Marine w/ special weapon [21pts]: Blight grenades, Krak grenades, Meltagun, Plague knife
. 10x Poxwalker [50pts]: 10x Improvised weapon
. 10x Poxwalker [50pts]: 10x Improvised weapon
. Deathshroud Champion [50pts]: Manreaper, 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
. 2x Deathshroud Terminator [100pts]: 2x Manreaper, 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
. 3x Nurgling Swarms: 3x Diseased claws and teeth
. 3x Nurgling Swarms: 3x Diseased claws and teeth
. 9x Plaguebearer: 9x Plaguesword
Thoughts
Nicolas’ build here needs no introduction – it’s the best version of one of the best builds in the game, and he’s made it into several of these (and sorry, I deleted the fluff this time, it’s been in the column at least twice already). Jason’s build is new – like a lot of armies since the Daemon book landed, it takes an already strong plan (loading tonnes of Ferrymen Plague Marines onto the board with buffs and auras galore) and adds a Daemonic twist, here some Nurglings to screen in some matchups, a Bilepiper to mess with opposing ObSec (helping the Plague Marines dominate the Primary) and some Plaguebearers who can happily chill out on a home objective as needed. How does that stack up against the Necron menace?
Mixed. On the one hand, the core plan of the Ferrymen list here does help a lot. Plague Marines are resilient to both Skorpekh and Lokhust Destroyers, and are ObSec bodies that can sweep enough Scarabs bases in melee to flip an objective. The Skorpekh are also going to struggle with charging if the Stench-vats aura is in range, as they’ll lose too many to a Plague Marine swing for it to be worth it. That’s the good bits, but the issues probably outweigh them, namely that the Daemon detachment doesn’t really do much here, and the mission is rough. Advance deploying the Nurglings too aggressively is mostly just going to provide free movement to Scarabs here, especially as Expansionist doesn’t have a “must finish outside of 9″” clause, there’s no home objective for the Plaguebearers to sit on (though I guess they can at least attend to the mission action on the two closer points), and Secondaries end up rough. No Prisoners is obviously a lock, but after that the pool is challenging – any Psychic secondary risks getting shut down by Szarekh (especially as he may end up staged quite far forward), Spread probably caps at 8 unless the Necrons get bodied off the board, and Despoiled is hugely risky.
ObSec Necrons, meanwhile, love this mission because they can take Purge the Vermin as a guaranteed 15 if the opponent is kept in their half of the table, and have far more tools to push through points of Ancient Machineries than the Death Guard equivalent thanks to weight of Scarabs and throwaway Tomb Blades. Technically this matchup and mission is about as challenging as Treasures of the Aeons can get for this army, but that’s very much graded on a curve where “challenging” still means “minimum 10 in anything like a close game”.
With all that considered, the calculus for the Death Guard ends up pretty simple – they need to just try and overrun the Necrons. Leave the Daemon stuff back to handle the nearby objectives, and ram as many Plague Marines forward as possible, trying to take advantage of the relative weakness of many of the Necron offensive tools against the Plague Marines. That feels like their best chance to win, but does have to contend with the looming threat of the Silent King, and from a chat with Jason he was pivotal. Some obscuring terrain was available where he could stage relatively far forward, and on a key turn he was able to tag multiple Plague Marine units and make both Fight Last, allowing twenty of them to be picked up at once. That, obviously, put paid to any hope of the Necrons getting overwhelmed, and they were able to roll through to 100pts, as is their fashion.
Result
Necrons Victory – 100 – 64
Nicolas Ohlsen-Johnson – Necrons – 1st Place
The List
See showdown
Archetype
Violent Eternal Expansionists
Thoughts
It’s good. Congratulations again, Nicolas
Chuck Arnett – Tzeentch Daemons – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Agent of Chaos Supreme Command Tzeentch Daemons Patrol 10 Blue Horrors: 70 1 Tzeentch Soul Grinder: 190 Tzeentch Daemons Vanguard 1 Fluxmaster: Staff of Change 115 5 Flamers: 125 5 Flamers: 125 5 Flamers: 125 1 Tzeentch Soul Grinder: Warpsword 190 1 Tzeentch Soul Grinder: 190
Propane and Propane Related Accessories
2,000 points of Tzeentch
Command Points: 2
1 Abaddon the Despoiler: 300 Warlord
Traits: Eternal Vendetta, Paragon of Hatred, Merciless Overseer
1 Be’lakor: 420
Power: Pall of Despair 7
Power: Shrouded Step 6
1 Fateskimmer: Chanting Horrors, Staff of Change 150
Power: Bolt of Change 7
Power: Infernal Gateway 8/12
Power: Infernal Flames 7
Power: Gaze of Fate 7
Archetype
Tzeentch Funtimes
Thoughts
Proper innovation from Chuck here, making good use of the massively improved Soul Grinder datasheet. This list feels like it should play largely in line with most of the builds using Flamers, brawling in the mid board with some durable stuff and using Daemons out of the warp to punish flankers or launch counter-strikes, but they’re often working alongside Rubricae, Scarab Occults or Chaos Knights, both of which are vulnerable to melee counter-charges. Be’lakor and a trio of Soul Grinders on a melee 4+ is a very different prospect in terms of what’s needed to slow it down, and this list looks like it should be very effective at pulling off it’s plan. Having volleys of Infernal Gateway coming from behind the front ranks is also another nice way to leverage the setup, and Abaddon being able to be screened by the Soul Grinders seems very strong too, as he can burst forth as a second wave when ready. Really cool build, and delighted to see this going undefeated.
The Best of the Rest
There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – Steven Trimble – Death Guard: Ferryman Plague Marine spam – now with Abaddon!
- 4th – Jason Byrd – Nurgle: As-per showdown: Ferryman Plague Marine spam – now with Nurgle Daemons!
- 5th – Patrick Cross – Chaos Knights: Herpetrax with a charged-up Abominant and Desecrator with lots of shooty War Dogs and a pair of Karnivores backing them.
- 6th – Lukas Troller – Chaos Knights: Herpetrax with just a Desecrator on the big Knight front, and lots of Stalkers to provide flexible backup.
- 7th – Ryan Cherewich – Adepta Sororitas: Bloody Rose Goodstuff with Celestine and big Retributor squads.
- 8th – Tyler Bortel – Hive Mind: Unusual soup build, mixing Behemoth Tyrant Guard with naturalised camoflage (definitely a pain to shift from cover), Spore Mine generators, one unit of Raveners as a fast hammer, and a GSC detachment for some objective play and one fire-and-forget drill Acolyte squad.
- 9th – James Lee – Adeptus Custodes: Shooty Emperor’s Chosen goodstuff with a trio of Caladius Tanks, two Venerable Contemptors and some Bikes/Troops. Skips on Trajann to squeeze more stuff in, and also takes a Silent Judge Centura to mess with opposing ObSec.
Glasshammer GT #10
33-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in St George’s, England, GB on October 15 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Vik Vijay – Chaos Space Marines – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Legion: Emperor’s Children + HQ + Heretic Astartes Daemon Prince [11 PL, 180pts, -1CP]: Mark of Slaanesh Master of Possession [7 PL, 120pts, -1CP]: Mark of Slaanesh Dark Apostle [6 PL, 110pts]: Mark of Slaanesh + Troops + 5x Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts]: Icon of Slaanesh 5x Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts]: Icon of Slaanesh 5x Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts]: Icon of Slaanesh 5x Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts]: Icon of Slaanesh 10x Cultists Mobs [2PL, 50pts] + Elites + 5x Possessed [7PL, 140pts] Master of Executions [5PL, 80pts, -1CP]: Mark of Slaanesh 10x Chaos Terminator Squad [19 PL, 375pts, -1CP]: Mark of Slaanesh + Fast Attack + Venomcrawler [6 PL, 105pts]: ++ Supreme Command Detachment +3CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [15 PL, 300pts] ++ Legion: Black Legion + Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander + Abaddon the Despoiler [15 PL, 300pts]: Warlord ++ Total: [102 PL, 2CP, 2000pts] ++
++ Battalion Detachment -3CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [87 PL, 1,700pts] ++
. Hellforged Sword, Malefic Talon & Wings
. Warptime
. Mantle of Traitors [Gifts of Chaos (-1CP)]
. Pact of Flesh, Mutated Invigoration & Delightful Agonies
. Liber Hereticus [Gifts of Chaos (-1CP)]
. Illusory Supplication & Blissful Devotion
. 2x Dark Disciple
. Noise Champion: Power Fist, Astartes Chainsword
. 3x Noise Marine: Astartes Chainsword & Bolt Pistol
. 1x Noise Marine: Blastmaster
. Noise Champion: Power Fist, Astartes Chainsword
. 3x Noise Marine: Astartes Chainsword & Bolt Pistol
. 1x Noise Marine: Blastmaster
. Noise Champion: Power Fist, Astartes Chainsword
. 3x Noise Marine: Astartes Chainsword & Bolt Pistol
. 1x Noise Marine: Blastmaster
. Noise Champion: Power Fist, Astartes Chainsword
. 3x Noise Marine: Astartes Chainsword & Bolt Pistol
. 1x Noise Marine: Blastmaster
. Cultist Champion: Cultist Firearm
. 9x Chaos Cultist: Cultist Firearm
. Possessed Champion
. Hideous Mutations
. Hatred Incarnate [Aspiring Lord (-1CP)]
. Terminator Champion: Chainfist, Combi-bolter
.. Black Rune of Damnation [Trophies of the Long War (-1CP)]
. Chaos Terminator: Chainfist, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Power fist, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Power fist, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Power fist, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Power fist, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. 2x Excruciator Cannon
. Drach’nyen & Talon of Horus
Archetype
Emperor’s Children
Final Round Matchup
80 – 63 Victory against Nathan Roberts – Hive Fleet Leviathan.
Thoughts
After Vik took Emperor’s Children to third at the LGT it’s no surprise to see him sticking with them, and the core strength of this build, which is the combination of the Children’s super-strong Faction trait and stratagems with Noise Marines being very efficient Troops, remains the same. Vik has mixed a few things up though – one unit of Noise Marines and a Venomcrawler have been dropped in favour of a squad of Possessed and a Master of Executions. These feel like they help in the mirror, as Possessed can rampage through pretty much an arbitrary number of Noise Marine units in melee, and give a nasty hammer blow to throw in other games, while the threat of a 6″ heroic followed by Soporific Gaze from the MoE is really, really nasty in any game where the opponent is planning to use melee to get things done (and they remain outstanding on pure rate). Well done to Vik for taking down another event.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Josh Roberts – Emperor’s Children: Lots of Noise Marines, two units of Possessed and Abaddon leading a big Terminator blob.
- 3rd – Christopher Radford – Space Wolf Successors: Lots of Wulfen, nasty Characters and shooting support from some Long Fangs in a pod and Eliminators.
- 4th – Nathan Roberts – Tyranids: Leviathan mortal spam – no Warriors at all, just the max number of Zoanthrope units, three Neurothropes and a Maleceptor (plus Harpies and Biovores for even more mortals).
- 5th – Adam Lynch – Imperial Knights: Strike and Shield Imperialis, sending a tooled up Paladin and Magaera forward with some claw Moiraxes, backed up by dakka from lightning locks and Helverins.
- 6th – Liam Harvey – Chaos Daemons: Monster mash, with a supercharged Bloodthirster, Be’lakor, a Lord of Change and Keeper, then minimal troops and three units of Screamers to control the board a bit.
Leodis Games GT 40k Oct 22
30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Farsley, England, GB on October 15 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Matchup & Mission – Secure Missing Artefacts
David Crowther – Necrons: Double C’tan Eternal Expansionists + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [2CP] Dynasty Choice: Dynasty: Szarekhan + Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander + The Silent King [21 PL, 400pts, 2CP]: Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord Trait (Szarekhan): The Triarch’s Will ++ Outrider Detachment -3CP (Necrons) [56 PL, 1,025pts, 2CP] ++ + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [-3CP] Dynasty Choice: Circumstance of Awakening: Relentlessly Expansionist, Dynastic Tradition: Eternal Conquerors, Dynasty: Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim + HQ + Chronomancer [5 PL, 75pts, -1CP]: Aeonstave, Relic: Veil of Darkness, Stratagem: Relic + Elites + C’tan Shard of the Nightbringer [19 PL, 320pts]: Power of the C’tan: Sky of Falling Stars Skorpekh Destroyers [8 PL, 180pts] + Fast Attack + Canoptek Scarab Swarms [4 PL, 75pts] Canoptek Scarab Swarms [4 PL, 75pts] Canoptek Scarab Swarms [4 PL, 60pts] Ophydian Destroyers [4 PL, 90pts]: Ophydian Destroyer (Reap-Blade) Ophydian Destroyers [4 PL, 90pts]: Ophydian Destroyer (Reap-Blade) Tomb Blades [4 PL, 60pts] ++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Necrons) [34 PL, 575pts, -2CP] ++ + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [-2CP] Dynasty Choice: Circumstance of Awakening: Relentlessly Expansionist, Dynastic Tradition: Eternal Conquerors, Dynasty: + HQ + Technomancer [5 PL, 70pts]: Canoptek Cloak + Troops + Immortals [4 PL, 80pts]: Gauss Blaster, 5x Immortal + Elites + C’tan Shard of the Void Dragon [18 PL, 300pts]: Power of the C’tan: Antimatter Meteor Lychguard [7 PL, 125pts]: 5x Lychguard ++ Total: [111 PL, 4CP, 2,000pts] ++
Army List - Click to Expand
++ Supreme Command Detachment +2CP (Necrons) [21 PL, 400pts, 4CP] ++
. 2x Triarchal Menhir: 2x Annihilator Beam
. 2x Skorpekh Destroyer (Reap-Blade): 2x Hyperphase Reap-Blade
. 4x Skorpekh Destroyer (Thresher): 4x Hyperphase Threshers
. 5x Canoptek Scarab Swarm: 5x Feeder Mandibles
. 5x Canoptek Scarab Swarm: 5x Feeder Mandibles
. 4x Canoptek Scarab Swarm: 4x Feeder Mandibles
. 2x Ophydian Destroyer (Thresher): 2x Hyperphase Threshers, 2x Ophydian Claws
. 2x Ophydian Destroyer (Thresher): 2x Hyperphase Threshers, 2x Ophydian Claws
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Tomb Blade: Particle Beamer
. Hyperphase Sword and Dispersion Shield
vs.
Ben Hampshire – Daemonic Dogwalker: Daemonic Dogwalker with a squad of Plaguebearers and some Flamers in the Daemon detachment. + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [-3CP] + Lord of War + War Dog Executioner Squadron [25 PL, 480pts]: Iconoclast Dreadblade, Precision Cruelty War Dog Karnivore Squadron [18 PL, 310pts]: House Herpetrax War Dog Karnivore Squadron [8 PL, 140pts]: House Herpetrax War Dog Stalker Squadron [16 PL, -1CP, 290pts]: House Herpetrax War Dog Stalker Squadron [8 PL, 145pts]: House Herpetrax ++ Supreme Command Detachment +2CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [15 PL, 2CP, 300pts] ++ + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [2CP] Legion: Black Legion + Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander + Abaddon the Despoiler [15 PL, 300pts] ++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Chaos – Daemons) [17 PL, 4CP, 335pts] ++ + Configuration + Chaos Allegiance: Chaos Undivided Detachment Command Cost [-2CP] Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim + HQ + Changecaster [4 PL, 85pts]: Bolt of Change, Infernal Flames, Staff of change + Troops + Plaguebearers [7 PL, 150pts]: Daemonic icon, Instrument of Chaos + Elites + Flamers [6 PL, 100pts]: Pyrocaster ++ Total: [107 PL, 2CP, 2,000pts] ++
Army List - Click to Expand
++ Super-Heavy Detachment -3CP (Chaos – Chaos Knights) [75 PL, -4CP, 1,365pts] ++
. War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber, Tzeentch – Mirror of Fates
. War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber
. War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber
. War Dog Karnivore: Diabolus heavy stubber, Khorne – Blood Shield
. War Dog Karnivore: Diabolus heavy stubber
. War Dog Karnivore: Diabolus heavy stubber
. War Dog Stalker: Character (Traitoris Lance), Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Helm of Dogs, Reaper chaintalon, Stratagem: Relic
. War Dog Stalker: Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Reaper chaintalon
. War Dog Stalker: Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Reaper chaintalon
. 9x Plaguebearer: 9x Plaguesword
. 3x Flamer: 3x Flickering flames
Thoughts
Ben continues to throw down with Daemonic Dogwalker, last seen about a month ago. The plan hasn’t changed but it’s still a good one – you get the overwhelming ObSec push of Dogwalker and sacrifice a small amount of staying power to unlock several addiitonal secondary options and add one unit of Flamers that can brutally constrain some lists.
It also looks like it stacks up pretty well against this Necron build, though there are some caveats to that. The big challenge that the Necrons have is that, with one exception, the majority of their unit are five models or fewer, forcing multiple to be committed to guarantee stealing an objective from a War Dog. The fact that there aren’t as many as there sometimes are (to pay for two C’tan) compounds that, though the C’tan are at least pretty strong here. They do need to watch out for getting owned by the Changecaster, but having multiple models that can solo a War Dog and that demand a fairly specific answer to immediately deal with is obviously great.
My feeling on how this matchup ends up working is that it’s a pretty even game if the pre-game rolls go the Necrons’ way, but becomes tough for them if not. All of Purge, Machineries and Treasures are things that the Knights can start messing with fairly hard once they’ve had a turn to get into position (especially if they get to pull the no-man’s land’s objective towards themselves), but with a turn’s head start on them capping the Necron scoring could become challenging without taking them out (and the C’tan will get to stage in positions to counter-charge wherever the Knights go too). The Necrons probably also don’t have to take Code over Bring it Down either, which allows the Silent King to be a lot more muscular without worrying about getting spiked early. I figure if you’re the Necrons here you probably take BiD/Purge/Treasures (though could theoretically swap that one depending on Attacker/Defender roll off), and focus on brutally murdering any Knight that comes into your half of the table after trying to spike up Treasures on turn one or two, and stopping the Knights ever flipping the turn on the centre. It seems viable, but if the Knights get a turn to do their positioning and potentially cap you at two on Treasures out the gate, it becomes a real challenge, and they should be able to pretty reliably score highly on Secondaries as well, while feeling like they have a slightly easier time keeping the Primary flowing/not running out of stuff. Not a cakewalk by any means, but Abaddon’s sinister court did take the game in the end.
Result
Chaos Knights Victory – 89 – 77
Ben Hampshire – Chaos Knights – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [-3CP] + Lord of War + War Dog Executioner Squadron [25 PL, 480pts]: Iconoclast Dreadblade, Precision Cruelty War Dog Karnivore Squadron [18 PL, 310pts]: House Herpetrax War Dog Karnivore Squadron [8 PL, 140pts]: House Herpetrax War Dog Stalker Squadron [16 PL, -1CP, 290pts]: House Herpetrax War Dog Stalker Squadron [8 PL, 145pts]: House Herpetrax ++ Supreme Command Detachment +2CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [15 PL, 2CP, 300pts] ++ + Configuration + Detachment Command Cost [2CP] Legion: Black Legion + Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander + Abaddon the Despoiler [15 PL, 300pts] ++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Chaos – Daemons) [17 PL, 4CP, 335pts] ++ + Configuration + Chaos Allegiance: Chaos Undivided Detachment Command Cost [-2CP] Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim + HQ + Changecaster [4 PL, 85pts]: Bolt of Change, Infernal Flames, Staff of change + Troops + Plaguebearers [7 PL, 150pts]: Daemonic icon, Instrument of Chaos + Elites + Flamers [6 PL, 100pts]: Pyrocaster ++ Total: [107 PL, 2CP, 2,000pts] ++
++ Super-Heavy Detachment -3CP (Chaos – Chaos Knights) [75 PL, -4CP, 1,365pts] ++
. War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber, Tzeentch – Mirror of Fates
. War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber
. War Dog Executioner: Diabolus heavy stubber
. War Dog Karnivore: Diabolus heavy stubber, Khorne – Blood Shield
. War Dog Karnivore: Diabolus heavy stubber
. War Dog Karnivore: Diabolus heavy stubber
. War Dog Stalker: Character (Traitoris Lance), Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Helm of Dogs, Reaper chaintalon, Stratagem: Relic
. War Dog Stalker: Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Reaper chaintalon
. War Dog Stalker: Daemonbreath spear, Diabolus heavy stubber, Reaper chaintalon
. 9x Plaguebearer: 9x Plaguesword
. 3x Flamer: 3x Flickering flames
Archetype
Final Round Matchup
89 – 77 Victory against David Crowther – Necrons.
Thoughts
All covered in the showdown – Dogwalker with mildly less resilience in exchange for vastly more Secondary options, which feels like a good trade, and under Ben’s guiding hand continues to thrive at events.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Andy Salkeld – Adepta Sororitas: Bloody Rose goodstuff with big Retributor units and a Castigator to shore up shooting a bit. Edited to add: Andy has done a video tournament report that you can see here.
- 3rd – Stephanie Berry – Harlequins: Light Saedath boats/Troupes/Characters, with one small shooty bike unit to sacrifice for objectives when needed.
- 4th – George Leathley – Adeptus Custodes: Pretty much down-the-line Emepror’s Chosen Goodstuff with three bike units, a couple of Achillus dreads and some Troops/Characters.
- 5th – Alastair Marjoram – Ultramarines: A dreadnought shooty castle around Guilliman and Tigurius, with various Phobos board control units to roll out and grab objectives as needed.
- 6th – David Crowther – Necrons: Double C’tan Eternal Expansionists, backing them with one big Skorpekh unit and lots of small objective grabbers.
Wrap Up
Next week a Mystery Guest will be taking the reins, so look forward to that. Perhaps we may also have a little Balance Dataslate? As a treat?
