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 now in the classic position of gazing back at the past, because the new Dataslate has arrived (check out everything starting here) and it's...well not all change, but some change, maybe. Today's winning Necron lists probably do have to change up, so that's something. Let's take a look.

Event News - Goonhammer UK Teams March 2026

Extremely Final call for the one team ticket remaining for the first Goonhammer Open UK of 2026 - which this time is going to be our first Teams tournament.

If you were on the fence, we are also excited to announce that at this event, we have Golden Tickets for the full winning team of five! GW have just announced that the WCW is moving to Barcelona this year, so if you want to set your whole squad up for a European Warhammer getaway, sign up now!

The event is a 5-player Team Tournament with WTC Terrain on 14th-15th March in Leicester, check out the details below:

This Week's Events

Part 1 on Wednesday:

Scheunenkloppen Open 2026: Warzone Erkelenz 4
That 6++ Grand Tournament: North 2026
CAGBASH XIX Warhammer 40k at Cincycon 2026
"Casi Casi GT 2.0"

Part 2 on Friday:

Clutch City GT 2026
II GT WARHAMMER 40K KANARIAN OPEN
Bolters and Broken Hearts GT
Tabletop Grotz Open

Part 3 on Saturday:

Scorched Earth Open 2026 - 40K Fundraiser GT
Dark Sphere February GT
South East Siege 2: Attack of the Kin
March Madness, Indonesia's 3rd GT and Warhammer World Qualifier

Scorched Earth Open 2026 - 40K Fundraiser GT

114-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Phoenix, AZ, United States on February 28 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Ben Jurek - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) - 1st Place

The Silent King. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Smite club open (2000 Points)

Necrons Starshatter Arsenal Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

C'tan Shard of the Deceiver (285 Points) • 1x Cosmic insanity • 1x Golden fists

C'tan Shard of the Nightbringer (315 Points) • 1x Gaze of death • 1x Scythe of the Nightbringer

Hexmark Destroyer (100 Points) • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols • Enhancements: Chrono-impedance Fields

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

Nekrosor Ammentar (165 Points) • 1x Blade tail and whip coils • 1x Enmitic disintegrators • 1x Nullstone Field Generator (Aura) • 1x Unmaker Gauntlet

Psychomancer (55 Points) • 1x Abyssal lance

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

Transcendent C'tan (305 Points) • 1x Crackling tendrils • 1x Seismic assault

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

Flayed Ones (60 Points) • 5x Flayed One ◦ 5x Flayer claws

Exported with App Version: v1.46.2 (1), Data Version: v732

Archetype

Starshatter King C'tan

Thoughts

Ben takes our biggest event win of the day, sporting the C'tan and King Starshatter build that's been increasingly popular among top players who want to go for the full gut punch build. It's could be all change now, of course, because a major part of the appeal here is upping the reliability of the C'tan with Starshatter's Stratagems (and +1 to hit to push through penalties) and the King's re-rolls, neither of which work any more, but I strongly suspect that pushing a -1D King forward alongside the C'tan is still going to overwhelm some armies, so I wouldn't rule out a version of this remaining, albeit in smaller numbers and less scary. Well done Ben on landing a big win with the full send.

Jason McKenzie - T'au Empire (Retaliation Cadre) - 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Commander Farsight. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Emissaries of the Dawn (1980 points)

T'au Empire Strike Force (2000 points) Retaliation Cadre

CHARACTERS

Commander Farsight (85 points) • 1x Dawn Blade 1x High-intensity plasma rifle

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (100 points) • Warlord • 1x Battlesuit fists 1x Cyclic ion blaster 2x Gun Drone 3x Missile pod • Enhancement: Starflare Ignition System

OTHER DATASHEETS

Broadside Battlesuits (80 points) • 1x Crushing bulk 1x Heavy rail rifle 1x Marker Drone 1x Missile Drone 1x Twin smart missile system 1x Weapon Support System

Broadside Battlesuits (80 points) • 1x Crushing bulk 1x Heavy rail rifle 1x Marker Drone 1x Missile Drone 1x Twin smart missile system 1x Weapon Support System

Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (120 points) • 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas'vre • 1x Battlesuit fists 1x Gun Drone 1x Marker Drone 2x Missile pod • 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas'ui • 2x Battlesuit fists 2x Gun Drone 4x Missile pod 2x Shield Drone

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (110 points) • 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas'vre • 1x Battlesuit fists 1x Gun Drone 1x Marker Drone 2x T'au flamer • 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas'ui • 2x Battlesuit fists 2x Gun Drone 2x Shield Drone 4x T'au flamer

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

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

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

Pathfinder Team (90 points) • 1x Pathfinder Shas'ui • 1x Close combat weapon 2x Gun Drone 1x Pulse carbine 1x Pulse pistol 1x Recon Drone 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher • 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

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

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 Marker 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 Marker 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: v1.46.2 (108), Data Version: v732

Archetype

Retaliation Triptide

Thoughts

T'au have been on the rise with speedy high threat builds this week, and I'm sure their players are postively salivating at how they're going to play with the Twin Lance added. Many of the winning builds we've seen have been Mont'ka, but here Retaliation Cadre gets a look in as well, able to go after a slightly broader range of targets with the extra strength, and using Torchstar to preserve tools and allow a slightly more toolboxy approach. Retalation Cadre (unsurpisingly) provides premium support for powerful Battlesuit units, so I'd expect the advent of the Lance to swing a few more players back to this version of the plan, so I expect Jason's (undefeated) success here to be a herald of things to come. Congratulations!

Tanner Floyd - Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock) - 3rd Place

Credit: Robert "TheChirurgeon" Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Me: Mom, can I play competitive Space Marines?

Mom: We have competitive Space Marines at home.

Competitive Space Marines at home:

(1995 points)

Space Marines Dark Angels Strike Force (2000 points) Wrath of the Rock

CHARACTERS

Azrael (125 points) • 1x Lion's Wrath 1x The Lion Helm 1x The Sword of Secrets

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

Lion El'Jonson (315 points) • Warlord • 1x Arma Luminis 1x Fealty

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

Deathwing Knights (250 points) • 1x Watcher in the Dark • 1x Knight Master • 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven • 4x Deathwing Knight • 4x Mace of absolution

Deathwing Knights (250 points) • 1x Watcher in the Dark • 1x Knight Master • 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven • 4x Deathwing Knight • 4x Mace of absolution

Eradicator Squad (180 points) • 1x Eradicator Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon 1x Melta rifle • 5x Eradicator • 5x Bolt pistol 5x Close combat weapon 3x Melta rifle 2x Multi-melta

Inner Circle Companions (180 points) • 6x Inner Circle Companion • 6x Calibanite greatsword 6x Heavy bolt pistol

Land Speeder Vengeance (120 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Assault Cannon 1x Plasma storm battery

Land Speeder Vengeance (120 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Assault Cannon 1x Plasma storm battery

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

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

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.46.2 (108), Data Version: v732

Archetype

Eradicator Wrath

Thoughts#

Topping the 5-1 bracket (dropping a close game against the T'au above) we have Dark Angels, sporting a pretty standard Wrath setup of Deathwing, the Lion and Speeders, then adding in the "I don't want to lose to C'tan" option of a big squad of Eradicators. Popping off with these boosted to S11 with Relics of the Dark Age is among the best options in the game for trying to stone cold one-shot a C'tan, and given they'll very much be sticking around in the metagame, I think this flex pick will continue to see use, especially as they enjoy the durability boost from Wrath as well. Great stuff from Tanner.

Daniel Olivas - Drukhari (Spectacle of Spite) - 4th Place

Credit: Keewa

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

spite spit (2000 points)

Drukhari Strike Force (2000 points) Spectacle of Spite

CHARACTERS

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

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

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

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

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

BATTLELINE

Kabalite Warriors (115 points) • 1x Sybarite • 1x Blast pistol 1x Kabalite Icon 1x Power weapon • 9x Kabalite Warrior • 1x Blaster 9x Close combat weapon 1x Dark lance 1x Shredder 1x Splinter cannon 5x Splinter rifle

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 2x Splinter cannon

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.46.2 (108), Data Version: v732

Archetype

Go-wide Spectacle

Thoughts

Spectacle in 4th place, going a little wider than normal and presumably planning to out-score the heaviest builds rather than confronting them directly. That does create a bit of a failure case against the gut punch C'tan lists (Ben took Daniel out in round 5) but I think we probably will see a little less of the most extreme versions, there's likely more play for this plan going fowards. Well done Daniel.

The Best of the Rest

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

5th - Durante "Glynisir" Bozzini - T'au Empire (Mont'ka): Hull and Riptide-heavy Mont'ka.
6th - Joshua Hirschfeld - Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): Triple Deathwing Knights with the Lion.
7th - Ben McDonald - Ultramarines (Blade of Ultramar): Calgar Hulltramarines.
8th - Anthony LoGrande - Chaos Space Marines (Pactbound Zealots): Classic all-rounder CSM with Legionaries in Rhinos, Vindicators and Destructors.
9th - Jason Flanzer - Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Herohammer plus a big block each of Warriors and Wraiths (no C'tan).
10th - Gwenn Godfrey - T'au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Starscythes, Fireknifes and Riptides.
11th - Travis Finell - T'au Empire (Mont'ka): Triple Hammerhead backed up by Broadsides and a selection of Crisis teams.
12th - Jacob Wagner - Necrons (Pantheon of Woe): Five C'tan, Ammentar, and minimal additional glue.

Dark Sphere February GT

48-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on February 28 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Take and Hold - Search and Destroy

Chris Cho - Black Templars (Bastion Task Force)

Army List - Click to Expand

Bastiontest (2000 Points)

Space Marines Black Templars Bastion Task Force Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Castellan ‘Faris' (70 Points) • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Master-crafted power weapon

Castellan ‘Hama' (70 Points) • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Master-crafted power weapon

Chaplain Grimaldus (110 Points) • 1x Chaplain Grimaldus ◦ 1x Artificer crozius ◦ 1x Plasma pistol • 3x Cenobyte Servitor ◦ 3x Close combat weapon

Emperor's Champion ‘Luis' (100 Points) • 1x Black Sword • 1x Bolt Pistol

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

Marshal ‘Sika'(95 Points) • Warlord • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Master-crafted power weapon • Enhancements: Blades of Valour

Marshal ‘Ned' (80 Points) • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Master-crafted power weapon

BATTLELINE

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

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

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

Crusader Squad ‘CS GO' (310 Points) • 1x Sword Brother ◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon ◦ 1x Pyre pistol • 11x Initiate ◦ 7x Astartes chainsword ◦ 11x Bolt pistol ◦ 11x Close combat weapon ◦ 11x Heavy bolt pistol ◦ 4x Power fist • 8x Neophyte ◦ 8x Astartes chainsword ◦ 8x Bolt pistol

Crusader Squad ‘CS2' (310 Points) • 1x Sword Brother ◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon ◦ 1x Pyre pistol • 11x Initiate ◦ 7x Astartes chainsword ◦ 11x Bolt pistol ◦ 11x Close combat weapon ◦ 11x Heavy bolt pistol ◦ 4x Power fist • 8x Neophyte ◦ 8x Astartes chainsword ◦ 8x Bolt pistol

Intercessor Squad ‘Campas'(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

Repulsor Executioner ‘PewPew' (235 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Heavy laser destroyer • 1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon • 1x Icarus rocket pod • 1x Multi-melta • 1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array • 1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber • 1x Twin heavy bolter

Scout Squad ‘Meat' (70 Points) • 1x Scout Sergeant ◦ 1x Astartes chainsword ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon • 4x Scout ◦ 4x Bolt pistol ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Combat knife ◦ 1x Heavy bolter

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.46.2 (1), Data Version: v732

vs.

Nikhil Talwar - Chaos Space Marines (Huron’s Marauders)

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos - Chaos Space Marines + DETACHMENT: Huron's Marauders (Tyrannical Motivation) + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts + + WARLORD: Char3: Huron Blackheart + ENHANCEMENT: + NUMBER OF UNITS: 15 + SECONDARY: - Bring It Down: (1x2) - Assassination: 5 Characters - Cull The Horde: 2x5 (before leaders attached) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

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

Dark Commune (90 pts) • 1x Cult Demagogue • 1x Autopistol • 1x Commune stave • 2x Blessed Blades • 2x Commune blade • 1x Iconarch • 1x Autopistol • 1x Close combat weapon • Chaos icon • 1x Mindwitch • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Warp Curse

Dark Commune (90 pts) • 1x Cult Demagogue • 1x Autopistol • 1x Commune stave • 2x Blessed Blades • 2x Commune blade • 1x Iconarch • 1x Autopistol • 1x Close combat weapon • Chaos icon • 1x Mindwitch • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Warp Curse

Fabius Bile (100 pts) • 1x Fabius Bile • 1x Rod of Torment • 1x The Chirurgeon • 1x Xyclos needler • 1x Surgeon Acolyte • 1x Surgeon Acolyte's tools

Huron Blackheart (120 pts) • 1x Tyrant's Claw and exalted power weapon • 1x Tyrant's Claw heavy flamer • Warlord

Masters of the Maelstrom (115 pts) • 1x Captain Sargotta • 1x Laspistol • 1x Power sabre • 1x Garlon Souleater • 1x Force stave • 1x Mind Wrench • 1x Garreon the Corpsemaster • 1x Absolver bolt pistol • 1x Reductor array • Choice Samples • 1x Katar Garrix • 1x Axe of Ending • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x The Enforcer • 1x Bionic gauntlet • 1x Londaxi maimer

BATTLELINE

Cultist Mob (50 pts) • 1x Cultist Champion • 1x Brutal assault weapon • 1x Autopistol • 9x Cultist • 9x Autopistol • 9x Brutal assault weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Accursed Cultists (195 pts) • 10x Mutant • 10x Blasphemous appendages • 6x Torment • 6x Hideous mutations

Accursed Cultists (195 pts) • 10x Mutant • 10x Blasphemous appendages • 6x Torment • 6x Hideous mutations

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

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

Chaos Rhino (75 pts) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Combi-bolter • 1x Havoc launcher • 1x Combi-weapon

Chosen (250 pts) • 1x Chosen Champion • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Power fist • 1x Boltgun • Chaos icon • 9x Chosen • 6x Accursed weapon • 8x Bolt pistol • 3x Boltgun • 4x Combi-weapon • 2x Paired accursed weapons • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power fist

Chosen (250 pts) • 1x Chosen Champion • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Power fist • 1x Boltgun • Chaos icon • 9x Chosen • 6x Accursed weapon • 8x Bolt pistol • 3x Boltgun • 4x Combi-weapon • 2x Paired accursed weapons • 1x Plasma pistol • 1x Power fist

Possessed (240 pts) • 10x Possessed • 10x Hideous mutations • Chaos icon

Thoughts

We're going for whole new levels of ultraviolence here, as two brutal melee armies slam into one another. Both are fast, with good access to Advance/Charge, and have some very large power pieces to smash into each other. Who wins?

Realistically, the Chaos Space Marines - the massive advantage they have here is that they have much more configurable threats to hurl at the foe. They don't have any one unit as crunchy as a 20-model Crusader squad, but that doesn't matter, because if you throw a big Accursed unit at a 20-model with buffs up, they have a solid chance of trading up into it. Being able to stage the Chosen squad without the Masters attached in a Rhino also helps, it's going to be pretty easy to hide it from that one RepEx, and it creates a big zone of pressure the loyalists have to respect.

The possible play for the Templars is to try and slow roll things a little - take advantage of their Scout unit to set up some scoring, then use their bigger squads to move block Chaos for a few turns and try and ride that to a score victory. They did a decent job of racking up some points, so maybe they had a decent go at it, but in the end the superior violence of the renegades won out.

Result

Chaos Space Marines (Huron’s Marauders) Victory - 90 - 77

Nikhil Talwar - Chaos Space Marines (Huron’s Marauders) - 1st Place

Credit: Robert "TheChirurgeon" Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Melee Marauders

Thoughts

While Renegade Warband got more intial attention, people have cottoned on to the fact that Huron's Marauders provides a very strong melee shell, arguably Creations with higher reliability on setup, and better support for Accursed Communes. This means that there's a a new, exciting way to hurl Chosen, Possessed and Cultists at the foe for fun and profit, and unsurprisingly players are excited. The nerf to Warband's use of Cult Marines is only going to increase the number of people trying out this aggressive alternative. Well done to Nikhil for unleashing its might!

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Tim Lowes - Aeldari (Seer Council): Triple Phoenix, with Fuegan and Jain Zar leading big squads plus a small Maugan unit, a big Defender block with all the trimmongs, and supporting scoring pieces.
3rd - Samuel Martin - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade): An Ironstrider firebase with Cawl, a big unit of Dragoons to go hunting, and various infantry threats/scoring.
4th - Sean McQuaid - Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): Aberrant and Metamorph MSUs and one big Neophyte unit to provide threat diversity.
5th - Chris Cho - Black Templars (Bastion Task Force): See Showdown.
6th - Matt Puffett - Adepta Sororitas (Champions of Faith): A defiant showing for classic Champions Sacresant Shieldwall.
7th - Euan Bedford-Cooper - Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Warband): An extremely shooty Warband build with Vindicators, Obliterators and Noise Marines, tragically cut down in its prime thanks to the swift assassination of the latter.
8th - Christian Thomson - Blood Angels (Rage-cursed Onslaught): Melee pressure and a few tanks to add a big of support.

South East Siege 2: Attack of the Kin

40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Carriganore, WD, Ireland on February 28 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Colin Power - Aeldari (Aspect Host) - 1st Place

Asurmen. Credit: Wings

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos - Aeldari + DETACHMENT: Aspect Host (Path of the Warrior) + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts + + WARLORD: Char1: Asurmen + ENHANCEMENT: + NUMBER OF UNITS: 18 + SECONDARY: - Bring It Down: (5x2) - Assassination: 3 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Asurmen (125 pts): Warlord, The Bloody Twins, The Sword of Asur Char2: 1x Jain Zar (120 pts): Silent Death, The Blade of Destruction Char3: 1x Lhykhis (135 pts): Brood Twain, Spider's Fangs, Weaverender

10x Dire Avengers (150 pts): 2x Aspect Shrine Token • 1x Dire Avenger Exarch: Close Combat Weapon, 2x Avenger Shuriken Catapult • 9x Dire Avenger: 9 with Avenger Shuriken Catapult, Close Combat Weapon 1x Fire Prism (150 pts): Prism Cannon, Wraithbone hull, Shuriken Cannon 1x Fire Prism (150 pts): Prism Cannon, Wraithbone hull, Shuriken Cannon 1x Fire Prism (150 pts): Prism Cannon, Wraithbone hull, Shuriken Cannon 5x Howling Banshees (95 pts): Aspect Shrine Token • 1x Howling Banshee Exarch: Executioner, Shuriken Pistol • 4x Howling Banshee: 4 with Banshee Blade, Shuriken Pistol 5x Rangers (55 pts): 5 with Close Combat Weapon, Long rifle, Shuriken Pistol 5x Rangers (55 pts): 5 with Close Combat Weapon, Long rifle, Shuriken Pistol 5x Swooping Hawks (95 pts): Aspect Shrine Token • 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch: Close combat weapon, Hawk's Talon • 4x Swooping Hawk: 4 with Close combat weapon, Lasblaster 5x Swooping Hawks (95 pts): Aspect Shrine Token • 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch: Close combat weapon, Hawk's Talon • 4x Swooping Hawk: 4 with Close combat weapon, Lasblaster 5x Swooping Hawks (95 pts): Aspect Shrine Token • 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch: Close combat weapon, Hawk's Talon • 4x Swooping Hawk: 4 with Close combat weapon, Lasblaster 1x War Walkers (85 pts): War Walker feet, Bright Lance, Missile Launcher 5x Warp Spiders (105 pts): Aspect Shrine Token • 1x Warp Spider Exarch: Close Combat Weapon, Death Weavers, Spinneret Rifle • 4x Warp Spider: 4 with Close Combat Weapon, Death spinner 5x Warp Spiders (105 pts): Aspect Shrine Token • 1x Warp Spider Exarch: Close Combat Weapon, 1 Powerblade array • 4x Warp Spider: 4 with Close Combat Weapon, Death spinner 5x Warp Spiders (105 pts): Aspect Shrine Token • 1x Warp Spider Exarch: Close Combat Weapon, Death Weavers, Spinneret Rifle • 4x Warp Spider: 4 with Close Combat Weapon, Death spinner 1x Wave Serpent (125 pts): Wraithbone Hull, Shuriken Cannon, Twin Bright Lance

Archetype

Fire Prism Aspect Host

Thoughts

Aeldari won an event! With a list that somehow immediately gets a mild nerf despite them being firmly bottom of the pile all quarter. Clearly their sentence isn't up quite yet.

Anyway - Colin's angle here is a sensible one, which is that with a lot of the rest of the range getting nerfed, Fire Prisms start to look really sweet. That's especially true because of how strong Necrons and Ultramarines are - if the top of metagame features lots of C'tan and 200pts+ tanks with a 3+ Save, three Fire Prisms starts to look real interesting. They outrange the C'tan, so can all blast from outside reprisal distance, while against Ultramarines if you poke one out to smoke a RepEx, you've traded up even if it immediately dies.

Supporting that, you've got a defiant return of maximum Hawks and Spiders to score, and Asurmen with 10 Dire Avengers as your remaining reliable option for applying evasive damage (presumably why Asurmen caught a point hike). The overall build is a little less brittle than the Aeldari standard, and keeps a lot of activations, and seems to have worked out well for Colin here. Even with the minor hit to Asurmen, this does get slightly better with some top metagame lists, and this is definitely one of your angles if you want to stick to Aeldari right now. Congratulations Colin!

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Tom Maher - Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion): Be'lakor, three birds and Screamers, plus the one unit of Pink Horrors for a durable tarpit.
3rd - Sean Murray - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Triple C'tan and Silent King Starshatter.
4th - Stephan Richter - Imperial Knights (Questoris Companions): Double Lancer for melee, double Crusader for blasting, and three Warglaives for everyone to argue over who doesn't get a squire.
5th - Joseph Musgrave - Ultramarines (Blade of Ultramar): Ultra-heavy triple RepEx and Guilliman Hulltramarines, unsurprisingly dropping any midweight hulls to afford it.
6th - Chris Musgrave - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): C'tan/Silent King/Doomsdays.
7th - Ruaidhrí Ó Gríofa - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): All-rounder Fleet with a Norn and an Old One Eye/Carnifex unit as centrepieces.
8th - Peter Ghelfi - Black Templars (Bastion Task Force): A different spin on Bastion, taking the old Templar RepEx Gladius shell, adding some more MSU Assault Interecessors and cheap Characters, and then re-badging it as Bastion.
9th - jan karnowski - Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread): Five bigs with a Lancer, two gatling Despoilers, one melta, and a Rampager.

March Madness, Indonesia's 3rd GT and Warhammer World Qualifier

34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, Indonesia on February 28 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Jensen Goh - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium) - 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Jensen Goh (SG) Death Guard Virulent Vectorium Strike Force (2.000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Daemon Prince of Nurgle (215 points) • 1x Hellforged weapons 1x Infernal cannon • Enhancement: Revolting Regeneration

Lord of Contagion (120 points) • 1x Manreaper

Mortarion (380 points) • Warlord • 1x Lantern 1x Rotwind 1x Silence

OTHER DATASHEETS

Deathshroud Terminators (320 points) • 1x Deathshroud Champion • 1x Icon of Despair (Aura) 1x Manreaper 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet • 5x Deathshroud Terminator • 5x Manreaper 5x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Foetid Bloat-Drone (100 points) • 1x Fleshmower 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (120 points) • 1x Heavy blight launcher 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (120 points) • 1x Heavy blight launcher 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (120 points) • 1x Heavy blight launcher 1x Plague probe

Myphitic Blight-haulers (100 points) • 1x Bile spurt 1x Gnashing maw 1x Missile launcher 1x Multi-melta

Poxwalkers (130 points) • 20x Poxwalker • 20x Improvised weapon

Poxwalkers (65 points) • 10x Poxwalker • 10x Improvised weapon

Poxwalkers (65 points) • 10x Poxwalker • 10x Improvised weapon

ALLIED UNITS

War Dog Stalker (140 points) • 1x Daemonbreath spear 1x Diabolus heavy stubber 1x Slaughterclaw

Archetype

Heavy Vectorium

Thoughts

Our final winner of the week triumphs at a healthily-sized GT in Indonesia, packing a particularly hefty take on Virulent Vectorium. A full Poxwalker squad maximises the space it can control during the infiltration stage of the game, and then up until turn three the opponent has to handle the constant paranoia about what that big Deathshroud unit might do to them and where. While worrying about that, Blight Launchers cause some havoc, and any opponents getting too aggressive will get smashed by Mortarion. It's a cool version of Death Guard, and they're definitely in a spot where a mild hit to the best lists increases their play significantly. Congratulations to Jensen!

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Daniel B - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Double C'tan, Wraiths and Doomsdays with an upgraded Command Barge for re-rolls.
3rd - Hendy D - Blood Angels (Rage-cursed Onslaught): Rage-Cursed with a few more shooty support hulls in the form of Vindicators and a Lancer.
4th - Ardo Imperium - Adeptus Custodes (Talons of the Emperor): Custodian spam with lots of small Sisters unit in support.
5th - Alan Imperium - Iron Hands (Hammer of Avernii): Two full Assault Terminator units lead by Caanok Var and a Steel Front captain supported by lots of shooty hulls.
6th - Jonathan Imperium - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King, triple Doomsdays and the Nightbringer, with a generous helping of utility pieces in support.

Wrap Up

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