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By
James "One_Wing" Grover
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It’s been another massive week in the 40k world, with the World Team Championships giving us one of the largest annual showcases that the game gets. We’re going to start and end with that this week – today and Friday we’ll cover singles events as normal, then on Saturday I’ll take a look at the top teams from the WTC, and see what the various national laboratories have cooked up. The WTC is often a source of breakout lists and strategies that go on to shape the singles metagame, so even if teams isn’t your thing, you might still want to take a look when Saturday comes around.
In terms of the singles metagame – still all over the place, with various factions zipping up or down, though I think it’s fair to say that non-standard Marines overall have maybe ended up a little pushed – Blood Angels and Space Wolves have consistently been at the top of the win rates, and while Dark Angels don’t perform as consistently on percentages, they’re making a huge impact on the top tables. They’re not without challengers though, and this week the Aeldari are joining the Dark Angels in the bracket of putting in somegreat top finishes despite a low overall win rate.
Prior to hitting teams on Saturday, we’re going to be breaking things down as follows.Today I’ll be covering:
- WTC Warmaster GT 2024
- Iowaaagh! Open 2024
- Arch City GT III
- Tables and Towers Summer GT
- Club Seal Cup Part II
OnFriday Lowest of Men, fresh from doing coverage at the WTC, will be looking at:
'); document.write('Patrons: click here to disable ads.');} else { document.write('Thank you for being a friend.');}- The Salt City GT 2024 Warhammer 40K
- Grand Onslaught 8
- Cross-Swords War At The Westward V
- Atomic GT: These Lethal Hits Got Me Dying for the Emperor
- Trønderdome
This week’s Patron-voted Showdowns will be:
- A solemn farewell for the Deathwatch’s Black Spear Task Force, up against World Eaters at the Tables and Towers Summer GT.
- The ultimate wizard battle as Grey Knights face Thousand Sons at Grand Onslaught 8.
We will also have a bonus deep dive from our own James “Boon” Kelling, who has been out doing his bit for the Aeldari win rate once again, and will be talking about his list and final game.
466-player, 8-round Supermajor in Mechelen, Vlaams Gewest, BE on August 06 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Weiss Olivier – Black Templars (Righteous Crusaders) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CHARACTERS Castellan (100 Points) Chaplain (60 Points) Chaplain Grimaldus (120 Points) High Marshal Helbrecht (120 Points) Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 Points) BATTLELINE Primaris Crusader Squad (280 Points) Primaris Crusader Squad (280 Points) Primaris Crusader Squad (280 Points) Primaris Crusader Squad (280 Points) Primaris Crusader Squad (280 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Scout Squad (65 Points) Scout Squad (65 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.18.0 (41), Data Version: v434 Primaris Crusader Spam While some players bring two lists to the WTC, one for Warmaster and one for teams, many can’t do that so we often see some of the highly-skewed builds that team events encourage breaking out in the Warmaster GT. This build is very much one of them – it’s not particularly subtle, but asks an incredible amount from opponents, demanding that they somehow clear 100 2W bodies, many with varying degrees of Feel No Pain, which even alpha units from other melee Marines will struggle to do. You’ve also got enough OC and volume of attacks to drown almost anything on scoring and tear down even large targets, especially once you start switching on Lethal Hits. Even better, some high threat shooting armies whichmight be able to clear this have to worry about one of the units trapping their stuff in combat, which can quickly become game ending. My honest opinion is that the only reason we don’t see this strategy alot is how nightmarish it is to get on the table, but Weiss was able to do that, then navigate it through one of the most vicious shark tanks you’ll see anywhere in the world to victory – big congratulations! Army List - Click to Expand ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Necrons CHARACTERS Hexmark Destroyer (95 points) Imotekh the Stormlord (100 points) Lokhust Lord (105 points) Overlord with Translocation Shroud (85 points) Skorpekh Lord (80 points) BATTLELINE Immortals (75 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Deathmarks (60 points) Deathmarks (60 points) Flayed Ones (60 points) Lokhust Destroyers (30 points) Lokhust Destroyers (30 points) Lokhust Destroyers (30 points) Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (150 points) Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (100 points) Lychguard (170 points) Monolith (375 points) Skorpekh Destroyers (180 points) Skorpekh Destroyers (90 points) Triarch Stalker (125 points) Destroyer Hypercrypt A fascinating spin on Hypercrypt in the runner up slot, dialing back on the heavy-duty tools that have been popular recently for a much more cerebral and toolboxy take on the army, which I am of course a sucker for. You’ve still got a Monolith and plenty of toys to do fun tricks with, whether it be Immortals appearing to blast stuff to oblivion, or Lychguard/Skorpekh to burst through the breach and chop something up. As I have repeatedly said, if you haven’t tried Skorpekh at their new price you should, and I particularly like what the Lord does here – if you need one unit to hitappallinglyhard he can go with the 6, but if you’d rather split your threats more he can go with the 3. Also on the Destroyer front we have the enmitic Heavy Lokhusts with a lord, and the cool tech of bringing a Triarch Stalker alongside them. Units relying on massed AP-1 firepowerlove access to Ignore Cover, and the Stalker is ideal for setting that up, plus is another durable hull that can be zapped somewhere around the table if needed. A very cool addition that helps this build get over the line of hitting hard enough, particularly in a metagame with lots of power armour, great choice from Arnaud to earn second! Army List - Click to Expand +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CHARACTERS Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (105 Points) Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (105 Points) Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (105 Points) Infernal Master (115 Points) Infernal Master (110 Points) Infernal Master (90 Points) Magnus the Red (440 Points) Thousand Sons Sorcerer (130 Points) BATTLELINE Rubric Marines (105 Points) Rubric Marines (105 Points) Rubric Marines (105 Points) Rubric Marines (105 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Thousand Sons Rhino (75 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Mutalith Vortex Beast (150 Points) Thousand Sons Cultists (55 Points) Thousand Sons Cultists (55 Points) Tzaangor Enlightened (45 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.18.0 (41), Data Version: v434 All-rounder Tsons In third place we’ve got one of the game’s powerhouse factions, going for a single Mutalith Vortex Beast alongside a mostly standard loadout of Characters and Rubricae, though Ahriman has been left at home to free (up the points for) the Beast. That gives the list a second powerful counter-charge threat, which can be helpful against some of the harrassment plans players might try and deploy against this in a teams environment, and the Mutalith is also justnever bad thanks to its combination of durability and power. Great work from Alexandre as Tzeentch’s preeminent disciple at the event! Army List - Click to Expand ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CHARACTERS Captain with Jump Pack (85 Points) Commander Dante (120 Points) Lemartes (120 Points) The Sanguinor (140 Points) BATTLELINE Intercessor Squad (80 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points) Death Company Dreadnought (145 Points) Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (280 Points) Sanguinary Guard (310 Points) Sanguinary Guard (310 Points) Scout Squad (65 Points) Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (105 Points) High Threat Blood Angels Closing out the top four we’ve got Blood Angels, with a build that once again diverges a bit from the norm. You’ve still got three big jump pack threats, but where the recent trend has been to go for the “durable” option of Lemartes’ Death Company and 2×10 VanVets with Priests, Georgios goes for the extraviolent version with 20 Sanguinary Guard. That seems like a decent choice in Teams (and I checked, this was his list for the team event too), as you generally get less mileage from building to be an “all-rounder” than you do by going hard on what you do best, especially when your faction is a known quantity. This build iseither going to get a favourable matchup, in which case you want to flatten the foe in double time for a 20-0, or it’s going to pair into something build to kill VanVets, in which case this is still going to be a better bet – it might hit the foe hard enough to degrade their army so they can’t walk away with a big score, and using 2+ Save models with access toArmour of Contempt as its core throws a defensive curveball the enemy might not have plans for – you kill VanVets with lots of AP-1 Ignore Cover or AP-2 firepower, Sanguinary Guard can potentially walk that off. Interesting showcase of how to adapt a top meta build to face its predators, and a fourth-place finish at the Warmaster to boot – great work from Georgios! This event was using 20-0 scoring and was spectacularly huge, so I’m just going to hit the rest of the top 16. 69-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Cedar Rapids, IA, United States on August 10 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings. Army List - Click to Expand Just Elfin Around (2000 points) Aeldari CHARACTERS Asurmen (115 points) Autarch Wayleaper (115 points) Avatar of Khaine (335 points) Death Jester (105 points) Farseer (80 points) Fuegan (130 points) Karandras (90 points) BATTLELINE Guardian Defenders (100 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Dire Avengers (70 points) Falcon (140 points) Falcon (140 points) Skyweavers (105 points) Skyweavers (105 points) Striking Scorpions (65 points) Swooping Hawks (85 points) War Walkers (110 points) War Walkers (110 points) Exported with App Version: v1.18.0 (46), Data Version: v434 Herohammer Aeldari Take it away Boon. Top Table Match To summarize this match, Alex was running a rather terrifying and durable Dark Angel list that seems to be all the rage these days. My round four opponent, Tundra Tactics’ own Dakota Kramer, ran a similar list in what was at once the dumbest and best game of 40k I have played in many years – a game where not a single model died until turn five and could be a case study in understanding mission play. You can see Alex’s list below, it’s strong but it’s also limited in its ability to engage at range and predictable in creating charges. So my game plan focused on minimizing his ability to easily get shots from the Repulsor/Erads or getting good value charges, and then using my speed to isolate and overwhelm the more exposed flank. It worked, but I should note that there was a lot of ‘game’ that happened in this game – I had a rough dice turn, then he had a disastrous dice turn, and then the Avatar ended the game. So let’s talk inside baseball. List Breakdown Unlike in years past, the demands of life have conspired to ensure that I have far less time to think about, tinker, and play Warhammer. As a result, I wanted to minimize the number of new variables in my list to limit the risk of a misplay in the rules or error in my game. So, when thinking about my list, I turned to the most recent list I ran at the Bugeater Open which had won me a golden ticket. Problem is, since that event back in June there had been an update to the game, and while the indirect change had a significant impact on D-cannons, I didn’t think the fundamentals of the army really changed all that much, and on the contrary, the meta became more favorable to my style of play as Marines and vehicles seemed to take on a greater role. So, when I sat down to rewrite the list with a mind on the fundamentals, my approach can be best summarized by this scene in Moneyball. There is no replacing Giam… D-Cannons. I could no longer afford the points and resource investment I’d pay to make them work. I cannot replace them. What I can do is cobble together a set of units that achieved a similar impact, in the aggregate, and allow my list to continue functioning like previous. What I lost in the change was the ability to deliver heavy, anti-tank firepower, create space, and dig out units behind walls. Additionally, to make the changes necessary, I needed to sacrifice the Shroud Runners which meant a loss in Scouting capability. To compensate, I added a couple of War Walkers which more than offset the Scouting and traded lower-quality anti-tank for greater mobility and durability. The remainder of the list saw some point increases since June (Skyweavers and Hawks) which was partially offset by a decrease to Karandras. After adding in the War Walkers I had 115 points remaining and boy wouldn’t you know it Papa Smurf Asurmen himself just so happened to find himself sitting at a newly discounted 115. What self-respecting Eldar player is going to pass on the opportunity to take three Phoenix Lords and an Avatar out for a spin? Let’s talk about Avatars. I don’t think it’s any surprise he brings a strong capability that the army otherwise lacks and as a result many people have found space for one in their lists. His output is obvious, his durability, obvious. What I warn every player about is his overwatch. Even now, over a year later, people still get caught out by it – but it’s not the Overwatch itself that makes him matter, it’s actually the Farseer behind the throne and the battery of Fate generating citizen-soldiers. This list is Fate-dice hungry, it wants to take that 1 and make it a 6, and it wants to do it at every opportunity it can. Moreover, it wants to make sure key units survive at the key moments – it all takes Fate and a lot of it. People have preferred Storm Guardians for the objective-holding ability, but this list cannot function without the extra dice generated by the Defenders. That means that the position of that unit, and where that Farseer is, needs to be planned a full turn in advance so that it can continue to support the Avatar as it wades its way forward towards destiny. Do not forget that they generate a dice for each objective they are on (lol The Ritual). Skyweavers are excellent for anti-vehicle, and even in matches where they don’t have good targets (Thousand Sons, Tyranids) they can find opportunity with Devastating Wounds, glaive attacks, and screening/actioning. The Scorpions with Karandras are often misunderstood as I am commonly asked why they don’t infiltrate. I personally see no reason why I should ever start them on the board or infiltrate as it’s an excellent way to lose a unit that can create space, create uncertainty, plug a hole, and gain the ability to reroll its Devastating Wounds by charging out of a Falcon. Feugan? Well he’s Feugan and as with Giambi there is no replacing him. Everyone knows the Death Jester – my personal anecdote is that he once one-shot a full health Tank Commander. What a cool dude, he’s in. Wayleaper is boring but very useful. Hawks? I don’t need more than one squad, the army is fast enough as is, but one squad is a lock for tricksy secondary scoring. Let’s talk about Dire Avengers. Many people have asked me about the Dire Avengers after these events and I routinely see Eldar players decry them. I agree that they aren’t going to light the world on fire, they don’t have a super useful profile into any particular meta threat, but [points at Jonah Hill] they get on base. They’re cheap (for Eldar) and provide me with a unit that can: That first one is critical into armies like GSC, Tyranids, Orks, Dark Eldar, Sisters, etc – armies that can bring high model counts, low toughness units, or both – things that the rest of my army just won’t have the number of shots to effectively handle. That second bullet is important, particularly when combined with the third and fourth items in being capable of delivering enough damage to any unit that they either finish it off directly or allow the remainder of the army to more easily clear it. Then there’s Asurmen. With his point decrease he became a little more viable, but he’s no less squishy than he had been. That 3+ invulnerable? It’s a scary number, it stops your opponent in their tracks. But then they roll the dice, his toughness 3 kicks in and suddenly that 3+ invulnerable and 5 wounds feels non-existent. You want some ablative wounds for your boy blue because he’s a real problem solver with his six attacks at S6, AP-3, 3D and Devastating Wounds. Am I going to walk around with 3×5 or 3×10 units of these guys? No. But am I going to stick one squad in a Falcon, plop them out to fill a gap and throw Asurmen into the breach? Yes, and repeatedly. And it turns out they’re very good at that, can clean up some spare wounds that would otherwise require more dedicated shooting that you can’t or don’t want to spare, and can even do so effectively in your opponent’s turn. One final note – I deploy Feugan and the Death Jester in one of the Falcons and then swap them for the Avengers on turn one. You get a boost on the Death Jester from the Falcon rerolls, and Feugan can get an extra few inches in case he needs to dig out something like Snikrot or a Callidus that got a little too brave in deployment. Why can he do that? Because he’s Feugan and the guy refuses to die. I wanted to lay this all out because I don’t think people really dissect their list building very often. I have observed that many people commonly think about tournament list construction with a game in mind rather than six-games in mind. Things which have a low rate of failure will eventually fail across six games – can your list manage it when it happens? Finally, as you consider your own list decisions keep in mind the following; all units are just a collection of tools and capabilities. There’s tradeoffs and balances, but no matter what you determine, at the end of the day you still need to engage at the table and work with what your opponent is giving you. Army List - Click to Expand Indomitable Angels (1995 points) Space Marines CHARACTERS Apothecary Biologis (85 points) Azrael (105 points) Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points) BATTLELINE Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Deathwing Knights (235 points) Deathwing Knights (235 points) Deathwing Knights (235 points) Eradicator Squad (190 points) Land Raider Redeemer (285 points) Scout Squad (65 points) Scout Squad (65 points) Vindicator (175 points) Vindicator (175 points) Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438 Gladius Deathwing Knight Spam The Deathwing Knight menace shows up in force in second place here, providing an exceptionally durable and threatening wall for Vindicators and Eradicators to operate from behind of. Kyle’s version splashes out for the Land Raider Redeemer as the transport for the Eradicators rather than a Repulsor, which also provides a tremendous Overwatch threat for anything trying to run rings around the Knights. Not much more to say here – you getboth tremendous durability and extreme threat in one glorious Marine package, congratulations to Kyle for taking it to second place here. Army List - Click to Expand Certainty Of Death? Small Chance Of Success? What Are We Waitin’ For? (2000 points) Leagues of Votann CHARACTERS Einhyr Champion (80 points) Grimnyr (65 points) Grimnyr (65 points) BATTLELINE Hearthkyn Warriors (100 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Sagitaur (115 points) Sagitaur (115 points) Sagitaur (115 points) Sagitaur (115 points) Sagitaur (115 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Cthonian Beserks (100 points) Cthonian Beserks (100 points) Cthonian Beserks (100 points) Einhyr Hearthguard (160 points) Einhyr Hearthguard (160 points) Hekaton Land Fortress (225 points) Hernkyn Pioneers (90 points) Hernkyn Pioneers (90 points) Hernkyn Pioneers (90 points) Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438 Go-wide Votann A highly dispersed Votann formation is up next, adapting to the very lethal metagame by packing numerous relevant threats. That both exploits the initial harvest of Grudge tokens very welland ensures a steady supply of them, while also ensuring you can pivot to Primary denial and scoring if you don’t think you’re going to win a damage race. I do also like the cute trick you can do with 2×5 Hearthguard and a Land Fortress, which is to fire one squad out withFire Support while the other gets in, then repeat next turn – a brutal cycle of violence against foes lacking the reach to reliably drop the tank. Nice to see Votann getting stuff done, good work from Dan. Army List - Click to Expand My Other Car is a Land Raider Redeemer (1995 points) Space Marines CHARACTERS Apothecary Biologis (85 points) Asmodai (70 points) Azrael (105 points) BATTLELINE Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Impulsor (80 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 points) Deathwing Knights (235 points) Deathwing Knights (235 points) Deathwing Knights (235 points) Eradicator Squad (190 points) Inner Circle Companions (180 points) Repulsor (180 points) Scout Squad (65 points) ALLIED UNITS Callidus Assassin (100 points) Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438 Gladius Deathwing Knight Spam Rounding out the top four here we have pretty much the “standard” Deathwing Knight Gladius build, with the one tweak being the addition of Asmodai instead of a Judiciar to give additional killing power to the Inner Circle Companions (the option to fish for Lethals broadens their target options a fair bit). Not certain youneed any more killing power than you already have, but it does also give you a fallback plan if you somehow hit the one remaining Green Tide player and need to clear a horde in a hurry. Congratulations to Alex for the strong showing! There were 3 more players on 5-1 records. They were: 60-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Columbus, OH, United States on August 10 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings. Army List - Click to Expand Arch City (2000 Points) Aeldari CHARACTERS Autarch Wayleaper (150 Points) Avatar of Khaine (335 Points) Death Jester (105 Points) Farseer (80 Points) Fuegan (130 Points) Karandras (90 Points) Solitaire (115 Points) BATTLELINE Guardian Defenders (100 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Falcon (140 Points) Falcon (140 Points) Fire Dragons (90 Points) Rangers (55 Points) Shroud Runners (80 Points) Skyweavers (105 Points) Striking Scorpions (65 Points) Support Weapons (135 Points) Swooping Hawks (85 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (43), Data Version: v438 Herohammer Aeldari As is a trend among the current best performing Aeldari lists, Peter’s build here leans hard on the extremely powerful roster of Characters the faction has access to, then fills out with a mix of powerful scoring pieces and burst damage threats like Falcons and Fire Dragons. I’ve been on a similar kick myself recently, and these builds are great fun (if terrifying) to play – you can applyspectacular damage when you need to, the tricks the Characters can do are great for locking in scoring and running rings around the foe, and if you throw away even one unit too cheaply you can be in huge trouble. With that in mind, huge props to Peter for holding steady and taking this build to the top! Army List - Click to Expand 3 Headed Monster (2000 points) Aeldari CHARACTERS Autarch Wayleaper (150 points) Avatar of Khaine (335 points) Farseer (80 points) Farseer Skyrunner (90 points) Spiritseer (80 points) The Visarch (90 points) Yvraine (125 points) BATTLELINE Guardian Defenders (100 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Rangers (55 points) Swooping Hawks (85 points) Troupe (180 points) Warp Spiders (125 points) Warp Spiders (125 points) Wraithguard (380 points) Exported with App Version: v1.18.0 (46), Data Version: v434 Heavy Aeldari In second place we haveanother undefeated Aeldari build, albeit one about as far away from the previous one as possible. While there are still lots of Characters, this build goeshard, with a full squad of Wraithguard and a massive Harlequin brick to scare off various kinds of foes. Tanks and Monsters need to avoid Wraithguard like the plague, while Harlequins with Yvraineand the Visarch can be a huge problem for all melee builds to handle, especially with access to a Bikeseer toGuide them up. There really isn’t much that can safely charge them thanks toFights First from the Visarch, and they cover a good amount of ground too thanks to model count. Yvraine’sFeel No Pain and revival even keeps them safe against chip damage from pistols and the like! Finally, if all else fails there’s still the Avatar, and in this build he and the Wraithguard can select who is at the tip of the spear depending on the enemy’s threat profile, giving you the flexibility to play a genuine durability game as Aeldari. Will wonders never cease. Great to see a different take on the faction, well done Folger. Army List - Click to Expand Buggin (1995 Points) Tyranids CHARACTERS Neurotyrant (105 Points) Neurotyrant (105 Points) Old One Eye (140 Points) BATTLELINE Gargoyles (85 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Biovores (50 Points) Carnifexes (250 Points) Exocrine (135 Points) Exocrine (135 Points) Lictor (55 Points) Lictor (55 Points) Maleceptor (170 Points) Maleceptor (170 Points) Tyrannofex (190 Points) Von Ryan’s Leapers (75 Points) Von Ryan’s Leapers (75 Points) Zoanthropes (200 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (43), Data Version: v438 All-rounder Invasion Fleet Next up,bugs! Efficient Monsters, a couple of nice alpha threats between the Zoanthropes and Dakkafex unit and some good, cheap Infiltrators and scoring stuff to play with. This list can doreasonablywell at everything, and combining that with the go turn from Shadow in the Warpand a reliable scoring tail into the late game from Lictors and the like makes this a versatile and effective army. Good work from David. Army List - Click to Expand 500$v2 (2000 Points) Necrons CHARACTERS Chronomancer (85 Points) C’tan Shard of the Nightbringer (295 Points) Hexmark Destroyer (95 Points) Illuminor Szeras (175 Points) Imotekh the Stormlord (100 Points) Plasmancer (90 Points) Transcendent C’tan (285 Points) BATTLELINE Immortals (150 Points) Necron Warriors (200 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Deathmarks (60 Points) Deathmarks (60 Points) Lokhust Destroyers (30 Points) Monolith (375 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (43), Data Version: v438 Warrior/C’tan Hypercrypt Another pushback against the tyranny of Heavy Hypercrypt here, going for a combination of two powerhouse infantry units with a Monolith to zap them round, two C’tan and Szeras to cause mayhem, and some cheap scoring stuff to round out. Much like some of the Aeldari builds you’re in aworld of trouble if an opponent spikes a key unit to early, but Hypercrypt’s scoring power and capacity for big plays continues to give it some legs even in the face of repeated nerfs. Great work from Geoff. There were 6 more players on 4-1 records. They were: 36-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Westminster, MD, United States on August 10 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings. Mark Hertel – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) Deathwatch (2000 Points) Space Marines CHARACTERS Judiciar (85 Points) Librarian (95 Points) Watch Master (145 Points) BATTLELINE Deathwatch Veterans (200 Points) Deathwatch Veterans (200 Points) Deathwatch Veterans (100 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Rhino (75 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points) Inceptor Squad (260 Points) Inceptor Squad (130 Points) Inceptor Squad (130 Points) Sternguard Veteran Squad (180 Points) Storm Speeder Thunderstrike (160 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.17.0 (40), Data Version: v430 vs. Lucas Peacher – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband) The Boyzzz (1995 points) World Eaters CHARACTERS Khârn the Betrayer (100 points) Lord Invocatus (140 points) World Eaters Master of Executions (125 points) World Eaters Master of Executions (100 points) BATTLELINE Jakhals (65 points) Jakhals (65 points) Khorne Berzerkers (180 points) Khorne Berzerkers (90 points) Khorne Berzerkers (90 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS World Eaters Rhino (75 points) World Eaters Rhino (75 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Eightbound (140 points) Exalted Eightbound (310 points) Exalted Eightbound (155 points) Exalted Eightbound (155 points) World Eaters Chaos Spawn (65 points) World Eaters Chaos Spawn (65 points) Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438 It’s that time again where we have to play the solemn, sad music as we watch a build not long for this world go out on one last hurrah. The true tragedy here is that thanks to the twists and turns of the metagame and a small but welcome amount of help in the Dataslate, Black Spear Task Force is pretty legit right now. You get a lot of powerful mobility tricks, a very nasty Fight First melee unit by combining aThief of Secrets Judiciar with Veterans, and we’re in a target rich environment for their unique trick of combining Sternguard with their Bolter Strategems thanks to all the elite Infantry around. I also like the use of the Librarian with the second Veteran squad, letting you max out on weaponry without compromising on an invulnerable save – good stuff. That talk of “good against elite Infantry” probably has the world eaters tugging at their collars nervously, and they’re very much right to be worried, this Deathwatch build is practically assembled in a lab to go through Eaters like a hot knife,especially a build making the unusual choice to leave Angron at home. Presumably the World Eaters and Khorne would enjoy the whole hot knives thing, but it won’t be very productive, so it’s certainly a problem. The mission doesn’t massively help either – Search and Destroy is good for them, as it helps pressure, but six objectives kills some of the advantage, as it makes it easier for Deathwatch to hold two while methodically murdering their way through the early game. The impact of the close deployment is also reduced by the presence of the big Fight First unit, because while youcan First Turn charge that, you probablyshouldn’t. The one saving grace for the World Eaters is that they’re still on double Rhino, which gives themsome tools for mitigating the killing power of the Deathwatch and to do some staging, but I don’t think it’s going to be enough. If you had Angron here I think you couldmaybe try something by sending him to rampage through the top flank solo, and play a very careful game with everything else, but without him I really struggle to see how you’re going to stay on the table past around turn 3, after which point Deathwatch will mop up on scoring. That does, broadly, look to be what happened. Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) Victory – 98 – 57 Army List - Click to Expand Deathwatch (2000 Points) Space Marines CHARACTERS Judiciar (85 Points) Librarian (95 Points) Watch Master (145 Points) BATTLELINE Deathwatch Veterans (200 Points) Deathwatch Veterans (200 Points) Deathwatch Veterans (100 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Rhino (75 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points) Inceptor Squad (260 Points) Inceptor Squad (130 Points) Inceptor Squad (130 Points) Sternguard Veteran Squad (180 Points) Storm Speeder Thunderstrike (160 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.17.0 (40), Data Version: v430 #justicefordeathwatch All covered in the Showdown – a very mobile and very deadly build that leverages some of the unique tricks of the Deathwatch to maximum effect. The main thing I want to say here, to make absolutely clear where I stand, is that GW should genuinely just roll back the decision to butcher Deathwatch’s rules – this build is fun, it doesn’t need to die, and the unique models it uses are current plastics. Why murder it? Add some text to the new version of the detachment in the Imperial Agents codex that lets you use it as a Marine detachment with whatever rules are needed to make it work like the Index then, boom, done. Hopefully something like that will happen, if not big props to Mark for at least going down swinging. Army List - Click to Expand When life gives you lemons use Lennon’s Aid (1995) Space Marines CHARACTERS Apothecary Biologis (85 points) Azrael (105 points) Judiciar (70 points) BATTLELINE Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 points) Deathwing Knights (235 points) Deathwing Knights (235 points) Deathwing Knights (235 points) Eradicator Squad (190 points) Inner Circle Companions (180 points) Repulsor (180 points) Scout Squad (65 points) ALLIED UNITS Callidus Assassin (100 points) Exported with App Version: v1.19.0 (47), Data Version: v438 Gladius Deathwing Knight Spam You know what this does, by now – we’ve already had almost this exact list today, albeit Shaun’s build here goes for the Judiciar rather than Asmodai. I do prefer the Judiciar in the slot – both are defensible depending on your local metagame, but being able to park a borderline unchargeable unit behind a wall adds a capability, where Asmodai just lets you murders stuff harder, which this army can already do with great enthusiasm. Great stuff from Sean doing just that on the way to undefeated second. There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were: 28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Gungahlin, ACT, Australia on August 09 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings. Army List - Click to Expand ++ Army Roster (Chaos – World Eaters) [2,000pts] ++ + Configuration + Battle Size: 2. Strike Force (2000 Point limit) Blessings of Khorne Reference Detachment Choice: Berzerker Warband Show/Hide Options: Chaos Knights are visible + Epic Hero + Angron [415pts] Khârn the Betrayer [100pts] Lord Invocatus [140pts] + Character + World Eaters Daemon Prince [215pts]: Battle-lust World Eaters Master of Executions [100pts] + Battleline + Jakhals [65pts]: Icon of Khorne Khorne Berserkers [180pts]: Icon of Khorne Khorne Berserkers [90pts]: Icon of Khorne + Infantry + Exalted Eightbound [310pts]. 5x Exalted Eightbound: 5x Eightbound chainfist, 5x Eightbound eviscerator Exalted Eightbound [310pts]. 5x Exalted Eightbound: 5x Eightbound chainfist, 5x Eightbound eviscerator + Dedicated Transport + World Eaters Rhino [75pts]: Combi-weapon, Havoc launcher ++ Total: [2,000pts] ++ Created with BattleScribe () It’s totally going to be battle ready, there’s no need to double check that Hardcore World Eaters Last on the docket for today we’ve got a win for World Eaters, adapting to the prevalance of other melee threats in the metagame by going extra hard with the Exalted Eightbound, and bringing a Daemon Prince to boost them up to a 4+ Invulnerable Save, plus mess with enemy melee hammers with a freeHeroic Intervention. If you can tag a strung out enemy charge so that they can’t concentrate their attacks, usingKhorne Cares Not will hopefully let you ride out their blows, and then your Eightbound and Prince can flatten them on the riposte. That’s my theory anyway – and it seems to have worked here, great stuff from Harry! There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were: 5th – Elliot Hislop – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): Extra herohammer Champions, mixing up ThunderCav, Epic Hero Dreadnoughts and small Infantry units with some Character boosts. Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com. Want articles like this linked in your inbox every Monday morning? Sign up for our newsletter. And don’t forget that you can support us on Patreon for backer rewards like early video content, Administratum access, an ad-free experience on our website and more.
+ Player Name: Olivier “Père Kstor” WEISS
+ Team Name: France
+ Faction Used: Imperium – Adeptes Astartes – Black Templar
+ Army Points: 2000pts
+ Army Enhancements: Tännhauser’s Bones (on Char4: Lieutenant)
+ Detachment Rule: Righteous Crusaders
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Master-crafted power weapon
• Enhancements: Tännhauser’s Bones
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Crozius arcanum
• 1x Chaplain Grimaldus
• 1x Artificer crozius
1x Plasma pistol
• 3x Cenobyte Servitor
• 3x Close combat weapon
• Warlord
• 1x Ferocity
1x Sword of the High Marshals
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• 1x Primaris Sword Brother
• 1x Power weapon
1x Pyre pistol
• 11x Primaris Initiate
• 7x Astartes chainsword
11x Bolt pistol
11x Close combat weapon
7x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Power fist
• 8x Primaris Neophyte
• 8x Astartes chainsword
8x Bolt pistol
• 1x Primaris Sword Brother
• 1x Power weapon
1x Pyre pistol
• 11x Primaris Initiate
• 7x Astartes chainsword
11x Bolt pistol
11x Close combat weapon
7x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Power fist
• 8x Primaris Neophyte
• 8x Astartes chainsword
8x Bolt pistol
• 1x Primaris Sword Brother
• 1x Power weapon
1x Pyre pistol
• 11x Primaris Initiate
• 7x Astartes chainsword
11x Bolt pistol
11x Close combat weapon
7x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Power fist
• 8x Primaris Neophyte
• 8x Astartes chainsword
8x Bolt pistol
• 1x Primaris Sword Brother
• 1x Power weapon
1x Pyre pistol
• 11x Primaris Initiate
• 7x Astartes chainsword
11x Bolt pistol
11x Close combat weapon
7x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Power fist
• 8x Primaris Neophyte
• 8x Astartes chainsword
8x Bolt pistol
• 1x Primaris Sword Brother
• 1x Power weapon
1x Pyre pistol
• 11x Primaris Initiate
• 7x Astartes chainsword
11x Bolt pistol
11x Close combat weapon
7x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Power fist
• 8x Primaris Neophyte
• 8x Astartes chainsword
8x Bolt pistol
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Combat knife
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Combat knife
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifleArchetype
Thoughts
Arnaud Allot – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion) – 2nd Place
The List
Player Name: Arnaud “Ashord” ALLOT
Team Name: FRANCE
Factions Used: Xenos – Necrons
Army Points: 2000pts
Army Enhancements (list on which model): Dimensional Overseer (on Hexmark Destroyer)
& Arisen Tyrant (on Lokhust Lord)
Detachment Rule: Hyperphasing
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Strike Force (2000 points)
Hypercrypt Legion
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• Enhancement: Dimensional Overseer
• Warlord
• 1x Gauntlet of Fire
1x Staff of the Destroyer
• 1x Lord’s blade
1x Resurrection Orb
• Enhancement: Arisen Tyrant
• 1x Overlord’s blade
1x Resurrection Orb
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
1x Flensing claw
1x Hyperphase harvester
• 5x Immortal
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Tesla carbine
• 5x Deathmark
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Synaptic disintegrator
• 5x Deathmark
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Synaptic disintegrator
• 5x Flayed One
• 5x Flayer claws
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannon
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannon
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannon
• 3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Enmitic exterminator
• 2x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Enmitic exterminator
• 10x Lychguard
• 10x Dispersion Shield
10x Hyperphase sword
• 4x Death ray
1x Particle whip
1x Portal of exile
• 6x Skorpekh Destroyer
• 2x Plasmacyte
6x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
• 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
• 1x Plasmacyte
3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
• 1x Heavy gauss cannon array
1x Stalker’s forelimbsArchetype
Thoughts
Alexandre Sacco – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic) – 3rd Place
The List
+ PLAYER NAME : Alexandre “Salysia” Sacco
+ TEAM NAME : France
+ FACTION USED : Chaos – Thousand Sons
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+ ENHANCEMENT: Arcane Vortex (on Infernal Master) & Umbralefic Crystal (on Infernal Master) & Lord of Forbidden Lore (on Thousand Sons Sorcerer)
+ DETACHMENT RULE : Kindred Sorcery
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Prosperine khopesh
1x Warpflame pistol
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Prosperine khopesh
1x Warpflame pistol
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Prosperine khopesh
1x Warpflame pistol
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• Enhancements: Arcane Vortex
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• Enhancements: Umbralefic Crystal
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancements: Lord of Forbidden Lore
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Havoc launcher
1x Inferno combi-bolter 1x Inferno combi-bolter
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex
• 1x Thousand Sons Cultist Champion
• 1x Brutal assault weapon
1x Cultist firearm
• 9x Thousand Sons Cultist
• 9x Brutal assault weapon
9x Cultist firearm
• 1x Thousand Sons Cultist Champion
• 1x Brutal assault weapon
1x Cultist firearm
• 9x Thousand Sons Cultist
• 9x Brutal assault weapon
9x Cultist firearm
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 2x Enlightened
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Fatecaster greatbowArchetype
Thoughts
Georgios Floros – Blood Angels (Sons of Sanguinius) – 4th Place
The List
Player Name: Georgios Floros
Team Name: Hellas
Factions Used: Blood Angels
Army Points: 2000
Army Enhancements (list on which model): None
Detachment Rule: Sons of Sanguinius – The Red Thirst
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• Warlord
• 1x Perdition
1x The Axe Mortalis
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x The Blood Crozius
• 1x Encarmine broadsword
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Thunder hammer
• 4x Intercessor
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
4x Bolt pistol
4x Bolt rifle
4x Close combat weapon
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Heavy flamer
1x Heavy flamer
1x Magna-grapple
1x Twin Furioso fists
• 10x Death Company Marine with Jump Pack
• 10x Inferno pistol
10x Power fist
• 10x Sanguinary Guard
• 10x Encarmine blade
10x Inferno pistol
• 10x Sanguinary Guard
• 10x Encarmine blade
10x Inferno pistol
• 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
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 4x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 4x Storm Shield
4x Vanguard Veteran weaponArchetype
Thoughts
The Best of the Rest
James “Boon” Kelling – Aeldari (Battle Host) – 1st Place
The List
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host
• 1x The Bloody Twins
1x The Sword of Asur
• Warlord
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
1x Howling Banshee Mask
1x Star glaive
• 1x The Wailing Doom
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• Enhancement: Fate’s Messenger
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing spear
• 1x Searsong
1x The Fire Axe
• 1x Arhra’s Bane
1x Isirmathil
1x The Scorpion’s Bite
• 10x Guardian Defender
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Heavy Weapon Platform
• 1x Bright lance
1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Dire Avenger Exarch
• 1x Avenger shuriken catapult
1x Avenger shuriken catapult
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Dire Avenger
• 4x Avenger shuriken catapult
4x Close combat weapon
• 1x Bright lance
1x Pulse laser
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Bright lance
1x Pulse laser
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 2x Skyweaver
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Skyweaver haywire cannon
2x Zephyrglaive
• 2x Skyweaver
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Skyweaver haywire cannon
2x Zephyrglaive
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
• 1x Biting blade
1x Mandiblasters
• 4x Striking Scorpion
• 4x Mandiblasters
4x Scorpion chainsword
4x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
• 1x Aeldari power sword
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hawk’s talon
• 4x Swooping Hawk
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Lasblaster
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feetArchetype
Thoughts
When the superior James came knocking and asking for his pound of Competitive Innovations flesh, I was less interested in discussing the top-table game (no disrespect to my repeated top-table sparring partner, Alex Vian, who played an excellent match) but I thought it may be a nice change of pace to deep-dive my off-meta list and thoughts on construction rather than the game itself. Quick shout out to Josh Thomas who continues to run an excellent event that you should mark on your calendar and all my opponents for their excellent games.Kyle McCord – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force) – 2nd Place
The List
Dark Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Gladius Task Force
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancement: Fire Discipline
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
1x The Lion Helm
1x The Sword of Secrets
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution
• 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
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Flamestorm cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Multi-melta
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin assault cannon
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolterArchetype
Thoughts
Dan Sammons – Leagues of Votann (Oathband) – 3rd Place
The List
Strike Force (2000 points)
Oathband
• Warlord
• 1x Autoch-pattern combi-bolter
1x Mass hammer
1x Weavefield Crest
• Enhancement: Appraising Glare
• 1x Grimnyr
• 1x Ancestral Wrath
1x Ancestral ward stave
• 2x CORV
• 2x Autoch-pattern bolter
2x Close combat weapon
• 1x Grimnyr
• 1x Ancestral Wrath
1x Ancestral ward stave
• 2x CORV
• 2x Autoch-pattern bolter
2x Close combat weapon
• 1x Theyn
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x EtaCarn plasma pistol
1x Kin melee weapon
1x Weavefield Crest
• 9x Hearthkyn Warrior
• 9x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol
7x Autoch-pattern bolter
9x Close combat weapon
1x Comms Array
1x L7 missile launcher
1x Magna-rail rifle
1x Medipack
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x HYLas beam cannon
1x Twin bolt cannon
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x HYLas beam cannon
1x Twin bolt cannon
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x HYLas beam cannon
1x Twin bolt cannon
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x HYLas beam cannon
1x Twin bolt cannon
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x HYLas beam cannon
1x Twin bolt cannon
• 5x Cthonian Beserk
• 5x Concussion maul
1x Mole grenade launcher
• 5x Cthonian Beserk
• 5x Concussion maul
1x Mole grenade launcher
• 5x Cthonian Beserk
• 5x Concussion maul
1x Mole grenade launcher
• 1x Hesyr
• 1x Concussion hammer
1x Exo-armour grenade launcher
1x Volkanite disintegrator
1x Weavefield Crest
• 4x Einhyr Hearthguard
• 4x Concussion gauntlet
4x Exo-armour grenade launcher
4x Volkanite disintegrator
• 1x Hesyr
• 1x Concussion hammer
1x Exo-armour grenade launcher
1x Teleport Crest
1x Volkanite disintegrator
• 4x Einhyr Hearthguard
• 4x Concussion gauntlet
4x Exo-armour grenade launcher
4x Volkanite disintegrator
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x Cyclic ion cannon
1x MATR autocannon
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
2x Twin bolt cannon
• 3x Hernkyn Pioneer
• 3x Bolt revolver
3x Bolt shotgun
1x HYLas rotary cannon
3x Magna-coil autocannon
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
3x Plasma knife
1x Rollbar Searchlight
• 3x Hernkyn Pioneer
• 3x Bolt revolver
3x Bolt shotgun
1x HYLas rotary cannon
3x Magna-coil autocannon
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
3x Plasma knife
1x Rollbar Searchlight
• 3x Hernkyn Pioneer
• 3x Bolt revolver
3x Bolt shotgun
1x HYLas rotary cannon
3x Magna-coil autocannon
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
3x Plasma knife
1x Rollbar SearchlightArchetype
Thoughts
Alex Vian – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force) – 4th Place
The List
Dark Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Gladius Task Force
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancement: Fire Discipline
• 1x Crozius arcanum and power weapon
1x Heavy bolt pistol
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
1x The Lion Helm
1x The Sword of Secrets
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Thunder hammer
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Shield dome
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Power weapon
• 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
• 6x Inner Circle Companion
• 6x Calibanite greatsword
6x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Hunter-slayer missile
1x Las-talon
1x Repulsor defensive array
1x Twin lascannon
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison bladesArchetype
Thoughts
The Best of the Rest
Peter Elias – Aeldari (Battle Host) – 1st Place
The List
Battle Host
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
• 1x Mandiblasters
• 1x Star glaive
• Enhancements: The Phoenix Gem
• 1x The Wailing Doom
• 1x Jester’s blade
• 1x Shrieker cannon
• Enhancements: Fate’s Messenger
• 1x Eldritch Storm
• 1x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Singing spear
• 1x Searsong
• 1x The Fire Axe
• 1x Arhra’s Bane
• 1x Isirmathil
• 1x The Scorpion’s Bite
• 1x Solitaire weapons
• 10x Guardian Defender
◦ 10x Close combat weapon
◦ 10x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Heavy Weapon Platform
◦ 1x Bright lance
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Bright lance
• 1x Pulse laser
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Bright lance
• 1x Pulse laser
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Firepike
• 4x Fire Dragon
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Dragon fusion gun
• 5x Ranger
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 5x Ranger long rifle
◦ 5x Shuriken pistol
• 3x Shroud Runner
◦ 3x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Ranger long rifle
◦ 3x Scatter laser
◦ 3x Shuriken pistol
• 2x Skyweaver
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Skyweaver haywire cannon
◦ 2x Zephyrglaive
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
◦ 1x Mandiblasters
◦ 1x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 1x Scorpion’s claw
• 4x Striking Scorpion
◦ 4x Mandiblasters
◦ 4x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x D-cannon
• 1x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
◦ 1x Aeldari power sword
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hawk’s talon
• 4x Swooping Hawk
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x LasblasterArchetype
Thoughts
Folger Pyles – Aeldari (Battle Host) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host
• Warlord
• 1x Shuriken pistol
1x Star glaive
• Enhancement: The Phoenix Gem
• 1x The Wailing Doom
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witchblade
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Witchblade
• 1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witch staff
• Enhancement: The Weeping Stones
• 1x Asu-var, the Sword of Silent Screams
• 1x Kha-vir, the Sword of Sorrows
1x Storm of Whispers
• 10x Guardian Defender
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Heavy Weapon Platform
• 1x Bright lance
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Ranger
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Ranger long rifle
5x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasblaster
• 4x Swooping Hawk
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Lasblaster
• 1x Lead Player
• 1x Harlequin’s blade
1x Shuriken pistol
• 11x Player
• 11x Harlequin’s blade
11x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Death spinner
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Death spinner
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Death spinner
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Death spinner
• 10x Wraithguard
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x WraithcannonArchetype
Thoughts
David DeLisle – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet) – 3rd Place
The List
Invasion Fleet
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes
• 1x Psychic scream
• Warlord
• 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes
• 1x Psychic scream
• 1x Old One Eye’s claws and talons
• 10x Gargoyle
◦ 10x Blinding venom
◦ 10x Fleshborer
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
• 1x Spore Mine launcher
• 2x Carnifex
◦ 2x Bio-plasma
◦ 2x Carnifex scything talons
◦ 2x Chitinous claws and teeth
◦ 2x Deathspitters with slimer maggots
◦ 2x Spine banks
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
• 1x Powerful limbs
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
• 1x Powerful limbs
• 1x Lictor claws and talons
• 1x Lictor claws and talons
• 1x Massive scything talons
• 1x Psychic overload
• 1x Massive scything talons
• 1x Psychic overload
• 1x Powerful limbs
• 1x Rupture cannon
• 1x Stinger salvoes
• 3x Von Ryan’s Leaper
◦ 3x Leaper’s talons
• 3x Von Ryan’s Leaper
◦ 3x Leaper’s talons
• 1x Neurothrope
◦ 1x Chitinous claws and teeth
◦ 1x Warp Blast
• 5x Zoanthrope
◦ 5x Chitinous claws and teeth
◦ 5x Warp BlastArchetype
Thoughts
Geoff Perry – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion) – 4th Place
The List
Hypercrypt Legion
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Chronomancer’s stave
• Enhancements: Osteoclave Fulcrum
• 1x Gaze of death
• 1x Scythe of the Nightbringer
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• Enhancements: Dimensional Overseer
• 1x Eldritch Lance
• 1x Impaling legs
• 1x Gauntlet of Fire
• 1x Staff of the Destroyer
• 1x Plasmic lance
• Enhancements: Arisen Tyrant
• 1x Crackling tendrils
• 1x Seismic assault
• 10x Immortal
◦ 10x Close combat weapon
◦ 10x Tesla carbine
• 20x Necron Warrior
◦ 20x Close combat weapon
◦ 20x Gauss reaper
• 5x Deathmark
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 5x Synaptic disintegrator
• 5x Deathmark
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 5x Synaptic disintegrator
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Gauss cannon
• 4x Gauss flux arc
• 1x Particle whip
• 1x Portal of exileArchetype
Thoughts
The Best of the Rest
The Showdown
Take and Hold – Hidden Supplies – Search and Destroy
Army List - Click to Expand
Deathwatch
Black Spear Task Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade
• Enhancements: Thief of Secrets
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Force weapon
1x Smite
• Enhancements: Beacon Angelis
• Warlord
• 1x Vigil spear
• Enhancements: The Tome of Ectoclades
• 1x Watch Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shield
1x Xenophase blade
• 9x Deathwatch Veteran
• 5x Astartes shield
4x Deathwatch thunder hammer
5x Long Vigil melee weapon
• 1x Watch Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shield
1x Xenophase blade
• 9x Deathwatch Veteran
• 1x Astartes shield
4x Close combat weapon
4x Deathwatch thunder hammer
4x Frag cannon
1x Long Vigil melee weapon
• 1x Watch Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shield
1x Xenophase blade
• 4x Deathwatch Veteran
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Deathwatch thunder hammer
2x Infernus heavy bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Assault bolters
5x Close combat weapon
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Sternguard Veteran Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Power fist
1x Sternguard bolt pistol
1x Sternguard bolt rifle
• 9x Sternguard Veteran
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Sternguard bolt pistol
7x Sternguard bolt rifle
2x Sternguard heavy bolter
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Stormfury missiles
1x Thunderstrike las-talon
1x Twin Icarus rocket pod
Army List - Click to Expand
Strike Force (2000 points)
Berzerker Warband
• Warlord
• 1x Gorechild
1x Khârn’s plasma pistol
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Coward’s Bane
1x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• 1x Axe of dismemberment
1x Bolt pistol
• Enhancement: Berzerker Glaive
• 1x Axe of dismemberment
1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Jakhal Pack Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Jakhal chainblades
• 1x Dishonoured
• 1x Skullsmasher
• 8x Jakhal
• 8x Autopistol
1x Icon of Khorne
7x Jakhal chainblades
1x Mauler chainblade
• 1x Jakhal Pack Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Jakhal chainblades
• 1x Dishonoured
• 1x Skullsmasher
• 8x Jakhal
• 8x Autopistol
1x Icon of Khorne
7x Jakhal chainblades
1x Mauler chainblade
• 1x Khorne Berzerker Champion
• 1x Berzerker chainblade
1x Icon of Khorne
1x Plasma pistol
• 9x Khorne Berzerker
• 7x Berzerker chainblade
7x Bolt pistol
2x Khornate eviscerator
2x Plasma pistol
• 1x Khorne Berzerker Champion
• 1x Berzerker chainblade
1x Bolt pistol
• 4x Khorne Berzerker
• 3x Berzerker chainblade
3x Bolt pistol
1x Khornate eviscerator
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Khorne Berzerker Champion
• 1x Berzerker chainblade
1x Bolt pistol
• 4x Khorne Berzerker
• 3x Berzerker chainblade
3x Bolt pistol
1x Khornate eviscerator
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
• 1x Eightbound Champion
• 1x Lacerators
• 2x Eightbound
• 2x Eightbound eviscerators
• 1x Exalted Eightbound Champion
• 1x Paired Eightbound chainfists
• 5x Exalted Eightbound
• 5x Eightbound chainfist
5x Eightbound eviscerator
• 1x Exalted Eightbound Champion
• 1x Paired Eightbound chainfists
• 2x Exalted Eightbound
• 2x Eightbound chainfist
2x Eightbound eviscerator
• 1x Exalted Eightbound Champion
• 1x Paired Eightbound chainfists
• 2x Exalted Eightbound
• 2x Eightbound chainfist
2x Eightbound eviscerator
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutationsThoughts
Result
Mark Hertel – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) – 1st Place
The List
Deathwatch
Black Spear Task Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade
• Enhancements: Thief of Secrets
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Force weapon
1x Smite
• Enhancements: Beacon Angelis
• Warlord
• 1x Vigil spear
• Enhancements: The Tome of Ectoclades
• 1x Watch Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shield
1x Xenophase blade
• 9x Deathwatch Veteran
• 5x Astartes shield
4x Deathwatch thunder hammer
5x Long Vigil melee weapon
• 1x Watch Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shield
1x Xenophase blade
• 9x Deathwatch Veteran
• 1x Astartes shield
4x Close combat weapon
4x Deathwatch thunder hammer
4x Frag cannon
1x Long Vigil melee weapon
• 1x Watch Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shield
1x Xenophase blade
• 4x Deathwatch Veteran
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Deathwatch thunder hammer
2x Infernus heavy bolter
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Assault bolters
5x Close combat weapon
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Plasma exterminators
• 1x Sternguard Veteran Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Power fist
1x Sternguard bolt pistol
1x Sternguard bolt rifle
• 9x Sternguard Veteran
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Sternguard bolt pistol
7x Sternguard bolt rifle
2x Sternguard heavy bolter
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Stormfury missiles
1x Thunderstrike las-talon
1x Twin Icarus rocket podArchetype
Thoughts
Shaun Reynolds – Dark Angels (Gladius Task Force) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Dark Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Gladius Task Force
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancement: Fire Discipline
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
1x The Lion Helm
1x The Sword of Secrets
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution
• 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
• 6x Inner Circle Companion
• 6x Calibanite greatsword
6x Heavy bolt pistol
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Hunter-slayer missile
1x Las-talon
1x Repulsor defensive array
1x Twin lascannon
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
2x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Scout sniper rifle
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison bladesArchetype
Thoughts
The Best of the Rest
Harry Mayo – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband) – 1st Place
The List
. A: 8 chainblades
. . 8x Jakhals: 8x Autopistol, 8x Jakhal chainblades
. Dishonoured w/ skullsmasher
. 6x Khorne Berserker: 6x Berserker chainblade, 6x Bolt pistol
. Khorne Berserker Champion: Plasma pistol
. Khorne Berserker w/ alternate weapons: Berserker chainblade, Plasma pistol
. Khorne Berserker w/ alternate weapons: Bolt pistol, Khornate eviscerator
. Khorne Berserker w/ alternate weapons: Bolt pistol, Khornate eviscerator
. 2x Khorne Berserker: 2x Berserker chainblade, 2x Bolt pistol
. Khorne Berserker Champion: Plasma pistol
. Khorne Berserker w/ alternate weapons: Bolt pistol, Khornate eviscerator
. Khorne Berserker w/ alternate weapons: Berserker chainblade, Plasma pistol
. Exalted Eightbound Champion: Paired Eightbound chainfists
. Exalted Eightbound Champion: Paired Eightbound chainfistsArchetype
Thoughts
The Best of the Rest
Wrap Up
Related
