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.

I’m in Paris for the Paris Wargame Expo so another short intro from me (ahead of discovering if Aeldari mirrors are any less brain melting when conducted bilingually) – let’s get into the events.

Part 3 on Saturday:

Mektoberfest 40k gt 2025
GT Terra’n’dins 2025
Grampian Gaming Guild October GT
Willen Games October Grand Tournament
Laketown Apocalypse 2025

Part 1 on Wednesday:

Battle For Salvation GT 2025
Call to Arms 40K Event Hosted by Away Games
7. Corsair Open GT
OCTOBER OFFENSIVE
Glasshammer GT – October
40k Hydra Grand Tournament III 2025

Part 2 on Friday:

Gem City GT 2025
MobTown Mayhem
BattlePub Barfight GT
Cata Cup 2025 Warhammer 40,000 Grand Tournament
Black Crow Gaming’s Battle of the RAGNAR GT! OCT
October Grand Tournament at GG presented by Warhound Tournaments

Mektoberfest 40k gt 2025

58-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Augusta, GA, United States on October 11 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Terraform – Crucible of Battle

Seth Piper – T’au Empire (Mont’ka)
Army List - Click to Expand

Strike hard strike fast (1995 Points)

T’au Empire
Mont’ka
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Commander Farsight (85 Points)
• 1x Dawn Blade
• 1x High-intensity plasma rifle

Commander Shadowsun (100 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

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (120 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Fusion blaster
• 3x Fusion blaster
• 1x Marker Drone
• 1x Shield Drone
• Enhancements: Strike Swiftly

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (80 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Marker Drone
• 1x Missile pod
• 3x Missile pod
• 1x Shield Drone

Firesight Team (75 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapons
• 1x Longshot pulse rifles
• 1x Pulse pistol
• Enhancements: Strategic Conqueror

OTHER DATASHEETS

Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (120 Points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 2x Missile pod
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 4x Missile pod
◦ 2x Shield Drone

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (110 Points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 2x T’au flamer
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Shield Drone
◦ 4x T’au flamer

Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits (140 Points)
• 1x Crisis Sunforge Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
• 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Fusion blaster
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Shield Drone

Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
• 1x Cyclic ion raker
• 1x Ghostkeel fists
• 1x Twin fusion blaster

Pathfinder Team (90 Points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Pulse carbine
◦ 1x Pulse pistol
◦ 1x Recon Drone
◦ 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Pulse carbine
◦ 9x Pulse pistol

Riptide Battlesuit (190 Points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
• 2x Missile Drone
• 1x Riptide fists
• 1x Twin fusion blaster

Stealth Battlesuits (80 Points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit Support System
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Burst cannon
◦ 1x Homing Beacon
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Burst cannon

Vespid Stingwings (65 Points)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
◦ 1x Neutron blaster
◦ 1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwing
◦ 4x Neutron blaster
◦ 4x Stingwing claws

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (3), Data Version: v685

vs.

Thomas Fields – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault)
Army List - Click to Expand

Tremors (2000 points)

Tyranids
Strike Force (2000 points)
Subterranean Assault

CHARACTERS

Hyperadapted Raveners (165 points)
• 1x Ravener Prime
• 1x Prime claws and talons
• 4x Raveners
• 4x Ravener heavy claws and talons
1x Venom bolt

Neurotyrant (105 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes
1x Psychic scream

Trygon (160 points)
• Subterranean Assault Keywords: Character
• 1x Bio-electric pulse
1x Trygon scything talons
• Enhancement: Trygon Prime

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (50 points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
1x Spore Mine launcher

Exocrine (140 points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Lictor (60 points)
• 1x Lictor claws and talons

Neurolictor (70 points)
• 1x Piercing claws and talons

Raveners (125 points)
• 5x Ravener
• 5x Ravener claws and talons

Tyrannofex (200 points)
• 1x Powerful limbs
1x Rupture cannon
1x Stinger salvoes

Zoanthropes (200 points)
• 1x Neurothrope
• 1x Chitinous claws and teeth
1x Warp Blast
• 5x Zoanthrope
• 5x Chitinous claws and teeth
5x Warp Blast

Thoughts

T’au are on a hot streak right now, and as this build shows it isn’t just because of the Riptide buffs. Being able to hit fast and with profiles that evaporate Marines and AdMech is the perfect place to be right now, and this list has plenty of that going for it. Double Ghostkeel and Stealths also gives it plenty of ability to control the table via infiltration, which is ideal in this matchup.

Over on the Tyranid side, you’ve got an infantry-skewed spin on Subterranean Assault, and if we’re honest that’s probably not the version you want for this exact matchups. The big Ravener bricks are a powerful tool, but they’ll die very hard to what this T’au build is packing. It maybe partially blanks the Sunforge suits, but not really enough to deal with there being too many eggs in the Ravener baskets, which are going to struggle to pick up enough value. The Tyrannofexes are also unusually weak here, as there’s only one Riptide, and Ghostkeels’ defensive tricks counter them extremely well.

With that in mind for the Tyranids, they need to be looking for a go turn where they tag a whole bunch of T’au stuff at once. This is a very hard game for the Tyranids, but I do think there’s a narrow path to victory where they tag too much stuff at once for the T’au to then break themselves out of it. Unfortunately, if the T’au are appraised of that, they can just play very cautiously, and there’s really no fantastic answer to the fact that the Ghostkeels are going to demand a real unit come try and handle them, which can set the flow of the game working to the T’au’s advantage. Uphill for the Tyranids for sure, and the T’au took this one handily.

Result

T’au Empire (Mont’ka) Victory – 100 – 49

Seth Piper – T’au Empire (Mont’ka) – 1st Place

Stealth Battlesuits. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Strike hard strike fast (1995 Points)

T’au Empire
Mont’ka
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Commander Farsight (85 Points)
• 1x Dawn Blade
• 1x High-intensity plasma rifle

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (120 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Fusion blaster
• 3x Fusion blaster
• 1x Marker Drone
• 1x Shield Drone
• Enhancements: Strike Swiftly

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (80 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Marker Drone
• 1x Missile pod
• 3x Missile pod
• 1x Shield Drone

Firesight Team (75 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapons
• 1x Longshot pulse rifles
• 1x Pulse pistol
• Enhancements: Strategic Conqueror

OTHER DATASHEETS

Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
• 1x Cyclic ion raker
• 1x Ghostkeel fists
• 1x Twin fusion blaster

Riptide Battlesuit (190 Points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
• 2x Missile Drone
• 1x Riptide fists
• 1x Twin fusion blaster

Vespid Stingwings (65 Points)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
◦ 1x Neutron blaster
◦ 1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwing
◦ 4x Neutron blaster
◦ 4x Stingwing claws

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (3), Data Version: v685

Archetype

Crisis Mont’ka

Thoughts

As highlighted above, T’au are on a tear at the moment, using both high threat builds like this one and more board control-style Kroot lists. This showcases a Mont’ka spin on a high threat setup, which hits foes enormously hard with a surprisingly deep pool of threats. The experience of being in the open against this list is a very unpleasant one, and access to Ghostkeels often forces foes to interact, which the T’au can exploit. Well done Seth for unleashing the fury of Mont’ka here.

Noah Neundorfer – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

“Make Magnus 600pts you weak-willed cowards”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – Thousand Sons
+ DETACHMENT: Grand Coven (Kindred Sorcery)
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Magnus the Red
+ ENHANCEMENT: Eldritch Vortex of E’taph (on Char2: Daemon Prince of Tzeentch with wings)
& Lord of Forbidden Lore (on Char3: Infernal Master)
& Umbralefic Crystal (on Char4: Sorcerer)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 14
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (7×2) + (1×4) – Assassination: 4 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Magnus the Red (435 pts): Warlord, Blade of Magnus, Gaze of Magnus, Tzeentch’s Firestorm
Char2: 1x Daemon Prince of Tzeentch with wings (205 pts): Dark Blessing, Hellforged weapons, Infernal cannon
Enhancement: Eldritch Vortex of E’taph (+35 pts)
Char3: 1x Infernal Master (115 pts): Fires of the Abyss, Force weapon, Inferno bolt pistol
Enhancement: Lord of Forbidden Lore (+20 pts)
Char4: 1x Sorcerer (105 pts): Force weapon, Inferno bolt pistol, Pandaemonic Delusion, Prosperine khopesh
Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal (+20 pts)

5x Rubric Marines (105 pts)
• 4x Rubric Marine
1 with Icon of Flame, Close combat weapon, Soulreaper cannon
3 with Close combat weapon, Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer: Force weapon, Malefic Curse, Warpflame pistol
5x Rubric Marines (105 pts)
• 4x Rubric Marine
3 with Close combat weapon, Warpflamer
1 with Icon of Flame, Close combat weapon, Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer: Force weapon, Malefic Curse, Warpflame pistol

10x Tzaangors (70 pts)
• 9x Tzaangor
7 with Autopistol, Chainsword
1 with Herd banner, Autopistol, Chainsword
1 with Brayhorn, Autopistol, Chainsword
• 1x Twistbray: Autopistol, Chainsword
10x Tzaangors (70 pts)
• 9x Tzaangor
7 with Autopistol, Chainsword
1 with Herd banner, Autopistol, Chainsword
1 with Brayhorn, Autopistol, Chainsword
• 1x Twistbray: Autopistol, Chainsword
1x Mutalith Vortex Beast (175 pts): Betentacled maw, Mutalith claws, Warp vortex
1x Chaos Vindicator (185 pts): Armoured tracks, Demolisher cannon, Havoc launcher, Inferno combi-bolter
1x Chaos Vindicator (185 pts): Armoured tracks, Demolisher cannon, Havoc launcher, Inferno combi-bolter
2x Sekhetar Robots (80 pts): 2 with Close combat weapon, Heavy warpflamer, Hellfyre missile rack, Power claw, Warpflame projector
2x Sekhetar Robots (80 pts): 2 with Close combat weapon, Heavy warpflamer, Hellfyre missile rack, Power claw, Warpflame projector
2x Sekhetar Robots (80 pts): 2 with Close combat weapon, Heavy warpflamer, Hellfyre missile rack, Power claw, Warpflame projector

Archetype

Grand Coven Hull Goodstuff

Thoughts

Unlike T’au the Thousand Sons have not been having a good time in the current metagame, struggling under the weight of a points/rules double tap over-nerf. That makes this a very impressive undefeated second place, with Noah contorting the offerings of Grand Coven into something that just about works. Lots of Sekhetars maximises the chance of being able to set up favourable board positions, the Vortex Daemon Prince is a very powerful deterrant and equaliser, and Vindicators continue to be solidly effective in literally any variant of Marines that can give them re-rolls, which Thousand Sons can. You still end up on a knife edge of having enough units to do stuff, but it looks like it was just about sufficient to get there, so big props to Noah for pushing through some adversity.

Thomas Fields – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Tremors (2000 points)

Tyranids
Strike Force (2000 points)
Subterranean Assault

CHARACTERS

Hyperadapted Raveners (165 points)
• 1x Ravener Prime
• 1x Prime claws and talons
• 4x Raveners
• 4x Ravener heavy claws and talons
1x Venom bolt

Neurotyrant (105 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes
1x Psychic scream

Trygon (160 points)
• Subterranean Assault Keywords: Character
• 1x Bio-electric pulse
1x Trygon scything talons
• Enhancement: Trygon Prime

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (50 points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
1x Spore Mine launcher

Exocrine (140 points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Lictor (60 points)
• 1x Lictor claws and talons

Neurolictor (70 points)
• 1x Piercing claws and talons

Raveners (125 points)
• 5x Ravener
• 5x Ravener claws and talons

Tyrannofex (200 points)
• 1x Powerful limbs
1x Rupture cannon
1x Stinger salvoes

Zoanthropes (200 points)
• 1x Neurothrope
• 1x Chitinous claws and teeth
1x Warp Blast
• 5x Zoanthrope
• 5x Chitinous claws and teeth
5x Warp Blast

Archetype

Infantry-heavy Subterranean

Thoughts

Covered in the Showdown, this spin on Subterranean Assault uses tonnes of Raveners, giving it some very high power units that can bring down larger threats (particularly Marine-shaped ones), at a cost of putting quite a lot of value in a few squads. It also supplements this with a Zoanthrope unit, which I like as a choice in an army that forces a bit of additional restraint from foes, and they’re a bit broader in scope than Hive Guard. We’re in a very Marine-heavy meta, and the extra Raveners look to have been a good call through the first four rounds of various power armour, so well done to Thomas for successfully teching for that, and commiserations on hitting the T’au menace at the last.

Ken Edwards – T’au Empire (Kauyon) – 4th Place

XV104 Riptide Battlesuit. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Yes they’re strength 10 now (2000 points)

T’au Empire
Strike Force (2000 points)
Kauyon

CHARACTERS

Commander Shadowsun (100 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

BATTLELINE

Breacher Team (100 points)
• 1x Support turret
• 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Guardian Drone
1x Gun Drone
1x Pulse blaster
1x Pulse pistol
• 9x Breacher Fire Warrior
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Pulse blaster
9x Pulse pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Devilfish (85 points)
• 1x Accelerator burst cannon
1x Armoured hull
2x Seeker missile
2x Smart missile system

OTHER DATASHEETS

Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points)
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Cyclic ion raker
1x Ghostkeel fists
1x Twin fusion blaster

Hammerhead Gunship (145 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Railgun
2x Seeker missile
2x Smart missile system

Kroot Carnivores (65 points)
• 1x Long-quill
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Kroot pistol
1x Kroot rifle
• 9x Kroot Carnivore
• 9x Close combat weapon
8x Kroot rifle
1x Tanglebomb launcher

Krootox Riders (60 points)
• 2x Krootox Rider
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Krootox fists
2x Repeater cannon

Pathfinder Team (90 points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gun Drone
1x Pulse carbine
1x Pulse pistol
1x Recon Drone
1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
1x Shield Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Ion rifle
6x Pulse carbine
9x Pulse pistol

Piranhas (60 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Piranha fusion blaster
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine

Riptide Battlesuit (190 points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
2x Missile Drone
1x Riptide fists
1x Twin smart missile system

Sky Ray Gunship (140 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Seeker missile rack
2x Smart missile system

Stealth Battlesuits (80 points)
• 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

Vespid Stingwings (65 points)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
• 1x Neutron blaster
1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwing
• 4x Neutron blaster
4x Stingwing claws

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (98), Data Version: v687

Archetype

Hull Kauyon

Thoughts

Speaking of the T’au menance – another spin on them here, this time using Kauyon and massed hulls to create an ultra-grindy list that can gradually evaporate any foes off the table. All the hulls make it generally harder to chip down than more Crisis-focused builds, at a cost of being a bit less capable of forcing engagements when needed, though the inclusion of one Breacherfish is a good choice to mitigate that. Congratulations to Ken on taking fourth.

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

5th – Nick Antzoulatos – Ultramarines (Stormlance Task Force): Stormraven/Redemptor Ultramarines Stormlance.
6th – Mac Steil – Salamanders (Firestorm Assault Force): A toolbox list with Vulkan, and some hand flamer VanVets to take advantage of his buffs.
7th – Dustin Brown – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force): Heavy Stormlance with ThunderCav and a couple of Land Raiders filled with Terminators.
8th – Z Martin – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force): Infantry-skewed Stormlance with a bunch of Hammerstrikes backing them up.
9th – Andrew Graves – Space Wolves (Saga of the Beastslayer): Transport-heavy Beastslayer packing two Repulsors full of Blood Claws and one with Wolf Guard Terminators, and an optional unit of Headtakers to stot in somewhere.

GT Terra’n’dins 2025

48-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Torelló, CT, Espanya on October 11 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Curro La_Orden – Aeldari (Aspect Host) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Sr. Fenix (2000 points)

Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Aspect Host

CHARACTERS

Asurmen (125 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Bloody Twins
1x Sword of Asur

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

Baharroth (115 points)
• 1x Fury of the Tempest
1x Shining Blade

Fuegan (120 points)
• 1x Fire Axe
1x Searsong

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

Lhykhis (120 points)
• 1x Brood Twain
1x Spider’s Fangs
1x Weaverender

Maugan Ra (100 points)
• 1x Maugetar

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dark Reapers (90 points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Tempest launcher
• 4x Dark Reaper
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Reaper launcher

Dire Avengers (150 points)
• 2x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Dire Avenger Exarch
• 2x Avenger shuriken catapult
1x Close combat weapon
• 9x Dire Avenger
• 9x Avenger shuriken catapult
9x Close combat weapon

Fire Dragons (120 points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Firepike
• 4x Fire Dragon
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Dragon fusion gun

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

Striking Scorpions (150 points)
• 2x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
• 1x Scorpion chainsword
1x Scorpion’s claw
1x Shuriken pistol
• 9x Striking Scorpion
• 9x Scorpion chainsword
9x Shuriken pistol

Swooping Hawks (190 points)
• 2x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hawk’s talon
• 9x Swooping Hawk
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Lasblaster

Warp Spiders (95 points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Exarch’s death spinner
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Death spinner

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (98), Data Version: v687

Archetype

Rhana Dandra Special. I hope that Autarch was being repped by the Kharandras model.

Thoughts

It is a testament to their Datasheets that “Whoops all Phoenix Lords” is apparently a pretty viable strategy. Using Asurmen with a big squad plus a second Serpent and Baharroth gives this build quite a few ways to apply serious damage without taking much in the way of reprisals. In theory you might try to counter it by going full send and attempting to run it over, but it’s so appallingly deadly that you better be very, very sure you get your setup correct, because otherwise you might find yourself annihilated from many angles simultaneously. Very funny that this apparently worked so well, huge respect to Curro for it.

Falco La_Orden – Emperor’s Children (Peerless Bladesmen) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Para nada he copiado la lista, en verdad vengo por el fuet y a sacar a pasear al señor serpiente(2000 Points)

Emperor’s Children
Peerless Bladesmen
Strike Force (2.000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Fulgrim (340 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Daemonic blades
• 1x Malefic lash
• 1x Serpentine tail

Lord Exultant (105 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Phoenix power spear
• 1x Rapture lash
• Enhancements: Distortion

Lord Exultant (105 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Phoenix power spear
• 1x Rapture lash
• Enhancements: Blinding Speed

Lord Exultant (80 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Phoenix power spear
• 1x Rapture lash

Lucius the Eternal (150 Points)
• 1x Blade of the Laer
• 1x Lash of Torment

BATTLELINE

Infractors (85 Points)
• 1x Obsessionist
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power sword
• 4x Infractor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Duelling sabre
◦ 1x Icon of Excess

Tormentors (85 Points)
• 1x Obsessionist
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power sword
• 4x Tormentor
◦ 2x Boltgun
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Icon of Excess
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (80 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

Flawless Blades (220 Points)
• 6x Flawless Blade
◦ 6x Blissblade
◦ 6x Bolt pistol

Maulerfiend (130 Points)
• 1x Lasher tendrils
• 1x Maulerfiend fists

Noise Marines (145 Points)
• 1x Disharmonist
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Sonic blaster
• 5x Noise Marine
◦ 2x Blastmaster
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Sonic blaster

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (3), Data Version: v685

Archetype

Aggro Flawless Blades

Thoughts

Fulgrim leads his forces to war here, aiming to adapt to a melee-heavy metagame. Emperor’s Children can end up a little shorter on raw unit count than some of the other melee Marines, and taking Flawless Blades with Fulgrim provides tools to mitigate that – you have double access to Fights First (including the option of Ingress > Heroic off Fulgrim, critical for melee mirrors), and automatic Fight on Death when you really need it. Combining that with the general strength of Noise Marines into other Power Armour helps this build work really well in the current metagame, making it a genuine alternative to Coterie. Really good to see the formula mixed up so effectively, great job Falco.

The Best of the Rest

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

3rd – Naw . – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): All-rounder Warband that swaps out one Forgefiend to build one Berzerker unit up to a 20.
4th – Alberto “Yarrick” La_Orden – Astra Militarum (Combined Arms): Double Dorn Combined Arms goodstuff.
5th – Giri {°_°} – T’au Empire (Mont’ka): Hammerhead and Riptide Mont’ka.
6th – David Lozano – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): All-rounder Warband.
7th – Dekkers 🦭🤖 – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Noise Marines and Destructors backing a big Chosen/Bile brick and Discolord for close engagement.
8th – jorda bonmati – Emperor’s Children (Coterie of the Conceited): Double Prince Coterie with a big Flawless Blade unit and a Maulerfiend.

Grampian Gaming Guild October GT

36-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Scotland, United Kingdom on October 11 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Joe Robertson – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No vault no party
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos – Necrons
+ DETACHMENT: Starshatter Arsenal (Relentless Onslaught)
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: The Silent King
+ ENHANCEMENT: Chrono-impedance Fields (on Char3: Overlord with Translocation Shroud)
& Demanding Leader (on Char4: Psychomancer)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 16
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (5×2) + (1×6) – Assassination: 4 Characters – Cull The Horde: 1×5 (before leaders attached)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

1x Orikan the Diviner (80 pts)
• 1x Staff of Tomorrow

3x The Silent King (400 pts)
• 1x Szarekh
• 1x Sceptre of Eternal Glory
• 1x Staff of Stars
• 1x Weapons of the Final Triarch
• Szarekh
• 2x Triarchal Menhir
• 2x Annihilator beam
• 2x Armoured bulk
• 2x Triarchal Menhir, 2x Triarchal Menhirs, Warlord

1x Overlord with Translocation Shroud (110 pts)
• 1x Overlord’s blade
• Resurrection orb
• Chrono-impedance Fields (+25 pts)

1x Psychomancer (65 pts)
• 1x Abyssal lance
• Demanding Leader (+10 pts)

BATTLELINE

20x Necron Warriors (200 pts)
• 20x Warrior
• 20x Close combat weapon
• 20x Gauss reaper

OTHER DATASHEETS

2x Cryptothralls (60 pts)
• 2x Cryptothrall
• 2x Scouring eye
• 2x Scythed limbs

5x Flayed Ones (60 pts)
• 5x Flayed One
• 5x Flayer claws

3x Ophydian Destroyers (80 pts)
• 3x Ophydian Destroyer
• 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons
• Plasmacyte

3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (165 pts)
• 3x Destroyer
• 3x Close combat weapon
• 3x Enmitic exterminator

1x Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (55 pts)
• 1x Destroyer
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Enmitic exterminator

1x Canoptek Reanimator (75 pts)
• 2x Atomiser beam
• 1x Reanimator’s claws

1x Canoptek Spyders (75 pts)
• 1x Canoptek Spyder
• 1x Automaton claws
• 2x Particle beamer
• Fabricator claw array, Gloom prism, Canoptek Spyder

1x Doomsday Ark (200 pts)
• 1x Armoured bulk
• 1x Doomsday cannon
• 2x Gauss flayer array

1x Ghost Ark (115 pts)
• 1x Armoured bulk
• 2x Gauss flayer array

Archetype

Starshatter Warriors

Thoughts

The One Big Warrior Unit plan makes it to Starshatter, and honestly it seems like a pretty good fit. Enmitic Destroyers backing up Warriors is a great setup into lots of things, and between them and the Doomsdays you have shooting profiles for most stuff. You also get a bit of extra jank you can do with Warriors if you span them across two objectives using Endless Servitude – if you control one of the two objectives you’ve strung them across, you can apply this to help flip the second one, and stacking that with the Resurrection Orb leader provides a lot of opportunities to re-add models. There’s also just plenty of depth here, as the Silent King is a great threat to unleash if the opponent somehow pushes past the Warriors, and all the support tools like the Ghost Ark get a second lease of life into the late game when they can use wallhack mobility and pick up -1D. Honestly a bit surprising that this particular setup has gotten no airtime previously, well done Joe.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Dylan Trendall – Adepta Sororitas (Champions of Faith): A herohammer-heavy Sororitas build with two Sacresant squads screening the Triumph and some Retributors, then two units of Repentia to send out hunting.
3rd – Gregor Geddes – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Crisis toolbox and supporting suits of various sizes.
4th – Richard Simms – Aeldari (Aspect Host): Four Phoenix Fiesta with big Dragon and Avenger units in serpents.
5th – Jamie Durie – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): Heavy melee Liberator with one Vindicator backing them.
6th – Ian Campbell – Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade): A big Breacher unit, lots of Battleline, one Ruststalker hammer and lots of small support stuff.
7th – Adam Steward – Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): A lighter take on Fleet monster mash, using lots of mid-weight pieces.

Willen Games October Grand Tournament

34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on October 11 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Luke Townsend – T’au Empire (Mont’ka) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

FULL SEND! (2000 points)

T’au Empire
Strike Force (2000 points)
Mont’ka

CHARACTERS

Cadre Fireblade (50 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fireblade pulse rifle
2x Gun Drone

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (90 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Gun Drone
4x Missile pod
1x Shield Drone
• Enhancement: Exemplar of the Mont’ka

Ethereal (75 points)
• 1x Honour stave
1x Hover Drone
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
• Enhancement: Strike Swiftly

BATTLELINE

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Devilfish (85 points)
• 1x Accelerator burst cannon
1x Armoured hull
2x Seeker missile
2x Smart missile system

OTHER DATASHEETS

Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (120 points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Gun Drone
2x Missile pod
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Gun Drone
4x Missile pod
2x Shield Drone

Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points)
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Cyclic ion raker
1x Ghostkeel fists
1x Twin fusion blaster

Hammerhead Gunship (145 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Ion cannon
2x Seeker missile
2x Smart missile system

Kroot Carnivores (65 points)
• 1x Long-quill
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Kroot pistol
1x Kroot rifle
• 9x Kroot Carnivore
• 9x Close combat weapon
8x Kroot rifle
1x Tanglebomb launcher

Krootox Riders (40 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Krootox fists
1x Tanglecannon

Pathfinder Team (90 points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
2x Gun Drone
1x Pulse carbine
1x Pulse pistol
1x Recon Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Ion rifle
6x Pulse carbine
9x Pulse pistol
1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher

Piranhas (60 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Piranha fusion blaster
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine

Riptide Battlesuit (190 points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
2x Missile Drone
1x Riptide fists
1x Twin smart missile system

Vespid Stingwings (65 points)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
• 1x Neutron blaster
1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwing
• 4x Neutron blaster
4x Stingwing claws

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (98), Data Version: v687

Archetype

Hull Mont’ka

Thoughts

…and to complete today’s T’au selection, fast hulls. Goes fast, blasts things, and takes the win here, congratulations Luke.

The Best of the Rest

There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Brant Wilson – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Two gatling Despoilers and a Lancer for pressure, with an expanded Nurgle Daemon contingent for board presence.
3rd – Adam Gill – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Extra firepower triple bigs, upgrading one Despoiler to a shooty Tyrant, again supporting with extra Nurgle Daemons.
4th – Dale Kane – Black Templars (Stormlance Task Force): The RepEx/Brethren build, but as Stormlance with Helbrect for extra punch..
5th – Davey Liddle – Genestealer Cult (Final Day): Shooty-ish Final Day with screening pressure from Genestealers and Raveners.
6th – Gavin Heritage – Leagues of Votann (Brandfast Oathband): Double Fort, double big Thunderkyn Brandfast.

Laketown Apocalypse 2025

30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Ανατολή, GR on October 11 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Christos Vlachos – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance) – 1st Place

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

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – Chaos Knights
+ DETACHMENT: Infernal Lance (Malefic Surge)
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+ ALLIED UNITS: Legiones Daemonica
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Knight Despoiler
+ ENHANCEMENT:
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 9
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (4×2) + (4×6) – Assassination: 4 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Knight Despoiler (375 pts): Warlord, Titanic feet, Ruinspear rocket pod, Despoiler gatling cannon, Heavy darkflamer, Despoiler gatling cannon, Heavy darkflamer, Daemonbreath meltagun
Char2: 1x Knight Despoiler (375 pts): Titanic feet, Ruinspear rocket pod, Despoiler gatling cannon, Heavy darkflamer, Despoiler gatling cannon, Heavy darkflamer, Daemonbreath meltagun
Char3: 1x Knight Despoiler (375 pts): Titanic feet, Ruinspear rocket pod, Despoiler gatling cannon, Heavy darkflamer, Despoiler gatling cannon, Heavy darkflamer, Daemonbreath meltagun

1x War Dog Karnivore (150 pts): Reaper chaintalon, Slaughterclaw, Havoc multi-launcher
1x War Dog Karnivore (150 pts): Reaper chaintalon, Slaughterclaw, Havoc multi-launcher
1x War Dog Stalker (140 pts): Havoc multi-launcher, Daemonbreath spear, Slaughterclaw
1x War Dog Stalker (140 pts): Havoc multi-launcher, Daemonbreath spear, Slaughterclaw

Char4: 1x Rotigus (250 pts): Gnarlrod, Streams of brackish filth
3x Nurglings (40 pts): 3 with Diseased claws and teeth

Archetype

Gatling Despoilers with Rotigus

Thoughts

Yes, this is still the best Chaos Knights build, and it’s not especially close. Nothing can survive the Despoilers putting their backs into it, and Rotigus’s aura can leave foes with only bad options. Well done Christos.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Giorgos Mesimeris – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Silent King, Wraith brick and the Void Dragon, with various smaller trade pieces backing them.
3rd – Orestis Stab – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Triptide and Crisis, skewing Sunforge on the latter.
4th – Dimou Themis – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): A mix of Terminators and regular Infantry plus a couple of Caladius and some Bikes.
5th – Egw PaliEgw – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault): Tunnelling monster mash with a couple of Zoanthrope shooting blocks.

Wrap Up

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Competitive Innovations in 10th: Melting Pot pt.3

Mektoberfest 40k gt 2025

The Showdown

Terraform – Crucible of Battle

Thoughts

Result

Seth Piper – T’au Empire (Mont’ka) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Noah Neundorfer – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Thomas Fields – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Ken Edwards – T’au Empire (Kauyon) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

GT Terra’n’dins 2025

Curro La_Orden – Aeldari (Aspect Host) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Falco La_Orden – Emperor’s Children (Peerless Bladesmen) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Grampian Gaming Guild October GT

Joe Robertson – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Willen Games October Grand Tournament

Luke Townsend – T’au Empire (Mont’ka) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Laketown Apocalypse 2025

Christos Vlachos – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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