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 part 2 of Competitive Innovations, and the usual suspects are still up to their shenanigans out there on the top tables.
Today, Lowest of Men will be breaking down:
- 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
On Wednesday Wings looked at:
- 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
He’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
Brawl in the Hall 2025
67-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Lockport, IL, United States on July 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Matt Estrada – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Imperial Knights CHARACTERS Canis Rex (380 points) Knight Warden (390 points) BATTLELINE Armiger Helverin (130 points) Armiger Helverin (130 points) Armiger Helverin (130 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.0 (84), Data Version: v638
Austin if you’re reading this please send me more good morning texts. (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance
• Warlord
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
1x Freedom’s Hand
• 1x Avenger gatling cannon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Stormspear rocket pod
1x Thunderstrike gauntlet
• Enhancement: Mythic Hero
• 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
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
Archetype
IK Old School
Thoughts
As big knights capture the popular imagination, the original IK build, with Canis, another big of your choosing and loads of Armigers remains extremely viable and benefits from the juiced up wound count. This list sacrifices any access to Imperial Agents to get as many stompy robots on the table as possible, which proved an event winning combination. It doesn’t give up Fixed anything like as easily, and it can draw out and then remove enemy anti-tank on the early waves of Armigers, leaving Canis and his mate the freedom to boss the late game. Fantastic work on the event win.
Pat Lacher – Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread) – 2nd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Chaos Knights CHARACTERS Chaos Cerastus Knight Atrapos (385 Points) Chaos Cerastus Knight Lancer (375 Points) Knight Abominant (325 Points) Knight Despoiler (345 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS War Dog Karnivore (140 Points) War Dog Karnivore (140 Points) ALLIED UNITS Nurglings (40 Points) Rotigus (250 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.37.0 (1), Data Version: v647
What Did You Spill to Make These Objectives So Sticky? (2000 Points)
Lords of Dread
Strike Force (2,000 Points)
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
• 1x Graviton singularity cannon
• Enhancements: Mirror of Fates
• 1x Cerastus shock lance
• Enhancements: Blessing of the Dark Master
• Warlord
• 1x Balemace
• 1x Diabolus heavy stubber
• 1x Electroscourge
• 1x Volkite combustor
• 1x Daemonbreath meltagun
• 1x Daemonbreath thermal cannon
• 1x Daemonbreath thermal cannon
• 1x Ruinspear rocket pod
• 1x Titanic feet
• Enhancements: Warp-borne Stalker
• 1x Havoc multi-launcher
• 1x Reaper chaintalon
• 1x Slaughterclaw
• 1x Havoc multi-launcher
• 1x Reaper chaintalon
• 1x Slaughterclaw
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
◦ 3x Diseased claws and teeth
• 1x Gnarlrod
• 1x Streams of brackish filth
Archetype
Big Boi Time – CK Edition
Thoughts
Big boi Chaos Knights with Lords of Dread is a mission playing menace, capable of locking some armies entirely out of the OC game in portions of the board via the sticky strat whilst applying unreasonable forward pressure. Rotigus is a great, cheap include here as a ‘pseudo-knight’ – his OC reduction compounds enemy efforts to counter the sticky game, and he requires considerable effort to remove relative to his cost. A nice, refined version of the LoD template that will take some stopping. Great work on the top placing.
John Van Dusen – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault) – 3rd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Tyranids CHARACTERS Deathleaper (80 Points) Old One Eye (150 Points) The Swarmlord (220 Points) Trygon (160 Points) BATTLELINE Gargoyles (85 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Biovores (50 Points) Exocrine (140 Points) Haruspex (125 Points) Haruspex (125 Points) Hive Guard (180 Points) Lictor (60 Points) Maleceptor (170 Points) Raveners (125 Points) Raveners (125 Points) Tyrannofex (200 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.0 (3), Data Version: v638
I’m Getting Sick and Tired of These M*F*in Snakes (1995 Points)
Subterranean Assault
Strike Force (2,000 Points)
• 1x Lictor claws and talons
• 1x Old One Eye’s claws and talons
• Warlord
• 1x Bone sabres
• 1x Synaptic pulse
• Subterranean Assault Keywords: Character
• 1x Bio-electric pulse
• 1x Trygon scything talons
• Enhancements: Trygon Prime
• 10x Gargoyle
◦ 10x Blinding venom
◦ 10x Fleshborer
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
• 1x Spore Mine launcher
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
• 1x Powerful limbs
• 1x Grasping tongue
• 1x Ravenous maw
• 1x Shovelling claws
• 1x Grasping tongue
• 1x Ravenous maw
• 1x Shovelling claws
• 6x Hive Guard
◦ 6x Chitinous claws and teeth
◦ 6x Shockcannon
• 1x Lictor claws and talons
• 1x Massive scything talons
• 1x Psychic overload
• 5x Ravener
◦ 5x Ravener claws and talons
• 5x Ravener
◦ 5x Ravener claws and talons
• 1x Powerful limbs
• 1x Rupture cannon
• 1x Stinger salvoes
Archetype
SA Anti-big
Thoughts
A finely poised version of the new nids that focuses in on using the tunnel rules to leverage anti-tank shooting in key areas- Hive Guard with Shock-Cannons, the Tfex and Old-One Eye all offer you some punchy anti-big damage, as do the Haruspex, and the tunnels can help these navigate terrain and hit hard where you need them. SA hasn’t landed quite as brutally as some thought it might, but it has a lot of room to evolve and grow- and lists like this show it! Well done on the top placing.
Mike Smith – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium) – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Death Guard CHARACTERS Daemon Prince of Nurgle (215 points) Lord of Contagion (135 points) Lord of Virulence (90 points) Mortarion (380 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Chaos Spawn (80 points) Deathshroud Terminators (300 points) Deathshroud Terminators (140 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) Myphitic Blight-Haulers (90 points) Myphitic Blight-Haulers (90 points) Poxwalkers (60 points) Poxwalkers (60 points) Poxwalkers (60 points) Exported with App Version: v1.37.0 (88), Data Version: v647
DG VirVic Chicago (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Virulent Vectorium
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
• Enhancement: Revolting Regeneration
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancement: Furnace of Plagues
• 1x Power fist
1x Twin plague spewer
• Warlord
• 1x Lantern
1x Rotwind
1x Silence
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
• 1x Manreaper
1x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 5x Deathshroud Terminator
• 5x Manreaper
5x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
• 1x Manreaper
1x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator
• 2x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
• 1x Bile spurt
1x Gnashing maw
1x Missile launcher
1x Multi-melta
• 1x Bile spurt
1x Gnashing maw
1x Missile launcher
1x Multi-melta
• 10x Poxwalker
• 10x Improvised weapon
• 10x Poxwalker
• 10x Improvised weapon
• 10x Poxwalker
• 10x Improvised weapon
Archetype
Morty and Mini-Morty VV
Thoughts
Vectorium offers a decisive counter-melee toolkit, with Motarion and his little Daemon Prince side-kick leading the charge. VV may not be quite as potent into the emerging Knights lists but it can put a lot of other things in the locker quite trivially, especially armies relying on damage 2. I like the 6 man of Deathshroud with Lord of Contagion here- this looks like anti-knight punch to me, with Mortarion presumably on duties as well. If you can keep the primarch safe to activate a couple of times, and use the brick astutely, there might be some solutions here. Fantastic work on the top placing.
The Best of the Rest
There were 8 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 5th – Nick Keever – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, Triple Atropos, a Crusader, and some agents.
- 6th – Pajama Pants – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Mixed arms Virulent,
- 7th – Christian Valle – World Eaters (Bezerker Warband): Massed Khorne Bezerkers, double MoEs, and Forgefiend / Helbrute support.
- 8th – James Tilley – Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): Deathwing Knights, the Lion, and lots of Inner Circle Companions.
- 9th – Ian Smith – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): Massed characters and rubrics, with two Forgefiends and two MVBs.
- 10th – Brad Chester – Aeldari (War Host): Punchy double Wave Serpent War Host with loads of Fire Dragons.
- 11th – James R Fisher – Aeldari (Seer Council): Seer Council with double Warlock Conclaves, and MSU Aspect Warriors.
- 12th – Craig Satler – Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread): Triple big, six small in Lords of Dread.
Midsummer O.P.A. 2025 WH40K GT
45-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Λάρισα, Ελλάδα on July 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Liu Guanbo ilias – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Death Guard CHARACTERS Daemon Prince of Nurgle (215 points) Lord of Contagion (135 points) Lord of Virulence (90 points) Mortarion (380 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Chaos Spawn (80 points) Deathshroud Terminators (300 points) Deathshroud Terminators (140 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) Myphitic Blight-Haulers (90 points) Myphitic Blight-Haulers (90 points) Poxwalkers (60 points) Poxwalkers (60 points) Poxwalkers (60 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.0 (84), Data Version: v638
mota (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Virulent Vectorium
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
• Enhancement: Revolting Regeneration
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancement: Furnace of Plagues
• 1x Power fist
1x Twin plague spewer
• Warlord
• 1x Lantern
1x Rotwind
1x Silence
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
• 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
1x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 5x Deathshroud Terminator
• 5x Manreaper
5x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
• 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
1x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator
• 2x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
• 1x Bile spurt
1x Gnashing maw
1x Missile launcher
1x Multi-melta
• 1x Bile spurt
1x Gnashing maw
1x Missile launcher
1x Multi-melta
• 10x Poxwalker
• 10x Improvised weapon
• 10x Poxwalker
• 10x Improvised weapon
• 10x Poxwalker
• 10x Improvised weapon
Archetype
Mortarion and Son
Thoughts
Interesting- another triumph for the Morty / Mini-Morty / Six slab of Deathshroud variant. Maybe this is the way forwards for DG in the emergent meta?! You certainly sacrifice a fair bit of the go-wide threat DG have packed recently, but might just have enough punch to body your way through some Knight chassis on a run to the top. Fantastic work on the event win.
Orestis Stab – T’au Empire (Kauyon) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand T’au Empire CHARACTERS Commander Shadowsun (100 Points) Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (115 Points) BATTLELINE Breacher Team (100 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Devilfish (85 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Broadside Battlesuits (90 Points) Broadside Battlesuits (90 Points) Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits (150 Points) Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 Points) Kroot Carnivores (65 Points) Pathfinder Team (90 Points) Piranhas (60 Points) Riptide Battlesuit (190 Points) Riptide Battlesuit (190 Points) Sky Ray Gunship (140 Points) Sky Ray Gunship (140 Points) Stealth Battlesuits (80 Points) Stealth Battlesuits (80 Points) Vespid Stingwings (65 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (1), Data Version: v640
Opa (1990 Points)
Kauyon
Strike Force (2.000 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Advanced Guardian Drone
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Command-link Drone (Aura)
• 1x Flechette launcher
• 2x High-energy fusion blaster
• 1x Light missile pod
• 1x Pulse pistol
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Cyclic ion blaster
• 2x Fusion blaster
• 1x High-output burst cannon
• 2x Shield Drone
• Enhancements: Exemplar of the Kauyon
• 1x Support turret
• 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Guardian Drone
◦ 1x Pulse blaster
◦ 1x Pulse pistol
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 9x Breacher Fire Warrior
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Pulse blaster
◦ 9x Pulse pistol
• 1x Accelerator burst cannon
• 1x Armoured hull
• 2x Seeker missile
• 2x Smart missile system
• 1x Broadside Shas’vre
◦ 1x Crushing bulk
◦ 1x Heavy rail rifle
◦ 2x Missile Drone
◦ 1x Seeker missile
◦ 1x Twin smart missile system
• 1x Broadside Shas’vre
◦ 1x Crushing bulk
◦ 1x Heavy rail rifle
◦ 2x Missile Drone
◦ 1x Seeker missile
◦ 1x Twin smart missile system
• 1x Crisis Sunforge Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Fusion blaster
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Shield Drone
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
• 1x Cyclic ion raker
• 1x Ghostkeel fists
• 1x Twin fusion blaster
• 1x Long-quill
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Kroot carbine
◦ 1x Kroot pistol
• 9x Kroot Carnivore
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 8x Kroot rifle
◦ 1x Tanglebomb launcher
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Pulse carbine
◦ 1x Pulse pistol
◦ 1x Recon Drone
◦ 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
◦ 2x Shield Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Ion rifle
◦ 6x Pulse carbine
◦ 9x Pulse pistol
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Piranha fusion blaster
• 2x Seeker missile
• 2x Twin pulse carbine
• 1x Ion accelerator
• 2x Missile Drone
• 1x Riptide fists
• 1x Twin smart missile system
• 1x Ion accelerator
• 2x Missile Drone
• 1x Riptide fists
• 1x Twin 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 Support System
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Homing Beacon
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Burst cannon
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit Support System
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Homing Beacon
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Burst cannon
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
◦ 1x Neutron blaster
◦ 1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwing
◦ 4x Neutron blaster
◦ 4x Stingwing claws
Archetype
Classic Kauyon
Thoughts
Orestis Stab abandons his family name and shoots instead, packing in all the classic Tau toys for an old school Kauyon run out. I love solo Broadsides since the changes – these are really effective at plinking away at big skew, and help push through toughness thresholds that things like Riptides struggle with. They’re also deceptively durable for their cost. A really well balanced list here that can mission and kill in equal measure, great work.
The Best of the Rest
There were 6 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – John Ioannou – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, four bigs, and a Helverin.
- 4th – Vasilis Tzachis – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Triple Daemon Prince Coteries.
- 5th – George Durieux – T’au Empire (Mont’ka): Mont’ka pressure with Hammerheads, Riptides and Broadsides.
- 6th – Ioannis Papageorgiou – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault): Double Trygon, Zoan brick, big bugs SA.
- 7th – Angelos Papadopoulos – Chaos Space Marines (Soulforged Warppack): Glorious Soulforged nonsense with Vashtorr, a Discolord, and a freaking Lord of Skulls.
- 8th – Stefanos Samotas – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Triple Chaos Lord RR with loads of tanks in support.
Rose City Rumble
38-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Portland, OR, United States on July 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Alex Pina – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Thousand Sons CHARACTERS Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (115 Points) Infernal Master (110 Points) Magnus the Red (420 Points) Sorcerer (95 Points) Sorcerer (75 Points) Tzaangor Shaman (55 Points) Tzaangor Shaman (55 Points) BATTLELINE Rubric Marines (190 Points) Rubric Marines (100 Points) Rubric Marines (100 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Chaos Rhino (90 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 Points) Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 Points) Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (80 Points) Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (50 Points) Tzaangors (70 Points) Tzaangors (70 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (1), Data Version: v640
Guardian GT list (1995 Points)
Grand Coven
Strike Force (2,000 Points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Inferno bolt pistol
• 1x Prosperine khopesh
• Enhancements: Incandaeum
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Inferno bolt pistol
• Enhancements: 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
• Enhancements: Umbralefic Crystal
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Inferno bolt pistol
• 1x Pandaemonic Delusion
• 1x Prosperine khopesh
• 1x Baleful Devolution
• 1x Force stave
• 1x Baleful Devolution
• 1x Force stave
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
◦ 1x Force weapon
◦ 1x Malefic Curse
◦ 1x Warpflame pistol
• 9x Rubric Marine
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Icon of Flame
◦ 1x Soulreaper cannon
◦ 8x 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
• 1x Inferno combi-bolter
• 1x Inferno combi-bolter
• 1x Betentacled maw
• 1x Mutalith claws
• 1x Warp vortex
• 1x Betentacled maw
• 1x Mutalith claws
• 1x Warp vortex
• 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
• 1x Twistbray
◦ 1x Tzaangor blades
• 9x Tzaangor
◦ 9x Autopistol
◦ 1x Brayhorn
◦ 9x Chainsword
◦ 1x Herd banner
• 1x Twistbray
◦ 1x Tzaangor blades
• 9x Tzaangor
◦ 9x Autopistol
◦ 1x Brayhorn
◦ 9x Chainsword
◦ 1x Herd banner
Archetype
Grand Coven Goodstuff
Thoughts
The Tsons ascent to glory has been somewhat spoiled by the ongoing… statistical challenges presented by new Knights and DG, but they remain extremely potent. This list goes hard on what the dusty bois do best- Vortex Beasts, Magnus, and vicious supporting shooting amped up by the many buffs now available to the army. I quite enjoy the big brick of Rubricae here- that gives you a tasty overwatch threat, and the baby Tzaangor Shaman units can bop about doing actions. Fantastic work on the event win!
Ben Blair – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Death Guard CHARACTERS Biologus Putrifier (45 points) Biologus Putrifier (45 points) Daemon Prince of Nurgle (215 points) Lord of Contagion (110 points) Lord of Virulence (90 points) Malignant Plaguecaster (60 points) Malignant Plaguecaster (60 points) Tallyman (40 points) BATTLELINE Plague Marines (190 points) Plague Marines (190 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Chaos Rhino (85 points) Chaos Rhino (85 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Chaos Spawn (80 points) Deathshroud Terminators (140 points) Deathshroud Terminators (140 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 points) Poxwalkers (60 points) Poxwalkers (60 points) Exported with App Version: v1.36.1 (87), Data Version: v640
Pestilence (1995 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Virulent Vectorium
• 1x Hyper blight grenades
1x Injector pistol
1x Plague knives
• 1x Hyper blight grenades
1x Injector pistol
1x Plague knives
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
• Enhancement: Revolting Regeneration
• 1x Manreaper
• Warlord
• 1x Power fist
1x Twin plague spewer
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Corrupted staff
1x Plague Wind
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Corrupted staff
1x Plague Wind
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Plasma gun
1x Power fist
• 9x Plague Marine
• 2x Blight launcher
3x Heavy plague weapon
2x Meltagun
9x Plague knives
2x Plague spewer
• 1x Plague Champion
• 1x Plasma gun
1x Power fist
• 9x Plague Marine
• 2x Blight launcher
3x Heavy plague weapon
2x Meltagun
9x Plague knives
2x Plague spewer
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Combi-bolter
1x Havoc launcher
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Combi-bolter
1x Havoc launcher
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
• 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
1x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator
• 2x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
• 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
1x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator
• 2x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
• 10x Poxwalker
• 10x Improvised weapon
• 10x Poxwalker
• 10x Improvised weapon
Archetype
Non-Morty Virulent
Thoughts
Vectorium rolls on, with double Plague Marine brick here in place of Mortarion. Sticky objectives and -1 damage are one hell of a package and that seems to have wooed the DG fanbase away from Mortarion’s Hammer this week, very intriguing! Triple Blight-Launcher Bloat Drones here because, well of course. Amazing work on the top placing.
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – Tanner Hebert – Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): DWK, Inner Circle Companions, and a cheeky squad of Black Knights.
- 4th – Jonathan Sebert – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): Guard, Wardens and some Caladius.
- 5th – Tyler Stice – Deathwatch (Blackspear Task Force): Lots of Terminators and Kill Teams in the classic DW detachment.
- 6th – Jeremy Brooks – World Eaters (Khorne Daemonkin): Skarbrand, lots of Bloodletters and supporting WE shooting and melee.
Viking Games – The Path of the Einherjar
34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Östergötlands län, Sverige on July 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Matchup & Mission – T’au Empire (Kauyon) versus Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer)
Max Gullberg – T’au Empire (Kauyon) Char1: 1x Firesight Team (70 pts): Warlord, Close combat weapons, Longshot pulse rifles, Pulse pistol 10x Breacher Team (100 pts) 10x Kroot Carnivores (65 pts)
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – T’au Empire
+ DETACHMENT: Kauyon
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Firesight Team
+ ENHANCEMENT:
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 18
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (10×2) – Assassination: 1 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
• 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui: Guardian Drone, Close combat weapon, Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol, Support turret, Twin pulse carbine
• 9x Breacher Fire Warriors: 9 with Close combat weapon, Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol
• 1x Long-quill: Close combat weapon, Kroot pistol, Kroot rifle
• 9x Kroot Carnivores: 9 with Close combat weapon, Kroot rifle
10x Pathfinder Team (90 pts)
• 9x Pathfinders
6 with Pathfinder Team, Close combat weapon, Pulse carbine, Pulse pistol
3 with Pathfinder Team, Close combat weapon, Ion rifle, Pulse pistol
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui: Shield Drone, Recon drone, Drone burst cannon, Close combat weapon, Pulse carbine, Pulse pistol, Semi-automatic grenade launcher, Twin pulse carbine, Drone burst cannon
3x Stealth Battlesuits (80 pts)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre: Battlesuit support system, Homing beacon, Marker Drone, Shield Drone, Battlesuit fists, Fusion blaster
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui: 2 with Battlesuit fists, Burst cannon
3x Stealth Battlesuits (80 pts)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre: Battlesuit support system, Homing beacon, Marker Drone, Shield Drone, Battlesuit fists, Fusion blaster
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui: 2 with Battlesuit fists, Burst cannon
5x Vespid Stingwings (65 pts)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader: Neutron blaster, Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwings: 4 with Neutron blaster, Stingwing claws
3x Krootox Rampagers (85 pts): 3 with Hunting blades, Kroot pistol and hunting javelins, Rampager fists
1x Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 pts): Battlesuit support system, Ghostkeel fists, Cyclic ion raker, Twin fusion blaster
1x Hammerhead Gunship (145 pts): Armoured hull, Railgun, 2x Seeker missile, 2x Smart missile system
1x Piranha (60 pts): Armoured hull, 2x Twin pulse carbine, Piranha fusion blaster, Seeker missile, Seeker missile
1x Piranha (60 pts): Armoured hull, 2x Twin pulse carbine, Piranha fusion blaster, 2x Seeker missile
1x Riptide Battlesuit (190 pts): Riptide fists, Ion accelerator, 2x Missile pod, Twin smart missile system
1x Riptide Battlesuit (190 pts): Riptide fists, Ion accelerator, 2x Missile pod, Twin smart missile system
1x Riptide Battlesuit (190 pts): Riptide fists, Ion accelerator, 2x Missile pod, Twin smart missile system
1x Sky Ray Gunship (140 pts): Armoured hull, Seeker missile rack, 2x Smart missile system
1x Sky Ray Gunship (140 pts): Armoured hull, Seeker missile rack, 2x Smart missile system
1x Devilfish (85 pts): Accelerator burst cannon, Armoured hull, 2x Seeker missile, 2x Smart missile system
vs.
Emil Söderholm – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) Char1: 1x Lord of Contagion (110 pts): Manreaper 3x Deathshroud Terminators (140 pts) Char6: 1x Knight Tyrant (395 pts): Titanic feet, 2x Twin daemonbreath meltagun, 2x Gheiststrike missile launcher, Twin desecrator cannon, Brimstone volcano lance and ectoplasma decimator
Army List - Click to Expand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – Death Guard
+ DETACHMENT: Mortarion’s Hammer
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+ ALLIED UNITS: Chaos Knights
+
+ WARLORD: Char4: Lord of Virulence
+ ENHANCEMENT: Shriekworm Familiar (on Char3: Lord of Contagion)
& Tendrilous Emissions (on Char4: Lord of Virulence)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 17
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (6×2) + (1×6) – Assassination: 6 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Char2: 1x Lord of Contagion (110 pts): Manreaper
Char3: 1x Lord of Contagion (125 pts): Manreaper
Enhancement: Shriekworm Familiar (+15 pts)
Char4: 1x Lord of Virulence (110 pts): Warlord, Power fist, Twin plague spewer
Enhancement: Tendrilous Emissions (+20 pts)
Char5: 1x Tallyman (40 pts): Close combat weapon, Plasma pistol
• 1x Deathshroud Terminator Champion: Icon of Despair, Manreaper, 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator: 2 with Manreaper, Plaguespurt gauntlet
3x Deathshroud Terminators (140 pts)
• 1x Deathshroud Terminator Champion: Icon of Despair, Manreaper, 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator: 2 with Manreaper, Plaguespurt gauntlet
3x Deathshroud Terminators (140 pts)
• 1x Deathshroud Terminator Champion: Icon of Despair, Manreaper, 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator: 2 with Manreaper, Plaguespurt gauntlet
10x Poxwalkers (60 pts): 10 with Improvised weapons
10x Poxwalkers (60 pts): 10 with Improvised weapons
1x Foetid Bloat-drone with heavy blight launcher (100 pts): Heavy blight launcher, Plague probe
1x Foetid Bloat-drone with heavy blight launcher (100 pts): Heavy blight launcher, Plague probe
1x Foetid Bloat-drone with heavy blight launcher (100 pts): Heavy blight launcher, Plague probe
1x Myphitic Blight-hauler (90 pts): Bile spurt, Gnashing maw, Missile launcher, Multi-melta
1x Myphitic Blight-hauler (90 pts): Bile spurt, Gnashing maw, Missile launcher, Multi-melta
1x Myphitic Blight-hauler (90 pts): Bile spurt, Gnashing maw, Missile launcher, Multi-melta
Thoughts
Ok then, THIS is fun. T’au have re-emerged as an army that can win games of 40k recently, to the chagrin of many. Meanwhile, Death Guard have been, well, just too good. WAY too good, and slaying the meta relentlessly. So what happens when the two throw down? The answer might surprise you!
I think list comp is absolutely pivotal here. The Death Guard Hammer list packs many of the usual suspects – triple Deathshroud murder packages, loads of Drones, Poxwalkers- but it has cut back on the usual Plagueburst Crawlers in order to jam in a big knight. The wider meta-logic for this might be sound, as the Knight loves contagion range opposition profiles and can help the DG go toe-to-toe with other Knights, but I think it gives our plucky fish heroes an in.
The Kauyon list is nicely balanced, with good outer layers of screening and scoring, the obligatory salvos of Riptides and Skyray, and a Breacher Fish / Hammerhead one-two. The big thing for the T’au here is their ability to screen out the Deathshroud with idiots, before bopping them with Riptide Damage 4 in short order. The Hammer list lacks the means to clear screens and chaff from out of line of sight, which means the T’au can manage space that little bit better. If a few of the big T’au tanks and mechs can go off and whittle down the Drones / Knight at a reasonable pace, a win path exists. I’d expect T’au to need first turn here to get the space to play, but it looks like, whichever way that fell, they managed to hustle a very impressive win. Amazing!
Result
T’au Empire (Kauyon) Victory – 11 – 9
Max Gullberg – T’au Empire (Kauyon) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Char1: 1x Firesight Team (70 pts): Warlord, Close combat weapons, Longshot pulse rifles, Pulse pistol 10x Breacher Team (100 pts) 10x Kroot Carnivores (65 pts)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – T’au Empire
+ DETACHMENT: Kauyon
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Firesight Team
+ ENHANCEMENT:
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 18
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (10×2) – Assassination: 1 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
• 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui: Guardian Drone, Close combat weapon, Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol, Support turret, Twin pulse carbine
• 9x Breacher Fire Warriors: 9 with Close combat weapon, Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol
• 1x Long-quill: Close combat weapon, Kroot pistol, Kroot rifle
• 9x Kroot Carnivores: 9 with Close combat weapon, Kroot rifle
10x Pathfinder Team (90 pts)
• 9x Pathfinders
6 with Pathfinder Team, Close combat weapon, Pulse carbine, Pulse pistol
3 with Pathfinder Team, Close combat weapon, Ion rifle, Pulse pistol
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui: Shield Drone, Recon drone, Drone burst cannon, Close combat weapon, Pulse carbine, Pulse pistol, Semi-automatic grenade launcher, Twin pulse carbine, Drone burst cannon
3x Stealth Battlesuits (80 pts)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre: Battlesuit support system, Homing beacon, Marker Drone, Shield Drone, Battlesuit fists, Fusion blaster
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui: 2 with Battlesuit fists, Burst cannon
3x Stealth Battlesuits (80 pts)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre: Battlesuit support system, Homing beacon, Marker Drone, Shield Drone, Battlesuit fists, Fusion blaster
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui: 2 with Battlesuit fists, Burst cannon
5x Vespid Stingwings (65 pts)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader: Neutron blaster, Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwings: 4 with Neutron blaster, Stingwing claws
3x Krootox Rampagers (85 pts): 3 with Hunting blades, Kroot pistol and hunting javelins, Rampager fists
1x Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 pts): Battlesuit support system, Ghostkeel fists, Cyclic ion raker, Twin fusion blaster
1x Hammerhead Gunship (145 pts): Armoured hull, Railgun, 2x Seeker missile, 2x Smart missile system
1x Piranha (60 pts): Armoured hull, 2x Twin pulse carbine, Piranha fusion blaster, Seeker missile, Seeker missile
1x Piranha (60 pts): Armoured hull, 2x Twin pulse carbine, Piranha fusion blaster, 2x Seeker missile
1x Riptide Battlesuit (190 pts): Riptide fists, Ion accelerator, 2x Missile pod, Twin smart missile system
1x Riptide Battlesuit (190 pts): Riptide fists, Ion accelerator, 2x Missile pod, Twin smart missile system
1x Riptide Battlesuit (190 pts): Riptide fists, Ion accelerator, 2x Missile pod, Twin smart missile system
1x Sky Ray Gunship (140 pts): Armoured hull, Seeker missile rack, 2x Smart missile system
1x Sky Ray Gunship (140 pts): Armoured hull, Seeker missile rack, 2x Smart missile system
1x Devilfish (85 pts): Accelerator burst cannon, Armoured hull, 2x Seeker missile, 2x Smart missile system
Archetype
Kauyon Goodstuff
Thoughts
The return of the T’au lines up well with a meta-game that is skewing big once again. T’au can certainly out-manoeuvre and out-mission clunky lists, and they have the damage to get through Drones and the like. High toughness definitely does present issues for Kauyon, and I think winning with T’au consistently is no-easy thing at the moment, but that only makes this GT win all the more awesome – fantastic work.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Emil Söderholm – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer): The Drones / Big Knight Hammer list from the Showdown.
- 3rd – Kim Olsson – Death Guard (Tallyband Summoners): An EPIC big-skew Tallyband list with Morty, a GUO and Rotigus.
- 4th – Ola Persson – Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager): Full-on Dark Lance spam with tonnes of Kabalites, Ravagers and transports.
- 5th – Max Persson – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): Loads of Castigators, Immolators and the Vahl brick in BoF.
- 6th – Simon Olsson – Adepta Sororitas (Champions of Faith): Tasty Sacrosanct spam in Champions, with Castigator support.
Nemesis 40k Summer 2025
29-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Edmonton, AB, Canada on July 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Scotty Bee – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTERS Catacomb Command Barge (120 points) Hexmark Destroyer (75 points) Illuminor Szeras (165 points) Imotekh the Stormlord (100 points) Orikan the Diviner (80 points) Plasmancer (55 points) Royal Warden (70 points) Skorpekh Lord (120 points) Skorpekh Lord (90 points) BATTLELINE Immortals (70 points) Necron Warriors (200 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Ghost Ark (115 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Canoptek Reanimator (75 points) Canoptek Spyders (75 points) Cryptothralls (60 points) Doomsday Ark (200 points) Skorpekh Destroyers (90 points) Skorpekh Destroyers (90 points) Tomb Blades (75 points) Tomb Blades (75 points)
Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Awakened Dynasty
• 1x Gauss cannon
1x Overlord’s blade
1x Resurrection Orb
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• 1x Eldritch Lance
1x Impaling legs
• 1x Gauntlet of Fire
1x Staff of the Destroyer
• Warlord
• 1x Staff of Tomorrow
• 1x Plasmic lance
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Relic gauss blaster
• Enhancement: Nether-realm Casket
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
1x Flensing claw
1x Hyperphase harvester
• Enhancement: Enaegic Dermal Bond
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
1x Flensing claw
1x Hyperphase harvester
• 5x Immortal
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Gauss blaster
• 20x Necron Warrior
• 20x Close combat weapon
20x Gauss reaper
• 1x Armoured bulk
2x Gauss flayer array
• 2x Atomiser beam
1x Reanimator’s claws
• 1x Automaton claws
1x Fabricator Claw Array (Aura)
1x Gloom Prism (Aura)
2x Particle beamer
• 2x Cryptothrall
• 2x Scouring eye
2x Scythed limbs
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer array
• 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
• 1x Plasmacyte
3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
• 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
• 1x Plasmacyte
3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
• 3x Tomb Blade
• 3x Close combat weapon
2x Particle beamer
3x Shadowloom
1x Twin tesla carbine
• 3x Tomb Blade
• 3x Close combat weapon
2x Particle beamer
3x Shadowloom
1x Twin tesla carbine
Archetype
Awakened Dynasty Goodstuff
Thoughts
Necrons are over when they say they’re over, ok? More Awakened Dynasty nonsense here, with many of the established tools – the Warrior brick, Szeras, baby Skorpekh units with Lords, and lots of MSU. Light on output, but very high on mission play and trickery. Necrons seem to find a way no matter what the meta game throws at them, a testament to the power of the book! Well done on the event win.
The Best of the Rest
There were 4 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Kieren Trimbee – Drukhari (Skysplinter Assault): Massed Kabalites, triple Ravager, some Scourge, and a big brick of Incubi ready to murder big stuff.
- 3rd – Ryan Mayer – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, an Errant, a Crusader, and lots of Armigers.
- 4th – Shawn Ford – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): All-in infantry Custodes with Guard, Wardens, Allarus and Venatarii. Makes the heart sing!
- 5th – Paul La Rue – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): MSU BA with double Ballistus, and a small unit of the new Death Company hotness.
Wrap Up
There you have it folks! A few really enjoyable surprises like a T’au GT win, but the undeniable dominance of Knights and Death Guard appears to show no sign of abating. Get those problem children sorted out and we may well be looking at a really healthy meta game. Until then, the horrors persist, but so shall we.
Have a blast out there!
Lowest of Men, out.
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