Hello and welcome to another thrilling installment of everyone’s favorite column exploring the ins and outs of competitive play in Warhammer 40,000. James “One_Wing” Grover is currently on vacation doing whatever it is English people do on vacation, a topic I prefer not to think too deeply about given what they’ve been getting up to lately when they’re on the clock. That means I’ll be filling in to serve up some piping hot takes about the state of the meta or, failing that, whatever else comes to mind whenever I get sick of writing about Tyranid Warriors.

A quick review of prior literature indicates that I should start with some kind of declaration about how much tournament 40k has been played in the last week. Is this a lot of 40k? I’ll be honest: I don’t know, since I don’t generally read this column. However, Rob “TheChirurgeon” Jones assures me that “holy fuck there’s a lot of events”, so we’ll go with that.

Before we really get into it, though, we did wind up getting a dataslate since last week’s installment. You can read our take on it here, but the Executive Summary is that it went in the right direction but doesn’t appear to have gone nearly far enough. However, the biggest change you’re likely to see in coming weeks is to the Leviathan Warrior Spam lists, with a side of Harlequins all shifting their gamma sliders in unison from Light to Twilight.

We asked our favorite(?) Scottish Tyranids player, Innes Wilson, about the changes to Tyranids and his thoughts on what we can expect to see in the next few weeks:

“Expect to see less lists focussed on the durability of leviathan to eventually push itself into a win, and more lists that leverage a specific aspect of tyranids rather than falling into being good at everything.

Kraken, Behemoth and custom Hive Fleets make out like bandits, only losing some top end damage output on the ubiquitous Tyrant. Leviathan doesn’t disappear, as Hive Nexus and Synaptic Control Monsters provide durability you can’t get elsewhere in the codex, but it becomes much more of a build around, rather than something you accidentally fall into while running the best datasheets available.”

-Innes Wilson

Meanwhile if you need to know more about how Harlequins will fare switching to Twilight, you can just read Jack Harpster’s touranment recap as he took a Twilight list he’d never piloted to an 8-0 victory at the Chicago GW Open Major a few weeks ago.

Now for the important stuff: the Algorithm has spoken, and these are the tournaments up for discussion this week:

Frontline Gaming SoCal Open 2022 40k Champs
Malmö Wargaming Weekend VI
The Southampton Brawl – SCS
BreakingsHeads Cup #3 – Berlin
ARDKORE 40K Open
Come the Apocalypse GT 2022
Montréal Major Open
Dragon Fall 2022 40K Championship GT
RedFoxGT#1
Queen City Orktoberfest

We’ll hit the first five on that list today, then be back to cover the remainder tomorrow.

Having plumbed the depths of my soul in search of what I previously believed was a boundless well of beneficence, I determined that it was, in fact, bounded to a total of two Showdowns this week. Accordingly, we’ll be taking a look at:

Orks vs Chaos Space Marines at the SoCal Open; and
Daemons vs Ultramarines at Queen City Orktoberfest (this one’ll be tomorrow)

One final note before we jump in: I am shockingly unqualified to write this column. Why, then, would they let me, you ask? That’s an excellent question. I like to ask myself that sometimes.

Rob: Because the rest of us didn’t have time. That’s OK, though – I’ll add some only moderately more qualified notes as we go through these, with some thoughts where I think it’s worth giving them.

Frontline Gaming SoCal Open 2022 40K Champs

181-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Frontline Gaming, Del Mar, CA, US on October 22 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Secure Missing Artefacts

Benjamin Jurek – Goffs:
Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment -3CP (Orks) [100 PL, 1,700pts, 1CP] ++

+ Configuration [3CP] +

Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP]

Clan Kultur: Goffs

Detachment Command Cost [-3CP]

Gametype: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

+ HQ [10 PL, 185pts, -2CP] +

Warboss on Warbike [6 PL, 115pts, -2CP]: 4. Brutal but Kunnin, Da Killa Klaw, 2x Dakkagun, Power Klaw, Stratagem: Big Boss [-1CP], Stratagem: Extra Gubbinz [-1CP]

Weirdboy [4 PL, 70pts]: 3. Da Jump, 4. Fists of Gork, Weirdboy Staff

+ Troops [16 PL, 320pts] +

Beast Snagga Boyz [5 PL, 100pts]
. 9x Beast Snagga Boy [90pts]: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga
. Beast Snagga Nob [10pts]: Power Snappa, Slugga

Gretchin [2 PL, 40pts]
. 10x Gretchin [40pts]: 10x Grot Blaster

Gretchin [2 PL, 40pts]: ‘Orrible Gitz
. 10x Gretchin [40pts]: 10x Grot Blaster

Gretchin [2 PL, 40pts]
. 10x Gretchin [40pts]: 10x Grot Blaster

+ Elites [32 PL, 455pts] +

Kommandos [8 PL, 125pts]: Bomb Squig [5pts]
. Boss Nob [16pts]: Power Klaw [5pts], Slugga, Stikkbombs
. 8x Kommando [88pts]: 8x Choppa, 8x Slugga, 8x Stikkbombs
. Kommando w/ Breacha Ram [16pts]: Breacha Ram [5pts], Stikkbombs

Kommandos [4 PL, 55pts]
. Boss Nob [11pts]: Choppa, Slugga, Stikkbombs
. 4x Kommando [44pts]: 4x Choppa, 4x Slugga, 4x Stikkbombs

Meganobz [12 PL, 150pts]
. Boss Meganob [30pts]: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw, Stikkbombs
. Meganob [30pts]: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw, Stikkbombs
. Meganob [30pts]: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw, Stikkbombs
. Meganob [30pts]: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw, Stikkbombs
. Meganob [30pts]: Kustom Shoota, Power Klaw, Stikkbombs

+ Fast Attack [12 PL, 240pts] +

Squighog Boyz [4 PL, 80pts]: Bomb Squig [5pts]
. 3x Squighog Boy [75pts]: 3x Saddlegit Weapons, 3x Squighog Jaws, 3x Stikka

+ Heavy Support [30 PL, 500pts] +

Battlewagon [8 PL, 120pts]: Deff Rolla [15pts]

Kill Rig [11 PL, 190pts]: ‘Eavy Lobba, 2. Frazzle, 6. Squiggly Curse, Butcha Boyz, Savage Horns and Hooves, Saw Blades, Stikka Kannon, Wurrtower

Kill Rig [11 PL, 190pts]: ‘Eavy Lobba, 4. Spirit of Gork, 6. Squiggly Curse, Butcha Boyz, Savage Horns and Hooves, Saw Blades, Stikka Kannon, Wurrtower

++ Supreme Command Detachment +3CP (Orks) [15 PL, 300pts, 2CP] ++

+ Configuration [3CP] +

Clan Kultur: Goffs

Detachment Command Cost [3CP]

+ Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander [15 PL, 300pts, -1CP] +

Ghazghkull Thraka [15 PL, 300pts, -1CP]: Gork’s Klaw, Mork’s Roar, Proper Killy (Goffs), Stikkbombs, Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], Warlord

++ Total: [115 PL, 3CP, 2,000pts] ++

vs.

Alan Dehesa – Black Legion:
Army List - Click to Expand

SoCal LoCal

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [103 PL, 2,000pts, ] ++

+ Configuration [6CP] +

Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP]

Detachment Command Cost

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Legion: Black Legion

+ No Force Org Slot [5 PL, 90pts] +

Cypher [5 PL, 90pts]: Cypher’s bolt pistol, Cypher’s plasma pistol, Frag & Krak grenades

+ HQ [32 PL, 610pts, -4CP] +

Abaddon the Despoiler [15 PL, 300pts, -1CP]: 3. Merciless Overseer, 5. Eternal Vendetta, 6. Paragon of Hatred, Drach’nyen, Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], Talon of Horus, Warlord

Lord Discordant on Helstalker [10 PL, 190pts, -2CP]: 2. Indomitable, Aspiring Lord [-1CP], Baleflamer, Bladed limbs, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Gifts of Chaos [-1CP], Gorget of Eternal Hate, Impaler chainglaive, Mark of Nurgle [1 PL, 15pts], Mechatendrils, Techno-virus injector

Master of Possession [7 PL, 120pts, -1CP]: Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Gifts of Chaos [-1CP], Liber Hereticus, Mark of Nurgle [1 PL, 15pts], Pact of Flesh, Smite, Staff of Possession, Warp Marked

+ Troops [11 PL, 245pts] +

Cultists Mob [2 PL, 50pts]
. 9x Chaos Cultist w/ cultist firearm [45pts]: 9x Cultist firearm, 9x Frag & Krak grenades
. Cultist Champion [5pts]: Frag & Krak grenades
. . Autopistol and brutal assault weapon: Autopistol, Brutal assault weapon

Legionaries [7 PL, 145pts]: Mark of Nurgle [1 PL, 15pts]
. Aspiring Champion [28pts]: Boltgun, Frag & Krak grenades, Power fist [10pts]
. Marine w/ balefire tome [38pts]: Balefire tome [20pts], Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Infernal Gaze
. 2x Marine w/ boltgun [36pts]: 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Boltgun, 2x Frag & Krak grenades
. Marine w/ special weapon [28pts]: Bolt pistol, Meltagun [10pts]

+ Elites [18 PL, 345pts, -2CP] +

Master of Executions [4 PL, 65pts, -1CP]: Axe of dismemberment, Bolt pistol, Chaos Undivided, Frag & Krak grenades, Stratagem: Relic [-1CP], Ul’o’cca, the Black

Possessed [14 PL, 280pts, -1CP]
. 9x Possessed [252pts]: 9x Hideous mutations
. Possessed Champion [28pts, -1CP]: Black Rune of Damnation, Hideous mutations, Trophies of the Long War [-1CP]

+ Fast Attack [9 PL, 180pts] +

Chaos Spawn [2 PL, 50pts]
. 2x Chaos Spawn [2 PL, 50pts]: 2x Hideous mutations

Chaos Spawn [1 PL, 25pts]
. Chaos Spawn [1 PL, 25pts]: Hideous mutations

Venomcrawler [6 PL, 105pts]: 2x Excruciator cannon, Soulflayer tendrils and claws

+ Heavy Support [18 PL, 350pts] +

Havocs [8 PL, 170pts]: Mark of Nurgle [1 PL, 15pts]
. Havoc Champion [10pts]: Astartes chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Plasma gun [10pts]
. 4x Havoc w/ reaper chaincannon [20pts]: 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Reaper chaincannon [20pts]

Obliterators [5 PL, 90pts]
. Obliterator [5 PL, 90pts]: Crushing fists, Fleshmetal guns

+ Dedicated Transport [10 PL, 180pts] +

Chaos Terrax-Pattern Termite [10 PL, 180pts]: Termite drill, Terrax melta cutter
. 2 Terrax heavy flamers: 2x Terrax heavy flamer

++ Total: [103 PL, 2,000pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)

Thoughts

For this one we’re lucky to have Warboss Ben in the house to talk about the matchup himself, so we just went right to the source and had him tell us about the game:

“Warboss” Ben Jurek: It was the finals of Socal Open and the pressure was on. I was praying to Gork and Mork knowing I had a high chance of going into the Tyranids. Then the pairings went up and I ended up pairing into the Black Legion, piloted by Alan. He’s a stylish, kind fellow and we instantly hit it off with a similar positive energy, becoming best friends. We started off by explaining all the weird stuff that was unique to our factions and the obvious “gotchas” that exist in our codexes.

I went into the tournament knowing there would be a high number of Chaos Daemons and marine armies to battle through and adjusted my list with that inevitability in mind. I tweaked my list to have fewer kommandos than what I had been running and dropped 2 characters and 3 meganobs for Ghazghkul and a Warboss on Warbike. These are the game changers in this matchup. Spoiler: They won me this match. The final round was my 4th chaos faction matchup of the weekend.

Alan’s list had some of the common CSM takes (Abaddon, Lord Discordant, Master of Possession, Venomcrawler, Possessed), and some more off-the-wall picks like the Obliterators and the Terrax drill. I wasn’t too concerned about the Possessed brick; they don’t do that well going into Kill Rigs with ramshackle and I had many tools to answer them. They are a major part of his game plan however, and so I’d need to drop them quickly. Abaddon was a much more difficult problem for my list: He can be healed with the Master of Possession and if I didn’t handle him correctly he’d walk through my entire army. Then there was the insanely tanky Lord Discordant who, while not as worrisome as Abaddon, could cause me some huge problems.

Alan won the deployment roll off and dropped crates in the middle of the table (Rob: As an FLG event, the SoCal Open used player-placed terrain). I frowned, knowing this would open up some wide shooting lanes for him and his solid black legion shooting. I set up some drop stations for my kommandos and a nice little base for my priority target. The obvious objective marker moves were made and we began deployment.

Ben’s Secondaries

Assassination
Get Da Good Bitz
Stomp ‘Em Good

Alan’s Secondaries

Assassination
No Prisoners
Behind Enemy Lines

Some might question my Stomp ‘Em Good pick here; this was due to small spawn units and other such easy pickups. I don’t really kill anything in shooting so this was an attainable secondary.

Alan focused the majority of his forces to the top right of the triangle deployment, inside one large obscuring terrain piece. Seeing this I set up my bike boss cruise missile to take down those defenses. I also positioned my large Kommando groups on either flank of that triangle for some easy turn 1 charges, or if he went first some easy counter-charges after my Kommandos died.

I got exactly what I wanted, winning the roll-off to go first. I jet down the board, setting up my first and second waves of a planned assault. I know my boss on warbike with Fists of Gork could shred the Possessed but I wanted a backup option in case of some failures. I set up 3 turn 1 charges and I dropped his lord discordant down to 3 wounds with bomb squigs. During the Psychic and Shooting phases I dropped a couple of possessed, then I made all three of my charges. The Warboss handily finished off the squad of possessed and the Kommandos set up some heavy move blocks on Alan’s forces.

On Alan’s turn he clawed back, killing the boss and kommandos. Then assaulted some forces on the other end of the table with 2 spawn after showing me what Cypher does to score Behind Enemy Lines. I fight on death in order to drop Abbadon 3 wounds. It was a productive turn but not enough. On my turn Wave 2 cracks in. I cleared out the spawn and Cypher on the other side of the board. I forced Ghaz into Abbadon for another safe 3 wounds. The Lord discordant at 5 wounds lived through the Ghaz-buffed Meganob assault somehow and proceeded to fight them off.

On Alan’s next turn I denied his Master of Possession’s attempt to heal Abaddon (rolling a 10 – clutch), though he used the Alpha Legion trait for Abaddon to fall back and kill a battlewagon. Alan’s reserves come in and they fail to kill any units or steal any objectives. At this point I have too much left and the final wave crashes over the rest of his army. The game is essentially over, granting me a huge win and my first super major victory.

Talking with Alan post game, he just wasn’t expecting how hard and fast Orks hit. This would be the theme of a wondrous Orktober victory.

Result

Goffs Victory – 100 – 64

Benjamin Jurek – Goffs – 1st Place

The List

See the Showdown.

Thoughts

Love to see Orks. This list has plenty of fast-moving and forward-deploying units to contest the middle of the board early, and plenty of Gretchins to hold objectives and try and Get Da Good Bitz. Ben wasn’t expected to win the entire event coming into the final round and so wasn’t featured on the stream table but because he scored 100 VP in the final round ended up finishing first with the battle points tiebreaker.

Matthew Green – Tyranids – 2nd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [96 PL, 1CP, 2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Hive Fleet: (Hunt) Augmented Ferocity, Leviathan

+ Stratagems +

Hive Predator [-2CP]: 2x Extra Warlord Trait

Rarefied Enhancements [-1CP]: Extra Bio-artefact

Relic [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Neurothrope [5 PL, 100pts]: Power: Catalyst, Power: Onslaught, Warlord Trait: Synaptic Tendrils
. Relic: Resonance Barb: Power: Paroxysm

Neurothrope [5 PL, 100pts]: Power: Catalyst, Power: Onslaught, Warlord Trait: Alien Cunning

Winged Hive Tyrant [11 PL, -1CP, 210pts]: Lash Whip and Monstrous Bonesword, Power: Paroxysm, Power: Psychic Scream, Relic: The Reaper of Obilterax, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Direct Guidance

+ Troops +

Gargoyles [4 PL, 80pts]
. 10x Gargoyle: 10x Fleshborer

Tyranid Warriors [12 PL, 305pts]: Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon
. Tyranid Warrior: Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon
. Tyranid Warrior: Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon

+ Elites +

Tyrant Guard [8 PL, 120pts]
. 3x Tyrant Guard (Lash/Sword): 3x Lash Whip and Bonecleaver, 3x Two Rending Claws

Venomthropes [5 PL, 105pts]
. 3x Venomthrope: 3x Toxic Lashes

Zoanthropes [7 PL, 150pts]: Power: Neuroparasite, 3x Zoanthrope

+ Flyer +

Harpy [10 PL, 190pts]: 2x Stranglethorn Cannon, Adaptive Physiology: Voracious Ammunition

Harpy [10 PL, 185pts]: 2x Stranglethorn Cannon, Adaptive Physiology: Synaptic Enhancement

++ Total: [96 PL, 1CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Leviathan Warrior Spam.

Thoughts

Two big piles of Tyranid Warriors backed up by a couple blobs of Zoanthropes and Venomthropes. Toss in two Neurothropes, a Flyrant, and some supporting units to taste, and you’ve got yourself a Leviathan list. We’re going to see a lot of this archetype this week (and possibly over the next week or so as the final events that would permit pre-dataslate lists come up).

This particular variation opts for a pair of Harpies, which I hate, mostly because of the awkward way they hold their stupid guns. I’m sure they’re fine on the table, but I can’t help but be reminded of Danny DeVito in It’s Always Sunny.

Rob: The harpies are likely to stick around in post-dataslate Tyranids, but the massive warrior blobs less so. I also hate that we still have to worry about dual harpies lists.

Scott LaFountain – Hive Fleet Leviathan – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [96 PL, 2CP, 2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Hive Fleet: Adaptive, Leviathan

+ Stratagems +

Hive Predator [-1CP]: Extra Warlord Trait

Rarefied Enhancements [-1CP]: Extra Bio-artefact

Relic [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Neurothrope [5 PL, 100pts]: Power: Catalyst, Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Onslaught, Power: Smite, Relic: Preceptic Node

Neurothrope [5 PL, 100pts]: Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Onslaught, Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite

Winged Hive Tyrant [11 PL, -1CP, 230pts]: Adrenal Glands, Lash Whip and Monstrous Bonesword, Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Neuroparasite, Power: Paroxysm, Power: Smite, Prehensile Pincer Tail, Relic: The Reaper of Obilterax, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Toxin Sacs, Tyrant Talons, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Direct Guidance

+ Troops +

Gargoyles [4 PL, 80pts]
. 10x Gargoyle: 10x Fleshborer

+ Elites +

Tyrant Guard [8 PL, 120pts]
. 3x Tyrant Guard (Scything): 3x Two Rending Claws, 3x Two Scything Talons

Venomthropes [5 PL, 105pts]
. 3x Venomthrope: 3x Toxic Lashes

Zoanthropes [7 PL, 150pts]: Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite, 3x Zoanthrope

+ Fast Attack +

Parasite of Mortrex [4 PL, 80pts]: Barbed Ovipositor, Clawed Limbs, Warlord Trait: Alien Cunning

+ Heavy Support +

Biovores [9 PL, 135pts]: Show Spore Mine Rules
. 3x Biovore: 3x Chitin-barbed Fists, 3x Spore Mine Launcher

Carnifexes [7 PL, 145pts]
. Carnifex: Enhanced Senses, Heavy Venom Cannon, Two Carnifex Crushing Claws

++ Total: [96 PL, 2CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Leviathan Warrior Spam

Thoughts

More Tyranids! While the core is the same, this variation of the list trades out one pile of Zoanthropes and the Harpies for some Biovores, Carnifexes, and a The Parasite of Mortrex. This is another list likely to see some changes, again possibly dropping some warriors.

Marshall Peterson – Necrons – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Vanguard Detachment -3CP (Necrons) [86 PL, 1,600pts, -5CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost [-3CP]

Dynasty Choice: Circumstance of Awakening: Relentlessly Expansionist, Dynastic Tradition: Eternal Conquerors, Dynasty:

+ No Force Org Slot +

Bound Creation [2 PL, 40pts]
. Cryptothralls
. . 2x Cryptothrall: 2x Scouring Eye, 2x Scythed Limbs

Viral Construct [1 PL, 15pts]: Canoptek Plasmacyte

+ HQ +

Catacomb Command Barge [9 PL, 180pts, -2CP]: Gauss Cannon, Rarefied Nobility, Relic: Voltaic Staff, Resurrection Orb, Staff of Light, Stratagem: Relic, Warlord Trait (Codex 5): Implacable Conqueror (Aura)

Illuminor Szeras [8 PL, 145pts]

+ Elites +

Cryptothralls [2 PL, 40pts]
. 2x Cryptothrall: 2x Scouring Eye, 2x Scythed Limbs

Lychguard [14 PL, 225pts]: 9x Lychguard
. Hyperphase Sword and Dispersion Shield

Skorpekh Destroyers [8 PL, 180pts]
. 2x Skorpekh Destroyer (Reap-Blade): 2x Hyperphase Reap-Blade
. 4x Skorpekh Destroyer (Thresher): 4x Hyperphase Threshers

Skorpekh Destroyers [4 PL, 90pts]: Skorpekh Destroyer (Reap-Blade)
. 2x Skorpekh Destroyer (Thresher): 2x Hyperphase Threshers

+ Fast Attack +

Canoptek Scarab Swarms [4 PL, 60pts]
. 4x Canoptek Scarab Swarm: 4x Feeder Mandibles

Ophydian Destroyers [8 PL, 180pts]
. 2x Ophydian Destroyer (Reap-Blade): 2x Ophydian Claws, 2x Two Hyperphase Reap-Blades
. 4x Ophydian Destroyer (Thresher): 4x Hyperphase Threshers, 4x Ophydian Claws

+ Heavy Support +

Lokhust Heavy Destroyers [3 PL, 50pts]
. Lokhust Heavy Destroyer (Gauss Destructor)

++ Supreme Command Detachment 0CP (Necrons) [21 PL, 400pts, 8CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Dynasty Choice: Dynasty: Szarekhan

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

+ Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander +

The Silent King [21 PL, 400pts, 2CP]: Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord Trait (Szarekhan): The Triarch’s Will
. 2x Triarchal Menhir: 2x Annihilator Beam

++ Total: [107 PL, 3CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Eternal Expansionists

Thoughts

And now, for a high-performing list that probably will be around for the foreseeable future: Necrons. Sure, Szeras can’t pick up the Silent King’s Menhirs anymore, but those units probably see play even after the dataslate changes. And while the Command Barge might go now that it can’t perform some key actions anymore (so somebody else is going to have to do Ancient Machineries), that probably doesn’t change the overall game plan here, which is to score early and often and just force an opponent to try and stop it.

Where this list differs from the C’Tan-heavy Necron lists is that it’s much more melee-focused, trading out almost all of the scarabs for Skorpekh and Ophidian Destroyers that can do more than be killed when the army hits the middle of the table. The two units of Lychguard are also an uncommon addition, and give the army a great unit for bullying other heavy units off objectives.

The Best of the Rest

There were 14 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

5th – Junior Aflleje – Blood Angels: Death Company and Sanguinary Guard backed up by a Whirlwind to turn off Overwatch on a key unit, plus a Smash Captain on Bike and a Sanguinary Priest to keep things rolling.
6th – Matthew Geyer – Chaos Daemons: Skarbrand, Be’lakor, and a Bloodthirster backed up by Fluxmaster, Bloodletters and Flamers, plus a few Horrors thrown in for fun. Straightforward, but solid.
7th – Jason Kavetsky – Imperial Knights: Freeblades, including an Errant handing out its Bondsman ability like candy, Bastard Hunter Helverins, and a Last of Their Line dual-lightning lock Moirax.
8th – Kyle Parry – Harlequins: A solid outing for Dark Saedath Harlequins, backing up a bunch of mobile shooting boats with a larger Troupe to get stuck in and fight on death, plus a Shadowseer with an extra deny and a “No ObSec Allowed” aura.
9 – Mike McTyre – Blood Angels: No Whirlwind here, but Dante’s shown up with a couple squads of Grav Devastators.
10 – Jason Flanzer – Necrons: Eternal Expansionists, though this list is lighter on Skorpekhs in favor of some Tomb Blades, Wraiths, and a few more Heavy Destroyers.
11 – Sean Nayden – Goffs: Ghazghkull shows up with some Meganobz and a Deff Dread, plus a Proper Killy Beastboss on Squigosaur.
12 – Timothy Bouta – Hive Fleet Leviathan: Another strong showing from the Leviathan Warrior archetype.
13 – Chris Wallace – Tyranids: Even more Leviathan Warriors, going lighter on the various flavors of thrope to sneak in a few more Gargoyles as well.
14 – Jay Eggett – Emperor’s Children: Sonic Blaster-equipped Noise Marines, a big pile of Chosen, and–is that a Predator Annihilator I see?! Absolute king shit.
15 – Stephen Unger – Chaos Daemons: A solid Khorne/Tzeentch list, this time sporting Be’lakor, Skarbrand, Kairos, and more Bloodletters than you can shake an arbitrary number of sticks at.
16 – Andrew Whitehead – Harlequins: Light Saedath gunboats with a few extra characters thrown in for good measure.
17 – Alex Kostiuk – T’au Empire: Farsight Enclaves with two Coldstars, two Crisis bombs, and a nice side of Kroot.
18 – Alan Dehasa – Black Legion: Black Legion Good Stuff with a surprise delivered by way of Terrax-Pattern Termite was enough to carry Alan to the top table.

Malmö Wargaming Weekend VI

81-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Skåne län, SE on October 22 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Andreas Holm – Hive Fleet Leviathan – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [97 PL, 2,000pts, 3CP] ++

+ Configuration +

[Reference] Detachment Abilities

[Reference] Discipline: Hive Mind

Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment Command Cost

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Hive Fleet: Adaptive, Leviathan, Splinter Fleet

+ Stratagems +

Hive Predator [-1CP]: Extra Warlord Trait

Rarefied Enhancements [-1CP]: Extra Bio-artefact

Relic [-1CP]

+ No Force Org Slot +

Broodlord [6 PL, 120pts]: Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite

Tyrant Guard [8 PL, 120pts]
. 3x Tyrant Guard (Scything): 3x Two Rending Claws, 3x Two Scything Talons

Zoanthropes [7 PL, 150pts]: Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Neuroparasite, Power: Smite, 3x Zoanthrope

+ HQ +

Neurothrope [5 PL, 100pts]: Power: Catalyst, Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Onslaught, Power: Smite, Warlord Trait: Direct Guidance
. Relic: Resonance Barb: Power: Neuroparasite

Winged Hive Tyrant [11 PL, 225pts]: Adrenal Glands, Lash Whip and Monstrous Bonesword, Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Paroxysm, Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite, Relic: The Reaper of Obilterax, Warlord

+ Troops +

Tyranid Warriors [12 PL, 300pts]: Adrenal Glands
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon
. Tyranid Warrior: Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon
. Tyranid Warrior: Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon

+ Elites +

Genestealers [5 PL, 80pts]
. 5x Genestealer: 5x Genestealer Claws and Talons

Venomthropes [5 PL, 105pts]
. 3x Venomthrope: 3x Toxic Lashes

+ Heavy Support +

Biovores [6 PL, 90pts]
. 2x Biovore: 2x Chitin-barbed Fists, 2x Spore Mine Launcher

+ Flyer +

Harpy [10 PL, 215pts]: 2x Heavy Venom Cannon, Adaptive Physiology: Synaptic Enhancement

Harpy [10 PL, 190pts]: 2x Stranglethorn Cannon, Adaptive Physiology: Voracious Ammunition

++ Total: [97 PL, 3CP, 2,000pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)

Archetype

Leviathan Warrior Spam

Final Round Matchup

14-6 victory against Sebastian Larsson – Emperor’s Children.

Thoughts

This is another double-harpy Leviathan list, though the twist here is the Broodlord and unit of Genestealers – something you don’t see often in top Tyranids lists. The Broodlord is a nasty combatant on its own and both it and the Genestealers can forward deploy using the Vanguard Predator rule, giving this Nids list a bit of an extra forward threat and the ability to start on objectives in missions like Recover the Relics. It’s also helpful for blocking out Nurglings and helping keep Necrons off 100 points if you’re going second.

Pedro Chavez – Harlequins – 2nd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Overall info:
Starting CP : 2
2CP patrol detatchment
1 CP Warlordtrait
1CP Relic

Blaze of Light:

Access to 1CP strat to do a normal move of 6” when a unit is targeted by a charge.
Can advance and shoot as remained stationary.
If targeted outside of 18” by a range attack, an unmodified hit-roll of 1-3 always fails.

No prisoners: 6pts
Abhor the Witch: 6pts
Bring it down: 9pts
Assassinate: 10pts

—————————–

Detatchment 1, Battallion Detatchment 0CP
HQ Slot:

Shadowseer:
Psychic Powers: Mirror of Minds (Witchfire) Cast 7 Shards of Light (Witchfire) cast: 6
Shuriken Pistol

Troupe Master :
Warlord trait: A Foot in the Future,
Relic: Cegorach’s Rose ( Upgrade from Harlequins Kiss) special ability: full re-roll to wound
Fusion Pistol

Troop slot:

Troupe Yellow squad
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace

Troupe – Green Squad
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace

Troupe – Orange squad
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace

Troupe – Purple/white squad
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace

Troupe Orange/Black squad
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace

Troupe – Red/Black squad
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace

Dedicated Transport slot:

Starweaver – Yellow squad
Starweaver – Green squad
Starweaver – Orange Squad
Starweaver – Purple/white squad
Starweaver – Orange/Black squad
Starweaver – Red/Black squad

——–

Detstchment 2, Patrol detatchment -2CP

HQ slot

Shadowseer: silver cap
Spells: Twilight Pathways (Blessing) cast:6
Mirror of Minds (Witchfire) Cast: 7
Shuriken Pistol

Troop slots

Troupe – Purple squad
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace

Troupe – White squad
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace

Troupe – Red squad
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace

Dedicated Transport
Starweaver – Red squad
Starweaver – White squad
Starweaver – Purple Squad

Total: 2CP, 2,000pts

Archetype

Light Saedath Starweaver Spam.

Thoughts

This weekend was the last big hurrah for Light Saedath Harlequins, though we’ll likely see them continue to style on most armies both with Light and shifting more to Twilight. Not being able to count as stationary inside a Starweaver reduces their strike distance a significant amount but probably just makes fewer games early blowouts and more midgame blowouts, while Twilight armies can play a stronger midtable objective holding game.

Christoph Fiedler – Hive Fleet Leviathan – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Tyranids) [37 PL, 1CP, 805pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Hive Fleet: Adaptive, Leviathan

+ Stratagems +

Hive Predator [-2CP]: 2x Extra Warlord Trait

Rarefied Enhancements [-1CP]: Extra Bio-artefact

+ HQ +

Neurothrope [5 PL, 100pts]: Power: Catalyst, Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Onslaught, Power: Smite, Warlord Trait: Synaptic Tendrils

Winged Hive Tyrant [11 PL, 215pts]: Lash Whip and Monstrous Bonesword, Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Neuroparasite, Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite, Relic: The Reaper of Obilterax, Toxin Sacs

+ Troops +

Tyranid Warriors [12 PL, 305pts]: Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon
. Tyranid Warrior: Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon

+ Elites +

Venomthropes [5 PL, 105pts]
. 3x Venomthrope: 3x Toxic Lashes

+ Fast Attack +

Parasite of Mortrex [4 PL, 80pts]: Warlord Trait: Alien Cunning

++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [64 PL, -1CP, 1,195pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Hive Fleet: Adaptive, Leviathan

+ Stratagems +

Rarefied Enhancements [-1CP]: Extra Bio-artefact

+ No Force Org Slot +

Tyrant Guard [8 PL, 120pts]
. 3x Tyrant Guard (Lash/Sword): 3x Lash Whip and Bonecleaver, 3x Two Rending Claws

+ HQ +

Hive Tyrant [9 PL, 195pts]: Heavy Venom Cannon, Lash Whip and Monstrous Bonesword, Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Neuroparasite, Power: Paroxysm, Power: Smite, Relic: Shardgullet, Warlord

Neurothrope [5 PL, 100pts]: Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Onslaught, Power: Paroxysm, Power: Smite

+ Troops +

Gargoyles [8 PL, 120pts]
. 15x Gargoyle: 15x Fleshborer

+ Elites +

Zoanthropes [7 PL, 150pts]: Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Neuroparasite, Power: Smite, 3x Zoanthrope

Zoanthropes [7 PL, 150pts]: Power: Hive Nexus, Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite, 3x Zoanthrope

+ Heavy Support +

Biovores [9 PL, 135pts]
. 3x Biovore: 3x Chitin-barbed Fists, 3x Spore Mine Launcher

Exocrine [11 PL, 225pts]: Adaptive Physiology: Dermic Symbiosis

++ Total: [101 PL, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Leviathan Warrior Spam

Thoughts

Not quite Warrior spam this time, but certainly a respectable potted meat competitor. This list adds in a walking Hive Tyrant, an Exocrine, and a few extra Gargoyles in lieu of throwing in even more Warriors. The Exocrines give the list a heavy ranged punch that’s exceptionally good at taking out large units of terminators and other units commonly used for bullying midtable objectives.

Speaking of Spam, you may know that the stuff is incredibly popular in Hawaii, with Spam musubi (fried spam served over a rice block and wrapped with rice paper) being incredibly popular and Hormel even offering varieties of Spam in Hawaii that you can’t buy anywhere else in the States. What you may not know is that this popularity makes it a popular target of semi-organized retail theft rings, with some retailers going so far as to keep the stuff under lock and key to prevent would-be Spam heists.

One wonders if the restaurant in Monty Python’s “Spam” sketch might have done better business had it been located on Oahu. As it stands, its most lasting impact is probably the introduction of the term “spam” as we use it here, since that term’s origin is popularly attributed to early-internet nerds rapidly posting lines from the sketch in an effort to quickly scroll text on BBS or chat services either to render them unreadable, frighten off newcomers who they didn’t want to join in their conversations, or simply be a pain in the ass.

Stick around. There’s more where that came from.

Johan Norrman – Imperial Knights – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Inte alls skamlöst kopierad lista 1 timme innan inskick – Imperial Knights – Noble House Taranis
Army Points: 2000
Number of Units / Killpoints: 8
Pre Game Stratagems: Knight Baron[-1CP]: Heirloom of the household: Endless Fury [-1 CP], Relic [-1 CP], Warlord trait [-1 CP]
Starting Command Points: 2
Warlord & Trait: Knight Crusader – Revered Knight,
Army Trait: Questor Mechanicus; Sacristan Pledge, Unyielding Knight, Knight Lance, Oaths: Defend the Realm, Refuse no challange

Secondary Objectives Information
No Prisoners: 0
Bring it Down: 20
Assassination: 7
Abhor the Witch: 0
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

House Taranis Super Heavy Detachment -4 cp, 2000p 104 PL, Household traditions: Household Taranis: Omnissiah’s Grace

LOW: Knight Crusader [560p, 28 PL] Thermal cannon, Avenger Gatling Cannon w Heavy flamer, Meltagun, Stormspear Rocket Pod, Exalted Court: Master Tactician: Machine focus
– – – Knight Baron: Knight of Mars (-1CP)
– – – Relic: Judgement (-1 CP)

LOW: Knight Crusader [540 pts, 28 PL] (WARLORD) Thermal cannon, Avenger Gatling Cannon w Heavy flamer, Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber, Ironstorm Missile Pod, Exalted Court: Princeps
– – – Heirloom of the household: Endless Fury(-1 CP)
– – – Warlord trait: Revered Knight (-1 CP),

LOW: 3x Armiger Warglaives [435pts, 24 PL] Questor cognis heavy stubber, Thermal spear, Reaper chain-cleaver
LOW: 2x Armiger Helverins [310pts, 16 PL] Questor cognis heavy stubber, 2 x Armiger Autocannon
LOW: 1x Armiger Helverins [155pts, 8 PL] Questor cognis heavy stubber, 2 x Armiger Autocannon

2000pts, 2CP

Archetype

House Taranis Calculated Targeting

Thoughts

A somewhat shootier version of the House Taranis lists we’ve seen kicking around, this one brings two Knights Crusader to hand out +1 BS to two of the Helverins. It also adds a few extra dice to the Knight of Mars‘s shooting phase thanks to the inclusion of the Avenger Gatling Cannon rather than a melee weapon, letting it push out a few more mortal wounds with Calculated Targeting.

Emperor’s Children Noise Marines. Credit: Robert “TheChirurgeon” Jones

Sebastian Larsson – Emperor’s Children – 5th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment -3CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [85 PL, , 1,700pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost [-3CP]

Gametype: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Legion: Emperor’s Children

+ HQ +

Daemon Prince with Wings [11 PL, -1CP, 180pts]: Gifts of Chaos, Hellforged sword, Mantle of Traitors, Mark of Slaanesh, Warptime, Wings

Dark Apostle [6 PL, 110pts]: Illusory Supplication, Mark of Slaanesh
. 2x Dark Disciple: 2x Close combat weapon

Master of Possession [7 PL, -1CP, 120pts]: Liber Hereticus, Mark of Slaanesh, Mutated Invigoration, Pact of Flesh, Stratagem: Relic

+ Troops +

Cultist Mob [2 PL, 50pts]
. 9x Chaos Cultist w/ cultist firearm: 9x Cultist firearm, 9x Frag & Krak grenades
. Cultist Champion: Cultist firearm

Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts]: Icon of Slaanesh
. Marine w/ blastmaster: Blastmaster
. 3x Marine w/ chainsword: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Noise Champion: Astartes chainsword, Power fist

+ Elites +

Chaos Terminator Squad [19 PL, -1CP, 400pts]: Mark of Slaanesh
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-melta, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Chainfist, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-melta, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Terminator Champion: Black Rune of Damnation, Chainfist, Combi-melta, Trophies of the Long War

Possessed [7 PL, 140pts]: Possessed Champion
. 4x Possessed: 4x Hideous mutations

+ Fast Attack +

Venomcrawler [6 PL, 105pts]

++ 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: [100 PL, 2CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Emperor’s Children with Abaddon

Thoughts

Fun fact: Emperor’s Children almost got me banned from playing 40k back in high school. I came home from school one afternoon to find my mom sitting in the living room in tears, begging me to take a blister pack she’d bought me containing a Bretonnian Paladin on Pegasus. Turns out she’d gone to the local Games Workshop thinking she’d do something nice for me by buying me a kit to build, and wound up getting an in-depth lore explanation on the nature and history of Slaanesh.

Still not sure what that particular digression had to do with where she could find a box of Chaos Marines for my Black Legion, but I guess when you’re a GW staffer you’ve gotta take the entertainment where you can find it. I’ve still got the paladin, though.

Rob: The Emperor’s Children are on the rise, thanks to having one of the game’s best suites of Stratagems. They can do everything Creations of Bile can do, only with better troops options and a stronger shooting base. Where they struggle a bit more is on the secondary front, and they seldom end up taking Adorn the Canvas Eclectic in games. Similar to other CSM lists, the Terminators give the army a durable unit for holding midtable objectives while the Possessed act as fast forward melee units with ranged support from the army’s three units of Noise Marines.

The Best of the Rest

There were 6 more players on 3-1 records. They were:

6th – Karl Abrahamsson – Genestealer Cults: I have never understood what GSC are up to, and I steadfastly refuse to learn, except that I think Goliath Trucks are very cool, and there’s one in this list. Good job to Karl for an outstanding result with an underperforming book.
7th – Wilhelm Ericsson – Necrons: Eternal Expansionists with a pair of Annihilation Barges, two Doom Scythes to match, and a Nightbringer shard doing Nightbringer Things.
8th – Olof Svensson – Tyranids: This one actually isn’t Hive Fleet Leviathan, instead opting for Jormungandr and splashing a few packs of Hormagaunts, a 26-model pile of Termagants, and a Tervigon to keep the party going.
9th – Christian Olofsson – Emperor’s Children: Emperor’s Children Good Stuff with Abaddon along for the ride. Can’t go wrong with the classics, even if they are very modern classics.
10th – Christian Kolding – Genestealer Cult: This list brings 3 Goliath Rockgrinders, which are even cooler than Goliath Trucks, because they have big rock grinder things on the front. Stay tuned to this space for more Deep Thoughts with John Condit.
11th – Tomas Christensson – Red Corsairs: Heavy chainaxes in Legionary squads, Bikers with relics and chainswords, and a G’holl’ax-toting Master of Executions make for a nasty set of options in a legion that can advance and charge.

The Southampton Brawl – SCS

68-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in West End, England, GB on October 21 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Ben Jones – Ynnari – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Craftworlds) [103 PL, 3CP, 2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Craftworld Selection: Ynnari: Strength From Death

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

+ Stratagems +

Stratagem: Relics of the Shrines [-1CP]

+ No Force Org Slot +

Seer Council (Unit) [3 PL, 60pts]
. Warlock Skyrunners: 4. Protect/Jinx
. . Warlock Skyrunner: Witchblade

+ HQ +

Autarch [5 PL, -2CP, 105pts]: 1: Ambush of Blades, Dragon Fusion Gun, Howling Banshee Mask, Star Glaive, Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord
. Faolchu’s Wing

Farseer [5 PL, 95pts]: 1. Fateful Divergence, 4. Unbind Souls (Malediction), Witchblade

The Yncarne [13 PL, 260pts]

+ Troops +

Rangers [4 PL, 65pts]
. 5x Ranger: 5x Ranger Long Rifle, 5x Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [9 PL, 175pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Caress, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Caress, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol

+ Elites +

Howling Banshees [5 PL, 110pts]
. 4x Howling Banshee: 4x Banshee Blade, 4x Shuriken Pistol
. Howling Banshee Exarch: Mirrorswords, Piercing Strikes

Howling Banshees [4 PL, 95pts]
. 4x Howling Banshee: 4x Banshee Blade, 4x Shuriken Pistol
. Howling Banshee Exarch: Cronescream (Shrine Relic), Mirrorswords

Striking Scorpions [5 PL, 110pts]
. 4x Striking Scorpion: 4x Mandiblasters, 4x Scorpion Chainsword, 4x Shuriken Pistol
. Striking Scorpion Exarch: Biting Blade, Crushing Blows

Warlocks [3 PL, 40pts]: 5. Quicken/Restrain
. Warlock: Witchblade
. Warlock: Witchblade

+ Fast Attack +

Skyweavers [8 PL, 135pts]
. Skyweaver: Shuriken Cannon, Star Bolas
. Skyweaver: Shuriken Cannon, Star Bolas
. Skyweaver: Shuriken Cannon, Star Bolas

Swooping Hawks [8 PL, 120pts]
. 5x Swooping Hawk: 5x Lasblaster
. Swooping Hawk Exarch: Lasblaster, The Phoenix Plume (Shrine Relic)

+ Heavy Support +

Support Weapons [9 PL, 195pts]: 3x Support Weapon w/ D-Cannon

++ Total: [103 PL, 3CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Ynnari with Harlequins

Final Round Matchup

92 – 89 Victory against Stephen Box – Emperor’s Children.

Thoughts

One of the less-endearing running jokes on Goonhammer’s Discord is our ongoing search for the most obnoxious way to improperly pluralize compound nouns. And while “Ds-Cannon” is a pretty strong contender, unfortunately I don’t think it can quite compete with the beautiful abomination that is “Crises Suit.”

Rob: Ynnari have been on the rise in competitive play recently, offering a few interesting tools that allow them to ping-pong around the table with the Yncarne and get +1 to hit and wound with units that already had silly output – specifically, the Harlequin Troupes and Banshee units, which are ready to punish the shit out of any Emperor’s Children units that dare to kill one or two of them in shooting or Overwatch. Going against Emperor’s Children are a particular treat in this case as they let any unit re-roll all hit and wound rolls for 1 CP with The Great Enemy Stratagem.

Emperor's Children Sonic Dreadnought — Emperor’s Children Sonic Dreadnought Credit: That Gobbo

Stephen Box – Emperor’s Children – 2nd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [98 PL, 2,000pts, 2CP] ++

+ Configuration [6CP] +

Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP]

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Legion: Emperor’s Children

+ HQ [22 PL, 410pts, -2CP] +

Daemon Prince with Wings [11 PL, 180pts, -2CP]: 5. Glutton for Punishment, Hellforged sword [10pts], Intoxicating Elixir, Malefic talons, Mark of Slaanesh [1 PL, 15pts], Stratagem: Relic [-1CP], Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], Warlord, Warptime, Wings [2 PL, 35pts]

Dark Apostle [6 PL, 110pts]: Accursed crozius, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Illusory Supplication, Mark of Slaanesh [1 PL, 15pts]
. 2x Dark Disciple: 2x Close combat weapon

Lucius the Eternal [5 PL, 120pts]: Doom siren, Duellist’s sword, Frag & Krak grenades

+ Troops [37 PL, 825pts] +

Legionaries [7 PL, 150pts]: Chaos Icon [5pts], Mark of Slaanesh [1 PL, 15pts]
. Aspiring Champion [28pts]: Boltgun, Frag & Krak grenades, Power fist [10pts]
. 2x Marine w/ astartes chainsword [36pts]: 2x Astartes chainsword, 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Frag & Krak grenades
. Marine w/ balefire tome [38pts]: Balefire tome [20pts], Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Prescience
. Marine w/ heavy chainaxe [28pts]: Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Heavy chainaxe [10pts]

Noise Marines [6 PL, 135pts]: Icon of Slaanesh [5pts]
. Marine w/ blastmaster [36pts]: Blastmaster [15pts], Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades
. 3x Marine w/ chainsword [63pts]: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Noise Champion [31pts]: Frag & Krak grenades, Power fist [10pts]

+ Elites [24 PL, 465pts, -2CP] +

Chaos Terminator Squad [19 PL, 385pts, -1CP]: Mark of Slaanesh [1 PL, 15pts]
. Chaos Terminator [43pts]: Combi-melta [5pts], Power fist [5pts]
. Chaos Terminator [33pts]: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator [33pts]: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator [33pts]: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator [33pts]: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator [33pts]: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator [38pts]: Combi-bolter, Power fist [5pts]
. Chaos Terminator [38pts]: Combi-bolter, Power fist [5pts]
. Chaos Terminator [43pts]: Combi-melta [5pts], Power fist [5pts]
. Terminator Champion [43pts, -1CP]: Black Rune of Damnation, Chainfist [5pts], Combi-melta [5pts], Trophies of the Long War [-1CP]

Master of Executions [5 PL, 80pts, -1CP]: Axe of dismemberment, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Gifts of Chaos [-1CP], Mantle of Traitors, Mark of Slaanesh [1 PL, 15pts]

+ Fast Attack [7 PL, 140pts] +

Warp Talons [7 PL, 140pts]
. 4x Warp Talon [112pts]: 4x Warp claws
. Warp Talon Champion [28pts]: Warp claws

+ Dedicated Transport [8 PL, 160pts] +

Chaos Rhino [4 PL, 80pts]: Combi-bolter

++ Total: [98 PL, 2CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Emperor’s Children Good Stuff

Thoughts

No Abaddon here, but the list does include Lucius, which is honestly its biggest downside – despite his effectiveness on the table, that model is seriously showing its age. Here’s hoping the next CSM book comes with a new sculpt for this glorious weirdo.

Rob: Lucius is just incredibly efficiently costed, and the only reason we don’t see him more is because Abaddon is getting the pick over him so often. Stephen’s list is interesting in that it goes heavy on mobile shooting with Noise Marines in Rhinos, foregoing Possessed for a nasty mobile shooting base that can still acquit itself well in combat. The Warp Talons are there to act as a nasty deep strike bomb, where they can drop in from deep strike and use Honour the Prince to essentially guarantee a 9″ charge against an unassuming threat.

Armiger Warglaives. Credit: Kevin Genson

Sam Nash – Imperial Knights – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Super-Heavy Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Imperial Knights) [104 PL, 2,000pts, 2CP] ++

+ 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]: Freeblade, Martial Tradition: Hunters of Beasts, Questor Imperialis
. Armiger Helverin: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Helverin: Heirloom: The Bastard’s Helm, Heirlooms of the Household, Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Helverin: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber

Armiger Warglaives [24 PL, 435pts]
. Armiger Warglaive: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Warglaive: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber
. Armiger Warglaive: Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber

Armiger Warglaives [24 PL, 450pts]
. Armiger Warglaive: Meltagun
. Armiger Warglaive: Meltagun
. Armiger Warglaive: Meltagun

Knight Errant [24 PL, 485pts, -3CP]: Character (Knight Lance), Exalted Court: Master of Vox, Heirloom: Judgement, Questor Cognis Heavy Stubber, Reaper Chainsword, Revered Paragon, Stormspear Rocket Pod, Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord, Warlord Trait (Taranis): Knight of Mars, Warlord Trait: Revered Knight

Knight Moiraxes [8 PL, 165pts]: Freeblade, Martial Tradition: Last of Their Line, Questor Mechanicus
. Knight Moirax: 2x Lightning Lock

++ Total: [104 PL, 2,000pts, 2CP] ++

Archetype

House Taranis Calculated Targeting

Thoughts

Unlike the other takes on Taranis we’ve seen this week, this list uses Revered Paragon to shove both Knight of Mars and Revered Knight on the same Knight Errant, freeing up some room to shove in a couple more Warglaives. And Bastard Hunters Helverins provide reasonably reliable shooting into a variety of targets.

Word Bearers Chaos Cultists - Credit: RichyP — Word Bearers Chaos Cultists – Credit: RichyP

Liam Callebout – Chaos Space Marines – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [104 PL, 2,000pts, -6CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Legion: Word Bearers

+ HQ +

Daemon Prince with Wings [11 PL, 180pts, -1CP]: G’holl’ax, the Decayed, Gifts of Chaos, Hellforged sword, Mark of Nurgle, Warptime, Wings

Dark Apostle [6 PL, 110pts, -3CP]: 3. Daemonic Whispers, Apostle of the Dark Council, Epistle of Lorgar, Illusory Supplication, Mark of Slaanesh, Soultearer Portent, Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord
. 2x Dark Disciple: 2x Close combat weapon

Master of Possession [7 PL, 120pts, -1CP]: Baleful Icon, Gifts of Chaos, Mark of Slaanesh, Mutated Invigoration, Pact of Flesh

+ Troops +

Cultists Mob [2 PL, 50pts]
. 9x Chaos Cultist w/ cultist firearm: 9x Cultist firearm, 9x Frag & Krak grenades
. Cultist Champion
. . Autopistol and brutal assault weapon

Legionaries [7 PL, 135pts]: Chaos Icon, Mark of Slaanesh
. Aspiring Champion: Astartes chainsword, Tainted chainaxe
. 3x Marine w/ astartes chainsword: 3x Astartes chainsword, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades
. Marine w/ balefire tome: Balefire tome, Prescience

+ Elites +

Chaos Terminator Squad [19 PL, 370pts, -1CP]: Mark of Slaanesh
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Accursed weapon
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Accursed weapon
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Terminator Champion: Accursed weapon, Black Rune of Damnation, Combi-bolter, Trophies of the Long War

Possessed [7 PL, 145pts]: Chaos Icon, Possessed Champion
. 4x Possessed: 4x Hideous mutations

+ Fast Attack +

Warp Talons [7 PL, 140pts]: Warp Talon Champion
. 4x Warp Talon: 4x Warp claws

+ Heavy Support +

Obliterators [15 PL, 270pts]
. 3x Obliterator: 3x Crushing fists, 3x Fleshmetal guns

++ Total: [104 PL, -6CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Thoughts

Rather than going with Emperor’s Children, Liam’s opted for Word Bearers, which is an interesting choice. Not only does this give the list some extra resilience against mortal wounds, the re-rolls to hit on the charge will usually wind up being more reliable than EC’s combination of ignoring penalties to hit and add a flat +1 with the Icon. It also gives him some flexibility with his marks, letting him bring a Mark of Nurgle and G’holl’ax, the Decayed on his Daemon Prince, which can be a pretty nasty trick. And the Epistle of Lorgar gives the Dark Apostle some more utility with the ability to chant a second prayer including Soultearer Portent.

Add to all of this the Word Bearers’ excellent support for units with the DAEMON keyword, between stratagems like Revered Hosts and the Master of Possessions with a Baleful Icon, and those units of Possessed and Warp Talons can hit pretty hard in a pinch. All in all, a neat alternate take on CSM in a sea of Emperor’s Children.

The Best of the Rest

There were 2 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

5 – Joshua Cowlard – Orks: Gregbot, my most hated nemesis, recently developed a new feature, in which if you type “!ork” at him he responds with a randomly generated name for an Ork vehicle that does not yet exist. However, he has yet to come anywhere close to the majesty that is the Wazbom Blastajet, which appears twice in this list in what I can only assume is a laser-targeted rebuke of that most detestable robot.
6 – Alun Perkins – Adeptus Custodes: Trajann, an Inquisitor, and a couple of Contemptors-Galatus walk into a bar. I was hoping that by the time I finished typing that setup I’d have come up with a punchline, but, alas.

BreakingsHeads Cup #3 – Berlin

49-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Petershagen/Eggersdorf, Brandenburg, DE on October 22 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Malte Höfs – Chaos Space Marines – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Guten Tag! Darf ich ihr Spiel livestreamen?

++ Battalion Detachment -3CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [87 PL, -2CP, 1,699pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment Command Cost [-3CP]

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

Legion: Emperor’s Children

+ HQ +

Dark Apostle [6 PL, -1CP, 110pts]: Illusory Supplication, Mark of Slaanesh, Stratagem: Relic, The Warp’s Malice
. 2x Dark Disciple: 2x Close combat weapon

Lord Discordant on Helstalker [10 PL, -2CP, 190pts]: 1. Flames of Spite, Aspiring Lord, Baleflamer, Gifts of Chaos, Gorget of Eternal Hate, Mark of Slaanesh, Techno-virus injector

Master of Possession [7 PL, -1CP, 120pts]: Gifts of Chaos, Liber Hereticus, Mark of Slaanesh, Mutated Invigoration, Pact of Flesh

+ Troops +

Cultists Mob [2 PL, 50pts]
. 9x Chaos Cultist w/ cultist firearm: 9x Cultist firearm, 9x Frag & Krak grenades
. Cultist Champion
. . Autopistol and brutal assault weapon

+ Elites +

Chaos Terminator Squad [19 PL, -1CP, 304pts]: Mark of Slaanesh
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Accursed weapon, Combi-bolter
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. Chaos Terminator: Combi-bolter, Power fist
. 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

Decimator [9 PL, 180pts]: 2x Soulburner petard

+ Fast Attack +

Chaos Spawn [1 PL, 25pts]: Chaos Spawn

++ Supreme Command Detachment +3CP (Chaos – Chaos Space Marines) [15 PL, 3CP, 300pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost [3CP]

Legion: Black Legion

+ Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander +

Abaddon the Despoiler [15 PL, 300pts]

++ Total: [102 PL, 1CP, 1,999pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)

Archetype

Emperor’s Children with Decimators

Final Round Matchup

14 – 6 Victory against Manuel “BEL” Wieczorek – Adepta Sororitas.

Thoughts

This Emperor’s Children list swaps out the Daemon Prince and Possessed we see in so many EC builds for a Lord Discordant and a pair of Decimators with soulburner petards.

By the way, a common misconception about “petards” is that they’re some sort of physical thing you could use to lift someone, likely due to how the word “hoist” (from “hoisted by his own petard”) is frequently interpreted in modern English. In actuality, a “petard” is a small bomb used for knocking down walls (essentially the forerunner to what would now be called a breaching charge), and the phrase refers to the Reversal Of Fortune of someone being exploded by their own bomb.

That’s only scratching the surface of Shakespeare’s dedication to his craft, though: “petard” shares a common origin with the French péter, which Google Translate assures me means “to fart.” In other words, when Shakespeare wrote about someone being “hoisted by their own petard,” the image the bard was almost certainly painting for his audience was that the line’s unfortunate target would rip ass so hard they’d be blown away, Looney-Tunes style. It would take another few centuries for the bit to evolve to its modern form, however; Elizabethan practical effects were not yet developed enough to permit Claudius to vanish into the sky with a symbolic twinkle.

Rob: The Decimators here are an interesting choice, and this isn’t their strongest incarnation but with Let the Galaxy Burn they can generate a few extra hits each time they shoot and put out a solid number of mortal wounds to support an army that’s already pretty good at mid-ranged shooting. Here the list also opts for a large number of MSU Noise Marine units over other melee units, opting for ranged skirmish combat over charges.

Blood Angels Sanguinary Guard. Credit: Jack Hunter

Alexander Tepe – Blood Angels – 2nd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Blood Angels) [132 PL, 3CP, 2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration [6CP] +

**Chapter Selector**: Blood Angels

Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP]

Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

+ HQ [15 PL, -1CP, 285pts] +

Commander Dante [9 PL, 165pts]: 4. Heroic Bearing, Frag & Krak grenades, Inferno pistol, Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], The Axe Mortalis, Warlord [1CP]

Sanguinary Priest [6 PL, -1CP, 120pts]: 3. Soulwarden, Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Jump Pack [1 PL, 30pts], Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter [-1CP]

+ Troops [15 PL, 305pts] +

Assault Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 95pts]
. 4x Assault Intercessor [76pts]: 4x Astartes Chainsword, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Heavy Bolt Pistol
. Assault Intercessor Sgt [19pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Heavy Bolt Pistol

Incursor Squad [5 PL, 105pts]
. 4x Incursor [84pts]: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Occulus bolt carbine, 4x Paired combat blades
. Incursor Sergeant [21pts]: Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Occulus bolt carbine, Paired combat blades

+ Elites [80 PL, -2CP, 1,035pts] +

Death Company Marines [8 PL, 165pts]: Jump Pack [1 PL, 15pts]
. Death Company Marine [33pts]: Frag & Krak grenades, Thunder hammer [15pts]
. Death Company Marine [33pts]: Frag & Krak grenades, Thunder hammer [15pts]
. Death Company Marine [33pts]: Frag & Krak grenades, Thunder hammer [15pts]
. Death Company Marine [33pts]: Frag & Krak grenades, Thunder hammer [15pts]
. Death Company Marine [18pts]: Frag & Krak grenades
. . Bolt pistol and chainsword: Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol

Sanguinary Ancient [7 PL, -2CP, 110pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades, Rites of War, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter [-1CP], Stratagem: Relic [-1CP], Wrath of Baal

Sanguinary Guard [17 PL, 210pts]
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades

Sanguinary Guard [17 PL, 150pts]
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades
. Sanguinary Guard [30pts]: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword, Frag & Krak grenades

Vanguard Veteran Squad [14 PL, 250pts]: Jump Pack [2 PL, 30pts]
. Vanguard Veteran [22pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [3pts]
. Vanguard Veteran [22pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [3pts]
. Vanguard Veteran [22pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [3pts]
. Vanguard Veteran [22pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [3pts]
. Vanguard Veteran [22pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [3pts]
. Vanguard Veteran [22pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [3pts]
. Vanguard Veteran [22pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [3pts]
. Vanguard Veteran [22pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [3pts]
. Vanguard Veteran [22pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [3pts]
. Vanguard Veteran Sergeant [22pts]: Astartes Chainsword, Frag & Krak grenades, Lightning Claw [3pts]

+ Fast Attack [18 PL, 300pts] +

Assault Squad [6 PL, 100pts]: Jump Pack [1 PL]
. 2x Space Marine [36pts]: 2x Astartes Chainsword, 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Frag & Krak grenades
. Space Marine Sergeant [18pts]: Frag & Krak grenades, Inferno pistol, Power sword
. Space Marine w/Special Weapon [23pts]: Frag & Krak grenades, Meltagun [5pts]
. Space Marine w/Special Weapon [23pts]: Frag & Krak grenades, Meltagun [5pts]

+ Heavy Support [4 PL, 75pts] +

Eliminator Squad [4 PL, 75pts]: Bolt sniper rifle
. Eliminator Sergeant [25pts]: Bolt pistol, Camo cloak, Frag & Krak grenades, Instigator Bolt Carbine
. 2x Eliminators [50pts]: 2x Bolt pistol, 2x Camo cloak, 2x Frag & Krak grenades

++ Total: [132 PL, 3CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Thoughts

You’ve got to respect a player with dedication to The Bit, and I absolutely adore the commitment to shoving this many jump packs in a list. Rule of 3 stopping you from taking more Sanguinary Guard? Vanguard Vets are right there. Out of Elite slots? Oh look, Assault Marines are Fast Attack. Rad.

Rob: If you’re going to play Blood Angels, you have to commit to hitting your opponent in the mouth early and often, taking advantage of Relentless Assault as one of the army’s best secondary objectives to both put constant pressure on your opponent and score VP doing it. The army has an insane threat range and can absolutely hit you from across the table on turn 1 using a pregame move with jump packs, forcing opponents to deploy defensively to avoid getting trapped in their deployment zone early.

The Best of the Rest

There were 6 more players on 3-1 records. They were:

3rd – Manuel “BEL” Wieczorek – Adepta Sororitas: Celestine leads a fairly balanced Sisters force and a Super-Heavy Aux of Hunters of Beasts Heleverins to the top table in the final round.
4th – Valentin Schefter – Ynnari: Hey, look: a Vyper. And here I thought the Blood of the Phoenix box was just an excuse to get those things out of GW’s warehouse.
5th – Kayu Orellana – Tyranids: Leviathan Warriors, this time with some Raveners backing them up, plus a bio-engineered parking lot with two each of Biovores and Exocrines.
6th – Jannek Lindemann – T’au Empire: Farsight Enclaves with Kroot, but lighter on Crisis Suits than you’d expect to make room for Triptides, 2 Sun Sharks, and a Hammerhead.
7th – Arne Zerndt – Farsight Enclaves: More FSE, this time with a decent helping of Crisis Suits, two teams of Breachers, and 2 Sun Sharks.
8th – Christopher Schade – Thousand Sons: This list packs 3 Rubric squads and 2 bricks of Scarabs backed up by a pile of Flamers and Fateskimmer to put out some serious hurt.

ARDKORE 40K Open

48-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan Putrajaya, MY on October 22 2022. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Joe Soon – Tyranids – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Army name: Joe Soon
Factions used: Tyranids
Command Points: 6-1-1-2-2=0
Total cost: 2000 pts, 96 PL
Reinforcement Points: none pts

Number of Units: 12
Assassination: 13 points
Bring it Down: 10 points
No Prisoners: 7 points
Abhor the Witch: 13 points
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

== Leviathan (Adaptive) Patrol Detachment == -2 CP, 670 pts, 29 PL

HQ1: (1) Hive Tyrant: Adrenal Glands, Heavy Venom Cannon, Lash Whip and Monstrous Bonesword, Power: Paroxysm, Power: Psychic Scream, Relic: The Reaper of Obilterax, Warlord Trait: Adaptive Biology [210 pts, 9 PL]

TR1: (3) Tyranid Warriors: 3xTyranid Warrior (Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords) [90 pts, 4 PL]

EL1: (1) Maleceptor: Power: Neuroparasite, Power: Psychic Scream [220 pts, 9 PL]

HS1: (1) Carnifexes: Carnifex (Adrenal Glands, Chitin Thorns, Enhanced Senses, Heavy Venom Cannon, Two Carnifex Scything Talons) [150 pts, 7 PL]

== Leviathan (Adaptive) Patrol Detachment == 0 CP, 1330 pts, 67 PL

Stratagems:
– Relic (-1 CP)
– Rarefied Enhancements (-1 CP)
– Hive Predator (-2 CP)

No Force Org Slot:
– (3) Tyrant Guard: 3xTyrant Guard (Scything) [120 pts, 8 PL]
– (1) Tyranid Prime: Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon [85 pts, 5 PL]

HQ1: (1) Hive Tyrant: Adrenal Glands, Heavy Venom Cannon, Lash Whip and Monstrous Bonesword, Power: Catalyst, Power: The Horror, Relic: Shardgullet, Warlord [210 pts, 9 PL]
HQ2: (1) Neurothrope: Power: Catalyst, Power: Onslaught, Warlord Trait: Synaptic Tendrils [100 pts, 5 PL]

TR1: (9) Tyranid Warriors: Adrenal Glands, Flesh Hooks, Toxin Sacs, Tyranid Warrior (Lash Whip and Bonesword, Venom Cannon), 2xTyranid Warrior (Dual Boneswords, Venom Cannon), 6xTyranid Warrior (Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords) [315 pts, 12 PL]

EL1: (4) Zoanthropes: Power: Onslaught, 4xZoanthrope [200 pts, 14 PL]

HS1: (1) Carnifexes: Carnifex (Adrenal Glands, Chitin Thorns, Enhanced Senses, Heavy Venom Cannon, Two Carnifex Scything Talons) [150 pts, 7 PL]
HS2: (1) Carnifexes: Carnifex (Adrenal Glands, Chitin Thorns, Enhanced Senses, Heavy Venom Cannon, Two Carnifex Scything Talons) [150 pts, 7 PL]

Archetype

Leviathan Warrior Spam

Final Round Matchup

90 – 55 Victory against koe yao dong – Tyranids.

Thoughts

Rob: Unfortunately we’ve already covered multiple copies of this list in this week’s article so there’s not much to say here. It’s an effective list that’s likely to see some adjustment as big blobs of warriors lose a bit of effectiveness but I won’t be shocked if lists like this just continue to do well until the next dataslate.

Kian Tan – Adepta Sororitas – 2nd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Army name: Kian Tan
Factions used: Imperium – Adepta Sororitas
Command Points: 6-1-1-1=3
Total cost: 2000 pts, 100 PL
Reinforcement Points: none pts

Number of Units: 13
Assassination: 13 points
Bring it Down: 15 points
No Prisoners: 1 points
Abhor the Witch: 0 points
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

== Order: Valorous Heart Battalion Detachment == 0 CP, 2000 pts, 100 PL

HQ1: (2) Ephrael Stern and Kyganil of the Bloody Tears [120 pts, 6 PL]
HQ2: (1) Morvenn Vahl: Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord, Warlord Trait: 2. Righteous Rage [280 pts, 14 PL, -1 CP]

TR1: (5) Battle Sister Squad: 4xBattle Sister, Sister Superior (Bolt Pistol & Boltgun, Chainsword) [55 pts, 3 PL]
TR2: (5) Battle Sister Squad: 4xBattle Sister, Sister Superior (Bolt Pistol & Boltgun, Chainsword) [55 pts, 3 PL]
TR3: (5) Battle Sister Squad: 4xBattle Sister, Sister Superior (Bolt Pistol & Boltgun, Chainsword) [55 pts, 3 PL]

EL1: (1) Dogmata: 1. Refrain of Blazing Piety, Relic: Casket of Penance, Stratagem: Relic, War Hymn [65 pts, 4 PL, -1 CP]
EL2: (3) Paragon Warsuits: 2xParagon (2 Storm Bolters, Multi-melta, Paragon War Blade), Paragon Superior (2 Storm Bolters, Multi-melta, Paragon War Blade) [240 pts, 11 PL]
EL3: (3) Paragon Warsuits: 2xParagon (2 Storm Bolters, Multi-melta, Paragon War Blade), Paragon Superior (2 Storm Bolters, Multi-melta, Paragon War Blade) [240 pts, 11 PL]
EL4: (3) Paragon Warsuits: 2xParagon (2 Storm Bolters, Multi-melta, Paragon War Blade), Paragon Superior (2 Storm Bolters, Multi-melta, Paragon War Blade) [240 pts, 11 PL]
EL5: (1) Preacher: 2. Chorus of Spiritual Fortitude, Autopistol, Chainsword, Relic: The Sigil Ecclesiasticus, Stratagem: Open the Reliquaries, War Hymn [25 pts, 2 PL, -1 CP]

HS1: (1) Castigator: Castigator autocannons [135 pts, 8 PL]
HS2: (4) Mortifiers: Mortifiers (Anchorite Sarcophagus, 2xMinistorum Heavy Flamer, 2xPenitent Flails), Mortifiers (2xMinistorum Heavy Flamer, 2xPenitent Flails), 2xMortifiers (2xMinistorum Heavy Flamer, 2xPenitent buzz-blades) [245 pts, 12 PL]
HS3: (4) Mortifiers: Mortifiers (Anchorite Sarcophagus, 2xMinistorum Heavy Flamer, 2xPenitent Flails), Mortifiers (2xMinistorum Heavy Flamer, 2xPenitent Flails), 2xMortifiers (2xMinistorum Heavy Flamer, 2xPenitent buzz-blades) [245 pts, 12 PL]

Archetype

Valourous Heart Warsuit Spam

Thoughts

Rob: This isn’t really an archetype, in the sense that you won’t see this often at the top of events due to how many vehicles it runs and how fragile it can be against armies with heavier shooting – particularly as Votann start to gain popularity. That said, there are some cool features here, like the 9 paragon warsuits that give the list some nasty hitting power and tons of melta shots. They’re backed up by 8 mortifiers and a Castigator, giving the list some heavy, mobile punch to range around the table with Vahl while the battle sisters sit back and score Sacred Grounds and Defend the Shrine points.

As Valorous Heart this list has extra protection against psykers and mortal wound spam thanks to a 5+ FNP roll against them, and not being able to re-roll wounds against them is a huge plus in the mirror match and against some armies. That said, neither is enough to get them over Tyranids with this build.

The Best of the Rest

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

3rd – Yong Qiang Ong – Necrons: Eternal Expansionists with a Catacomb Command Barge and the Nightbringer backing it up.
4th – koe yao dong – Tyranids: Leviathan Warrior Spam with dual Tyrannofex and a Harpy.
5th – Victor Koh – Adepta Sororitas: Bloody Rose led by Morvenn Vahl and packing a healthy complement of Repentia and Zephyrim make for a potent melee threat, even before you add in the three squads of Retributors with multi-meltas running around to blast away at mid-range.
6th – Guardsman Q – Chaos Daemons: What would be an otherwise-standard Daemons list gets spiced up by the inclusion of some Slaaneshi Daemons, including the Contorted Epitome, some Daemonettes, and a handful of Fiends. Nice to see a touch of excess added to a Daemons roster.
7th – Azmi Shahrul – Ynnari: A nice selection of Aeldari melee units, this time supported by a Hemlock and a Voidraven. Oh, and a couple of Ds-Cannon to spice it up.
8th – Wesley Chan – Adeptus Custodes: Trajann’s back, this time with some more bikers and a few more Allarus Custodians.

Wrap Up

And that’s it for today! We’ve got another five events and a showdown that’ll be coming down the pipe later this week, so keep an eye out for those. Wings will still be out on vacation, so it’ll be another mystery guest host! (Hint: it’s me again, I’m the mystery guest host)

Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com.

Competitive Innovations in 9th: October 25, 2022, Part 1: In Which Mistakes Were Made

“Expect to see less lists focussed on the durability of leviathan to eventually push itself into a win, and more lists that leverage a specific aspect of tyranids rather than falling into being good at everything.

-Innes Wilson

Frontline Gaming SoCal Open 2022 40K Champs

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Secure Missing Artefacts

Thoughts

Result

Benjamin Jurek – Goffs – 1st Place

The List

Thoughts

Matthew Green – Tyranids – 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Scott LaFountain – Hive Fleet Leviathan – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Marshall Peterson – Necrons – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Malmö Wargaming Weekend VI

Andreas Holm – Hive Fleet Leviathan – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Final Round Matchup

Thoughts

Pedro Chavez – Harlequins – 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Christoph Fiedler – Hive Fleet Leviathan – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Johan Norrman – Imperial Knights – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Sebastian Larsson – Emperor’s Children – 5th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

The Southampton Brawl – SCS

Ben Jones – Ynnari – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Final Round Matchup

Thoughts

Stephen Box – Emperor’s Children – 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Sam Nash – Imperial Knights – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Liam Callebout – Chaos Space Marines – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

BreakingsHeads Cup #3 – Berlin

Malte Höfs – Chaos Space Marines – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Final Round Matchup

Thoughts

Alexander Tepe – Blood Angels – 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

ARDKORE 40K Open

Joe Soon – Tyranids – 1st Place

The List