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Gaming | Tactics | Meta Analysis | Competitive Play | Goonhammer | 40K Competitive Innovations

[40k] Competitive Innovations in 10th: Carnival of Chaos pt.2

by Lowest of Men | May 02 2025
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.

Lowest of Men is in charge today, with a few more Xenos forces pushing back against Chaos dominance. We have the following for you:
  • The WarDome
  • Ice Breaker 2025 - Warhammer 40K GT
  • Dicing Death III
  • Battle for LA (in Cypress)
  • FA CUP Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament 2025
  • The Fall of Empire III
Tomorrow I will round out the week with;
  • Squig City: Casino Royale 2025
  • THERE IS ONLY WAR IV: A Warhammer 40k Major Tournament
  • Ozcon
  • Imperium Talis VIII 40K (Ironman)
  • Battle Ready Games 40K GT
  • Double Decker Decimation 2025
...and if you're looking for the following, check out part 1 from Wednesday:
  • Leoben 40K Singles 2025 - Alpine Cup
  • ÖK-spelen II
  • ValleyCon 2025
  • Broadsword Wargaming 40K ITC Seasonal Major VII
  • Nidaros Grand Tournament '25 - Warhammer 40k

The WarDome

72-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in New Caney, TX, United States on April 26 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission - Orks (War Horde) versus Deathwatch

Justin Moore - Orks (War Horde)
Army List - Click to Expand
Get busy Killin, or get busy dyin! Waghhhhhhh!

Orks (2000 points)

Orks Strike Force (2000 points) War Horde

CHARACTERS

Beastboss (80 points) • 1x Beast Snagga klaw 1x Beastchoppa 1x Shoota

Deffkilla Wartrike (95 points) • Warlord • 1x Boomstikks 1x Killa jet 1x Snagga klaw • Enhancement: Supa-Cybork Body

Painboy (80 points) • 1x Grot Orderly 1x Power klaw 1x ’Urty syringe

Warboss (100 points) • 1x Attack squig 1x Kombi-weapon 1x Power klaw 1x Twin sluggas • Enhancement: Follow Me Ladz

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

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

BATTLELINE

Beast Snagga Boyz (95 points) • 9x Beast Snagga Boy • 9x Choppa 9x Slugga • 1x Beast Snagga Nob • 1x Power snappa 1x Slugga

Boyz (160 points) • 19x Boy • 19x Choppa 19x Slugga • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Power klaw 1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

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

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Battlewagon (160 points) • 2x Big shoota 1x Deff rolla 1x Lobba 1x ’Ard Case

Breaka Boyz (140 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 1x Rokkit pistol 1x Smash hammer • 5x Breaka Boy • 4x Smash hammer 1x Tankhammer

Breaka Boyz (140 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 1x Rokkit pistol 1x Smash hammer • 5x Breaka Boy • 4x Smash hammer 1x Tankhammer

Flash Gitz (80 points) • 1x Ammo Runt • 1x Kaptin • 1x Choppa 1x Snazzgun • 4x Flash Git • 4x Choppa 4x Snazzgun

Flash Gitz (80 points) • 1x Ammo Runt • 1x Kaptin • 1x Choppa 1x Snazzgun • 4x Flash Git • 4x Choppa 4x Snazzgun

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

Tankbustas (135 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 1x Rokkit pistol 1x Smash hammer • 5x Tankbusta • 5x Close combat weapon 1x Pulsa Rokkit 5x Rokkit launcha

Tankbustas (135 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 1x Rokkit pistol 1x Smash hammer • 5x Tankbusta • 5x Close combat weapon 1x Pulsa Rokkit 5x Rokkit launcha

Tankbustas (135 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 1x Rokkit pistol 1x Smash hammer • 5x Tankbusta • 5x Close combat weapon 1x Pulsa Rokkit 5x Rokkit launcha

Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (76), Data Version: v589


vs.

Primaris Tex - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force)
Army List - Click to Expand
if you play Guilliman/Gladius, puck you! (1995 points)

Space Marines Deathwatch Strike Force (2000 points) Black Spear Task Force

CHARACTERS

Captain in Gravis Armour (105 points) • 1x Master-crafted heavy bolt rifle 1x Master-crafted power weapon • Enhancement: Thief of Secrets

Chaplain (85 points) • 1x Absolvor bolt pistol 1x Crozius arcanum • Enhancement: Beacon Angelis

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points) • 1x Combi-weapon 1x Paired combat blades

Watch Master (135 points) • Warlord • 1x Vigil spear • Enhancement: The Tome of Ectoclades

BATTLELINE

Deathwatch Veterans (200 points) • 1x Watch Sergeant • 1x Boltgun 1x Xenophase blade • 9x Deathwatch Veterans • 4x Astartes shield 1x Black Shield blades 4x Deathwatch thunder hammer 4x Power weapon

Intercessor Squad (80 points) • 1x Intercessor Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Bolt rifle 1x Close combat weapon • 4x Intercessor • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Bolt rifle 4x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Power fist • 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs • 4x Astartes chainsword 4x Heavy bolt pistol

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Power fist • 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs • 4x Astartes chainsword 4x Heavy bolt pistol

Fortis Kill Team (200 points) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 1x Bolt pistol 1x Deathwatch bolt rifle 1x Power fist • 3x Kill Team Intercessor • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 4x Plasma incinerator • 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Castellan launcher 2x Close combat weapon 1x Superkrak rocket launcher 1x Vengor launcher

Fortis Kill Team (200 points) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 1x Bolt pistol 1x Deathwatch bolt rifle 1x Power fist • 3x Kill Team Intercessor • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 4x Plasma incinerator • 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Castellan launcher 2x Close combat weapon 1x Superkrak rocket launcher 1x Vengor launcher

Fortis Kill Team (200 points) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 1x Bolt pistol 1x Deathwatch bolt rifle 1x Power fist • 3x Kill Team Intercessor • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 4x Plasma incinerator • 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Castellan launcher 2x Close combat weapon 1x Superkrak rocket launcher 1x Vengor launcher

Indomitor Kill Team (270 points) • 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists • 3x Flamestorm gauntlets 3x Twin power fists • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle • 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 2x Melta rifle 1x Multi-melta

Indomitor Kill Team (270 points) • 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists • 3x Flamestorm gauntlets 3x Twin power fists • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle • 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 2x Melta rifle 1x Multi-melta

Exported with App Version: v1.32.1 (78), Data Version: v599

Thoughts

The Xenos hunters of the Deathwatch drop in to battle the rising green menace here, as Orks continue to wreak havoc even in the wake of recent nerfs. The DW list packs an awful lot of shooting with the ability to redeploy and focus segments of the board. It is packed with Kill Teams - all the output concentrated in five units! This makes opposing scoring a faff - as kill cards become much harder to chase down - but it also raises the risk of activation locking.

Orks love activation locking! The chassis of the Dakka lists basically translates over to War Horde here with some supporting shooting but then a renewed emphasis on melee units around some bricks of Boyz to force commitment. Trukks are a real pain for uppy-downy shooting armies - they buy you time, force activations out of them and ferry you closer to retaliation. I was broadly positive for the Orks here on paper but in the event this was a brutal, low scoring game, so it looks like the Kill Teams put up a solid fight! Very well done both.

Result

Orks (War Horde) Victory - 58 - 44

Justin Moore - Orks (War Horde) - 1st Place

Deffkilla Wartrike. Credit: Rockfish Deffkilla Wartrike. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Get busy Killin, or get busy dyin! Waghhhhhhh!

Orks (2000 points)

Orks Strike Force (2000 points) War Horde

CHARACTERS

Beastboss (80 points) • 1x Beast Snagga klaw 1x Beastchoppa 1x Shoota

Deffkilla Wartrike (95 points) • Warlord • 1x Boomstikks 1x Killa jet 1x Snagga klaw • Enhancement: Supa-Cybork Body

Painboy (80 points) • 1x Grot Orderly 1x Power klaw 1x ’Urty syringe

Warboss (100 points) • 1x Attack squig 1x Kombi-weapon 1x Power klaw 1x Twin sluggas • Enhancement: Follow Me Ladz

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

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

BATTLELINE

Beast Snagga Boyz (95 points) • 9x Beast Snagga Boy • 9x Choppa 9x Slugga • 1x Beast Snagga Nob • 1x Power snappa 1x Slugga

Boyz (160 points) • 19x Boy • 19x Choppa 19x Slugga • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Power klaw 1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

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

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Battlewagon (160 points) • 2x Big shoota 1x Deff rolla 1x Lobba 1x ’Ard Case

Breaka Boyz (140 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 1x Rokkit pistol 1x Smash hammer • 5x Breaka Boy • 4x Smash hammer 1x Tankhammer

Breaka Boyz (140 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 1x Rokkit pistol 1x Smash hammer • 5x Breaka Boy • 4x Smash hammer 1x Tankhammer

Flash Gitz (80 points) • 1x Ammo Runt • 1x Kaptin • 1x Choppa 1x Snazzgun • 4x Flash Git • 4x Choppa 4x Snazzgun

Flash Gitz (80 points) • 1x Ammo Runt • 1x Kaptin • 1x Choppa 1x Snazzgun • 4x Flash Git • 4x Choppa 4x Snazzgun

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

Tankbustas (135 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 1x Rokkit pistol 1x Smash hammer • 5x Tankbusta • 5x Close combat weapon 1x Pulsa Rokkit 5x Rokkit launcha

Tankbustas (135 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 1x Rokkit pistol 1x Smash hammer • 5x Tankbusta • 5x Close combat weapon 1x Pulsa Rokkit 5x Rokkit launcha

Tankbustas (135 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 1x Rokkit pistol 1x Smash hammer • 5x Tankbusta • 5x Close combat weapon 1x Pulsa Rokkit 5x Rokkit launcha

Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (76), Data Version: v589

Archetype

War Horde Pressure

Thoughts

War Horde got better when new units and an improved Waaagh arrived a little while ago. We didn't see as much from it as there were newer, shinier, shootier toys for Ork players to explore, but we can sure as hell expect to see more of it now! The Original detachment has a phenomenal toolkit for causing mayhem, and can now do so more flexibly, with a wider range of ways to play the game. Fantastic work on the event win.

Primaris Tex - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) - 2nd Place

Credit: Corrode

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
if you play Guilliman/Gladius, puck you! (1995 points)

Space Marines Deathwatch Strike Force (2000 points) Black Spear Task Force

CHARACTERS

Captain in Gravis Armour (105 points) • 1x Master-crafted heavy bolt rifle 1x Master-crafted power weapon • Enhancement: Thief of Secrets

Chaplain (85 points) • 1x Absolvor bolt pistol 1x Crozius arcanum • Enhancement: Beacon Angelis

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points) • 1x Combi-weapon 1x Paired combat blades

Watch Master (135 points) • Warlord • 1x Vigil spear • Enhancement: The Tome of Ectoclades

BATTLELINE

Deathwatch Veterans (200 points) • 1x Watch Sergeant • 1x Boltgun 1x Xenophase blade • 9x Deathwatch Veterans • 4x Astartes shield 1x Black Shield blades 4x Deathwatch thunder hammer 4x Power weapon

Intercessor Squad (80 points) • 1x Intercessor Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Bolt rifle 1x Close combat weapon • 4x Intercessor • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Bolt rifle 4x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Power fist • 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs • 4x Astartes chainsword 4x Heavy bolt pistol

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Power fist • 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs • 4x Astartes chainsword 4x Heavy bolt pistol

Fortis Kill Team (200 points) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 1x Bolt pistol 1x Deathwatch bolt rifle 1x Power fist • 3x Kill Team Intercessor • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 4x Plasma incinerator • 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Castellan launcher 2x Close combat weapon 1x Superkrak rocket launcher 1x Vengor launcher

Fortis Kill Team (200 points) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 1x Bolt pistol 1x Deathwatch bolt rifle 1x Power fist • 3x Kill Team Intercessor • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 4x Plasma incinerator • 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Castellan launcher 2x Close combat weapon 1x Superkrak rocket launcher 1x Vengor launcher

Fortis Kill Team (200 points) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 1x Bolt pistol 1x Deathwatch bolt rifle 1x Power fist • 3x Kill Team Intercessor • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 4x Plasma incinerator • 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Castellan launcher 2x Close combat weapon 1x Superkrak rocket launcher 1x Vengor launcher

Indomitor Kill Team (270 points) • 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists • 3x Flamestorm gauntlets 3x Twin power fists • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle • 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 2x Melta rifle 1x Multi-melta

Indomitor Kill Team (270 points) • 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists • 3x Flamestorm gauntlets 3x Twin power fists • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle • 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 2x Melta rifle 1x Multi-melta

Exported with App Version: v1.32.1 (78), Data Version: v599

Archetype

Deathwatch Murder Drops

Thoughts

Absolute sucker punch drop shooting from this Kill Team list, that goes hard on big drop shooting units to move about the board leaving craters in it's wake. Getting a second Oaths target via Tome of Ectoclades helps you punch through damage in the key moments, and the free Rapid Ingress via the Beacon also helps you to set up big swings. Deathwatch are quietly simmering away as one of the nasty lesser seen threats in the meta - watch your back! Well done on the top placing.

Nick "Doots" Toomey - Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs) - 3rd Place

Credit: Keewa

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
The Emperor Gives His Toughest Battles To His Strongest Warriors (1995 points)

Adepta Sororitas Strike Force (2000 points) Hallowed Martyrs

CHARACTERS

Canoness (60 points) • 1x Blessed blade 1x Inferno pistol • Enhancement: Saintly Example

Canoness with Jump Pack (100 points) • 1x Blessed halberd • Enhancement: Through Suffering, Strength

Junith Eruita (90 points) • 1x Mace of Castigation 1x Twin Ministorum heavy flamer

Morvenn Vahl (170 points) • Warlord • 1x Fidelis 1x Lance of Illumination 1x Paragon missile launcher

BATTLELINE

Battle Sisters Squad (105 points) • 1x Sister Superior • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon 1x Condemnor Boltgun 1x Power weapon • 9x Battle Sister • 9x Bolt pistol 7x Boltgun 9x Close combat weapon 1x Ministorum flamer 1x Ministorum heavy flamer 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Immolator (125 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Heavy bolter 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Immolation flamers

Immolator (125 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Heavy bolter 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Twin multi-melta

Sororitas Rhino (75 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

Sororitas Rhino (75 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Arco-flagellants (140 points) • 10x Arco-flagellant • 10x Arco-flails

Castigator (170 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Castigator autocannons 3x Heavy bolter 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

Castigator (170 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Castigator autocannons 3x Heavy bolter 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

Paragon Warsuits (220 points) • 1x Paragon Superior • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Multi-melta 1x Paragon grenade launchers 1x Paragon war mace • 2x Paragon • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Multi-melta 2x Paragon grenade launchers 2x Paragon war blade

Repentia Squad (170 points) • 1x Repentia Superior • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Neural whips • 9x Sister Repentia • 9x Penitent eviscerator

Sisters Novitiate Squad (100 points) • 1x Novitiate Superior • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Plasma pistol 1x Power weapon • 9x Sister Novitiate • 9x Autopistol 3x Close combat weapon 2x Ministorum flamer 6x Novitiate melee weapons 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (76), Data Version: v589

Archetype

Hallowed Martyrs Characters

Thoughts

Sisters storm to a podium with a sneaky Hallowed Martyrs list that trades hard on resurrecting characters and the ever-present threat of the Vahl Paragons to keep people honest. Down on assets after many nerfs, making the units you do have go further with the control tools in Martyrs makes a lot of sense - you get great anti-melee potential, and the revive allows you to avoid hard committing early game. Fantastic work!

Zach Meyer - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) - 4th Place

Armiger Warglaives. Credit: Kevin Genson

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Once More Unto Glory (2000 points)

Imperial Knights Strike Force (2000 points) Noble Lance

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (450 points) • Warlord • 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor 1x Chainbreaker multi-laser 1x Freedom’s Hand

Knight Errant (415 points) • 1x Meltagun 1x Stormspear rocket pod 1x Thermal cannon 1x Thunderstrike gauntlet • Enhancement: Mysterious Guardian

BATTLELINE

Armiger Helverin (130 points) • 2x Armiger autocannon 1x Armoured feet 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 points) • 2x Armiger autocannon 1x Armoured feet 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 points) • 2x Armiger autocannon 1x Armoured feet 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Warglaive (140 points) • 1x Meltagun 1x Reaper chain-cleaver 1x Thermal spear

Armiger Warglaive (140 points) • 1x Meltagun 1x Reaper chain-cleaver 1x Thermal spear

Armiger Warglaive (140 points) • 1x Questoris heavy stubber 1x Reaper chain-cleaver 1x Thermal spear

Armiger Warglaive (140 points) • 1x Questoris heavy stubber 1x Reaper chain-cleaver 1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

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

Vigilant Squad (85 points) • 1x Proctor-Vigilant • 1x Arbites combat shotgun 1x Arbites shotpistol 1x Close combat weapon 1x Nuncio-acquila • 9x Vigilant • 7x Arbites combat shotgun 1x Arbites grenade launcher 9x Arbites shotpistol 9x Close combat weapon 1x Heavy stubber • 1x Cyber-mastiff • 1x Mechanical bite

Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (76), Data Version: v589

Archetype

Canis and friends

Thoughts

IK keep on slamming, with Canis and another big friend leading the Armigers to battle. You can get an awful lot of stuff in an Imperial Knights list right now, with your own Imperial Agents flavouring to taste. Nice to see Mysterious Guardian out on the second big Knight - threatening redeploy via this keeps opposing assets back and stretches their resources thinner which can only aid you in the portions of the board where the real points are scored! Great work on the top placing.

The Best of the Rest

There were 2 more players on 5-1 records. They were:
  • 5th - Oscar Ruiz - Death Guard (Plague Company): Hull heavy Death Guard with Mortarion and some Brigands.
  • 6th - Niall Kitching - Chaos Knights: All the War Dogs.

Ice Breaker 2025 - Warhammer 40K GT

62-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Roseville, MN, US on April 26 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Tyler Carlson - Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) - 1st Place

Credit: Robert "TheChirurgeon" Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Fixed or Tactical? (1975 Points)

Chaos Daemons Daemonic Incursion Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Be’lakor (375 Points) • Warlord • 1x Betraying Shades • 1x The Blade of Shadows

Bloodthirster (325 Points) • 1x Great axe of Khorne • 1x Hellfire breath • Enhancements: A’rgath, The King of Blades

Great Unclean One (295 Points) • 1x Bileblade • 1x Bilesword • 1x Putrid vomit • Enhancements: The Endless Gift

Kairos Fateweaver (270 Points) • 1x Infernal Gateway • 1x Staff of Tomorrow

Skarbrand (305 Points) • 1x Bellow of endless fury • 1x Slaughter and Carnage

The Changeling (90 Points) • 1x Infernal Flames • 1x The Trickster’s Staff

BATTLELINE

Daemonettes (100 Points) • 1x Alluress ◦ 1x Slashing claws • 9x Daemonette ◦ 9x Slashing claws

OTHER DATASHEETS

Beasts of Nurgle (65 Points) • 1x Putrid appendages

Flesh Hounds (75 Points) • 1x Gore Hound ◦ 1x Burning roar ◦ 1x Collar of Khorne ◦ 1x Gore-drenched fangs • 4x Flesh Hound ◦ 4x Collar of Khorne ◦ 4x Gore-drenched fangs

Flesh Hounds (75 Points) • 1x Gore Hound ◦ 1x Burning roar ◦ 1x Collar of Khorne ◦ 1x Gore-drenched fangs • 4x Flesh Hound ◦ 4x Collar of Khorne ◦ 4x Gore-drenched fangs

Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (1), Data Version: v589

Archetype

Monster Mash

Thoughts

Monster mash Daemons is very real indeed. Daemonic Incursion was another detachment that saw very genuine stealth buffs, but flew a bit under the radar as Slaanesh wreaked havoc after Grotmas. Being able to suddenly redeploy and deliver the big Daemons into melee wherever you like is really brutal into any army that doesn't boast quite significant screening capacity. The lists look very light on material, but with the Endless Gift Great Unclean One as a pivot they can do a lot of damage via their other key pieces. Amazing work on the event win!

James Kelling - Aeldari (Seer Council) - 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Guardian Defenders. Credit: Rockfish Guardian Defenders. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
A Fully Armed and Operational Battle Station (2000 points)

Aeldari Strike Force (2000 points) Seer Council

CHARACTERS

Autarch (75 points) • 1x Dragon fusion gun 1x Star glaive

Baharroth (115 points) • 1x Fury of the Tempest 1x Shining Blade

Eldrad Ulthran (110 points) • Warlord • 1x Mind War 1x Shuriken pistol 1x The Staff of Ulthamar and witchblade

Farseer (100 points) • 1x Eldritch Storm 1x Shuriken pistol 1x Singing spear • Enhancement: Lucid Eye

Fuegan (120 points) • 1x Fire Axe 1x Searsong

Maugan Ra (100 points) • 1x Maugetar

BATTLELINE

Guardian Defenders (100 points) • 10x Guardian Defender • 10x Close combat weapon 10x Shuriken catapult • 1x Heavy Weapon Platform • 1x Bright lance 1x Close combat weapon

Storm Guardians (100 points) • 10x Storm Guardian • 8x Close combat weapon 2x Flamer 2x Fusion gun 2x Power sword 6x Shuriken pistol • 1x Serpent’s Scale Platform • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Serpent shield

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Wave Serpent (125 points) • 1x Shuriken cannon 1x Twin bright lance 1x Wraithbone hull

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dark Reapers (90 points) • 1x Dark Reaper Exarch • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Missile launcher • 4x Dark Reaper • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Reaper launcher

Fire Dragons (110 points) • 1x Fire Dragon Exarch • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Firepike • 4x Fire Dragon • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Dragon fusion gun

Howling Banshees (90 points) • 1x Howling Banshee Exarch • 1x Executioner 1x Shuriken pistol • 4x Howling Banshee • 4x Banshee blade 4x Shuriken pistol

Swooping Hawks (85 points) • 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Hawk’s talon • 4x Swooping Hawk • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Lasblaster

Vibro Cannon Platform (60 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Shuriken catapult 1x Vibro cannon

Vibro Cannon Platform (60 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Shuriken catapult 1x Vibro cannon

Vibro Cannon Platform (60 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Shuriken catapult 1x Vibro cannon

War Walkers (95 points) • 2x Starcannon 1x War Walker feet

Warlock Conclave (110 points) • 4x Warlock • 4x Destructor 4x Shuriken pistol 4x Singing Spear

Warlock Conclave (110 points) • 4x Warlock • 4x Destructor 4x Shuriken pistol 4x Singing Spear

Warlock Skyrunners (45 points) • 1x Destructor 1x Shuriken pistol 1x Singing Spear 1x Twin shuriken catapult

Warlock Skyrunners (45 points) • 1x Destructor 1x Shuriken pistol 1x Singing Spear 1x Twin shuriken catapult

Warp Spiders (95 points) • 1x Warp Spider Exarch • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Powerblade array • 4x Warp Spider • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Death spinner

Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (76), Data Version: v589

Archetype

Seer Council Nonsense

Thoughts

Boon makes off with a top placing with his own unique brand of Seer Council mischief. This detachment is gradually seeing more play but he was flying the flag from day one, all credit to you! Teleporting Warlock Conclaves make an absolute mess if you're not careful, and this list has a mass of tools for responding to enemy pressure in Baharroth, and a carefully applied Maugan Ra or Fuegan. The triple Vibro Cannons are also very interesting - these stack up to some very scary places in threes, especially with a War Walker on hand to add even more AP, and they're very cheap too! Finding ways to go wide with Eldar whilst remaining deadly feels key at the moment- and Seer Council absolutely can. Really well done on the top placing!

Naturally, given Our Boy has been out there going undefeated, he's added some thoughts on the list. Take it away Boon:

Since release I’ve been high on the Seer Council as not just a fun way to play Eldar, but as an unheralded, powerful detachment. In private circles I’ve been very vocal on this detachment, but with limited time available to prove it out, I’ve been unable to put results behind my opinions. A prior 4-1 result at a Major sized event wasn’t enough to prove this to myself, so I relished the opportunity for a second shot when Ice Breaker came around. To put a cherry on top, I brought the Guardian Deathstar that has been lampooned as too expensive or not durable enough. The event served as a strong test - by the end of the weekend, I had played into a series of good, tough matchups including Dark Angels, Tyranids, Custodes, Deathwatch, and Ynnari and I am now more confident than ever that not only is Seer Council a fun, dynamic detachment but it’s also very strong.

The list has a few units that are unconventional – Vibro Cannons, Maugen Ra, and the Guardian Defender Deathstar to name a few. I won’t go into the list in detail, if you would like to read more, I’ll cover that in a future faction focus update, but I cannot say enough about the Guardian unit – it really makes the army list a threat in every turn and requires my opponent to always consider how they account for it. In this detachment it hits harder than anything else in the roster while still being mobile, flexible, and durable. My favorite aspect of it is to draw out Cull the Horde, forcing my opponent to forgo a command point or secondary scoring (sometimes both!). For an army that has a major command point advantage, a unit that can help maximize that disparity is always welcome (see also: Eldrad, Autarchs, and if points allow, the enhancement to increase an opponent’s CP cost).

The match that most stands out to me and exemplifies the capability of this detachment was my round four game into a savvy Deathwatch player and friend, Reid Olson. It’s a tough matchup – that army can match my own mobility and counter my defensive strengths with its own redeploys of deadly and durable kill team bricks. I made a critical mistake right away on turn one and then proceeded to lose over a third of my army. The game looked dire. However, what remained was still potent enough that when my opponent drew secondaries that would force him into the open, he opted instead to play for late-game and focus on killing my units rather than giving me the chance to cut down his force advantage.

By selectively sacrificing screening units to Psychic Shield my remaining hitters (Guardian Deathstar, Conclave/Eldrad, and Reapers), leveraging the mobility afforded by Unshrouded Truth, and being opportunistic when an opening presented itself, I was able to keep myself in the game long enough to make a decisive redeploy on turn four and then again on turn five with the Guardian Deathstar that would end up winning me the game with a little help from Maugen Ra and his shooting phase battleshock test. I sincerely believe that with any other Eldar detachment, facing such an early deficit, I’d have found myself clawing for a narrow loss rather than snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, and it's the tools from Seer Council that made it possible.

That’s the power of a Seer Council build – understated, indirect, but no less impactful.

Devin Orchard - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) - 3rd Place

Catacomb Command Barge. Credit: Rockfish Catacomb Command Barge. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Markenezan Arsenal (2000 points)

Necrons Starshatter Arsenal

CHARACTERS

Hatshepsut, Phaerakh of the Markenezan Dynasty [Catacomb Command Barge] (150 points) • 1x Gauss cannon 1x Overlord’s blade 1x Resurrection Orb • Enhancement: Dread Majesty (Aura)

Kheminar, First Tendril of Tholaraskh [Hexmark Destroyer] (75 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols

Imotekh the Stormlord (100 points) • Warlord • 1x Gauntlet of Fire 1x Staff of the Destroyer

Tholaraskh, Night’s Whisper [Lokhust Lord] (95 points) • 1x Lord’s blade 1x Resurrection Orb • Enhancement: Miniaturised Nebuloscope

Baraka, The Black Butcher of Kharden [Skorpekh Lord] (90 points) • 1x Enmitic annihilator 1x Flensing claw 1x Hyperphase harvester • Enhancement: Demanding Leader

Agrondax, The Sleepless Harbinger [Technomancer] (85 points) • 1x Staff of light

OTHER DATASHEETS

Shades of Markenezan [Canoptek Wraiths] (230 points) • 6x Canoptek Wraith • 6x Particle caster 6x Vicious claws

Stellar Remnants [Doomsday Ark] (1) (200 points) • 1x Armoured bulk 1x Doomsday cannon 2x Gauss flayer array

Fury of the Stars [Doomsday Ark] (2) (200 points) • 1x Armoured bulk 1x Doomsday cannon 2x Gauss flayer array

The Harvester [Doomsday Ark] (3) (200 points) • 1x Armoured bulk 1x Doomsday cannon 2x Gauss flayer array

Ta’Keph’s Brood [Flayed Ones] (60 points) • 5x Flayed One • 5x Flayer claws

Tholaraskh’s Reach [Lokhust Heavy Destroyers] (anti-infantry) (165 points) • 3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer • 3x Close combat weapon 3x Enmitic exterminator

Gameskh, The Obsessed [Ophydian Destroyers] (80 points) • 3x Ophydian Destroyer • 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons 1x Plasmacyte

Baraka’s 1st Phalanx [Skorpekh Destroyers] (BLACK) (90 points) • 3x Skorpekh Destroyer • 1x Plasmacyte 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons

Baraka’s 2nd Phalanx [Skorpekh Destroyers] (BLUE) (90 points) • 3x Skorpekh Destroyer • 1x Plasmacyte 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons

Baraka’s 3rd Phalanx [Skorpekh Destroyers] (90 points) • 3x Skorpekh Destroyer • 1x Plasmacyte 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons

Archetype

Starshatter MSU

Thoughts

Skorpekh MSU appears to be in season - I absolutely love these guys and it's awesome to see them making lists as push and counter push threats. The Silent King makes way here, but otherwise it is Necron business as usual - you've got some Destroyers, and a bunch of Doomsday Arks for the meat, as smaller units buzz around being slightly harder to kill than you'd like. Fantastic work on the top placing.

Reid Olson - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) - 4th Place

Deathwatch Terminators by Craig "MasterSlowPoke" Sniffen

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Deathwatch should be squatted v2 (2000 Points)

Space Marines Deathwatch Black Spear Task Force Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Captain in Gravis Armour (110 Points) • Warlord • 1x Master-crafted heavy bolt rifle • 1x Master-crafted power weapon • Enhancements: The Tome of Ectoclades

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 Points) • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Paired combat blades

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 Points) • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Paired combat blades

Watch Master (105 Points) • 1x Vigil spear

BATTLELINE

Deathwatch Veterans (200 Points) • 1x Watch Sergeant ◦ 1x Astartes shield ◦ 1x Xenophase blade • 9x Deathwatch Veterans ◦ 1x Astartes shield ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Deathwatch thunder hammer ◦ 2x Frag cannon ◦ 2x Infernus heavy bolter ◦ 1x Power weapon

Intercessor Squad (80 Points) • 1x Intercessor Sergeant ◦ 1x Astartes grenade launcher ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Bolt rifle ◦ 1x Thunder hammer • 4x Intercessor ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Bolt rifle ◦ 4x Close combat weapon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Rhino (75 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Deathwatch Terminator Squad (190 Points) • 1x Deathwatch Terminator Sergeant ◦ 1x Power fist ◦ 1x Storm bolter • 4x Deathwatch Terminator ◦ 3x Cyclone missile launcher ◦ 4x Power fist ◦ 4x Storm bolter

Deathwatch Terminator Squad (190 Points) • 1x Deathwatch Terminator Sergeant ◦ 1x Power fist ◦ 1x Storm bolter • 4x Deathwatch Terminator ◦ 3x Cyclone missile launcher ◦ 4x Power fist ◦ 4x Storm bolter

Deathwatch Terminator Squad (190 Points) • 1x Deathwatch Terminator Sergeant ◦ 1x Power fist ◦ 1x Storm bolter • 4x Deathwatch Terminator ◦ 3x Cyclone missile launcher ◦ 4x Power fist ◦ 4x Storm bolter

Indomitor Kill Team (270 Points) • 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle ◦ 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists ◦ 3x Flamestorm gauntlets ◦ 3x Twin power fists • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle ◦ 3x Bolt pistol ◦ 3x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Melta rifle ◦ 1x Multi-melta

Indomitor Kill Team (270 Points) • 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle ◦ 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists ◦ 3x Flamestorm gauntlets ◦ 3x Twin power fists • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle ◦ 3x Bolt pistol ◦ 3x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Melta rifle ◦ 1x Multi-melta

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

Reiver Squad (80 Points) • 1x Reiver Sergeant ◦ 1x Combat knife ◦ 1x Grapnel Launcher ◦ 1x Reiver Grav-chute ◦ 1x Special issue bolt pistol • 4x Reiver ◦ 4x Combat knife ◦ 4x Grapnel Launcher ◦ 4x Reiver Grav-chute ◦ 4x Special issue bolt pistol

Exported with App Version: v1.30.0 (2), Data Version: v588

Archetype

Death Watch Mixed Arms

Thoughts

In contrast to the murder bricks DW list earlier on, this one spreads much wider and works in a lot more ways to force the opponent to play - double Combi-LT is awesome for this, and the Terminator squads force enemy commitment too. I think this should make getting your teeth into a wider range of enemies more plausible, and opens up more avenues for shenanigans. Fantastic work on the to placing.

The Best of the Rest

There were 6 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 5th - Gil Myvett - Chaos Space Marines (Pactbound Zealot): An MSU Pactbound list with baby Possessed squads, some Predators and a Vindicator along the Chosen brick.
  • 6th - David Arimond - Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): Shield Host Guard spam with some Caladius in support.
  • 7th - Jacob Virginia - Death Guard (Plague Company): Plague Marine Rhino rush with plenty of Drones.
  • 8th - Kiran Arquin - Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force): Gladius Dangels with two squads of Deathwing Knights, Azrael and some supporting Ballistus shooting.
  • 9th - Tragg Thorsgard - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): A Starshatter DDA / Silent King list with Wraith brick.
  • 10th - Tim Cook - Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): A genuine mixed arms wolves list with Bjorn leading some Terminators, Thunderwolves and a Land Raider!

Dicing Death III

49-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Portland, OR, United States on April 26 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Steve Skelley - Death Guard (Plague Company) - 1st Place

Credit: Robert "TheChirurgeon" Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos - Death Guard + DETACHMENT: Plague Company + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts + ALLIED UNITS: Legiones Daemonica & Chaos Knights + + WARLORD: Char1: Mortarion + ENHANCEMENT: + NUMBER OF UNITS: 16 + SECONDARY: - Bring It Down: (10x2) + (1x4) - Assassination: 2 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Mortarion (300 pts): Warlord, Rotwind, Silence, The Lantern Char2: 1x Typhus (80 pts): Master-crafted manreaper

10x Death Guard Cultists (50 pts) • 1x Cultist Champion: Brutal assault weapon, Cultist firearm • 9x Cultist: 9 with Brutal assault weapon, Cultist firearm 10x Death Guard Cultists (50 pts) • 1x Cultist Champion: Brutal assault weapon, Cultist firearm • 9x Cultist: 9 with Brutal assault weapon, Cultist firearm 3x Deathshroud Terminators (110 pts) • 1x Deathshroud Terminator Champion: Manreaper, 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet • 2x Deathshroud Terminator: 2 with Manreaper, Plaguespurt gauntlet 1x Death Guard Predator Destructor (140 pts): Armoured tracks, Havoc launcher, Predator autocannon, Plague combi-bolter, 2x Plague heavy bolter 1x Death Guard Predator Destructor (140 pts): Armoured tracks, Havoc launcher, Predator autocannon, Plague combi-bolter, 2x Plague heavy bolter 1x Foetid Bloat-drone (90 pts): Plague probe, 2x Plaguespitter 1x Foetid Bloat-drone (90 pts): Plague probe, Fleshmower 1x Foetid Bloat-drone (90 pts): Plague probe, Fleshmower 1x Plagueburst Crawler (180 pts): Armoured tracks, Plagueburst mortar, Rothail stubber, 2x Entropy cannon 1x Plagueburst Crawler (180 pts): Armoured tracks, Plagueburst mortar, Rothail stubber, 2x Entropy cannon 1x Plagueburst Crawler (180 pts): Armoured tracks, Plagueburst mortar, Rothail stubber, 2x Plaguespitter

3x Nurglings (35 pts): 3 with Diseased claws and teeth 1x War Dog Karnivore (140 pts): Reaper chaintalon, Slaughterclaw, Havoc multi-launcher 1x War Dog Karnivore (140 pts): Reaper chaintalon, Slaughterclaw, Havoc multi-launcher

Archetype

Death Guard Hull Spam

Thoughts

A fond farewell to Death Guard hull spam, as the new book looms. Brutal, points efficient, and absolutely lethal into anything that can't chew through several vehicles through debuffs every turns. Death Guard look set to glow up in whole new ways very shortly, but they've eaten pretty well in the last few months too! Amazing work on the event win.

The Best of the Rest

There were 8 more players on 4-1+ records. They were:
  • 2nd (4.5-0.5) - Adrian James - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, double Cerastus, and some Armigers.
  • 3rd - Shane Barrantes - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade): Peteraxii and Ruststalker bricks with some Chicken / Disintegrator shooting.
  • 4th - Tanner Hebert - Orks (War Horde): Massed Trukk MSU in War Horde.
  • 5th - Brennan Larson - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Triple Trygon, triple Exocrine Invasion Fleet with supporting chaff.
  • 6th - Daniel Harrison - Astra Militarum (Mechanised Regiment): Mechanised Artillery with lots of Taurox and Chimaera out ahead.
  • 7th - Jeff Cope - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Armiger spam with some Sisters / Immolator support.
  • 8th - Jameson Haytas - Chaos Space Marines (Fellhammer): Abaddon and a Terminator brick with some tanks in tow.
  • 9th - George Kennedy - Space Marines (Astartes) (Gladius Task Force): Ultramarines Gladius with Gulliman and Calgar.

Battle for LA (in Cypress)

37-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Cypress, CA, United States on April 26 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Matthew Geyer - Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) - 1st Place

Credit: RichyP

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
How fast can you table me? (2000 points)

Chaos Daemons Strike Force (2000 points) Daemonic Incursion

CHARACTERS

Be’lakor (375 points) • Warlord • 1x Betraying Shades 1x The Blade of Shadows

Great Unclean One (295 points) • 1x Bilesword 1x Plague flail 1x Putrid vomit • Enhancement: The Endless Gift

Kairos Fateweaver (270 points) • 1x Infernal Gateway 1x Staff of Tomorrow

Rotigus (250 points) • 1x Gnarlrod 1x Streams of brackish filth

BATTLELINE

Nurglings (35 points) • 3x Nurgling Swarm • 3x Diseased claws and teeth

Plaguebearers (110 points) • 1x Plagueridden • 1x Plaguesword • 9x Plaguebearer • 1x Daemonic Icon 1x Instrument of Chaos 9x Plaguesword

Plaguebearers (110 points) • 1x Plagueridden • 1x Plaguesword • 9x Plaguebearer • 1x Daemonic Icon 1x Instrument of Chaos 9x Plaguesword

OTHER DATASHEETS

Beasts of Nurgle (65 points) • 1x Putrid appendages

Flamers (65 points) • 1x Pyrocaster • 1x Flamer mouths 1x Flickering Flames • 2x Flamer • 2x Flamer mouths 2x Flickering Flames

Flamers (65 points) • 1x Pyrocaster • 1x Flamer mouths 1x Flickering Flames • 2x Flamer • 2x Flamer mouths 2x Flickering Flames

Soul Grinder (180 points) • Daemonic Allegiance: Nurgle • 1x Harvester cannon 1x Iron claw 1x Phlegm bombardment 1x Warpsword

Soul Grinder (180 points) • Daemonic Allegiance: Nurgle • 1x Harvester cannon 1x Iron claw 1x Phlegm bombardment 1x Warpsword

Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (76), Data Version: v589

Archetype

Daemons Big Stuff

Thoughts

Another triumph for big boi Daemons, this list scales back the Greater Daemons in favour of a bit more scoring and some Soul Grinders for ranged threat. To compensate, it ensures the Greater Daemons it does bring are chunky as hell, in Rotigus and the Gift GUO. Applying careful pressure around the edges for a few turns as these big bois sit giggling on the objectives is a very solid game plan right now! Amazing work.

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 4-1+ records. They were:
  • 2nd (4.5-0.5) - christopher orton - Tyranids (Assimilation Swarm): Massed Haruspex and Psychophage in Assim Swarm - this is awesome.
  • 3rd (4.5-0.5) - Nathan Carnes - Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): Single Terminator brick / Dreadknight heavy Warpbane.
  • 4th - John Hsieh - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): A dizzying go-wide MSU Necrons list with Destroyers and Scarabs and nonsense all over the shop.
  • 5th - Junior Aflleje - Leagues of Votann (Oathband): Sagitaur / Land Fort Oathband with 15 Hearthguard.
  • 6th - Alejandro Garcia - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): A wild triple Forgefiend / Maulerfiend / Jugger Lord WE list. Very unusual!!

FA CUP Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament 2025

33-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Kowloon, HK on April 26 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Jerry Zhang - Space Marines (Astartes) (Gladius Task Force) - 1st Place

Chapter Master Arcus Pluvius of the Rainbow Warriors armed with the gauntlets Rainbows Duplex Rainbow Warriors Chapter Master Arcus Pluvius by Craig "MasterSlowPoke" Sniffen

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
UM 五车 (2000 Points)

Space Marines Ultramarines Gladius Task Force Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Captain in Gravis Armour (90 Points) • 1x Boltstorm gauntlet • 1x Power fist • 1x Relic blade • Enhancements: Artificer Armour

Marneus Calgar (210 Points) • 1x Marneus Calgar ◦ 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar • 2x Victrix Honour Guard ◦ 2x Victrix power sword

Roboute Guilliman (345 Points) • Warlord • 1x Emperor’s Sword • 1x Hand of Dominion

BATTLELINE

Intercessor Squad (80 Points) • 1x Intercessor Sergeant ◦ 1x Astartes grenade launcher ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Bolt rifle ◦ 1x Power fist • 4x Intercessor ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Bolt rifle ◦ 4x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 Points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power fist • 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs ◦ 4x Astartes chainsword ◦ 4x Heavy bolt pistol

Ballistus Dreadnought (140 Points) • 1x Armoured feet • 1x Ballistus lascannon • 1x Ballistus missile launcher • 1x Twin storm bolter

Ballistus Dreadnought (140 Points) • 1x Armoured feet • 1x Ballistus lascannon • 1x Ballistus missile launcher • 1x Twin storm bolter

Company Heroes (105 Points) • 1x Ancient ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Bolt rifle ◦ 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Company Champion ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon • 2x Company Veteran ◦ 2x Bolt pistol ◦ 2x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Master-crafted bolt rifle ◦ 1x Master-crafted heavy bolter

Gladiator Reaper (160 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Icarus rocket pod • 1x Ironhail heavy stubber • 2x Tempest bolter • 1x Twin heavy onslaught gatling cannon

Incursor Squad (80 Points) • 1x Incursor Sergeant ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Occulus bolt carbine ◦ 1x Paired combat blades • 4x Incursor ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Haywire Mine ◦ 4x Occulus bolt carbine ◦ 4x Paired combat blades

Invader ATV (60 Points) • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Multi-melta • 1x Twin bolt rifle

Invader ATV (60 Points) • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Multi-melta • 1x Twin bolt rifle

Scout Squad (70 Points) • 1x Scout Sergeant ◦ 1x Astartes chainsword ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon • 4x Scout ◦ 3x Astartes shotgun ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Heavy bolter

Vindicator (185 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Demolisher cannon • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Storm bolter

Vindicator (185 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Demolisher cannon • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Storm bolter

Exported with App Version: v1.29.1 (1), Data Version: v581

Archetype

Ultramarines Gladius

Thoughts

I've written many a page on Ultramarines Gladius - it remains a very versatile and dangerous list. I like the double ATVs for trading and I definitely think this is a meta where a Gladiator Reaper goes a long way, so these are astute choices! Otherwise, business as usual here for the sons of Gulliman. Fantastic work on the event win.

The Best of the Rest

There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 2nd - Parson Cheung - Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic): Double Vortex Beast / Rubrics and Magnus. Still kicking!
  • =3rd - Jireh Mok - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force): Deathwatch Kill Teams and Terminators.
  • =3rd - Terence Tsui - Leagues of Votann (Oathband): Oathband with 20 Hearthguard leading the charge.
  • 5th - Kenelm Tsang - Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead): Aspect MSU with a brick of Banshees and Incubi respectively.

The Fall of Empire III

30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Hồ Chí Minh, Việt Nam on April 26 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission - Drukhari (Realspace Raiders) versus Orks (Taktikal Brigade)

Phạm Xuân Thủy - Drukhari (Realspace Raiders)
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos - Drukhari + DETACHMENT: Realspace Raiders + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts + + WARLORD: Char2: Archon + ENHANCEMENT: The Art of Pain (on Char1: Archon) + NUMBER OF UNITS: 21 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Lelith Hesperax (95 pts): Lelith's blades Char2: 1x Archon (110 pts): Warlord, Huskblade, Blast pistol Enhancement: The Art of Pain (+25 pts) Char3: 1x Succubus (45 pts): Succubus weapons, Blast Pistol Char4: 1x Succubus (45 pts): Succubus weapons, Blast Pistol

10x Kabalite Warriors (100 pts) • 5x Kabalite Warrior: 5 with Close Combat Weapon, Splinter rifle • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Blaster: Blaster, Close Combat Weapon • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Dark Lance: Close Combat Weapon, Dark lance • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Shredder: Close Combat Weapon, Shredder • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Splinter Cannon: Close Combat Weapon, Splinter cannon • 1x Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Sybarite Weapon, Blast Pistol 10x Kabalite Warriors (100 pts) • 5x Kabalite Warrior: 5 with Close Combat Weapon, Splinter rifle • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Blaster: Blaster, Close Combat Weapon • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Dark Lance: Close Combat Weapon, Dark lance • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Shredder: Close Combat Weapon, Shredder • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Splinter Cannon: Close Combat Weapon, Splinter cannon • 1x Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Sybarite Weapon, Splinter Rifle 10x Wyches (80 pts) • 1x Hekatrix: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Hekatarii Blade, Blast Pistol • 9x Wych: 9 with Hekatarii Blade, Splinter Pistol 10x Wyches (80 pts) • 1x Hekatrix: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Hekatarii Blade, Blast Pistol • 9x Wych: 9 with Hekatarii Blade, Splinter Pistol

4x Court of the Archon (95 pts) • 1x Lhamaean: Shaimeshi Blade • 1x Medusae: Close combat weapon, Eyeburst • 1x Sslyth: Shardcarbine, Splinter pistol, Sslyth battle-blade • 1x Ur-ghul: Ur-ghul Talons 3x Grotesques (80 pts): 3 with Liquifier Gun, Monstrous weapons 5x Scourges (130 pts) • 4x Scourge with Heavy Weapon: 4 with Close combat weapon, Dark Lance • 1x Solarite: Close combat weapon, Solarite Weapon, Shardcarbine 1x Cronos (50 pts): Spirit Syphon, Spirit Vortex, Spirit-leech Tentacles 1x Cronos (50 pts): Spirit Syphon, Spirit Vortex, Spirit-leech Tentacles 2x Talos (160 pts): 2 with Twin Liquifier Gun, Talos Gauntlet, Twin Haywire Blasters 2x Talos (160 pts): 2 with Twin Liquifier Gun, Talos Gauntlet, Twin Haywire Blasters 2x Talos (160 pts): 2 with Twin Liquifier Gun, Talos Gauntlet, Twin Haywire Blasters 1x Ravager (110 pts): Bladevanes, 3x Dark Lance 1x Ravager (110 pts): Bladevanes, 3x Dark Lance 1x Raider (80 pts): Bladevanes, Dark Lance 1x Raider (80 pts): Bladevanes, Dark Lance 1x Raider (80 pts): Bladevanes, Dark Lance


vs.

Jensen Goh - Orks (Taktikal Brigade)
Army List - Click to Expand
没打卡？你好好听我说 (2000 points)

Orks Strike Force (2000 points) Taktikal Brigade

CHARACTERS

Beastboss (80 points) • 1x Beast Snagga klaw 1x Beastchoppa 1x Shoota

Big Mek in Mega Armour (135 points) • Warlord • 1x Kustom mega-blasta 1x Power klaw • Enhancement: Mek Kaptin

Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun (75 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Grot Assistant 1x Shokk attack gun

Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun (75 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Grot Assistant 1x Shokk attack gun

Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun (75 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Grot Assistant 1x Shokk attack gun

Boss Snikrot (95 points) • 1x Mork’s Teeth 1x Slugga

Mek (55 points) • 1x Killsaw 1x Kustom mega-slugga • Enhancement: Gob Boomer

Zodgrod Wortsnagga (80 points) • 1x Da Grabzappa 1x Squigstoppa

BATTLELINE

Beast Snagga Boyz (190 points) • 19x Beast Snagga Boy • 19x Choppa 19x Slugga • 1x Beast Snagga Nob • 1x Power snappa 1x Slugga

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

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

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

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

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Battlewagon (160 points) • 4x Big shoota 1x Deff rolla 1x Lobba 1x Zzap gun 1x ’Ard Case

Flash Gitz (160 points) • 1x Ammo Runt • 1x Kaptin • 1x Choppa 1x Snazzgun • 9x Flash Git • 9x Choppa 9x Snazzgun

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

Gretchin (80 points) • 20x Gretchin • 20x Close combat weapon 20x Grot blasta • 2x Runtherd • 2x Runtherd tools 2x Slugga

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

Tankbustas (135 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 2x Rokkit pistol • 5x Tankbusta • 5x Close combat weapon 1x Pulsa Rokkit 5x Rokkit launcha

Tankbustas (135 points) • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Choppa 2x Rokkit pistol • 5x Tankbusta • 5x Close combat weapon 1x Pulsa Rokkit 5x Rokkit launcha

Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (76), Data Version: v589

Thoughts

Orks versus Drukhari eh? Whisper it softly, but the Dark Kin like Orks. Low leadership keeps their pain tokens coming all game, Splinter fire cares not for T5, and they have an awful lot of speed and counter melee with which to make Greenskin life difficult over a five turn game. This Realspace list dials it back by committing hard to Ravagers, Talos and Kabalites in the original detachment, where you have an awful lot of juice to keep the guns firing and put opposing shooting armies away quickly.

The Taktikal list it actually relatively light on shooting, going harder on combat, and this makes getting it's teeth into the dark elves harder if the Waaagh turn is suitably screened and managed. Getting plenty from the Flash Gitz brick is important here- lose it too cheaply and things can snowball. In the event, it appears the Drukhari were able to bring back many an Ork to the Oubliettes in the Dark City...

Result

Drukhari (Realspace Raiders) Victory - 87 - 55

Phạm Xuân Thủy - Drukhari (Realspace Raiders) - 1st Place

Credit: Keewa

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos - Drukhari + DETACHMENT: Realspace Raiders + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts + + WARLORD: Char2: Archon + ENHANCEMENT: The Art of Pain (on Char1: Archon) + NUMBER OF UNITS: 21 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Lelith Hesperax (95 pts): Lelith's blades Char2: 1x Archon (110 pts): Warlord, Huskblade, Blast pistol Enhancement: The Art of Pain (+25 pts) Char3: 1x Succubus (45 pts): Succubus weapons, Blast Pistol Char4: 1x Succubus (45 pts): Succubus weapons, Blast Pistol

10x Kabalite Warriors (100 pts) • 5x Kabalite Warrior: 5 with Close Combat Weapon, Splinter rifle • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Blaster: Blaster, Close Combat Weapon • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Dark Lance: Close Combat Weapon, Dark lance • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Shredder: Close Combat Weapon, Shredder • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Splinter Cannon: Close Combat Weapon, Splinter cannon • 1x Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Sybarite Weapon, Blast Pistol 10x Kabalite Warriors (100 pts) • 5x Kabalite Warrior: 5 with Close Combat Weapon, Splinter rifle • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Blaster: Blaster, Close Combat Weapon • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Dark Lance: Close Combat Weapon, Dark lance • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Shredder: Close Combat Weapon, Shredder • 1x Kabalite Warrior with Splinter Cannon: Close Combat Weapon, Splinter cannon • 1x Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Sybarite Weapon, Splinter Rifle 10x Wyches (80 pts) • 1x Hekatrix: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Hekatarii Blade, Blast Pistol • 9x Wych: 9 with Hekatarii Blade, Splinter Pistol 10x Wyches (80 pts) • 1x Hekatrix: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Hekatarii Blade, Blast Pistol • 9x Wych: 9 with Hekatarii Blade, Splinter Pistol

4x Court of the Archon (95 pts) • 1x Lhamaean: Shaimeshi Blade • 1x Medusae: Close combat weapon, Eyeburst • 1x Sslyth: Shardcarbine, Splinter pistol, Sslyth battle-blade • 1x Ur-ghul: Ur-ghul Talons 3x Grotesques (80 pts): 3 with Liquifier Gun, Monstrous weapons 5x Scourges (130 pts) • 4x Scourge with Heavy Weapon: 4 with Close combat weapon, Dark Lance • 1x Solarite: Close combat weapon, Solarite Weapon, Shardcarbine 1x Cronos (50 pts): Spirit Syphon, Spirit Vortex, Spirit-leech Tentacles 1x Cronos (50 pts): Spirit Syphon, Spirit Vortex, Spirit-leech Tentacles 2x Talos (160 pts): 2 with Twin Liquifier Gun, Talos Gauntlet, Twin Haywire Blasters 2x Talos (160 pts): 2 with Twin Liquifier Gun, Talos Gauntlet, Twin Haywire Blasters 2x Talos (160 pts): 2 with Twin Liquifier Gun, Talos Gauntlet, Twin Haywire Blasters 1x Ravager (110 pts): Bladevanes, 3x Dark Lance 1x Ravager (110 pts): Bladevanes, 3x Dark Lance 1x Raider (80 pts): Bladevanes, Dark Lance 1x Raider (80 pts): Bladevanes, Dark Lance 1x Raider (80 pts): Bladevanes, Dark Lance

Archetype

Realspace Raid Drukhari

Thoughts

Lots to like in this go-wide Drukhari list, that packs in plenty of Wych nonsense to pressure and deny primary, as Kabalite Raiders get to work at range. Realspace Raiders isn't glamorous, but it gives you more pain token generation than any other detachment to keep the rerolls flowing, and the reality is some armies simply cannot handle the T1-2 barrage of fully juice up Ravagers and Talos, at which point you are in cleanup mode. Awesome to see this performing well! Well done on the event win.

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 2nd - Jensen Goh - Orks (Taktikal Brigade): Battlewagon / Trukk led Taktikal Brigade.
  • 3rd - Vinh cháo Trần - Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): An Abominant leading a horde of War Dogs.
  • 4th - Duy Nguyen - Death Guard (Plague Company): Fifteen Deathshroud, Morty, and a bunch of Brigands.
  • 5th - Trần Ngọc Thanh Danh - Leagues of Votann (Oathband): Triple Land Fort with MSU Hearthguard / Champions.
  • 6th - Nguyên Nguyễn - Genestealer Cults (Xenocreed Congregation): Massed Acolyte, Neophyte and Metamorphs in Xeno.

Wrap Up

There you have it folks! Marines putting up some good showings alongside a host of Chaos and Xenos intruders. Extremely cool to see Drukhari snatch an event win too, not at all biased me no sir. Have a great weekend and we will catch you next time!

Lowest of Men, out.

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Tags: ultramarines | Space Marines | imperial knights | Deathwatch | Death Guard | Warhammer 40k | Aeldari | drukhari | chaos daemons | Orks | Meta Analysis | Competitive Innovations

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