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.

Part 3 today covers:

North Star Open 2025
Black Crow Gaming's Battle of the RAGNAR GT!
GRIMDARK 25: THE FINAL GRIMDARK
GRILLIN' DICE 2025!!!
Palladium Games Presents "the dumpster fire gt" NOVA Prep Edition

Part 1 on Wednesday looked at:

Denver 40K Fight Club August Open 2025
GT Golden Dawn III - Warhammer 40k
Hour Zero 2: Heroes Unchained
Abyss 40k GT #5
VT 40K GT AUGUST 25
40k Brawl - August GT 2025

Part 2 on Friday featured Lowest of Men reviewing:

Ragnarök GT 2025 - A Valkyrie Wargaming Event
Games and Stuff 40K Event Hosted by Away Games
Rammaric Industries The GT 2025
Summer Slaughter: Warhammer 40K Summer Assault ITC Major
Toys of Mass Destruction - Hertfordshire Summer GT

North Star Open 2025

54-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Duluth, MN, US on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Devin Orchard - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) - 1st Place

The Silent King. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Markenezan Starshatter (1995 points)

Necrons Strike Force (2000 points) Starshatter Arsenal

CHARACTERS

Catacomb Command Barge (150 points) • 1x Gauss cannon 1x Staff of light • Enhancement: Dread Majesty (Aura)

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

Technomancer (105 points) • 1x Staff of light • Enhancement: Chrono-impedance Fields

Technomancer (90 points) • 1x Staff of light • Enhancement: Demanding Leader

The Silent King (420 points) • 1x Szarekh • Warlord • 1x Sceptre of Eternal Glory 1x Staff of Stars 1x Weapons of the Final Triarch • 2x Triarchal Menhir • 2x Annihilator beam 2x Armoured bulk

OTHER DATASHEETS

Canoptek Reanimator (75 points) • 2x Atomiser beam 1x Reanimator's claws

Canoptek Spyders (75 points) • 1x Automaton claws 1x Fabricator Claw Array (Aura) 1x Gloom Prism (Aura) 2x Particle beamer

Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) • 6x Canoptek Wraith • 6x Particle caster 6x Vicious claws

Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) • 6x Canoptek Wraith • 6x Particle caster 6x Vicious claws

Cryptothralls (60 points) • 2x Cryptothrall • 2x Scouring eye 2x Scythed limbs

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

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

Ophydian Destroyers (80 points) • 3x Ophydian Destroyer • 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons 1 plasmacyte

Archetype

Double Wraith Starshatter

Thoughts

Glorious robot domination to start us off today, but it's the good kind. Yes. Double Wraith/double Doomsday is, for my money, the best Starshatter build, because two Wraith blocks will completely stymie some builds, and provide plenty of breathing room for the guns to do their work. I don't see this getting any worse after the changes too - melee Marine builds tend to hate Wraiths as well since they can soak up a charge, and you've got plenty of anti-Marine shooting too. A good time to be a robot skeleton coming right up, great work Devin.

The Best of the Rest

There were 10 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd - Zach Bolger - Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs): Martyrs with lots of sacrificial units and a few hammers backing them.
3rd - J Sawlaw - Death Guard (Champions of Contagion): Double Plague Marine Champions goodstuff, notably using a Plaguecaster as one of the Characters in each squad, which is obviously appealing post update as those stayed the same price.
4th - Cody Disterhaupt - Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread): Five bigs with a Tyrant.
5th - Jasper Axelson - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Heavy hitting Warband that cuts some of the normal supporting cast for Angron.
6th - Jonny Berkness - Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Infernal quad bigs with a Tyrant.
7th - Tim Cook - Space Wolves (Saga of the Beastslayer): Elite Infantry riding around in double Land Raider.
8th - Cyle Thompson - Thousand Sons (Changehost of Deceit): An exciting experiment into whether having a garbage Detachment rule is worth it to allow you to put Kairos and 18 Screamers in a list with Thousand Sons shooting, and the answer is "yeah, kinda".
9th - Patrick Meisch - T'au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): A mix of big suits and Crisis (Sunforge for Farsight and a choice of Starscythe or more Sunforge for an uppy-downy Commander) in Ret Cadre.
10th - Joseph Karamitsios - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Mortarion Vectorium goodstuff, and at lower end of how hard armies get hit by the updates.
11th - Cody Derosier - Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): Magnus Grand Coven Goodstuff.

Black Crow Gaming's Battle of the RAGNAR GT!

40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Toby Bennett - Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) - 1st Place

Death Company Marines with Jump Packs. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Run it Straight challenge (2000 points)

Space Marines Blood Angels Strike Force (2000 points) Liberator Assault Group

CHARACTERS

Captain (115 points) • 1x Bolt Pistol 1x Master-crafted bolter 1x Power fist • Enhancement: Rage-fuelled Warrior

Chaplain (85 points) • Warlord • 1x Absolvor bolt pistol 1x Crozius arcanum • Enhancement: Speed of the Primarch

Chief Librarian Mephiston (120 points) • 1x Fury of the Ancients 1x Plasma pistol 1x Vitarus

Death Company Captain with Jump Pack (75 points) • 1x Hand flamer 1x Power fist

Lemartes (100 points) • 1x Absolvor bolt pistol 1x The Blood Crozius

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

BATTLELINE

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Impulsor (80 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Ironhail heavy stubber 1x Shield Dome 2x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Hand flamer 1x Power fist • 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs • 4x Astartes chainsword 3x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Plasma pistol

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Hand flamer 1x Power fist • 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs • 4x Astartes chainsword 3x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Plasma pistol

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Hand flamer 1x Power fist • 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs • 4x Astartes chainsword 3x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Plasma pistol

Bladeguard Veteran Squad (160 points) • 1x Bladeguard Veteran Sergeant • 1x Master-crafted power weapon 1x Neo-volkite pistol • 5x Bladeguard Veteran • 5x Heavy bolt pistol 5x Master-crafted power weapon

Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (230 points) • 10x Death Company Marine with Jump Packs • 5x Astartes chainsword 2x Eviscerator 6x Heavy bolt pistol 2x Inferno pistol 2x Plasma pistol 3x Power fist

Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (120 points) • 5x Death Company Marine with Jump Packs • 2x Astartes chainsword 1x Eviscerator 3x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Inferno pistol 1x Plasma pistol 2x Power fist

Outrider Squad (80 points) • 1x Outrider Sergeant • 1x Astartes chainsword 1x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Twin bolt rifle • 2x Outrider • 2x Astartes chainsword 2x Heavy bolt pistol 2x Twin bolt rifle

Outrider Squad (80 points) • 1x Outrider Sergeant • 1x Astartes chainsword 1x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Twin bolt rifle • 2x Outrider • 2x Astartes chainsword 2x Heavy bolt pistol 2x Twin bolt rifle

Scout Squad (70 points) • 1x Scout Sergeant • 1x Astartes chainsword 1x Bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon • 4x Scout • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 3x Combat knife 1x Missile launcher

Scout Squad (70 points) • 1x Scout Sergeant • 1x Astartes chainsword 1x Bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon • 4x Scout • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 3x Combat knife 1x Missile launcher

Sternguard Veteran Squad (100 points) • 1x Sternguard Veteran Sergeant • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Power fist 1x Sternguard bolt pistol 1x Sternguard bolt rifle • 4x Sternguard Veteran • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Sternguard bolt pistol 4x Sternguard bolt rifle

Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (95 points) • 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Storm Shield 1x Vanguard Veteran weapon • 4x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack • 4x Storm Shield 4x Vanguard Veteran weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (92), Data Version: v662

Archetype

All-melee Liberator

Thoughts

...and here are those melee Marines, in all their crimson glory. This build has a great sliding scale of threats, ranging from small but relevant stuff like the Jump Intercessors, spike damage bombs like the Rage-fueled/Sternguard unit, and heavier hitters at the top end with the Death Company and Bladeguard. This build will dominate other elite melee builds due to higher threat redundancy, and has the speed and reach to bully armies of pretty much any stripe. Blood Angels are probably the army to watch post the balance update, so make sure you have a plan to handle this, and congratulations to Tony for taking down an event with it in a more hostile environment.

Darren Chapman - Drukhari (Realspace Raiders) - 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Scourges with shardcarbines. Credit: Corrode

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Fat Albert (2000 points)

Drukhari Strike Force (2000 points) Realspace Raiders

CHARACTERS

Archon (85 points) • Warlord • 1x Blast pistol 1x Huskblade

Lelith Hesperax (95 points) • 1x Lelith's blades

Urien Rakarth (80 points) • 1x Casket of Flensing 1x Haemonculus tools and scissorhands

BATTLELINE

Kabalite Warriors (100 points) • 1x Sybarite • 1x Phantasm grenade launcher 1x Splinter rifle 1x Sybarite weapon • 9x Kabalite Warrior • 1x Blaster 9x Close combat weapon 1x Dark lance 1x Shredder 1x Splinter cannon 5x Splinter rifle

Wracks (55 points) • 1x Acothyst • 1x Wrack blades • 4x Wrack • 1x Hexrifle 1x Liquifier gun 1x Ossefactor 1x Stinger pistol 4x Wrack blades

Wracks (55 points) • 1x Acothyst • 1x Wrack blades • 4x Wrack • 1x Hexrifle 1x Liquifier gun 1x Ossefactor 1x Stinger pistol 4x Wrack blades

Wracks (55 points) • 1x Acothyst • 1x Wrack blades • 4x Wrack • 1x Hexrifle 1x Liquifier gun 1x Ossefactor 1x Stinger pistol 4x Wrack blades

Wyches (80 points) • 1x Hekatrix • 1x Blast pistol 1x Hekatarii blade 1x Phantasm grenade launcher • 9x Wych • 9x Hekatarii blade 9x Splinter pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

Court of the Archon (95 points) • 1x Lhamaean • 1x Shaimeshi blade • 1x Medusae • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Eyeburst • 1x Sslyth • 1x Shardcarbine 1x Splinter pistol 1x Sslyth battle-blade • 1x Ur-ghul • 1x Ur-ghul talons

Cronos (50 points) • 1x Spirit syphon 1x Spirit vortex 1x Spirit-leech tentacles

Cronos (100 points) • 2x Cronos • 2x Spirit syphon 2x Spirit vortex 2x Spirit-leech tentacles

Mandrakes (65 points) • 1x Nightfiend • 1x Baleblast 1x Glimmersteel blade • 4x Mandrake • 4x Baleblast 4x Glimmersteel blade

Reavers (65 points) • 1x Arena Champion • 1x Agoniser 1x Bladevanes 1x Cluster caltrops 1x Heat lance 1x Splinter pistol • 2x Reaver • 2x Bladevanes 2x Splinter pistol 2x Splinter rifle

Scourges (180 points) • 1x Solarite • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Shardcarbine 1x Solarite weapon • 9x Scourge • 9x Close combat weapon 4x Heat lance 5x Shardcarbine

Scourges (180 points) • 1x Solarite • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Shardcarbine 1x Solarite weapon • 9x Scourge • 9x Close combat weapon 4x Drukhari haywire blaster 5x Shardcarbine

Scourges (180 points) • 1x Solarite • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Shardcarbine 1x Solarite weapon • 9x Scourge • 9x Close combat weapon 4x Drukhari haywire blaster 5x Shardcarbine

Talos (160 points) • 2x Talos • 2x Talos gauntlet 2x Twin Drukhari haywire blaster 2x Twin liquifier gun

Talos (160 points) • 2x Talos • 2x Talos gauntlet 2x Twin Drukhari haywire blaster 2x Twin liquifier gun

Talos (160 points) • 2x Talos • 2x Talos gauntlet 2x Twin Drukhari haywire blaster 2x Twin liquifier gun

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (92), Data Version: v662

Archetype

Scourge Spam Drukhari

Thoughts

When Marines need killing you can rely on the Drukhari to pop up loking eager, and this build walks a decent line between anti-heavy and anti-elite tools, plus some decent Torrent stuff for hordes. The most unique thing here are the big Scourge units, taking advantage of it being relatively cheap to fill them out.if you're already going to put re-rolls on them, lots of extra anti-Infantry shots will add up to some chip damage into Marines, and stops you just losing a high value unit straight up to Grenades or whatever. It also helps a bunch into Lords of Dread, as it means that Scourges can use their big reach to flip a super-sticky objective, helping unpick scoring momentum. Not sure how relevant that will be after the changes, but it's a very relevant attribute for the weekend we just had. Cool to see a datasheet used a bit differently, and well done to Darren on undefeated second place.

The Best of the Rest

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

3rd - Theo Hayat - Ultramarines (Stormlance Task Force): The Bobby G/Calgar Stormraven build.
4th - Josh Holder - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Five hefty bigs as Imperium, decked out in Enhancements etc.
5th - Harley Scully - Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): Fairly unsurprisingly given the Codex, four Dreadknights and a bunch of Purifiers.
6th - Samuel Squires - Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): Aggro Biosanctic with a decent number of Ridgerunners backing it up.
7th - Connor Nicholls - Black Templars (Gladius Task Force):Gladius Herohammer Sword Brethren and RepExes.

GRIMDARK 25: THE FINAL GRIMDARK

38-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Stockholms län, SE on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Sebastian Larsson - Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion) - 1st Place

Credit: Liebot - https://instagram.com/liebot_pics

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Be'lakor (375pts): Betraying Shades, The Blade of Shadows Kairos Fateweaver (270pts): Infernal Gateway, Staff of Tomorrow Lord of Change (270pts): Inescapable Eye, Bolt of Change, Staff of Tzeentch, Rod of sorcery Lord of Change (270pts): Warlord, Infernal Puppeteer, Bolt of Change, Staff of Tzeentch, Rod of sorcery

10x Pink Horrors, Pinne och trumpet (140pts)

3x Flamers (65pts) 3x Flamers (65pts) 3x Flamers (65pts) 6x Screamers (160pts) 6x Screamers (160pts) 6x Screamers (160pts)

Archetype

Birdemic

Thoughts

Big birds galore here, aiming to maximise the amount of shooting they can throw out without reply via a mix of Be'lakor and Infernal Puppeteer. Supporting that you've got maximum Screamers, which is just a generically good thing to have in any list that can do it (and great into a putative Marine metagame), plus some small Flamer squads for cheap scoring. You're maybe in a bit of trouble if something really aggressive rushes you down (and Sebastian did pick up a draw against the Imperial Knight build below), but you've got plenty of adaptability via Delirium Unmade, which also helps punish foes that can't reach you for big damage. Always fun to see this Detachment get some airtime, you want a few more confusing, magical things in the world, good work Sebastian.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Johan Nicolaisen - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, a Castellan and double Cerastus.
3rd - Patric Wreeth - Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Double Despoiler four big Infernals.
4th - Sebastian Magnusson - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): No Mortarion Vectorium.
5th - Frank Kummel - Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension): Horde host.
6th - Kalle Abrahamsson - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): ALl-in big shooting, Silent King, triple Doomsday and an enmitic Lokhust squad, no real tarpit.

GRILLIN' DICE 2025!!!

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in North Pole, AK, United States on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission - Unknown Mission

Scott Adams - Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead)

Army List - Click to Expand

Val day (2000 points)

Adeptus Custodes Strike Force (2000 points) Solar Spearhead

CHARACTERS

Blade Champion (120 points) • 1x Vaultswords

Telemon Heavy Dreadnought (260 points) • Solar Spearhead Keywords: Character • Warlord • 1x Arachnus storm cannon 1x Armoured feet 1x Spiculus bolt launcher 1x Telemon caestus 1x Twin plasma projector • Enhancement: Augury Uplink

Telemon Heavy Dreadnought (250 points) • Solar Spearhead Keywords: Character • 1x Arachnus storm cannon 1x Armoured feet 1x Spiculus bolt launcher 1x Telemon caestus 1x Twin plasma projector • Enhancement: Adamantine Talisman

BATTLELINE

Custodian Guard (170 points) • 4x Custodian Guard • 4x Guardian spear

Custodian Guard (170 points) • 4x Custodian Guard • 4x Guardian spear

OTHER DATASHEETS

Caladius Grav-tank (215 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Twin arachnus heavy blaze cannon 1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon

Caladius Grav-tank (215 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Twin arachnus heavy blaze cannon 1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon

Contemptor-Galatus Dreadnought (165 points) • 1x Galatus warblade

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

Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought (170 points) • 1x Combi-bolter 1x Contemptor combat weapon 1x Multi-melta

Vertus Praetors (225 points) • 3x Vertus Praetor • 3x Interceptor lance 3x Salvo launcher

Exported with App Version: v1.38.0 (90), Data Version: v651

vs.

Levi Chester - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade)

Army List - Click to Expand

Get Breached (1995 Points)

Adeptus Mechanicus Haloscreed Battle Clade Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Tech-Priest Dominus (100 Points) • Warlord • 1x Macrostubber • 1x Omnissian axe • 1x Volkite blaster • Enhancements: Cognitive Reinforcement

Tech-Priest Manipulus (70 Points) • 1x Magnarail lance • 1x Omnissian staff • Enhancements: Sanctified Ordnance

BATTLELINE

Skitarii Rangers (85 Points) • 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha ◦ 1x Alpha combat weapon ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Mechanicus pistol • 9x Skitarii Ranger ◦ 1x Arc rifle ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 6x Galvanic rifle ◦ 1x Omnispex ◦ 1x Plasma caliver ◦ 1x Transuranic arquebus

Skitarii Vanguard (95 Points) • 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha ◦ 1x Alpha combat weapon ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Mechanicus pistol • 9x Skitarii Vanguard ◦ 1x Arc rifle ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Omnispex ◦ 1x Plasma caliver ◦ 6x Radium carbine ◦ 1x Transuranic arquebus

Skitarii Vanguard (95 Points) • 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha ◦ 1x Alpha combat weapon ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Mechanicus pistol • 9x Skitarii Vanguard ◦ 1x Arc rifle ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Omnispex ◦ 1x Plasma caliver ◦ 6x Radium carbine ◦ 1x Transuranic arquebus

Skitarii Vanguard (95 Points) • 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha ◦ 1x Alpha combat weapon ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Mechanicus pistol • 9x Skitarii Vanguard ◦ 1x Arc rifle ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Omnispex ◦ 1x Plasma caliver ◦ 6x Radium carbine ◦ 1x Transuranic arquebus

Skitarii Vanguard (95 Points) • 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha ◦ 1x Alpha combat weapon ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Mechanicus pistol • 9x Skitarii Vanguard ◦ 1x Arc rifle ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Omnispex ◦ 1x Plasma caliver ◦ 6x Radium carbine ◦ 1x Transuranic arquebus

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Skorpius Dunerider (85 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Cognis heavy stubber array

OTHER DATASHEETS

Kataphron Breachers (320 Points) • 6x Kataphron Breacher ◦ 6x Heavy arc rifle ◦ 6x Hydraulic claw

Kataphron Breachers (320 Points) • 6x Kataphron Breacher ◦ 6x Heavy arc rifle ◦ 6x Hydraulic claw

Pteraxii Skystalkers (70 Points) • 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha ◦ 1x Flechette blaster ◦ 1x Taser goad • 4x Pteraxii Skystalker ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Flechette carbine

Pteraxii Skystalkers (70 Points) • 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha ◦ 1x Flechette blaster ◦ 1x Taser goad • 4x Pteraxii Skystalker ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Flechette carbine

Sicarian Infiltrators (70 Points) • 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps ◦ 1x Flechette blaster ◦ 1x Taser goad • 4x Sicarian Infiltrator ◦ 4x Flechette blaster ◦ 4x Taser goad

Skorpius Disintegrator (165 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 3x Cognis heavy stubber • 1x Disruptor missile launcher • 1x Ferrumite cannon

Skorpius Disintegrator (165 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 3x Cognis heavy stubber • 1x Disruptor missile launcher • 1x Ferrumite cannon

ALLIED UNITS

Inquisitor Draxus (95 Points) • 1x Dirgesinger • 1x Power fist • 1x Psychic Tempest

Exported with App Version: v1.38.0 (3), Data Version: v651

Thoughts

A powerful AdMech build faces a Custodes throwback here, with the might of Solar Spearhed returning to the battlefield. It faces a pretty uphill challenge here, as big units of Kataphron Breachers are absurdly lethal into almost everything in the list, smoking big Dreadnoughts and Custodian Guard with equal abandon. The AdMech also have a lot of chaff to defend their key units, and feel like they score Secondaries better than the Custodes to boot.

A rough one, so is it impossible for the Golden Host? I think a lot is going to turn on whether they can set up a good Rapid Ingress for their bike unit here, as this can get into one of the Breacher units and lift them, then suddenly the game is afoot. Obviously the AdMech can try and screen that out, and have a lot of bodies, but if the Custodes get cunning about it, then they might be able to Ingress then use Unstoppable to launch a long charge (or alternatively move staging position to staging position that way). I think as the Custodes you have to spend the first turn sweeping up as much of the chaff in the AdMech list as possible, then go for a solid mid-game push powered by the bikes to get things done.

That's obviously high risk and means that the AdMech could run away with things if you don't then manage to get things under control. From the scoreline, the Custodes stayed on the table pretty effectively, but perhaps weren't able to ever do enough damage to the AdMech to cut their scoring, and were thwarted as a result.

Result

Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade) Victory - 100 - 90

Levi Chester - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade) - 1st Place

Tech-Priest Manipulus and Kataphron Breachers with Heavy Arc Rifles and Arc Claws. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Double Breacher Haloscreed

Thoughts

Apparently the trick was literally just taking a second unit of Breachers. Incredible. Trust the AdMech not to be able to count to two. Great work from Levi.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Scott Adams - Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead): See Showdown.
3rd - Ben Tuttle - Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): The Lion, Deathwing Knights, and even more Terminators in the form of a regular Deathwing squad.
4th - Dakota Pfeiffer - Space Wolves (Saga of the Beastslayer): Heavy hitting Beastslayer with a full Wolf Guard Terminator unit and some Predators.
5th - Jeff Roe - Black Templars (Wrathful Procession): An unusual pull from Grotmas here, combining extra speed and durability for Infantry units with access to a bit of Fight First from an Enhancement.

Palladium Games Presents "the dumpster fire gt" NOVA Prep Edition

26-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Phoenixville, PA, US on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

David Anderson - Black Templars (Gladius Task Force) - 1st Place

Black Templars Primaris Sword Brethren. Credit: SRM

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Before you submit to itc can you change my list name to "I think IK and DG need some rules help, hold my beer" (1995 points)

Space Marines Black Templars Strike Force (2000 points) Gladius Task Force

CHARACTERS

Captain (95 points) • 1x Bolt Pistol 1x Master-crafted bolter 1x Power fist • Enhancement: The Honour Vehement

Castellan (60 points) • 1x Combi-weapon 1x Master-crafted power weapon

Castellan (60 points) • 1x Combi-weapon 1x Master-crafted power weapon

Emperor's Champion (100 points) • Warlord • 1x Black Sword 1x Bolt Pistol • Enhancement: Artificer Armour

Marshal (80 points) • 1x Combi-weapon 1x Master-crafted power weapon

Marshal (80 points) • 1x Combi-weapon 1x Master-crafted power weapon

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant • 1x Astartes chainsword 1x Heavy bolt pistol • 4x Assault Intercessor • 4x Astartes chainsword 4x Heavy bolt pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Impulsor (85 points) • 1x Armoured hull 2x Fragstorm grenade launcher 1x Multi-melta 1x Shield Dome

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 3x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Plasma pistol

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 3x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Plasma 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

Outrider Squad (80 points) • 1x Outrider Sergeant • 1x Astartes chainsword 1x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Twin bolt rifle • 2x Outrider • 2x Astartes chainsword 2x Heavy bolt pistol 2x Twin bolt rifle

Repulsor Executioner (220 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Heavy laser destroyer 1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon 1x Icarus rocket pod 1x Multi-melta 1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array 1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber 1x Twin heavy bolter

Repulsor Executioner (220 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Heavy laser destroyer 1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon 1x Icarus rocket pod 1x Multi-melta 1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array 1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber 1x Twin heavy bolter

Scout Squad (70 points) • 1x Scout Sergeant • 1x Astartes chainsword 1x Bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon • 4x Scout • 2x Astartes shotgun 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 1x Missile launcher 1x Scout sniper rifle

Sword Brethren Squad (105 points) • 4x Sword Brother • 4x Heavy bolt pistol 4x Master-crafted power weapon

Sword Brethren Squad (105 points) • 4x Sword Brother • 4x Heavy bolt pistol 4x Master-crafted power weapon

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (92), Data Version: v662

Archetype

We have Oaths at Home

Thoughts

That's some fantastic bookending for the week - we end as we began, with the Herohammer Gladius Templar build. This uses the extreme punch of small Sword Brethren units with double Characters plus a bunch of stuff that gets built-in re-rolls to flatten anything that gets in its way, and relies on the layered defences of Transports to keep its toys in play. Aggressive and potent, and looking good to break into top build conversations once the balance update hits. Great work David on giving us a heads up for the future.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Nolan Haley - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Heavy Warband, dialing back on any Eightbound to squeexe in Angron, two Forgefiends and two Maulerfiends.
3rd - Will Hull - Death Guard (Mortarion's Hammer): Plagueburst Hammer.
4th - Frank Smith - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis triple Atrapos, may we never see its like again.
5th - Sascha Alexander Edelkraut - Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile): Double Possessed block to push, lascannon Havocs for a bit of dakka.

Wrap Up

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