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 can now legitimately say that Competitive 40K never sleeps, because for the first time since we started this column in early 9th, we've had eligible events on 52/52 weekends in a calendar year. These were:

Warhammer 40k Gálaverseny 2025
Second City Games 40K GT December (ITC 2025-2026 season)
China Warhammer Championship League - Shanghai (technically this was a teams event, but it's a slow week and they asked nicely to be included so we're including them in the individual results).

Warhammer 40k Gálaverseny 2025

32-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Budapest, Magyarország (Hungary) on December 27 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) versus Aeldari (Aspect Host)

Take and Hold - Dawn of War

Daniel Orosz - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force)

Army List - Click to Expand

Blue-dozers

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

CHARACTERS

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

Captain in Gravis Armour (90 Points) • 1x Boltstorm gauntlet • 1x Power fist • 1x Relic chainsword • Enhancements: Artificer Armour

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

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

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Impulsor (80 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 2x Fragstorm grenade launcher • 1x Ironhail heavy stubber • 1x Shield Dome

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Predator Annihilator (135 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 2x Lascannon • 1x Predator twin lascannon • 1x Storm bolter

Predator Annihilator (135 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 2x Lascannon • 1x Predator twin lascannon • 1x Storm bolter

Redemptor Dreadnought (195 Points) • 1x Icarus rocket pod • 1x Macro plasma incinerator • 1x Onslaught gatling cannon • 1x Redemptor fist • 1x Twin fragstorm grenade launcher

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

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

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 (1), Data Version: v720

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Richárd Ivány - Aeldari (Aspect Host)

Army List - Click to Expand

Aeldari Aspect Host (1995 Points)

Aeldari Aspect Host Strike Force (2 000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Baharroth (115 Points) • Warlord • 1x Fury of the Tempest • 1x Shining Blade

Jain Zar (120 Points) • 1x Blade of Destruction • 1x Silent Death

Lhykhis (135 Points) • 1x Brood Twain • 1x Spider's Fangs • 1x Weaverender

BATTLELINE

Corsair Voidreavers (65 Points) • 1x Voidreaver Felarch ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Mistshield ◦ 1x Neuro disruptor ◦ 1x Power sword • 4x Corsair Voidreaver ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Power sword ◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dark Reapers (90 Points) • 1x Dark Reaper Exarch ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Tempest launcher • 4x Dark Reaper ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Reaper launcher

Dark Reapers (90 Points) • 1x Dark Reaper Exarch ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Tempest launcher • 4x Dark Reaper ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Reaper launcher

Howling Banshees (95 Points) • 1x Howling Banshee Exarch ◦ 1x Executioner ◦ 1x Shuriken pistol • 4x Howling Banshee ◦ 4x Banshee blade ◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Howling Banshees (95 Points) • 1x Howling Banshee Exarch ◦ 1x Executioner ◦ 1x Shuriken pistol • 4x Howling Banshee ◦ 4x Banshee blade ◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Rangers (55 Points) • 5x Ranger ◦ 5x Close combat weapon ◦ 5x Long rifle ◦ 5x Shuriken pistol

Rangers (55 Points) • 5x Ranger ◦ 5x Close combat weapon ◦ 5x Long rifle ◦ 5x Shuriken pistol

Shining Spears (110 Points) • 1x Shining Spear Exarch ◦ 1x Shimmershield ◦ 1x Shuriken cannon ◦ 1x Star lance • 2x Shining Spear ◦ 2x Laser lance ◦ 2x Twin shuriken catapult

Shining Spears (110 Points) • 1x Shining Spear Exarch ◦ 1x Shimmershield ◦ 1x Shuriken cannon ◦ 1x Star lance • 2x Shining Spear ◦ 2x Laser lance ◦ 2x Twin shuriken catapult

Shining Spears (110 Points) • 1x Shining Spear Exarch ◦ 1x Shimmershield ◦ 1x Shuriken cannon ◦ 1x Star lance • 2x Shining Spear ◦ 2x Laser lance ◦ 2x Twin shuriken catapult

Swooping Hawks (190 Points) • 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Hawk's talon • 9x Swooping Hawk ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 9x Lasblaster

Swooping Hawks (190 Points) • 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Hawk's talon • 9x Swooping Hawk ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 9x Lasblaster

Swooping Hawks (95 Points) • 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Hawk's talon • 4x Swooping Hawk ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Lasblaster

War Walkers (85 Points) • 1x Bright lance • 1x Scatter laser • 1x War Walker feet

War Walkers (85 Points) • 1x Bright lance • 1x Scatter laser • 1x War Walker feet

Warp Spiders (105 Points) • 1x Warp Spider Exarch ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Powerblade array • 4x Warp Spider ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 4x Death spinner

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

Thoughts

An intriguing match up indeed here, which puts the menace of yestermeta (Aeldari Aspect) up against the emergent force (Ultramarines Gladius). In the Ultramarines corner we have a suitable number of Victrix (lots) backed up by a mix of tanks, including Vindicators, Predators, and the like. It will do the usual Victrix thing - try and bait the opponent into some reactive move mistakes mid-board, send the entire army, absorb the counter attack and roll to a win.

The elf list is delightfully original, building away from certain nerfed elements (Fire Dragons, Wave Serpents) and integrating new options instead (Shining Spears, Baharroth). Just as the Victrix are pretty much wedded to walking out to the points, so too are the Aeldari wedded to a glorious full send at some stage - they have the speed on their side, but the Marines are packing the durability. In the end, the two old enemies appear to have cancelled each other out, for a brutal, nullifying 10-10 draw which delivered the Aeldari the event win!

Result

Draw! - 10 - 10

Richárd Ivány - Aeldari (Aspect Host) - 1st Place

Credit: Keewa

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Be Still My Beating Heart

Thoughts

Some brilliant adjustments here as the Aeldari look to recover from recent nerfs. This list entirely throws away certain elements- the Fire Dragons, The transports, all that nonsense, and packs in a massive infantry and biker skew with War Walkers and Lykhis behind to help amp up the shooting. This is especially relevant on the massed Swooping Hawks, who can now be hitting with massed fire with crit 5s via Lykhis, Ignore cover via a stratagem, and +1 AP from the War Walkers. It adds up fast, and that plus the mortals helps them hose down certain targets. The Shining Spears are on first wave / transports and other nuisance duty, where their reach and speed helps them to get into hard to reach places where Fire Dragons fear to tread. I really like it, and it is very refreshing to see something different not only being tried, but winning an event! Amazing work.

The Best of the Rest

There were 3 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

2nd - Daniel Orosz - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): The Victrix / Car Park Combined Arms list from the Showdown.
3rd - Mate Csaszar - Emperor's Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Coterie Goodstuff.
4th - Véber Ákos - Blood Angels (Rage-cursed Onslaught): Classic double Lancer, lots of Jump Packs BA in the new detachment.

Second City Games 40K GT December (ITC 2025-2026 season)

26-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Highland Park, IL, United States on December 27 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) versus T'au Empire (Mont'ka)

Take and Hold - Tipping Point

Peyton Link - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force)

Army List - Click to Expand

Here you go: Glad I am Glad (2000 Points)

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

CHARACTERS

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

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

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

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Invader ATV (60 Points) • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Multi-melta • 1x Twin bolt rifle Repulsor Executioner (220 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Heavy laser destroyer • 1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon • 1x Icarus rocket pod • 1x Ironhail heavy stubber • 1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array • 1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber • 1x Twin heavy bolter

Scout Squad (70 Points) • 1x Scout Sergeant ◦ 1x Astartes chainsword ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon • 4x Scout ◦ 1x Astartes shotgun ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Combat knife ◦ 1x Missile launcher ◦ 1x Scout sniper rifle

Victrix Honour Guard (240 Points) • 1x Chapter Ancient ◦ 1x Banner of Macragge ◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon • 1x Chapter Champion ◦ 1x Blades of honour • 4x Victrix Honour Guard ◦ 4x Master-crafted bolt carbine ◦ 4x Master-crafted power weapon

Victrix Honour Guard (120 Points) • 3x Victrix Honour Guard ◦ 3x Master-crafted bolt carbine ◦ 3x Master-crafted power weapon

Vindicator (185 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Demolisher cannon • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Storm bolter

ALLIED UNITS

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

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

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John Kilcommons - T'au Empire (Mont'ka)

Army List - Click to Expand

Praying for layout 1 and 6 all weekend (2000 Points)

T'au Empire Mont'ka Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Ethereal (90 Points) • Warlord • 1x Honour stave • 1x Hover Drone • 2x Shield Drone • Enhancements: Coordinated Exploitation

BATTLELINE

Breacher Team (90 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

Strike Team (70 Points) • 1x Support turret • 1x Fire Warrior Shas'ui ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Guardian Drone ◦ 1x Gun Drone ◦ 1x Pulse pistol ◦ 1x Pulse rifle • 9x Fire Warrior ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 9x Pulse pistol ◦ 9x Pulse rifle

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

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) • 2x Accelerator burst cannon • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Railgun • 2x Seeker missile

Hammerhead Gunship (145 Points) • 2x Accelerator burst cannon • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Ion cannon • 2x Seeker missile

Hammerhead Gunship (145 Points) • 2x Accelerator burst cannon • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Ion cannon • 2x Seeker missile

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

Pathfinder Team (90 Points) • 1x Pathfinder Shas'ui ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Grav-inhibitor Drone ◦ 1x Gun Drone ◦ 1x Pulse carbine ◦ 1x Pulse pistol ◦ 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 (200 Points) • 1x Ion accelerator • 2x Missile Drone • 1x Riptide fists • 1x Twin fusion blaster

Riptide Battlesuit (200 Points) • 1x Ion accelerator • 2x Missile Drone • 1x Riptide fists • 1x Twin fusion blaster

Stealth Battlesuits (110 Points) • 1x Stealth Shas'vre ◦ 1x Battlesuit fists ◦ 1x Fusion blaster ◦ 1x Gun Drone ◦ 1x Pulse pistol • 4x Stealth Shas'ui ◦ 4x Battlesuit fists ◦ 3x Burst cannon ◦ 1x Fusion blaster ◦ 1x Homing Beacon

Stealth Battlesuits (110 Points) • 1x Stealth Shas'vre ◦ 1x Battlesuit fists ◦ 1x Fusion blaster ◦ 1x Gun Drone ◦ 1x Pulse pistol • 4x Stealth Shas'ui ◦ 4x Battlesuit fists ◦ 3x Burst cannon ◦ 1x Fusion blaster ◦ 1x Homing Beacon

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: v1.45.0 (1), Data Version: v720

Thoughts

A spicy match up here, which puts the Ultramarines (again) into another Xenos challenger in the form of the T'au! The Ultramarines plan here remains quite similar - use either Vehicles or Victrix as bait and then push on. Guilliman in this version opens up some Lone Op shenanigans, but otherwise it is business as usual.

The Mont'ka list brings back one of the original experimentation points of the detachment - the Ion Hammerhead. These, coupled with Riptides, give you a lot of anti-marine body shooting, and I do suspect this is one of the armies Victrix aren't going to want to stand in front of trivially. That produces a much cagier, tit for tat game with the Ultramarines hoping to send a bit later into the match to overwhelm on score. In the event, they didn't quite manage to get over the line and the Greater Good saw off the second Ultramarines challenger of the weekend!

Result

T'au Empire (Mont'ka) Victory - 79 - 72

John Kilcommons - T'au Empire (Mont'ka) - 1st Place

Ghostkeel Battlesuit. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Mont'ka Pressure

Thoughts

Breachers and Strike Teams are creeping back into T'au lists after recent points changes, offering a brutal precision strike and some OC ranged support respectively. Mont'ka with Ions and Riptides is a fairly established entity, but it is particularly cool to see it continuing to hang in a very hostile meta. T'au are having quite the year, without ever feeling as egregious as some of the armies they are having to tangle with! Love to see it.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Peyton Link - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): The Gulliman Ultramarines list from the showdown.
3rd - Colin Dunlop - Chaos Space Marines (Pactbound Zealots): Utterly vicious triple Oblierator (with Tzeentch mark!) in Pactbound, with Vashtorr and Discolords leading the charge. Glorious list.
4th - Patrick Kilcommons - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Classic Berzerker Warband Goodstuff.

中国战锤冠军联赛上海站 China Warhammer Championship League - Shanghai

A 5-round, 10 team event with four-player teams held in Shanghai, China. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings. We'd like to thank the tournament organizers for providing us with photos of the event. They're a group of long-time Warhammer enthusiasts who paired with Singularity Games in Shanghai to establish what hopes to be a high-quality annual championship. Look for this one to expand in future years and add more game systems.

Qifan Zhu - Astra Militarum (Grizzled Company) - 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Blood in the mud Petals must fall Rain in the forest Summer before the Fall Fog before sunrise The tide rises. And the tide falls （团队赛表） (2000Points)

Astra Militarum Grizzled Company Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Cadian Castellan (55 Points) • Warlord • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power fist

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 Plasma gun • 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

Catachan Command Squad (65 Points) • 1x Catachan Commander ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power fist • 4x Veteran Guardsman ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Flamer ◦ 1x Heavy flamer ◦ 2x Lasgun ◦ 4x Laspistol ◦ 1x Medi-pack ◦ 1x Regimental Standard

Commissar (50 Points) • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power weapon • Enhancements: Abhuman Detail

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 Tempestor Prime ◦ 1x CommandRod ◦ 1x Tempestus dagger

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

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

Tech-Priest Enginseer (45 Points) • 1x Enginseer axe • 1x Mechanicus pistol • 1x Servo-arm

BATTLELINE

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

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 • 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

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Bullgryn Squad (200 Points) • 1x Bullgryn Bone 'ead ◦ 1x Brute Shield ◦ 1x Bullgryn maul ◦ 1x Close combat weapon • 5x Bullgryn ◦ 5x Brute Shield ◦ 5x Bullgryn maul ◦ 5x Close combat weapon

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 stubber • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Lascannon • 2x Multi-melta • 1x Vanquisher battle cannon

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

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 (1), Data Version: v720

Archetype

Kasrkin Grizzled Company

Thoughts

There's a lot of power in the Grizzled Company Detachment, where the additional orders and built-in re-rolls give the army a lot of extra hitting power more or less for free. We've seen several flavors of Grizzled Company lists pop up now, from order-heavy variants which run heavy on Kasrkin and/or Tempestus Scions to Bullgryn-heavy variants with the attached Commissar to lists which run very heavy on Rough Riders. Qifan's list here runs heavy on Kasrkin, taking advantage of the fact they can order themselves and be affected by two orders.

The Winning Team: UltimateSofa Blue

UltimateSofa Blue finished first at the event with a 5-0 record. The players on team UltimateSofa Blue were:

1st - Qifan Zhu - Astra Militarum (Grizzled Company): Kasrkin Grizzled Company
2nd - yizheng shen - Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): Allarus-heavy Custodians
5th - shen Simon - Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): Melee-heavy Abominant/Aberrant build
29th - ni hao - UltimateSofa Blue (Rage-Cursed Onslaught): 40 Death Company marines and bodies everywhere

In the final round UltimateSofa Blue faced off against 武汉擂肥王, which Google Translate informs me roughly translates to "Wuhan's King of Extortion/Cheating" (great team name). These games were played on WTC terrain and the final round mission was Hidden Supplies. These were the pairings in the final round matchup:

ni hao (Blood Angels) v ju ju (GSC), L 3-17
Qifan Zhu (Astra Militarum) v Tian Hai (World Eaters), W 20-0
Yizheng Shen (Adeptus Custodes) v Changshun Li (Deathwatch), W 18-2
shen Simon (GSC) vs. Z Falcon (Orks), W 14-6

Congrats to the team on their finish.

The Best of the Rest

There were 10 more players on 4-1+ records (as this was teams, the placings are by battle points, so there's not a strict order by game results).

3rd - 站城刘 - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Deathshroud and Drone-heavy Vectorium.
4th - Yun SHEN - Emperor's Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Double Prince Coterie with a Maulerfiend.
6th - chen liang - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade): Shooty Haloscreed with six Ironstriders and a Kataphron Destroyer unit.
7th - Jingyu Hu - Salamanders (Forgefather's Seekers): Elite Infantry Salamanders with lots of Bladeguard and Eradicators, plus a Land Raider Redeemer.
8th - Kuro Kuromi - Astra Militarum (Grizzled Company): Grizzled with a Bullgryn unit and a big, fully Charactered-up Cadian stack.
9th - FEN XI - Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Hefty monster mash, doubled up on turkeys (Kairos and the Everstave one).
10th - wobudao a - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King, Doomsdays and small trade pieces.
11th - dy guo - Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): Big, tooled up squads of Custodians, Allarus and Wardens, plus a roving bike/Captain unit.

Wrap Up

You absolute maniacs, playing this much on Christmas of all things! I hope you're having a blast out there. It does appear that a whole host of armies are getting by in the current meta which is awesome to see, and the Ultramarines aren't having it all their own way! How will that continue? We shall see!

Lowest of Men, out.

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Tags: 40k | Warhammer 40k | Competitive Innovations

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