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.

Sorry for the delay this week folks. It's been a long week for yours truly and this past weekend saw a larger number of events than average- Five in total, mostly of modest size but spread out - we're going all around the world from the US to Mexico to Norway for this week's Competitive Innovations. So get comfortable and let's take a trip.

Slambo for a Cause Grand Tournament

40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in San Antonio, TX, US on April 25 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Christopher Schelling - Slaves to Darkness

vs.

Joe Carnrite - Soulblight Gravelords

Thoughts

A lot of this fight is gonna come down to who gets charges off first. Bloodletters want their Crit Mortals, while Deathmarch Soulblight want to get the charge for -1 Rend. Both armies have a lot of maneuver tricks up their sleeves, with Soulblight having in the grave and Legion of the First Prince having FLY in Furies and Flamers. This leaves both with options to bait their opponents out with chaff and make sure they strike at the opportune time. Overall it's a pretty solid, even match up which comes up pretty close, but in favor of the Soulblight.

Result

Soulblight Gravelords Victory - 48 - 36

Joe Carnrite - Soulblight Gravelords - 1st Place

Neferata, the Mortarch of Blood. Credit: chimp

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Elite Grave Guard

Thoughts

In case it wasn't clear, this is still using the old rules (Since Grave Guard got a new name). The Bread and butter here is the Death March subfaction with the Grave Guard. Deathmarch adds +1 rend to units the turn they charged if the target has less models, which is why you always make sure theyre reinforced!

Nefereta helps support them by making them harder to hit at -1 to to be hit when nearby and ignore modifiers to save. She also can give them a free move, which helps make up for their crappy movement characteristic. This on top of being a pretty good combatant in her own right. The Necromancer also helps with Danse Macabre giving another swing to one of those units.

Finally, the Dire Wolves round things off by being great objective holders and battle tactics.

The Best of the Rest

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

• 2nd - Christopher Schelling - Slaves to Darkness: See Showdown.
• 3rd - Adam Burke - Lumineth Realm-lords: Severith with Windchargers and Vanari Regent with Dawnriders.
• 4th - Nick Swope - Stormcast Eternals: Karazai and Stormcast Good Stuff.
• 5th - Ryan Givens - Ogor Mawtribes: Kragnos and Monster Trucks.
• 6th - Dillon Corcoran - Blades of Khorne: Damn near every infantry unit in the book with a Gargant RoR

Nidaros Grand Tournament '25

38-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Trøndelag, Norway on April 26 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Mission - Limited Resources

Knut Vedeld - Sylvaneth

vs.

Sindre Kjølvang - Flesh-eater Courts

Thoughts

Result

Sylvaneth Victory - 48 - 34

Knut Vedeld - Sylvaneth - 1st Place

Sylvaneth Treelord Ancient. Credit: chimp

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Sylvaneth Big Boys

Thoughts

This is pretty close to the standard Sylvaneth list, with a slight tweak. Belthanos is pretty much neccesary, since he grants run and charge board wide to three units, which Sylvaneth rely on in order to get in and get out. Alarielle offers extremely potent healing power and ressurection to offset the low number of models for the list. Kurnoth are a bit of a dealer's choice, because they frankly are good no matter which weapons you give them, but are another hammer for your list.

This is where things diverge a bit. Usually these lists include a Spirit of Durthu for another large lad. Knut Instead went for a Treelord Ancient, a warrior-wizard who trades the strength of Durthu for more spells and the ability to inflict Strike Last in combat. The Spells don't stop coming as he also added a Warsong Revenant and a Branchwych.

With all these extra casts it's a lot easier to keep Wyldwoods set up, since the Unlimited spell lets you plant a new tree if you have less than 3 (or heal them if you do have 3). There's less straight combat power here but the ability to move just about anywhere on the board gives a lot of board control.

The Best of the Rest

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

• 2nd - Simen Lillehagen - Stormcast Eternals: Karazai with Stormcast good stuff.
• 3rd - Geir Vedeld - Slaves to Darkness: A shockingly Be'lakor-free list with lots of knights.
• 4th - Sindre Kjølvang - Flesh eater Courts: See showdown.
• 5th - Jon Olav Ingolfsen - Sons of Behemat: King Brodd, Beast-Smasher, Warstomper and 4 Mancrushers.
• 6th - Stian Engebretsen - Stormcast Eternals: Karazai with Stormcast Good Stuff again.
• 7th - Gijåm Cathelineau - Flesh-Eater Courts: Ushoran leading a carde of Knights, Beastflayers and Courtiers.
• 8th -Nicolai Ingdahl - Soulblight Gravelords:  A low model count list with Mannfred and Radukar the Beast with Grave Guard and Black Knights.

Loonshine: Remix Finál Ignition

30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Tijuana, Mexico on April 26 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Mission - Close to the Chest

Eugene Averin - Kruleboyz

vs.

Alec Jerome - Blades of Khorne

Thoughts

Genuinely this is a hard one to call. Both of these lists are some real dark horses, especially this DIY Big Waaagh. While the Khorne list has a lot of redundancy (guaranteeing lots of blood points before the day is done and chaff to block their path) its mostly foot sloggers, which the Kruleboyz have some dirty tricks to deal with.

The Kruleboyz also have ways to teleport, and unlike most Kruleboyz lists, have some actual hammers thanks to Kragnos giving them a means to propel forward. The match is ridiculously close giving the Kruleboyz win by a mere 2 points.

Result

Kruleboyz Victory - 50 - 48

Eugene Averin - Kruleboyz - 1st Place

Swampboss Skumdrekk. That Gobbo

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Big Waaagh at home

Thoughts

As the name implies, this is attempting to make Big Waaagh but good. Seems like it worked.

Kruleboyz have really been struggling lately as the army feels very incomplete. There are good parts here, but it doesn't quite have the pieces to bring it all together. Trophy Finga is the most popular faction as their monsters are one of their best pieces, and giving them Crit (2 hits) helps elevate them a fair bit. Past that, you do need some Infantry and Monsta-killaz is the best infantry per point value in the army. They are good at handling monsters, but their stat block makes them just generally better than their Gutrippa cousins (Kuzins?).

Meanwhile, the added Regiment of Renown gives an actual hammer in the form of the Tuskboss. With Kragnos supporting them, 3D6 Charges help keep their momentum capped off between fights and gives the army some much needed juice.

The Best of the Rest

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

• 2nd - Alec Jerome - Blades of Khorne: See Showdown.
• 3rd - Maldad Puto - Stormcast Eternals: Lord Celestant on Stardrake and Drakesworn Templar leading a mixed bag of infantry, such as Sequitors and Praetors.
• 4th - Trish Celefaze - Stormcast Eternals: Ionus, Gardus and a Lord-Imperitant with lots of annihilators and a few longstrikes.
• 5th - Brian Cox - Ossiarch Bonereapers: Katakros with Archai and the Summerking's Entourage for some of that dual mortarch magic.
• 6th - Shane Lambert - Skaven: Thanquol and a Moulder crew.

Trash Clash in the Bluegrass

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Lexington, KY, United States on April 26 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Mission - Border War

Nicholas True - Sons of Behemat

vs.

Parker Cass - Slaves to Darkness

Thoughts

Both these lists are a bit off model for what we usually see. A slaves to Darkness army without Varanguard or Chosen? Sons of Behemat without Brodd? Nice to see some variety at least.

Chaos Knights are good, they're just often struggling in the same slot as Varanguard. But for their point value they can really slam down a lot of damage, it's just unfortunate that they are more easily blunted in extended combat than Varanguard, which I imagine was the big struggle here.

The Knights can kill a Gargant in one charge, with proper buffs and a bit of luck, but it's not reliable. In this list they won't really have anything to Power Through off of so if they don't do it, they're stuck and become much easier pickings. The Gargant player doesn't have a ton to lose so they can't be super reckless, but with proper screening they can make sure they don't get bruised too badly.

Result

Sons of Behemat Victory - 40 - 34

Nicholas True - Sons of Behemat - 1st Place

Gorlagg Knight-Kicker, Gatebreaker Gargant. Credit: Raf Cordero

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Triple Gatebreakers with Gitz backup

Thoughts

This is unique for sure. Gatebreakers have been probably the least beloved of the Sons of Behemat due to their niche being property destruction, not exactly the most in demand need. Their unique ability is also pretty dicey, risking doing 4D6 Mortal Wounds on a 4+ or doing...nothing, either way skipping your attack phase. Not ideal. That said, their basic stat block is still pretty good, six Rend 2 Damage 4 attacks will carve through a lot of things. It's simple and efficient.

The Regiment of Renown basically fulfills two roles: First, you can run and charge by planting the Rabble-Rowza on the other side of the board. Second you get two disposable units with the Squig Herd and Squig Hoppers to either complete Take the Flanks or Seize the Centre with in the early game. The Gobbapalooza doesn't do a lot, but it is a wizard that lets you put that Krondspine into play.

The Best of the Rest

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

• 2nd - Jon Anderson - Idoneth Deepkin (4-0-1): List not posted.
• 3rd - Thomas Lyons - Kruleboyz: Kragnos with a mix of kruleboyz, and the Hurtlin' Hogz Regiment of Renown.
• 4th - Christopher Kershner - Stormcast Eternals: Ionus with a mix of good stuff like Palladors, Prosecutors and Reclusians.

Age of Sigmar Warpstone Wars GT 2025

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Coraopolis, PA, US on April 26 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Ouen Mali - Seraphon

vs.

Ben Klos - Disciples of Tzeentch

Thoughts

The Tzeentch list here is a very unusual choice here. Eschewing the Casting power of the Lord of Change (And Kairos) for nothing but Tzaangors (and one Curseling).

The problem is in this specific match up they really wanted that casting prowess because now there's not a ton that can stand up to the pure raw arcane energy that is Kroak. The Curseling able to reduce his casting level temporarily is a neat trick, but its going to be hard to crack through the units in this list without more ranged options, and this Tzeentch list simply lacks that.

Result

Seraphon Victory - 44 - 17

Ouen Mali - Seraphon - 1st Place

Kroxigor. Credit: Corrode

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Seraphon good stuff

Thoughts

This is more or less the prototype for Seraphon lists, with some variation. Kroak leads the charge, able to cast 3 spells with up to +3 to cast with the proper Asterism. Between his warscroll spell, the Earth Trembles from the lore and being able to channel spells through the Skink Starpriest, he can drop a ton of mortal wounds on just about anywhere on the board. The Saurus Guard help stand in the way by offering him a 5+ ward.

The Starpriest is a unique choice form the Starseer that people usually go with, but the ability to slap Auto Wound on the Aggradon Lancers is nothing to sneeze at. Together with the Kroxigors (Which already wound on a 2+) those are your best hammers and do the majority of the damage. Particularly with the Jungle Lore granting +1 Rend.

The Terrawings and Hunters of Huanchi are control pieces, slowing the enemy down to make them easier to pick off, while the Astrolith Bearer helps compensate for the low number of drops by boosting control.

The Best of the Rest

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

• 2nd - Ben Klos - Disciples of Tzeentch: See Showdown.
• 3rd - Scott Dielman - Idoneth Deepkin: Eidolon with Morsarr Guard and Soulscryer with Reavers.
• 4th - Jude Suvak - Idoneth Deepkin: Dual eidolons with Eeel Cav, Allopexes and turtle.
• 5th - Sean Kancir - Blades of Khorne: A grab bag of different infantry with a Bloodthirster.

Wrap Up

We're pretty close to the end of this season, about a month and change. So it's about to shake up big time in a few weeks. Until then, see you around!

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