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.

We are, at long last, winding down for the year, though even this close to the holidays a few intrepid events have powered onwards. The big news from these has mostly been the rise of Scintillating Legion; amping up the offensive capabilities of the Lord of Change has been pretty, well, game changing for these lists, and they're shooting up the rankings.

We'll look at that in just a sec, providing our final dose of list insight for the year. Next week we'll be running a year in review of competitive 40k, reminding us of all the highs, lows, twists and turns. We'll see you for that on New Year's Eve, for today we want to thank everyone who's kept up with the column over the year, and a very merry Christmas from myself and Lowest of Men here at Competitive Innovations HQ.

Gash Hammer End of Year GT - The Shark Tank!
Wizard's Winter GT
Black Crow Gaming's Battle of the RAGNAR GT! DEC
The Portal Winter GT

Gash Hammer End of Year GT - The Shark Tank!

60-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Padstow, NSW, Australia on December 19 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Jordan McGregor - Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion) - 1st Place

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

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Hope I Don't Draw Action Secondaries (2000 points)

Chaos Daemons Strike Force (2000 points) Scintillating Legion

CHARACTERS

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

Daemon Prince of Chaos with Wings (200 points) • Daemonic Allegiance: Tzeentch • 1x Hellforged weapons 1x Infernal cannon • Enhancement: Neverblade

Kairos Fateweaver (285 points) • 1x Infernal Gateway 1x Staff of Tomorrow

Lord of Change (280 points) • 1x Bolt of Change 1x Rod of sorcery 1x Staff of Tzeentch • Enhancement: Infernal Puppeteer

Lord of Change (300 points) • 1x Bolt of Change 1x Rod of sorcery 1x Staff of Tzeentch • Enhancement: Improbable Shield (Aura)

Lord of Change (270 points) • 1x Bolt of Change 1x Rod of sorcery 1x Staff of Tzeentch

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Screamers (80 points) • 3x Screamer • 3x Lamprey bite

Screamers (80 points) • 3x Screamer • 3x Lamprey bite

Exported with App Version: v1.45.0 (105), Data Version: v720

Archetype

Birdemic

Thoughts

We have the big news of the week right out the gate here, with this list going all-in on the new power of Tzeentch's large avian offspring. Amping up the power of the Bolt of Change is compounded by the ability of the Lords to pick an extra effect each time they shoot, meaning that anything which approches within range to engage with them (thanks to Be'lakor's aura) is going to suffer an absolutely withering volley of sparkly doom. In addition to this, pushing up the power of the rod of sorcery increases the baseline value of each bird, and in this detachment it massively boosts the impact of popping Pyrogenesis on one when you need something to be super dead. If a foe tries to stay at a distance, Infernal Puppeteer provides a route to tag some damage on them.

Obviously to beat this foes will need to try and rush it down, but the defensive tricks of Flickering Reality and the Improbable Shield means that won't necessarily hit as effectlively as the enemy would like, and if they don't secure a kill, Delirium Unmade is perfect for shifting the birds to safety while Be'lakor and the Neverblade Prince counter-charge. The combination of all the tools here creates a list that's extremely effective at winning damage races, as Tzeentchs power stacks everything in its favour, particularly with this version that's fully all in on killing people with birds. Congratulations to Jordan on unleashing the new toys here.

Chalan Kelly-Irvin - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) - 2nd Place (4.5-0.5)

Deathwatch Terminators by Craig "MasterSlowPoke" Sniffen

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Deathwatch (1995 points)

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

CHARACTERS

Captain in Gravis Armour (110 points) • 1x Boltstorm gauntlet 1x Power fist 1x Relic blade • Enhancement: The Tome of Ectoclades

Judiciar (95 points) • 1x Absolvor bolt pistol 1x Executioner relic blade • Enhancement: Thief of Secrets

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

Watch Master (120 points) • 1x Vigil spear • Enhancement: Beacon Angelis

BATTLELINE

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

Deathwatch Veterans (190 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 Bolt pistol 1x Bolt rifle 1x Thunder hammer • 4x Intercessor • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 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 3x Heavy bolt pistol 1x Plasma pistol

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

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

Indomitor Kill Team (265 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 Auto boltstorm gauntlets 3x Fragstorm grenade launcher 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 (265 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 Auto boltstorm gauntlets 3x Fragstorm grenade launcher 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

Storm Speeder Thunderstrike (135 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Stormfury missiles 1x Thunderstrike las-talon 1x Twin Icarus rocket pod

ALLIED UNITS

Ministorum Priest (40 points) • Warlord • 1x Zealot's vindictor

Exported with App Version: v1.45.0 (105), Data Version: v720

Archetype

Heavy Infantry Deathwatch

Thoughts

A Christmas reminder that Deathwatch have been good for ages, and hardly anyone has the models to field them. The three big blocks here can teleport around the table unleashing hell, teed up by the Thunderstrike and Incursors, while the Terminators are ultra-high value all-round skirmishers, and I like the use of a Thief Judiciar with Assault Intercessors as a bargain tool to tilt melee matchups in the lists's favour (without having to splurge for a full additional Veteran squad). I feel like this has been undervalued pretty much all year, great to see Chalan putting in a great performance with it to close the year.

Dylan Cowan - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) - 3rd Place

Victrix Guard Chapter Ancient Credit: Keewa

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

the lowest bar is no gar. and ill go under that (1995 points)

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

CHARACTERS

Captain Sicarius (85 points) • 1x Artisan plasma pistol 1x Talassarian Tempest Blade

Captain in Gravis Armour (90 points) • 1x Master-crafted heavy bolt rifle 1x Master-crafted power weapon • Enhancement: Artificer Armour

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

Roboute Guilliman (340 points) • Warlord • 1x Emperor's Sword 1x Hand of Dominion

Uriel Ventris (95 points) • 1x Bolt Pistol 1x Invictus 1x Sword of Idaeus

BATTLELINE

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

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

Storm Speeder Hammerstrike (125 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Hammerstrike missile launcher 2x Krakstorm grenade launcher 1x Melta destroyer

Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (100 points) • 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Inferno pistol 1x Vanguard Veteran weapon • 4x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack • 4x Inferno pistol 4x Vanguard Veteran weapon

Victrix Honour Guard (240 points) • 1x Chapter Champion • 1x Blades of honour • 5x Victrix Honour Guard • 5x Master-crafted bolt carbine 5x Master-crafted power weapon

Victrix Honour Guard (240 points) • 1x Chapter Ancient • 1x Banner of Macragge 1x Master-crafted power weapon • 5x Victrix Honour Guard • 5x Master-crafted bolt carbine 5x Master-crafted power weapon

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: v1.45.0 (105), Data Version: v720

Archetype

Victrix Gladius

Thoughts

A mix of Victrix and hulls here, all powered by Bobby G, with Calgar staying at home in favour of cheaper Leaders in the blocks. This does, of course, leave foes dealing with the "fun" of a Rapid Ingress (via Ventris) Victrix Squad coming to ruin whatever plan they assemble to push against the Vindicators and Reaper, and having that plus classic Sicarius on the other unit really maximises how flexible those two can be. A vicious wall of pure Ultramarian efficiency here, well done to Dylan.

Nathan Princi - Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance) - 4th Place

War Dog - Karnivore. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Dodging Jordan simulator 2025 (1995 points)

Chaos Knights Strike Force (2000 points) Infernal Lance

CHARACTERS

Knight Despoiler (390 points) • Warlord • 1x Daemonbreath meltagun 2x Despoiler gatling cannon 2x Heavy darkflamer 1x Ruinspear rocket pod 1x Titanic feet

Knight Despoiler (390 points) • 1x Daemonbreath meltagun 2x Despoiler gatling cannon 2x Heavy darkflamer 1x Ruinspear rocket pod 1x Titanic feet

Knight Despoiler (390 points) • 1x Daemonbreath meltagun 2x Despoiler gatling cannon 2x Heavy darkflamer 1x Ruinspear rocket pod 1x Titanic feet

OTHER DATASHEETS

War Dog Karnivore (150 points) • 1x Havoc multi-launcher 1x Reaper chaintalon 1x Slaughterclaw

War Dog Karnivore (150 points) • 1x Havoc multi-launcher 1x Reaper chaintalon 1x Slaughterclaw

War Dog Stalker (140 points) • 1x Daemonbreath spear 1x Havoc multi-launcher 1x Slaughterclaw

ALLIED UNITS

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

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

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

Nurglings (40 points) • 3x Nurgling Swarm • 3x Diseased claws and teeth

Nurglings (40 points) • 3x Nurgling Swarm • 3x Diseased claws and teeth

Plaguebearers (110 points) • 1x Plagueridden • 1x Plaguesword • 9x Plaguebearer • 9x Plaguesword

Exported with App Version: v1.45.0 (105), Data Version: v720

Archetype

Triple Gatling Despoiler

Thoughts

Chaos Knights making a solid pitch for "most depressing internal balance" here. Best big Knight in the book went up in points? Still three in every list, and none of the others getting a look-in, and that's hardly going to change when they're so good at killing Victrix Guard. Maybe someone will come up with something else, but early signs are that the next Dataslate will need to do more of a fundamental rework to create broader options for this army. Well done to Nathan for taking it to the top 4, though big RIP on the plan to dodge Jordan, as he was in fact defeated by the birdemic in the final.

The Best of the Rest

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

5th (4.5-0.5) - Alexander Englezos - Salamanders (Firestorm Assault Force): Extra fiery Vulkan Salamanders with double Redeemer.
6th (4.5-0.5) - Arian Fanaeian - Ultramarines (Blade of Ultramar): 18 Victrix and three RepEx. It's a yikes from me bob.
7th - Kirby - Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Double C'tan, double maxed-out Warrior stack, not much else.
8th - Daniel Xerri - T'au Empire (Mont'ka): Double Stormsurge and Triptide. Could Stormsurges finally be happening?
9th - Michael House - Emperor's Children (Court of the Phoenician): Fulgrim and a bunch of Infractor/Noise Marine units with Leaders.

Wizard's Winter GT

38-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Wichita, KS, United States on December 20 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Linchpin - Search and Destroy

Cody Jiru - Drukhari (Spectacle of Spite)

Army List - Click to Expand

This Ones for Neeley Forsheezy My Neezy (2000 points)

Drukhari Strike Force (2000 points) Spectacle of Spite

CHARACTERS

Lady Malys (100 points) • 1x Lady's Blade 1x Razor fan

Lelith Hesperax (85 points) • Warlord • 1x Lelith's blades

Succubus (65 points) • 1x Archite glaive and agoniser • Enhancement: Chronoshard

Succubus (70 points) • 1x Archite glaive and agoniser • Enhancement: Morghenna's Curse

Succubus (75 points) • 1x Archite glaive and agoniser • Enhancement: Periapt of Torments

BATTLELINE

Wyches (90 points) • 1x Hekatrix • 1x Blast pistol 1x Power weapon • 9x Wych • 3x Gladiatorial weapons 6x Hekatarii blade 6x Splinter pistol

Wyches (90 points) • 1x Hekatrix • 1x Blast pistol 1x Power weapon • 9x Wych • 3x Gladiatorial weapons 6x Hekatarii blade 6x Splinter pistol

Wyches (90 points) • 1x Hekatrix • 1x Blast pistol 1x Power weapon • 9x Wych • 3x Gladiatorial weapons 6x Hekatarii blade 6x Splinter pistol

Wyches (90 points) • 1x Hekatrix • 1x Blast pistol 1x Power weapon • 9x Wych • 3x Gladiatorial weapons 6x Hekatarii blade 6x Splinter pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Raider (85 points) • 1x Bladevanes and chainsnares 1x Disintegrator cannon

Raider (85 points) • 1x Bladevanes and chainsnares 1x Disintegrator cannon

Venom (70 points) • 1x Bladevanes 2x Splinter cannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Cronos (55 points) • 1x Spirit syphon 1x Spirit-leech tentacles

Hellions (170 points) • 1x Helliarch • 1x Hellglaive 1x Phantasm Grenade Launcher 1x Power weapon 1x Splinter pistol 1x Splinter pods • 9x Hellion • 9x Hellglaive 9x Splinter pods

Hellions (85 points) • 1x Helliarch • 1x Hellglaive 1x Phantasm Grenade Launcher 1x Power weapon 1x Splinter pistol 1x Splinter pods • 4x Hellion • 4x Hellglaive 4x Splinter pods

Hellions (85 points) • 1x Helliarch • 1x Hellglaive 1x Phantasm Grenade Launcher 1x Power weapon 1x Splinter pistol 1x Splinter pods • 4x Hellion • 4x Hellglaive 4x Splinter pods

Mandrakes (75 points) • 1x Nightfiend • 1x Baleblast 1x Glimmersteel blade • 4x Mandrake • 4x Baleblast 4x Glimmersteel blade

Mandrakes (75 points) • 1x Nightfiend • 1x Baleblast 1x Glimmersteel blade • 4x Mandrake • 4x Baleblast 4x Glimmersteel blade

Reavers (70 points) • 1x Arena Champion • 1x Bladevanes 1x Grav-talon 1x Heat lance 1x Splinter pistol • 2x Reaver • 2x Bladevanes 2x Splinter pistol 2x Splinter rifle

Scourges with Heavy Weapons (130 points) • 1x Solarite • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Shardcarbine • 4x Scourge • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Dark lance

Scourges with Heavy Weapons (130 points) • 1x Solarite • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Shardcarbine • 4x Scourge • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Dark lance

Scourges with Heavy Weapons (130 points) • 1x Solarite • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Shardcarbine • 4x Scourge • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Haywire blaster

Exported with App Version: v1.45.0 (105), Data Version: v720

vs.

John Vuchetich - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal)

Army List - Click to Expand

Char1: 1x Imotekh the Stormlord (100 pts): Gauntlet of Fire, Staff of the Destroyer Char2: 3x The Silent King (400 pts): Warlord • 1x Szarekh: Sceptre of Eternal Glory, Staff of Stars, Weapons of the Final Triarch • 2x Triarchal Menhir: 2 with Annihilator beam, Armoured bulk Char3: 1x Technomancer (105 pts): Staff of light Enhancement: Chrono-impedance Fields (+25 pts) Char4: 1x Technomancer (80 pts): Staff of light

5x Flayed Ones (60 pts): 5 with Flayer claws 5x Flayed Ones (60 pts): 5 with Flayer claws 1x Lokhust Destroyers (40 pts): Close combat weapon, Gauss cannon 1x Lokhust Destroyers (40 pts): Close combat weapon, Gauss cannon 6x Canoptek Wraiths (220 pts): 6 with Particle caster, Vicious claws 6x Canoptek Wraiths (220 pts): 6 with Particle caster, Vicious claws 1x Canoptek Reanimator (75 pts): 2x Atomiser beam, Reanimator's claws 1x Doomsday Ark (200 pts): Armoured bulk, Doomsday cannon, 2x Gauss flayer array 1x Doomsday Ark (200 pts): Armoured bulk, Doomsday cannon, 2x Gauss flayer array 1x Doomsday Ark (200 pts): Armoured bulk, Doomsday cannon, 2x Gauss flayer array

Thoughts

Spectacle with shooting support faces a brutally optimised Necron build here, both sides tooled to do some serious damage. On the Necron side, this is definitely a game where Doomsdays randomly having 10 or 20 anti-chaff shots on top of their big gun is clutch, because those will be devastating to any Wych unit that finds itself caught in the open, and stops the Drukhari being able to pin them in solely through numbers, and two Wraith units is a fairly intimidating wall for the Drukhari to try and push through. Unfortunately for the Necrons, they're facing the Spectacle variant with lots of Scourges here, so exposed Doomsdays or the Silent King might find themselves having a very bad time quite quickly. The Wraiths are also going to struggle with the presence of Lelith and the Curse Succubus, both of whom can trivially rock in and clear out the Technomancers (potentially with a rare use of Preternatural Agility to reach them if they're lurking behind walls), and probably apply some serious collateral damage on top. It is mildly annoying for them that once the Leaders are dead, Anti-Infantry no longer works on them, but the Hellions can come crash in with buffs up to finish the job once the Feel No Pain is gone.

I'm still not totally convinced the Drukhari win the damage race on that plan (a lot will be riding on invulnerable saves against Dark Lances, but if the Wraith units can be kept pinned in melee it won't matter - the Necrons are very low on drops, and it should be trivial for the Drukhari to reach out and eliminate the Flayed Ones early on. After that, even if they eventually run out of stuff it won't matter if the Necrons are boxed in - the Dark Kin will be out-scoring them on Primary and Secondary objectives, and should thus cruise to victory. As the Necrons, you need to make sure you're breaking out of your deployment towards one flank objective in force here to try and establish at least some Primary scoring, but even if that was what happened, it wasn't enough to outdo the more nimble Drukhari in this game.

Result

Drukhari (Spectacle of Spite) Victory - 92 - 57

Cody Jiru - Drukhari (Spectacle of Spite) - 1st Place

Credit: Wings

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Scourges or not Scourges is the big question for Spectacle right now, and comparing this to some of the other builds we've seen recently leads me pretty clearly to the "Scourges" side. You still get plenty of stuff here to pressure/evisecerate foes, and having the ranged threat projection closes off some failure scenarios for you. Also, it's on brand for this week's bird theme. Congratulations Cody.

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd - Jason Mode - Dark Angels (Stormlance Task Force): Vengeances, Deathwing Knights, Sammael as a solo threat, and the Lion as a big hammer.
3rd - John Vuchetich - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King, double Wraiths, triple Doomsday, the list I always vaguely wonder why people don't just use more.
4th - Jason Merten - Leagues of Votann (Hearthband): Double Fort, lots of small units, and a big unit of each kind of Ironkin with the Ironskein to drop in one.
5th - Treynor Wolfe - Blood Angels (Rage-cursed Onslaught): Double Death Company brick, double Death Company Dreadnought, and Sanguinary MSUs as roving threats.
6th - Broc Bowman - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Melee Warband with Helbrutes instead of the second Berzerker unit.
7th - Harout Baltayan - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Mortarion Vectorium goodstuff.
8th - Brandon Whitehurst - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): A horde or Hormagaunts running interference for big bugs and a full Ravener stack.

Black Crow Gaming's Battle of the RAGNAR GT! DEC

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on December 20 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Harley Scully - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband) - 1st Place

Credit: Robert "TheChirurgeon" Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Ragnar (1995 Points)

World Eaters Berzerker Warband Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Daemon Prince of Khorne (230 Points) • 1x Hellforged weapons • 1x Infernal cannon • Enhancements: Helm of Brazen Ire

Khârn the Betrayer (100 Points) • 1x Gorechild • 1x Plasma pistol

Lord on Juggernaut (115 Points) • Warlord • 1x Bladed horn • 1x Exalted chainblade • 1x Plasma pistol • Enhancements: Battle-lust

Slaughterbound (100 Points) • 1x Lacerator and daemonic claw

BATTLELINE

Khorne Berzerkers (360 Points) • 1x Khorne Berzerker Champion ◦ 1x Chainblade ◦ 1x Icon of Khorne ◦ 1x Plasma pistol • 19x Khorne Berzerker ◦ 15x Bolt pistol ◦ 15x Chainblade ◦ 4x Khornate eviscerator ◦ 4x Plasma pistol

Khorne Berzerkers (180 Points) • 1x Khorne Berzerker Champion ◦ 1x Chainblade ◦ 1x Icon of Khorne ◦ 1x Plasma pistol • 9x Khorne Berzerker ◦ 7x Bolt pistol ◦ 7x Chainblade ◦ 2x Khornate eviscerator ◦ 2x Plasma pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (85 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chaos Spawn (90 Points) • 2x Chaos Spawn ◦ 2x Hideous mutations

Chaos Spawn (90 Points) • 2x Chaos Spawn ◦ 2x Hideous mutations

Chaos Spawn (90 Points) • 2x Chaos Spawn ◦ 2x Hideous mutations

Eightbound (135 Points) • 1x Eightbound Champion ◦ 1x Chainblades • 2x Eightbound ◦ 2x Chainblades

Exalted Eightbound (140 Points) • 1x Exalted Eightbound Champion ◦ 1x Chainblades • 2x Exalted Eightbound ◦ 2x Chainblades

Exalted Eightbound (140 Points) • 1x Exalted Eightbound Champion ◦ 1x Chainblades • 2x Exalted Eightbound ◦ 2x Chainblades

Goremongers (75 Points) • 1x Blood Herald ◦ 1x Autopistol ◦ 1x Chainblade ◦ 1x Close combat weapon • 7x Goremongers ◦ 7x Autopistol ◦ 1x Blood harpoon ◦ 6x Chainblade ◦ 7x Close combat weapon

Jakhals (65 Points) • 1x Jakhal Pack Leader ◦ 1x Autopistol ◦ 1x Chainblades • 1x Dishonoured ◦ 1x Skullsmasher and mangler • 8x Jakhal ◦ 8x Autopistol ◦ 7x Chainblades ◦ 1x Icon of Khorne ◦ 1x Mauler chainblade

Exported with App Version: v1.45.0 (1), Data Version: v720

Archetype

All Melee Warband

Thoughts

Here we see basically the opposite decision in a different faction - cut the Forgefiends, bring the big Berzerker horde. I think it's easier to get away with that in World Eaters because the ever-present threat of an automatic 8" Blood Surge makes the big Berzerker unit their own kind of threat projection, and they're much, much harder to kill than Wyches. This list also has a lot of scalable small trading threats to use as required, helping it contend across the whole table. World Eaters have had a pretty good time of it in the back half of this year, so it's fitting to see a list featured in our last column, congratulations Harley.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Thomas Hicks - Thousand Sons (Rubricae Phalanx): A wall of 20 Scarabs and 20 Rubricae (both as 10/5/5) with lots of scoring Tzaangors.
3rd - Lewis Chapman - Blood Angels (Rage-cursed Onslaught): Double DC brick, double DC Dread, Sanguinary Guard.
4th - Jack Sayer - Chaos Daemons (Blood Legion): Attesting to the new power of Lords of Change, two of them sneak into Blood Legion build here, providing shooting support for the pressure pieces.
5th - Laurence Hyde Parker - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King, Doomsdays, and Skorpekh/Triarch MSUs.
6th - Kristin Carey - Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): Dreadknights, Purifiers and a Stormraven.

The Portal Winter GT

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Manchester, CT, United States on December 20 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Adam Weinstein - Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion) - 1st Place

Be'lakor - Credit: RichyP

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Scinty Boi (1995 points)

Chaos Daemons Strike Force (2000 points) Scintillating Legion

CHARACTERS

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

Kairos Fateweaver (285 points) • 1x Infernal Gateway 1x Staff of Tomorrow

Lord of Change (280 points) • 1x Bolt of Change 1x Rod of sorcery 1x Staff of Tzeentch • Enhancement: Inescapable Eye

Lord of Change (280 points) • 1x Bolt of Change 1x Rod of sorcery 1x Staff of Tzeentch • Enhancement: Infernal Puppeteer

BATTLELINE

Nurglings (40 points) • 3x Nurgling Swarm • 3x Diseased claws and teeth

OTHER DATASHEETS

Flamers (130 points) • 1x Pyrocaster • 1x Flamer mouths 1x Flickering flames • 5x Flamer • 5x Flamer mouths 5x Flickering flames

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

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

Screamers (160 points) • 6x Screamer • 6x Lamprey bite

Screamers (160 points) • 6x Screamer • 6x Lamprey bite

Screamers (80 points) • 3x Screamer • 3x Lamprey bite

Exported with App Version: v1.45.0 (105), Data Version: v720

Archetype

Screamer Birdemic

Thoughts

We close with a second showing from Scintillating Legion, this one slightly less all-in on big birds, bringing Screamers instead of the third. That helps give it a bit more reach out onto the board early on, and lets you play a cagier game of chip damage with those and Puppeteer in the early/mid game if the situation calls for it. Will be interesting to see whether this build or the all-in one end up on top in the new year. Congratulations to Adam, our final winner for 2025.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Alexander Fennell - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King with triple Wraiths/double Doomsday, just to mix the formula up.
3rd - Aleksey Yatskovskiy - Drukhari (Spectacle of Spite): Spectacle pressure with Scourges.
4th - Ari C - Drukhari (Reaper's Wager): All-rounder Wager with a mix of melee and shooty Infantry, plenty of herohammer melee, and a Solitaire.
5th - Cameron Marinoccio - Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs): Two Sacresant blocks screening for Castigators.

Wrap Up

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