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.

It’s a week for heavy hitters, here at Competitive Innovations. The Death Guard have arrived in all their pungeant glory, coming into the metagame red hot and taking several events, and the strongest defences seem to be being mounted by Imperial Knights and monster mash Daemon builds. It’s all getting pretty hefty around here (other than the sneaky Ynnari, who are still clipping along nicely in the background) and we’ll see how that holds up in the next few weeks as people start to adapt to Nurgle’s finest.

Today we’re covering:

Mayhem 4: Live Free or Dice Hard
Maryland Open 2025
South Yorkshire GT 2025
Grampian Gaming Guild GT
Brighton 40k GT XI

Friday:

The Storm of Silence Warhammer 40,000 Grand Tournament
Alberta Classic 40k 2025
17 & 18 May 2025 – OWN’s Breaking Point GT at Game HQ
Winchester 40K GT – May 2025
Minsk Eternal GT II

Saturday:

The Alamo 40K GT ’25
San Diego Classic Grand Tournament ’25 – Warhammer 40K
Giga-Bites May Warhammer 40k GT
2025 Game Grid Open

Mayhem 4: Live Free or Dice Hard

155-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Mebane, North Carolina, US on May 17 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.#

Death Guard/World Eaters Codexes do not appear to have been live at this event.

Dustin Hammond – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

Imperial Knight Armiger Helverin. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Noble Lance

Canis Rex

4x Armiger Helverin
6x Armiger Warglaive

Callidus Assassin
Culexus Assassin

Archetype

Canis, Armigers and Assassins

Thoughts

The valiant Imperial Knights are first up to the plate here, deploying the classic Canis and Armigers plan to sweep this tournament. You can’t really go wrong with datasheets this efficient, and it’s a reliable place to be when there’s churn elsewhere in the metagame, as you can be confident of having game into anything. Congratulations Dustin!

Andrew Vawter – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Imperial Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (450 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
1x Freedom’s Hand

BATTLELINE

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

Armiger Warglaive (140 points)
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

Inquisitorial Agents (60 points)
• 5x Inquisitorial Agent
• 5x Agent firearm
5x Agent melee weapon
1x Eviscerator
1x Mystic stave
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Gun Servitor
• 1x Agent melee weapon
1x Multi-melta

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (79), Data Version: v609

Archetype

Canis and Armigers

Thoughts

An undefeated double header for the Knights, even, with Andrew also taking advantage of the ultra-efficient datasheets, even foregoing the double Assasins of Dustin’s build for more Armigers. It is worth noting that part of why Knights are especially well placed to hold the line against Death Guard (even if they weren’t actually in play at this event) is that multiple Bloat-Drones are a lock for essentially all their builds (for reasons we’ll get to), so Anti-fly 2+ on Helverin autocannons is ultra relevant (and has plenty of targets into other top builds as well). Great job Andrew!

Michael McCaffrey – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead) – 3rd Place

Windriders with Scatter Lasers. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Aeldari
Devoted of Ynnead
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Autarch (75 Points)
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
• 1x Star glaive

The Visarch (90 Points)
• 1x Asu-var

The Yncarne (250 Points)
• 1x Swirling soul energy
• 1x Vilith-zhar

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

BATTLELINE

Storm Guardians (100 Points)
• 10x Storm Guardian
◦ 8x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Flamer
◦ 2x Fusion gun
◦ 2x Power sword
◦ 6x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Serpent’s Scale Platform
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Serpent shield

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dark Reapers (90 Points)
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Tempest launcher
• 4x Dark Reaper
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Reaper launcher

Falcon (130 Points)
• 1x Bright lance
• 1x Pulse laser
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Wraithbone hull

Fire Dragons (110 Points)
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Firepike
• 4x Fire Dragon
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Dragon fusion gun

Howling Banshees (90 Points)
• 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
◦ 1x Executioner
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Howling Banshee
◦ 4x Banshee blade
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Rangers (55 Points)
• 5x Ranger
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 5x Long rifle
◦ 5x Shuriken pistol

Striking Scorpions (85 Points)
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
◦ 1x Biting blade
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Striking Scorpion
◦ 4x Scorpion chainsword
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Warlock Conclave (110 Points)
• 4x Warlock
◦ 4x Destructor
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol
◦ 4x Witchblade

Warp Spiders (95 Points)
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Death weavers
◦ 1x Spinneret rifle
• 4x Warp Spider
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Death spinner

Windriders (160 Points)
• 6x Windrider
◦ 6x Close combat weapon
◦ 6x Scatter laser

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (1), Data Version: v609

Archetype

Shooty Conclave Ynnari

Thoughts

Ynnari continue to thrive, but they’re not idle in terms of list design, as this build shows off. Michael’s made the increasingly popular choice to go for a Warlock Conclave/Storm Guardian doomstack for Yvraine and the Visarch to lead around instead of Incubi. The advantage of this is that it’s way tougher to properly deal with, and presents a very nasty Torrent threat for foes to worry about, at a cost of being less potent in melee (though still having the powerhouse Characters to do a bit of work). Having this in builds helps mitigate one of the counterplay strategies against Ynnari, which is to rely on their lack of backbone to roll them over, and it also reduces the chance of the big block ever being dead in a matchup – which fundamentally the Incubi were if they ran into big damage reduction or something. The list also has the scatter laser unit, though that I think we’ll plausibly see a bit less of just because Death Guard blank it too much.

Cool to see a bit of variety and evolution in Ynnari plans, well done Michael.

Duncan Bluhm – Astra Militarum (Hammer of the Emperor) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

(2000 points)

Astra Militarum
Strike Force (2000 points)
Hammer of the Emperor

CHARACTERS

Gaunt’s Ghosts (110 points)
• 1x Ibram Gaunt
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Gaunt’s chainsword
• 1x Colm Corbec
• 1x Corbec’s hot-shot lascarbine
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Elim Rawne
• 1x Rawne’s lascarbine
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Hlaine Larkin
• 1x Larkin’s long-las
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x ’Try Again’ Bragg
• 1x Bragg’s autocannon
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Oan Mkoll
• 1x Lascarbine
1x Mkoll’s straight silver knife

Lord Solar Leontus (150 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Conquest
1x Konstantin’s hooves
1x Sol’s Righteous Gaze

Rogal Dorn Commander (280 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Coaxial autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
2x Meltagun
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon
• Enhancement: Indomitable Steed

Rogal Dorn Commander (285 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Coaxial autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
2x Meltagun
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon
• Enhancement: Veteran Crew

Tech-Priest Enginseer (45 points)
• 1x Enginseer axe
1x Mechanicus pistol
1x Servo-arm

BATTLELINE

Cadian Shock Troops (65 points)
• 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Sergeant’s autogun
• 9x Shock Trooper
• 9x Close combat weapon
7x Lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster

Catachan Jungle Fighters (65 points)
• 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
• 9x Jungle Fighter
• 9x Close combat weapon
2x Flamer
7x Lasgun
1x Vox-caster

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chimera (85 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Heavy flamer
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lasgun array

Taurox (65 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin autocannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Attilan Rough Riders (60 points)
• 1x Rough Rider Sergeant
• 1x Hunting lance
1x Lasgun
1x Laspistol
1x Steed’s hooves
• 4x Rough Rider
• 4x Hunting lance
4x Lasgun
4x Laspistol
4x Steed’s hooves

Kasrkin (110 points)
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
1x Melta Mine
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
3x Heavy flamer
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Plasma cannon
1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Ogryn Squad (60 points)
• 1x Ogryn Bone ’ead
• 1x Ripper gun
• 2x Ogryn
• 2x Ripper gun

Scout Sentinels (55 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Sentinel chainsaw

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (79), Data Version: v609

Archetype

Dorn and Vanquisher Hammer

Thoughts

Big builds are on the rise, and this is both a big build and one that’s very ready to hunt them. That trio of Vanquishers is going to give anyone who’s brought vehicles or monsters some serious pause for thought, and the core, all-rounder quality of the guard units and the Dorns builds on that to create an army that’ll grind through pretty much anything while scoring all the while.

You could definitely do this as Combined Arms if you felt like it, but access to damage reduction via the Ablative Plating Stratagem is another thing that feels very Death Guard-ready, as they rely on flat damage weaponry to kill big stuff, which is very vulnerable to reduction. Always love to see a Medium Tank out and about, good work Duncan.

The Best of the Rest

There were 12 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

5th – Frank Viruet – Astra Militarum (Combined Arms): Goodstuff with two big Krieg units.
6th – Matthew Antiskay – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic): A Mutalith and lots of Rubricae/Characters.
7th – Robin Roberts – Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension): Neophyte and Jackal horde.
8th – Amelia Pollard – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Double Norn monster mash.
9th – Kody Drake – Chaos Daemons (Shadow Legion): A monster mash spin on Shadow Legion, combinging the mandatory Fadethirster/Be’lakor duo with lots of Great Unclean Ones to tie up the board, and a Lord of Change/Havocs to shoot from behind them.
10th – John Casey – Chaos Space Marines (Veterans of the Long War): A shooty Veterans build newly empowered by the upgrade to Noise Marines, with some Obliterators and a Bile/Chosen unit alongside them.
11th – Frank DiSalvo – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): Bobby G/Calgar gun club.
12th – Tom Franceschine – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): Dogs and a few Daemons.
13th – Logan Funderburk – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Aggro Khorne Daemons with powerful Characters and loads of Bloodcrushers.
14th – Ben Andraka – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): An assortment of Monsters and a full Zoanthrope/Neurotyrant unit to really lock in on blowing things up.
15th – Linton Rowan – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): An extremely funny theme list with three fully stacked 10-model Wolf Guard Terminator units with double Leader in each. Great work pulling 5-1 off with it!
16th – Bryan Hurd – T’au Empire (Experimental Prototype Cadre): Prototype Crisis toolbox with extra horrific Commanders at the core.

Maryland Open 2025

67-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Westminster, MD, United States on May 17 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Derek Apsche – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Morty vectorium (2000 points)

Death Guard
Strike Force (2000 points)
Virulent Vectorium

CHARACTERS

Biologus Putrifier (45 points)
• 1x Hyper blight grenades
1x Injector pistol
1x Plague knives

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

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

Lord of Contagion (135 points)
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancement: Furnace of Plagues

Lord of Contagion (120 points)
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancement: Daemon Weapon of Nurgle

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

Typhus (90 points)
• 1x Lakrimae

BATTLELINE

Plague Marines (190 points)
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Plasma gun
1x Power fist
• 9x Plague Marine
• 2x Blight launcher
1x Boltgun
2x Heavy plague weapon
1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
2x Meltagun
9x Plague knives
2x Plague spewer

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chaos Spawn (80 points)
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (79), Data Version: v609

Archetype

Vectorium Mortarion Goodstuff

Thoughts

On to our first event that used the new books, and also our first Death Guard list. It will not be our last.

The early leaders out of the Death Guard detachments are Virulent Vectorium and Champions of Contagion, both of which support fairly all-rounder builds, with Vectorium in particular letting you just jam the best datasheets together, add some awesome enhancements, and scythe through foes. The biggest decision seems to be whether to take Mortarion or not, and the jury’s still out on that one; lists with and without him both thrived this weekend. Derek has gone for the big man, presumably wanting a break from higher model count armies after his previous Chaos Cult rampages.

In terms of what stuff the army is using, most of the best things are on show here. Plague Marines continue pretty much as they were, building a very scary Rhino party bus, but the rest of the units featured have seen more change. Deathshrouds were among the book’s biggest winners, growing even nastier and benefitting from Lords of Contagion now being exceptional Leaders. They turbo-charge the power of the unit for a first strike, then cause the opponent serious headaches by standing back up for another round. Mortarion makes them even better against other melee builds by setting up Fight On Death, which is especially strong on stuff that’s so durable and deadly, because it forces the opponent to commit and then lose a really strong unit. Having a Daemon Prince around also helps them in Vectorium, as it makes it easier to turn on Disgustingly Resilient for -1D, and also adds cover for functional immunity to small arms. Daemon Princes are so good in this book, and being able to stack a 5+ Feel No Pain on one here is even more of a treat.

Providing shooting support for the melee threats are blight launcher Bloat-drones, which have a super good all-rounder shooting profile at a bargain price on a mobile hull, which is basically all the boxes you need to tick for a great unit. This build has only got two to keep points free for Mortarion, but assume three is the default without that good reason. In Vectorium they also benefit from access to Overwhelming Generosity to smooth out their shot counts into a key target, perhaps alongside some plaguespurt gauntlets.

Last up for the really important new stuff is Poxwalkers, who are bargain priced as ten-model Infiltrators to control the table early on. Minimum two units seems to be the vibe. As with a lot of stuff here, they’re even better in Vectorium because they can sticky a bunch of objectives early on, and that means an opponent is always going to have to push hard into the teeth of the really good datasheets to try and interact with the game. There are so many ways that can then go wrong, and Death Guard excel at punishing fumbles both via counterpunch and more specific tricks like Leechspore Eruption. This list is going to be a fixture of the battlefield for the foreseeable, either in this configuration or swapping out Mortarion for more Plague Marines and +1 each on Drones and Poxwalkers. Well done for Chaos Lord Derek for adding the first win to Nurgle’s tally.

Tyler Principio – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium) – 2nd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Death guard (2000 Points)

Death Guard
Virulent Vectorium
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Biologus Putrifier (45 Points)
• 1x Hyper blight grenades
• 1x Injector pistol
• 1x Plague knives

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

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

Lord of Contagion (120 Points)
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancements: Daemon Weapon of Nurgle

Lord of Virulence (90 Points)
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Twin plague spewer

Malignant Plaguecaster (85 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Corrupted staff
• 1x Plague Wind
• Enhancements: Furnace of Plagues

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

BATTLELINE

Plague Marines (190 Points)
• 1x Plague Champion
◦ 1x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Power fist
• 9x Plague Marine
◦ 2x Blight launcher
◦ 4x Heavy plague weapon
◦ 2x Meltagun
◦ 9x Plague knives
◦ 1x Plague spewer

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (85 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chaos Spawn (80 Points)
• 2x Chaos Spawn
◦ 2x Hideous mutations

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

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (1), Data Version: v609

Archetype

Vectorium Mortarion Goodstuff

Thoughts

See previous, mostly, though this build leans a little more towards the shooting, taking out a Deathshroud unit to pay for a third Bloat-drone and a Lord of Virulence. The latter is incredibly good with Bloat-drones, as bestowing full hit re-rolls on something with Lethal Hits makes them very reliable against their normal targets, and lets them punch up into T11+ targets. Very potent, and I guess we’ll find out if leaning melee or shooting ends up more popular for Vectorium builds. Great job Tyler for providing us with an exhibit B for that comparison.

Max Berlove – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

I like big guns and I cannot lie (2000 Points)

Necrons
Starshatter Arsenal
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Catacomb Command Barge (150 Points)
• 1x Gauss cannon
• 1x Overlord’s blade
• 1x Resurrection Orb
• Enhancements: Dread Majesty (Aura)

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

Technomancer (85 Points)
• 1x Staff of light

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

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

Canoptek Wraiths (230 Points)
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
◦ 6x Particle caster
◦ 6x Vicious claws

Doomsday Ark (200 Points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
• 1x Doomsday cannon
• 2x Gauss flayer array

Lokhust Destroyers (35 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Gauss cannon

Ophydian Destroyers (80 Points)
• 3x Ophydian Destroyer
◦ 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons
◦ 1x Plasmacyte

Triarch Stalker (110 Points)
• 1x Heat ray
• 1x Stalker’s forelimbs

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (1), Data Version: v609

Archetype

Starshatter Doomsdays

Thoughts

Starshatter’s quiet rise back up the ranks could well be about to turbocharge, because Doomsday Arks are ready for a world in which 4W Terminators are metagame defining. Other aspects of the list help it in the matchup too – Wraiths having all-purpose durability lets you actually tie some of the Death Guard up, Chrono-Impedence Fields let you put one Doomsday out without getting insta-killed by D3 shots from Bloat-drones, and even the boosted OC that the Catacomb Barge hands out has a role to play in un-sticking objectives. Will I finally be painting Doomsday Arks? No, but all power to those who have, great stuff Max.

Sean Olson – Salamanders (Firestorm Assault Force) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Friendly Salamander Hugs (2000 Points)

Space Marines
Salamanders
Firestorm Assault Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Adrax Agatone (85 Points)
• 1x Drakkis
• 1x Malleus Noctum

Lieutenant (75 Points)
• 1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 1x Neo-volkite pistol
• 1x Storm Shield
• Enhancements: Champion of Humanity

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

Vulkan He’stan (100 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Gauntlet of the Forge
• 1x Spear of Vulkan

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Impulsor (80 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Bellicatus missile array
• 2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
• 1x Ironhail heavy stubber

Razorback (95 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Twin lascannon

Rhino (75 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

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

Bladeguard Veteran Squad (160 Points)
• 1x Bladeguard Veteran Sergeant
◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
• 5x Bladeguard Veteran
◦ 5x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 5x Master-crafted power weapon

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

Devastator Squad (120 Points)
• 1x Devastator Sergeant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Grav-pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Devastator
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Multi-melta

Infernus Squad (90 Points)
• 1x Infernus Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Pyreblaster
• 4x Infernus Marine
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Pyreblaster

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (1), Data Version: v609

Archetype

Vulkan’s Vehicular Manslaughter

Thoughts

Rounding out this top four we have a welcome showing for one of the fringe Marine plans I’m always delighted to see, which is Vulkan and a bunch of his mates doing sick drive-by shootings. Basically, Vulkan’s ability is relatively unique in how it works, and it means you can benefit from it when shooting Infernus Marines out of an Impulsor, which is both funny and good. This version of the list doubles down on the transport fun by bringing Devastators to Fire Support out of Razorbacks, which seems honestly fine, and among them is the deadly surprise of the Champion of Humanity squad, which can one-shot even the nastiest of big targets without really breaking a sweat. This list is so cool, very different from other Marine stuff, and genuinely ready for a fairly crunchy metagame, and well done to Sean, who took it to the final before bouncing off Derek’s Death Guard. Next time, maybe.

The Best of the Rest

There were 2 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

5th – Zach Hilts – Blood Angels (Angelic Inheritors): Big nasty melee units, lots of heroes, and a full squad of plasma Inceptors for uppy-downy fun.
6th – Carson Okamoto – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): I was tempted to just steal this list’s title of “3x Wardens, Bikes, No Draxus” to describe this, but it’s missing 2x Tanks. Accuracy is important.

South Yorkshire GT 2025

52-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on May 17 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Gordon Easingwood – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

Imperial Knight Atrapos. Credit: Magos Sockbert

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

C.A.A. (1995 points)

Imperial Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (450 points)
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
1x Freedom’s Hand

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (450 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
1x Graviton singularity cannon
• Enhancement: Mysterious Guardian

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (425 points)
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
1x Graviton singularity cannon

BATTLELINE

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

Armiger Warglaive (140 points)
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (79), Data Version: v609

Archetype

Triple Big

Thoughts

Another example of an apex predator in a crunch build arms race here – Canis and double Atrapos has all the overwhelmingness of any triple big build, and a particularly good line in brutalising other monster mash or hull spam lists. It also joins Necrons as having a surprisingly easy time stacking up flat D4 weaponry, which certainly won’t go amiss if the week’s results are anything to go by! Great job Gordon.

The Best of the Rest

There were 9 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Christopher Langton – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Be’lakor, a couple of large birds and a Bloodthirster as centrepieces, with a mix of smaller stuff in support.
3rd – Joe Senior – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Extra monster-mashy Incursion, sporting Be’lakor, Big Bird, a Gift GUO, Skarbrand and Rotigus.
4th – Chris Brown – Death Guard (Champions of Contagion): The early loadout build of triple blight launcher Bloat-Drone, double Deathshrouds, Plague Marines here two units of seven) and some powerful Characters, with Poxwalkers to screen.
5th – Scott Morris – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Board control Invasion Fleet, swapping out some of the usual monsters for three full Genestealer/Broodlord units.
6th – Michael Duff – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): A crunchy Vectorium build adding a full squad of Deathshrouds to the usual mix alongside a Daemon Prince as a Stratagem powerhouse.
7th – Callam Taylor-Deighton – Death Guard (Champions of Contagion): No Bloat-Drones here, instead taking one big squad each of Plague Marines and Deathshrouds, supporting smaller units, Mortarion and a big wall of Poxwalkers.
8th – Mark Pilkington – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Triple Prince, triple Infractors/Lord, triple Noise Marines.
9th – Callum Evans – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs): Hull heavy-ish Sisters with triple Castigator and some Immolators screened by Arco-flagellants, with a Sacresant brick and Vahl’s unit for close work.
10th – Chris Ford – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): A gigantic central unit of 20 Berzerkers with a Juggerlord, supported by a bunch of Daemon Engines and Helbrutes.

Grampian Gaming Guild GT

40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Scotland, United Kingdom on May 17 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Joe Robertson – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Moving a tesseract vault outside of hypercrypt legion is easy and I will not regret this decision (2000 points)

Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Starshatter Arsenal

CHARACTERS

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

Technomancer (85 points)
• 1x Staff of light

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

Canoptek Wraiths (230 points)
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws

Cryptothralls (60 points)
• 2x Cryptothrall
• 2x Scouring eye
2x Scythed limbs

Doomsday Ark (200 points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer array

Flayed Ones (60 points)
• 5x Flayed One
• 5x Flayer claws

Lokhust Destroyers (35 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannon

Tesseract Vault (425 points)
• 1x Antimatter Meteor
1x Cosmic Fire
1x Time’s Arrow
• 1x Armoured bulk
4x Tesla spheres

Exported with App Version: v1.31.0 (76), Data Version: v589

Archetype

Tesseract Starshatter

Thoughts

Oh I see, it’s “make Wings feel bad about his unfinished models” day again, is it? Anyway yes, as the list description suggests running a Tesseract outside of Hypercrypt is a Bold Move, but it seems to have worked out here, and again does seem pretty nifty if what you’re worried about is Death Guard. I suspect, sadly, that it is very much not what you’ll want against Thousand Sons in a few weeks, but sure, enjoy it in the interim. Well done to Joe for unleashing the Big Box.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Richard Simms – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead): A relatively crunchy non-Yncarne build, using triple Wraithlord with some Skyrunners to babysit.
3rd – Dylan Trendall – Adepta Sororitas (Champions of Faith): A bold attempt at melee Infantry spam, using lots of Sacresants and lots of Repentia.
4th – Nicholas Sly – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis and a Lancer with Armigers and an Immolator.
5th – Mark Tootill – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): Dreadknights, Strikes and Interceptors, with a lone Purifier MSU to set up a re-roll go turn.
6th – Grant Roberts – Emperor’s Children (Peerless Bladesmen): A melee supremacy build with a large unit each of Infractors and Flawless Blades, supported by Karnivores to bait the foe into position.
7th – Allan Stevely – T’au Empire (Kauyon): A fairly classic Kauyon build, a couple of Breacherfish backed up by Sky Rays and Riptides with Shadowsun.

Brighton 40k GT XI

30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on May 17 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Burden of Trust – Stalwarts – Search & Destroy

Guy Chetwynd-Appleton – Death Guard (Champions of Contagion)
Army List - Click to Expand

COC AND BALLS (2000 Points)

Death Guard
Champions of Contagion
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

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

Lord of Contagion (110 Points)
• 1x Manreaper

Lord of Virulence (90 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Twin plague spewer

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

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

BATTLELINE

Plague Marines (190 Points)
• 1x Plague Champion
◦ 1x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Power fist
• 9x Plague Marine
◦ 2x Blight launcher
◦ 4x Heavy plague weapon
◦ 9x Plague knives
◦ 1x Plague spewer
◦ 2x Plasma gun

Plague Marines (95 Points)
• 1x Plague Champion
◦ 1x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Plague Marine
◦ 1x Blight launcher
◦ 2x Heavy plague weapon
◦ 4x Plague knives
◦ 1x Plasma gun

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (85 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (1), Data Version: v609

vs.

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

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+LIST NAME: 🎵I can do anything better than you🎶
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – Emperor’s Children
+ DETACHMENT: Coterie of the Conceited
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char7: Lord Kakophonist
+ ENHANCEMENT: Pledge of Eternal Servitude (on Char1: Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with Wings)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 19
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (4×2) – Assassination: 8 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with Wings (205 pts): Hellforged weapons, Infernal cannon
Enhancement: Pledge of Eternal Servitude (+25 pts)
Char2: 1x Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with Wings (180 pts): Hellforged weapons, Infernal cannon
Char3: 1x Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with Wings (180 pts): Hellforged weapons, Infernal cannon
Char4: 1x Lord Exultant (80 pts): Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Rapture lash, Phoenix power spear
Char5: 1x Lord Exultant (80 pts): Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Rapture lash, Phoenix power spear
Char6: 1x Lord Exultant (80 pts): Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Rapture lash, Phoenix power spear
Char7: 1x Lord Kakophonist (60 pts): Warlord, Screamer pistol, Close combat weapon, Screamer pistol
Char8: 1x Lord Kakophonist (60 pts): Screamer pistol, Close combat weapon, Screamer pistol

5x Infractors (85 pts)
• 4x Infractor
3 with Bolt pistol, Duelling sabre
1 with Icon of Excess, Bolt pistol, Duelling sabre
• 1x Obsessionist: Rapture lash, Plasma pistol
5x Infractors (85 pts)
• 4x Infractor
3 with Bolt pistol, Duelling sabre
1 with Icon of Excess, Bolt pistol, Duelling sabre
• 1x Obsessionist: Rapture lash, Plasma pistol
5x Infractors (85 pts)
• 4x Infractor
3 with Bolt pistol, Duelling sabre
1 with Icon of Excess, Bolt pistol, Duelling sabre
• 1x Obsessionist: Rapture lash, Plasma pistol
5x Infractors (85 pts)
• 4x Infractor
3 with Bolt pistol, Duelling sabre
1 with Icon of Excess, Bolt pistol, Duelling sabre
• 1x Obsessionist: Rapture lash, Plasma pistol
5x Tormentors (85 pts)
• 4x Tormentor
1 with Boltgun, Close combat weapon
1 with Icon of Excess, Boltgun, Close combat weapon
1 with Close combat weapon, Meltagun
1 with Close combat weapon, Plasma gun
• 1x Obsessionist: Power weapon, Plasma pistol
5x Tormentors (85 pts)
• 4x Tormentor
1 with Boltgun, Close combat weapon
1 with Icon of Excess, Boltgun, Close combat weapon
1 with Close combat weapon, Meltagun
1 with Close combat weapon, Plasma gun
• 1x Obsessionist: Power weapon, Plasma pistol

6x Noise Marines (135 pts)
• 5x Noise Marine
2 with Noise Marines, Blastmaster, Close combat weapon
3 with Noise Marines, Close combat weapon, Sonic blaster
• 1x Disharmonist: Close combat weapon, Sonic blaster
6x Noise Marines (135 pts)
• 5x Noise Marine
2 with Noise Marines, Blastmaster, Close combat weapon
3 with Noise Marines, Close combat weapon, Sonic blaster
• 1x Disharmonist: Close combat weapon, Sonic blaster
6x Noise Marines (135 pts)
• 5x Noise Marine
2 with Noise Marines, Blastmaster, Close combat weapon
3 with Noise Marines, Close combat weapon, Sonic blaster
• 1x Disharmonist: Close combat weapon, Sonic blaster
2x Chaos Spawn (80 pts): 2 with Hideous Mutations
1x Chaos Rhino (80 pts): Armoured tracks, Combi-bolter, Havoc launcher, Combi-bolter

Thoughts

As one of our patrons put it when the voting went up, looks like GW are really committing to delivery on the year of Chaos. New hotness Death Guard face recent hotness Coterie here, so which god will triumph?

The Coterie build doesn’t really need any introduction, given it is The Coterie Build, but the forces of Nurgle give us something new to look at with the Champions of Contagion. While the unit suite is almost identical to that of the Virulent Vectorium (just making sure to include all the stuff needed to set up combos), the Detachment rule and Stratagems have adifferent focus, trading out grindy board control for a bit more spike damage and a lot of ways to put horrible debuffs on your opponent. That can help into more combined-arms style strategies where you need to mix up what you’re doing over the course of the game

Unfortunately this isn’t quite the right matchup for them, and I think you’d definitely rather just have Virulent Vectorium in this game. Emperor’s Children largely don’t have units big enough for the extra damage spikes to matter, and you’d much prefer sticky objectives to swapping Plagues in order to help dictate the flow of the game, especially with the threat of Noise Marines lifting your units whenever you commit, and the Mortals from Daemon Princes to worry about.

While Champions has put up a surprisingly decent challenge to Vectorium out the gate, I suspect there are more games like this where being Champions really hurts than there are games where it helps enough to be worth making the trade, especially because the Enhancement suite in Vectorium goes some way to making up the gap in killing power.

The result here was that the Slaaneshi forces were able to pick the Nurgle side apart, an important reminder that while Death Guard are strong, they’re not the only chaos forces on the block!

Result

Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited) Victory – 92 – 40

Kian Tan – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

The one true Coterie build

Thoughts

Covered in the Showdown and extensively in the last few weeks, because this is pretty much just the one true Coterie build, though Kian has mixed it up ever so slightly with some Spawn as an extra utility piece instead of an additional Rhino, giving some angles on maybe scoring cards without losing units. Elsewhere, business as usual, well done Kian!

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. This series of event doesn’t use tie breaks, so they’re all marked as =2nd. They were:

2nd – Andre Marshall – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Wraiths, Doomsdays and solo Skorpekh Lords as Awakened, plus the Void Dragon.
2nd – Rob Lebeau – Death Guard (Champions of Contagion): Lots of Deathshrouds, lots of Bloat-Drones and some Plague Marines, including one larger unit with a Blightspawn.
2nd – Sam Cordell – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Exteme levels of Crisis Toolbox, sporting a mighty five Commanders and lots of suits for them to lead.
2nd – Guy Chetwynd-Appleton – Death Guard (Champions of Contagion): Triple Deathshrouds and triple Bloat-Drones plus a big Plague Marine squad and Poxwalker screens.
2nd – Alexander England – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): Champions with lots of small ThunderCav units and Ballistus Dreads, plus some additional nasty Herohammer toys.

Wrap Up

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.

Competitive Innovations in 10th: An Ominous Stench pt.1

Mayhem 4: Live Free or Dice Hard

Dustin Hammond – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Andrew Vawter – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Michael McCaffrey – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Duncan Bluhm – Astra Militarum (Hammer of the Emperor) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Maryland Open 2025

Derek Apsche – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Tyler Principio – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium) – 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Max Berlove – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Sean Olson – Salamanders (Firestorm Assault Force) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

South Yorkshire GT 2025

Gordon Easingwood – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Grampian Gaming Guild GT

Joe Robertson – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Brighton 40k GT XI

The Showdown

Burden of Trust – Stalwarts – Search & Destroy

Thoughts

Result

Kian Tan – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

Related

Popular Posts

BattleTech Mech Overview: Longbow

Competitive Innovations in 10th: Blue His House, With a Blue Little...

Blood Bowl Season 3: Wood Elf Team Guide

[AOS] Competitive Innovations in the Mortal Realms: 2025-12-4

TheChirurgeon’s Road Through 2025, Part 50: LVO Teams Practice

Share this:

Related