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

Competitive Innovations in 10th: Stamp On the Ground pt.3

by James "One_Wing" Grover | Jul 05 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.

Everyone out there enjoying their false sense of security that maybe Knights aren't so bad? Surprise - the part splitting algorithm put all four events that Knights won into part 3. Please be upstanding for your new robot overlords.

Today we've got:
  • Salzburg Major 40K Singles 2025 - Alpine Cup
  • The Battle For Middle Wisko GT
  • Luxembourg Open - Golden ticket event
  • The PNW Warlord's TACOMA OPEN PREP GT
  • The GOLDEN CREW - Golden Ticket Atlanta 2025
  • 3rd Annual Pop Con GT
Part 1 from Wednesday covered:
  • Glasshammer Major - Nottingham
  • Battle for the Capital GT 2025
  • 2.Sinsheimer Gt Canes Belli
  • Skövde Battle Forge IV
  • Safety's Off "Slap 'Em On The Sunburn" GT
  • Prestige Wargaming GRAND Tournament
Part 2 from Lowest of Men on Friday featured:
  • Tolaris Grand Tournament
  • Sydney GT Winter - NSWTC
  • BrewHammer GT 7
  • Torneo GT Blackstone
  • Kirtonian Total Carnage VII
  • DA GITHAMMER SUMMER WAAAGH!!!! GT
  • Auspicious Northern Showdown

Salzburg Major 40K Singles 2025 - Alpine Cup

69-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Salzburg, Salzburg, AT on June 28 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Luis Stiemerling - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) - 1st Place

Loyalist Knight Atrapos Loyalist Knight Atrapos. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Push Push Push (1995 points)

Imperial Knights Strike Force (2000 points) Noble Lance

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (380 points) • Warlord • 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor 1x Chainbreaker multi-laser 1x Freedom's Hand

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (365 points) • 1x Atrapos lascutter 1x Graviton singularity cannon

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (365 points) • 1x Atrapos lascutter 1x Graviton singularity cannon

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (365 points) • 1x Atrapos lascutter 1x Graviton singularity cannon

BATTLELINE

Armiger Helverin (130 points) • 2x Armiger autocannon 1x Armoured feet 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 points) • 2x Armiger autocannon 1x Armoured feet 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 points) • 2x Armiger autocannon 1x Armoured feet 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 points) • 2x Armiger autocannon 1x Armoured feet 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640

Archetype

Big Atrapii

Thoughts

It will not come as a great shock that, given their rules haven't meaningfully changed,  dropping the price on various big Knights has made the two that were already the best (Canis and the Atrapos) even better, and they lead the charge for the faction here. Three Atrapii also means that you can crank those Helverins to the max if you hit another Knight build, and lots of D4 also means you're extremely well positioned to take on the Death Guard menace. The Atrapos is such a good all-rounder that there's no real need to run any other big Knights other than Canis, and although plenty of other big Knights are good and playable too, the correct number of Atrapii for Imperial Knight players is "as many as possible" (edit added later in writing: unless you think someone is going to double C'tan you, maybe). If you are not a Knight player, and want to stress test lists for facing them, this is the build to use. Great job Luis for bringing the noise.

Daniel Klammer - Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) - 2nd Place (4.5-0.5)

The Silent King The Silent King. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Necrons - Emotional Damage (1990 points)

Necrons Strike Force (2000 points) Awakened Dynasty

CHARACTERS

Catacomb Command Barge (150 points) • 1x Gauss cannon 1x Overlord's blade 1x Resurrection Orb • Enhancement: Enaegic Dermal Bond

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

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

Technomancer (100 points) • 1x Staff of light • Enhancement: Nether-realm Casket

Technomancer (80 points) • 1x Staff of light

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) • 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm • 3x Feeder mandibles

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

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640

Archetype

Wraith and Doomsday Awakened

Thoughts

Necrons take second here, sporting what is pretty much their optimal core of Szarekh, double Wraiths, double Doomsday. As this build shows off, you cheerfully do that as either Awakened or Starshatter and get decent value in both cases. Running as Awakened here gives your Wraiths a much better chance of punching through some Deathshroud when required, as Protocol of the Hungry Void bumping them to S7 AP-2 elevates their damage to the point where they actually will kill a couple in a fight, where in all other Necron builds the lack of AP is a killer. You also get the stacked Reanimation power of Undying Legions and an Orb from the Command Barge, which can keep them on a point even against the nastiest opposition. Definitely seems reasonable to be looking at Awakened once you're at double Wraiths, and it also lets you run Imotekh as a solo backfield holder and lean on the revival if they try and Indirect him off or something.

Also of more general note to Necrons is the Canoptek Spyder, who is useful to have around when Thousand Sons are a metagame presence, as an aura of 5+ Feel No Pain against a lot of their stuff. Big fan of this overall - I think Necrons have some great tools to hold onto their position in the metagame, and look forward to seeing more builds like this doing well. Great job Daniel.

Dominik Tavernaro - Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance) - 3rd Place

Knight Abominant - Norman Knight Abominant. Credit: Norman

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Who would ever chase any meta? (1990 Points)

Chaos Knights Infernal Lance Strike Force (2.000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Chaos Cerastus Knight Atrapos (355 Points) • 1x Atrapos lascutter • 1x Graviton singularity cannon

Chaos Cerastus Knight Lancer (390 Points) • 1x Cerastus shock lance • Enhancements: Fleshmetal Fusion

Knight Abominant (350 Points) • Warlord • 1x Balemace • 1x Diabolus heavy stubber • 1x Electroscourge • 1x Volkite combustor • Enhancements: Knight Diabolus

Knight Despoiler (335 Points) • 1x Despoiler gatling cannon • 1x Despoiler gatling cannon • 1x Diabolus heavy stubber • 1x Havoc missile pod • 1x Heavy darkflamer • 1x Heavy darkflamer • 1x Titanic feet

OTHER DATASHEETS

War Dog Karnivore (140 Points) • 1x Havoc multi-launcher • 1x Reaper chaintalon • 1x Slaughterclaw

War Dog Karnivore (140 Points) • 1x Havoc multi-launcher • 1x Reaper chaintalon • 1x Slaughterclaw

War Dog Karnivore (140 Points) • 1x Havoc multi-launcher • 1x Reaper chaintalon • 1x Slaughterclaw

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

Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (1), Data Version: v640

Archetype

Big Infernal

Thoughts

Chaos Knights haven't been idle, and have also unleashed the renewed power of big Knights that has been granted to them. Because so much of the book's power is now in big Knights, we've unsurprisingly seen people gravitate to the big Knight themed detachment (Lords of Dread), but Dominik has put in a great performance here with Infernal Lance, which is my favourite of the bunch. The Unholy Hunger ability lets this build charge its enemies at top speed, and once they arrive the Enhancements and Stratagems give them a top tier tanky Knight (the Lancer) and a wrecking ball (the Abominant), backed by some really good all-rounder shooting from the double gatling Despoiler. Access to Lethal Hits is really transformative for that build, as it puts out so many shots that it's going to substantially chip even the largest targets with Lethals up, and brutalise any 2W Infantry with Sustained. Karnivores at 17" move are also extremely high value pressure pieces, and let this build go a bit wider on the table than some other big-focused builds while still thriving. Glad to see this standing out amidst all the Lords of Dread builds, good work Dominik.

Patrick Stevenson - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) - 4th Place

Knight Crusader (Duchess Silas Magellan, Piloting the Auric Might) Credit: SRM

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Name: Patrick Stevenson

Team: Nerd Nexus Nürnberg

Factions used: Imperial Knights, Imperial Agents

Detachments used: Noble Lance

Enhancements: none

Watch Captain amd the Galaxy of Tomorrow! (2000 Points)

Imperial Knights Noble Lance Strike Force (2.000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (380 Points) • Warlord • 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor • 1x Chainbreaker multi-laser • 1x Freedom's Hand

Knight Crusader (365 Points) • 1x Avenger gatling cannon • 1x Heavy flamer • 1x Questoris heavy stubber • 1x Stormspear rocket pod • 1x Thermal cannon • 1x Titanic feet

Knight Errant (345 Points) • 1x Questoris heavy stubber • 1x Reaper chainsword • 1x Stormspear rocket pod • 1x Thermal cannon

BATTLELINE

Armiger Helverin (130 Points) • 2x Armiger autocannon • 1x Armoured feet • 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 Points) • 2x Armiger autocannon • 1x Armoured feet • 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 Points) • 2x Armiger autocannon • 1x Armoured feet • 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 Points) • 2x Armiger autocannon • 1x Armoured feet • 1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Warglaive (140 Points) • 1x Meltagun • 1x Reaper chain-cleaver • 1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

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

Vigilant Squad (85 Points) • 1x Proctor-Vigilant ◦ 1x Arbites combat shotgun ◦ 1x Arbites shotpistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Nuncio-acquila • 9x Vigilant ◦ 7x Arbites combat shotgun ◦ 1x Arbites grenade launcher ◦ 9x Arbites shotpistol ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Executioner shotgun • 1x Cyber-mastiff ◦ 1x Mechanical bite

Watch Captain Artemis (65 Points) • 1x Hellfire Extremis • 1x Master-crafted power weapon

Archetype

Triple Bigs

Thoughts

Even more Knights to finish this top four, building on the theme of being able to go a bit wider on the table by cutting down to three bigs, and filling out with a mixture of Armigers and utility pieces. It retains readiness to deal with enemy big threats via two Knights with Thermal Cannons, and it's also worth highlighting that this helps handle the putative counter for an all Atrapos setup that is Nightbringer/Void Dragon Necrons - halving damage is great against D4, not so much against Melta 6. There we go - a reason not to just use all Atrapii all the time, even though they're the best, and probably more relevant when you're running lower numbers like this, as it helps ensure you're never unable to deal with a target. Good work Patrick.

The Best of the Rest

There were 6 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 5th - Armin Geher - Death Guard (Mortarion's Hammer): Cheap Daemon Engines, Destructors and Deathshrouds.
  • 6th - Philip König - Astra Militarum (Combined Arms): Vanquishers galore ready to hunt big robots, with a couple of Dorn Commanders to order them around.
  • 7th - Manuel Wayand - Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Vashtorr and a Discolord lead up a combined arms Raider build.
  • 8th - Sam Nowrouzi - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Szarekh, the Nightbringer, Doomsdays and a Wraith block.
  • 9th - Peter Steiner - Death Guard (Champions of Contagion): A mixup on the cheap Daemon engine plan, running as Champions of Contagion for swapping plagues and tricks for a big Typhus-lead Poxwalker unit.
  • 10th - Alexander Stamatiou - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Plague Marine-centric Vectorium with extra Leaders and a Daemon Prince.

The Battle For Middle Wisko GT

48-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Wausau, WI, US on June 28 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Wesley St. Hines - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) - 1st Place

Imperial Knight Lancer. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Can we get Trevy to review a 3rd list in 3 weeks

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium - Imperial Knights + DETACHMENT: Noble Lance + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts + ALLIED UNITS: Agents of the Imperium + + WARLORD: Char1: Canis Rex + ENHANCEMENT: Mysterious Guardian (on Char2: Knight Crusader) + NUMBER OF UNITS: 10 + SECONDARY: - Bring It Down: (6x2) + (3x6) - Assassination: 3 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Canis Rex (380 pts): Warlord • 1x Canis Rex: Chainbreaker las-impulsor, Chainbreaker multi-laser, Freedom's Hand • 1x Sir Hekhtur: Close combat weapon, Hekhtur's pistol Char2: 1x Cerastus Knight Lancer (365 pts): Cerastus shock lance Char3: 1x Knight Crusader (390 pts): Avenger gatling cannon, Heavy flamer, Titanic feet, Stormspear rocket pod, Questoris heavy stubber, Questoris heavy stubber, Rapid-fire battle cannon Enhancement: Mysterious Guardian (+25 pts)

1x Armiger Helverin (130 pts): 2x Armiger autocannon, Armoured feet, Questoris heavy stubber 1x Armiger Helverin (130 pts): 2x Armiger autocannon, Armoured feet, Questoris heavy stubber 1x Armiger Helverin (130 pts): 2x Armiger autocannon, Armoured feet, Questoris heavy stubber 1x Armiger Helverin (130 pts): 2x Armiger autocannon, Armoured feet, Questoris heavy stubber

1x Sisters of Battle Immolator (115 pts): Armoured tracks, Heavy bolter, Immolation flamers 1x Sisters of Battle Immolator (115 pts): Armoured tracks, Heavy bolter, Immolation flamers 10x Sisters of Battle Squad (115 pts) • 9x Battle Sister 6 with Bolt pistol, Boltgun, Close combat weapon 1 with Simulacrum Imperialis, Bolt pistol, Boltgun, Close combat weapon 1 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Multi-melta 1 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Meltagun • 1x Sister Superior: Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Power weapon, Inferno pistol

Archetype

Volume Firepower Knights

Thoughts

Another angle on Knights next up, here using the access to Ignore Cover from Immolators to maximise the threat of Armiger autocannons and a dakka Crusader, while a Lancer and Canis Rex handle the pressure side of things.You get a healthy number of activations to play with here, which is certainly nice, and the damage output is pretty much universally effective - even half damage does a lot less against this than the Atrapos builds because so much of it is flat 3. Well done to Wesley for claiming another trophy for the noble houses.

The Best of the Rest

There were 8 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 2nd - Jordan Nach - Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): An unusual spin on all-rounder Liberator with a big Terminator Assault squad and lots of Devastators to fire out of a Razorback and a Rhino.
  • 3rd - Kevin Leonard - Chaos Daemons (Shadow Legion): Heavy hitting Shadow Legion with the standard Be'lakor and Fadethirster monster contingent, but far more hammer units than standard, two Accursed Communes and a triple Slaanesh Chariot unit with Leaping Shadows to go fast.
  • 4th - Dakota Kramer - Aeldari (Warhost): As predicted on Wednesday (and I swear I didn't look ahead at this), double 10-model Fire Dragons is the play for Aeldari in a Knight world.
  • 5th - Ryan Wienke - Death Guard (Mortarion's Hammer): Maximum Daemon Engines.
  • 6th - Kade Smrecek - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Many of the pieces of the standard Warband core, but with the Daemon Prince and a few other bits carved out in favour of Angron.
  • 7th - Jordan C Rakow - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis and a Lancer with lots of Armigers.
  • 8th - Stephen Crawford - Chaos Daemons (Shadow Legion): Hard-hitting Shadow Legion is the mood, apparently, this one has three Accursed Communes.
  • 9th - Oliver Smith - T'au Empire (Mont'ka): Tiger Shark, plus lots of other hulls.

Luxembourg Open - Golden ticket event

42-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Mersch, Mersch, LU on June 28 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Supply Drop - Hammer and Anvil

Tom Kayser - Emperor's Children (Coterie of the Conceited)
Army List - Click to Expand
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Player Name: Tom Kayser Team Name: Basement Crew Factions Used: Emperor's Children Army Points: 1995 Army Enhancements (list on which model): Pledge of Unholy Fortune (Lord Kakophonist) Detachment Rule: Pledges to the Dark Prince +++

CHARACTERS

Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with Wings (200 Points) • Warlord • 1x Hellforged weapons • 1x Infernal cannon

Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with Wings (200 Points) • 1x Hellforged weapons • 1x Infernal cannon

Lord Exultant (80 Points) • 1x Bolt Pistol • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Phoenix power spear • 1x Rapture lash

Lord Exultant (80 Points) • 1x Bolt Pistol • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Phoenix power spear • 1x Rapture lash

Lord Kakophonist (90 Points) • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Screamer pistol • 1x Screamer pistol • Enhancements: Pledge of Unholy Fortune

Lucius the Eternal (150 Points) • 1x Blade of the Laer • 1x Lash of Torment

BATTLELINE

Infractors (85 Points) • 1x Obsessionist ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power sword • 4x Infractor ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Duelling sabre ◦ 1x Icon of Excess

Infractors (85 Points) • 1x Obsessionist ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Power sword • 4x Infractor ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Duelling sabre ◦ 1x Icon of Excess

Tormentors (85 Points) • 1x Obsessionist ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Rapture lash • 4x Tormentor ◦ 2x Boltgun ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Icon of Excess ◦ 1x Meltagun ◦ 1x Plasma gun

Tormentors (85 Points) • 1x Obsessionist ◦ 1x Plasma pistol ◦ 1x Rapture lash • 4x Tormentor ◦ 2x Boltgun ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Icon of Excess ◦ 1x Meltagun ◦ 1x Plasma gun

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (80 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Havoc launcher

Chaos Rhino (80 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

Maulerfiend (130 Points) • 2x Magma cutters • 1x Maulerfiend fists

Maulerfiend (130 Points) • 2x Magma cutters • 1x Maulerfiend fists

Noise Marines (145 Points) • 1x Disharmonist ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Power sword ◦ 1x Screamer pistol • 5x Noise Marine ◦ 2x Blastmaster ◦ 5x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Sonic blaster

Noise Marines (145 Points) • 1x Disharmonist ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Power sword ◦ 1x Screamer pistol • 5x Noise Marine ◦ 2x Blastmaster ◦ 5x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Sonic blaster

Noise Marines (145 Points) • 1x Disharmonist ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Power sword ◦ 1x Screamer pistol • 5x Noise Marine ◦ 2x Blastmaster ◦ 5x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Sonic blaster



vs.

Thomas "LandsKnecht" Beckers - Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread)
Army List - Click to Expand
5 big + rotti (1995 points)

Chaos Knights Strike Force (2000 points) Lords of Dread

CHARACTERS

Chaos Cerastus Knight Atrapos (385 points) • Warlord • 1x Atrapos lascutter 1x Graviton singularity cannon • Enhancement: Mirror of Fates

Knight Abominant (325 points) • 1x Balemace 1x Diabolus heavy stubber 1x Electroscourge 1x Volkite combustor

Knight Abominant (325 points) • 1x Balemace 1x Diabolus heavy stubber 1x Electroscourge 1x Volkite combustor

Knight Abominant (325 points) • 1x Balemace 1x Diabolus heavy stubber 1x Electroscourge 1x Volkite combustor

Knight Despoiler (345 points) • 1x Daemonbreath meltagun 2x Despoiler gatling cannon 2x Heavy darkflamer 1x Ruinspear rocket pod 1x Titanic feet • Enhancement: Warp-borne Stalker

ALLIED UNITS

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

Rotigus (250 points) • 1x Gnarlrod 1x Streams of brackish filth

Exported with App Version: v1.36.0 (84), Data Version: v638

Thoughts

Big boy season is in full effect here, with the terrifying might of five large Knights unleashed on the board, and space found for Rotigus as well. Facing off against them is the two Prince, two Maulerfiend spin on Coterie, which is definitely the best Emperor's Children build to try and win this, but it's still going to be super uphill here.

The mission is the killer - this is a tough game for the Emperor's Children just on sheer killing power, but on a quarters deployment with balanced game-long scoring they might at least be able to use their greater numbers to rack up points, or try and focus down one flank of the chaos forces. On Hammer and Supply Drop, that's a wash - you can't really avoid taking on multiple Knights at once, its very easy for them to adapt to your plans, and the area of effect tools (the large Mirror aura and three Abominants) are going to be even more potent than normal. I do think it's the Abominants that are the particular killer here - the Knights can lead with the Mirror Atrapos with boosted auras, then when the Emperor's Children engage it send up the three Abominants to start melting faces, and turn on Morale Checks for anything below Starting as their turn three ability. At that point, it feels super hard for the EC to get a foothold back in the game, especially because of the synergy between Rotigus and the chip damage from Abominants; as soon as one of the five-model EC squads loses a model, they can no longer reclaim an objective that's been Claimed for the Dark Gods and is within Rotigus' aura.

On Supply drop thats just the final nail in the coffin. Obviously the EC can and should try and focus whole Knights down, but as long as the Knights keep Rotigus protected to the endgame, preventing them from taking the big Primary bounties at the close of play will be nearly impossible. The scoreline here looks like the EC had a valiant go at things, but the end outcome was as expected.

Result

Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread) Victory - 12 - 8

Thomas "LandsKnecht" Beckers - Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread) - 1st Place

Credit: PierreTheMime

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
5 big + rotti (1995 points)

Chaos Knights Strike Force (2000 points) Lords of Dread

CHARACTERS

Chaos Cerastus Knight Atrapos (385 points) • Warlord • 1x Atrapos lascutter 1x Graviton singularity cannon • Enhancement: Mirror of Fates

Knight Abominant (325 points) • 1x Balemace 1x Diabolus heavy stubber 1x Electroscourge 1x Volkite combustor

Knight Abominant (325 points) • 1x Balemace 1x Diabolus heavy stubber 1x Electroscourge 1x Volkite combustor

Knight Abominant (325 points) • 1x Balemace 1x Diabolus heavy stubber 1x Electroscourge 1x Volkite combustor

Knight Despoiler (345 points) • 1x Daemonbreath meltagun 2x Despoiler gatling cannon 2x Heavy darkflamer 1x Ruinspear rocket pod 1x Titanic feet • Enhancement: Warp-borne Stalker

ALLIED UNITS

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

Rotigus (250 points) • 1x Gnarlrod 1x Streams of brackish filth

Exported with App Version: v1.36.0 (84), Data Version: v638

Archetype

Big Boy Season

Thoughts

This list was inevitable the moment that Abominants landed at 325pts. They're a weird unit to cost, because the same things that make them somewhat underwhelming solo swap around to becoming virtues once you have three of them, as you start hitting enough volume of Devastating Wounds from their guns and putting meaningful hurt on enemy units with the AoE ability. Getting that as a mere half of your list is extremely good value, and lets you stack up more power pieces to really brutalise the foe. The synergy that Rotigus has with this detachment (as explored in the Showdown) is very strong too, and I think overall this is the second most terrifying list (after the Mortarion's Hammer/Tyrant build from Wednesday) we've looked at this week, impressive work from Thomas.

The Best of the Rest

There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 2nd - Tom Kayser - Emperor's Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Double Prince double Maulerfiend Coterie.
  • 3rd - Sylvere Jandel - Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): Big Sanguinary Guard units with various smaller melee threats,, utility pieces and a couple of tanks backing them up.
  • 4th - Paul "Redsloth" Neuburger - Blood Angels (Angelic Inheritors): Lots of Sanguinary Guard, the Librarian/Devastator squad, and a couple of Vindicators.
  • 5th - Guillaume "Razorix" Buchkremer - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Shooty Invasion Fleet, adding Zoanthropes to the gunline mix and including one big squad of Hormagaunts and some Hyperadapted Raveners as pressure pieces.

The PNW Warlord's TACOMA OPEN PREP GT

40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Ellensburg, WA, United States on June 28 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Timothy Grant - Death Guard (Champions of Contagion) - 1st Place

Credit: TheChirurgeon

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
poop (2000 points)

Death Guard Strike Force (2000 points) Champions of Contagion

CHARACTERS

Biologus Putrifier (65 points) • 1x Hyper blight grenades 1x Injector pistol 1x Plague knives • Enhancement: Final Ingredient

Foul Blightspawn (60 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Plague sprayer

Lord of Contagion (110 points) • Warlord • 1x Manreaper

Malignant Plaguecaster (75 points) • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Corrupted staff 1x Plague Wind • Enhancement: Visions of Virulence

Malignant Plaguecaster (60 points) • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Corrupted staff 1x Plague Wind

Tallyman (40 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Plasma pistol

Typhus (90 points) • 1x Lakrimae

BATTLELINE

Plague Marines (190 points) • 1x Plague Champion • 1x Plasma gun 1x Power fist • 9x Plague Marine • 2x Blight launcher 1x Bubotic weapons 4x Heavy plague weapon 9x Plague knives 2x Plasma gun

Plague Marines (190 points) • 1x Plague Champion • 1x Plasma gun 1x Power fist • 9x Plague Marine • 2x Blight launcher 1x Bubotic weapons 4x Heavy plague weapon 9x Plague knives 2x Plasma gun

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (85 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 2x Combi-bolter 1x Havoc launcher

Chaos Rhino (85 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 2x Combi-bolter 1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

Deathshroud Terminators (300 points) • 1x Deathshroud Champion • 1x Icon of Despair (Aura) 1x Manreaper 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet • 5x Deathshroud Terminator • 5x Manreaper 5x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Deathshroud Terminators (140 points) • 1x Deathshroud Champion • 1x Icon of Despair (Aura) 1x Manreaper 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet • 2x Deathshroud Terminator • 2x Manreaper 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) • 1x Heavy blight launcher 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) • 1x Heavy blight launcher 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) • 1x Heavy blight launcher 1x Plague probe

Myphitic Blight-Haulers (90 points) • 1x Bile spurt 1x Gnashing maw 1x Missile launcher 1x Multi-melta

Poxwalkers (60 points) • 10x Poxwalker • 10x Improvised weapon

Poxwalkers (60 points) • 10x Poxwalker • 10x Improvised weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640

Archetype

Plague Marine Champions

Thoughts

Death Guard next to break up the Knightmare, here going for a Champions build that doubles up on Plague Marines as a flexible core, and layers Enhancements with the Detachment rule to maximise the chance of landing the right plagues at the right time, though some of them like Visions of Virulence being Infantry-locked is mildly annoying in a Knight-heavy metagame. Still, adapatability is good when your potential opponents can be skewed hard in multiple different directions, so I can certainly see the appeal. The full Deathshroud unit is also fun here, as you get a lot of bang for your buck when using Stratagems on them, and with a Lord of Contagion and the 5+ Critical option they can just kill a big Knight outright, which is a valuable asset right now. Seems like a fun spin on things if you want a bit more of an infantry focus, great work Timothy.

The Best of the Rest

There were 8 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 2nd - Logan Clark - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis and a Cerastus trio.
  • 3rd - James Lee - Emperor's Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Double Prince double Maulerfiend Coterie.
  • 4th - Jacob Shaffner - Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Quad bigs with Canis, an Atrapos, an Errant and a Warden, plus a few Armigers to buff up.
  • 5th - Steven Ross - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Nightbringer, Szarekh, Wraiths and Doomsdays.
  • 6th - Josiah Jackson - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): The stock Berzerker build with a tweak to include one unit of Terminators instead of an Eightbound unit, and no Daemon Prince to let the build go a bit wider.
  • 7th - Glen Ray - Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread): Five big fiesta, going for some extra heft by including a Tyrant as one of the picks.
  • 8th - Joel Rodgers - Death Guard (Death Lord’s Chosen): Cheap Daemon Engines, Deathshrouds and Mortarion, just with a different suite of Stratagems and Enhancements. I think that makes it every Death Guard detachment hitting at least a 4-1, so good job there.

The GOLDEN CREW - Golden Ticket Atlanta 2025

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italia on June 28 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

This event was not using the new Knight rules.

Riccardo Ghio - Grey Knights (Teleport Strike Force) - 1st Place

Grey Knights Kill Team Grey Knights Kill Team. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
MODENA (2000 points)

Grey Knights Strike Force (2000 points) Teleport Strike Force

CHARACTERS

Brotherhood Librarian (120 points) • 1x Nemesis force weapon 1x Purge Soul

Grand Master (125 points) • 1x Nemesis force weapon 1x Psycannon • Enhancement: Sigil of Exigence

Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (210 points) • 1x Heavy incinerator 1x Heavy psycannon 1x Nemesis daemon greathammer

Kaldor Draigo (125 points) • Warlord • 1x Scourging 1x Storm bolter 1x The Titansword

BATTLELINE

Brotherhood Terminator Squad (200 points) • 1x Terminator Justicar • 1x Nemesis force weapon 1x Storm bolter • 4x Brotherhood Terminator • 1x Ancient's Banner 1x Incinerator 1x Narthecium 4x Nemesis force weapon 2x Storm bolter

Brotherhood Terminator Squad (400 points) • 1x Terminator Justicar • 1x Nemesis force weapon 1x Storm bolter • 9x Brotherhood Terminator • 1x Ancient's Banner 2x Incinerator 1x Narthecium 9x Nemesis force weapon 6x Storm bolter

Strike Squad (120 points) • 1x Justicar • 1x Nemesis force weapon 1x Storm bolter • 4x Grey Knight • 4x Nemesis force weapon 4x Storm bolter

Strike Squad (120 points) • 1x Justicar • 1x Nemesis force weapon 1x Storm bolter • 4x Grey Knight • 4x Nemesis force weapon 4x Storm bolter

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Grey Knights Razorback (85 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter 1x Twin lascannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Interceptor Squad (125 points) • 1x Interceptor Justicar • 1x Nemesis force weapon 1x Storm bolter • 4x Interceptor • 4x Nemesis force weapon 4x Storm bolter

Nemesis Dreadknight (210 points) • 1x Heavy incinerator 1x Heavy psycannon 1x Nemesis daemon greathammer

ALLIED UNITS

Culexus Assassin (85 points) • 1x Animus speculum 1x Life-draining touch

Navigator (75 points) • 1x Force-orb cane 1x Laspistol

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (83), Data Version: v629

Archetype

Untouchable Terminators

Thoughts

If you buff it, they will come, apparently. This build revives the Teleport Strike Force detachment and the classic strategy from that of building a big Terminator unit to be exceptionally hard to pin down and handle via Sigil of Exigence and Mists of Deimos. Sticking a Grand Master in it as the relic bearer also makes them ultra flexible in what they can kill in melee, as they have the old-school full power version of Ignore Modifiers on their side, so fear no damage reduction. I've historically slightly prefer using Paladins in this role so that you get shooting power as well, especially as Knights don't appear to have been live for this event. They are a bit cheaper mind, and this list thrives on having plenty of supporting units to control the board and score, and it still manages to find space for a couple of Dreadknights on top. ALways had a soft spot for this plan so it's nice to see it get a bit of airtime over all Warpbane, all the time, good stuff from Riccardo.

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 2nd - Luigi Vassallo - Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Scourges and utility units in Transports.
  • 3rd - Giorgio castelli - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Szarekh, triple Doomsdays and a Wraith block.
  • 4th - Andrea Guareschi - Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): A Cawl tank gunline supported by lots of small elite Skitarii units and a few Battleline squads in Transports.
  • 5th - Jacopo Cigarini - T'au Empire (Mont'ka): Big gun maxing - six Broadsides, three Hammerheads and three Sky Rays, using the mobility of Mont'ka to go hunting.
  • 6th - Enea Di Placido - Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): Magnus Grand Coven goodstuff, including two big Enlightened units and a couple of Forgefiends.

3rd Annual Pop Con GT

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Indianapolis, IN, United States on June 28 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Stephen Kennedy - Death Guard (Mortarion's Hammer) - 1st Place

Plagueburst Crawler Plagueburst Crawler. Credit: Raf Cordero

The List

Army List - Click to Expand
Da stanky boyz (2000 Points)

Death Guard Mortarion's Hammer Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Lord of Contagion (110 Points) • 1x Manreaper

Lord of Contagion (125 Points) • 1x Manreaper • Enhancements: Shriekworm Familiar

Lord of Virulence (110 Points) • 1x Power fist • 1x Twin plague spewer • Enhancements: Tendrilous Emissions

Tallyman (40 Points) • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Plasma pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

Deathshroud Terminators (140 Points) • 1x Deathshroud Champion ◦ 1x Manreaper ◦ 1x Plaguespurt gauntlet • 2x Deathshroud Terminator ◦ 2x Manreaper ◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Deathshroud Terminators (140 Points) • 1x Deathshroud Champion ◦ 1x Manreaper ◦ 1x Plaguespurt gauntlet • 2x Deathshroud Terminator ◦ 2x Manreaper ◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 Points) • 1x Heavy blight launcher • 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 Points) • 1x Heavy blight launcher • 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 Points) • 1x Heavy blight launcher • 1x Plague probe

Myphitic Blight-Haulers (90 Points) • 1x Bile spurt • 1x Gnashing maw • 1x Missile launcher • 1x Multi-melta

Myphitic Blight-Haulers (90 Points) • 1x Bile spurt • 1x Gnashing maw • 1x Missile launcher • 1x Multi-melta

Myphitic Blight-Haulers (90 Points) • 1x Bile spurt • 1x Gnashing maw • 1x Missile launcher • 1x Multi-melta

Plagueburst Crawler (195 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 2x Entropy cannon • 1x Heavy slugger • 1x Plagueburst mortar

Plagueburst Crawler (195 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 2x Entropy cannon • 1x Heavy slugger • 1x Plagueburst mortar

Plagueburst Crawler (195 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 2x Entropy cannon • 1x Heavy slugger • 1x Plagueburst mortar

Poxwalkers (60 Points) • 10x Poxwalker ◦ 10x Improvised weapon

Poxwalkers (60 Points) • 10x Poxwalker ◦ 10x Improvised weapon

Poxwalkers (60 Points) • 10x Poxwalker ◦ 10x Improvised weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (1), Data Version: v640

Archetype

Plagueburst Hammer

Thoughts

Not much to say here that hasn't already been covered elsewhere - I think if you're running Hammer you are correct to either bring the Plaguebursts (as here) or ally in a Tyrant so you have a good game against Knights, and once you've done one of those you can go off to the races. Well done Stephen.

The Best of the Rest

There were 3 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
  • 2nd - Grant Bullard - Chaos Daemons (Shadow Legion): All-rounder Shadow Legion with the standard big Daemons, one Accursed Commune hammer, and some Havocs and utility Daemons supporting them.
  • 3rd - John Ontto - Orks (War Horde): Lots of mechanised threats, mixing up shooting and power melee like Breaka Boyz, and a few (cheaper) Speed Freekz units providing backup.
  • 4th - Jay Kinney - Drukhari (Reaper's Wager): Toolboxy all-Drukhari wager with a bit of everything, and one Talos unit as a bit of an anvil.

Wrap Up

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Tags: imperial knights | Necrons | Death Guard | Warhammer 40k | Chaos Knights | Emperor's Children | grey knights | Meta Analysis | Competitive Innovations

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