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.

Route 66 Summer GT

46-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Tulsa, OK, United States on May 31 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) versus Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer)

William Harvey – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer)
Army List - Click to Expand

DG Morty’s Hammer v4 (1990 Points)

Death Guard
Mortarion’s Hammer
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Foul Blightspawn (75 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Plague sprayer
• Enhancements: Shriekworm Familiar

Lord of Contagion (110 Points)
• 1x Manreaper

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

Malignant Plaguecaster (70 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Corrupted staff
• 1x Plague Wind
• Enhancements: Bilemaw Blight

Typhus (90 Points)
• 1x Lakrimae

BATTLELINE

Plague Marines (190 Points)
• 1x Plague Champion
◦ 1x Boltgun
◦ 1x Plague knives
• 9x Plague Marine
◦ 2x Blight launcher
◦ 1x Bubotic weapons
◦ 3x Heavy plague weapon
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 9x Plague knives
◦ 2x Plague spewer

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (85 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Deathshroud Terminators (140 Points)
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
◦ 1x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator
◦ 2x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Defiler (165 Points)
• 1x Battle cannon
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Defiler claws
• 1x Defiler scourge
• 1x Reaper autocannon

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

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (1), Data Version: v609

vs.

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

Neither Novel nor Interesting (1995 Points)

Death Guard
Mortarion’s Hammer
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

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

Lord of Virulence (105 Points)
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Twin plague spewer
• Enhancements: Shriekworm Familiar

BATTLELINE

Plague Marines (95 Points)
• 1x Plague Champion
◦ 1x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Plague Marine
◦ 1x Blight launcher
◦ 2x Heavy plague weapon
◦ 4x Plague knives
◦ 1x Plasma gun

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Deathshroud Terminators (140 Points)
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
◦ 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
◦ 1x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator
◦ 2x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Defiler (165 Points)
• 1x Battle cannon
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Defiler claws
• 1x Defiler scourge
• 1x Twin heavy bolter

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

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (1), Data Version: v609

Thoughts

In their great humour and wisdom, the Goonhammer community have selected this stodgy Death Guard tank mirror for the showdown. Nice one guys, lol. The two lists are, in essence, very similar indeed, with tonnes of hulls supported by a brutal Deathshroud reserves strike. I’m loathe to say that this one comes down to who goes first, but it does rather feel like it will, as getting up in the face of the tanks and blocking the scoring spaces on the board is one of the ways to manage Hammer at the moment, and both forces pose equal speed and reach. Are Death Guard a little overcooked?

Maybe. Just maybe. I do like the 20 man of Poxwalkers in the second list – for fairly trivial investment you get 20 mid board wounds with a 5+++, and that forces an awful lot of commitment to manage for a great many armies in the game. Both lists have gone with the Foul Blightspawn too – in a world of advance and charging EC, having a way to nullify this in portions of the board is definitely important. In the end, Nurgle triumphed! Doesn’t he always in the end?

Result

Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) Victory – 79 – 55

William Harvey – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

DG Morty’s Hammer v4 (1990 Points)

Death Guard
Mortarion’s Hammer
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Foul Blightspawn (75 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Plague sprayer
• Enhancements: Shriekworm Familiar

Lord of Contagion (110 Points)
• 1x Manreaper

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

Malignant Plaguecaster (70 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Corrupted staff
• 1x Plague Wind
• Enhancements: Bilemaw Blight

Typhus (90 Points)
• 1x Lakrimae

BATTLELINE

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (85 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Deathshroud Terminators (140 Points)
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
◦ 1x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator
◦ 2x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Defiler (165 Points)
• 1x Battle cannon
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Defiler claws
• 1x Defiler scourge
• 1x Reaper autocannon

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

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (1), Data Version: v609

Archetype

Mortarion’s Hammer Goodstuff

Thoughts

A Goodstuff build has certainly solidified for the Death Guard players using Mortarion’s Hammer. The book has several valid archetypes but this is perhaps the most brutal – loads of shooting, the ability to put Contagion more or less wherever they need it, and Deathshroud waiting in the wings ready to take advantage. Very potent, and one of the armies to beat looking ahead. Great work on the event win!

The Best of the Rest

There were 3 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

2nd – Cam Hawkins – Aeldari (Aspect Host): Glorious Aspect Host violence with bricks of Hawks and Fire Dragons.
3rd – Peyton Preece – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Coteries Goodstuff.
4th – Bryan Dunigan – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance): Massed War Dogs.

MonsterCon 2025 GT

34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand on May 30 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Egor WatchMaster – Blood Angels (Angelic Inheritors) – 1st Place

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

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Unto The Burning Skies (2000 Points)

Space Marines
Blood Angels
Angelic Inheritors
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Apothecary (50 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Reductor pistol

Captain with Jump Pack (85 Points)
• 1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Power fist

Chief Librarian Mephiston (135 Points)
• 1x Fury of the Ancients
• 1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Vitarus

Commander Dante (130 Points)
• 1x Perdition Pistol
• 1x The Axe Mortalis

The Sanguinor (140 Points)
• 1x Encarmine broadsword

OTHER DATASHEETS

Desolation Squad (200 Points)
• 1x Desolation Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Castellan launcher
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Vengor launcher
• 4x Desolation Marine
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Castellan launcher
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Superkrak rocket launcher

Inceptor Squad (240 Points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma exterminators
• 5x Inceptor
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 5x Plasma exterminators

Incursor Squad (80 Points)
• 1x Incursor Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Occulus bolt carbine
◦ 1x Paired combat blades
• 4x Incursor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Haywire Mine
◦ 4x Occulus bolt carbine
◦ 4x Paired combat blades

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

Sanguinary Guard (130 Points)
• 3x Sanguinary Guard
◦ 2x Angelus boltgun
◦ 3x Encarmine blade
◦ 1x Inferno pistol
◦ 1x Sanguinary Banner

Sanguinary Guard (260 Points)
• 6x Sanguinary Guard
◦ 4x Angelus boltgun
◦ 6x Encarmine blade
◦ 2x Inferno pistol
◦ 1x Sanguinary Banner

Vindicator (185 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Demolisher cannon
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (1), Data Version: v609

Archetype

Angelic Inheritors

Thoughts

The Mixed Arms shenanigans of Angelic Inheritors claims a GT win here, stocked with units that are (checks notes) yep, about to get additional buffs courtesy of the dataslate. Inheritors is more flexible with decent buffs to shooting and mobility alongside the obligatory BA melee threat – it isn’t easy to play, but it absolutely sings when you get it right. Once you’ve had Oaths and Sustained on a Vindicator, you can’t really go back. Really well done on the event win!

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Zachary Goh – Space Marines (Astartes) (Stormlance Task Force): Speedy Ultramarines with Gulliman, Calgar and the gang.
3rd – sterling Arnet – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead): Go-wide Aspects in Ynnari with a brick of Swooping Hawks.
4th – Ben Peters – Tyranids (Assimilation Swarm): Stodgy Assimilation Swarm with loads of Psychophage and a Norn to prop up the stat check.
5th – Tim Ho – T’au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack): Full Kroot Horde goodness with 18 Rampagers ahead of some Hammerheads and Ghostkeel to keep opponents honest.

Warcon 1 – 40K Singles

30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Silkeborg, Danmark on May 31 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Paul Bridge – Death Guard (Virilent Vectorum) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Detachment: Virilum Vectorum

Mortarion (380pts): Lantern, Rotwind, Silence, Warlord
Biologus Putrifier (45pts): Hyper blight grenades, Injector pistol, Plague knives
Daemon Prince of Nurgle (215pts): Hellforged weapons, Infernal cannon, Revolting Regeneration
Foul Blightspawn (60pts): Close combat weapon, Plague sprayer
Lord of Contagion (120pts): Manreaper, Daemon Weapon of Nurgle
Lord of Contagion (110pts): Manreaper
Tallyman (40pts): Close combat weapon, Plasma pistol

10x Plague Marines (190pts)

3x Deathshroud Terminators (140pts)
3x Deathshroud Terminators (140pts)
10x Poxwalkers (60pts)
10x Poxwalkers (60pts)
10x Poxwalkers (60pts)
Foetid Bloat-drone with heavy blight launcher (100pts): Heavy blight launcher, Plague probe
Foetid Bloat-drone with heavy blight launcher (100pts): Heavy blight launcher, Plague probe
Myphitic Blight-hauler (90pts)
Chaos Rhino (85pts): Armoured tracks, Combi-bolter, Havoc launcher, Combi-bolter

Archetype

VV Chonksters

Thoughts

The one-two double act of Mortarion and his little son (Daemon Prince buffed up with a 5+++) is phenomenally potent in Virulent Vectorum at the moment. I’ve had games where you kill more or less everything except those two gentlement, and they win the game by themselves. -1 damage goes a long way here, they’re both dangerous with supporting tricks and buffs that make engaging with them difficult, and they’re a blast to play as well! Really well done on the event win.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Morten Troelsen – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Tanks, Noise Marines, and Possessed bricks in Renegade Raiders.
3rd – Henrik Davison – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Berzerker Warband MSU with some Forgefiends behind the Eightbound.
4th – Lau Larsen – Space Marines (Astartes) (Gladius Task Force): Ultramarines Gladius.
5th – Anujan Selvarajah – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Go-wide Starshatter around the Silent King with a solitary Wraith Brick.

Saffron Slam XI

27-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on May 31 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Alex Lomax – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance) – 1st Place

War Dog - Karnivore. Credit: Rockfish — War Dog – Karnivore. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

*CK Dogs (0/13)** (1995 Points)

Chaos Knights
Traitoris Lance
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

* This Datasheet also has the Battleline keyword

War Dog Stalker (165 Points)*
• Warlord
• 1x Avenger chaincannon
• 1x Havoc multi-launcher
• 1x Slaughterclaw
• Enhancements: Aura of Terror

* This Datasheet also has the Battleline keyword

BATTLELINE

War Dog Brigand (165 Points)
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Avenger chaincannon
• 1x Daemonbreath spear
• 1x Havoc multi-launcher

War Dog Karnivore (140 Points)
• 1x Havoc multi-launcher
• 1x Reaper chaintalon
• 1x Slaughterclaw

Exported with App Version: v1.33.0 (1), Data Version: v609

Archetype

War Dogs

Thoughts

War Dogs gets it done! A storming triumph for the massed OC 8 doggos. CK have a new book on the horizon, and this build has been around forever now, but it is awesome to see it claim another big win. Well done!!

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Giulio Cesare Ghermandi – Aeldari (Devoted of Ynnead): Go-wide Aspect MSU with the Yncarne.
3rd – Sam Royal – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): Multi-brick BA with double Vindicator in support.
4th – Liam OBrien – Chaos Daemons (Shadow Legion): Fadethirster Shadow Legion with a big brick of Accursed.
5th – Ollie Pickett – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Tonnes of hulls and a Daemon Prince in VV.

Wrap Up

There we are folks! The slate is now with us so complete anarchy awaits. Which of our competitors will still be standing in a few weeks time?! We shall find out soon! Have fun out there.

Lowest of Men, out.

Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com. Want articles like this linked in your inbox every Monday morning? Sign up for our newsletter. And don’t forget that you can support us on Patreon for backer rewards like early video content, Administratum access, an ad-free experience on our website and more.

Competitive Innovations in 10th: Keep it Sneezy pt.2

Route 66 Summer GT

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) versus Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer)

Thoughts

Result

William Harvey – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

MonsterCon 2025 GT

Egor WatchMaster – Blood Angels (Angelic Inheritors) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Warcon 1 – 40K Singles

Paul Bridge – Death Guard (Virilent Vectorum) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Saffron Slam XI

Alex Lomax – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

Related

Popular Posts

BattleTech Mech Overview: Longbow

Competitive Innovations in 10th: Blue His House, With a Blue Little...

[AOS] Competitive Innovations in the Mortal Realms: 2025-12-4

Blood Bowl Season 3: Wood Elf Team Guide

TheChirurgeon’s Road Through 2025, Part 50: LVO Teams Practice

Related

Competitive Innovations in 10th: Keep it Sneezy pt.2

Route 66 Summer GT

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) versus Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer)

Thoughts

Result

William Harvey – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

MonsterCon 2025 GT

Egor WatchMaster – Blood Angels (Angelic Inheritors) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Warcon 1 – 40K Singles

Paul Bridge – Death Guard (Virilent Vectorum) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Saffron Slam XI

Alex Lomax – Chaos Knights (Traitoris Lance) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

Related

Popular Posts

BattleTech Mech Overview: Longbow

Competitive Innovations in 10th: Blue His House, With a Blue Little...

[AOS] Competitive Innovations in the Mortal Realms: 2025-12-4

Blood Bowl Season 3: Wood Elf Team Guide

TheChirurgeon’s Road Through 2025, Part 50: LVO Teams Practice

Share this:

Related