Welcome to Competitive Innovations, our weekly feature for a number of game lines across the tabletop wargame space. Each week our army list and tactics experts canvass the top tournaments for their game of specialty, looking at the week’s top match-ups and how they played out on the tabletop to let you know what’s hot, what’s not, and what might be coming next as the competitive meta evolves year-round.
It’s another fairly hefty weekend, but the meta continues on much the same lines as for the last few weeks. You’ve got Knights of both flavours and Death Guard as the dominant high play rate armies, Thousand Sons and whatever Marine flavour people are trying this week with lower win rates but overrepresentation at the top, and whatever wildcard faction has a really strong week rounding out the roster. This week the Marine players have gone with “Ultramarines with Guilliman” (daring aren’t we), and it’s Drukhari and Tau’s turn to spike up a little (more literally for one faction than the other). Railguns are obviously pretty peak when you have robot problems, while Drukhari can put a lot of Dark Lances and Haywire on the table fairly cheap, and that’s suddenly a whole lot more interesting in a world of T11 big Knights.
So we proceed. Today, we’re going to be covering:
- II GT Ciudad De Avila
- Silver State Major ’25 – Warhammer 40K
- 3rd Annual Roc Hard GT
- Hell Pit Grand Tournament 2025
- Geek Shack Farewell Taylor GT
- Brighton 40k GT XII
On Friday Lowest of Men will take over for:
- Brawl in the Hall 2025
- Midsummer O.P.A. 2025 WH40K GT
- Rose City Rumble
- Viking Games – The Path of the Einherjar
- Nemesis 40k Summer 2025
I’ll be back again on Saturday with:
- Ironweld: Warhammer 40K Summer Assault ITC Major
- Beach Clash Major 2025
- Saskatchewan Open 2025
- HAWGHAMMER 40K GT
- Wyohammer 40k July Open ’25
II GT Ciudad De Avila
99-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Ávila, CL, España on July 10 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
OuX ™ – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Imperial Knights CHARACTERS Canis Rex (380 points) Cerastus Knight Atrapos (365 points) Cerastus Knight Atrapos (365 points) Knight Errant (370 points) BATTLELINE Armiger Helverin (130 points) Armiger Helverin (130 points) Armiger Helverin (130 points) Armiger Helverin (130 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640
GT Ávila 2025 (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance
• Warlord
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
1x Freedom’s Hand
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
1x Graviton singularity cannon
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
1x Graviton singularity cannon
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chainsword
1x Stormspear rocket pod
1x Thermal cannon
• Enhancement: Mysterious Guardian
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber
Archetype
Imperial Bigs
Thoughts
Fundamentally you cannot go wrong with Canis and two Atrapos Knights as a core to your army – it is essentially impossible to fill out from there and not have something top tier. That trio are universal blending machines, and represent massive pressure in any matchup, and you’re free to fill out for whatever scares you most. For what it’s worth, I do think that Mysterious Guardian on something that scares other big Knights (Errant, Crusader or Castellan, take your pick) is a good thing to add to that core for the mirror or Lords of Dread, as it removes the faint risk of you getting out-hefted. Well done to OuX on the win.
Alvaro Perez – Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Drukhari CHARACTERS Archon (100 points) Beastmaster (120 points) Drazhar (85 points) Lelith Hesperax (95 points) Urien Rakarth (80 points) BATTLELINE Kabalite Warriors (100 points) Wyches (80 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Venom (65 points) Venom (65 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Hellions (150 points) Incubi (85 points) Mandrakes (65 points) Mandrakes (65 points) Ravager (100 points) Ravager (100 points) Reavers (65 points) Scourges (130 points) Scourges (130 points) Scourges (130 points) ALLIED UNITS Skyweavers (190 points) Exported with App Version: v1.35.0 (83), Data Version: v629
You Only Die Once (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Reaper’s Wager
• Warlord
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Huskblade
• Enhancement: Archraider
• 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
• 1x The Executioner’s demiklaives
• 1x Lelith’s blades
• 1x Casket of Flensing
1x Haemonculus tools and scissorhands
• 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
• 1x Hekatrix
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Hekatarii blade
1x Phantasm grenade launcher
• 9x Wych
• 9x Hekatarii blade
9x Splinter pistol
• 1x Bladevanes
2x Splinter cannon
• 1x Bladevanes
2x Splinter cannon
• 1x Helliarch
• 1x Hellglaive
1x Splinter pods
• 9x Hellion
• 9x Hellglaive
9x Splinter pods
• 4x Incubi
• 4x Klaive
• 1x Klaivex
• 1x Demiklaives
• 1x Nightfiend
• 1x Baleblast
1x Glimmersteel blade
• 4x Mandrake
• 4x Baleblast
4x Glimmersteel blade
• 1x Nightfiend
• 1x Baleblast
1x Glimmersteel blade
• 4x Mandrake
• 4x Baleblast
4x Glimmersteel blade
• 1x Bladevanes
3x Dark lance
• 1x Bladevanes
3x Dark lance
• 1x Arena Champion
• 1x Agoniser
1x Bladevanes
1x Heat lance
1x Splinter pistol
• 2x Reaver
• 2x Bladevanes
2x Splinter pistol
2x Splinter rifle
• 1x Solarite
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Shardcarbine
1x Solarite weapon
• 4x Scourge
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Dark lance
• 1x Solarite
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Shardcarbine
1x Solarite weapon
• 4x Scourge
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Drukhari haywire blaster
• 1x Solarite
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Shardcarbine
1x Solarite weapon
• 4x Scourge
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Drukhari haywire blaster
• 4x Skyweaver
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Skyweaver haywire cannon
4x Zephyrglaive
Archetype
Anti-Knight Wager Goodstuff
Thoughts
The metagame wheel of fortune has very much landed on Drukhari this week as the density of Knights in the metagame increases. Do you know what’s great into Knights? Haywire and Dark Lances off Infantry that can fade back behind walls for free. Also three Dark Lances with re-rolls on 100pts hulls. Or Skyweavers for when you need even better Haywire. There are genuinely a lot of attractions to this build right now just off the back of Knights, and it’s further helped by the fact that so many Death Guard lists are now on 3x Drones and 3x Haulers minimum, as that creates further target-rich matchups. For everything else, murderous tricks out of transports can get you a decent way, and we’re thus seeing a surge in both Wager and Skysplinter, though Wager gives you access to Hellions with Lethal Hits, who are a great bit of threat projection and all-round murder piece.
Obviously as an elf fan I endorse all of this, and I really like this build in particular, beautifully optimised for the meta by Alvaro.
Pollito Relleno – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 3rd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Imperial Knights CHARACTERS Canis Rex (380 points) Cerastus Knight Lancer (365 points) Cerastus Knight Lancer (365 points) Knight Castellan (395 points) Knight Castellan (395 points) ALLIED UNITS Callidus Assassin (100 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640
caballito de palo (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
1x Freedom’s Hand
• 1x Cerastus shock lance
• 1x Cerastus shock lance
• Warlord
• 1x Plasma decimator
2x Shieldbreaker missile launcher
1x Titanic feet
2x Twin meltagun
1x Twin siegebreaker cannon
1x Volcano lance
• 1x Plasma decimator
2x Shieldbreaker missile launcher
1x Titanic feet
2x Twin meltagun
1x Twin siegebreaker cannon
1x Volcano lance
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades
Archetype
Lmao
Thoughts
See mostly Imperium lists have been topping out at four bigs, but again as the metagame gets crunchier and crunchier, why not go for a build that will eat other multi-big lists for breakfast? The cops can’t stop you. In Pollito’s case he only actually hit one other Knight build, but a quick review of what he did face includes triple Dorn and triple Land Fortress, which are just as easy prey for this. So many other factions teching for Knights by going heavier themselves means that the opportunity cost of building to beat other Knight lists gets lower and lower, and that paid off with a third place undefeated finish here, congratulations to Pollito.
Alex Valin – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 4th Place (4.5-0.5)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Necrons CHARACTERS Hexmark Destroyer (75 points) Skorpekh Lord (120 points) Technomancer (100 points) Technomancer (80 points) BATTLELINE Immortals (70 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Canoptek Reanimator (75 points) Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) Doomsday Ark (200 points) Doomsday Ark (200 points) Doomsday Ark (200 points) Flayed Ones (60 points) Ophydian Destroyers (80 points) Skorpekh Destroyers (180 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640
follow the leader !! 🎵 (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Awakened Dynasty
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
1x Flensing claw
1x Hyperphase harvester
• Enhancement: Enaegic Dermal Bond
• Warlord
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Nether-realm Casket
• 1x Staff of light
• 5x Immortal
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Tesla carbine
• 2x Atomiser beam
1x Reanimator’s claws
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
• 3x Feeder mandibles
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
• 3x Feeder mandibles
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
• 3x Feeder mandibles
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious claws
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer array
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer array
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer array
• 5x Flayed One
• 5x Flayer claws
• 3x Ophydian Destroyer
• 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons
• 6x Skorpekh Destroyer
• 2x Plasmacyte
6x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
Archetype
Wraiths and Doomsdays
Thoughts
Rounding out the top four here on four wins and a draw, Necrons. Unfortunately for the cool type of robot (skeleton), their initial resilience to the metagame has dropped off a bit as lists get heavier and heavier, because there is kind of a ceiling to what Necrons can build to kill, but you still can’t actually go wrong if you start with a couple of Wraith bricks and some Doomsdays, then fill out to taste. Awakened is the pick here, offering S7 AP-2 Wraiths via Stratagem (great against Deathshrouds), and a powerhouse Skorpekh unit that threatens a nasty countercharge against Knights. Good to see Skorpekh getting a bit of work, even if the outlook for Necrons is grimmer overall, well done to Alex for keeping up the fight.
The Best of the Rest
There were 14 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 5th – Pedro Bollain de la Sota 🐢 – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Awakened Wraiths and Doomsdays.
- 6th – Alejandro Mancuso Serrano – Blood Angels (Angelic Inheritors): Sanguinary Guard MSUs, Vindicators and a Devastator Squad, using a Techmarine to provide buff access on the cheap.
- 7th – Francisco pellon lopez – Aeldari (Aspect Host): Avatar and 20 Fire Dragons, plus a big Baharroth unit, which yeah is pretty much what you’re needing right now to kill stuff.
- 8th – Cajolín waif – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): The shooty end of Liberator goodstuff with a couple of Ballistus and a couple of Vindicators.
- 9th – Jonan OdeZ – Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension): Extra shooty Host, cutting down the big bricks to only three so as to fit a bunch of Ridgerunners.
- 10th – Eduardo Garmilla – Leagues of Votann (Oathband): All-rounder double Fort Votann.
- 11th – Juanma Galán Recio – Aeldari (Aspect Host): A slightly different angle on bullying robots, here using three Shining Spear MSUs (alongside a big Fire Dragon brick).
- 12th – koldo besga – Leagues of Votann (Oathband): Another all-rounder double Fort build, this one with slightly fewer bikes and one more Sagitaur.
- 13th – Arcuos – Pedro Delgado – Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force): Shooty Kill Teams with Canis Rex as a huge pressure/distraction piece.
- 14th – El Monje EmilioZC – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): A Castellan and a horde of Armigers.
- 15th – Newman Newman – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Three doubled up Despoilers (Gatling, Battle Cannon and Thermal) and War Dogs.
- 16th – Capellan Chris – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): Grand Coven Magnus Goodstuff with a Vortex Prince.
- 17th – Borja David Palacio Valdueza – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Extra shooty monster mash with a couple of Termagant units to screen.
- 18th – Capi 🦁 – Aeldari (Aspect Host): MSU Aspects and one big Fire Dragon unit.
Silver State Major ’25 – Warhammer 40K
51-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Reno, NV, United States on July 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Chase Chappell – Space Marines (Astartes) (Firestorm Assault Force) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Space Marines CHARACTERS Judiciar (80 points) Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points) Roboute Guilliman (320 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Bladeguard Veteran Squad (160 points) Eradicator Squad (100 points) Eradicator Squad (100 points) Firestrike Servo-turrets (75 points) Firestrike Servo-turrets (75 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Invader ATV (60 points) Invader ATV (60 points) Land Raider Redeemer (285 points) Repulsor Executioner (220 points) Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (95 points) Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (95 points) Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (95 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640
Prominence Burn (1990 points)
Ultramarines
Strike Force (2000 points)
Firestorm Assault Force
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade
• Enhancement: Champion of Humanity
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• Warlord
• 1x Emperor’s Sword
1x Hand of Dominion
• 1x Bladeguard Veteran Sergeant
• 1x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 5x Bladeguard Veteran
• 5x Heavy bolt pistol
5x Master-crafted power weapon
• 1x Eradicator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
• 2x Eradicator
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
1x Multi-melta
• 1x Eradicator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
• 2x Eradicator
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
1x Multi-melta
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Twin Firestrike las-talon
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Twin Firestrike las-talon
• 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
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Multi-melta
1x Twin bolt rifle
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Multi-melta
1x Twin bolt rifle
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Flamestorm cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Multi-melta
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin assault cannon
• 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
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Inferno pistol
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 4x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 4x Inferno pistol
4x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Inferno pistol
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 4x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 4x Inferno pistol
4x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Inferno pistol
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 4x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 4x Inferno pistol
4x Vanguard Veteran weapon
Archetype
Firestorm Ultramarines
Thoughts
If you want to beat Knights without fully joining them in an arms race to the biggest, heftiest pieces you have, the trick is to find ways to spend the minimum number of points on something that the Knights still have to respect. With that in mind, big fan of the innovation of sticking some Firestrikes into Firestorm, as they’re dirt cheap and synergise perfectly with the Detachment rule, getting mobility and hitting the now key S11 break point. Adding those on top of Eradicators popping out of a Redeemer means there’s a lot of cheap stuff here that will take a reasonable chunk out of a Knight if they fluff their saves, and that forces a lot of respect. All inferno pistol VanVets also make a comeback here, I honestly didn’t even know that was still a wargear option you could do, but I love that for them. They’re a bit less good in the Knight matchups, but really shine against Deathguard, as just by existing on the table they create big headaches for Deathshrouds, as they can legimitately de-fang a squad just with their pistol shots.
Finally here, you have the omni-blender that is a Champion of Humanity Judiciar with Bladeguard, which shores up a tonne of mid-tier matchups, and can help punch through damage reduction from the big players. I continue to find it mind boggling that this unit doesn’t see more use, maybe seeing it here in an Ultramarine shell will finally wake Marine players up to how good it is. Chase, of course, has been ahead of the curve on using more esoteric Marine options for a while, so great work on continuing that here to such success.
The Best of the Rest
There were 3 more players on 5-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Treynor Wolfe – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis double Atrapos with some Armigers.
- 3rd – Harout Baltayan – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer): All the cheap Daemon Engines, a few extra Characters to hold positions, and a double battle cannon Despoiler for heavy lifting (and to take advantage of applied Contagions).
- 4th – Matthew Kulak – Astra Militarum (Hammer of the Emperor): Triple Dorn Commander with a couple of Demolisher Russes and various goodstuff pieces in support.
3rd Annual Roc Hard GT
40-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in West Henrietta, NY, United States on July 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Joseph Sault – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Imperial Knights CHARACTERS Canis Rex (380 Points) Cerastus Knight Lancer (365 Points) Knight Gallant (385 Points) Knight Valiant (420 Points) BATTLELINE Armiger Helverin (130 Points) Armiger Helverin (130 Points) Armiger Helverin (130 Points) ALLIED UNITS Inquisitor (55 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (1), Data Version: v640
I’m gonna Ro in her Tate until she ion shields (1995 Points)
Noble Lance
Strike Force (2,000 Points)
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
• 1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
• 1x Freedom’s Hand
• 1x Cerastus shock lance
• 1x Meltagun
• 1x Reaper chainsword
• 1x Stormspear rocket pod
• 1x Thunderstrike gauntlet
• Enhancements: Unyielding Paragon
• 1x Conflagration cannon
• 2x Shieldbreaker missile launcher
• 1x Thundercoil harpoon
• 1x Titanic feet
• 2x Twin meltagun
• 1x Twin siegebreaker cannon
• Enhancements: Mysterious Guardian
• 2x Armiger autocannon
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 2x Armiger autocannon
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 2x Armiger autocannon
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
• Warlord
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Psychic Gifts
• 1x Psychic Shock Wave
Archetype
Aggro Big Knights
Thoughts
*Extremely Loud Incorrect Buzzer*
Is there more to say than that? Yes, I suppose we should highlight that this is another Knight build build to brutally execute other big Knights, because that’s what we’re doing now. While I prefer the Castellan to the Valiant, the ability to punch a lot of Devastating Wounds through is good if you’re seeing lots of Lancers about, so that’s a consideration given they seem to be a little on the up (even if the Atrapos is more common overall). Much to consider. Well done Joseph.
The Best of the Rest
There were 6 more players on 4-1+ records. They were:
- 2nd (4.5-0.5) – Neil Goldsmith – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Toolbox Skysplinter with a couple of Ravagers.
- 3rd – Clarence Ellsworth – Space Wolves (Champions of Russ): How far into overtime is Wolf Jail at this point? Anyway it’s Wolf Jail.
- 4th – Jeremy Legasse – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): Grand Coven Magnus Goodstuff with an extra Predator Annihilator to help punk big stuff.
- 5th – Neil Burns – Astra Militarum (Combined Arms): Double Dorn goodstuff, now with added Canis Rex, who is undeniably both good and stuff.
- 6th – Steven Horowitz – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis double Atrapos and Armigers.
- 7th – Gregory DiTomasso – Chaos Daemons (Shadow Legion): Extra Daemonic Shadow Legion, going for Be’lakor and a Fadethirster as the standard core, then supporting with Bloodcrushers and a Great Unclean One as additional big threats.
Hell Pit Grand Tournament 2025
35-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Brunswick, OH, United States on July 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Benson Bledsoe – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Chaos Knights CHARACTERS Knight Abominant (325 points) Knight Abominant (325 points) Knight Abominant (325 points) Knight Despoiler (355 points) OTHER DATASHEETS War Dog Brigand (140 points) War Dog Stalker (140 points) War Dog Stalker (140 points) War Dog Stalker (140 points) ALLIED UNITS Plaguebearers (110 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640
triple (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Infernal Lance
• 1x Balemace
1x Diabolus heavy stubber
1x Electroscourge
1x Volkite combustor
• 1x Balemace
1x Diabolus heavy stubber
1x Electroscourge
1x Volkite combustor
• 1x Balemace
1x Diabolus heavy stubber
1x Electroscourge
1x Volkite combustor
• Warlord
• 1x Daemonbreath meltagun
2x Despoiler gatling cannon
1x Havoc missile pod
2x Heavy darkflamer
1x Titanic feet
• Enhancement: Bestial Aspect
• 1x Armoured feet
1x Avenger chaincannon
1x Daemonbreath spear
1x Havoc multi-launcher
• 1x Avenger chaincannon
1x Havoc multi-launcher
1x Slaughterclaw
• 1x Avenger chaincannon
1x Havoc multi-launcher
1x Slaughterclaw
• 1x Avenger chaincannon
1x Havoc multi-launcher
1x Slaughterclaw
• 1x Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 1x Daemonic Icon
1x Instrument of Chaos
9x Plaguesword
Archetype
Infernal Ultra Pressure
Thoughts
While it’s been all Imperium thus far today, Chaos Knights are actually hotter on the heels of the loyalist dogs win-rate wise this week, and we’re seeing more people using the Infernal Lance Detachment to great success (with Lords of Dread also still going strong). This build’s big advantage is that it’s extremely effective at countering some of the ways you can build for Knights due to the sheer speed and the area of effect Mortals. Scourges hiding behind some ruins? No problem, just zip three Abominants straight up the table and melt them, or move Stalkers so rapidly that they can encircle the target. No other Knight build starts stamping on the foe quite as quickly, and that’s a real asset here, as is the ability to make the very best use of a dual gatling Despoiler, who here is fully capable of diving 21″ sideways through the air while firing two gatling guns at the foe, which is a bit upsetting.
This build is phenomenal for thwarting other faction’s counters for Knights, and the only thing holding it back for me is that I think it pays for that by being a bit less good into ultra hefty Imperial Knight builds or Lords of Dread. If bigs in general get a hit in the future (which let’s be honest, they’re going to have to), I could easily see this ending up as the dominant Knight build by dint of being best at handling the rest of the metagame. Plenty of food for thought there, and well done to Benson for unleashing such a brutal creation.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Evan Dadisman – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Extra boat-heavy Skysplinter with a bunch of Raiders and some Ravagers.
- 3rd – Zachary Morales – Space Marines (Astartes) (Ironstorm Spearhead): Bobby G with a bunch of Dreadnoughts and Vindicators.
- 4th – Kyle Trayah – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): Max Mutalith Magnus Coven.
- 5th – Lyle Dixon – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer): Daemon Engines, Deathshrouds and a double battle cannon Despoiler.
- 6th – Sean Martin – Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread): Five bigs with Atrapos, Lancer and three Abominants.
Geek Shack Farewell Taylor GT
29-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Las Cruces, NM, US on July 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Take and Hold – Tipping Point
Adrian Lopez – Orks (Kult of Speed) Orks CHARACTERS Beastboss (80 points) Boss Snikrot (95 points) Deffkilla Wartrike (80 points) Deffkilla Wartrike (80 points) BATTLELINE Beast Snagga Boyz (95 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Trukk (70 points) Trukk (70 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Boomdakka Snazzwagon (70 points) Breaka Boyz (140 points) Breaka Boyz (140 points) Deffkoptas (160 points) Deffkoptas (160 points) Deffkoptas (160 points) Gretchin (40 points) Tankbustas (140 points) Tankbustas (140 points) Warbikers (140 points) Warbikers (140 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640
Army List - Click to Expand
Ride Fast Eat Gas (Sometimes you just gotta send it) (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Kult of Speed
• 1x Beast Snagga klaw
1x Beastchoppa
1x Shoota
• 1x Mork’s Teeth
1x Slugga
• Warlord
• 1x Boomstikks
1x Killa jet
1x Snagga klaw
• 1x Boomstikks
1x Killa jet
1x Snagga klaw
• 9x Beast Snagga Boy
• 9x Choppa
9x Slugga
• 1x Beast Snagga Nob
• 1x Power snappa
1x Slugga
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball
• 1x Big shoota
1x Grot blasta
1x Mek speshul
1x Spiked wheels
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
1x Rokkit pistol
1x Smash hammer
• 5x Breaka Boy
• 1x Knucklebustas
3x Smash hammer
1x Tankhammer
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
1x Rokkit pistol
1x Smash hammer
• 5x Breaka Boy
• 1x Knucklebustas
3x Smash hammer
1x Tankhammer
• 6x Deffkopta
• 4x Kopta rokkits
2x Kustom mega-blasta
6x Slugga
6x Spinnin’ blades
• 6x Deffkopta
• 4x Kopta rokkits
2x Kustom mega-blasta
6x Slugga
6x Spinnin’ blades
• 6x Deffkopta
• 4x Kopta rokkits
2x Kustom mega-blasta
6x Slugga
6x Spinnin’ blades
• 10x Gretchin
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
• 1x Runtherd tools
1x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
2x Rokkit pistol
• 5x Tankbusta
• 5x Close combat weapon
1x Pulsa Rokkit
5x Rokkit launcha
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
2x Rokkit pistol
• 5x Tankbusta
• 5x Close combat weapon
1x Pulsa Rokkit
5x Rokkit launcha
• 5x Warbiker
• 5x Choppa
5x Close combat weapon
5x Twin dakkagun
• 1x Boss Nob on Warbike
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin dakkagun
• 5x Warbiker
• 5x Choppa
5x Close combat weapon
5x Twin dakkagun
• 1x Boss Nob on Warbike
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin dakkagun
vs.
Steve Spangler – T’au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) T’au Empire CHARACTERS Darkstrider (60 points) Firesight Team (70 points) BATTLELINE Kroot Carnivores (65 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Hammerhead Gunship (145 points) Hammerhead Gunship (145 points) Hammerhead Gunship (145 points) Krootox Rampagers (170 points) Krootox Rampagers (170 points) Krootox Rampagers (170 points) Krootox Riders (90 points) Krootox Riders (90 points) Krootox Riders (90 points) Sky Ray Gunship (140 points) Sky Ray Gunship (140 points) Sky Ray Gunship (140 points) Stealth Battlesuits (80 points) Stealth Battlesuits (80 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640
Army List - Click to Expand
1 Man vs 27 Gorillas (1990 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Kroot Hunting Pack
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Shade
• Warlord
• 1x Close combat weapons
1x Longshot pulse rifles
1x Pulse pistol
• 1x Long-quill
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Kroot pistol
1x Kroot rifle
• 9x Kroot Carnivore
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Kroot rifle
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Railgun
2x Seeker missile
2x Smart missile system
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Ion cannon
2x Seeker missile
2x Smart missile system
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Ion cannon
2x Seeker missile
2x Smart missile system
• 6x Krootox Rampagers
• 6x Hunting blades
6x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
6x Rampager fists
• 6x Krootox Rampagers
• 6x Hunting blades
6x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
6x Rampager fists
• 6x Krootox Rampagers
• 6x Hunting blades
6x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
6x Rampager fists
• 3x Krootox Rider
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Krootox fists
3x Repeater cannon
• 3x Krootox Rider
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Krootox fists
3x Repeater cannon
• 3x Krootox Rider
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Krootox fists
3x Repeater cannon
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Seeker missile rack
2x Smart missile system
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Seeker missile rack
2x Smart missile system
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Seeker missile rack
2x Smart missile system
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Burst cannon
1x Homing Beacon
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Burst cannon
1x Homing Beacon
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon
Thoughts
Oh hey, someone actually put Kult of Speed on the table! Honestly, it looks pretty cool – Deffkoptas are legitimately a steal at 160pts for 6, throwing out plenty of dakka with reasonable durability and surprisingly OK clutch melee. Warbikers are maybe a bit less exciting, but you get plenty of them for your points, and they project a lot of threat and occupy a bunch of space. Both units also do really well out of the Stratagem suite – Speediest Freeks makes them tough to chew through, Sustained Hits 2 from Dakkastorm is terrifying on the Koptas, and Lethal Hits with crit 5+ on the Warbikers can unleash some surprise chip damage on unsuspecting foes. Backing them up, you have the powerful Ork suite of units that don’t really need Detachment Rule help, providing melee and ranged heavy lifting, and in the case of the Beastboss in a Transport, an alarming threat to hold over the heads of Knights.
The T’au are thinking on similar lines here – Sky Rays and Hammerheads are just good units without any rules added (and helped by needing very few spotters if they only need to kill one thing), and maxing on them gives you a great foundation against heavy hitters. To then deal with everyone else who might try and come melee your tanks, you add loads of Krootox, and you end up with a strong T’au list that plays very differently to many from the faction.
Unfortunately for the T’au, this looks fairly rough for them. All those rokkits from the Orks will tear through Krootoxes just as well as hulls, and any of the T’au hulls that do poke out are going to die in short order. It’s also not just the heavy stuff from Orks that can do work here, the shooting from the bikes will legitimately plink off a Krootox here and there, and I think the basic issue the T’au have is that everything from the Ork army is going to perform effectively here, while some of what they’ve spent points on is just gratuitous overkill. Don’t get me wrong – some Deffkoptas are going to get blown up harder than any vehicle in history, but not in the numbers the T’au need, and especially not when the Orks can cheerfully contend with the Krootox for objective control.
I think there are probably ways the T’au can play defensively for a decent score, but there’s enough stuff on the Ork side that a decision to do that is likely to lead to getting trumped on points, but going hard is just going to result in getting counter-punched off the table. I’m guessing the T’au tried the former, and put up respectable numbers, but the Speedwaaaagh romped to victory.
Result
Orks (Kult of Speed) Victory – 100 – 73
Adrian Lopez – Orks (Kult of Speed) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Orks CHARACTERS Beastboss (80 points) Boss Snikrot (95 points) Deffkilla Wartrike (80 points) Deffkilla Wartrike (80 points) BATTLELINE Beast Snagga Boyz (95 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Trukk (70 points) Trukk (70 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Boomdakka Snazzwagon (70 points) Breaka Boyz (140 points) Breaka Boyz (140 points) Deffkoptas (160 points) Deffkoptas (160 points) Deffkoptas (160 points) Gretchin (40 points) Tankbustas (140 points) Tankbustas (140 points) Warbikers (140 points) Warbikers (140 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640
Ride Fast Eat Gas (Sometimes you just gotta send it) (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Kult of Speed
• 1x Beast Snagga klaw
1x Beastchoppa
1x Shoota
• 1x Mork’s Teeth
1x Slugga
• Warlord
• 1x Boomstikks
1x Killa jet
1x Snagga klaw
• 1x Boomstikks
1x Killa jet
1x Snagga klaw
• 9x Beast Snagga Boy
• 9x Choppa
9x Slugga
• 1x Beast Snagga Nob
• 1x Power snappa
1x Slugga
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball
• 1x Big shoota
1x Grot blasta
1x Mek speshul
1x Spiked wheels
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
1x Rokkit pistol
1x Smash hammer
• 5x Breaka Boy
• 1x Knucklebustas
3x Smash hammer
1x Tankhammer
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
1x Rokkit pistol
1x Smash hammer
• 5x Breaka Boy
• 1x Knucklebustas
3x Smash hammer
1x Tankhammer
• 6x Deffkopta
• 4x Kopta rokkits
2x Kustom mega-blasta
6x Slugga
6x Spinnin’ blades
• 6x Deffkopta
• 4x Kopta rokkits
2x Kustom mega-blasta
6x Slugga
6x Spinnin’ blades
• 6x Deffkopta
• 4x Kopta rokkits
2x Kustom mega-blasta
6x Slugga
6x Spinnin’ blades
• 10x Gretchin
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
• 1x Runtherd tools
1x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
2x Rokkit pistol
• 5x Tankbusta
• 5x Close combat weapon
1x Pulsa Rokkit
5x Rokkit launcha
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Choppa
2x Rokkit pistol
• 5x Tankbusta
• 5x Close combat weapon
1x Pulsa Rokkit
5x Rokkit launcha
• 5x Warbiker
• 5x Choppa
5x Close combat weapon
5x Twin dakkagun
• 1x Boss Nob on Warbike
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin dakkagun
• 5x Warbiker
• 5x Choppa
5x Close combat weapon
5x Twin dakkagun
• 1x Boss Nob on Warbike
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin dakkagun
Archetype
Speed Kopta Spam
Thoughts
Hell yeah! This build looks like a blast, and has some legitimate power to it, though is definitely in the list of armies that the Infernal Lance pressure builds can seriously trouble. For lots of other games though the sheer volume of mid-weight damage is going to be a headache, and it’s great to see that the Balance Dataslate has moved the needle on this detachment. Great job Adrian.
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Kylan Wilson – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): Grand Coven Magnus Goodstuff.
- 3rd – Jon Camacho – Adeptus Custodes (Null Maiden Vigil): Loads of Vigilators with leaders, MSUs of the rest of the Sisters of Silence, then heavy lifting from Caladius Tanks and Canis Rex.
- 4th – Steve Spangler – T’au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack): Krootox and hull spam, maxing out on Sky Rays, Hammerheads, and every flavour of Krootox.
- 5th – Edward Salas – Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): Deathwing and Ravenwing Knights galore as this detachment continues to outperform my expectations by quite a bit!
Brighton 40k GT XII
26-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on July 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Liam Macindoe – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Thousand Sons CHARACTERS Infernal Master (110 points) Magnus the Red (420 points) Sorcerer (95 points) Sorcerer (75 points) BATTLELINE Rubric Marines (100 points) Rubric Marines (100 points) Rubric Marines (100 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Chaos Rhino (90 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Chaos Spawn (65 points) Chaos Spawn (65 points) Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 points) Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 points) Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 points) Sekhetar Robots (90 points) Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (80 points) Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (80 points) Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (50 points) Exported with App Version: v1.37.0 (88), Data Version: v647
this was going to be a warpmeld list but last min pivot (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Grand Coven
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
• Enhancement: Eldritch Vortex of E’Taph
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Pandaemonic Delusion
1x Prosperine khopesh
• Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Pandaemonic Delusion
1x Prosperine khopesh
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Havoc launcher
2x Inferno combi-bolter
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex
• 2x Sekhetar Robot
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Heavy warpflamer
2x Hellfyre missile rack
2x Power claw
2x Warpflame projector
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 5x Enlightened
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Fatecaster greatbow
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 5x Enlightened
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Fatecaster greatbow
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 2x Enlightened
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Fatecaster greatbow
Archetype
Grand Coven Magnus Goodstuff
Thoughts
Rounding out our top lists for today are the Thousand Sons, sporting a Grand Coven build that will just cheerfully blast foes of any size off the table while they’re trying to push through Vortex Beasts. Re-rolls and damage galore, a tidy sideline in punishing any builds relying on Leaders via the Enlightened, and Magnus as a central engine of destruction – you kind of know all this, but it doesn’t make it any less terrifying. Great work Liam.
The Best of the Rest
There were 3 more players on 4-1 records, all in joint second because of how these tournaments run scoring. They were:
- Brandon McCready – Leagues of Votann (Oathband): Sagitaur spam with one fort and a big Thunderkyn unit alongside them.
- Toby Main – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, double Atrapos, and a Castigator too!
- Andy Moore – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force): Nu-Wolves going for elite melee aggro, lots of WGBLs amping up Headtakers, Logan with some Terminators, plus a few ThunderCav for good measure.
Wrap Up
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