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.

The Warhammer, it never stops. Last weekend I was in Paris (check out my writeup of the trip and tournament here if you haven't already), when you read this I'll be seeing if I can remember how to play Necrons at Coventry, because September-November is just an unstoppable wall of gaming. See below for which particular bits of it we're looking at today.

Also, we have another guest Showdown, because our authors have been very busy this week - TwoHorse will be joining me to talk through his top table game with Adepta Sororitas. Check his part out at the Dragon's Lair Open.

Part 3 on Saturday:

Tennessee Elite Open
Dragons Lair Open 2025
Queen City Orktoberfest
Level Up Gaming Warhammer Fall GT
III GT La Laguna 40k - Kanarian Open
Halton Heretics 2025 Post Thanksgiving Warhammer 40K Bash!

Part 1 on Wednesday:

Paris Wargame Expo - Warhammer 40K - Solo 2000pts
Kippers' Melee - 2025
NYO4 40k Grand Tournament
I GT Leganés
Full Range Extinction – ATB 40K GT '25
ELBCOAST CUP 19 GT
North Coast Games' First Ever Invitational 40K GT

Part 2 on Friday:

Malmö Wargaming Weekend 9 - 40K GT
Rook's 40k Open 2025
5th Annual Flames of Autumn GT
Lakes of Blood Rotorua 2025
Prestige Wargaming GRAND Tournament 2
2000 pt 40k Invitational GT. October 18th, 2025.

Tennessee Elite Open

108-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Hopkinsville, KY, United States on October 17 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Linchpin - Search and Destroy

Roland Crawley - Imperial Knights (Questoris Companions)

Army List - Click to Expand

Thunderstruck (2000 Points)

Imperial Knights Questoris Companions Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Cerastus Knight Lancer (395 Points) • 1x Cerastus shock lance

Cerastus Knight Lancer (395 Points) • 1x Cerastus shock lance

Cerastus Knight Lancer (395 Points) • 1x Cerastus shock lance

Knight Crusader (395 Points) • Warlord • 1x Avenger gatling cannon • 1x Heavy flamer • 1x Questoris heavy stubber • 1x Stormspear rocket pod • 1x Thermal cannon • 1x Titanic feet

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.42.0 (3), Data Version: v696

vs.

Ken Edwards - T'au Empire (Kauyon)

Army List - Click to Expand

Let's pretend its still Sustained 2 (2000 points)

T'au Empire Strike Force (2000 points) Kauyon

CHARACTERS

Commander Shadowsun (100 points) • Warlord • 1x Advanced Guardian Drone 1x Battlesuit fists 1x Command-link Drone (Aura) 1x Flechette launcher 2x High-energy fusion blaster 1x Light missile pod 1x Pulse pistol

BATTLELINE

Breacher Team (100 points) • 1x Support turret • 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas'ui • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Guardian Drone 1x Gun Drone 1x Pulse blaster 1x Pulse pistol • 9x Breacher Fire Warrior • 9x Close combat weapon 9x Pulse blaster 9x Pulse pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Devilfish (85 points) • 1x Accelerator burst cannon 1x Armoured hull 2x Seeker missile 2x Smart missile system

OTHER DATASHEETS

Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points) • 1x Battlesuit Support System 1x Cyclic ion raker 1x Ghostkeel fists 1x Twin fusion blaster

Hammerhead Gunship (145 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Railgun 2x Seeker missile 2x Smart missile system

Kroot Carnivores (65 points) • 1x Long-quill • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Kroot pistol 1x Kroot rifle • 9x Kroot Carnivore • 9x Close combat weapon 8x Kroot rifle 1x Tanglebomb launcher

Krootox Riders (60 points) • 2x Krootox Rider • 2x Close combat weapon 2x Krootox fists 2x Repeater cannon

Pathfinder Team (90 points) • 1x Pathfinder Shas'ui • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Gun Drone 1x Pulse carbine 1x Pulse pistol 1x Recon Drone 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher 1x Shield Drone • 9x Pathfinder • 9x Close combat weapon 3x Ion rifle 6x Pulse carbine 9x Pulse pistol

Piranhas (60 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Piranha fusion blaster 2x Seeker missile 2x Twin pulse carbine

Piranhas (60 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Piranha fusion blaster 2x Seeker missile 2x Twin pulse carbine

Riptide Battlesuit (190 points) • 1x Ion accelerator 2x Missile Drone 1x Riptide fists 1x Twin smart missile system

Riptide Battlesuit (190 points) • 1x Ion accelerator 2x Missile Drone 1x Riptide fists 1x Twin smart missile system

Riptide Battlesuit (190 points) • 1x Ion accelerator 2x Missile Drone 1x Riptide fists 1x Twin smart missile system

Sky Ray Gunship (140 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Seeker missile rack 2x Smart missile system

Sky Ray Gunship (140 points) • 1x Armoured hull 1x Seeker missile rack 2x Smart missile system

Stealth Battlesuits (80 points) • 1x Stealth Shas'vre • 1x Battlesuit Support System 1x Battlesuit fists 1x Fusion blaster 1x Homing Beacon 1x Marker Drone 1x Shield Drone • 2x Stealth Shas'ui • 2x Battlesuit fists 2x Burst cannon

Stealth Battlesuits (80 points) • 1x Stealth Shas'vre • 1x Battlesuit Support System 1x Battlesuit fists 1x Fusion blaster 1x Homing Beacon 1x Marker Drone 1x Shield Drone • 2x Stealth Shas'ui • 2x Battlesuit fists 2x Burst cannon

Vespid Stingwings (65 points) • 1x Vespid Strain Leader • 1x Neutron blaster 1x Stingwing claws • 4x Vespid Stingwing • 4x Neutron blaster 4x Stingwing claws

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (98), Data Version: v687

Thoughts

I will admit that this is a Showdown I'm never thrilled to have come up in the voting because it's Knights vs. Tau - you kind of know what the key pivot points are. Mostly - can the T'au shoot the Knights with their guns fast enough to avoid being run over?

It's fair to say this Knight build presents a tougher challenge than most on that front, because it's very fast. Questoris Companions can pick the +2" Quality and worry about picking up re-rolls later, and they also have Advance/Charge and boosted consolidation to help apply and maintain the pressure. It also helps them that the T'au are fairly "direct" in their capabilities - they have a lot of good guns on cost efficient hulls, but there aren't any big Crisis plays available, there's no S boost for the Riptides from Ret Cadre, and Kauyon won't ramp up to full power till turn 3.

Bluntly, that means it's full send time for the Knights, and see what happens. There is no value for them in playing cagey - early game, there are more targets here than the T'au can handle at once, so you want to smash them. That's going to make this a very dice-dependent game, and also one where the Knights really want first turn to just box the T'au in, and have three turns of activity prior to Kauyon switching on.

For the T'au's part, they want to use their expendable stuff as movement speedbumps - the biggest challenge the Knights have is that while they can apply loads of pressure, they can only handle so many targets a turn, and the T'au have a lot. Cleverly placing Piranhas etc. can help control where the Knights can end their moves and slow down the rampage, and they're much more expendable then the bigger stuff. They certainly can win this, particularly with first turn to spread out.

I'd still probably fancy this for the Knights though - this build seems well set up to just go through the T'au absent some horrible stumbles. The Greater Good had other ideas, and blasted the pride of Imperial Chivalry back to the feudal age where they belong.

Result

T'au Empire (Kauyon) Victory - 91 - 68

Ken Edwards - T'au Empire (Kauyon) - 1st Place

Riptide Battlesuit. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Go Wide Kauyon

Thoughts

It's lots of gun hulls as Kauyon, what do you want from me. It evaporates foes at an accelerating pace, and relies on its mostly-hull defensive profile to de-fang their response. It worked! Congratulations to Ken.

Jeremy Stan - Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead) - 2nd Place

Telemon Heavy Dreadnought. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

If it ain't broke, keep fucking with it (1990 points)

Adeptus Custodes Strike Force (2000 points) Solar Spearhead

CHARACTERS

Blade Champion (145 points) • 1x Vaultswords • Enhancement: Adamantine Talisman

Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike (160 points) • 1x Interceptor lance 1x Vertus hurricane bolter • Enhancement: Veteran of the Kataphraktoi

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

BATTLELINE

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

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

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

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

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 Vertus hurricane bolter

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.42.0 (100), Data Version: v696

Archetype

A return of Solar Spearhead in second place, unleashing a wall of reviving Dreadnoughts and an impossible to pin down bike squad. The dreadnought send is scary, and with T'au and AdMech on the rise, lots of reviving Venerable Contemptors can be quite nasty, as many opponents will struggle to one-round them (though it was Ken's T'au above that ended this list's run too). It's no slouch into melee Marines as well - the bike squad can rove round murdering a unit (or even two, thanks D2 bolters) a turn, and the Custodians with access to Fight on Death (plus a murder Champion) are scary to enemy pressure plays. All this in a package that's much easier to hide than Knights and honestly - this looks like it whips into a lot of the top of the metagame, and might be being underexplored right now. Like if I saw this as Eldar I think my main plan would be "guess I'll die". Much to consider, well done Jeremy.

Thoughts

Giacomo Tirelli - Astra Militarum (Combined Arms) - 3rd Place

Rogal Dorn. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Combined (2000 Points)

Astra Militarum Combined Arms Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Cadian Command Squad (65 Points) • 1x Cadian Commander ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power fist • 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Laspistol ◦ 1x Meltagun • 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Lasgun ◦ 1x Master Vox • 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Lasgun ◦ 1x Medi-pack • 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Lasgun ◦ 1x Regimental Standard

Gaunt's Ghosts (100 Points) • 1x Ibram Gaunt ◦ 1x Bolt Pistol ◦ 1x Gaunt's chainsword • 1x Colm Corbec ◦ 1x Corbec's hot-shot lascarbine ◦ 1x Straight silver knife • 1x Elim Rawne ◦ 1x Rawne's lascarbine ◦ 1x Straight silver knife • 1x Hlaine Larkin ◦ 1x Larkin's long-las ◦ 1x Straight silver knife • 1x 'Try Again' Bragg ◦ 1x Bragg's autocannon ◦ 1x Straight silver knife • 1x Oan Mkoll ◦ 1x Lascarbine ◦ 1x Mkoll's straight silver knife

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (85 Points) • 4x Tempestus Scion ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Hot-shot lasgun ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol ◦ 1x Medi-pack ◦ 1x Meltagun ◦ 1x Plasma gun ◦ 1x Regimental Standard • 1x Tempestor Prime ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Tempestus dagger

Rogal Dorn Commander (275 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Coaxial autocannon • 1x Heavy stubber • 2x Heavy stubber • 2x Multi-melta • 1x Oppressor cannon • 1x Pulveriser cannon

Rogal Dorn Commander (275 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Coaxial autocannon • 1x Heavy stubber • 2x Heavy stubber • 2x Multi-melta • 1x Oppressor cannon • 1x Pulveriser cannon

Ursula Creed (85 Points) • Warlord • 1x Duty and Vengeance • 1x Power weapon

BATTLELINE

Cadian Shock Troops (65 Points) • 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Chainsword • 9x Shock Trooper ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 7x Lasgun ◦ 1x Meltagun ◦ 1x Plasma gun ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Cadian Shock Troops (65 Points) • 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Chainsword • 9x Shock Trooper ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 7x Lasgun ◦ 1x Meltagun ◦ 1x Plasma gun ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Catachan Jungle Fighters (65 Points) • 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Laspistol • 9x Jungle Fighter ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Flamer ◦ 8x Lasgun ◦ 1x Vox-caster

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Taurox (75 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Storm bolter • 1x Twin autocannon

Taurox (75 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Storm bolter • 1x Twin autocannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Hellhound (125 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Heavy bolter • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Inferno cannon

Kasrkin (110 Points) • 1x Kasrkin Sergeant ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power weapon • 9x Kasrkin ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Hot-shot lasgun ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol ◦ 1x Hot-shot marksman rifle ◦ 1x Melta Mine ◦ 2x Meltagun ◦ 2x Plasma gun ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Kasrkin (110 Points) • 1x Kasrkin Sergeant ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power weapon • 9x Kasrkin ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Hot-shot lasgun ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol ◦ 1x Hot-shot marksman rifle ◦ 1x Melta Mine ◦ 2x Meltagun ◦ 2x Plasma gun ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Krieg Combat Engineers (60 Points) • 1x Krieg Engineer Watchmaster ◦ 1x Hand flamer ◦ 1x Power weapon • 4x Krieg Combat Engineer ◦ 1x Autopistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Combat shotgun ◦ 1x Flamer ◦ 1x Remote Mine

Leman Russ Battle Tank (185 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Heavy stubber • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Lascannon • 1x Leman Russ battle cannon • 2x Multi-melta

Scout Sentinels (55 Points) • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Lascannon • 1x Sentinel chainsaw

Scout Sentinels (55 Points) • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Lascannon • 1x Sentinel chainsaw

Tempestus Scions (70 Points) • 1x Tempestor ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power fist • 4x Tempestus Scion ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Hot-shot lasgun ◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol ◦ 1x Meltagun ◦ 1x Plasma gun ◦ 1x Vox-caster

Exported with App Version: v1.42.0 (3), Data Version: v696

Archetype

Combined Arms Goodstuff

Thoughts

Kasrkin have huge reach, Dorns are all-purpose super reliable threats, Guard support helps control the table. This is a tried and true plan, and you know the drill (though I do like one Combat Engineers unit for some Mortal spikes). It was also yet another victim of the T'au menace, and here I can definitely see that - the Kasrkin don't reliably spike enough damage, and it's too easy for this to fall behind on resources into the pure Kauyon hulls list (though into Crisis or Kroot stuff, this should be fine, and it did in fact win against the next list). Good old dependable guard, we love to see it, great stuff Giacomo.

Trent Bannerman - T'au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) - 4th Place

Krootox Rampager. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LIST NAME: Sensual Banana Noises + PLAYER NAME: Trent Bannerman + TEAM NAME: Xenos Petting Zoo + FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos - T'au Empire + DETACHMENT: Kroot Hunting Pack + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts + + WARLORD: Char1: Darkstrider + ENHANCEMENT: + NUMBER OF UNITS: 17 + SECONDARY: - Bring It Down: (6x2) - Assassination: 1 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

1x Darkstrider (60 pts) • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Shade • Warlord

BATTLELINE

10x Kroot Carnivores (65 pts) • 1x Long-quill • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Kroot pistol • 1x Kroot rifle • 9x Kroot Carnivores • 9x Close combat weapon • 9x Kroot rifle

OTHER DATASHEETS

3x Stealth Battlesuits (80 pts) • 1x Stealth Shas'vre • 1x Battlesuit fists • 1x Fusion blaster • Battlesuit support system, Homing beacon, Marker Drone, Shield Drone, Stealth Shas'vre (Shield Drone) • 2x Stealth Shas'ui • 2x Battlesuit fists • 2x Burst cannon • 2x Stealth Shas'ui

3x Stealth Battlesuits (80 pts) • 1x Stealth Shas'vre • 1x Battlesuit fists • 1x Fusion blaster • Battlesuit support system, Homing beacon, Marker Drone, Shield Drone, Stealth Shas'vre (Shield Drone) • 2x Stealth Shas'ui • 2x Battlesuit fists • 2x Burst cannon • 2x Stealth Shas'ui

5x Vespid Stingwings (65 pts) • 1x Vespid Strain Leader • 1x Neutron blaster • 1x Stingwing claws • 4x Vespid Stingwings • 4x Neutron blaster • 4x Stingwing claws

6x Krootox Rampagers (170 pts) • 6x Krootox Rampagers • 6x Hunting blades • 6x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins • 6x Rampager fists

6x Krootox Rampagers (170 pts) • 6x Krootox Rampagers • 6x Hunting blades • 6x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins • 6x Rampager fists

6x Krootox Rampagers (170 pts) • 6x Krootox Rampagers • 6x Hunting blades • 6x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins • 6x Rampager fists

3x Krootox Riders (90 pts) • 3x Krootox Rider • 3x Close combat weapon • 3x Krootox fists • 3x Repeater cannon

3x Krootox Riders (90 pts) • 3x Krootox Rider • 3x Close combat weapon • 3x Krootox fists • 3x Repeater cannon

3x Krootox Riders (90 pts) • 3x Krootox Rider • 3x Close combat weapon • 3x Krootox fists • 3x Repeater cannon

1x Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 pts) • 1x Ghostkeel fists • 1x Cyclic ion raker • 1x Twin T'au flamer

1x Hammerhead Gunship (145 pts) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Railgun • 2x Seeker missile • 2x Smart missile system

1x Hammerhead Gunship (145 pts) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Railgun • 2x Seeker missile • 2x Smart missile system

1x Sky Ray Gunship (140 pts) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Seeker missile rack • 2x Smart missile system

1x Sky Ray Gunship (140 pts) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Seeker missile rack • 2x Smart missile system

1x Sky Ray Gunship (140 pts) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Seeker missile rack • 2x Smart missile system

Archetype

Krootox and Hulls

Thoughts

Rounding out this top four, more T'au, though quite different. Here we've got the Krootox and hulls spin on Hunting Pack - lots of efficient piles of Wounds, and some very efficient tanks to de-fang anything that threatens to carve through them. I like the choice to go super light on Characters too, Assassinate is a very dead draw for opponents most of the time. It's just hard to efficiently answer, not impossible (the all-rounder guard setup can do it), but tricky, and has answers in turn to a lot of foes. Trent got to round 6 undefeated and only lost to the guard above by a single point, so this is a very real build, and part of the suite of T'au setups that can really thrive. Congratulations!

The Best of the Rest

There were 8 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

5th - Roland Crawley - Imperial Knights (Questoris Companions): See Showdown.
6th - Cameron Ogle - Raven Guard (Shadowmark Talon): Infantry Shadowmark.
7th - Steven Crawley - Imperial Knights (Questoris Companions): Triple Lancer and a Crusader once more.
8th - Charles Barber - Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): Pressure Broodsurge with lots of Aberrant MSUs and a big unit each of Genestealers/Metamorphs.
9th - Sean Rice - Aeldari (Warhost): Warhost with one bus and the option to put Dragons or Reapers in it.
10th - Blake Clotfelter - Aeldari (Spirit Conclave): Wraithblades and Wraithlords galore backed by Shining Spears and scoring pieces.
11th - Aron Huckaba - T'au Empire (Auxiliary Cadre): Starscythes, Rampagers and Riptides.
12th - Logan Heath - T'au Empire (Mont'ka): Very go-wide Mont'ka with three Riptides as the core, then lots of individual Piranhas and Broadsides.

Dragons Lair Open 2025

66-player, 6-round (5 Swiss and a top table final) Grand Tournament in Houston, TX, United States on October 18 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission - Scorched Earth, Search and Destroy, GW Layout 2

T Chambliss - Adepta Sororitas (Army of Faith)

Army List - Click to Expand

What manner of man are you, that can summon up fire without flint or tinder? (2000 Points)

Adepta Sororitas Army of Faith Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Aestred Thurga and Agathae Dolan (70 Points) • 1x Aestred Thurga ◦ 1x Blade of Vigil ◦ 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Agathae Dolan ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Scribe's staff

Daemonifuge (85 Points) • 1x Ephrael Stern ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Sanctity • 1x Kyganil of the Bloody Tears ◦ 1x The Outcast's Weapons

Dialogus (40 Points) • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Dialogus staff

Dialogus (40 Points) • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Dialogus staff

Ministorum Priest (50 Points) • 1x Zealot's vindictor

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

Saint Celestine (150 Points) • 1x Celestine ◦ 1x The Ardent Blade • 2x Geminae Superia ◦ 2x Bolt pistol ◦ 2x Power weapon

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 Meltagun ◦ 1x Multi-melta ◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

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

Dominion Squad (115 Points) • 1x Dominion Superior ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Condemnor boltgun ◦ 1x Power weapon • 9x Dominion ◦ 9x Bolt pistol ◦ 5x Boltgun ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Meltagun ◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Mortifiers (70 Points) • 1x Anchorite Sarcophagus • 2x Heavy bolter • 1x Twin penitent buzz-blades

Mortifiers (70 Points) • 1x Anchorite Sarcophagus • 2x Heavy bolter • 1x Twin penitent buzz-blades

Paragon Warsuits (210 Points) • 1x Paragon Superior ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Heavy bolter ◦ 1x Paragon grenade launchers ◦ 1x Paragon war mace • 2x Paragon ◦ 2x Bolt pistol ◦ 2x Heavy bolter ◦ 2x Paragon grenade launchers ◦ 2x Paragon war blade

Retributor Squad (105 Points) • 1x Retributor Superior ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Condemnor boltgun ◦ 1x Power weapon • 4x Retributor ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Multi-melta

Retributor Squad (105 Points) • 1x Retributor Superior ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Condemnor boltgun ◦ 1x Power weapon • 4x Retributor ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Multi-melta

Sanctifiers (100 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

Seraphim Squad (80 Points) • 1x Seraphim Superior ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power weapon • 4x Seraphim ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Ministorum hand flamer

Exported with App Version: v1.42.0 (3), Data Version: v696

vs.

David Smith - Chaos Space Marines (Veterans of the Long War)

Army List - Click to Expand

Alpha (2000 Points)

Chaos Space Marines Veterans of the Long War Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

Fabius Bile (85 Points) • 1x Fabius Bile • Warlord ◦ 1x Chirurgeon ◦ 1x Rod of Torment ◦ 1x Xyclos Needler • 1x Surgeon Acolyte ◦ 1x Surgeon Acolyte's tools

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (75 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Combi-bolter • 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 Bolt pistol ◦ 2x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Combi-bolter ◦ 2x Meltagun

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

Chaos Vindicator (185 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Demolisher cannon • 1x Havoc launcher

Chosen (250 Points) • 1x Chosen Champion ◦ 1x Accursed weapon ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Boltgun • 9x Chosen ◦ 5x Accursed weapon ◦ 5x Bolt pistol ◦ 3x Boltgun ◦ 1x Chaos Icon ◦ 4x Combi-weapon ◦ 2x Paired accursed weapons ◦ 4x Plasma pistol ◦ 2x Power fist

Forgefiend (180 Points) • 1x Armoured limbs • 2x Ectoplasma cannon • 1x Ectoplasma cannon

Forgefiend (180 Points) • 1x Armoured limbs • 2x Ectoplasma cannon • 1x Ectoplasma cannon

Obliterators (160 Points) • 2x Obliterator ◦ 2x Crushing fists ◦ 2x Fleshmetal guns

Obliterators (160 Points) • 2x Obliterator ◦ 2x Crushing fists ◦ 2x Fleshmetal guns

Warp Talons (270 Points) • 1x Warp Talon Champion ◦ 1x Warp claws • 9x Warp Talon ◦ 9x Warp claws

Exported with App Version: v1.42.0 (3), Data Version: v696

Thoughts

TwoHorse: Glorious Heavy Bolter Vahlgons vs Vashtorr VSL Veterans. What's going on here? How do these lists work? David's running a variation of Liam VSL's successful Veterans of the Long War build, with the novel addition of Vashtorr to support the forgefiends and provide more anti-vehicle punch in a Knight and Guard-heavy Texas meta. I'm running an Army of Faith list built to take advantage of the Sisters buffs from the last dataslate, with Retributors, Aestred Thurga, and Celestine all hitting the table to maximize miracle dice generation and consumption.

The mission is Scorched Earth, which limits how much of a primary advantage either player can expect to generate early, while Search and Destroy deployment ensures the action will start early. The CSM list easily outguns the Sisters at range, and the Warp Talon brick is perfect for killing Sisters chaff units and then disappearing to rapid ingress elsewhere. Conversely the Sisters are flush with melta, perfect for removing big vehicles and elite infantry. Neither side can afford to play conservatively, as the Sisters will get grinded out by the big guns and the CSM have to fear a saturation of melta with only two bike units and cultists for screening. The game will be fast and bloody, but both sides have the tools to win.

I'm sweating this one a bit, as any of David's units are a threat to all of mine, while I only have a few rocks to his scissors, so positioning will be key. In particular the Obliterators are a problem for me in Veterans of the Long War, as the flat-4 damage profile is perfect for attacking Vahl's Paragons with indirect fire. The VOTLW detachment rule means they'll connect reliably, while any screens I extend to hold them back are vulnerable to the Warp Talons. When David makes the fateful decision to put both Obliterator units and the Warp Talons in deep strike, he chooses my gameplan for me. If I'm not standing in his deployment zone at the beginning of his second turn, the game is probably over.

Fortunately for me, I end up going first. That means David gets to Rapid Ingress the Warp Talons for a turn 2 kill, but it also means I have two turns to push back the Obliterator drop zone. I push out fast and early, and by the time David's turn 2 rolls around he's got to bring the Obliterators into his deployment zone to dig me out. The CSM output is more than enough to deal with my push, but he doesn't have the resources or board position to score secondaries, and the Sisters chaff hangs on to run up the score while the remaining CSM begin their killing spree. By the time Bile and his Chosen make it to my home point to scorch it on turn 5, the score gap is insurmountable. A huge shout-out to David for being an incredible opponent and Grant for being an awesome TO. There's nothing better in 40k than getting to the last round of the day and making a friend over a great game.

Result

Adepta Sororitas (Army of Faith) Victory - 98 - 48

T Chambliss - Adepta Sororitas (Army of Faith) - 1st Place

Credit: Evan "Felime" Siefring

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Glorious Heavy Bolter Vahlgons and Double Dice Dialogus team up with Aestred Thurga for an off-meta snowflake special. There's no big wombo-combo, no undercosted balance nightmare taken in triplicate, no murder unit that kills the universe while being totally uninteractable. One could almost call it regular old honest warhammer, but the detachment is about cycling miracle dice so that might be a stretch.

Thoughts

David Smith - Chaos Space Marines (Veterans of the Long War) - 2nd Place

Vashtorr the Arkifane - Credit: RichyP

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Shooty Veterans

Thoughts

See Showdown for some of how this plays on the table, but this is a very violent build that throws out massive shooting pain, and has enough punishes up close that foes have to be very judicious in trying to respond. I really like Vashtorr as a generically efficient add-on to Chaos Space Marine builds right now, and I'm pleased to see more and more usage in that slot - he's probably just better than the first Discolord, as we see here. Congratulations to David on second place.

Kevin “Titus” Camarata II - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) - 3rd Place

Marneus Calgar Credit: Alfredo Ramirez

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Gunz N Angelz (2000 Points)

Space Marines Ultramarines Gladius Task Force Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (80 Points) • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Paired combat blades • Enhancements: Artificer Armour

Marneus Calgar (200 Points) • 1x Marneus Calgar ◦ 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar • 2x Victrix Honour Guard ◦ 2x Victrix power sword

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

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 Points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power fist • 4x Assault Intercessor ◦ 4x Astartes chainsword ◦ 4x Heavy bolt pistol

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Ballistus Dreadnought (150 Points) • 1x Armoured feet • 1x Ballistus lascannon • 1x Ballistus missile launcher • 1x Twin storm bolter

Centurion Devastator Squad (165 Points) • 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant ◦ 1x Centurion fists ◦ 1x Centurion missile launcher ◦ 1x Twin lascannon • 2x Devastator Centurion ◦ 2x Centurion fists ◦ 2x Centurion missile launcher ◦ 2x Twin lascannon

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

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

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

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

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

Stormraven Gunship (280 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 2x Hurricane bolter • 2x Stormstrike missile launcher • 1x Twin heavy plasma cannon • 1x Twin multi-melta

Exported with App Version: v1.42.1 (1), Data Version: v697

Archetype

Gladius Stormraven

Thoughts

An example here of the strategy of taking a build from one Detachment then just dropping it into another for fun and profit. It's the shooty version of Stormlance Stormraven, only it's Gladius now, providing access to a reactive Move and better support for the Centurions, at a cost of slightly weakening the Stormraven's defences. It also has Fight on Death for Guilliman or Calgar, which is solid against the melee half of the metagame. In theory it's less good at charging, but not really in practice - Calgar can do it anyway, and you can stick Guilliman into the Assault Doctrine if needed. Essentially - if your calculation is that the stuff that shoots the Stormraven down will do it through RFRH, then there's quite a bit of upside here, continuing to cement Gladius as one of the most consistenly strong detachments for the whole edition. Well done to Kevin.

David Hall - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade) - 4th Place

Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-Priest Belisarius Cawl by Pendulin

Belisarius Cawl. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Ad mech lives again (1995 Points)

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

CHARACTERS

Belisarius Cawl (175 Points) • Warlord • 1x Arc scourge • 1x Cawl's Omnissian axe • 1x Mechadendrite hive • 1x Solar atomiser

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

Technoarcheologist (45 Points) • 1x Mechanicus pistol • 1x Servo-arc claw

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 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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Ironstrider Ballistarii (225 Points) • 3x Ironstrider Ballistarii ◦ 3x Ironstrider feet ◦ 3x Twin cognis lascannon

Ironstrider Ballistarii (150 Points) • 2x Ironstrider Ballistarii ◦ 2x Ironstrider feet ◦ 2x Twin cognis lascannon

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

Serberys Raiders (60 Points) • 1x Serberys Raider Alpha ◦ 1x Cavalry sabre and clawed limbs ◦ 1x Galvanic carbine ◦ 1x Mechanicus pistol • 2x Serberys Raider ◦ 2x Cavalry sabre and clawed limbs ◦ 1x Enhanced data-tether ◦ 2x Galvanic carbine

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

Sicarian Infiltrators (140 Points) • 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps ◦ 1x Flechette blaster ◦ 1x Taser goad • 9x Sicarian Infiltrator ◦ 9x Flechette blaster ◦ 9x Taser goad

Sicarian Ruststalkers (150 Points) • 1x Sicarian Ruststalker Princeps ◦ 1x Transonic blades and chordclaw • 9x Sicarian Ruststalker ◦ 9x Transonic razor and chordclaw

Sydonian Dragoons with Taser Lances (195 Points) • 3x Sydonian Dragoon ◦ 3x Phosphor serpenta ◦ 3x Taser lance

Exported with App Version: v1.42.0 (3), Data Version: v696

Archetype

Sydonian Haloscreed

Thoughts

Lots of the Haloscreed favourites on show here, just swapping out one Ruststalker unit from the standard setup for some Sydonian Dragoons. That's certainly extremely funny if you hit Knights, and although they're not quite as vicious into melee Marines as the Ruststalkers, they're still pretty funny (and if you go 5+ Criticals and re-rolls, they'll kind of kill anything). It also lets you triple Advance/Charge with them and the two big elite Skitarii units, since they have it natively. Another option in the commendable arsenal that AdMech have access to right now. Well done David.

The Best of the Rest

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

5th - Jensen Simmons - Death Guard (Champions of Contagion): Two big Plague Marine units with Putrifiers/Plaguecasters and some supporting Deathshrouds.
6th - Jason "Buck" Shelton - Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): Aberrants and a big squad each of Purestrains, Acolytes and Metamorphs.
7th - Brendan Muller - Leagues of Votann (Brandfast Oathband): Two Forts, lots of Thunderkyn, and also two big units of regular Hearthguard with Grimnyrs as general all-rounder pieces.
8th - Steven Salazar - Ultramarines (Ultramarines): Redemptor/Stormraven Stormlance.
9th - David Lima - Chaos Space Marines (Veterans of the Long War): A murderous Veterans toolbox with Obliterators, a big Chosen brick, some Noise Marines and a Discolord.
10th - Cyril Guipet - Black Templars (Gladius Task Force): An extra Infantry/Herohammer skewed version of Templar Gladius, cutting down to just one RepEx so it can fit units for Grimaldus and Helbrecht as well.

Queen City Orktoberfest

50-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Springfield, MO, United States on October 18 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Kyle lamperez - Tyranids (Subterranean Assault) - 1st Place

Hive Tyrant. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

nids (1995 points)

Tyranids Strike Force (2000 points) Subterranean Assault

CHARACTERS

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

Neurotyrant (125 points) • Warlord • 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes 1x Psychic scream • Enhancement: Tremor Senses

Neurotyrant (105 points) • 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes 1x Psychic scream

The Swarmlord (220 points) • 1x Bone sabres 1x Synaptic pulse

Trygon (160 points) • Subterranean Assault Keywords: Character • 1x Bio-electric pulse 1x Trygon scything talons • Enhancement: Trygon Prime

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (50 points) • 1x Chitin-barbed limbs 1x Spore Mine launcher

Lictor (60 points) • 1x Lictor claws and talons

Lictor (60 points) • 1x Lictor claws and talons

Maleceptor (170 points) • 1x Massive scything talons 1x Psychic overload

Maleceptor (170 points) • 1x Massive scything talons 1x Psychic overload

Trygon (140 points) • 1x Bio-electric pulse 1x Trygon scything talons

Trygon (140 points) • 1x Bio-electric pulse 1x Trygon scything talons

Zoanthropes (200 points) • 1x Neurothrope • 1x Chitinous claws and teeth 1x Warp Blast • 5x Zoanthrope • 5x Chitinous claws and teeth 5x Warp Blast

Zoanthropes (200 points) • 1x Neurothrope • 1x Chitinous claws and teeth 1x Warp Blast • 5x Zoanthrope • 5x Chitinous claws and teeth 5x Warp Blast

Exported with App Version: v1.42.0 (100), Data Version: v696

Archetype

Subterranean Monsters and Zoanthropes

Thoughts

A heftier spin on Subterranean Assault here, eschewing Raveners in favour of tunnelling monsters and a double dose of Zoanthropes. That throws fairly big distractions at the foe, and has the upside of very broad shooting (especially as both squads have Neurotyrants) to hammer foes down. This feels indicative of the very lethal arms race the metagame is in right now - Raveners maybe die a bit too easy to too many things if you're trying to use them in a utility fashion, whereas everything here brings durability, violence or both. Only drawback is that you do need to hold one of the Trygons just to set up the Zoanthropes as you want, and I do wonder if you want one more setup helper. Doesn't seem to have been a problem though, so congratulations Kyle.

Chris Green - Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) - 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Blood Angels Captain. Credit: Corrode

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

“The Road to Orktoberfest”

It began, as most bad ideas do, with one more drink. Sam and David had spent the night before Orktoberfest 40K GT “preparing their lists” — which really meant debating Black Templars vs. Leagues of Votann over pints of something green and suspiciously fizzy. By midnight, the table was covered in dice, bitz, and half-eaten pizza. By 2 a.m., David insisted they could “just wake up early” for the four-hour drive.They woke up at eight.

Hungover, half-dressed, and carrying more miniatures than sense, they stumbled into the car. David drove. Sam navigated — poorly. The GPS, in its infinite wisdom, took them through a corn maze, then an abandoned gas station that looked like something out of Mad Max. Every few miles, the dice bag in the back clanked like a drunken servo-skull.

When they finally rolled into Metagames, sunburned and delirious, the first round had already started twenty minutes on their clocks. Their armies looked like they'd been airbrushed by a hurricane. But when Sam placed his first Templar on the table, he grinned.

“Hell yeah, we made it.”

David raised his water bottle solemnly. “To Orktoberfest.”

Somewhere in the distance, a WAAAGH echoed — or maybe it was just their hangovers screaming.

Blood Angels ain't broke don't fix it (2000 Points)

Space Marines Blood Angels Liberator Assault Group Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Blood Angels Captain (115 Points) • Warlord • 1x Inferno pistol • 1x Power fist • Enhancements: Rage-fuelled Warrior

Death Company Captain with Jump Pack (75 Points) • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power fist

Death Company Captain with Jump Pack (75 Points) • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power fist

Death Company Captain with Jump Pack (75 Points) • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power fist

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

Sanguinary Priest (100 Points) • 1x Absolvor bolt pistol • 1x Astartes chainsword • Enhancements: Speed of the Primarch

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (150 Points) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power fist • 9x Assault Intercessor ◦ 9x Astartes chainsword ◦ 9x Heavy bolt pistol

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

Ballistus Dreadnought (150 Points) • 1x Armoured feet • 1x Ballistus lascannon • 1x Ballistus missile launcher • 1x Twin storm bolter

Ballistus Dreadnought (150 Points) • 1x Armoured feet • 1x Ballistus lascannon • 1x Ballistus missile launcher • 1x Twin storm bolter

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

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

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

Gladiator Lancer (160 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Icarus rocket pod • 1x Ironhail heavy stubber • 1x Lancer laser destroyer • 2x Storm bolter

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 ◦ 4x Marksman bolt carbine

Land Raider Redeemer (270 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 2x Flamestorm cannon • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Multi-melta • 1x Storm bolter • 1x Twin assault cannon

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

Exported with App Version: v1.42.1 (1), Data Version: v697

Archetype

Kinda Shooty Liberator

Thoughts

Like Gladius, Liberator is very much on the "old reliable" list for Detachments at this point, but this version of it is quite unusual. It's got a lot more guns than the current average, and is set up via the Land Raider and very trade-focused jump pack stuff to play more of a back-and-forth early game than normal (Death Company with Captains murder something then do a bit of damage to other melee on the way out). When it's time to drop the hammer, the big Assault Intercessor unit with Captain and Apothecary coming out of a Land Raider can be overwhelming to handle (especially with access to Fight First). This definitely feels like a Blood Angels build that's a response to getting kicked in by some of the other melee players recently, and I think it's well setup for that, so interesting adaptation from Chris.

The Best of the Rest

There were 8 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

3rd - Nicholas Rupel - Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Shooty Big Birds, a Gift GUO, and big Fiend units.
4th - John Indellicate - Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): Aberrant Broodsurge with the big Purestrain and Metamorph units, and this time also one shooty Neophyte squad.
5th - Peyton Preece - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade): Breacher/Destroyer brick Haloscreed.
6th - Joshua Shirley - Black Templars (Ironstorm Spearhead): Two RepEx and a Redeemer with nasty melee toys inside.
7th - Dick Johnson - Raven Guard (Shadowmark Talon): Infantry Shadowmark.
8th - Howard Watts - Raven Guard (Shadowmark Talon): Infantry Shadowmark.
9th - Michael Roberts - Imperial Knights (Questoris Companions): Quad bigs with Canis, a Castigator, a Lancer and a Defender.
10th - John Teets - Black Templars (Gladius Task Force): Another Redeemer/RepEx/RepEx build, this time sticking to Gladius.

Level Up Gaming Warhammer Fall GT

37-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Pensacola, FL, United States on October 18 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Anthony Carter - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet) - 1st Place

Hormagaunts. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Tyranids Strike Force (2000 points) Invasion Fleet

CHARACTERS Broodlord (80 points) Hive Tyrant (210 points) • 1x Monstrous bonesword and lash whip 1x Monstrous scything talons • Enhancement: Perfectly Adapted Neurotyrant (105 points) • Warlord

BATTLELINE Hormagaunts (65 points) • 10x Hormagaunt Hormagaunts (65 points) • 10x Hormagaunt Hormagaunts (65 points) • 10x Hormagaunt

OTHER DATASHEETS Biovores (50 points) Exocrine (140 points) Exocrine (140 points) Genestealers (140 points) • 10x Genestealer Genestealers (140 points) • 10x Genestealer Lictor (60 points) Maleceptor (170 points) Maleceptor (170 points) Tyrannofex (200 points) 1x Rupture cannon Tyrannofex (200 points) 1x Rupture cannon

Archetype

Board Control Bugs

Thoughts

Invasion Fleet with a couple fewer big bugs and a lot more board control from Hormagaunts and Genstealers. I'm pretty convinced that most Invasion builds should have at least one Genestealer unit since Broodlords got Synapse, as access to the full Feel No Pain makes them quite a pain for some builds to kill, and having access to Hormagaunts is nice to flip objectives on the cheap. All seems very defensible, good stuff Anthony.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Michael Clark - Imperial Knights (Questoris Companions): Quad bigs with Lancer/Lancer/Crusader/Errant.
3rd - Christopher DeBoe - Iron Hands (Ironstorm Spearhead): Feirros with a full Heavy Intercessor unit as a central anvil, surrounded by a mixture of Dreadnoughts and hulls.
4th - Charles Lowry - Dark Angels (Unforgiven Task Force): Toolboxy Dark Angels with the Lion, then big units each of Hellblasters and Centurions, plus some Deathwing Knights.
5th - William Blair - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade): Extra-robotic Haloscreed with a unit of Kastelans alongside Breachers and Ironstriders.
6th - Kristian Peterson - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Vectorium goodstuff with Deathshrouds, Drones, Haulers, and one Plagueburst.

III GT La Laguna 40k - Kanarian Open

34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in La Laguna, CN, España on October 18 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Nelson WiRm - Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) - 1st Place

Credit: Robert "TheChirurgeon" Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Lista de Tito (2000 points)

Chaos Daemons Strike Force (2000 points) Daemonic Incursion

CHARACTERS

Bloodmaster (65 points) • 1x Blade of blood

Bloodthirster (325 points) • 1x Great axe of Khorne 1x Hellfire breath • Enhancement: A'rgath, The King of Blades

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

Karanak (75 points) • 1x Brass Collar of Bloody Vengeance 1x Scalding roar 1x Soul-rending fangs

Rendmaster on Blood Throne (165 points) • 1x Attendants' hellblades 1x Blade of blood

Rendmaster on Blood Throne (165 points) • 1x Attendants' hellblades 1x Blade of blood

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

Syll'Esske (120 points) • 1x Axe of Dominion 1x Cacophonic choir 1x Scourging whip

BATTLELINE

Bloodletters (110 points) • 1x Bloodreaper • 1x Hellblade • 9x Bloodletter • 1x Daemonic Icon 9x Hellblade 1x Instrument of Chaos

Nurglings (40 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

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

Archetype

Khorne Monster Mash

Thoughts

Sometimes you just want to punt foes into the stratosphere. I'm not quite sure what horrors Nelson has encountered in the past to make him want access to D4 sweep attacks from Skarbrand and the Bloodthirster, but he's got them here. Outside that, it's the standard strong anvil from a Gift GUO, and the fantastic scoring of Flesh Hounds to get things done. Also, solo Syll'Esske is back. I'm not wholly convinced they should ever have left, so good choice there from Nelson.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Marcos Sokram Mejias - Black Templars (Gladius Task Force): RepEx/Brethren Gladius.
3rd - Saulon PW - Aeldari (Aspect Host): Serpent/Falcon Aspect Host with Asurmen, Fuegan and Jain Zar, plus double Shining Spears in the pressure/reach slot instead of Lhykhis.
4th - Jacinto López - Emperor's Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Double Prince Coterie.

Halton Heretics 2025 Post Thanksgiving Warhammer 40K Bash!

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Burlington, ON, Canada on October 18 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Nick Jagiello - Astra Militarum (Hammer of the Emperor) - 1st Place

Leman Russ Exterminator. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

🧊🫘 (2000 points)

Astra Militarum Strike Force (2000 points) Hammer of the Emperor

CHARACTERS

Gaunt's Ghosts (100 points) • 1x Ibram Gaunt • 1x Bolt Pistol 1x Gaunt's chainsword • 1x Colm Corbec • 1x Corbec's hot-shot lascarbine 1x Straight silver knife • 1x Elim Rawne • 1x Rawne's lascarbine 1x Straight silver knife • 1x Hlaine Larkin • 1x Larkin's long-las 1x Straight silver knife • 1x 'Try Again' Bragg • 1x Bragg's autocannon 1x Straight silver knife • 1x Oan Mkoll • 1x Lascarbine 1x Mkoll's straight silver knife

Rogal Dorn Commander (290 points) • Warlord • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Coaxial autocannon 3x Heavy stubber 2x Multi-melta 1x Oppressor cannon 1x Pulveriser cannon • Enhancement: Calm Under Fire

Rogal Dorn Commander (275 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Coaxial autocannon 3x Heavy stubber 2x Multi-melta 1x Oppressor cannon 1x Pulveriser cannon

BATTLELINE

Cadian Shock Troops (65 points) • 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Sergeant's autogun • 9x Shock Trooper • 9x Close combat weapon 7x Lasgun 1x Meltagun 1x Plasma gun 1x Vox-caster

OTHER DATASHEETS

Attilan Rough Riders (60 points) • 1x Rough Rider Sergeant • 1x Hunting lance 1x Lasgun 1x Laspistol 1x Power sabre 1x Steed's hooves • 4x Rough Rider • 4x Hunting lance 4x Lasgun 4x Laspistol 4x Steed's hooves

Death Riders (60 points) • 1x Ridemaster • 1x Death Rider lascarbine 1x Frag lance 1x Power sabre 1x Savage claws • 4x Death Rider • 4x Death Rider lascarbine 4x Frag lance 4x Power sabre 4x Savage claws

Hellhound (125 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Heavy flamer 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Inferno cannon

Hellhound (125 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Heavy flamer 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Inferno cannon

Krieg Combat Engineers (60 points) • 1x Krieg Engineer Watchmaster • 1x Plasma pistol 1x Power weapon • 4x Krieg Combat Engineer • 1x Autopistol 4x Close combat weapon 2x Combat shotgun 1x Flamer 1x Remote Mine

Leman Russ Exterminator (180 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Exterminator autocannon 1x Heavy stubber 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Lascannon 2x Multi-melta

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Heavy stubber 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Lascannon 2x Multi-melta 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Heavy stubber 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Lascannon 2x Multi-melta 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Heavy stubber 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Lascannon 2x Multi-melta 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Ratlings (60 points) • 5x Ratling Sniper • 5x Close combat weapon 5x Sniper rifle

Scout Sentinels (55 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Lascannon 1x Sentinel chainsaw

Scout Sentinels (55 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Lascannon 1x Sentinel chainsaw

Scout Sentinels (55 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Lascannon 1x Sentinel chainsaw

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (95), Data Version: v683

Archetype

Hammer

Thoughts

Tanks shoot their guns, enemy falls down. I am afraid I have slightly hit my capacity for writing about Warhammer this week, and I am not convinced I'm adding much clever insight on this one. It's the tank detachment from the tank army, featuring tanks. Also a single Combat Engineer unit I guess - worth noting that this seems to be a lock across lots of builds. Otherwise, no big surprises - well done Nick.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Chase Bandl - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Berzerker horde.
3rd - Vincent Porretti - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Starshatter with the Silent King, double Wraiths and double Doomsday.
4th - Jeremy McClure - Chaos Space Marines (Pactbound Zealots): Forgefiend and Possessed Pactbound, with pressure added from an Accursed Commune, Vashtorr, and a Discolord.
5th - Ian Donovan - Space Wolves (Saga of the Beastslayer): MSU ThunderCav surrounding a big Wolf Guard unit, with a second smaller squad loaded in a Land Raider.
6th - Nik W - Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile): Chosen and double Possessed, backed by Havocs.
7th - Matthew D - Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): Melee murder from the Lion, maximum Deathwing Knights and an Inner Circle Companion squad, backed up by speeders.

Wrap Up

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Competitive Innovations in 10th: Grande Tournaments pt.3

Tennessee Elite Open

The Showdown

Linchpin - Search and Destroy

Thoughts

Result

Ken Edwards - T'au Empire (Kauyon) - 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Jeremy Stan - Adeptus Custodes (Solar Spearhead) - 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Giacomo Tirelli - Astra Militarum (Combined Arms) - 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Trent Bannerman - T'au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) - 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Dragons Lair Open 2025

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission - Scorched Earth, Search and Destroy, GW Layout 2

Thoughts

Result

T Chambliss - Adepta Sororitas (Army of Faith) - 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

David Smith - Chaos Space Marines (Veterans of the Long War) - 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Kevin “Titus” Camarata II - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) - 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

David Hall - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade) - 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Queen City Orktoberfest

Kyle lamperez - Tyranids (Subterranean Assault) - 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Chris Green - Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) - 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Level Up Gaming Warhammer Fall GT

Anthony Carter - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet) - 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

III GT La Laguna 40k - Kanarian Open

Nelson WiRm - Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) - 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Halton Heretics 2025 Post Thanksgiving Warhammer 40K Bash!

Nick Jagiello - Astra Militarum (Hammer of the Emperor) - 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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