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.

After last week’s chaotic carnival, this week the Adeptus Custodes have muscled in to crack some skulls (so many skulls) and reassert some semblance of order. Obviously Chaos have incoming reinforcements as the new Death Guard and World Eaters books start to come legal (and more people are trying out Coterie), so I’m sure they won’t be down for long, but the Imperium (and Ynnari) are definitely back on the up this week.

To demonstrate that, we’ll be looking at (today):

The Richmond Open 40K Event Hosted By Away Games
Turbulent Games GT @Ramkota Warhammer 40K Singles Tournament
Trono de Cráneos
Cross-Swords War At The Westward VII
The Collectors Market – Drop Bear Gaming 40k GT

On Friday Lowest of Men will cover:

Rataclysm 2025
IOWAAAGH! KennedyCon
GITHAMMER Cinco De Cuatro GT
🔥Napalm Hobbies – SUMMER SWELTER GT – 40K – ITC

Then on Saturday I’ll be back looking at:

Gamers Shop 40k GT 2025
The 2025 Central Arkansas Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament
São Paulo GT 2025
MNM Kevät GT 2025

This week’s Showdowns are:

The dark prince classic as the Devoted of Ynnead face Coterie Emperor’s Children at Trono de Cráneos. Which I have, belatedly, realised is just “Throne of Skulls” in Spanish.
More Ynnari facing Chaos Knights at Iowaaagh!
More Emperor’s Children (and assume when I say that I mean Coterie unless otherwise specified) facing the Lions of the Emperor at the MNM Kevät GT.

The Richmond Open 40K Event Hosted By Away Games

132-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Doswell, VA, United States on May 03 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Mark Hertel – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) – 1st Place

Rainbow Warriors Land Raider Redeemer by Craig “MasterSlowPoke” Sniffen

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Guilliman’s Autozone 3, Beyond Thunderdome (2000 Points)

Space Marines
Ultramarines
Gladius Task Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Chief Librarian Tigurius (75 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Rod of Tigurius
• 1x Storm of the Emperor’s Wrath

Marneus Calgar (210 Points)
• 1x Marneus Calgar
◦ 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar
• 2x Victrix Honour Guard
◦ 2x Victrix power sword

Roboute Guilliman (345 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Emperor’s Sword
• 1x Hand of Dominion

BATTLELINE

Intercessor Squad (80 Points)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
◦ 1x Astartes grenade launcher
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Bolt rifle
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Intercessor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Bolt rifle
◦ 4x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 Points)
• 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

Centurion Devastator Squad (165 Points)
• 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant
◦ 1x Centurion fists
◦ 1x Centurion missile launcher
◦ 1x Grav-cannon
• 2x Devastator Centurion
◦ 2x Centurion fists
◦ 2x Centurion missile launcher
◦ 2x Grav-cannon

Company Heroes (105 Points)
• 1x Ancient
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Bolt rifle
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Company Champion
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 2x Company Veteran
◦ 2x Bolt pistol
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Master-crafted bolt rifle
◦ 1x Master-crafted heavy bolter

Desolation Squad (200 Points)
• 1x Desolation Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Castellan launcher
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Vengor launcher
• 4x Desolation Marine
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Castellan launcher
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Superkrak rocket launcher

Invader ATV (60 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Multi-melta
• 1x Twin bolt rifle

Land Raider Redeemer (285 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 2x Flamestorm cannon
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Multi-melta
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Twin assault cannon

Sternguard Veteran Squad (100 Points)
• 1x Sternguard Veteran Sergeant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Power fist
◦ 1x Sternguard bolt pistol
◦ 1x Sternguard bolt rifle
• 4x Sternguard Veteran
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Sternguard bolt pistol
◦ 3x Sternguard bolt rifle
◦ 1x Sternguard heavy bolter

Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (1), Data Version: v589

Archetype

Bobby G Car Club

Thoughts

While everyone else finally catches up to him on realising Deathwatch rip, Mark continues his recent exploration of all the horrific things he can do with Ultramarine Land Raiders, this time taking double Redeemer for maximum incineration. The usual Bobby G/Calgar tag team is in charge, and in order to further explore just how many Command Points worth of Stratagems one army can use, he’s added Tigurius to add some heft (and free Stratagems) to the shooting of a Sternguard unit, helping make Oath targets even sadder. Fun stuff, and honestly I’m a little surprised we’ve not seen more of Tigurius, perhaps with Bladeguard since they’re currently so popular. Well done Mark on another win, and on reminding me a datasheet exists.

Erik Aliff – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Grey Knights Interceptors. Credit: Colin Ward

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Get in loser, we’re failing 6” charges (2000 Points)

Grey Knights
Warpbane Task Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Castellan Crowe (90 Points)
• 1x Black Blade of Antwyr
• 1x Purifying Flame
• 1x Storm bolter

Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight (210 Points)
• 1x Gatling psilencer
• 1x Heavy psycannon
• 1x Nemesis daemon greathammer

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

BATTLELINE

Brotherhood Terminator Squad (200 Points)
• 1x Terminator Justicar
◦ 1x Nemesis force weapon
◦ 1x Storm bolter
• 4x Brotherhood Terminator
◦ 1x Ancient’s Banner
◦ 1x Narthecium
◦ 4x Nemesis force weapon
◦ 1x Psycannon
◦ 2x Storm bolter

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Interceptor Squad (125 Points)
• 1x Interceptor Justicar
◦ 1x Nemesis force weapon
◦ 1x Storm bolter
• 4x Interceptor
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Nemesis force weapon
◦ 1x Psycannon
◦ 3x Storm bolter

Nemesis Dreadknight (210 Points)
• 1x Gatling psilencer
• 1x Heavy psycannon
• 1x Nemesis daemon greathammer

Purifier Squad (250 Points)
• 1x Knight of the Flame
◦ 1x Nemesis force weapon
◦ 1x Purifying Flame
◦ 1x Storm bolter
• 9x Purifier
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Incinerator
◦ 5x Nemesis force weapon
◦ 9x Purifying Flame
◦ 5x Storm bolter

Purifier Squad (125 Points)
• 1x Knight of the Flame
◦ 1x Nemesis force weapon
◦ 1x Purifying Flame
◦ 1x Storm bolter
• 4x Purifier
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Nemesis force weapon
◦ 2x Psycannon
◦ 4x Purifying Flame
◦ 2x Storm bolter

Exported with App Version: v1.32.1 (2), Data Version: v599

Archetype

All-rounder Warpbane

Thoughts

It’s not just the Custodes sallying forth to deal with our current Chaos incursion, and here Erik unleashes the might of the Warpbane Task Force to undefeated effect. This packs in all the best tools the Grey Knights can bring to bear in Warpbane, and ends up with a nice balance of melee threat projection, crunch from the Dreadknights, and smaller utility power armoured stuff. You could basically put this in a textbook for how to build this detachment, and on having that thought, I have in fact gone and edited it straight into our Detachment Focus for Warpbane. Hopefully it’s clear that this is high praise. Congratulations Erik.

Trent Mazer – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Adeptus Custodes
+ DETACHMENT: Lions of the Emperor
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Valerian
+ ENHANCEMENT: Admonimortis (on Char3: Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 13
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (2×2) – Assassination: 4 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

1x Valerian (110 pts)
• 1x Gnosis
• Warlord

1x Blade Champion (120 pts)
• 1x Vaultswords

1x Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike (160 pts)
• 1x Interceptor lance
• 1x Salvo launcher
• Admonimortis (+10 pts)

OTHER DATASHEETS

5x Custodian Wardens (260 pts)
• 4x Custodian Warden (Guardian Spear)
• 4x Guardian Spear
• 1x Custodian Warden
• 1x Guardian Spear
• Vexilla

4x Prosecutors (40 pts)
• 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior
• 1x Boltgun
• 1x Close combat weapon
• Prosecutor Sister Superior
• 3x Prosecutor
• 3x Boltgun
• 3x Close combat weapon
• 3x Prosecutor

4x Witchseekers (50 pts)
• 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Witchseeker flamer
• Witchseeker Sister Superior
• 3x Witchseeker
• 3x Close combat weapon
• 3x Witchseeker flamer
• 3x Witchseeker

2x Vertus Praetors (150 pts)
• 2x Vertus Praetor (Salvo Launcher)
• 2x Interceptor lance
• 2x Salvo launcher

1x Caladius Grav-tank (215 pts)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon
• 1x Twin arachnus heavy blaze cannon

Archetype

All-rounder Lions

Thoughts

Lions has had a weird trajectory – an absolute explosion in popularity in the first few weeks, then they went quiet, and now suddenly they’re back in force. I suspect the demise of More Dakka is playing a big part in that, as you no longer need to worry about such apocalyptic volumes of D3 shooting, and there also seems to have been a bit of a convergance on more all-rounder builds like this one. Plenty of Wardens still gives you that vicious melee core, but a Bike Squad and some Caladius tanks add flexibility, and while they’re not a universal addition, they’re now a pretty regular fixture. That balance ensures that if you run into someone who’s packing some amount of D3 shooting you can surgically remove it, and also helps keep the whole table under control. I do stand firm on my belief that every Lions build should have the Draxus/Custodian combo, but this is still an excellent example of where the detachment is at. You’ve also got Valerian popping his head up, presumably for a bit of extra lift against Emperor’s Children and the resurgent War Horde lists. A great example of a rising powerhouse build from Trent.

Amelia Pollard – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Tyranids
+ DETACHMENT: Invasion Fleet
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Neurotyrant
+ ENHANCEMENT: Adaptive Biology (on Char1: Hive Tyrant)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 15
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (5×2) + (3×4) – Assassination: 2 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Hive Tyrant (250 pts): Monstrous bonesword and lash whip, Monstrous scything talons
Enhancement: Adaptive Biology (+25 pts)
Char2: 1x Neurotyrant (105 pts): Warlord, Neurotyrant claws and lashes, Psychic scream

10x Hormagaunts (65 pts): 10 with Hormagaunt talons

1x Biovores (50 pts): Chitin-barbed limbs, Spore mine launcher
1x Lictor (60 pts): Lictor claws and talons
1x Lictor (60 pts): Lictor claws and talons
1x Neurolictor (80 pts): Piercing claws and talons
1x Neurolictor (80 pts): Piercing claws and talons
3x Raveners (75 pts): 3 with Ravener claws and talons, Thoracic bio-weapon
1x Exocrine (140 pts): Bio-plasmic cannon, Powerful limbs
1x Exocrine (140 pts): Bio-plasmic cannon, Powerful limbs
1x Maleceptor (170 pts): Massive scything talons, Psychic overload
1x Norn Emissary (260 pts): Monstrous rending claws, Monstrous scything talons, Psychic tendril
1x Norn Emissary (260 pts): Monstrous rending claws, Monstrous scything talons, Psychic tendril
1x Tyrannofex (200 pts): Powerful limbs, Stinger salvoes, Rupture cannon

Archetype

Monster Mash

Thoughts

Another example of options that have suddenly broken through in a big way, in this case literally, is the Norn Emissary. These are everywhere in Tyranid builds right now, usually in multiples, and my suspicion is that it’s down to more finesse damage dealers like Ynnari being the current standouts rather than sheer gun club brutality. These armies tend to have very reliable damage output up to a point, but that point is below the threshold of “kill a Norn on its objective”, so suddenly if you can ram two forwards, you can dominate scoring in a way they struggle to flip. You won’t be too sad into Lions either, as one Warden unit is a bit dicey to kill you, and you have nice D3 attacks back to make them sweat. Picking Invasion Fleet for your Emissaries also helps smooth over any potential risk of getting punked before reaching your objective with access to a Feel No Pain Stratagem, and once you’re set up with two Norns where they need to be, you can then have a Feel No Pain brick wall across the table with some of your other monsters. Great to see the biggest bugs getting some exercise, congratulations to Amelia for taking 4th place.

The Best of the Rest

There were 9 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

5th – Blake Sawyer – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis and Armigers.
6th – Max Berlove – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Ultra shooty Starshatter with the double Aura setup, plus one big Wraith unit as a tarpit.
7th – Justin Serrano – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Mega-monster mash with utility scoring units supporting.
8th – Larry Oliver – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Ultra-monster mash with triple Norn, triple Exocrine and triple Maleceptor, all overseen by the Swarmlord.
9th – Joe Finlayson – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): Double Fight First Bladeguard and a big Sanguinary/Dante unit with Ballistus support.
10th – Dustin Zeliff – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): Bobby G gun club with a fairly diverse range of shooty hulls.
11th – James Lovett – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): A no-Angron spin on the classic World Eaters build, cramming in a bit more of all the standard toys instead, plus some Goremongers.
12th – James Culpepper – Astra Militarum (Combined Arms): Triple Dorn and lots of Artillery.
13th – Luke Shapiro – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Anti-hero Coterie with triple Prince and lots of small Infantry units with Leaders.

Turbulent Games GT @Ramkota Warhammer 40K Singles Tournament

38-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Sioux Falls, SD, United States on May 03 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Brandon Johnson – Death Guard (Plague Company) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Just stuff (2000 points)

Death Guard
Strike Force (2000 points)
Plague Company

CHARACTERS

Lord of Contagion (80 points)
• 1x Plagueblade

Mortarion (300 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Rotwind
1x Silence
1x The Lantern

Typhus (80 points)
• 1x Master-crafted manreaper

OTHER DATASHEETS

Death Guard Chaos Spawn (70 points)
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations

Death Guard Cultists (50 points)
• 1x Death Guard Cultist Champion
• 1x Brutal assault weapon
1x Cultist firearm
• 9x Death Guard Cultist
• 9x Brutal assault weapon
9x Cultist firearm

Death Guard Defiler (190 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Defiler cannon
1x Defiler claws
1x Havoc launcher
1x Twin plague heavy bolter

Death Guard Helbrute (130 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Helbrute fist
1x Plague combi-bolter
1x Twin plague heavy bolter

Death Guard Predator Destructor (140 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Plague heavy bolter
1x Predator autocannon

Deathshroud Terminators (220 points)
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
• 1x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 5x Deathshroud Terminator
• 5x Manreaper
5x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Foetid Bloat-Drone (90 points)
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe

Exported with App Version: v1.32.0 (77), Data Version: v598

Archetype

Crunchy Death Guard

Thoughts

Death Guard are very much in the new rules waiting room at this point, but are still taking the time to close out their Index era in style. Brandon’s build here showcases their strength of having access to lots of different sizes of hull to apply pressure and firepower with, letting you roll forward and lock opponents down beneath steel and Contagions, with a big Deathshroud unit waiting in the wings for mayhem. Not going to dig in too much further, but it’s a good sendoff for the crunchy Death Guard builds that have been a fixture of the game for a couple years, well done Brandon.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Nicholas Bialek – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Dakka Raiders with Abaddon and Obliterators to provide hefty fire support to the normal melee stuff.
3rd – Thanasis Kouris – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): Lots of Infantry units, a couple of Caladius tanks and a solo Bike Captain.
4th – Micah Bilby – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Big monsters with an ultra-tough central anvil of Hive Tyrant/Swarmlord with a Tyrant Guard unit.
5th – Adam Downs – Chaos Space Marines (Pact‑bound Zealots): Melee MSU-heavy Pactbound with a few hulls and Abaddon to add some firepower.
6th – James Merryfield – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead): The full Triumverate, some Incubi and some Storm Guardians, with fewer Aspects than normal to pay for all that (and a Wave Serpent to keep some of them safe).

Trono de Cráneos

34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Mollerussa, Catalunya, ES on May 01 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Unknown Mission

Jacinto López – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited)
Army List - Click to Expand

(1990 points)

Emperor’s Children
Strike Force (2000 points)
Coterie of the Conceited

CHARACTERS

Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with Wings (205 points)
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
• Enhancement: Pledge to Eternal Servitude

Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with Wings (180 points)
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon

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

Lord Kakophonist (80 points)
• 1x Power sword
1x Screamer pistol
• Enhancement: Pledge of Unholy Fortune

Lucius the Eternal (140 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of the Laer
1x Lash of Torment

BATTLELINE

Infractors (85 points)
• 1x Obsessionist
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Rapture lash
• 4x Infractor
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Duelling sabre
1x Icon of Excess

Infractors (160 points)
• 1x Obsessionist
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Rapture lash
• 9x Infractor
• 9x Bolt pistol
9x Duelling sabre
1x Icon of Excess

Tormentors (85 points)
• 1x Obsessionist
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Power sword
• 4x Tormentor
• 2x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Excess
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Noise Marines (135 points)
• 1x Disharmonist
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Sonic blaster
• 5x Noise Marine
• 2x Blastmaster
5x Close combat weapon
3x Sonic blaster

Exported with App Version: v1.32.1 (78), Data Version: v599

vs.

Pepe Andreu – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead)
Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ PLAYER NAME: Pepetreo
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Aeldari
+ DETACHMENT: Devoted of Ynnead
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1990pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Yvraine
+ ENHANCEMENT:
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 19
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (2×2) – Assassination: 4 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

1x The Visarch (90 pts)
• 1x Asu-var

1x Yvraine (100 pts)
• 1x Kha-vir
• 1x Storm of Whispers
• Warlord

1x Autarch (75 pts)
• 1x Star Glaive
• 1x Dragon Fusion Gun

BATTLELINE

10x Ynnari Kabalite Warriors (110 pts)
• 5x Kabalite Warrior
• 5x Close Combat Weapon
• 5x Splinter rifle
• 5x Kabalite Warriors
• 1x Kabalite Warrior with Blaster
• 1x Blaster
• 1x Close Combat Weapon
• Kabalite Warriors
• 1x Kabalite Warrior with Dark Lance
• 1x Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Dark lance
• Kabalite Warriors
• 1x Kabalite Warrior with Shredder
• 1x Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Shredder
• Kabalite Warriors
• 1x Kabalite Warrior with Splinter Cannon
• 1x Close Combat Weapon
• 1x Splinter cannon
• Kabalite Warriors
• 1x Sybarite
• 1x Sybarite Weapon
• 1x Blast Pistol
• Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Kabalite Warriors

OTHER DATASHEETS

5x Dark Reapers (90 pts)
• 4x Dark Reaper
• 4x Close combat weapon
• 4x Reaper Launcher
• 4x Dark Reaper
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Missile Launcher
• Dark Reaper Exarch, Aspect Shrine Token

10x Dark Reapers (195 pts)
• 9x Dark Reaper
• 9x Close combat weapon
• 9x Reaper Launcher
• 9x Dark Reaper
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Missile Launcher
• Dark Reaper Exarch, 2x Aspect Shrine Token

5x Fire Dragons (110 pts)
• 4x Fire Dragon
• 4x Close combat weapon
• 4x Dragon Fusion Gun
• 4x Fire Dragon
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Exarch’s Dragon Fusion Gun
• Fire Dragon Exarch, Aspect Shrine Token

5x Howling Banshees (90 pts)
• 4x Howling Banshee
• 4x Banshee Blade
• 4x Shuriken Pistol
• 4x Howling Banshee
• 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
• 1x Executioner and Shuriken Pistol
• Howling Banshee Exarch, Aspect Shrine Token

5x Rangers (55 pts)
• 5x Ranger
• 5x Close Combat Weapon
• 5x Long rifle
• 5x Shuriken Pistol
• 5x Rangers

10x Swooping Hawks (170 pts)
• 9x Swooping Hawk
• 9x Close combat weapon
• 9x Lasblaster
• 9x Swooping Hawk
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Hawk’s Talon
• Swooping Hawk Exarch, 2x Aspect Shrine Token

5x Warp Spiders (95 pts)
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close Combat Weapon
• 4x Death spinner
• 4x Warp Spider
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close Combat Weapon
• 1x 1 Spinneret rifle & 1 Death weavers
• Warp Spider Exarch, Aspect Shrine Token

10x Ynnari Incubi (150 pts)
• 9x Incubi
• 9x Klaive
• 9x Incubi
• 1x Klaivex
• 1x Demiklaives
• Klaivex

1x Wave Serpent (125 pts)
• 1x Wraithbone Hull
• 1x Shuriken Cannon
• 1x Twin Bright Lance

1x Ynnari Venom (70 pts)
• 1x Bladevanes
• 1x Splinter Cannon
• 1x Splinter Cannon

Thoughts

With the Emperor’s Children on the rise it was inevitable we’d see them clash with the Ynnari eventually, and here we are. The favoured of the Dark Prince have brought the Coterie of the Conceited to bear, which is the best EC detachment by a country mile thanks to bringing a potent mix of reliability for the herohammer tools and additional durability. This helps the best units in the book (Daemon Princes, Exultant/Infractor squads, Noise Marines) operate at peak efficiency – so is that enough efficiency to take down the Ynnari.

Obviously one big asset out the gate for the EC is that Aeldari tend to have lots of units to kill, which Coterie love, but this Ynnari build deviates quite a bit from the norm in a way that shores up that vulnerabilty somewhat. Unlike many similar builds that go for pure Aspect MSUs, Pepe’s list has a full squad each of Reapers and Hawks, providing threats that are extra deadly when positioned with Lethal Intent, and also great at punishing chip damage via Death Answers Death. Here, they’re especially valuable because they provide ways to reach out and kill Noise Marines once they emerge for a go turn, and the big Mortal spike the Hawks give you is very good for punishing a Daemon Prince, who can otherwise be a little bit of a headache. The Ynnari are very happy here that there’s only two of those, as they’re both hard for the elves to kill other than with the Mortals, and can push through Fight First via their charge Mortals.

With only two of them, plus the extra reach the elf toys have, I think this game distinctly favours the Aeldari. They still have enough redundancy in units to achieve scoring supremacy, and the risk of them getting overwhelmed seems reasonably low. Sure enough, they did get the win here.

Result

Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead) Victory – 82 – 67

Pepe Andreu – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

CHARACTER

1x The Visarch (90 pts)
• 1x Asu-var

1x Yvraine (100 pts)
• 1x Kha-vir
• 1x Storm of Whispers
• Warlord

1x Autarch (75 pts)
• 1x Star Glaive
• 1x Dragon Fusion Gun

BATTLELINE

OTHER DATASHEETS

5x Rangers (55 pts)
• 5x Ranger
• 5x Close Combat Weapon
• 5x Long rifle
• 5x Shuriken Pistol
• 5x Rangers

10x Ynnari Incubi (150 pts)
• 9x Incubi
• 9x Klaive
• 9x Incubi
• 1x Klaivex
• 1x Demiklaives
• Klaivex

1x Wave Serpent (125 pts)
• 1x Wraithbone Hull
• 1x Shuriken Cannon
• 1x Twin Bright Lance

1x Ynnari Venom (70 pts)
• 1x Bladevanes
• 1x Splinter Cannon
• 1x Splinter Cannon

Archetype

Big Aspect Ynnari

Thoughts

I mean at least the metagame is forcing the Ynnari to adapt, a bit? That’s good. Seriously though – the big Hawk and Reaper units seem like very strong choices here, the former is a great answer to Daemon Princes, the latter helps smooth out any issues where you really need to reach out and shoot something, and also won’t go amiss if killing Custodians is suddenly the order of the day again. Well done Pepe for adding some innovative new toys, just what this column is about!

The Best of the Rest

There were 6 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Nelson WiRm – Chaos Daemons (Shadow Legion): Be’lakor, Fadethirster, lots of Screamers and some Havocs to teleport around the table shooting stuff.
3rd – Jacinto López – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited): A mere double Daemon Prince setup to pay for loads of Infantry in Rhinos.
4th – Daniel HUMBOLCH – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force): Ultra thicc Deathwatch with double Indomitor team, lots of Terminator MSUs and a big teleporting Centurion brick. Why did you make them so much cheaper GW? Why did you do that.
5th – Ålfred Phobos ☠️ – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): Four Dreadknights and a Stormraven.
6th – Efren Kraken – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis and Armigers.
7th – Marcos Sokram Mejias – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): Triple Warden block two tanks and a bike squad with a Captain.

Cross-Swords War At The Westward VII

30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Lee Mill Bridge, England, United Kingdom on May 03 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Tom Godfrey – Orks (War Horde) – 1st Place

Ork Beast Snagga Beastboss by Crab-stuffed Mushrooms

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Trukk Around and Find Out (2000 points)

Orks
Strike Force (2000 points)
War Horde

CHARACTERS

Beastboss (80 points)
• 1x Beast Snagga klaw
1x Beastchoppa
1x Shoota

Warboss (75 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin sluggas

Warboss (75 points)
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin sluggas

BATTLELINE

Beast Snagga Boyz (95 points)
• 9x Beast Snagga Boy
• 9x Choppa
9x Slugga
• 1x Beast Snagga Nob
• 1x Power snappa
1x Slugga

Boyz (80 points)
• 9x Boy
• 9x Choppa
9x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Trukk (65 points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball

OTHER DATASHEETS

Breaka Boyz (140 points)
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
1x Rokkit pistol
1x Smash hammer
• 5x Breaka Boy
• 4x Smash hammer
1x Tankhammer

Breaka Boyz (140 points)
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
1x Rokkit pistol
1x Smash hammer
• 5x Breaka Boy
• 1x Knucklebustas
3x Smash hammer
1x Tankhammer

Flash Gitz (80 points)
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Kaptin
• 1x Choppa
1x Snazzgun
• 4x Flash Git
• 4x Choppa
4x Snazzgun

Gretchin (80 points)
• 20x Gretchin
• 20x Close combat weapon
20x Grot blasta
• 2x Runtherd
• 2x Runtherd tools
2x Slugga

Gretchin (40 points)
• 10x Gretchin
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
• 1x Runtherd tools
1x Slugga

Nobz (210 points)
• 2x Ammo Runt
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga
• 9x Nob
• 9x Power klaw
9x Slugga

Stormboyz (65 points)
• 4x Stormboy
• 4x Choppa
4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga

Exported with App Version: v1.32.0 (77), Data Version: v598

Archetype

Mechanised War Horde

Thoughts

Go fast and krump things. We’re now on what, the third round of a big Ork detachment getting nerfed, and people realising that rolling people over with mechanised War Horde is still great? You can just do that! You even get Breaka Boyz now to mess up the plans of anyone relying on such things as “they won’t one-round my Norn”, because they might (in Waaagh anyway)! Love to see War Horde still getting work, good job Tom.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Tomas Hicklin – T’au Empire (Kauyon): A surprise return for triple Breacherfish, backed by tanks, utility stuff and Ghostkeels.
3rd – Scott Lockie – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Mixed Invasion Fleet, combining big Termagant units and Barbgaunts with double Norn.
4th – Ricky Callan – Astra Militarum (Combined Arms): Six Dorns and two full Bullgryn units, and uh that’s kind of it. Hilarious.
5th – James Mclean – T’au Empire (Mont’ka): Go-wide Mont’ka with lots of hulls of every flavour and a couple of Breacherfish.
6th – Steven Connell – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): Lots of dogs and a decent Nurgle Daemon supporting contingent, including Rotigus, a big Nurgling unit, and some Plaguebearers.

The Collectors Market – Drop Bear Gaming 40k GT

27-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Eagleby, QLD, Australia on May 02 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

James Cummings – Leagues of Votann (Oathband) – 1st Plac

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Short King (2000 points)

Leagues of Votann
Strike Force (2000 points)
Oathband

CHARACTERS

Grimnyr (85 points)
• 1x Grimnyr
• Warlord
• 1x Ancestral Wrath
1x Ancestral ward stave
• Enhancement: Appraising Glare
• 2x CORV
• 2x Autoch-pattern bolter
2x Close combat weapon

BATTLELINE

Hearthkyn Warriors (100 points)
• 1x Theyn
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Ion 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 EtaCarn plasma beamer
1x HYLas auto rifle
1x Medipack
1x Pan Spectral Scanner

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Sagitaur (115 points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x HYLas beam cannon
1x Twin bolt cannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Cthonian Beserks (100 points)
• 5x Cthonian Beserk
• 5x Concussion maul
1x Mole grenade launcher

Cthonian Beserks (200 points)
• 10x Cthonian Beserk
• 10x Concussion maul
2x Mole grenade launcher

Hekaton Land Fortress (225 points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x MATR autocannon
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
1x SP heavy conversion beamer
2x Twin bolt cannon

Hernkyn Pioneers (180 points)
• 6x Hernkyn Pioneer
• 6x Bolt revolver
6x Bolt shotgun
1x Comms Array
2x HYLas rotary cannon
6x Magna-coil autocannon
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
6x Plasma knife
1x Rollbar Searchlight

Hernkyn Yaegirs (90 points)
• 1x Yaegir Theyn
• 1x Bolt revolver
1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma knife
• 9x Hernkyn Yaegir
• 1x APM launcher
7x Bolt revolver
9x Close combat weapon
1x Magna-coil rifle
7x Plasma knife

Archetype

Bikes and Beserks

Thoughts

An unusually skewed Votann build to close us out, eschewing the normal all-rounder builds in favour of maximum bikes for high-reach shooting plus lots of Beserks in transports to counter-punch anything that tries to come melee the bikes down. The wall of Sagitaurs can also be a headache for finesse lists to deal with, especially as they’re so easy to hide, and this seems like a pretty sharp set of choices for the metagame. Well done James.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Zak Watson – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis/Atrapos/Crusader triple big, providing a strong all-round core that somehow just manages to squeeze in five Armigers as well. Extremely scary.
3rd – Ben Roughan – Chaos Knights (Iconoclast Fiefdom): A rare Iconoclast list with lots of aggro, sporting a Rampager and Lancer as the spearhead, backed by the expected mix of Karnivores and Brigands, plus a very small number of Cultists to feed into the machine.
4th – Mat Dorey – Dark Angels (Stormlance Task Force): Aggro Stormlance Dark Angels with maximum Deathwing Knights and an Outrider/Command squad unit for an extra speedy threat.
5th – Thomas Neville – Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager): A toolboxy Reaper’s Wager build with three units of Skyweavers to flip the wager as often as possible.

Wrap Up

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[40k] Competitive Innovations in 10th: Going for Gold pt.1

The Richmond Open 40K Event Hosted By Away Games

Mark Hertel – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Erik Aliff – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Trent Mazer – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Amelia Pollard – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Turbulent Games GT @Ramkota Warhammer 40K Singles Tournament

Brandon Johnson – Death Guard (Plague Company) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Trono de Cráneos

The Showdown

Unknown Mission

Thoughts

Result

Pepe Andreu – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Cross-Swords War At The Westward VII

Tom Godfrey – Orks (War Horde) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

The Collectors Market – Drop Bear Gaming 40k GT

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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