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 weekās top match-ups and how they played out on the tabletop to let you know whatās hot, whatās not, and what might be coming next as the competitive meta evolves year-round.
This week’s theme is mostly that not one butĀ two tournaments somehow ended up with weird bizarre top cut situations that ate up a valuable part of my Monday night reconcilling. Boo and hiss. I do it because I love our readers, obviously.
Metagame wise – the Dataslate has hit, and the split at the top is between Aeldari on one side and a melee Marine trifecta of Blood Angels, World Eaters and Black Templars on the other. There’s also the new Raven Guard hotness starting to pick up a fair bit of momentum in the shadows. All of that isĀ broadly represented in the metagame for this weekend’s LGT, and I’m looking forward to seeing how things shake out at the biggest 40K event ever!
Speaking of that – my ever talented co-conspirator Lowest of Men is part of the streaming team for the event, so if you want his insights in real time, not just in Friday’s column, make sure to check out the stream over on the UKTC TV feed.
Returning to our appetisers for this weekend’s spectacular, we have the following.
Part 1 on Wednesday:
- Doonhamer Open – 40K Super Major
- The Phoenix GT ā End of Summer Showdown
- ICE HAMMER ITC GT VII – 2025
- 2025 Wars on the Shore GT
- 1Ā° GT Mallorca
Part 2 on Friday:
- Crucible Grand Tournament 2025
- Orchard of OHNO 2025 40k GT
- Grip Figurspel GT II
- Setembro Open Almeirim
- NĆørdcon ’25 Warhammer 40000 GT
Part 3 on Saturday:
- Invasion 2025 40k
- Dearg Doom IV: Feel All Pain!
- The Autumn Swordwind GT – 2000 Points 40k tournament 5 rounds
- Hobby Henchmen Autumn GT
- Aemona Grand Tournament Vol. 4
Doonhamer Open – 40K Super Major
131-player, 7-round Major in Scotland, United Kingdom on September 20 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Note: OK, so – this is our first event for the week where top cuts went weird. There was a top cut. So far so good. However. One player couldn’t play, so a slot dropped down, then someone who was in the top four got DQed because of an unfixable list error being discovered,Ā then all their opponents got scores retroactively changed to 20-0, so this is carnage.Ā I have put the top three here as the players who actually played the top cut. Fourth onwards I’m just going by the scores as they lie in BCP.
OK? OK.
Innes Wilson – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Yes the unit can probably get there yeah the 20 man can reach you – World Eaters – Berzerker Warband (2000 Points) KhĆ¢rn the Betrayer (100 pts) Slaughterbound (110 pts) World Eaters Lord on Juggernaut (100 pts) World Eaters Lord on Juggernaut (90 pts) Khorne Berserkers (360 pts) Khorne Berserkers (180 pts) Khorne Berserkers (360 pts) Exalted Eightbound (140 pts) Exalted Eightbound (140 pts) Jakhals (65 pts) World Eaters Rhino (85 pts) World Eaters Chaos Spawn (90 pts) World Eaters Chaos Spawn (90 pts) World Eaters Chaos Spawn (90 pts)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Player Name: Innes “I miss u Angron” Wilson
Team Name: Stat Check
Factions Used: World Eaters
Army Points: 2000
Army Enhancements (list on which model): Slaughterbound – Berzerker Glaive, World Eaters Lord of Juggernaut – Battle-Lust
Detachment Rule: Relentless Rage
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
World Eaters
Berzerker Warband (2000 Points)
ā¢ Gorechild
ā¢ Plasma pistol
ā¢ Lacerator and daemonic claw
ā¢ Enhancement: Berzerker Glaive
ā¢ Plasma pistol
ā¢ Exalted chainblade
ā¢ Juggernaught’s bladed horn
ā¢ Enhancement: Battle-Lust
ā¢ Plasma pistol
ā¢ Exalted chainblade
ā¢ Juggernaught’s bladed horn
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ Khorne Berserker Champion
ā¢ Berserker chainblade
ā¢ Plasma pistol
ā¢ Icon of Khorne
ā¢ 4x Khorne Berserker w/ alternate weapons
ā¢ 4x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 4x Khornate eviscerator
ā¢ 15x Khorne Berserker
ā¢ 15x Berserker chainblade
ā¢ 15x Bolt pistol
ā¢ Khorne Berserker Champion
ā¢ Berserker chainblade
ā¢ Plasma pistol
ā¢ Icon of Khorne
ā¢ 2x Khorne Berserker w/ alternate weapons
ā¢ 2x Khornate eviscerator
ā¢ 2x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 7x Khorne Berserker
ā¢ 7x Berserker chainblade
ā¢ 7x Bolt pistol
ā¢ Khorne Berserker Champion
ā¢ Berserker chainblade
ā¢ Plasma pistol
ā¢ Icon of Khorne
ā¢ 4x Khorne Berserker w/ alternate weapons
ā¢ 4x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 4x Khornate eviscerator
ā¢ 15x Khorne Berserker
ā¢ 15x Berserker chainblade
ā¢ 15x Bolt pistol
ā¢ Exalted Eightbound Champion
ā¢ Chainblades
ā¢ 2x Exalted Eightbound
ā¢ 2x Chainblades
ā¢ Exalted Eightbound Champion
ā¢ Chainblades
ā¢ 2x Exalted Eightbound
ā¢ 2x Chainblades
ā¢ Jakhal Pack Leader
ā¢ Autopistol
ā¢ Jakhal chainblades
ā¢ Dishonoured w/ skullsmasher
ā¢ Skullsmasher
ā¢ Icon of Khorne
ā¢ 1 mauler chainblade, 7 chainblades
ā¢ Jakhal w/ mauler chainblade
ā¢ Mauler chainblade
ā¢ Autopistol
ā¢ 7x Jakhal
ā¢ 7x Autopistol
ā¢ 7x Jakhal chainblades
ā¢ Armoured tracks
ā¢ Combi-bolter
ā¢ Combi-weapon
ā¢ Havoc launcher
ā¢ 2x Chaos Spawn
ā¢ 2x Hideous Mutations
ā¢ 2x Chaos Spawn
ā¢ 2x Hideous Mutations
ā¢ 2x Chaos Spawn
ā¢ 2x Hideous Mutations
Archetype
Big Berzerkers
Thoughts
This week’s breakout strategy is a new and improved melee World Eaters setup, which Innes is leading the charge with here. The significant Dataslate boost to Exalted Eightbound gives you something that can do heavy melee lifting again, which previously the army could ironically struggle with, while the big Berzerker bricks are a huge nightmare for the expected Aeldari menace to handle. They just don’t kill enough in any activation, after which the high-reach Blood Surge will turn half their army into paste, as the extra melee reach the Juggerlords provide means that pretty much the whole squad will swing, splitting attacks much more flexibly than otherwise possible. They also provide extra reach for Advancing and Charging, as this Detachment likes to do.
This is a return to a classic strategy of getting in the opponent’s face really fast with a lot of stuff and demanding they find and answer, and the Blood Surge threat makes it very hard for some builds to muster that. World Eaters have one of the biggest representations at the LGT, so we’ll see if this success gets repeated there, but right now congratulations to Innes for being at the fore with this powerful new setup.
Conail Kearns – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTERS Daemon Prince of Nurgle (205 Points) Lord of Contagion (120 Points) BATTLELINE Plague Marines (190 Points) Plague Marines (190 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Chaos Rhino (85 Points) Chaos Rhino (85 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Deathshroud Terminators (320 Points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (120 Points) Myphitic Blight-haulers (100 Points) Myphitic Blight-haulers (100 Points) Plagueburst Crawler (210 Points) Plagueburst Crawler (210 Points) Poxwalkers (65 Points)
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ 1x Hellforged weapons
ā¢ 1x Infernal cannon
ā¢ Enhancements: Daemon Weapon of Nurgle
ā¢ 1x Manreaper
ā¢ 1x Plague Champion
ā¦ 1x Plasma gun
ā¦ 1x Power fist
ā¢ 9x Plague Marine
ā¦ 1x Blight launcher
ā¦ 4x Heavy plague weapon
ā¦ 2x Plague belcher
ā¦ 9x Plague knives
ā¦ 2x Plague spewer
ā¢ 1x Plague Champion
ā¦ 1x Plasma gun
ā¦ 1x Power fist
ā¢ 9x Plague Marine
ā¦ 1x Blight launcher
ā¦ 4x Heavy plague weapon
ā¦ 2x Plague belcher
ā¦ 9x Plague knives
ā¦ 2x Plague spewer
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
ā¢ 1x Combi-bolter
ā¢ 1x Combi-bolter
ā¢ 1x Havoc launcher
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
ā¢ 1x Combi-bolter
ā¢ 1x Combi-bolter
ā¢ 1x Havoc launcher
ā¢ 1x Deathshroud Champion
ā¦ 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
ā¦ 1x Manreaper
ā¦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
ā¢ 5x Deathshroud Terminator
ā¦ 5x Manreaper
ā¦ 5x Plaguespurt gauntlet
ā¢ 1x Heavy blight launcher
ā¢ 1x Plague probe
ā¢ 1x Bile spurt
ā¢ 1x Gnashing maw
ā¢ 1x Missile launcher
ā¢ 1x Multi-melta
ā¢ 1x Bile spurt
ā¢ 1x Gnashing maw
ā¢ 1x Missile launcher
ā¢ 1x Multi-melta
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
ā¢ 2x Entropy cannon
ā¢ 1x Plagueburst mortar
ā¢ 1x Rothail volley gun
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
ā¢ 2x Entropy cannon
ā¢ 1x Plagueburst mortar
ā¢ 1x Rothail volley gun
ā¢ 10x Poxwalker
ā¦ 10x Improvised weapon
Archetype
Heavy Infantry Vectorium
Thoughts
In second place, we have a heavily reworked Vectorium build, using big units of Plague Marines and a full Deathshroud stack to dodge or mitigate the impact of the Dataslate changes respectively, and backing them with a diminished (but still potent) suite of Daemon Engines. The key thing here is that the combination of sticky objectives and Plaguebursts adds a lot of value to the Rhino Plague Marine units, as you can stage those up and then use the other tools to force the opponent to engage with you, at which point the Plague Marines hopefully eliminate whatever threat they face. There’s more of a damage ceiling than there used to be, and the big blocks of Berzerkers proved too much for it in the final, but it’s a very solid all-rounder strategy for taking on most things that aren’t on heavy skew. Well done to Conail.
Robert Mitchell – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor) – 3rd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Al (2045 points) Note: I can only assume this was done in the app prior to the update, the 9-model Vigilators dropped to 100pts per unit. Adeptus Custodes CHARACTERS Aleya (65 points) Blade Champion (120 points) Blade Champion (120 points) Knight-Centura (55 points) Knight-Centura (55 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Anathema Psykana Rhino (75 points) Anathema Psykana Rhino (75 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Allarus Custodians (120 points) Caladius Grav-tank (215 points) Custodian Wardens (260 points) Custodian Wardens (260 points) Prosecutors (40 points) Prosecutors (40 points) Vigilators (115 points) Vigilators (115 points) Vigilators (115 points) Witchseekers (50 points) Witchseekers (50 points) ALLIED UNITS Callidus Assassin (100 points) Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (97), Data Version: v686
Strike Force (2000 points)
Lions of the Emperor
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ 1x Somnus
ā¢ 1x Vaultswords
ā¢ 1x Vaultswords
ā¢ 1x Executioner greatblade
ā¢ 1x Executioner greatblade
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
ā¢ 2x Allarus Custodian
ā¢ 2x Balistus grenade launcher
2x Guardian spear
ā¢ 1x Armoured hull
1x Twin iliastus accelerator cannon
1x Twin lastrum bolt cannon
ā¢ 5x Custodian Warden
ā¢ 5x Guardian spear
1x Vexilla
ā¢ 5x Custodian Warden
ā¢ 5x Guardian spear
1x Vexilla
ā¢ 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior
ā¢ 1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 3x Prosecutor
ā¢ 3x Boltgun
3x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior
ā¢ 1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 3x Prosecutor
ā¢ 3x Boltgun
3x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 1x Vigilator Sister Superior
ā¢ 1x Executioner greatblade
ā¢ 8x Vigilator
ā¢ 8x Executioner greatblade
ā¢ 1x Vigilator Sister Superior
ā¢ 1x Executioner greatblade
ā¢ 8x Vigilator
ā¢ 8x Executioner greatblade
ā¢ 1x Vigilator Sister Superior
ā¢ 1x Executioner greatblade
ā¢ 8x Vigilator
ā¢ 8x Executioner greatblade
ā¢ 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
1x Witchseeker flamer
ā¢ 3x Witchseeker
ā¢ 3x Close combat weapon
3x Witchseeker flamer
ā¢ 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
1x Witchseeker flamer
ā¢ 3x Witchseeker
ā¢ 3x Close combat weapon
3x Witchseeker flamer
ā¢ 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades
Archetype
Lion Vigilator Spam
Thoughts
Is it reductive to say that 10th Edition is ultimately about who can stage units in Rhinos best? Yes, butĀ look at this. Even the Custodes are doing it! They don’t fit in Rhinos!
Vigilators do though, and at their new cheaper price have some attractions in a Marine-heavy metagame. With theĀ Lions Detachment buff up they’ll take a reasonable chunk out of everything and a fairlyĀ big chunk out of anything in power armour, and you don’t pay a massive amount for the units (plus get solid reach out of a Rhino).Ā Fights First from Aleya and access to Fight on Death can further complicate things for opponents trying to handle them. Two units of Wardens to tarpit while they operate is a nice setup as well, and while it’s left field, I can definitely respect what this army has going on. It did also have a very bad time into the World Eaters, but I’m going to guess that’s shortly to be a universal experience, and if you send out one of these units and lift half a Berzerker squad that’s still technically trading up, which could maybe be an angle of attack? Anyway – really cool to see a Dataslate buff get an underappreciated unit straight into a strong build, well done Robert.
Bill Paterson – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER 1x C’tan Shard of the Void Dragon (300 pts) 1x Illuminor Szeras (165 pts) 3x The Silent King (400 pts) 1x Hexmark Destroyer (75 pts) 1x Skorpekh Lord (90 pts) 1x Skorpekh Lord (120 pts) 1x Technomancer (100 pts) OTHER DATASHEETS 5x Flayed Ones (60 pts) 3x Ophydian Destroyers (80 pts) 3x Skorpekh Destroyers (90 pts) 3x Skorpekh Destroyers (90 pts) 6x Canoptek Scarab Swarms (80 pts) 1x Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (55 pts) 6x Canoptek Wraiths (220 pts) 1x Canoptek Reanimator (75 pts)
ā¢ 1x Canoptek tail blades
ā¢ 1x Spear of the Void Dragon
ā¢ 1x Voltaic storm
ā¢ 1x Eldritch lance
ā¢ 1x Impaling legs
ā¢ 1x Szarekh
ā¢ 1x Sceptre of Eternal Glory
ā¢ 1x Staff of Stars
ā¢ 1x Weapons of the Final Triarch
ā¢ Szarekh
ā¢ 2x Triarchal Menhir
ā¢ 2x Annihilator beam
ā¢ 2x Armoured bulk
ā¢ 2x Triarchal Menhir, 2x Triarchal Menhirs, Warlord
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
ā¢ 1x Enmitic annihilator
ā¢ 1x Flensing claw
ā¢ 1x Hyperphase harvester
ā¢ 1x Enmitic annihilator
ā¢ 1x Flensing claw
ā¢ 1x Hyperphase harvester
ā¢ Enaegic Dermal Bond (+30 pts)
ā¢ 1x Staff of light
ā¢ Nether-realm Casket (+20 pts)
ā¢ 5x Flayed One
ā¢ 5x Flayer claws
ā¢ 3x Ophydian Destroyer
ā¢ 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons
ā¢ 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
ā¢ 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
ā¢ 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
ā¢ 3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons
ā¢ 6x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
ā¢ 6x Feeder mandibles
ā¢ 1x Destroyer
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 1x Gauss destructor
ā¢ 6x Wraith
ā¢ 6x Particle caster
ā¢ 6x Vicious claws
ā¢ 2x Atomiser beam
ā¢ 1x Reanimator’s claws
Archetype
Elite Awakened
Thoughts
An elite Awakened Dynasty build to round out our top four, using Wraiths as the tarpit unit, and Skorpekh to trade. Swapping out Warriors as a centrepiece makes sense as World Eaters rise, as Warrior-centric builds are stone dead to 20 Berzerker units, whereas Wraiths haveĀ slightly more of a shot of actually participating in a game with them, while Skorpekh with Lords are another thing that can positively trade with a chunk of a big squad…unless they have Damage Reduction available, which is a whole thing for the Silent King post Dataslate. I like this elite setup better than Warriors despite that, and I’d honestly wonder about leaning in further and taking a full Skorpekh unit – glass cannon sure, but it would mean that big Berzerker units would have to stay away any time they didn’t have 2CP up, as a full squad withĀ Hungry Void and the Silent King’s aura just about lifts a full squad. Interesting times for Necrons – they came through the Dataslate well, but need to adapt to a very changed metagame, and I certainly think Bill is making the right first steps here.
The Best of the Rest
There was 2 more players with 5-0 records in the Swiss. They were:
- 5th – Shaun Delaney – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): A fairly top-heavy Liberator build centred around a big unit each of Death Company and Sanguinary Guard, plus some Ballistus Dreads.
- 6th – James Lighten – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance):Ā Two gatling/melta Despoilers, plus aggro melee pressure from a Lancer and Karnivores.
The Phoenix GT ā End of Summer Showdown
73-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Hoofddorp, NH, Netherlands on September 20 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
JC van der Lee – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Sanguinary Guard are +15 for 3, +20 for 6, bringing the list to 2000. Space Marines CHARACTERS Blood Angels Captain (115 points) Captain with Jump Pack (100 points) Commander Dante (120 points) Lemartes (100 points) Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (230 points) Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (120 points) Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (120 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Sanguinary Guard (240 points) Sanguinary Guard (110 points) Scout Squad (70 points) Sternguard Veteran Squad (100 points) Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (190 points) Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (97), Data Version: v686
Veni, Vidi, Vanvets – Theme song: Blood by In This Moment (1965 points)
Blood Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Liberator Assault Group
ā¢ 1x Inferno pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ Enhancement: Rage-fuelled Warrior
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ Enhancement: Speed of the Primarch
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ 1x Perdition Pistol
1x The Axe Mortalis
ā¢ 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x The Blood Crozius
ā¢ 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
ā¢ 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
ā¢ 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
ā¢ 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 10x Death Company Marine with Jump Packs
ā¢ 5x Astartes chainsword
2x Eviscerator
6x Heavy bolt pistol
2x Inferno pistol
2x Plasma pistol
3x Power fist
ā¢ 5x Death Company Marine with Jump Packs
ā¢ 2x Astartes chainsword
1x Eviscerator
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Inferno pistol
1x Plasma pistol
2x Power fist
ā¢ 5x Death Company Marine with Jump Packs
ā¢ 2x Astartes chainsword
1x Eviscerator
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Inferno pistol
1x Plasma pistol
2x Power fist
ā¢ 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
ā¢ 4x Infiltrator
ā¢ 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine
ā¢ 6x Sanguinary Guard
ā¢ 4x Angelus boltgun
6x Encarmine blade
2x Inferno pistol
1x Sanguinary Banner
ā¢ 3x Sanguinary Guard
ā¢ 2x Angelus boltgun
3x Encarmine spear
1x Inferno pistol
1x Sanguinary Banner
ā¢ 1x Scout Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 4x Scout
ā¢ 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
3x Combat knife
1x Missile launcher
ā¢ 1x Sternguard Veteran Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
1x Power fist
1x Sternguard bolt pistol
1x Sternguard bolt rifle
ā¢ 4x Sternguard Veteran
ā¢ 4x Close combat weapon
4x Sternguard bolt pistol
3x Sternguard bolt rifle
1x Sternguard heavy bolter
ā¢ 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Inferno pistol
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
ā¢ 9x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
ā¢ 9x Inferno pistol
9x Vanguard Veteran weapon
Archetype
Melee Liberator
Thoughts
No see these ones are theĀ loyal red melee Marines. Obviously. Getting in the opponent’s face and smashing them with a pile of attacks is just as fun when Blood Angels do it, and this is definitely one of the other top melee builds post Dataslate. It misses out on the skew threat of the big Berzerker squads, but gets small speedy units like Jump Intercessors in exchange, giving it a different angle of attack on fragile, fast foes like Aeldari. Definite sense from all sides that guns are for cowards, and it’s working out well for those that eschew them, great stuff from JC.
Justin Jansen – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTERS Catacomb Command Barge (120 points) Chronomancer (65 points) Illuminor Szeras (165 points) Lokhust Lord (100 points) Lokhust Lord (80 points) Orikan the Diviner (80 points) Royal Warden (70 points) Royal Warden (50 points) BATTLELINE Necron Warriors (200 points) Necron Warriors (200 points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Ghost Ark (115 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Canoptek Reanimator (75 points) Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) Cryptothralls (60 points) Cryptothralls (60 points) Lokhust Destroyers (180 points) Lokhust Destroyers (180 points) Ophydian Destroyers (80 points) Ophydian Destroyers (80 points) Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (97), Data Version: v686
Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Awakened Dynasty
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ 1x Gauss cannon
1x Overlord’s blade
1x Resurrection Orb
ā¢ 1x Chronomancer’s stave
ā¢ 1x Eldritch Lance
1x Impaling legs
ā¢ 1x Resurrection Orb
1x Overlord’s blade
ā¢ Enhancement: Veil of Darkness
ā¢ 1x Resurrection Orb
1x Overlord’s blade
ā¢ 1x Staff of Tomorrow
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
1x Relic gauss blaster
ā¢ Enhancement: Nether-realm Casket
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
1x Relic gauss blaster
ā¢ 20x Necron Warrior
ā¢ 20x Close combat weapon
20x Gauss flayer
ā¢ 20x Necron Warrior
ā¢ 20x Close combat weapon
20x Gauss reaper
ā¢ 1x Armoured bulk
2x Gauss flayer array
ā¢ 2x Atomiser beam
1x Reanimator’s claws
ā¢ 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
ā¢ 3x Feeder mandibles
ā¢ 2x Cryptothrall
ā¢ 2x Scouring eye
2x Scythed limbs
ā¢ 2x Cryptothrall
ā¢ 2x Scouring eye
2x Scythed limbs
ā¢ 6x Lokhust Destroyer
ā¢ 6x Close combat weapon
6x Gauss cannon
ā¢ 6x Lokhust Destroyer
ā¢ 6x Close combat weapon
6x Gauss cannon
ā¢ 3x Ophydian Destroyer
ā¢ 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons
1x Plasmacyte
ā¢ 3x Ophydian Destroyer
ā¢ 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons
1x Plasmacyte
Archetype
Warrior Awakened
Thoughts
Another Awakened Dynasty build in undefeated second place here, aiming to exploit a mostly melee metagame by using big Warrior blocks as an anchor to pivot Lokhusts around. Lokhusts are solid into a Marine-heavy environment, but I do worry that this list just folds to some of the World Eaters builds we’re seeing, despite Lohusts being somewhat OK at killing them – it’s still just not enough to handle how fast the big Berzerkers lift Warriors. We’ll see how that plays out pretty quickly, I suspect, and I do like this into severalĀ other popular builds (Aeldari will have considerablyĀ more trouble into this than the more elite version). Impressive win for Justin for now, and there are certainlyĀ versions of the metagame where this could thrive – all hangs on how the World Eaters hold up.
Martijn Van der Most – Chaos Space Marines (Chaos Cult) – 3rd Place (Undefeated)
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Chaos Space Marines CHARACTERS Cypher (90 points) Dark Commune (95 points) Dark Commune (100 points) Dark Commune (90 points) Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (80 points) BATTLELINE Cultist Mob (50 points) Cultist Mob (50 points) Cultist Mob (50 points) Cultist Mob (50 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Accursed Cultists (195 points) Accursed Cultists (195 points) Accursed Cultists (195 points) Chaos Predator Annihilator (135 points) Chaos Predator Annihilator (135 points) Chaos Predator Destructor (140 points) Chaos Predator Destructor (140 points) Raptors (90 points) Raptors (90 points) Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (94), Data Version: v675
ITS CULT O CLOCK BABY (1970 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Chaos Cult
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ 1x Cypher’s bolt pistol
1x Cypher’s plasma pistol
ā¢ 1x Cult Demagogue
ā¢ 1x Autopistol
1x Commune stave
ā¢ Enhancement: Incendiary Goad
ā¢ 1x Mindwitch
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
1x Warp Curse
ā¢ 1x Iconarch
ā¢ 1x Autopistol
1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 2x Blessed Blade
ā¢ 2x Commune blade
ā¢ 1x Cult Demagogue
ā¢ 1x Autopistol
1x Commune stave
ā¢ Enhancement: Cultist’s Brand
ā¢ 1x Mindwitch
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
1x Warp Curse
ā¢ 1x Iconarch
ā¢ 1x Autopistol
1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 2x Blessed Blade
ā¢ 2x Commune blade
ā¢ 1x Cult Demagogue
ā¢ 1x Autopistol
1x Commune stave
ā¢ Enhancement: Warped Foresight
ā¢ 1x Mindwitch
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
1x Warp Curse
ā¢ 1x Iconarch
ā¢ 1x Autopistol
1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 2x Blessed Blade
ā¢ 2x Commune blade
ā¢ 1x Chaos Familiar
1x Combi-bolter
1x Force weapon
1x Infernal Gaze
ā¢ 1x Cultist Champion
ā¢ 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
ā¢ 9x Chaos Cultist
ā¢ 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon
ā¢ 1x Cultist Champion
ā¢ 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
ā¢ 9x Chaos Cultist
ā¢ 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon
ā¢ 1x Cultist Champion
ā¢ 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
ā¢ 9x Chaos Cultist
ā¢ 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon
ā¢ 1x Cultist Champion
ā¢ 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
ā¢ 9x Chaos Cultist
ā¢ 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon
ā¢ 10x Mutant
ā¢ 10x Blasphemous appendages
ā¢ 6x Torment
ā¢ 6x Hideous mutations
ā¢ 10x Mutant
ā¢ 10x Blasphemous appendages
ā¢ 6x Torment
ā¢ 6x Hideous mutations
ā¢ 10x Mutant
ā¢ 10x Blasphemous appendages
ā¢ 6x Torment
ā¢ 6x Hideous mutations
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator twin lascannon
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator twin lascannon
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon
ā¢ 1x Raptor Champion
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ 4x Raptor
ā¢ 2x Astartes chainsword
2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
2x Meltagun
1x Raptor Champion
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ 4x Raptor
ā¢ 2x Astartes chainsword
2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
2x Meltagun
Archetype
Cult Horde
Thoughts
The clear, emerging message is that you need to be ready for angry hordes to rush towards you and try and box you in, as the Accursed Commune spectacular is back as well. If the opponent can’t handle a big Accursed rush, this list can deliver swift death, and while it’s notĀ as brutal as big Berzerkers, it makes up for it by having more of a plan B. The Cult army naturally encourages the inclusion of cheap, cheerful scoring pieces, while Predators with Dark Pacts provide a bargain way to get some actual credible shooting on the table, adding flexibility. Cypher is also great for locking the enemy out, and CP tax effects in generalĀ shoot up in value when players are slamming giant bricks into one another, as taking away the window to activate a key Stratagem can be game changing. Always love seeing some fresh energy fired into a classic by a Dataslate, well done Martijn on taking the third undefeated slot.
Laurens Tjallingii – Death Guard (Champions of Contagion) – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Death Guard CHARACTERS Biologus Putrifier (80 points) Biologus Putrifier (60 points) Foul Blightspawn (75 points) Lord of Contagion (120 points) Lord of Contagion (120 points) Malignant Plaguecaster (60 points) Malignant Plaguecaster (60 points) Tallyman (50 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 (160 points) Deathshroud Terminators (160 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (120 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (120 points) Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (120 points) Poxwalkers (65 points) Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (97), Data Version: v686
Filthy Champions #1 (2000 points)
Strike Force (2000 points)
Champions of Contagion
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ 1x Hyper blight grenades
1x Injector pistol
1x Plague knives
ā¢ Enhancement: Final Ingredient
ā¢ 1x Hyper blight grenades
1x Injector pistol
1x Plague knives
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plague sprayer
ā¢ 1x Manreaper
ā¢ 1x Manreaper
ā¢ 1x Bolt pistol
1x Corrupted staff
1x Plague Wind
ā¢ 1x Bolt pistol
1x Corrupted staff
1x Plague Wind
ā¢ 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 1x Plague Champion
ā¢ 1x Plasma gun
1x Power fist
ā¢ 9x Plague Marine
ā¢ 2x Blight launcher
4x Heavy plague weapon
2x Meltagun
9x Plague knives
1x Plague spewer
ā¢ 1x Plague Champion
ā¢ 1x Plasma gun
1x Power fist
ā¢ 9x Plague Marine
ā¢ 2x Blight launcher
4x Heavy plague weapon
2x Meltagun
9x Plague knives
1x Plague spewer
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
2x Combi-bolter
1x Havoc launcher
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
2x Combi-bolter
1x Havoc launcher
ā¢ 2x Chaos Spawn
ā¢ 2x Hideous mutations
ā¢ 1x Deathshroud Champion
ā¢ 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
1x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
ā¢ 2x Deathshroud Terminator
ā¢ 2x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
ā¢ 1x Deathshroud Champion
ā¢ 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
1x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
ā¢ 2x Deathshroud Terminator
ā¢ 2x Manreaper
2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
ā¢ 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
ā¢ 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
ā¢ 1x Heavy blight launcher
1x Plague probe
ā¢ 10x Poxwalker
ā¢ 10x Improvised weapon
Archetype
Plague Marine Champions
Thoughts
Another Plague Marine-focused Death Guard build in fourth place, using Champions to add target flexibility, and also set up so that both units have access toĀ Fight First, ensuring melee armies can’t ever engage entirely safely. That’s a solid bit of central board presence, and three Bloat-drones is still very nasty shooting to pack behind it, with Deathshrouds providing heavier troubleshooting. It’s quite sparse on the table, so needs to be piloted with care as every lost unit is a disaster, but the punch is still very real, and the adaptability from the Detachment helps paper over some of the gaps. Well done to Laurens.
The Best of the Rest
There were 9 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 5th – Aat Niehot – Black Templars (Gladius Task Force):Ā RepEx/Sword Brethren Gladius.
- 6th – Kjell Lutz – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven):Ā A greatly diminished but still somehow standing Grand Coven Goodstuff build, skimping on any of the durable stuff to keep the maneuvrability and damage.
- 7th – Miguel Hooijer – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor):Ā Lions with a couple of discounted Custodian squads at the core, and a toolbox of other stuff around them.
- 8th – Sjors Meijer – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband):Ā Double big Berzerker unit supported by Eightbound.
- 9th – Jort Kassies – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force):Ā Dreadknight Grand Masters, Crowe’s Purifiers, then a mix of Purifiers and Interceptors in Razorbacks.
- 10th – Ynze H – Orks (War Horde): Ghaz and a Big Mek with a big Boyz horde (as a default option), then mechanised melee murder around them. Also quite a bit of toolbox flexibility on exactly how you set up Ghaz in some matchups.
- 11th – Adam Jagich – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): One Berzerker unit, double Forgefiend, then leadered-up Exalted.
- 12th – Lenny Craft-it – Black Templars (Gladius Task Force):Ā RepEx/Brethren Gladius.
- 13th – Gerard Malipaard – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group):Ā All-melee Liberator.
ICE HAMMER ITC GT VII – 2025
34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Seltjarnarnes, SeltjarnarnesbƦr, Iceland on September 20 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Michael Hooper – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Char1: 1x Daemon Prince of Khorne (225 pts): Warlord, Hellforged weapons, Infernal cannon 20x Khorne Berzerkers (360 pts) 3x Eightbound (135 pts)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – World Eaters
+ DETACHMENT: BerzerkerĀ Warband
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Daemon Prince of Khorne
+ ENHANCEMENT: Berzerker Glaive (on Char1: Daemon Prince of Khorne)
& Favoured of Khorne (on Char2: Lord on Juggernaut)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 14
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (3×2) – Assassination: 2 Characters – Cull The Horde: 1×5
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Enhancement: Berzerker Glaive (+25 pts)
Char2: 1x Lord on Juggernaut (105 pts): Bladed horn, Exalted chainblade, Plasma pistol
Enhancement: Favoured of Khorne (+15 pts)
ā¢ 19x Khorne Berzerker
11 with Bolt pistol, Chainblade
3 with Chainblade, Plasma pistol
1 with Icon of Khorne, Chainblade, Plasma pistol
4 with Bolt pistol, Khornate eviscerator
ā¢ 1x Khorne Berzerker Champion: Chainblade, Plasma pistol
ā¢ 1x Eightbound Champion: Chainblades
ā¢ 2x Eightbound: 2 with Chainblades
3x Eightbound (135 pts)
ā¢ 1x Eightbound Champion: Chainblades
ā¢ 2x Eightbound: 2 with Chainblades
3x Exalted Eightbound (140 pts)
ā¢ 1x Exalted Eightbound Champion: Chainblades
ā¢ 2x Exalted Eightbound: 2 with Chainblades
3x Exalted Eightbound (140 pts)
ā¢ 1x Exalted Eightbound Champion: Chainblades
ā¢ 2x Exalted Eightbound: 2 with Chainblades
8x Goremongers (85 pts)
ā¢ 1x Blood Herald: Autopistol, Chainblade, Close combat weapon
ā¢ 7x Goremonger: 7 with Autopistol, Chainblade, Close combat weapon
10x Jakhals (65 pts)
ā¢ 8x Jakhal
7 with Autopistol, Chainblades
1 with Autopistol, Mauler chainblade
ā¢ 1x Jakhal Pack Leader: Icon of Khorne, Autopistol, Chainblades
ā¢ 1x Dishonoured: Skullsmasher and mangler
2x Chaos Spawn (90 pts): 2 with Hideous Mutations
2x Chaos Spawn (90 pts): 2 with Hideous Mutations
2x Chaos Spawn (90 pts): 2 with Hideous Mutations
1x Forgefiend (170 pts): 2x Ectoplasma cannon, Ectoplasma cannon, Forgefiend claws
1x Forgefiend (170 pts): 2x Ectoplasma cannon, Ectoplasma cannon, Forgefiend claws
Archetype
All-Rounder Warband
Thoughts
A more hybrid take on World Eaters here, sticking to a bit more of a pre-Dataslate configuration, but squashing the two Berzerker units together into a single horde to add some of the overwhelming vibe. Doesn’t do a complete shutout the way that the double block build can, but adds a bit more of an ability to play cagey or trade firepower, which can help if it’s up against something that can flat outĀ handle a big unit. Fun to see variety despite the small unit roster, well done Michael.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – HeiĆ°ar ĆĆ³r StefĆ”nsson – Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): Elite Skitarii horde, maxing on Infiltrators, Ruststalkers and Sterylizors.
- 3rd – AĆ°alsteinn SigurĆ°sson – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force):Ā GMDKs andĀ lots of Purifiers, taking 3×10.
- 4th – Ćrn Steinar Haraldsson – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal):Ā Ultra elite Starshatter with the Silkent King, Doomsdays, the Nightbringer and an enmitic Lokhust unit.
- 5th – John King – Black Templars (Gladius Task Force):Ā RepEx and Sword Brethren.
- 6th – johann gretar helgason – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Melee-focused Coterie, cutting all but one Noise Marine unit so it can still take triple Prince, and adding War Dog Stalkers for even more early pressure.
2025 Wars on the Shore GT
31-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Erie, PA, US on September 20 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
Travis King – Aeldari (Warhost) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Aeldari CHARACTERS Eldrad Ulthran (110 Points) Fuegan (120 Points) Jain Zar (105 Points) Lhykhis (120 Points) BATTLELINE Corsair Voidreavers (60 Points) Storm Guardians (100 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Wave Serpent (125 Points) Wave Serpent (125 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Fire Dragons (220 Points) Fire Dragons (220 Points) Howling Banshees (95 Points) Rangers (55 Points) Swooping Hawks (85 Points) Swooping Hawks (85 Points) Swooping Hawks (85 Points) Warp Spiders (95 Points) Warp Spiders (95 Points) Warp Spiders (95 Points) Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (1), Data Version: v675
I’m only t3 your the agro army I swear (1995 Points)
Warhost
Strike Force (2,000 Points)
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ 1x Mind War
ā¢ 1x Shuriken pistol
ā¢ 1x The Staff of Ulthamar and witchblade
ā¢ 1x Fire Axe
ā¢ 1x Searsong
ā¢ 1x Blade of Destruction
ā¢ 1x Silent Death
ā¢ 1x Brood Twain
ā¢ 1x Spider’s Fangs
ā¢ 1x Weaverender
ā¢ 1x Voidreaver Felarch
ā¦ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 1x Mistshield
ā¦ 1x Neuro disruptor
ā¦ 1x Power sword
ā¢ 4x Corsair Voidreaver
ā¦ 1x Blaster
ā¦ 4x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 3x Power sword
ā¦ 3x Shuriken pistol
ā¢ 10x Storm Guardian
ā¦ 8x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 2x Flamer
ā¦ 2x Fusion gun
ā¦ 2x Power sword
ā¦ 6x Shuriken pistol
ā¢ 1x Serpent’s Scale Platform
ā¦ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 1x Serpent shield
ā¢ 1x Shuriken cannon
ā¢ 1x Twin bright lance
ā¢ 1x Wraithbone hull
ā¢ 1x Shuriken cannon
ā¢ 1x Twin bright lance
ā¢ 1x Wraithbone hull
ā¢ 2x Aspect Shrine Token
ā¢ 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
ā¦ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 1x Firepike
ā¢ 9x Fire Dragon
ā¦ 9x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 9x Dragon fusion gun
ā¢ 2x Aspect Shrine Token
ā¢ 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
ā¦ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 1x Firepike
ā¢ 9x Fire Dragon
ā¦ 9x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 9x Dragon fusion gun
ā¢ 1x Aspect Shrine Token
ā¢ 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
ā¦ 1x Executioner
ā¦ 1x Shuriken pistol
ā¢ 4x Howling Banshee
ā¦ 4x Banshee blade
ā¦ 4x Shuriken pistol
ā¢ 5x Ranger
ā¦ 5x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 5x Long rifle
ā¦ 5x Shuriken pistol
ā¢ 1x Aspect Shrine Token
ā¢ 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
ā¦ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 1x Exarch’s lasblaster
ā¢ 4x Swooping Hawk
ā¦ 4x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 4x Lasblaster
ā¢ 1x Aspect Shrine Token
ā¢ 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
ā¦ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 1x Exarch’s lasblaster
ā¢ 4x Swooping Hawk
ā¦ 4x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 4x Lasblaster
ā¢ 1x Aspect Shrine Token
ā¢ 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
ā¦ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 1x Exarch’s lasblaster
ā¢ 4x Swooping Hawk
ā¦ 4x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 4x Lasblaster
ā¢ 1x Aspect Shrine Token
ā¢ 1x Warp Spider Exarch
ā¦ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 1x Death weavers
ā¦ 1x Spinneret rifle
ā¢ 4x Warp Spider
ā¦ 4x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 4x Death spinner
ā¢ 1x Aspect Shrine Token
ā¢ 1x Warp Spider Exarch
ā¦ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 1x Death weavers
ā¦ 1x Spinneret rifle
ā¢ 4x Warp Spider
ā¦ 4x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 4x Death spinner
ā¢ 1x Aspect Shrine Token
ā¢ 1x Warp Spider Exarch
ā¦ 1x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 1x Powerblade array
ā¢ 4x Warp Spider
ā¦ 4x Close combat weapon
ā¦ 4x Death spinner
Archetype
Double Dragon Warhost
Thoughts
It’s an extremely effective tour through the big hitters today, as next we have one of the two main spins on the elf menace. The Warhost variant here trades on two things. First, double re-embarkation tricks (Fire and Fade plusĀ Skyborne Sanctuary) lets it throw multiple high-speed hammer blows with relative impunity, annihilating any Vehicle-heavy builds and causing serious consternation to elite Infantry. Against World Eaters it also has the value thatĀ Fire and Fade at least happens before a Blood Surge, so you can meaningfully chip a big unit with Fuegan’s squad too. The second part of what makes the build work is five speedy, effective scoring pieces – Hawks and Spiders as MSUs are delightfully flexible on the tabletop, especially with additionally boosted movement from Warhost, and have decent damage output into enemy chaff to boot. They let this list dominate early skirmishing for position, forcing real commitment from the foe that can be punished either by the Dragons or Lhykhis/Jain Zar as needed. All classic elf stuff, tried and tested and ready for the new metagame – the question is just going to be whether it can handle big Berzerkers. Congratulations Travis!
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – TJ Lanigan – Chaos Daemons (Shadow Legion): Heavy hitting Shadow Legion, combinging Be’lakor and a Fadethirster with an Accursed Commune and a battle cannon Despoiler.
- 3rd – Mike Norton – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance):Ā Triple big Lance with an Atrapos, Desecrator and gatling Despoiler, plus plenty of points left for Dogs.
- 4th – Zachary Morales – Ultramarines (Ironstorm Spearhead):Ā Bobby G and a bunch of Dreadnoughts.
- 5th – Joseph Sault – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre):Ā High threat Ret Cadre with a Crisis toolbox and triple Riptide.
- 6th – William Pagonis – Black Templars (Godhammer Assault Force): Leaning in extra hard on the RepExes here, going for the full three plus a Redeemer, and filling them with elite herohammer.
1Ā° GT Mallorca
29-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Palma, Illes Balears, ES on September 20 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
The Showdown
Unknown Mission
Carlos Queek – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) Space Marines CHARACTERS Captain with Jump Pack (100 points) Chief Librarian Mephiston (120 points) Lemartes (100 points) Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (90 points) The Sanguinor (140 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Baal Predator (125 points) Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (230 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Sanguinary Guard (125 points) Sanguinary Guard (125 points) Sanguinary Guard (125 points) Scout Squad (70 points) Vindicator (185 points) Vindicator (185 points) Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (98), Data Version: v687
Army List - Click to Expand
Blood 4.0 (2000 points)
Blood Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Liberator Assault Group
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ Enhancement: Speed of the Primarch
ā¢ 1x Fury of the Ancients
1x Plasma pistol
1x Vitarus
ā¢ 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x The Blood Crozius
ā¢ 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
ā¢ Enhancement: Icon of the Angel
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ 1x Encarmine broadsword
ā¢ 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
ā¢ 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
ā¢ 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
1x Baal flamestorm cannon
2x Heavy flamer
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
ā¢ 10x Death Company Marine with Jump Packs
ā¢ 5x Astartes chainsword
2x Eviscerator
6x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Inferno pistol
3x Plasma pistol
3x Power fist
ā¢ 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
ā¢ 4x Infiltrator
ā¢ 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine
ā¢ 3x Sanguinary Guard
ā¢ 2x Angelus boltgun
3x Encarmine blade
1x Inferno pistol
1x Sanguinary Banner
ā¢ 3x Sanguinary Guard
ā¢ 2x Angelus boltgun
3x Encarmine spear
1x Inferno pistol
1x Sanguinary Banner
ā¢ 3x Sanguinary Guard
ā¢ 2x Angelus boltgun
3x Encarmine spear
1x Inferno pistol
1x Sanguinary Banner
ā¢ 1x Scout Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 4x Scout
ā¢ 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
ā¢ 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter
vs.
Sibelius . – Space Marines (Astartes) (Shadowmark Talon) Space Marines CHARACTERS Aethon Shaan (85 points) Captain with Jump Pack (100 points) Judiciar (95 points) Kayvaan Shrike (100 points) Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (100 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Ballistus Dreadnought (150 points) Ballistus Dreadnought (150 points) Bladeguard Veteran Squad (170 points) Centurion Devastator Squad (330 points) Incursor Squad (80 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Scout Squad (70 points) Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (190 points) Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (190 points) Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (98), Data Version: v687
Army List - Click to Expand
shadowmarkTalon (2000 points)
Raven Guard
Strike Force (2000 points)
Shadowmark Talon
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ 1x Claws of Severax
1x Heavy bolt pistol
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ Enhancement: Hunter’s Instincts
ā¢ 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade
ā¢ Enhancement: Blackwing Shroud
ā¢ 1x Blackout
1x The Raven’s Talons
ā¢ 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
ā¢ Enhancement: Coronal Susurrant
ā¢ 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
ā¢ 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter
ā¢ 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter
ā¢ 1x Bladeguard Veteran Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Master-crafted power weapon
1x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 5x Bladeguard Veteran
ā¢ 5x Heavy bolt pistol
5x Master-crafted power weapon
ā¢ 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Centurion fists
1x Centurion missile launcher
1x Twin lascannon
ā¢ 5x Devastator Centurion
ā¢ 5x Centurion fists
5x Centurion missile launcher
5x Twin lascannon
ā¢ 1x Incursor Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Bolt pistol
1x Occulus bolt carbine
1x Paired combat blades
ā¢ 4x Incursor
ā¢ 4x Bolt pistol
1x Haywire Mine
4x Occulus bolt carbine
4x Paired combat blades
ā¢ 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
ā¢ 4x Infiltrator
ā¢ 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine
ā¢ 1x Scout Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 4x Scout
ā¢ 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Combat knife
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle
ā¢ 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Inferno pistol
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
ā¢ 9x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
ā¢ 9x Inferno pistol
9x Vanguard Veteran weapon
ā¢ 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Inferno pistol
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
ā¢ 9x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
ā¢ 9x Inferno pistol
9x Vanguard Veteran weapon
Thoughts
Fittingly given this week’s crop we have a melee Marine-off for our showdown, pitting all-rounder Liberator against the sneaky new Raven Guard Detachment. This Shadowmark build is a great exemplar of the absoluteĀ bonanza of tools the Raven Guard have to play with. Redeploying perma-Cover Centurions in Vanguard has been great all edition, but here it’s free and supplemented with a host of melee threats with loads of different delivery methods.Ā Infiltrate Bladeguard! Advance/Charge VanVets with Shrike and a unit with free turn 1Ā Rapid Ingress via the Captain. That’sĀ lots of different ways to control who fights what where, something that’s generally extremely strong in melee matchups, so with Centurions on top, do the Blood Angels have anything to work with?
It’s tough for them, but the answer isn’tĀ nothing. First up, Vindicators are theĀ right shooting threat to have here, as the 2+ save with access toĀ Armour of Contempt gives them a shot of bouncing the Centurion shooting in cover with a bit of good fortune, pretty much the only combination of things that will ever do that, and they’re very happy to drive forward and go for a close range volley in revenge. Doesn’t stop the Centurions being a bigĀ problem, but it’s a start. Next, they have some very solid unit-on-unit matchups. Lemartes Death Company are a great spoiler for the Bladeguard – they can charge, tank the swing thanks to -1D, the sweep up – and the Sanguinary Guard are honestly a bit of a headache for the VanVets, as the Raven Guard have no way to boost their AP, so risk getting bounced pretty badly, and then sliced up because they’ve gone for the greedier pistol build on both units. The looming threat of the Sanguinor over all this is a factor too.
In short, I think the Blood Angels areĀ relatively well equipped to make a game of it here, but in the end I’d still lean towards the Raven Guard, just because controlling engagements is so powerful, I don’t the Angels ever quite overturn the Centurion advantage, and also because I think both sides will be CP-starved, and the free redeploys from Shaan might tip the balance. Given that, props to the Blood Angels for running thisĀ very close to an upset, losing by only a single point, where I would have guessed this to be something more like an 85-70-something game.
Result
Raven Guard (Shadowmark Talon) Victory – 63 – 62
Sibelius . – Raven Guard (Shadowmark Talon) – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Space Marines CHARACTERS Aethon Shaan (85 points) Captain with Jump Pack (100 points) Judiciar (95 points) Kayvaan Shrike (100 points) Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (100 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 points) Ballistus Dreadnought (150 points) Ballistus Dreadnought (150 points) Bladeguard Veteran Squad (170 points) Centurion Devastator Squad (330 points) Incursor Squad (80 points) Infiltrator Squad (100 points) Scout Squad (70 points) Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (190 points) Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (190 points) Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (98), Data Version: v687
shadowmarkTalon (2000 points)
Raven Guard
Strike Force (2000 points)
Shadowmark Talon
ā¢ Warlord
ā¢ 1x Claws of Severax
1x Heavy bolt pistol
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ Enhancement: Hunter’s Instincts
ā¢ 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade
ā¢ Enhancement: Blackwing Shroud
ā¢ 1x Blackout
1x The Raven’s Talons
ā¢ 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
ā¢ Enhancement: Coronal Susurrant
ā¢ 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
ā¢ 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
ā¢ 4x Astartes chainsword
3x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter
ā¢ 1x Armoured feet
1x Ballistus lascannon
1x Ballistus missile launcher
1x Twin storm bolter
ā¢ 1x Bladeguard Veteran Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Master-crafted power weapon
1x Plasma pistol
ā¢ 5x Bladeguard Veteran
ā¢ 5x Heavy bolt pistol
5x Master-crafted power weapon
ā¢ 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Centurion fists
1x Centurion missile launcher
1x Twin lascannon
ā¢ 5x Devastator Centurion
ā¢ 5x Centurion fists
5x Centurion missile launcher
5x Twin lascannon
ā¢ 1x Incursor Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Bolt pistol
1x Occulus bolt carbine
1x Paired combat blades
ā¢ 4x Incursor
ā¢ 4x Bolt pistol
1x Haywire Mine
4x Occulus bolt carbine
4x Paired combat blades
ā¢ 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
ā¢ 4x Infiltrator
ā¢ 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine
ā¢ 1x Scout Sergeant
ā¢ 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
ā¢ 4x Scout
ā¢ 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Combat knife
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle
ā¢ 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Inferno pistol
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
ā¢ 9x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
ā¢ 9x Inferno pistol
9x Vanguard Veteran weapon
ā¢ 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
ā¢ 1x Inferno pistol
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
ā¢ 9x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
ā¢ 9x Inferno pistol
9x Vanguard Veteran weapon
Archetype
Birdemic
Thoughts
Lord help me it’s 8th Edition Raven Guard again. Centurions and tricks of every shape and size, they’re so back, and a big headache for almost everyone, as covered in the Showdown. They do suffer aĀ little from a lack of output buffs, as the Showdown demonstrated, so there are angles of attack if you can survive the Centurions, but this is also definitely a list where one false move results in game over. The depth is pretty scary too – the fact you get a couple of Ballistus on top of everything else is rude. The only thing I’ll highlight is that other successful iterations of this put shields on one VanVet unit, and I think I like that more than two pistol squads, which feels like it opens up a bit too much of a vulnerability to Aeldari carving the units up. Minor quibble though (and has the flipside of reducing the damage output a bit) – this is a mean list that’s ready to make a big impact, well done Sibelius.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Carlos Queek – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group):Ā Liberator with melee herohammer and some Vindicators.
- 3rd – Joaquin Jurado – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance):Ā Extra shooty Infernals with two gatling Despoilers, a Desecrator and a Tyrant, plus Rotigus.
- 4th – Biel R – Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade):Ā Cawl, lots of Ruststalkers and some shooty toys.
- 5th – Joan LlabrĆ©s – Genestealer Cult (Xenocreed Congregation):Ā Lots of Acolytes and Metamorphs with Ridgerunner backup.
- 6th – Arturo Garrido – Dark Angels (Stormlance Task Force):Ā The upgraded Lion sprinting forward with Deathwing Knights and Inner Circle Companions, plus one Command/Black Knight unit for extra reach.
Wrap Up
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