Welcome to Competitive Innovations, our weekly feature for a number of game lines across the tabletop wargame space. Each week our army list and tactics experts canvass the top tournaments for their game of specialty, looking at the week’s top match-ups and how they played out on the tabletop to let you know what’s hot, what’s not, and what might be coming next as the competitive meta evolves year-round.

Another slower week, we got 3 small events around 32 players. This time in England, Scotland and Canada

Festive GT by AoS Thursdays

34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on December 07 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

James Tinsdale – Stormcast Eternals
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vs.

Bradley Walsh – Skaventide
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Thoughts

That’s an interesting Skaven list! Unfortunately it got pitted into one of the top meta lists right now, which means it really doesn’t have much of a shot. Stormfiends aren’t bad but they are far from the terror they used to be. Ranged combat would be the way to deal with Karazai, avoiding engaging him in combat in the first place, but he really needs chaff or anvils to keep him locked in place and a bunch of Stormfiends really aren’t going to be able to do that.

Result

Stormcast Eternals Victory – 46 – 6

James Tinsdale – Stormcast Eternals – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Karazai and good stuff infantry.

Thoughts

At least for now, Karazai (or Krondys) supported by Praetors and other Stormcast good stuff is going to be the Stormmcast du jour. Karazai becomes a General with Praetors who take the Bodyguard Honor Guard ability. Since the restriction that causes -1 to Attacks only applies if the bodyguards charge, Karazai is free to charge in and cause a -2 to attacks when combined with his innate ability to do that. If the Praetors can stay in combat range he also has a 5+ ward on top of his 3+ save. At 20 wounds you’re probably not killing him in melee short of the hottest dice in your life.

Supporting him are Vanguard raptors, who even without the Priority Target buff are still some of the best ranged shots in the army, picking heads off enemy Heroes who stray too close, or from their infantry. Vanquishers make solid horde clearers while Vigilors and Vindictors can hold the line. Palladors are shock cavalry who can do a fair amount of damage for their cost and pick up objectives early.

The Best of the Rest

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

• 2nd – Alex Donkin – Seraphon: An irresponsible number of Raptadon chargers led by a Slann Starmaster and Skink Starpriest.
• 3rd – Tom Mault – Slaves to Darkness: Archaon and a Sorcerer Lord with Knights and Chosen.
• 4th – Ritchie Mcalley – Skaven: Ratling guns and Stormfiends.
• 5th – Joe Jackson – Stormcast Eternals: Karazi and Neave with Longstrikes.
• 6th – Bradley Walsh – Skaven: See Showdown.

Bloodbath 2

33-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Stirling, Scotland on December 07 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Martin Quinn – Lumineth Realm-Lords
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vs.

Nate Watson – Disciples of Tzeentch
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Thoughts

In another time, another place the Lumineth would have this one but it’s Tzeentch meta time baby.

Lumineth have been heavily slowed down in their domination after the changes to Hurakan. Meanwhile, Tzeentch is in its prime and has some of the nastiest shooting and magic in the game, which means Lumineth just can’t keep up. While this one’s shooting isn’t nearly as nasty as some lists, it’s a lot of magic and a lot of wounds to carve through.

Result

Disciples of Tzeentch Victory – 46 – 18

Nate Watson – Disciples of Tzeentch – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

The Horrors, the horrors!

Thoughts

This is actually a fair bit different from the usual Tzeentch lists so this is kinda interesting to dissect.

A Lord of Change is still here, naturally. They’re one of the best wizards in the game with their ability to adjust the lower dice to match the higher one, and their warscroll spell dropping mortal wounds and burning. It’s a strong start.

Guarding them is so many horrors. The Pink ones are 2 wounds a piece so thats 40 wounds each and they’re -1 to be hit from the Lord of Change and theyre just going to fuel the Blue Horror’s count. The Jade Obelisk are an interesting choice, with their 4+ Ethereal they can stand up to a lot of threats that would cut through the demons.

The Burning Chariot isn’t great but their shooting is anti-infantry and can drop Burning on a unit with a 3+ (getting around the usual 1 unit per turn restriction from shooting). Most of these have shooting attacks with Burning too, by the way so enjoy your -1 to wound and mortal damage!

The Best of the Rest

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

• 2nd – JJ Cropley – Stormcast Eternals: Krondys with Palladors and Longstrikes
• 3rd – Paul Di Duca – Nighthaunt: Reiknor and Hexwraiths with Mannfred’s RoR
• 4th – Martin Quinn – Lumineth Realm-Lords: See Showdown.
• 5th – Ross Sherrie – Nighthaunt: Reiknor and Awlreth with Hexwraiths and Bladegheist.

Richmond Reroll GT

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Richmond, BC, Canada on December 07 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Will Reeves – Ironjawz
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vs.

Carson Whitlock – Slaves to Darkness
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Thoughts

So on the surface I’d assume Slaves to Darkness had this in the bag. It’s a bit of an off list but it’s got reinforced Varanguard and it’s got reinforced Chosen. It fucks. That said, Brutes and Ardboyz are pretty tough

Result

Ironjawz Victory – 32 – 28

Will Reeves – Ironjawz – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Footslogging Ironjawz

Thoughts

These guys get on the point and bully you off of it. Brutes make 1 to 2 wound models basically a non issue. They’re also tough as hell with their 3+ saves and 3 wounds a pop and the Megaboss lets them fight really well too, adding up to 2 to their attacks each turn. Ardboyz similarly have a ton of bodies and anti-charge, so woe to anyone who charges them carelessly. Zoggrok can hand out Critical (Mortals) and allow them to ignore saves, which will let them cut through pretty much anything they want.

The Warchanter and Shaman make powerful support pieces, while the Gore-Gruntas can snatch up objectives early and aid in battle tactics.

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 4-1 (or better) records. They were:

• 2nd – Matthias Krushel – Ossiarch Bonereapers (4-0-1): Katakros with dual Crawlers and reinforced Archai.
• 3rd – Carson Whitlock – Slaves to Darkness: See Showdown.
• 4th – Matt Beasley – Skaven: A bonafide collection of all kinds of Skaven units from Thanquol to Ratlings guns to Plague Monks and Warpfire Throwers.
• 5th – Kyle Leroux – Sylvaneth: Belthanos and Alarielle with Gossamids and Kurnoth Hunters.

Wrap Up

Thanks again for tuning in for another slower week. That said, all 3 showdowns were at least interesting and showed some real creativity in list building and possibilities for thinking literally within a faction.

Hope your holidays have been going well and see you next week!

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