Competitive Innovations in 10th: Cold as Ice pt.2

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.

  • WarGamesCon 15 Warhammer 40K Championship
  • Huzzah Hobbies Road to NOVA 40K Event Hosted by Away Games
  • Second City Games 40K GT June
  • Feel No Pain GT
  • RAW 2025, a charity matched play event

On Wednesday Wings looked at:

  • Goonhammer Open 2025 Presented By Gaming Under the Ice
  • Mountain West Classic Grand Tournament ’25 – Warhammer 40K
  • ITA 40K SINGLES GRAND TOURNAMENT 2025
  • Behind Enemy Lines 2025
  • Iron Man RTT – J&B
  • Málaga Open

WarGamesCon 15 Warhammer 40K Championship

110-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Austin, TX, United States on June 21 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Brett Perkins – Chaos Daemons (Shadow Legion) – 1st Place

Credit: Robert “TheChirurgeon” Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand


Shadow Daemons (1995 points)

Chaos Daemons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Shadow Legion

CHARACTERS

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

Bloodthirster (330 points)
• 1x Great axe of Khorne
1x Hellfire breath
• Enhancement: Leaping Shadows

Rendmaster on Blood Throne (165 points)
• 1x Attendants’ hellblades
1x Blade of blood

Rendmaster on Blood Throne (165 points)
• 1x Attendants’ hellblades
1x Blade of blood

Skullmaster (130 points)
• 1x Blade of blood
1x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• Enhancement: Fade to Darkness

BATTLELINE

Pink Horrors (140 points)
• 10x Pink Horror
• 10x Coruscating pink flames
1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
10x Pink claws

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Bloodcrushers (220 points)
• 1x Bloodhunter
• 1x Hellblade
1x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• 5x Bloodcrusher
• 1x Daemonic Icon
5x Hellblade
1x Instrument of Chaos
5x Juggernaut’s bladed horn

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

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

ALLIED UNITS

Chaos Lord with Jump Pack (80 points)
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist

Cultist Mob (50 points)
• 1x Cultist Champion
• 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
• 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon

Havocs (125 points)
• 1x Havoc Champion
• 1x Accursed weapon
1x Meltagun
• 4x Havoc
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Havoc lascannon

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (83), Data Version: v629

Archetype

Shadow Legion

Thoughts

A novel Shadow Legion here, which opts away from a Fade thirster in favour of a RUSHTHIRSTER, with Leaping Shadows to push it aggressively in the early game. Rendmasters hand out damage buffs, and this list looks suitably juiced up for smashing through mech heavy armies with abandon. Shadow Legion has a fantastic toolkit allowing you to blitz portions of the board whilst staying safe from enemy shooting, and played well it remains a very strong detachment. Fantastic work on the event win.

Noah Pope – Thousand Sons (Warpmeld Pact) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Credit: Robert “TheChirurgeon” Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand


1 – WGC – Tsons – Warpmeld – what da (2000 points)

I am da swarm nids

Thousand Sons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Warpmeld Pact

CHARACTERS

Sorcerer (75 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Pandaemonic Delusion
1x Prosperine khopesh

Sorcerer (75 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Pandaemonic Delusion
1x Prosperine khopesh

Tzaangor Shaman (55 points)
• 1x Baleful Devolution
1x Force stave

Tzaangor Shaman (75 points)
• 1x Baleful Devolution
1x Force stave
• Enhancement: Diamond of Distortion

BATTLELINE

Rubric Marines (100 points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Malefic Curse
1x Warpflame pistol
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer

Rubric Marines (100 points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Malefic Curse
1x Warpflame pistol
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer

Tzaangors (70 points)
• 1x Twistbray
• 1x Autopistol
1x Chainsword
• 9x Tzaangor
• 9x Autopistol
1x Brayhorn
9x Chainsword
1x Herd banner

Tzaangors (70 points)
• 1x Twistbray
• 1x Autopistol
1x Chainsword
• 9x Tzaangor
• 9x Autopistol
1x Brayhorn
9x Chainsword
1x Herd banner

Tzaangors (160 points)
• 1x Twistbray
• 1x Autopistol
1x Chainsword
• 19x Tzaangor
• 19x Autopistol
1x Brayhorn
19x Chainsword
1x Herd banner

Tzaangors (160 points)
• 1x Twistbray
• 1x Autopistol
1x Chainsword
• 19x Tzaangor
• 19x Autopistol
1x Brayhorn
19x Chainsword
1x Herd banner

OTHER DATASHEETS

Forgefiend (140 points)
• 3x Ectoplasma cannon
1x Forgefiend claws

Forgefiend (140 points)
• 3x Ectoplasma cannon
1x Forgefiend claws

Forgefiend (140 points)
1x Forgefiend claws

Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 points)
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex

Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 points)
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex

Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 points)
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex

Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (80 points)
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 5x Enlightened
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Fatecaster greatbow

Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (80 points)
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 5x Enlightened
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Fatecaster greatbow

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (83), Data Version: v629

Archetype

Goat Jail

Thoughts

Lowest of Men: Ok, Warpmeld sure does let you jam an awful lot of Goats in the opponents fact whilst shooting with reckless abandon doesn’t it?! Triple Forgefiends and Vortex Beasts lay down an awful lot of support fire as Tzzangor drown the mid board. The cute pull away tricks you can apply with this at present make it deceptively hard to grapple with (a few mortals here and there can disrupt your coherency and pile ins in a whole host of nasty way) (Editor’s note: though as we’ll see, some of these around shooting were ruled out for this event), and Warpmeld has the advantage of being a somewhat lesser known entity in the meta… for now. Well done on the top placing!

Noah also sent us through his own thoughts on the army and event, take it away Noah:

Hey y’all, Im Noah and wanted to share a little perspective into my event this weekend with Warpmeld. As with all tournaments, terrain matters heavily, and when I saw that WGC was using WTC terrain I became worried that my Grand Coven list would have trouble holding primary vs the fast melee armies so heavily favored on WTC, and would have trouble denying primary vs the defensive dug in armies like DG. While Warpmeld pact is a substantial downgrade in raw damage, it is also one of the strongest detachments at playing the mission. 20 Tzaangors with -1 to hit, -1 to wound, and a 4+++ invulerable save do NOT die. Seriously, run the math on your favorite damage output unit and see how many tzaangors you kill. On the flipside, Advance and Charging Tzaangors, paired with effectively 0″ Deep Strike Tzaangors (6″ DS + ritual) are incredible at denying primary.
Finally, having tested Tzangor’s interaction with pulling models to the detachment ability to avoid shooting attacks, it felt like it would play well on WTC. My list is pretty standard warpmeld, with the exception I am on less Rubrics and characters than other lists, in order to fit in 3 Forgefiends. My take was that Warpmeld has less damage than coven, and one of its lose conditions is on your ‘go turn’, if you bounce and don’t deal critical damage, then your marine bodies get picked up very easily and you have no teeth left.

My hypothesis is that Forgefiends, when combined with 3 Mutalith Vortex Beasts, would act as a sort of resilience damage check, where even if I bounce on the go turn, I have enough durability left that my damage pieces get to activate multiple times. Combine that with Tzaangor jail being great at stopping Forgefiends from getting tagged, and I thought they were an appealing addition to the list. All that said and done, and the list ended up as 2 sorcerers attached to two rubric squads, two tzangor shamans (one with -1 to hit relic attached to a 20 man squad and one solo),  60 total tzaangors (20/20/10/10), 3 MVBs, 3 forge fiends, and 12 (6/6) Enlightened with bows.

So I packed my models and headed to the tournament, before receiving a surprising announcement the morning of day 1 – WGC had ruled that Tzaangors could not use their ability to pull out of melee attacks or shooting attacks through the use of their detachment ability. As this was the hand I was dealt, I made peace with the decision and began playing.

And had six incredible games against six amazing opponents!  Right away I noticed the list was performing as intended. In game one against Russell Tassin’s new pactbound CSM list, my 10 man Tzaangor squads denied primary and gummed up the movement lanes for two turns in a row while his tanks struggled to move through the dense WTC boards. Meanwhile, my 20 Tzaangors with -1 to hit were charged by two legionnaire squads and survived (handedly) both activations in the same turn. With a substantial primary lead, and end of game scoring accrued, I didn’t have to expose any of my damage pieces and swindled a win against Russell. We had an absolute blast of a game, and Russell is an absolute gentleman, so a great round 1.
This was basically how every single game played out. In fact, 3/6 of my games I think both players ended with over 1300 points of their army left. It was a pretty common occurrence that just the threat of my damage was enough to cause players to hesitate coming out in the open (3 Forgefiends and 3 MVBs waiting behind cover causes some real psychological damage), and all I had to do to secure the win was throw goats at them while securing my natural.
In my opinion the three closest games (Brendan Muller’s Votann, Travis Meyer’s Starshatter Neccrons, and Matthew Brewer’s World Eater) all were very close because they chose to disrespect the damage and get aggressive on the board. Those games were hairy, and won not in small part because of going second with Challenger cards, but ultimately the Goat’s pulled it out. 0″ deepstrike is a hell of a drug, and the Forgefiends paid their weight in gold getting to activate multiple turns in a row behind the wall of mutant flesh.
Round 6, the final match against Will Davis’s Mont’ka Tau was fun, albeit somewhat straightforward. Played on WTC 4/5 tipping point, this map has an almost completely hidden natural objective, and an extremely open middle of the board. I knew it would be a cagey game, because whoever entered into the middle ‘thunderdome’ would get blasted by the other player. So I deployed all of my damage pieces safely behind cover, able to jump out and threaten lines into the mid board if needed. I got the first turn, and threw my 20 Tzaangors into the protected ruin on my natural objective. Sent the solo shaman to touch the midpoint and do an action, which forced Will to also commit something to the middle point to stop the ‘spawn on death’ strat from letting me keep the point. He moved up his own units onto his natural, and passed back.
T2 I pushed ten Tzaangors with Advance and Charge to tie up the units on his natural, scored a couple secondaries, and passed back. Will cleared that squad, but at the cost of having even less OC on the point since he had to fall back from the tzaangors to shoot them. T3 I was able to use Tzaangor enlightened to deny his natural (decent Advance + movement ritual), and scored some more secondaries. T3 he cleared those Tzaangors and threw some piranhas onto the middle. T4 I charged my 20 man squad into his natural, denying his primary, scored some secondaries, and passed back. He cleared that squad, but by then it was too late. Even with him maxing out the end of game scoring, the 3 turns of primary denial was too much and it was over in my favor. By the end of the game I had lost 40 Tzaangors, 6 Enlightened bowgoats, and an Enlightened shaman. He had lost all 3 piranhas and a breacherfish. Many 40k players would be ashamed at a game like that, but to me that’s just warhammer :P.
It’s all about the primary baby. Really, Will and I had a great time and were shooting the shit and enjoying ourselves. After 5 other games of warhammer with no AC (it was hot as hell in there) we were exhausted, and yet still found a way to have a really enjoyable, chill game. I might not have won the event due to my battle point tiebreakers being relatively low (most wins were in the 70’s), but still I can be happy that the hypothesis with how the list would play out ended up being reality!
Truly, thanks to all my opponents for a great weekend of playing 40k, and sorry not sorry for shoving you into goatjail from start to finish!
Thanks for the writeup Noah, and well done on the undefeated run!

Justin Moore – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) – 3rd Place

Primaris Chapter Master Dante. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand


BA (2000 points)
KICK HIS TEETH IN!

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 (90 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• Enhancement: Gift of Foresight

Chaplain with Jump Pack (100 points)
• 1x Crozius arcanum
1x Power fist
• Enhancement: Speed of the Primarch

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

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

BATTLELINE

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

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

Infiltrator Squad (100 points)
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine

Infiltrator Squad (100 points)
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine

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

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

Sanguinary Guard (110 points)
• 3x Sanguinary Guard
• 2x Angelus boltgun
3x Encarmine blade
1x 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 Heavy bolter

Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (190 points)
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 9x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 9x Storm Shield
9x Vanguard Veteran weapon

Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (190 points)
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 9x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 9x Storm Shield
9x Vanguard Veteran weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (83), Data Version: v629

Archetype

BA Mixed Arms

Thoughts

Blood Angels had a rather good dataslate, with lots of points drops handed out and a few nice stealth buffs to how Death Company works. This list zeroes in on Sanguinary Guard and Vanguard Veterans as it’s flying units of choice, complimenting them with a Repulsor Executioner and Ballistus for some supporting fire. BA is honest, but brutal and packs a massive punch both at range and up close. Best be ready! Well done on the top placing.

Colin McDade – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium) – 4th Place

Credit: Robert “TheChirurgeon” Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand


DeathGaurdCon (2000 Points)

Death Guard
Virulent Vectorium
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

Lord of Contagion (110 Points)
• 1x Manreaper

Lord of Contagion (135 Points)
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancements: Furnace of Plagues

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

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

Typhus (90 Points)
• 1x Lakrimae

BATTLELINE

Plague Marines (190 Points)
• 1x Plague Champion
◦ 1x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Power fist
• 9x Plague Marine
◦ 1x Boltgun
◦ 4x Bubotic weapons
◦ 4x Heavy plague weapon
◦ 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
◦ 9x Plague knives

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

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

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

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

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

ALLIED UNITS

War Dog Brigand (165 Points)
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Avenger chaincannon
• 1x Daemonbreath spear
• 1x Diabolus heavy stubber

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (1), Data Version: v629

Archetype

Mortarion Vectorium

Thoughts

Virulent is the anti-melee detachment of choice for the Death Guard, and by goodness does it slap. I’ve lost a few games hard to the potent combination of Mortarion, Fights First, and -1 damage. This list can get hunkered down on the entire mid-board and murder anything that tries to claim  it. It’s a little less brutal at range than some of the variants we see, but it can scrap with almost anything and it leaves armies reliant on damage 2 reeling. Fantastic work on the top placing.

The Best of the Rest

There were 6 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

  • 5th – Chad Lapham – Space Marines (Ironstorm Spearhead): Vicious Ironstorm with a lot of gun vehicles and triple Invictor for pressure.
  • 6th – Bryan Brooks – Orks (War Horde): Boy and Kill Rig heavy War Horde with a brick of Squigz.
  • 7th – Will Davis – T’au Empire (Mont’ka): Triple Sky Ray and Pirhanas for massive forward pressure.
  • 8th – Justin Dunn – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): Mixed arms Lions with multiple Caladius and a Guard brick.
  • 9th – Gerry Rodriguez – Leagues of Votann (Oathband): Berzerker heavy Oathband with Transports to ferry them to the brawl.
  • 10th – Phillip Schwan – Death Guard (Champions of Contagion): Plague marine centric Champions with a trio of gun Drones.

Huzzah Hobbies Road to NOVA 40K Event Hosted by Away Games

46-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Ashburn, VA, US on June 21 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Supply Drop – Tipping Point

Scott Horras “Heresy” – Astra Militarum (Combined Arms)
Army List - Click to Expand


Get in the Dornhole, Shinji (2000 points)

Astra Militarum
Strike Force (2000 points)
Combined Arms

CHARACTERS

Cadian Command Squad (65 points)
• 1x Cadian Commander
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Master Vox
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Medi-pack
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Meltagun

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

Rogal Dorn Commander (265 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Coaxial autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
2x Meltagun
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon

Rogal Dorn Commander (265 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Coaxial autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
2x Meltagun
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon

Ursula Creed (85 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Duty and Vengeance
1x Power weapon

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Taurox (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin autocannon

Taurox (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin autocannon

Taurox (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin autocannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

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

Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (240 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Coaxial autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
2x Meltagun
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon

Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (240 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Coaxial autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
2x Meltagun
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (83), Data Version: v629

vs.

Matt Schuchman – Aeldari (Warhost)
Army List - Click to Expand


War host cruise missiles (2000 Points)

Aeldari
Warhost
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Autarch (85 Points)
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
• 1x Star glaive

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

Fuegan (120 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Fire Axe
• 1x Searsong

Jain Zar (105 Points)
• 1x Blade of Destruction
• 1x Silent Death

Maugan Ra (100 Points)
• 1x Maugetar

Solitaire (115 Points)
• 1x Flip Belt
• 1x Solitaire weapons

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Wave Serpent (125 Points)
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Twin bright lance
• 1x Wraithbone hull

Wave Serpent (125 Points)
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Twin bright lance
• 1x Wraithbone hull

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dark Reapers (90 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Missile launcher
• 4x Dark Reaper
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Reaper launcher

Fire Dragons (220 Points)
• 2x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Firepike
• 9x Fire Dragon
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Dragon fusion gun

Howling Banshees (95 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
◦ 1x Executioner
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Howling Banshee
◦ 4x Banshee blade
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Howling Banshees (95 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 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

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

Shining Spears (110 Points)
• 1x Shining Spear Exarch
◦ 1x Shimmershield
◦ 1x Shuriken cannon
◦ 1x Star lance
• 2x Shining Spear
◦ 2x Laser lance
◦ 2x Twin shuriken catapult

Shining Spears (110 Points)
• 1x Shining Spear Exarch
◦ 1x Shimmershield
◦ 1x Shuriken cannon
◦ 1x Star lance
• 2x Shining Spear
◦ 2x Laser lance
◦ 2x Twin shuriken catapult

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (1), Data Version: v629

Thoughts

Wings: We have Scott, a known Goonhammer contributor and notably handsome man, here to talk about this matchup and his list.

Scott: Boy, is it rough to have to write about this one… I was delighted to reach the top table, but I went into this matchup feeling like I was certainly outmatched. Neither Aeldari nor Guard have necessarily been a meta menace, but Aeldari feels like it’s one of the few armies out there that can trivially deal with Rogal Dorns if they’re rocking Fire Dragons and Fuegan. In this case, Matt didn’t leave his tank-busting tools at home, and I rightfully predicted I was going to be in for a rough ride.  

To win this game, I had to get Matt to commit his Fire Dragons early, so I could line up an effective counterattack against the unit and remove them from play. If I were able to do that early in the game while only losing one tank,  I could build enough material advantage to bully his flimsy little elves from the mid-board objectives. 

Matt got first turn and pushed for an all-out attack, failing to kill even a single Dorn with his attack from his Fire Dragons while committing Shining Spears, Banshees with Jain Zar, and Warp Spiders to kill two Taurox and a Sentinel. Unfortunately, on the bottom of the first turn, I failed to kill his Fire Dragon-laden Wave Serpent with a single activation, leaving it on a single wound. He used a Fade Back – Agile Manoeuvre with a heartbreaking 6 on the movement dice to move the transport 8” and out of line of sight from any other shooting unit in my army, narrowly saving the Fire Dragons from further punishment. 

The following turn, he picked up the wounded Dorn and a Dorn Tank Commander with his Fire Dragons, and proceeded to move to move-block the rest of my tanks in my deployment zone with all manner of cheap and fast aspect warrior squads. Matt’s Fire Dragons eventually hunted down the cornered tanks while he ran up the score on my beleaguered army, resulting in a crushing loss for me. 

Mission failed, we’ll get ‘em next time. 

Result

Aeldari (Warhost) Victory – 73 – 23

Matt Schuchman – Aeldari (Warhost) – 1st Place

Credit: Corrode

The List

Army List - Click to Expand


War host cruise missiles (2000 Points)

Aeldari
Warhost
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Autarch (85 Points)
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
• 1x Star glaive

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

Fuegan (120 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Fire Axe
• 1x Searsong

Jain Zar (105 Points)
• 1x Blade of Destruction
• 1x Silent Death

Maugan Ra (100 Points)
• 1x Maugetar

Solitaire (115 Points)
• 1x Flip Belt
• 1x Solitaire weapons

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Wave Serpent (125 Points)
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Twin bright lance
• 1x Wraithbone hull

Wave Serpent (125 Points)
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Twin bright lance
• 1x Wraithbone hull

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dark Reapers (90 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Missile launcher
• 4x Dark Reaper
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Reaper launcher

Fire Dragons (220 Points)
• 2x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Firepike
• 9x Fire Dragon
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Dragon fusion gun

Howling Banshees (95 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
◦ 1x Executioner
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Howling Banshee
◦ 4x Banshee blade
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Howling Banshees (95 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 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

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

Shining Spears (110 Points)
• 1x Shining Spear Exarch
◦ 1x Shimmershield
◦ 1x Shuriken cannon
◦ 1x Star lance
• 2x Shining Spear
◦ 2x Laser lance
◦ 2x Twin shuriken catapult

Shining Spears (110 Points)
• 1x Shining Spear Exarch
◦ 1x Shimmershield
◦ 1x Shuriken cannon
◦ 1x Star lance
• 2x Shining Spear
◦ 2x Laser lance
◦ 2x Twin shuriken catapult

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (1), Data Version: v629

Archetype

War Host Mech Slayers

Thoughts

If in doubt, push the non-interactivity button. Aeldari may have taken some knuckle taps to Ynnari and their points, but they remain in possession of an incredible ruleset, brilliant Aspect Warrior datasheets, and a potent book. War Host feels like a great fit for the present moment – multiple ways to shoot the opponent and then return to a transport sets Eldar up to tangle with Gunlines and Mech armies (of which their are a few!) It doesn’t have the same raw output of some detachments or the pure jank of Ynnari, but it is FAR from honest, and if opponents don’t set a high tempo they will be picked off. Very well done on the event win!

Andrew Gonyo – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Foetid Bloat-drone. Credit: Rockfish
Foetid Bloat-drone. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand


Huzzah June GT (1995 Points)

Death Guard
Mortarion’s Hammer
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Lord of Virulence (110 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Twin plague spewer
• Enhancements: Tendrilous Emissions

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

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 (90 Points)
• 1x Fleshmower
• 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone (90 Points)
• 1x Plague probe
• 2x Plaguespitter

Foetid Bloat-Drone (90 Points)
• 1x Fleshmower
• 1x Plague probe

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

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

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

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

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

Plagueburst Crawler (195 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 2x Entropy cannon
• 1x Heavy slugger
• 1x Plagueburst mortar

Plagueburst Crawler (195 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 2x Entropy cannon
• 1x Heavy slugger
• 1x Plagueburst mortar

Plagueburst Crawler (195 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 2x Entropy cannon
• 1x Heavy slugger
• 1x Plagueburst mortar

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (1), Data Version: v629

Archetype

Mortarion’s Hammer Car Park

Thoughts

Hammer Death Guard – already a staple, and absolutely vicious. Tonnes of Drones and PBCs, Deathshroud to either aggress or ingress as required, and seemingly infinite T9 OC 3 trade pieces to out attrition the foe. Already one of the best armies in the game – will Knights have anything to say about that?!

The Best of the Rest

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

  • 3rd – Scott Horras “Heresy” – Astra Militarum (Combined Arms): Scott’s Astra Militarum list from the showdown.
  • 4th – Jeffrey Kolodner – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs): A mishmash of Tanks, Characters and Mortifiers in Hallowed Martyrs.
  • 5th – Sean Olson – Orks (Dread Mob): Sensational Stompa / Morkanaut / Gorkanaut action in Dread Mob.
  • 6th – James Culpepper – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): VV anti-melee with Mortarion and mini-Mortarion.
  • 7th – Brock Bourassa – Tyranids (Crusher Stampede): Old school tonnes of big bugs Crusher Stampede.
  • 8th – Aidan Dennis – T’au Empire (Kauyon): Riptides and plenty of Broadsides in Kauyon.

Second City Games 40K GT June

37-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Chicago, IL, United States on June 21 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Kevin Leonard – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) – 1st Place

Credit: Robert “TheChirurgeon” Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand


Edmonton (2000 Points)

Chaos Daemons
Daemonic Incursion
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Great Unclean One (295 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Bilesword
• 1x Plague flail
• 1x Putrid vomit
• Enhancements: The Endless Gift

Great Unclean One (250 Points)
• 1x Bilesword
• 1x Plague flail
• 1x Putrid vomit

Rendmaster on Blood Throne (165 Points)
• 1x Attendants’ hellblades
• 1x Blade of blood

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

BATTLELINE

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

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

Bloodcrushers (220 Points)
• 1x Bloodhunter
◦ 1x Hellblade
◦ 1x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• 5x Bloodcrusher
◦ 1x Daemonic Icon
◦ 5x Hellblade
◦ 1x Instrument of Chaos
◦ 5x Juggernaut’s bladed horn

Bloodcrushers (220 Points)
• 1x Bloodhunter
◦ 1x Hellblade
◦ 1x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• 5x Bloodcrusher
◦ 1x Daemonic Icon
◦ 5x Hellblade
◦ 1x Instrument of Chaos
◦ 5x Juggernaut’s bladed horn

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

Skull Cannon (95 Points)
• 1x Attendants’ hellblades
• 1x Biting maw
• 1x Skull cannon

Skull Cannon (95 Points)
• 1x Attendants’ hellblades
• 1x Biting maw
• 1x Skull cannon

Skull Cannon (95 Points)
• 1x Attendants’ hellblades
• 1x Biting maw
• 1x Skull cannon

Exported with App Version: v1.36.0 (3), Data Version: v638

Archetype

Daemonic Incursion Fat Bois

Thoughts

Rotigus and two GUOs is really going to ruin some peoples day. After that, whack em with Bloodcrushers and flood the board with invuln toting mischief makers, and see what happens. Incursion has had a fantastic few months and have a toolkit to adapt to seemingly any meta- real tests of that theory lie ahead. Great work on the event win!

Wesley St. Hines – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Imperial Knight Armiger Helverin
Imperial Knight Armiger Helverin. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand


“Nemo can only play Horde, it’s all he knows”
“Oh yeah punk, watch me go 3-2 with imperial knights”
Chicago (1995 Points)

Imperial Knights
Noble Lance
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

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

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

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

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

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

Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
• 1x Meltagun
• 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
• 1x Thermal spear

Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
• 1x Meltagun
• 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
• 1x Thermal spear

Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
• 1x Meltagun
• 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
• 1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

Sisters of Battle Immolator (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Immolation flamers

Sisters of Battle Immolator (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Immolation flamers

Sisters of Battle Squad (115 Points)
• 1x Sister Superior
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Inferno pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 9x Battle Sister
◦ 9x Bolt pistol
◦ 7x Boltgun
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Multi-melta
◦ 1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Exported with App Version: v1.36.0 (3), Data Version: v638

Archetype

Canis, Armigers, Immolator? I barely know her!

Thoughts

IK man. Dominant in singles for months, and buffed up even further, we are in for a RIDE. The formula is tried and true – buckets of small Knights, a suitably scary big one, and some Sisters to cover one or two gaps. It is going to take some stopping. Great work on the top placing.

The Best of the Rest

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

  • 3rd – Jordan Nach – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): Mixed arms Champions with a big brick of Terminators, some Van Vets, and a Vindicator.
  • 4th – Gary Frank – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Another ride out for Canis and the Armigers.
  • 5th – Ian Smith – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): Vicious go-wide Rubrics in Coven with double Vortex Beast and double Forgefiend.
  • 6th – John Van Dusen – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault): A wild mix of big bugs and Raveners, including Old One Eye and a Haruspex enjoying some new found mobility. LOVE IT.

Feel No Pain GT

35-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Edmond, OK, United States on June 21 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Purge the Foe – Dawn of War

Brent Simon – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer)
Army List - Click to Expand


Dg hammer (2000 Points)

Death Guard
Mortarion’s Hammer
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Lord of Contagion (125 Points)
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancements: Shriekworm Familiar

Lord of Virulence (110 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Twin plague spewer
• Enhancements: Tendrilous Emissions

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chaos Predator Destructor (145 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator autocannon

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

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

Deathshroud Terminators (300 Points)
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
◦ 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
◦ 1x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 5x Deathshroud Terminator
◦ 5x Manreaper
◦ 5x Plaguespurt gauntlet

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

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 (90 Points)
• 1x Fleshmower
• 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone (90 Points)
• 1x Fleshmower
• 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone (90 Points)
• 1x Fleshmower
• 1x Plague probe

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

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

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

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

Poxwalkers (130 Points)
• 20x Poxwalker
◦ 20x Improvised weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (1), Data Version: v629

vs.

BamBam Hunter – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force)
Army List - Click to Expand


Red Rocket 5.0 – Space Wolves – Stormlance Task Force (1990 Points)

Ragnar Blackmane (90 pts)

Iron Priest with Feinting Withdrawal (70 pts)
Wolf Priest – Warlord (70 pts)

Blood Claws (10 models) (135 pts)

Drew sits down to pee

Infiltrator Squad (5 models) (100 pts)
Scout Squad (5 models) (70 pts)
Wolf Guard Headtakers (6 models) (170 pts)
Wulfen w/ Storm Shield (10 models) (200 pts)

3x Thunderwolf Cavalry (6 models) (660 pts)

Ballistus Dreadnought (140 pts)
Land Raider Redeemer (285 pts)

Thoughts

Wings: This is me, rather than Lowest of Men, paying the price for messing up my processing of the voting and needing to do this late.

New Wolves, mostly old tricks – lots and lots of ThunderCav, ready to roll up the board and use their improved base profile to bite/hack everything to death. It’s a good plan, and their 4W defensive profile makes them a little harder to scythe down en-masse with Bloat-Drones and the like. The melee missiles don’t stop there either, with Ragnar’s blender unit ready to go through that 20 Poxwalker screen like a hot knife, Wolf Guard Headtakers to handle enemy elites, and Wulfen to slam into Monsters or Vehicles. Backing them up, a Land Raider Redeemer provides very solid Overwatch projection (and also helps with staging the melee tools), and an Iron Priest with a pet Ballistus threatens to one-shot an enemy vehicle a turn without needing an Oaths commitment.

A very nasty high pressure toolbox overall, but up against one of the hottest factions out there, so no easy ride. I think the biggest problem for the Wolves here is the deployment map. If they don’t get first drop, the big Poxwalker unit completely neutralised the advantage of Dawn of War for their list, and it means it’s going to be almost impossible to hide from getting blasted by Bloat-Drones out of the gate. Strategic Reserves are very easy to screen out, so protecting cavalry that way isn’t viable. Using the Lord of Virulence buff, in combination with Lethal Hits, will quite probably let the Drones blast a whole ThunderCav squad off the board even through Ride Fast, Ride Hard, so if the pre-game rolls go the Death Guard’s way, the Wolves are likely to be down some assets.

They have a lot of toys to play with though, a deeper supply of alpha units than the Death Guard, and my expectation here would be that they can probably overwhelm the servants of Nurgle – I’m thinking you’ll end up in a situation where there’s at least one big Wolf threat left in the late game that the Death Guard don’t have good answers for. in the event, the Wolves scored strongly, but the Death Guard nailed the 100VP victory. My assumption is that they must have gotten the opportunity to heavily tank Wolf early movement with the big Poxwalker unit, and maybe there was a later big stumble against the large Deathshroud unit or something – certainly if the wolves swing and miss against that, the game is going to get away from them very quickly. Well done Brent!

Result

Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) Victory – 100 – 92

Brent Simon – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) – 1st Place

Credit: Robert “TheChirurgeon” Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand


Dg hammer (2000 Points)

Death Guard
Mortarion’s Hammer
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Lord of Contagion (125 Points)
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancements: Shriekworm Familiar

Lord of Virulence (110 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Twin plague spewer
• Enhancements: Tendrilous Emissions

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chaos Predator Destructor (145 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator autocannon

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

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

Deathshroud Terminators (300 Points)
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
◦ 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
◦ 1x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 5x Deathshroud Terminator
◦ 5x Manreaper
◦ 5x Plaguespurt gauntlet

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

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 (90 Points)
• 1x Fleshmower
• 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone (90 Points)
• 1x Fleshmower
• 1x Plague probe

Foetid Bloat-Drone (90 Points)
• 1x Fleshmower
• 1x Plague probe

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

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

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

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

Poxwalkers (130 Points)
• 20x Poxwalker
◦ 20x Improvised weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (1), Data Version: v629

Archetype

Mortarion’s Hammer Deathshroud Spam

Thoughts

A particularly violent Hammer build here which eschews Plagueburst Crawlers in order to slam even MORE Deathshroud in. A six brick with a Lord of Contagion does obscene violence, and I admire the much more direct, apply axe to face until solved, approach to problems that this list applies. Excellent work, style points are in the mail.

The Best of the Rest

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

  • 2nd – Trenton Jannaman – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): MSU BA with a pair of Vindicators, Dante leading the charge.
  • 3rd – Jason Mode – Thousand Sons (Hexwarp Thrallband): A novel Thrallband list with a big brick of Scarab Occult Terminators and multiple of the new cute robots. Love it.
  • 4th – BamBam Hunter – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force): A suitably violent wolf jail list befitting of BamBam Hunter. New Headtakers join the ranks of Thunderwolves.
  • 5th – Cam Hawkins – Space Marines (Astartes) (Ultramarines): Gulliman Gladius with a bucket of Tanks and some Inceptors for trouble-shooting.
  • 6th – Richard Cozart – Aeldari (War Host): Double Wave Serpent / Falcon War Host for non-interactive nonsense.
  • 7th – Kyle Sadler – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, a Lancer, and loads of Armigers.

RAW 2025, a charity matched play event

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on June 21 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Richard Forrest – Chaos Space Marines (Pactbound Zealots) – 1st Place

Lord Discordant. Credit: Rockfish
Lord Discordant. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand


CSM – Packbound (2000 points)

Chaos Space Marines
Strike Force (2000 points)
Pactbound Zealots

CHARACTERS

Lord Discordant on Helstalker (175 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• Warlord
• 1x Baleflamer
1x Bladed limbs
1x Bolt Pistol
1x Impaler chainglaive
1x Magma cutter
• Enhancement: Intoxicating Elixir

BATTLELINE

Cultist Mob (50 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Cultist Champion
• 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
• 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chaos Predator Destructor (140 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon

Chaos Predator Destructor (140 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon

Chaos Predator Destructor (140 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Havoc launcher
2x Heavy bolter
1x Predator autocannon

Chaos Vindicator (185 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Demolisher cannon
1x Havoc launcher

Chaos Vindicator (185 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Demolisher cannon
1x Havoc launcher

Helbrute (130 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Helbrute fist
1x Multi-melta

Obliterators (160 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Tzeentch
• 2x Obliterator
• 2x Crushing fists
2x Fleshmetal guns

Obliterators (160 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Tzeentch
• 2x Obliterator
• 2x Crushing fists
2x Fleshmetal guns

Possessed (120 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Possessed Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Hideous mutations
• 4x Possessed
• 4x Hideous mutations

Possessed (120 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Possessed Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Hideous mutations
• 4x Possessed
• 4x Hideous mutations

Possessed (120 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided
• 1x Possessed Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Hideous mutations
• 4x Possessed
• 4x Hideous mutations

ALLIED UNITS

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

Nurglings (70 points)
• 6x Nurgling Swarm
• 6x Diseased claws and teeth

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

Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (83), Data Version: v629

Archetype

Pactbound Zealots

Thoughts

It’s the return of an old menace here, as Pactbound Zealots dusts off the jar marked ‘egregious amounts of damage’ and steps back into the sunlight to start killing stat checks, as the Chaos Gods intended. Tonnes of shooting, Lone Op strats to fight dirty, a cheeky Slaaneshii Discolord and baby possessed bombs to delete things, this list has a great toolkit. It can feel a tad clunkier than some of the CSM builds, but it has always been great, and the meta stars feel like they may just be aligning…

The Best of the Rest

There were 2 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

  • 2nd – Samuel Godding – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, some Armigers and some Imperial Agents.
  • 3rd – Steven Ward – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Amazing triple big knight nonsense with Errants and Gallants running about – hero.

Wrap Up

There you have it folks! Factions are reaching for brand new tools as the meta takes a… skewy turn, with lots of hulls and robots that need whacking down. It’s a relief to see that many armies have detachments and weapons for the task – but will they be able to keep up as even more new threats join the fray? Only time will tell! Enjoy yourselves out there, it’s all very loopy and fun at the minute.

Lowest of Men, out.

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