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.

A quiet week this time around - not too many events scheduled over Easter in most parts of the world, and in the UK there were two big team events that consumed most players. No real data takeaways therefore, I'm sure we'll be back to normal next week.

This Week's Events

Gothcon 40k Open
Peterborough Slam! - Inspired GT
Twin Dragons April Grand Tournament

Gothcon 40k Open

62-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Västra Götalands län, SE on April 03 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Search and Destroy - Linchpin

Björn Eriksson - Leagues of Votann (Hearthband)

Army List - Click to Expand

gothcon (2000 points)

Leagues of Votann Strike Force (2000 points) Hearthband

CHARACTERS

Kâhl (80 points) • 1x Autoch-pattern combi-bolter 1x Mass gauntlet 1x Teleport Crest • Enhancement: Quake Multigenerator

Ûthar the Destined (95 points) • Warlord • 1x Blade of the Ancestors 1x Rampart Crest 1x Volkanite disintegrator

BATTLELINE

Hearthkyn Warriors (100 points) • 1x Theyn • 1x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon 1x Theyn's melee weapon 1x Theyn's pistol 1x Weavefield crest • 9x Hearthkyn Warrior • 9x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol 9x Close combat weapon 1x HYLas auto rifle 1x HYLas rotary cannon 5x Ion blaster 2x Plasma knife

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Kapricus Carrier (75 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Magna-coil autocannon 1x Smoke Launcher 1x Twin magna‑coil autocannon

Sagitaur (90 points) • 1x Armoured wheels 1x HYLas beam cannon 1x Twin bolt cannon

Sagitaur (90 points) • 1x Armoured wheels 1x HYLas beam cannon 1x Twin bolt cannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Brôkhyr Thunderkyn (80 points) • 3x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn • 3x Close combat weapon 3x Graviton blast cannon

Brôkhyr Thunderkyn (80 points) • 3x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn • 3x Close combat weapon 3x Graviton blast cannon

Cthonian Beserks (200 points) • 10x Cthonian Beserk • 10x Concussion maul

Einhyr Hearthguard (270 points) • 1x Hesyr • 1x EtaCarn plasma gun 1x Exoarmour grenade launcher 1x Graviton hammer 1x Weavefield crest • 9x Einhyr Hearthguard • 9x Concussion gauntlet 9x EtaCarn plasma gun 9x Exoarmour grenade launcher

Einhyr Hearthguard (135 points) • 1x Hesyr • 1x EtaCarn plasma gun 1x Exoarmour grenade launcher 1x Graviton hammer 1x Teleport Crest • 4x Einhyr Hearthguard • 4x Concussion gauntlet 4x EtaCarn plasma gun 4x Exoarmour grenade launcher

Einhyr Hearthguard (135 points) • 1x Hesyr • 1x EtaCarn plasma gun 1x Exoarmour grenade launcher 1x Graviton hammer 1x Teleport Crest • 4x Einhyr Hearthguard • 4x Concussion gauntlet 4x EtaCarn plasma gun 4x Exoarmour grenade launcher

Hekaton Land Fortress (240 points) • 1x Armoured wheels 1x MATR autocannon 1x Panspectral Scanner 1x SP heavy conversion beamer 2x Twin bolt cannon

Hernkyn Pioneers (160 points) • 6x Hernkyn Pioneer • 6x Bolt revolver 6x Bolt shotgun 2x HYLas rotary cannon 6x Magna-coil autocannon 1x Panspectral Scanner 6x Plasma knife 1x Rollbar Searchlight

Hernkyn Pioneers (80 points) • 3x Hernkyn Pioneer • 3x Bolt revolver 3x Bolt shotgun 1x HYLas rotary cannon 3x Magna-coil autocannon 1x Panspectral Scanner 3x Plasma knife 1x Rollbar Searchlight

Hernkyn Yaegirs (90 points) • 1x Yaegir Theyn • 1x Bolt revolver 1x Close combat weapon 1x Plasma knife • 9x Hernkyn Yaegir • 1x APM launcher 7x Bolt revolver 9x Close combat weapon 1x Magna-coil rifle 7x Plasma knife

Exported with App Version: v1.49.0 (114), Data Version: v757

vs.

Victor Bergenholtz - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet)

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + PLAYER NAME: Victor Bergenholtz + TEAM NAME: Team Sweden + FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos - Tyranids + DETACHMENT: Invasion Fleet (Hyper Adaptions) + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts + + WARLORD: Char1: The Swarmlord + ENHANCEMENT: + NUMBER OF UNITS: 14 + SECONDARY: - Bring It Down: (2x2) + (3x4) - Assassination: 3 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

Broodlord (80 pts) • 1x Broodlord Claws and Talons

Hive Tyrant (195 pts) • 1x Monstrous bonesword and lash whip • 1x Monstrous scything talons

The Swarmlord (220 pts) • 1x Bone Sabres • 1x Synaptic Pulse • Warlord

BATTLELINE

Hormagaunts (65 pts) • 10x Hormagaunts • 10x Hormagaunt talons

Hormagaunts (65 pts) • 10x Hormagaunts • 10x Hormagaunt talons

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (50 pts) • 1x Biovore • 1x Chitin-barbed limbs • 1x Spore mine launcher

Genestealers (140 pts) • 10x Genestealer • 10x Genestealers claws and talons

Neurolictor (70 pts) • 1x Piercing claws and talons

Neurolictor (70 pts) • 1x Piercing claws and talons

Norn Emissary (260 pts) • 1x Monstrous rending claws • 1x Monstrous scything talons • 1x Psychic tendril

Norn Emissary (260 pts) • 1x Monstrous rending claws • 1x Monstrous scything talons • 1x Psychic tendril

Tyrannofex (200 pts) • 1x Powerful limbs • 1x Stinger salvoes • 1x Acid spray

Tyrant Guard (160 pts) • 6x Tyrant Guard • 6x Scything talons and rending claws

Tyrant Guard (160 pts) • 6x Tyrant Guard • 6x Scything talons and rending claws

Thoughts

Hearthband goes hunting for some big bugs in our showdown, with Tyranids attempting to shut them down via various hard to shift units. Double Tyrant guard and double Norn and a big unit of Genestealers that can pick up Rapid Regeneration is a volume of Feel No Pain that will exhaust the arsenals of many opponents, and mixing in the Guard alongside the Norns helps prevent the list getting easily countered by high damage single shot weaponry, as slogging through the Guard with that is a pain. Add some Hormagaunts to deny what little Primary the opponent is threatening to take off you, and you have a pretty solid plan for a score victory.

The potential weakness of that plan is that if the opponent has "all purpose" damage output to respond with, it doesn't chip that down very fast, and unfortunately for the bugs that's definitely what they're up against here. The Hearthband build has a good line in gradual, withering damage, plus a few really big punches it can throw to get the momentum going in its direction. Most notable of these is popping Superior Craftsmanship on the Beserks, which is a huge threat to either flavour of big target in the bug list (as the Tyrant Guard get the Monster keyword from their Leader). Adding to that, blowing Fury of the Hearth on the big plasma Hearthguard unit gets them to the key S8 that they need to do appreciable damage into the Tyrant squad, particularly once stacked with Lethal Hits. The Tyranids also don't have an enormous amount they can do about either of these things, as the Beserks are presumably coming out of a transport and the big Hearthguard out of reserves. The Beserks may well also get to double dip, as there's not that much shooting in the Tyranid list so they might have to be lifted in melee. The terrain map for this round also has expansion objectives that are quite easy for fast stuff like the bikes to get angles on, so avoiding a confrontation is hard.

From the Tyranid side, I think there's two things to aim for:

look for an opportunity to try and deny the home with Hormagaunts for a turn.
Consider whether there's a big brain play of not attaching one Tyrant Guard unit, and leaning on Rapid Regeneration for their FNP.

The thinking on point 2 is that losing the Tyrant out of the unit makes the Guard wildly harder for the Votann to shift fast with the Beserks - no +1 damage and no anti-Monster 3+, and suddenly they're a pain for the hammer guys to handle, and could maybe be used to move block them from getting to the good stuff. The level of redundancy that the big plasma unit proides means that's probably not enough of a solution, but it did leap out as unusually transformative when reviewing the lists. It looks like whatever the Tyranids could muster wasn't enough to change things here, and the Votann were able to take a solid win.

Result

Leagues of Votann (Hearthband) Victory - 14 - 6

Björn Eriksson - Leagues of Votann (Hearthband) - 1st Place

Ûthar the Destined. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

All-rounder Hearthband

Thoughts

As seen in the Showdown, this is a fairly classic high-damage Hearthband build, with solutions for both large targets (the Beserk brick) and hordier stuff (the big bike squad). As is standard for Votann, nothing particularly surprising or sneaky going on, just very efficient grindy damage, which proved enough for Björn to take the trophy here, congratulations!

Dag Samuelsson - Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs) - 2nd Place

Credit: Keewa

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Martyrer Gothcon (2000 Points)

Adepta Sororitas Hallowed Martyrs Strike Force (2 000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Canoness (70 Points) • 1x Blessed blade • 1x Inferno pistol • Enhancements: Saintly Example

Hospitaller (85 Points) • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Chirurgeon's tools • Enhancements: Chaplet of Sacrifice

Junith Eruita (80 Points) • 1x Mace of Castigation • 1x Twin Ministorum heavy flamer

Morvenn Vahl (185 Points) • Warlord • 1x Fidelis • 1x Lance of Illumination • 1x Paragon missile launcher

Palatine (75 Points) • 1x Palatine blade • 1x Plasma pistol • Enhancements: Through Suffering, Strength

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

Immolator (115 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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Celestian Sacresants (140 Points) • 1x Sacresant Superior ◦ 1x Inferno pistol ◦ 1x Spear of the faithful • 9x Celestian Sacresant ◦ 9x Bolt pistol ◦ 9x Hallowed mace

Celestian Sacresants (140 Points) • 1x Sacresant Superior ◦ 1x Inferno pistol ◦ 1x Spear of the faithful • 9x Celestian Sacresant ◦ 9x Anointed halberd ◦ 9x Bolt pistol

Dominion Squad (120 Points) • 1x Dominion Superior ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Inferno pistol ◦ 1x Power weapon • 9x Dominion ◦ 9x Bolt pistol ◦ 5x Boltgun ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Meltagun ◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Dominion Squad (120 Points) • 1x Dominion Superior ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Inferno pistol ◦ 1x Power weapon • 9x Dominion ◦ 9x Bolt pistol ◦ 5x Boltgun ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Meltagun ◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

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

Retributor Squad (120 Points) • 1x Retributor Superior ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Inferno pistol ◦ 1x Power weapon • 4x Retributor ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Multi-melta

Retributor Squad (120 Points) • 1x Retributor Superior ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Inferno pistol ◦ 1x Power weapon • 4x Retributor ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Multi-melta

Retributor Squad (120 Points) • 1x Retributor Superior ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Inferno pistol ◦ 1x Power weapon • 4x Retributor ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Multi-melta

Sanctifiers (110 Points) • 1x Miraculist ◦ 1x Burning hands ◦ 1x Holy fire • 1x Salvationist ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Salvationist Medikit • 1x Death Cult Assassin ◦ 1x Death Cult blades • 2x Missionary ◦ 1x Holy fire ◦ 1x Ministorum flamer ◦ 1x Plasma gun ◦ 2x Sanctifier melee weapon • 4x Sanctifier ◦ 2x Close combat weapon ◦ 5x Ministorum hand flamer ◦ 2x Sanctifier melee weapon ◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Archetype

Infantry Martyrs

Thoughts

Sisters take second with an Infantry-focused Hallowed Martyrs build, which uses double Sacresants to absorb the enemy's initial pressure, followed by lots of Dominions and Retributors to make them regret their choices. Sanctifiers and a sacrificial Canoness also help ensure that the enemy has committed some crimes worthy of retribution when the time comes to melt them. Well adapted to hunting heavy targets, though can struggle a little with builds that go wider, so if hordes keep rising up when normal service reviews, it might need some tinkering (maybe Dominions take flamers instead?). Seems to have thrived here though, other than one dropped game to the winner, so well done Dag.

Emil Söderholm - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) - 3rd Place

Credit: Alfredo Ramirez

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Deathwatch + DETACHMENT: Black Spear Task Force (Kill Teams) + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts + + ENHANCEMENT: Thief of Secrets (on Char1: Captain in Gravis Armour) & Beacon Angelis (on Char2: Judiciar) & The Tome of Ectoclades (on Char3: Watch Master) + NUMBER OF UNITS: 13 + SECONDARY: - Assassination: 3 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

Captain in Gravis Armour (105 pts) • 1x Master-crafted Heavy Bolt Rifle • 1x Master-crafted power weapon • Thief of Secrets (+25 pts)

Judiciar (95 pts) • 1x Absolvor bolt pistol • 1x Executioner Relic Blade • Beacon Angelis (+25 pts)

Watch Master (125 pts) • 1x Vigil spear • The Tome of Ectoclades (+30 pts)

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 pts) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power fist • 4x Assault Intercessors • 4x Astartes Chainsword • 4x Heavy Bolt Pistol

Deathwatch Veterans (190 pts) • 9x Veteran • 4x Power weapon • 1x Black Shield blades • 4x Deathwatch thunder hammer • 4x Astartes shield • 1x Sgt • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Xenophase blade

OTHER DATASHEETS

Fortis Kill Team (180 pts) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power fist • 9x Kill Team Intercessor • 9x Bolt pistol • 9x Close combat weapon • 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 2x Astartes grenade launcher • 2x Castellan Launcher • 1x Superkrak missile launcher • 1x Vengor launcher • 4x Plasma incinerator

Fortis Kill Team (180 pts) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power fist • 9x Kill Team Intercessor • 9x Bolt pistol • 9x Close combat weapon • 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 2x Astartes grenade launcher • 2x Castellan Launcher • 1x Superkrak missile launcher • 1x Vengor launcher • 4x Plasma incinerator

Fortis Kill Team (180 pts) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power fist • 9x Kill Team Intercessor • 9x Bolt pistol • 9x Close combat weapon • 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 2x Astartes grenade launcher • 2x Castellan Launcher • 1x Superkrak missile launcher • 1x Vengor launcher • 4x Plasma incinerator

Incursor Squad (80 pts) • 4x Incursor • 4x Bolt pistol • 4x Occulus Bolt Carbine • 4x Paired Combat Blades • Haywire Mine • 1x Incursor Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Occulus Bolt Carbine • 1x Paired Combat Blades

Incursor Squad (80 pts) • 4x Incursor • 4x Bolt pistol • 4x Occulus Bolt Carbine • 4x Paired Combat Blades • Haywire Mine • 1x Incursor Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Occulus Bolt Carbine • 1x Paired Combat Blades

Indomitor Kill Team (265 pts) • 10x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor • 7x Bolt pistol • 7x Close combat weapon • 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle • 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter • 2x Melta rifle • 1x Multi-melta • 3x Flamestorm gauntlets • 3x Twin power fists

Indomitor Kill Team (265 pts) • 10x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor • 7x Bolt pistol • 7x Close combat weapon • 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle • 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter • 2x Melta rifle • 1x Multi-melta • 3x Flamestorm gauntlets • 3x Twin power fists

Spectrus Kill Team (180 pts) • 10x Kill Team Infiltrator • 10x Bolt pistol • 6x Close combat weapon • 3x Deathwatch marksman bolt carbine • 4x Deathwatch occulus bolt carbine • 4x Paired combat blades • 1x Instigator bolt carbine • 2x Las fusil • Infiltrator Comms Array

Archetype

Deathwatch Kill Teams with a Spectrus

Thoughts

The standard Deathwatch core with the flex points really squeezed so that they become a Spectrus team. It's a very strong and fleible unit to add to the setup, though whether you actually need another Kill Team rather than just opting for net one more activation is definitely up for question. May also have been a bit of a liability against the Votann, which again was the one loss, and where creating more high value places for D2 shooting to go probably doesn't help. Well done Emil on third.

Victor Bergenholtz - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet) - 4th Place

Norn Emissary. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Heavy Invasion Fleet

Thoughts

As seen in the Showdown, this is a delightfully crunchy take on Invasion Fleet, able to crush any foes who haven't brought reliable, grindy damage to the table, and feeling especially strong into enemy monster mash builds, as they just shouldn't be able to wade through the Tyrant Guard fast enough to stop the Norns out scoring them. Feels well placed into T'au as well - although the Tyrant Guard are 4W, the Feel No Pain means that Riptides just don't kill them very efficiently, never mind the Norns. Love seeing the big bugs out and about, good job Victor.

The Best of the Rest

There was 1 more player on 5-1 records. They were:

5th - Frank Kummel - Chaos Daemons (Plague Legion): Lots of Great Unclean Ones and lots of Plaguebearers with Spoilpox Scriveners to maximise Primary denial capabilities.

Peterborough Slam! - Inspired GT

29-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on April 04 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Adam Tubby - Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor) - 1st Place

Adeptus Custodes Blade Champion painted by Crab-stuffed Mushrooms

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Tubbzie (2000 points)

Adeptus Custodes Strike Force (2000 points) Lions of the Emperor

CHARACTERS

Blade Champion (120 points) • 1x Vaultswords

Blade Champion (145 points) • 1x Vaultswords • Enhancement: Superior Creation

Shield-Captain in Allarus Terminator Armour (140 points) • Warlord • 1x Balistus grenade launcher 1x Castellan axe • Enhancement: Admonimortis

BATTLELINE

Custodian Guard (160 points) • 4x Custodian Guard • 3x Guardian spear 1x Misericordia 1x Praesidium Shield 1x Vexilla

Custodian Guard (160 points) • 4x Custodian Guard • 3x Guardian spear 1x Misericordia 1x Praesidium Shield 1x Vexilla

Custodian Guard (160 points) • 4x Custodian Guard • 3x Guardian spear 1x Misericordia 1x Praesidium Shield 1x Vexilla

OTHER DATASHEETS

Allarus Custodians (165 points) • 3x Allarus Custodian • 3x Balistus grenade launcher 3x Guardian spear

Allarus Custodians (275 points) • 5x Allarus Custodian • 5x Balistus grenade launcher 5x Guardian spear

Allarus Custodians (275 points) • 5x Allarus Custodian • 5x Balistus grenade launcher 5x Castellan axe

Prosecutors (40 points) • 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior • 1x Boltgun 1x Close combat weapon • 3x Prosecutor • 3x Boltgun 3x Close combat weapon

Prosecutors (40 points) • 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior • 1x Boltgun 1x Close combat weapon • 3x Prosecutor • 3x Boltgun 3x Close combat weapon

Venatari Custodians (165 points) • 3x Venatari Custodian • 3x Venatari lance

Witchseekers (45 points) • 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Witchseeker flamer • 3x Witchseeker • 3x Close combat weapon 3x Witchseeker flamer

Witchseekers (45 points) • 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Witchseeker flamer • 3x Witchseeker • 3x Close combat weapon 3x Witchseeker flamer

ALLIED UNITS

Inquisitor (65 points) • 1x Combi-weapon 1x Force weapon 1x Psychic Gifts 1x Psychic Shock Wave

Exported with App Version: v1.50.0 (115), Data Version: v759

Archetype

Allarus Lions

Thoughts

A relatively unusual Custodes build sweeps things at our second event, deploying lots of Allarus alongside a Custodian core to get things done. Two big Allarus squads does a couple of things for the army - first, you can legitimately pop Unleash on one of them to create tonnes of activations, and secondly putting axes on one unit gives you an actual proper answer to big threats with -1D (and honestly. Pro tip for my fellow C'tan players (*crowd boos*) - if you see an Allarus unit in your opponent's list, make sure to check what weapons they have before they're in contact with a star god. Do not ask me how I know this. This gets even more true if the Adonimortis guy teams up with them, though I sort of assume in most games they run with the smaller squad to diversify threats. A very punchy Custodes build, and good to see some variety after months of Land Raider hell, congratulations Adam.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Jack Sayer - T'au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Crisis Toolbox and some Riptides.
3rd - Ed Sgt.Crusader - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Mostly melee Warband with a single Forgefiend and a big Exalted unit (see Showdown).
4th - Alan Percival - Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): Lion, Deathwing and ICCs, plus an Outrider/Samael unit as an extra speedy troubleshooter.
5th - Tom Collins - Adeptus Mechanicus (Eradication Cohort): Ultra-murderous AdMech, unleashing a whole bunch of Ruststalkers, Infiltrators and Ironstriders in the new Detachment.

Twin Dragons April Grand Tournament

26-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Naples, FL, United States on April 04 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Paul Roberts - Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders) - 1st Place

Lord Discordant. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Not EC2 (1990 Points)

Chaos Space Marines Renegade Raiders Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Cypher (90 Points) • Warlord • 1x Cypher's bolt pistol • 1x Cypher's plasma pistol

Huron Blackheart (120 Points) • 1x Tyrant's Claw and exalted power weapon • 1x Tyrant's Claw heavy flamer

Lord Discordant on Helstalker (160 Points) • 1x Baleflamer • 1x Bladed limbs • 1x Bolt Pistol • 1x Impaler chainglaive • 1x Magma cutter

Vashtorr the Arkifane (175 Points) • 1x Vashtorr's claw • 1x Vashtorr's hammer

BATTLELINE

Cultist Mob (50 Points) • 1x Cultist Champion ◦ 1x Autopistol ◦ 1x Brutal assault weapon • 9x Chaos Cultist ◦ 9x Autopistol ◦ 9x Brutal assault weapon

Legionaries (90 Points) • 1x Aspiring Champion ◦ 1x Chaos Icon ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Heavy melee weapon ◦ 1x Plasma pistol • 4x Legionary ◦ 2x Astartes chainsword ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Heavy melee weapon ◦ 1x Lascannon

Legionaries (90 Points) • 1x Aspiring Champion ◦ 1x Chaos Icon ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Heavy melee weapon ◦ 1x Plasma pistol • 4x Legionary ◦ 2x Astartes chainsword ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Heavy melee weapon ◦ 1x Lascannon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (75 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Havoc launcher

Chaos Rhino (75 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Havoc launcher

Chaos Rhino (75 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chaos Bikers (70 Points) • 1x Biker Champion ◦ 1x Chaos Icon ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Combi-bolter ◦ 1x Power fist • 2x Chaos Biker ◦ 2x Astartes chainsword ◦ 2x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Combi-bolter ◦ 2x Meltagun

Chaos Predator Destructor (140 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Havoc launcher • 2x Lascannon • 1x Predator autocannon

Chaos Predator Destructor (140 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Havoc launcher • 2x Lascannon • 1x Predator autocannon

Chosen (125 Points) • 1x Chosen Champion ◦ 1x Boltgun ◦ 1x Chaos Icon ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power fist • 4x Chosen ◦ 3x Accursed weapon ◦ 3x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Boltgun ◦ 2x Combi-weapon ◦ 1x Paired accursed weapons ◦ 1x Plasma pistol

Masters of the Maelstrom (115 Points) • 1x Garreon the Corpsemaster ◦ 1x Absolvor bolt pistol ◦ 1x Reductor array • 1x Garlon Souleater ◦ 1x Force stave ◦ 1x Mind Wrench • 1x Katar Garrix ◦ 1x Axe of Ending ◦ 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Captain Sargotta ◦ 1x Laspistol ◦ 1x Power sabre • 1x The Enforcer ◦ 1x Bionic gauntlet ◦ 1x Londaxi maimer

Red Corsairs Raiders (110 Points) • 1x Red Corsairs Raider Champion ◦ 1x Boltgun ◦ 1x Hand flamer ◦ 1x Reaver's blade • 4x Red Corsairs Raider ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 3x Boltgun ◦ 1x Meltagun ◦ 1x Power fist ◦ 3x Reaver's blade

ALLIED UNITS

Noise Marines (145 Points) • 1x Disharmonist ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Sonic blaster • 5x Noise Marine ◦ 2x Blastmaster ◦ 5x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Sonic blaster

Noise Marines (145 Points) • 1x Disharmonist ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Sonic blaster • 5x Noise Marine ◦ 2x Blastmaster ◦ 5x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Sonic blaster

Exported with App Version: v1.50.0 (2), Data Version: v759

Archetype

Brawler Raiders

Thoughts

Another win for the Chaos classic of "Rhinos filled with nasty stuff" to close us out, which continues to have a moment. I continue to be a big fan of the plan of using the Masters joined to a smaller unit to take this plan to its logical maximum. Not much more to say given this is one of the most consistently effective plans of the entire edition, congratulations to Paul.

The Best of the Rest

There were 3 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd - AJ Sousa - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Classic Vectorium goodstuff with the full three Deathshroud units and three Bloat-Drones.
3rd - David Miloseski - Chaos Knights (Helhunt Lance): Ultra-aggro Chaos Knights with the new detachment, using triple melee bigs (two Rampagers and a Lancer) to press the attack.
4th - Chase Merritt - T'au Empire (Mont'ka): Go-wide Mont'ka, other than the extremely not go-wide choice of a big Broadside unit.

Wrap Up

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