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.

Important news up top – if you have somehow missed it, Games Workshop have released a balance hotfix today, targeting Death Guard, Imperial Knights and Chaos Knights. Go read about that first – that’s why this is a few hours behind it’s normal slot, and it’s not going to make much sense without it.

You can read all about it here.

Also – are you now more excited to play some Warhammer? Of course you are – and you can do that with the new changes live at the Goonhammer Open UK on 6th/7th September. Rules and list cutoff is not until 30th August, so these new changes will be live and kicking!

Event Page (Incl. maps/missions)
EventBrite (tickets)
BCP

Back in the past, alongside the usual suspects (now formally on notice) we’ve got quite a lot of Space Marine action – the new Templars Codex is landing with a splash, and Blood Angels had a hot week. Let’s dig in, as follows:

Part 1 on Wednesday with me:

Denver 40K Fight Club August Open 2025
GT Golden Dawn III – Warhammer 40k
Hour Zero 2: Heroes Unchained
Abyss 40k GT #5
VT 40K GT AUGUST 25
40k Brawl – August GT 2025

Part 2 on Friday with Lowest of Men:

Ragnarök GT 2025 – A Valkyrie Wargaming Event
Games and Stuff 40K Event Hosted by Away Games
Rammaric Industries The GT 2025
Summer Slaughter: Warhammer 40K Summer Assault ITC Major
Toys of Mass Destruction – Hertfordshire Summer GT

Part 3 on Saturday with me again:

North Star Open 2025
Black Crow Gaming’s Battle of the RAGNAR GT!
GRIMDARK 25: THE FINAL GRIMDARK
GRILLIN’ DICE 2025!!!
Palladium Games Presents “the dumpster fire gt” NOVA Prep Edition

Denver 40K Fight Club August Open 2025

82-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Westminster, CO, US on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Take and Hold – Search and Destroy

Matt Evans – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault)
Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Tyranids
+ DETACHMENT: Subterranean Assault
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: The Swarmlord
+ ENHANCEMENT:
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 16
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (5×2) – Assassination: 1 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

Char1: 1x The Swarmlord (220 pts)
1 with Bone Sabres, Synaptic Pulse
• Warlord

OTHER DATASHEETS

1x Biovores (50 pts)
• 1x Biovore
1 with Chitin-barbed limbs, Spore mine launcher
• Biovore

6x Hive Guard (180 pts)
• 6x Hive Guard
6 with Chitinous claws and teeth, Shockcannon
• Hive Guard

1x Lictor (60 pts)
1 with Lictor claws and talons

11x Neurogaunts (45 pts)
• 1x Neurogaunt Nodebeast
1 with Chitinous claws and teeth
• Neurogaunt Nodebeast
• 10x Neurogaunt
10 with Chitinous claws and teeth
• Neurogaunt

3x Pyrovores (105 pts)
• 3x Pyrovore
3 with Chitin-barbed limbs, Flamespurt
• Pyrovores

1x Pyrovores (40 pts)
• 1x Pyrovore
1 with Chitin-barbed limbs, Flamespurt
• Pyrovores

5x Raveners (125 pts)
• 5x Ravener
5 with Ravener claws and talons
• Raveners

1x Haruspex (125 pts)
1 with Grasping tongue, Ravenous maw, Shovelling claws

1x Maleceptor (170 pts)
1 with Massive scything talons, Psychic overload

vs.

Ben Neal – Black Templars (Gladius Task Force)
Army List - Click to Expand

BT (Bonk Time) (2000 points)

Space Marines
Black Templars
Strike Force (2000 points)
Gladius Task Force

CHARACTERS

Captain in Gravis Armour (90 points)
• 1x Boltstorm gauntlet
1x Power fist
1x Relic chainsword
• Enhancement: Artificer Armour

Castellan (60 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Master-crafted power weapon

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

Emperor’s Champion (105 points)
• 1x Black Sword
1x Bolt Pistol
• Enhancement: The Honour Vehement

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

Marshal (80 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Master-crafted power weapon

Marshal (80 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Master-crafted power weapon

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Impulsor (85 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Multi-melta
1x Shield Dome

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

Ballistus Dreadnought (140 points)
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter

Gladiator Lancer (160 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Lancer laser destroyer
1x Multi-melta

Repulsor Executioner (220 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy laser destroyer
1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Multi-melta
1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array
1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber
1x Twin heavy bolter

Scout Squad (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Combat knife

Sword Brethren Squad (105 points)
• 4x Sword Brother
• 4x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Master-crafted power weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (92), Data Version: v662

Thoughts

Black Templars making an immediate play for a top spot here, helpfully easing me into it by running as Gladius so there’s not too much to work out at once. Ben’s build does two things – uses the classic Marine trick of assembling the nastiest melee MSUs possible, and ensures as much of the army as possible has a source of hit re-rolls available so that the lack of Oaths isn’t really a factor. On the former, the big innovation (being picked up by Templar builds everywhere) is that adding a Castellan and Marshall to a Sword Brethren MSU only costs you ten points more than buying five more models, but adds nearly the same number of attacks and vastly jukes the damage output via re-rolls to hit and Lethal 5+. Plus, the unit can fit in an Impulsor or RepEx, and can run back inside if whatever they’ve tagged runs away. These units are wild, a full fish swing from one (with +1 to Wound as well from a Vow) isn’t miles short of just killing a big Knight outright, they’ve got a small footprint for hiding, and come in at less than 250pts. You’ve also got another nasty turbo threat from the Emperor’s Champion.

Supporting all that melee are guns – classic re-roll toting Marine staples in the Ballistus and Lancer, and then two Templar RepExes, which are both great shooting tanks with their built-in re-rolls and ferry one of the melee bombs, making them all-stars here. Definitely a scary first build from the Templars, so what’s it up against?

Bugs – unusually shooty ones with double Hive Guard and Pyrovores, lots of Raveners as melee threats, and Maleceptors to hold space. The good news for the Tyranids is that this isn’t a bad combination of tools for the game – the hit modifiers and invulnerable save of the Maleceptors makes them a bit more of a concern for the Marine melee than most things would be as there’s a real failure case, while the Shockcannon Guard are OK at killing the Repulsors, though it’s unfortunate that Armour of Contempt can often blunt a volley. The Pyrovores are nice too, as the overwatch can dissuade the Marine melee from being too aggressive, though the amount of power wrapped up in the Characters in each unit blunts the impact a little. Ultimately, I think the biggest problem for the bugs is that they have too few units with staying power into the killer squads – the Maleceptors are a concern, but anything else just goes, and the Marines have a whole bunch of units on the table to screen out, plus Transports to ensure their alpha melee hits unscathed.

I also don’t really love the corner deployment for the Tyranids, as the Marines have a lot of units to hold space, and can just be really pushy with the tanks to start cutting off the Tyranid options, especially as they have to account for a possible Assault Doctrine turn out of the gate if they’re too aggressive in setup. I think this is an unusual game where you really want the first turn as the Tyranids to try and control positioning and get the most out of reserves, and with that perhaps something can happen, but the likely outcome is going to be a Templar sweep, and that seems to be what went down.

Result

Black Templars (Gladius Task Force) Victory – 84 – 65

Ben Neal – Black Templars (Gladius Task Force) – 1st Place

Black Templars Repulsor Exectioner. Credit: SRM

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

BT (Bonk Time) (2000 points)

Space Marines
Black Templars
Strike Force (2000 points)
Gladius Task Force

CHARACTERS

Captain in Gravis Armour (90 points)
• 1x Boltstorm gauntlet
1x Power fist
1x Relic chainsword
• Enhancement: Artificer Armour

Castellan (60 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Master-crafted power weapon

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

Emperor’s Champion (105 points)
• 1x Black Sword
1x Bolt Pistol
• Enhancement: The Honour Vehement

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

Marshal (80 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Master-crafted power weapon

Marshal (80 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Master-crafted power weapon

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Impulsor (85 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Multi-melta
1x Shield Dome

OTHER DATASHEETS

Ballistus Dreadnought (140 points)
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter

Gladiator Lancer (160 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Lancer laser destroyer
1x Multi-melta

Scout Squad (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Combat knife

Sword Brethren Squad (105 points)
• 4x Sword Brother
• 4x Heavy bolt pistol
4x Master-crafted power weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (92), Data Version: v662

Archetype

We Have Oaths at Home

Thoughts

All covered in the Showdown, and a scary first showing for the crusading Marines here, and I’ll be interested in how they end up landing in the overall metagame. I guess the saving grace of how terrifying the Sword Brethren squads are is that they are also a lot of points for six models where only one has an invulnerable save, and we’ll see if they stay as great in a metagame with fewer big Knights to trade up into. The RepExes are going to stay winning though – I don’t know why there’s a clear design dictate that Templars specialise in this tank in particular, but that’s where we are. Great stuff leading the charge from Ben.

John Kilcommons – T’au Empire (Auxiliary Cadre) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Ghostkeel Battlesuit. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

In GK’s we trust (2000 Points)

T’au Empire
Auxiliary Cadre
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Commander Shadowsun (100 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Advanced Guardian Drone
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Command-link Drone (Aura)
• 1x Flechette launcher
• 2x High-energy fusion blaster
• 1x Light missile pod
• 1x Pulse pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

Broadside Battlesuits (90 Points)
• 1x Broadside Shas’vre
◦ 1x Crushing bulk
◦ 1x Heavy rail rifle
◦ 2x Missile Drone
◦ 1x Seeker missile
◦ 1x Weapon Support System

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

Kroot Carnivores (65 Points)
• 1x Long-quill
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Kroot pistol
◦ 1x Kroot rifle
• 9x Kroot Carnivore
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 8x Kroot rifle
◦ 1x Tanglebomb launcher

Krootox Rampagers (170 Points)
• 6x Krootox Rampagers
◦ 6x Hunting blades
◦ 6x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
◦ 6x Rampager fists

Krootox Rampagers (85 Points)
• 3x Krootox Rampagers
◦ 3x Hunting blades
◦ 3x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
◦ 3x Rampager fists

Pathfinder Team (90 Points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Pulse carbine
◦ 1x Pulse pistol
◦ 1x Recon Drone
◦ 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Ion rifle
◦ 6x Pulse carbine
◦ 9x Pulse pistol

Sky Ray Gunship (140 Points)
• 2x Accelerator burst cannon
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Seeker missile rack

Stealth Battlesuits (80 Points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit Support System
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Homing Beacon
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Burst cannon

Vespid Stingwings (65 Points)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
◦ 1x Neutron blaster
◦ 1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwing
◦ 4x Neutron blaster
◦ 4x Stingwing claws

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (1), Data Version: v662

Archetype

Auxiliary Cadre Go-wide

Thoughts

A welcome revival for Auxiliary Cadre here, which I’ve always felt has been underutilised. This version takes advantage of the newer version of For The Greater Good (plus the AP boost from the detachment) to make Ghostkeels and solo Broadsides very effective when focusing fire on something, especially (but not exclusively) elite Infantry. Running as Auxiliary also allows the army to fully pop off with Krootox Riders, letting you construct an actual all-rounder T’au list that can do both shooting and melee to some degree, which is obviously unusual for the faction. When all else fails, it does also still just have a large number of drops, giving it some redundancy into the late game. Cool to see something genuinely unusual hit the top tables, really well played John for taking undefeated second.

Joel Davis – Aeldari (Guardian Battlehost) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

I swear I think I know what I’m doing (2000 points)

Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Guardian Battlehost

CHARACTERS

Eldrad Ulthran (110 points)
• 1x Mind War
1x Shuriken pistol
1x The Staff of Ulthamar and witchblade

Farseer (90 points)
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing spear
• Enhancement: Protector of the Paths

Farseer (70 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing spear

Warlock (75 points)
• 1x Destructor
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing Spear
• Enhancement: Ethereal Pathway

Warlock (45 points)
• 1x Destructor
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing Spear

BATTLELINE

Guardian Defenders (100 points)
• 10x Guardian Defender
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Heavy Weapon Platform
• 1x Bright lance
1x Close combat weapon

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

D-cannon Platform (125 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult

Shroud Runners (80 points)
• 3x Shroud Runner
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Long rifle
3x Scatter laser
3x Shuriken pistol

War Walkers (85 points)
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet

Warlock Conclave (130 points)
• 4x Warlock
• 4x Destructor
4x Shuriken pistol
4x Singing Spear

Wraithknight with Ghostglaive (420 points)
• 1x Scattershield
2x Starcannon
1x Titanic ghostglaive

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (92), Data Version: v662

Archetype

I hope this doesn’t awaken anything in me.

Thoughts

Speaking of genuinely unusual…just wow. Guardian Battlehost has been underutilised, it has some tremendously powerful tools available to it and can be a complete headache to handle, but it’s notably vulnerable to getting rushed down and threat saturated, especially by Knights. The choice of a melee Wraithknight is a hilariously over-the-top way of trying to answer that question, and does legitimately provide the counter-charge and distraction that this build will sometimes need to flourish, or a way to surge down the line with speed-boosted wallhacking. It also hilariously bypasses some anti-Knight tech as anything that’s just anti-Vehicle doesn’t affect it, though the new Votann book is removing a lot of that. Obviously you are still putting a bunch of eggs in one basket in an army that already does that a lot, so I expect sometimes things will just go disastrously wrong for the list, but it’s an incredible flex to take something so weird to third place, only dropping a close final round game to John’s T’au above. Huge props to Joel.

Nicholas Rosasco – Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager) – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Clowning around (2000 Points)

Drukhari
Reaper’s Wager
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Archon (100 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blast pistol
• 1x Huskblade
• Enhancements: Webway Walker

Beastmaster (120 Points)
• 1x Beastmaster
◦ 1x Agoniser
◦ 1x Splinter pods
• 1x Clawed Fiend
◦ 1x Clawed Fiend fists
• 2x Khymerae
◦ 2x Khymerae talons
• 3x Razorwing Flock
◦ 3x Razorwing feathers

Urien Rakarth (80 Points)
• 1x Casket of Flensing
• 1x Haemonculus tools and scissorhands

BATTLELINE

Kabalite Warriors (100 Points)
• 1x Sybarite
◦ 1x Blast pistol
◦ 1x Phantasm grenade launcher
◦ 1x Sybarite weapon
• 9x Kabalite Warrior
◦ 1x Blaster
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Dark lance
◦ 1x Shredder
◦ 1x Splinter cannon
◦ 5x Splinter rifle

Wracks (55 Points)
• 1x Acothyst
◦ 1x Wrack blades
• 4x Wrack
◦ 1x Hexrifle
◦ 1x Liquifier gun
◦ 1x Ossefactor
◦ 1x Stinger pistol
◦ 4x Wrack blades

OTHER DATASHEETS

Court of the Archon (95 Points)
• 1x Lhamaean
◦ 1x Shaimeshi blade
• 1x Medusae
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Eyeburst
• 1x Sslyth
◦ 1x Shardcarbine
◦ 1x Splinter pistol
◦ 1x Sslyth battle-blade
• 1x Ur-ghul
◦ 1x Ur-ghul talons

Cronos (50 Points)
• 1x Spirit syphon
• 1x Spirit vortex
• 1x Spirit-leech tentacles

Mandrakes (65 Points)
• 1x Nightfiend
◦ 1x Baleblast
◦ 1x Glimmersteel blade
• 4x Mandrake
◦ 4x Baleblast
◦ 4x Glimmersteel blade

Ravager (100 Points)
• 1x Bladevanes
• 3x Dark lance

Scourges (130 Points)
• 1x Solarite
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Shardcarbine
◦ 1x Solarite weapon
• 4x Scourge
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Dark lance

Scourges (130 Points)
• 1x Solarite
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Shardcarbine
◦ 1x Solarite weapon
• 4x Scourge
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Drukhari haywire blaster

Talos (160 Points)
• 2x Talos
◦ 2x Talos gauntlet
◦ 2x Twin Drukhari haywire blaster
◦ 2x Twin liquifier gun

ALLIED UNITS

Shadowseer (60 Points)
• 1x Flip Belt
• 1x Miststave
• 1x Neuro disruptor

Troupe (190 Points)
• 1x Lead Player
◦ 1x Flip Belt
◦ 1x Fusion pistol
◦ 1x Power sword
• 10x Player
◦ 10x Flip Belt
◦ 3x Fusion pistol
◦ 10x Harlequin’s blade
◦ 4x Neuro disruptor
◦ 3x Shuriken pistol

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (1), Data Version: v662

Archetype

Talos Troupe Wager

Thoughts

More elves in third, here showing off the increasingly popular double Talos version of Wager, and a build with some actual clowns in it no less. The Talos and big Shadowseer Troupe feel like they go together really well, as if the opponent has to divert major threats to handle the pain engines, then they may not be able to get that much killing power in range of the clowns. Access to a reactive move and Lethal Hits then lets the big unit dominate a flank, a real headache to handle (as clowns like to be), and in combination with the large amount of stuff these builds field, that can be hard to overcome. Cool to see Harlequins actually getting a bit of work in these, good job Nicholas.

The Best of the Rest

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

5th – Andy Shellenbarger – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Our first Knight list to put under the microscope, Canis, double Atrapos and a teleporting Errant, expect this one to lose a big Knight and add an Armiger to make up points.
6th – Trae Burnett – Chaos Space Marines (Chaos Cult): Accursed Communes backed up by Predators for enemy elite Infantry and a Discolord as a troubleshooter.
7th – Ryan Mcguire – Space Wolves (Gladius Task Force): Herohammer melee MSUs galore, with a couple of ThunderCav units as faster threats.
8th – Steven Mulkey – Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread): A relatively modest four big build with two Despoilers, a Rampager and a Tyrant, which ends up taking a slightly softer hit than some thanks to the inclusion of the big boy. Still needs to drop a War Dog and change, or drop the second Despoiler and fill out with more activations.

GT Golden Dawn III – Warhammer 40k

46-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Nicolas Francone – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Demonioooooox GT (1995 points)

Chaos Daemons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Daemonic Incursion

CHARACTERS

Be’lakor (375 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Betraying Shades
1x The Blade of Shadows

Bloodthirster (325 points)
• 1x Great axe of Khorne
1x Hellfire breath
• Enhancement: A’rgath, The King of Blades

Great Unclean One (295 points)
• 1x Bilesword
1x Plague flail
1x Putrid vomit
• Enhancement: The Endless Gift

Rotigus (250 points)
• 1x Gnarlrod
1x Streams of brackish filth

Skarbrand (305 points)
• 1x Bellow of endless fury
1x Slaughter and Carnage

BATTLELINE

Nurglings (40 points)
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth

Plaguebearers (110 points)
• 1x Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
9x Plaguesword

OTHER DATASHEETS

Beasts of Nurgle (65 points)
• 1x Putrid appendages

Flesh Hounds (75 points)
• 1x Gore Hound
• 1x Burning roar
1x Collar of Khorne
1x Gore-drenched fangs
• 4x Flesh Hound
• 4x Collar of Khorne
4x Gore-drenched fangs

Screamers (80 points)
• 3x Screamer
• 3x Lamprey bite

Exported with App Version: v1.38.0 (90), Data Version: v651

Archetype

Melee Monster Mash

Thoughts

Daemons keep on trucking, here using a hammer and anvil monster build with the Great Unclean One thickness to hold foes in place, followed by Skarbrand or a Bloodthirster punching them into orbit. Add anti-Shooting from Be’lakor (mitigating any shared weaknesses it might have with Knights) and some good utility support, and job’s a good ‘un. Well done Nicolas.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Henry Lam – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): Triple Wardens, two tanks and a Bike/Captain unit.
3rd – Jorge Latorre – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs): An extra crunchy Martyrs build that cuts down on sacrificial toys to cram in Canis Rex, which…is probably still fine.
4th – Adam Lev – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer): Direct fire Hammer with Defilers. Those will probably get more of a look on terrain sets they’re usable on, since they didn’t change in price.
5th – Emmanuel Bedoya – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): All-rounder Liberator with Sanguinary Guard MSUs and shooty hulls.
6th – Alejandro Sandoval – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, a Lancer, a Gallant and a teleporting Valiant. The latter is on the list of things that get more of a look now thanks to going up in price far less, and also being harder to handle with medium anti-tank capability.
7th – Ivan Betancourt – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King with the Nightbringer and a couple of Doomsdays.
8th – Julián Zuluaga Rodriguez – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): Calgar/Bobby G with shooty hulls and some Bladeguard.

Hour Zero 2: Heroes Unchained

40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Großweil, BY, Deutschland on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Jan Reisenauer – Dark Angels (Company of Hunters) – 1st Place

On nuclear-powered motorbikes, the enemies of Unst will burn — Ravenwing Outriders. Credit: Kevin Stillman

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Dark Angels
+ DETACHMENT: Company of Hunters
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1990pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Lion El’Jonson
+ ENHANCEMENT: Recon Hunter (on Char1: Ravenwing Command Squad – Ravenwing Champion)
& Master of Manoeuvre (on Char2: Ravenwing Command Squad – Ravenwing Champion)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 14
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (4×2) – Assassination: 4 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Azrael (115 pts): Lion’s Wrath, The Sword of Secrets

Char2: 1x Lion El’Jonson (315 pts): Warlord, Arma Luminis, Fealty

Char3: 3x Ravenwing Command Squad (140 pts)
• 1x Ravenwing Ancient: Black Knight combat weapon, Bolt Pistol, Plasma talon
• 1x Ravenwing Apothecary: Black Knight combat weapon, Bolt Pistol, Plasma talon
• 1x Ravenwing Champion: Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted power weapon, Plasma talon
Enhancement: Recon Hunter (+20 pts)

Char4: 3x Ravenwing Command Squad (135 pts)
• 1x Ravenwing Ancient: Black Knight combat weapon, Bolt Pistol, Plasma talon
• 1x Ravenwing Apothecary: Black Knight combat weapon, Bolt Pistol, Plasma talon
• 1x Ravenwing Champion: Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted power weapon, Plasma talon
Enhancement: Master of Manoeuvre (+15 pts)

3x Outrider Squad (80 pts)
• 2x Outrider: 2 with Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol, Twin Bolt Rifle
• 1x Outrider Sergeant: Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol, Twin Bolt Rifle

3x Centurion Devastator Squad (165 pts)
• 2x Devastator Centurion: 2 with Centurion Fists, Centurion Missile Launcher, Twin Lascannon
• 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant: Centurion Fists, Centurion Missile Launcher, Twin Lascannon

5x Scout Squad (70 pts)
• 1x Scout Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Astartes Chainsword
• 4x Scouts: 4 with Bolt Pistol, Close Combat Weapon, Combat Knife

5x Sternguard Veteran Squad (100 pts)
• 4x Sternguard Veteran
3 with Sternguard Veteran Squad, Close Combat Weapon, Sternguard Bolt Pistol, Sternguard Bolt Rifle
1 with Sternguard Veteran Squad, Close Combat Weapon, Sternguard Bolt Pistol, Sternguard Heavy Bolter
• 1x Sternguard Veteran Sergeant: Close Combat Weapon, Sternguard Bolt Pistol, Power Fist, Sternguard Bolt Rifle

1x Vindicator (185 pts): Armoured Tracks, Demolisher Cannon, Hunter Killer Missile, Storm Bolter

Archetype

Hunter Shooting

Thoughts

The comic stylings of high-speed Centurions continue to put up a noticeable clip of results, here going extra hard on shooting by adding nitro-boosted Vindicators as well. Add great pressure or counter-charge melee from the Outriders and Lion, and a cute little Devastating Wounds bomb from Azrael with Sternguard, and you have a list that keeps putting up real results. Jury is slightly out as to whether it keeps doing that without Knights for it to line up shooting into, but equally the Outrider units don’t feel phenomenal in that game, so maybe this is only going to get better. Well done to Jan for taking victory for the Rock.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Johannes Brandenburg – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): The stock double Berzerker double Forgefiend build with Helbrutes in the flex slots.
3rd – Christian Muschalek – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): No-Mortarion Vectorium Goodstuff, notable for packing a full ten-model Blightlord unit, something that’s unscathed in the changes so definitely worth a look.
4th – Max Nitschinger – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Double Prince Coterie with some Flawless Blades slotted in.
5th – Dominik Allgäuer – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer): Plagueburst Hammer with all the hits.
6th – Jens Gottfried – Genestealer Cult (Final Day): Final Day with shooty vehicles and a couple of anti-Infantry melee threats (Metamorphs and Genestealers) plus a bunch of Tyranid scoring pieces.
7th – Thomas Krömmer – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Shooty Raiders with Obliterators, Havocs and some gun tanks supporting a few brawler pieces.

Abyss 40k GT #5

34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Montréal, Québec, CA on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Maxime Rampen – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) – 1st Place

Commander Dante by Craig "MasterSlowPoke" Sniffen — Commander Dante by Craig “MasterSlowPoke” Sniffen

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Blood Angels
+ DETACHMENT: Liberator Assault Group
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Commander Dante
+ ENHANCEMENT:
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 17
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (3×2) – Assassination: 6 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Commander Dante (120 pts): Warlord, Perdition, The Axe Mortalis
Char2: 1x Lemartes (100 pts): Absolver Bolt Pistol, The Blood Crozius
Char3: 1x Captain with Jump Pack (75 pts): Relic Shield, Thunder Hammer
Char4: 1x Death Company Captain with Jump Pack (75 pts): Power Fist, Plasma Pistol
Char5: 1x Death Company Captain with Jump Pack (75 pts): Power Fist, Plasma Pistol
Char6: 1x Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 pts): Combi-weapon, Paired Combat Blades

6x Bladeguard Veteran Squad (160 pts)
• 1x Bladeguard Veteran Sergeant: Master-crafted Power Weapon, Heavy Bolt Pistol
• 5x Bladeguard Veterans: 5 with Heavy Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted Power Weapon
6x Bladeguard Veteran Squad (160 pts)
• 1x Bladeguard Veteran Sergeant: Master-crafted Power Weapon, Heavy Bolt Pistol
• 5x Bladeguard Veterans: 5 with Heavy Bolt Pistol, Master-crafted Power Weapon
5x Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (120 pts)
1 with Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol
1 with Power Fist, Inferno Pistol
1 with Eviscerator, Heavy Bolt Pistol
1 with Power Fist, Heavy Bolt Pistol
1 with Astartes Chainsword, Plasma Pistol
5x Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (120 pts)
1 with Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol
1 with Power Fist, Inferno Pistol
1 with Eviscerator, Heavy Bolt Pistol
1 with Power Fist, Heavy Bolt Pistol
1 with Astartes Chainsword, Plasma Pistol
10x Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (230 pts)
3 with Astartes Chainsword, Heavy Bolt Pistol
2 with Power Fist, Inferno Pistol
2 with Eviscerator, Heavy Bolt Pistol
1 with Power Fist, Heavy Bolt Pistol
2 with Astartes Chainsword, Plasma Pistol
3x Sanguinary Guard (110 pts)
1 with Sanguinary Guard, Encarmine Blade, Inferno Pistol
1 with Sanguinary Guard, Encarmine Blade, Angelus Boltgun
1 with Sanguinary Banner, Sanguinary Guard, Encarmine Blade, Angelus Boltgun
3x Sanguinary Guard (110 pts)
1 with Sanguinary Guard, Encarmine Blade, Inferno Pistol
1 with Sanguinary Guard, Encarmine Blade, Angelus Boltgun
1 with Sanguinary Banner, Sanguinary Guard, Encarmine Blade, Angelus Boltgun
3x Sanguinary Guard (110 pts)
1 with Sanguinary Guard, Encarmine Blade, Inferno Pistol
1 with Sanguinary Guard, Encarmine Blade, Angelus Boltgun
1 with Sanguinary Banner, Sanguinary Guard, Encarmine Blade, Angelus Boltgun
1x Ballistus Dreadnought (140 pts): Armoured Feet, Ballistus Lascannon, Ballistus Missile Launcher, Twin Storm Bolter
1x Ballistus Dreadnought (140 pts): Armoured Feet, Ballistus Lascannon, Ballistus Missile Launcher, Twin Storm Bolter
1x Impulsor (80 pts): Armoured Hull, 2x Fragstorm Grenade Launcher

Archetype

All-rounder Liberator

Thoughts

Liberator Assault Group is one of the big stories of the week, and poised to be one of the top dogs in the new metagame now that Death Guard have been dialed down. The classic Blood Angels trick of making even MSUs into alpha melee threats via their detachment rule lets them saturate the table with danger to a greater degree than anyone else, and adding in great reach from Advance/Charge and some highly effective central bully units like Lemartes Death Company pushes the army over the top. There’s also all sorts of ways you can tech it – this variant innovates with some Death Company Captains to make the smaller jump units a spectacular threat, but you can also invest in getting Fight First online in several ways, and can tune the shooting up or down as the metagame demands. Highly flexible, highly lethal, and one to watch – well done to Maxime for unleashing this especially vicious version.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Micheal Godon – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis/Atrapos/Atrapos/Lancer with Helverins, the prime target of the Knight changes.
3rd – David Sajedi – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Deathshroud and Bloat-drones with a Despoiler, double dipping on nerfs.
4th – Jeremie Maranda – Blood Angels (Unknown Detachment): No list (listed as the event’s ringer so fair enough).
5th – Richard Perazzo – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis/Castigator/Lancer/Lancer, supported by some Sororitas (and use of that option surely goes up a bit).
6th – Ramzi Be – Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): Lion with two flanking Deathwing Knight squads, bakced by firepower from Inceptors and Hellblasters.

VT 40K GT AUGUST 25

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Lachlan Rigg – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) – 1st Place

Flesh Tearers Bladeguard Veterans. Credit: Drybrush Threepwood

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Player Name: Lachlan Rigg
Team Name: Australia
Factions Used: Space Marines
Army Points: 1995
Army Enhancements (list on which model): Blood Angels Captain – Rage-fuelled Warrior; Chaplain – Speed of the primarch
Detachment Rule: Liberator Assault Group
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Where are my Lancers?! (1995 points)

Space Marines
Blood Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Liberator Assault Group

CHARACTERS

Blood Angels Captain (115 points)
• 1x Inferno pistol
1x Power fist
• Enhancement: Rage-fuelled Warrior

Captain with Jump Pack (75 points)
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Power fist

Chaplain (85 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Crozius arcanum
• Enhancement: Speed of the Primarch

Commander Dante (120 points)
• 1x Perdition Pistol
1x The Axe Mortalis

Death Company Captain with Jump Pack (75 points)
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Power fist

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

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Impulsor (80 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Ironhail skytalon array
2x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Hand flamer
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 Neo-volkite pistol
• 5x Bladeguard Veteran
• 5x Heavy bolt pistol
5x Master-crafted power weapon

Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (120 points)
• 5x Death Company Marine with Jump Packs
• 2x Astartes chainsword
1x Eviscerator
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Inferno pistol
1x Plasma pistol
2x Power fist

Sanguinary Guard (240 points)
• 6x Sanguinary Guard
• 4x Angelus boltgun
6x Encarmine blade
2x Inferno pistol
1x Sanguinary Banner

Sanguinary Guard (110 points)
• 3x Sanguinary Guard
• 2x Angelus boltgun
3x Encarmine blade
1x Inferno pistol
1x Sanguinary Banner

Scout Squad (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
3x Combat knife
1x Missile launcher

Archetype

Heavy Melee Liberator

Thoughts

And to immediately hammer that home (if less literally than in 8th Edition) we’ve got another Liberator build, this one more focused on pure melee dominance via even more Bladeguard, access to a Fight First activation for one squad (plus a Chaplain to let you use big Stratagems then recover from Battle-shock), and going big on Dante’s Sanguinary Guard unit. You don’t have guns, as a trade-off, but the big Dante unit in particular lets you just roll over foes if they stumble even slightly. I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say I welcome our new angelic overlords, but I am at least acknowledging them. Congratulations Lachlan.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Callum German – Space Wolves (Saga of the Beastslayer): Beastslayer with Herohammer, ThunderCav and a full 20-model Blood Claw unit for Ragnar.
3rd – Ben Jones – Aeldari (Aspect Host): 10 Dragons in a Serpent and various supporting Phoenix Lords/Aspect units, including Asurmen in a Falcon. Also adds the interesting objective flipping tech of a Strategic Savant Autarch Wayleaper to go with some Spiders.
4th – Chuck Bailey – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Vectorium Goodstuff.
5th – Lee Wright – Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread): Four bigs, a Stalker and Rotigus.

40k Brawl – August GT 2025

26-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on August 16 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Liam Callebout – Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Ck (2000 Points)

Chaos Knights
Lords of Dread
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Knight Abominant (325 Points)
• 1x Balemace
• 1x Diabolus heavy stubber
• 1x Electroscourge
• 1x Volkite combustor

Knight Abominant (355 Points)
• 1x Balemace
• 1x Diabolus heavy stubber
• 1x Electroscourge
• 1x Volkite combustor
• Enhancements: Mirror of Fates

Knight Abominant (325 Points)
• 1x Balemace
• 1x Diabolus heavy stubber
• 1x Electroscourge
• 1x Volkite combustor

Knight Despoiler (355 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Daemonbreath meltagun
• 1x Despoiler gatling cannon
• 1x Despoiler gatling cannon
• 1x Heavy darkflamer
• 1x Heavy darkflamer
• 1x Ruinspear rocket pod
• 1x Titanic feet
• Enhancements: Blessing of the Dark Master

Knight Rampager (370 Points)
• 1x Diabolus heavy stubber
• 1x Reaper chainsword
• 1x Warpstrike claw
• Enhancements: Blade of Celerity

OTHER DATASHEETS

War Dog Executioner (130 Points)
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Diabolus heavy stubber
• 2x War Dog autocannon

War Dog Stalker (140 Points)
• 1x Avenger chaincannon
• 1x Havoc multi-launcher
• 1x Slaughterclaw

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (1), Data Version: v662

Archetype

Five big Lords

Thoughts

To close us out and pour one out, we’ve got a Lords of Dread build that goes light on the quality of the five big Knights so that it can squeeze in two War Dogs. Could squeeze in two War Dogs, because 160pts of price hikes forces this list to lose a big Knight, and presumably buy another dog with the other half of that. The result still looks pretty scary, but without the overwhelming force of five bigs (and a few points left over from that swap), you probably just upgrade to a second Despoiler and go Infernals. I’m sure we’ll find out from Liam, given he has personally crushed my poor elves with his Chaos Knights before, and will certainly do it again. Well done on the win!

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Robert Cousin – Chaos Daemons (Plague Legion): Morale headache Legion with Drones to tee up a killer turn from Great Unclean Ones when something needs to die.
3rd – James Ball – Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion): Lots of Screamers and Flamers to control the board then Kairos, a Lord of Change, and a Daemon Prince for heavier lifting.
4th – Joe Coles – Black Templars (Gladius Task Force): Melee aggro Gladius Templars with lots of Bladeguard and Sword Brethren. Double swords for Templars. Swords all round.

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: Back to Black pt.1

Denver 40K Fight Club August Open 2025

The Showdown

Take and Hold – Search and Destroy

Thoughts

Result

Ben Neal – Black Templars (Gladius Task Force) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

John Kilcommons – T’au Empire (Auxiliary Cadre) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Joel Davis – Aeldari (Guardian Battlehost) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Nicholas Rosasco – Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

GT Golden Dawn III – Warhammer 40k

Nicolas Francone – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Hour Zero 2: Heroes Unchained

Jan Reisenauer – Dark Angels (Company of Hunters) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Abyss 40k GT #5

Maxime Rampen – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

VT 40K GT AUGUST 25

Lachlan Rigg – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

40k Brawl – August GT 2025

Liam Callebout – Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread) – 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