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Gaming | Tactics | Warhammer 40k | Meta Analysis | Competitive Play | Goonhammer | Core Games | 40K Competitive Innovations

Competitive Innovations in 10th: Grizzly Gifts pt.3

by James "One_Wing" Grover | Dec 20 2025
Welcome to Competitive Innovations, our weekly feature for a number of game lines across the tabletop wargame space. Each week our army list and tactics experts canvass the top tournaments for their game of specialty, looking at the week’s top match-ups and how they played out on the tabletop to let you know what’s hot, what’s not, and what might be coming next as the competitive meta evolves year-round.

We're back for part three, this time with the new Rage-Cursed Onslaught detachment kicking into gear. We've got some insights from melee Marine master Innes Wilson, who has (of course) pivoted straight to this new way of killing people with jump pack power armour, and some more iterations on Grizzled Company to digest. Let's get into it.

Part 3 on Saturday:
  • Da Winter Waaagh 2025
  • Twin Dragons - Dragons Cup (Champions Only)
  • Warhammer: 40,000 Charity GT for NFBNJ
  • Grim GT
Part 1 on Wednesday:
  • Rise of The Empire GT 2025
  • 13 & 14 December 2025 - OWN's Breaking Point GT at Game HQ (partial)
  • Jingle Bombz 5
  • Fight Before Christmas 2025 - 40K Grand Tournament
  • Rogue City Rumble GT
Part 2 on Friday:
  • Safety's Off's Second Coming of the Double Critmas Charity GT
  • Gothic Games Canterbury: December 40k GT
  • King of Blades, the 2nd - 40k Grand Tournament
  • Christmas Hammer

Da Winter Waaagh 2025

60-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Horwich, England, GB on December 13 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Matt Charles - Blood Angels (Rage-cursed Onslaught) - 1st Place

Lemartes. Credit: Rockfish Lemartes. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Last-minute. com (2000 points)

Space Marines Blood Angels Strike Force (2000 points) Rage-cursed Onslaught

CHARACTERS

Captain with Jump Pack (100 points) • 1x Plasma pistol 1x Power fist • Enhancement: Angel's Fang

Captain with Jump Pack (75 points) • 1x Relic Shield 1x Thunder hammer

Chaplain with Jump Pack (100 points) • 1x Crozius arcanum 1x Power fist • Enhancement: Master of the Red Thirst

Commander Dante (120 points) • Warlord • 1x Perdition Pistol 1x The Axe Mortalis

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 Astartes grenade launcher 1x Bolt pistol 1x Bolt rifle 1x Thunder hammer • 4x Intercessor • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Bolt rifle 4x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

Baal Predator (125 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Baal flamestorm cannon 2x Heavy flamer 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

Baal Predator (125 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Baal flamestorm cannon 2x Heavy flamer 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter

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 (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

Sanguinary Guard (125 points) • 3x Sanguinary Guard • 2x Angelus boltgun 3x Encarmine blade 1x Inferno pistol 1x Sanguinary Banner

Sanguinary Guard (125 points) • 3x Sanguinary Guard • 2x Angelus boltgun 3x Encarmine spear 1x Inferno pistol 1x Sanguinary Banner

Sanguinary Guard (125 points) • 3x Sanguinary Guard • 2x Angelus boltgun 3x Encarmine blade 1x Inferno pistol 1x Sanguinary Banner

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

Archetype

Rage Cursed Pressure

Thoughts

Our first showing for Rage Cursed here, this version bringing two full bricks of Death Company, and lots of small jump units, aiming to press the foe back and either shred them, or at least stop them scoring. The Death Company are pretty clear cut - they're nearly as lethal here as Liberator at baseline, and using Limb from Limb you can fire their damage to the moon by switching on +2A alongside the built-in buffs. Don't forget that the detachment can set up multiple Battle-shocked units if it needs to - while you may not need both modes from Red Wrath a lot of the time, but you can still trigger the Battle-shock if you want Sanguinary Guard with 6A per piece for some reason. Access to a 5+ Feel No Pain is fantastic for the Death Company too - it makes even the non-Lemartes unit extremely resilient to D2 weaponry, making the second unit much more appealing.

Other notable points here are that Sanguinary Guard really like the melee RR1s to Wound, especially the Spear squad, and that Angel's Fang helps set up a proper murder monster in a Jump Captain, a really strong tertiary threat. Also notable is that pushing back against this list is much harder than Liberator - Sticky on Death and Fight on Death are both strong tools for locking in advantage, and Rage-Cursed has both! We'll see more from this detachment later in the article, and it looks like it's landing just as hot as Grizzled Company. Congratulations to Matt for taking the first major trophy with it.

Ross Small - Astra Militarum (Grizzled Company) - 2nd Place (4.5-0.5)

Rogal Dorn Tank Commander. Credit: SRM

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Grizzly Bears (1995 Points)

Astra Militarum Grizzled Company 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 Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power fist • 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

Ogryn Bodyguard (40 Points) • 1x Brute Shield • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Ripper gun

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

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

BATTLELINE

Cadian Shock Troops (120 Points) • 2x Shock Trooper Sergeant ◦ 2x Chainsword ◦ 2x Laspistol • 18x Shock Trooper ◦ 18x Close combat weapon ◦ 14x Lasgun ◦ 2x Meltagun ◦ 2x Plasma gun ◦ 2x Vox-caster

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chimera (85 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Heavy flamer • 1x Heavy flamer • 1x Heavy stubber • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Lasgun array

Chimera (85 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Heavy flamer • 1x Heavy flamer • 1x Heavy stubber • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Lasgun array

OTHER DATASHEETS

Attilan Rough Riders (120 Points) • 1x Rough Rider Sergeant ◦ 1x Hunting lance ◦ 1x Lasgun ◦ 1x Laspistol ◦ 1x Power sabre ◦ 1x Steed's hooves • 9x Rough Rider ◦ 9x Hunting lance ◦ 9x Lasgun ◦ 9x Laspistol ◦ 9x Steed's hooves

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

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

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Heavy flamer • 2x Heavy flamer • 1x Heavy stubber • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

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

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

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

Archetype

Shooty Grizzled Company

Thoughts

It's back to Grizzled Company for our next entrant, here very much just rebadging a Combined Arms list with the new rules, because it turns out this new detachment is real good. As ever, you just blast a bunch of stuff with big guns, you can have slightly more tanks because you have more tank orders, and Kasrkin or your one unit of Rough Riders spike anything else. A great Guard performance from Ross here, held back from 5-0 only by a final round draw with...

Caius Swindlehurst - Astra Militarum (Grizzled Company) - 3rd Place (4.5-0.5)

Militarum Tempestus Scions Command Squad. Credit: Rockfish Militarum Tempestus Scions Command Squad. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
A little over 15 Hours (2000 points)

Astra Militarum Strike Force (2000 points) Grizzled Company

CHARACTERS

Cadian Command Squad (65 points) • 1x Cadian Commander • 1x Plasma pistol 1x Power fist • 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Plasma gun 1x Plasma pistol • 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 Plasma gun

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (105 points) • 4x Tempestus Scion • 4x Close combat weapon 1x Hot-shot lasgun 1x Hot-shot laspistol 1x Hot-shot volley gun 1x Medi-pack 1x Meltagun 1x Plasma gun • 1x Tempestor Prime • 1x Command Rod 1x Tempestus dagger • Enhancement: Aquilan Eye

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (95 points) • 4x Tempestus Scion • 4x Close combat weapon 1x Hot-shot lasgun 1x Hot-shot laspistol 1x Hot-shot volley gun 1x Medi-pack 1x Meltagun 1x Plasma gun • 1x Tempestor Prime • 1x Command Rod 1x Tempestus dagger • Enhancement: Laud Hailer

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

Rogal Dorn Commander (275 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Coaxial autocannon 3x 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 (120 points) • 2x Shock Trooper Sergeant • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Chainsword • 18x Shock Trooper • 18x Close combat weapon 14x Lasgun 2x Meltagun 2x Plasma gun 2x Vox-caster

Cadian Shock Troops (65 points) • 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant • 1x Chainsword 1x Laspistol • 9x Shock Trooper • 9x Close combat weapon 9x Lasgun

Catachan Jungle Fighters (65 points) • 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Laspistol • 9x Jungle Fighter • 9x Close combat weapon 2x Flamer 7x Lasgun 1x Vox-caster

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chimera (85 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 2x Heavy flamer 1x Heavy stubber 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Lasgun array

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

Attilan Rough Riders (120 points) • 1x Rough Rider Sergeant • 1x Hunting lance 1x Lasgun 1x Laspistol 1x Power sabre 1x Steed's hooves • 9x Rough Rider • 9x Hunting lance 9x Lasgun 9x Laspistol 9x Steed's hooves

Cyclops Demolition Vehicle (25 points)

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

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

Tempestus Scions (70 points) • 1x Tempestor • 1x Plasma pistol 1x Power fist • 4x Tempestus Scion • 4x Close combat weapon 2x Hot-shot lasgun 1x Meltagun 1x Plasma gun

Tempestus Scions (70 points) • 1x Tempestor • 1x Plasma pistol 1x Power fist • 4x Tempestus Scion • 4x Close combat weapon 2x Hot-shot lasgun 1x Meltagun 1x Plasma gun

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

Archetype

Scion Grizzled Company

Thoughts

...another Grizzled Company list, this one branching out a bit by adding some Scion/Command units to really leverage the new enhancements. These units have always punched above their weight, and being to stack extra AP and Ignore Cover on them without as much setup is helpful. You also have access to Lethal Hits to further broaden their target options, and that allows the list to cut out any further tanks, making it a bit easier to maneuvre. Definitely a strong addition to this detachment, and it's clear we're going to have a while to wait till we get a "solved" version of this. Well done Caius.

Paul Withington - Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) - 4th Place

The Silent King The Silent King. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
n4 (2000 points)

Necrons Strike Force (2000 points) Awakened Dynasty

CHARACTERS

Hexmark Destroyer (110 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols • Enhancement: Phasal Subjugator (Aura)

Hexmark Destroyer (75 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols

Illuminor Szeras (165 points) • 1x Eldritch Lance 1x Impaling legs

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

Psychomancer (55 points) • 1x Abyssal lance

Royal Warden (50 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Relic gauss blaster

Skorpekh Lord (120 points) • 1x Enmitic annihilator 1x Flensing claw 1x Hyperphase harvester • Enhancement: Enaegic Dermal Bond

The Silent King (400 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 Scarab Swarms (40 points) • 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm • 3x Feeder mandibles

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

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

Flayed Ones (60 points) • 5x Flayed One • 5x Flayer claws

Flayed Ones (60 points) • 5x Flayed One • 5x Flayer claws

Lychguard (85 points) • 5x Lychguard • 5x Dispersion Shield 5x Hyperphase sword

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

Exported with App Version: v1.44.0 (104), Data Version: v715

Archetype

Herohammer Doomsday Starshatter

Thoughts

Characters, Doomsdays and not much else here, creating a very high threat Necron build that's maybe a little vulnerable to getting rushed down if it hits a pressure build. The one loss it picked up was to Liberator Blood Angels, which does basically line up with that, but the trade it gets is having the raw power to clear more durable builds like various Gladius or Ironstorm Marine flavours. I like the random little utility Characters as scoring pieces too, I always want an excuse to use the Psychomancer. Well done to Paul.

The Best of the Rest

There were 6 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 5th - Sam Boardman - Emperor's Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Prince-free Coterie, going for lots of Flawless Blades alongside the core Infantry.
  • 6th - Adam Wass - Ultramarines (Blade of Ultramar): Double RepEx Blade with one Victrix unit.
  • 7th - Shaun Delaney - Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): Classic all-rounder Liberator with a couple of heavy melee threats and some Ballistus Dreads.
  • 8th - Luke Capper - Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): All-rounder board presence Daemons with Skarbrand and some Soul Grinders for heavier hits.
  • 9th - Paul Copley - Drukhari (Spectacle of Spite): Cult melee and Scourges.
  • 10th - ΔD@M L4NΣ - Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): Infiltrator/Skystalker/Ironstrider Hunter Cohort, just with three fewer Ironstriders.

Twin Dragons - Dragons Cup (Champions Only)

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Naples, FL, United States on December 13 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Steve Trimble - Drukhari (Spectacle of Spite) - 1st Place

Wyches. Credit: Corrode

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Rip 60 Wyches (2000 Points)

Drukhari Spectacle of Spite Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

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

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

Succubus (50 Points) • 1x Archite glaive and agoniser

Succubus (50 Points) • 1x Archite glaive and agoniser

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

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 Dark lance

Venom (70 Points) • 1x Bladevanes • 1x Splinter cannon • 1x Splinter cannon

Venom (70 Points) • 1x Bladevanes • 1x Splinter cannon • 1x Splinter cannon

Venom (70 Points) • 1x Bladevanes • 1x Splinter cannon • 1x Splinter cannon

Venom (70 Points) • 1x Bladevanes • 1x Splinter cannon • 1x 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 (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

Reavers (140 Points) • 1x Arena Champion ◦ 1x Bladevanes ◦ 1x Cluster caltrops ◦ 1x Heat lance ◦ 1x Splinter pistol • 5x Reaver ◦ 5x Bladevanes ◦ 1x Cluster caltrops ◦ 1x Heat lance ◦ 5x Splinter pistol ◦ 4x Splinter rifle

Reavers (70 Points) • 1x Arena Champion ◦ 1x Bladevanes ◦ 1x Cluster caltrops ◦ 1x Heat lance ◦ 1x Splinter pistol • 2x Reaver ◦ 2x Bladevanes ◦ 2x Splinter pistol ◦ 2x Splinter rifle

Reavers (140 Points) • 1x Arena Champion ◦ 1x Bladevanes ◦ 1x Cluster caltrops ◦ 1x Heat lance ◦ 1x Splinter pistol • 5x Reaver ◦ 5x Bladevanes ◦ 1x Cluster caltrops ◦ 1x Heat lance ◦ 5x Splinter pistol ◦ 4x Splinter rifle

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

Archetype

All Pressure Spectacle

Thoughts

Spectacle continues to dominate out of the Drukhari book, with Steve here taking down an event with a pure pressure spin on this. Cutting out any Scourges gives you enough units to properly body the enemy if they show any weakness, and also provides plenty of cheap half Wych units as bait or very effective Primary denial. To really hammer home the pressure, solo Malys can pop out on a key turn to suppress enemy Stratagems. Expect to see plenty of Spectacle in the coming season, especially if disaffected Aeldari players want to stick with something pointy-eared. Congratulations Steve!

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 2nd - Steven Ross - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King, Triple Doomsday and one Wraith unit.
  • 3rd - Dylan Williamson - Orks (War Horde): Double Battlewagon and double 20-model Boyz, one unit with Ghaz.
  • 4th - Paul Roberts - Death Guard (Tallyband Summoners): Deathshrouds and Daemons.
  • 5th - Nick Pratt - Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Kairos and triple Lord of Change unleash their new D3 profile.
  • 6th - Colin Lopin - Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): Loads of Custodian Guard (five units!) plus one squad each of Allarus and Wardens for specialised purposes.

Warhammer: 40,000 Charity GT for NFBNJ

31-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Mahwah, NJ, United States on December 13 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Innes Wilson - Blood Angels (Rage-cursed Onslaught) - 1st Place

Blood Angels Death Company Brutalis Dreadnought - credit: Colin Ward

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Ego Death at a New Jersey Charity GT (1995 points)

Space Marines Blood Angels Strike Force (2000 points) Rage-cursed Onslaught

CHARACTERS

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

Chaplain with Jump Pack (105 points) • 1x Crozius arcanum 1x Power fist • Enhancement: Carmine Reliquary

Chaplain with Jump Pack (100 points) • 1x Crozius arcanum 1x Power fist • Enhancement: Master of the Red Thirst

Commander Dante (120 points) • Warlord • 1x Perdition Pistol 1x The Axe Mortalis

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 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

Death Company Dreadnought (160 points) • 1x Blood fist bolt rifles 1x Blood fists 1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber 1x Twin multi-melta

Death Company Dreadnought (160 points) • 1x Blood fist bolt rifles 1x Blood fists 1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber 1x Twin multi-melta

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 (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 (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

Sanguinary Guard (125 points) • 3x Sanguinary Guard • 2x Angelus boltgun 3x Encarmine spear 1x Inferno pistol 1x Sanguinary Banner

Sanguinary Guard (125 points) • 3x Sanguinary Guard • 2x Angelus boltgun 3x Encarmine spear 1x Inferno pistol 1x Sanguinary Banner

Sanguinary Guard (125 points) • 3x Sanguinary Guard • 2x Angelus boltgun 3x Encarmine spear 1x Inferno pistol 1x Sanguinary Banner

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 4x Combat knife

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

Yes Anthony wrote this one too

Archetype

Rage Cursed Dreads

Thoughts

You know the deal - Innes wins an event, I make him write about it. Take it away Innes:

Meditations on Rage

Rage-cursed Onslaught brings a brand new same old dimension to running it down mid with Blood Angels datasheets: the biggest issues with Blood Angels have tradtitionally been a lack of combat control mechanics, and an utterly dismal reaction to *being* charged, which is a tough place to live when you're a melee army.

We're solving that here in two ways - having a detachment rule that works 100% of the time instead of +2S means that often you're able to make good use of the typical Counter Offensive play pattern without being a total wet noodle while doing it, and also giving you a rule that does something when you'd already wound on 2s, as is often the case with the Chaplain-led Death Company units. Tacking on good enhancements, and excellent offensive and defensive stratagems is the sauce that helps the whole package come together.

Fighting on Death is truly transformational for your ability to play through interrupts and fight first on opposing melee units, and it encourages you towards units you already wanted anyway! Being able to Objective Secured objectives on death forces opponents to come towards you as long as you consider your unit composition at the army stage, and there's never been a bad day to have access to advance and charge. Is this army Gladius Ultramarines? Absolutely not. Does it slam anyway? Absolutely yes.

Rage-on, apply directly to forehead.

Thanks Innes. As always, check out Stat Check if you want more of his insights.

The Best of the Rest

There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 2nd - Tony Phillips - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): Bobby G, 9 Victrix and some shooting support, including a Desolation squad.
  • 3rd - Zach Point - Ultramarines (Ironstorm Spearhead): Bobby G, one Victrix unit and triple RepEx. Note: If you're checking this build out, it was edited on the day to subtract the Adept of the Omnissiah enhancement to pay the increased Victrix cost.
  • 4th - Nathan Henning - Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile): All-in melee Creations, sporting two full Chosen units with Abaddon and Bile, then 3x10 Possessed.
  • 5th - Luke McCarthy - Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Triple Gatling Despoilers with Nurgle Daemons.

Grim GT

44-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Mitchell, ACT, Australia on December 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Tim Neal - Adeptus Custodes (Talons of the Emperor) - 1st Place

Blade Champion Blade Champion. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Rope a dope (2000 Points)

Adeptus Custodes Talons of the Emperor Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Aleya (65 Points) • 1x Somnus

Blade Champion (140 Points) • Warlord • 1x Vaultswords • Enhancements: Aegis Projector

Blade Champion (120 Points) • 1x Vaultswords

Blade Champion (120 Points) • 1x Vaultswords

BATTLELINE

Custodian Guard (160 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

Custodian Wardens (260 Points) • 5x Custodian Warden ◦ 5x Guardian spear ◦ 1x Vexilla

Custodian Wardens (260 Points) • 5x Custodian Warden ◦ 5x Guardian spear ◦ 1x Vexilla

Custodian Wardens (210 Points) • 4x Custodian Warden ◦ 4x Guardian spear ◦ 1x Vexilla

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

Witchseekers (50 Points) • 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Witchseeker flamer • 3x Witchseeker ◦ 3x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Witchseeker flamer

Witchseekers (50 Points) • 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Witchseeker flamer • 3x Witchseeker ◦ 3x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Witchseeker flamer

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.44.0 (2), Data Version: v715

Archetype

All-rounder Talons

Thoughts

OK, well, I guess the GW studio looked into the future, saw this build still packing mostly Wardens, and that's why Custodians and Allarus got cut again. As Talons you can sort of see it - the upside of Talons is higher baseline resilience, and better flexibility for your key blocks thanks to the Reactive Move and Fall Back/Shoot/Charge Stratagems. I still wonder if you'd recalibrate this post Dataslate (especially as some Sisters flavours are cheaper too), but here the classic Warden/Tank setup got the job done. Congratulations Tim.

The Best of the Rest

There were 6 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 2nd - J Salah - Astra Militarum (Unknown Detachment): Presumably Combined Arms, but it's not listed and there are no Enhancements so *shrug*. Dorns and quite a few Russes, so it could be Hammer too.
  • 3rd - Joe Loke - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Vectorium Goodstuff with a big Plague Marine and big Blightlord unit.
  • 4th - Alex Rigby - Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Triple gatling Despoilers with Nurgle Daemons.
  • 5th - Oskar Powl - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade): Haloscreed toolbox, mixing elite Skitarii with a big unit each of Destroyers and Corpuscarii.
  • 6th - Jonathan Smyth - T'au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack): Rampagers, Ghostkeels and Riptides.
  • 7th - Tim Zuber - Chaos Space Marines (Veterans of the Long War): All-rounder Veterans, using a full Chosen squad, double Obliterators and some Noise Marines.

Wrap Up

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Tags: blood angels | Necrons | Tactics | Warhammer 40k | drukhari | competitive play | Astra Militarum | Adeptus Custodes | Meta Analysis | Competitive Innovations

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