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.

If I’m honest, I don’t know what you’re all up to this week. Aeldari – massively down on win rate, but still narrowly ahead on event wins. Thousand Sons and Cults – massively up, but for how long now the nerfs are coming? Sisters – top of the win rate pile, but at an incredibly low player count. Black Templars – alarming!

All sorts of stuff basically. I expect this coming weekend we’ll see where things are heading, then it’s LGT time where we all get to test that out.

The events then – Part 1 on Wednesday with Wings:

Flying Monkey Con 40k Champs 2025
X-4 Presents: Summer Waaagh Series
Central Valley Crucible GT
Iron Cage: September Slaughter
gt surrender II
No Surrender 2025

Part 2 on Friday with Lowest of Men:

BAYERN MAJOR #2 2025 40k
Karak Portentosus
Warpstorm 2: Waaagh Harder
The Port City GT
40K GT – Sat-Sun 13-14 Sept. – Kawasaki International Center

Flying Monkey Con 40k Champs 2025

125-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Wichita, KS, United States on September 13 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

kyle lamperez – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

wardens (2000 points)

Imperial Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (415 points)
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
1x Freedom’s Hand

Knight Warden (410 points)
• 1x Avenger gatling cannon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chainsword
1x Stormspear rocket pod
• Enhancement: Mythic Hero

Knight Warden (410 points)
• 1x Avenger gatling cannon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chainsword
1x Stormspear rocket pod
• Enhancement: Mysterious Guardian

BATTLELINE

Armiger Warglaive (140 points)
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

Watch Captain Artemis (65 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Hellfire Extremis
1x Master-crafted power weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (94), Data Version: v675

Archetype

Wardens and Warglaives

Thoughts

Index Knights have still got serious fight in them after their nerfs, but this build manages to be uniquely short term in relevance. Using Wardens to pressure with Warglaives thanks to the -1D Bondsman effect is cool, but that’s moving over to the Defender in the new book, so this will be back to the drawing board. It’s definitely a good choice to prey on anyone dialing back on their anti-tank though, so a sharp choice for this weird interstitial period. Congratulations to Kyle on taking the biggest trophy of the week.

Dan Sammons – Astra Militarum (Combined Arms) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Butt Stuff with Bam (1995 points)

Astra Militarum
Strike Force (2000 points)
Combined Arms

CHARACTERS

Cadian Command Squad (75 points)
• 1x Cadian Commander
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• Enhancement: Death Mask of Ollanius
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
1x Meltagun
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Master Vox
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Medi-pack
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Regimental Standard

Gaunt’s Ghosts (110 points)
• 1x Ibram Gaunt
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Gaunt’s chainsword
• 1x Colm Corbec
• 1x Corbec’s hot-shot lascarbine
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Elim Rawne
• 1x Rawne’s lascarbine
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Hlaine Larkin
• 1x Larkin’s long-las
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x ‘Try Again’ Bragg
• 1x Bragg’s autocannon
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Oan Mkoll
• 1x Lascarbine
1x Mkoll’s straight silver knife

Rogal Dorn Commander (280 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Coaxial autocannon
3x Heavy stubber
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon
• Enhancement: Grand Strategist

Tech-Priest Enginseer (45 points)
• 1x Enginseer axe
1x Mechanicus pistol
1x Servo-arm

Ursula Creed (85 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Duty and Vengeance
1x Power weapon

BATTLELINE

Cadian Shock Troops (65 points)
• 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant
• 1x Chainsword
1x Laspistol
• 9x Shock Trooper
• 9x Close combat weapon
7x Lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun

OTHER DATASHEETS

Death Riders (60 points)
• 1x Ridemaster
• 1x Death Rider lascarbine
1x Frag lance
1x Power sabre
1x Savage claws
• 4x Death Rider
• 4x Death Rider lascarbine
4x Frag lance
4x Power sabre
4x Savage claws

Krieg Heavy Weapons Squad (75 points)
• 3x Heavy Weapons Gunner
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Krieg heavy flamer
3x Laspistol
• 1x Fire Coordinator
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol

Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Multi-melta
1x Vanquisher battle cannon

Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (240 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Coaxial autocannon
3x Heavy stubber
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon

Scout Sentinels (55 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Sentinel chainsaw

Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (94), Data Version: v675

Archetype

Tank Hunting Guard

Thoughts

Someone definitely not skimping on the anti-tank is Dan in second, bringing both the might of triple Dorn and three Vanquishers to strike fear into the hearts of any big robots. The list also has good skirmising board presence to protect the tank, and three MSUs of Death Riders are notable in this regard. These have been slept on for a while, but just in time for a new Dataslate, people are catching up to the fact that their price from the last one makes them good value, as the flat 6″ reactive move is a great disruption piece. Technically this build catches a mild nerf – the prevalence of Dorns means that almost every guard build climbs 20-30pts. However, the hit is much less than on some top builds, and they have solid play into Aeldari, so I expect a variety of Militarum lists to thrive in the new metagame. Well done Dan on sticking to his guns and blasting through undefeated.

Kyle McCord – Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Welcome to the Rock (1995 points)

Space Marines
Dark Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Wrath of the Rock

CHARACTERS

Azrael (115 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
1x The Lion Helm
1x The Sword of Secrets

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (80 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• Enhancement: Tempered in Battle (Aura)

BATTLELINE

Intercessor Squad (80 points)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Power fist
• 4x Intercessor
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Bolt rifle
4x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Centurion Devastator Squad (165 points)
• 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant
• 1x Centurion fists
1x Centurion missile launcher
1x Twin lascannon
• 2x Devastator Centurion
• 2x Centurion fists
2x Centurion missile launcher
2x Twin lascannon

Deathwing Knights (250 points)
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution

Inceptor Squad (120 points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Assault bolters
2x Close combat weapon

Invader ATV (60 points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Multi-melta
1x Twin bolt rifle

Scout Squad (70 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
3x Combat knife
1x Heavy bolter

Sternguard Veteran Squad (200 points)
• 1x Sternguard Veteran Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Power fist
1x Sternguard bolt pistol
1x Sternguard bolt rifle
• 9x Sternguard Veteran
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Sternguard bolt pistol
7x Sternguard bolt rifle
2x Sternguard heavy bolter

Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (95 points)
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Vanguard Veteran weapon
• 4x Vanguard Veteran with Jump Pack
• 4x Storm Shield
4x Vanguard Veteran weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (94), Data Version: v675

Archetype

Centurion Wrath

Thoughts

Wrath of the Rock anchored by Deathwing Knights is a build to watch in the new season, and this imports some tricks from the current Ravenwing builds by bringing Centurions. This keeps the target profile of the list much more consistent compared to adding Inceptors or Hellblasters, and add some ranged anti-tank punch into anything that threatens to grind out the Knights. The Sternguard dilute that target profile a bit, but the 4+ Invulnerable Save from Azrael mitigates that, and the mortal wound bomb potential there is very solid (and could be helpful into the new threat of Orks). This isn’t just the stock Wrath build overall, and the extra staying power seems very solid as we head into an unknown metagame. Congratulations Kyle on third place.

Kit Smith Hanna – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) – 4th Place

Be’lakor, The Dark Master. Credit: Skails

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

The Four Horsemen (1995 pts)

CHARACTER

1x Be’lakor (375 pts)
• 1x Betraying Shades
• 1x The Blade of Shadows
• Warlord

1x Karanak (75 pts)
• 1x Scalding Roar
• 1x Soul-rending fangs
• Brass Collar of Bloody Vengeance

1x Skarbrand (305 pts)
• 1x Bellow of endless fury
• 1x Slaughter and Carnage

1x The Masque of Slaanesh (95 pts)
• 1x Serrated claws

1x Great Unclean One (295 pts)
• 1x Putrid vomit
• 1x Bilesword
• 1x Plague flail
• The Endless Gift (+45 pts)

1x Lord of Change (285 pts)
• 1x Bolt of Change
• 1x Staff of Tzeentch
• 1x Rod of sorcery
• The Everstave (+25 pts)

BATTLELINE

10x Daemonettes (100 pts)
• 1x Alluress
• 1x Slashing claws
• 9x Daemonette
• 9x Slashing claws
• Instrument of Chaos, Daemonic Icon

3x Nurglings (40 pts)
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth

10x Plaguebearers (110 pts)
• 1x Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 9x Plaguesword
• Instrument of Chaos, Daemonic Icon

OTHER DATASHEETS

1x Beasts of Nurgle (65 pts)
• 1x Beast of Nurgle
• 1x Putrid appendages

5x Flesh Hounds (75 pts)
• 1x Gore Hound
• 1x Burning roar
• 1x Gore-drenched fangs
• Collar of Khorne
• 4x Flesh Hound
• 4x Gore-drenched fangs
• 4x Collar of Khorne

Archetype

Monster Mash

Thoughts

Incursion monster mash to close our first top four, following the trusty strategy of either forcing the foe to engage on your terms with Be’lakor’s aura or ruining their entire career if they don’t screen a 6″ Deep Strike properly, dealer’s choice. It supports that with more of an ability to lunge with smaller Daemons, whether it be Karanak going out hunting or some Daemonettes heading to slice up some chaff. One of the way these builds can fall down is ending up too static, so that’s a nice way to mitigate it. Good job to Kit.

The Best of the Rest

There were 9 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

5th – Brian Moody – Astra Militarum (Bridgehead Strike): An Inantry horde withe elites worked in, most notably three fully decked out Scion/Command units.
6th – Chris Green – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): A very polarised Liberator build with Death Company/Captain MSUs at one end and a Land Raider Redeemer packed with a big Assault Intercessor/Priest unit at the other.
7th – Treynor Wolfe – Black Templars (Gladius Task Force): RepEx/Sword Brethren Templars.
8th – Richard Cozart – Aeldari (Warhost): Stacked Serpent Warhost with two Fire Dragon buses and a Reaper one.
9th – Brent Simon – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer): Direct fire Hammer that cuts all the fat to keep the premium Datasheets in, most notably sticking to three Deathshroud/Lord of Contagion units.
10th – Talon Rooney – Genestealer Cult (Final Day): Lots of Ridgerunners, a couple of GSC melee threats, and a bunch of Gargoyles/Lictors.
11th – John Indellicate – Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): Heavy melee Broodsurge with two full units each of Aberrants and Metamorphs.
12th – Kyle Kachelmeyer – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Five big Infernals, using two Abominants and a rainbow of Despoiler loadouts.
13th – Joseph Kirk – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King, Doomsdays and a big Lokhust unit, witht he Nightbringer providing a bit of extra muscle.

X-4 Presents: Summer Waaagh Series

38-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Durham, NC, United States on September 13 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Tivi Piechocki – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs) – 1st Place

Saint Celestine — Credit: Evan “Felime” Siefring

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Order of the Viridian Bastion (2000 points)

Adepta Sororitas
Strike Force (2000 points)
Hallowed Martyrs

CHARACTERS

Canoness with Jump Pack (100 points)
• 1x Blessed halberd
• Enhancement: Through Suffering, Strength

Hospitaller (50 points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Chirurgeon’s tools

Palatine (60 points)
• 1x Palatine blade
1x Plasma pistol
• Enhancement: Saintly Example

Saint Celestine (160 points)
• 1x Celestine
• Warlord
• 1x The Ardent Blade
• 2x Geminae Superia
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Power weapon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Immolator (115 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Twin multi-melta

Sororitas Rhino (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Castigator (160 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Castigator autocannons
3x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Storm bolter

Celestian Sacresants (130 points)
• 1x Sacresant Superior
• 1x Hallowed mace
1x Inferno pistol
• 9x Celestian Sacresant
• 9x Bolt pistol
9x Hallowed mace

Dominion Squad (115 points)
• 1x Dominion Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Inferno pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Dominion
• 9x Bolt pistol
5x Boltgun
9x Close combat weapon
4x Meltagun
1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Zephyrim Squad (80 points)
• 1x Zephyrim Superior
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
1x Sacred Banner
• 4x Zephyrim
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Power weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (94), Data Version: v675

Archetype

Combined Arms Sororitas

Thoughts

Tivi leads the charge on a low sample size win rate spike for the Sororitas this week, taking this transport-heavy build to a trophy. Dominions are suddenly distinctly back in fashion, and in this list they provide a tremendous ability to set the board up as you desire, plus a good supply of Miracle Dice as the sacrificial halves of the units die for the Emperor. Combining them with two decked out Zephyrim units also makes this build punchy when it wants to be, able to pivot between reaching out and doing damage with Dominions or Zephyrim, or counterattacking around the Sacresant core. Having so much of the key stuff be either high reach or in Transports also creates challenging targeting decisions for high threat builds leaning on a small number of activations of which there are plenty right now.

I feel like going into the new environment, this build surely wants to test at least one unit of the even-more-improved Retributors, but just in general I think Sisters are well positioned, particularly as people unleash the power of stuff like the enhanced Canoness with Zephyrim. Also, honestly – cool to see a build that doesn’t start with Vahl, fun though she is. Well done to Tivi.

Reynolds Wagemaker – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Looks like more of the same (1980 Points)

Thousand Sons
Grand Coven
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (115 Points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Inferno bolt pistol
• Enhancements: Incandaeum

Magnus the Red (420 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
• 1x Gaze of Magnus
• 1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm

Sorcerer (100 Points)
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Inferno bolt pistol
• 1x Pandaemonic Delusion
• 1x Prosperine khopesh
• Enhancements: Eldritch Vortex of E’Taph

Sorcerer (95 Points)
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Inferno bolt pistol
• 1x Pandaemonic Delusion
• 1x Prosperine khopesh
• Enhancements: Umbralefic Crystal

Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (85 Points)
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Gaze of Hate
• 1x Inferno combi-bolter

BATTLELINE

Rubric Marines (100 Points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
◦ 1x Force weapon
◦ 1x Malefic Curse
◦ 1x Warpflame pistol
• 4x Rubric Marine
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Icon of Flame
◦ 1x Soulreaper cannon
◦ 3x Warpflamer

OTHER DATASHEETS

Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 Points)
• 1x Betentacled maw
• 1x Mutalith claws
• 1x Warp vortex

Scarab Occult Terminators (375 Points)
• 1x Scarab Occult Sorcerer
◦ 1x Force weapon
◦ 1x Inferno combi-bolter
◦ 1x Malefic Curse
• 9x Scarab Occult Terminator
◦ 2x Hellfyre missile rack
◦ 7x Inferno combi-bolter
◦ 9x Prosperine khopesh
◦ 2x Soulreaper cannon

Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (80 Points)
• 1x Aviarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 5x Enlightened
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 5x Fatecaster greatbow

Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (50 Points)
• 1x Aviarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 2x Enlightened
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Fatecaster greatbow

Tzaangors (70 Points)
• 1x Twistbray
◦ 1x Tzaangor blades
• 9x Tzaangor
◦ 1x Brayhorn
◦ 1x Herd banner
◦ 9x Tzaangor blades

Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (1), Data Version: v675

Archetype

Extra Heavy Grand Coven

Thoughts

Next up we have probably the biggest losers from the Dataslate, Thousand Sons. The good news for this build is that already being on Scarabs will soften the blow slightly, but otherwise this is a showcase of all the stuff that takes a hit, in all its grindy glory. My feeling is that Tsons probably didn’t deserve the double tap of a big points hit and the army rule nerf – with the latter, only the real outliers like Enlightened needed a big hit, and some staples could have been treated more kindly. Thousand Sons did, of course, manage to roll with endless rounds of nerfs to their Index, so I’m ready to be surprised (or just see double Scarab phalanx rise to the fore), but this kind of all-rounder high quality builds will need a re-work. I do rather like the big threat saturation plan here, as it potentially stops them getting picked off in their tough Death Guard matchup, but there’s so much change coming that it’s hard to take too many lessons from it for now. Well done to Reynolds for unleashing a new variant at the end of the previous season.

The Best of the Rest

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

3rd – Roman Malekzai – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Mortarion Vectorium goodstuff, heavy on the Daemon engines.
4th – Jordan Cole – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force): Max ThunderCav and lots of Wulfen, backed by Vindicators.
5th – Andrew Vawter – Ultramarines (Stormlance Task Force): Calgar/Guilliman Stormraven, packing in some Assault Centurions as a tertiary melee threat.
6th – Clay Plumridge – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Canis, Atrapos and Crusader, with lots of Helverins and an Immolator to tee up the shooting.
7th – Jane Vader – Emperor’s Children (Carnival of Excess): Emperor’s Children monster mash, taking Fulgrim and Shalaxi with a couple of Princes, lots of Daemonettes, and some Noise Marines to benefit big time from the Sustained.

Central Valley Crucible GT

36-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Clovis, CA, United States on September 13 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Forrest Phanton – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Balanced Puppers Fast AF Boiz(1995 points)

Space Marines
Space Wolves
Strike Force (2000 points)
Stormlance Task Force

CHARACTERS

Arjac Rockfist (95 points)
• 1x Foehammer

Bjorn the Fell-Handed (170 points)
• 1x Heavy flamer
1x Multi-melta
1x Trueclaw

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades

Logan Grimnar (110 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Axe Morkai
1x Storm bolter
1x Tyrnak and Fenrir

BATTLELINE

OTHER DATASHEETS

Fenrisian Wolves (40 points)
• 5x Fenrisian Wolf
• 5x Teeth and claws

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 Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine

Repulsor Executioner (220 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy laser destroyer
1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array
1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber
1x Twin heavy bolter

Thunderwolf Cavalry (220 points)
• 1x Thunderwolf Cavalry Pack Leader
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Teeth and Claws
1x Wolf Guard weapon
• 5x Thunderwolf Cavalry
• 5x Storm Shield
5x Teeth and Claws
5x Wolf Guard weapon

Thunderwolf Cavalry (100 points)
• 1x Thunderwolf Cavalry Pack Leader
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Teeth and Claws
1x Wolf Guard weapon
• 2x Thunderwolf Cavalry
• 2x Storm Shield
2x Teeth and Claws
2x Wolf Guard weapon

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

ALLIED UNITS

Callidus Assassin (100 points)
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades

Exported with App Version: v1.40.0 (93), Data Version: v674

Archetype

Stormlance Cavalry

Thoughts

Space Wolves go fast and bite things here, unleashing lots of ThunderCav with big guns behind them. Not massively unusual, but every effective, and spiced up a bit by the choice to run both Terminator Characters solo. Logan isn’t a surprise, since he’s just a huge value piece, but Arjac usually runs with a squad. In Stormlance, lurking him mid-board somewhere is a major deterrent to enemy Characters, and you can pretty easily keep him safe with Wind Swift Evasion. Nice way to get some value without the full Terminator investment. Also a fan, for a build reliant on momentum, of bringing a second Infiltrator squad that can potentially deploy from a RepEx to screen out Rapid Ingress on a key turn, or just cut off a second table quarter from deep strikes on Search and Destroy.

In terms of changes, this build does need a little re-tooling to handle the point increases it got, but can probably drop the small ThunderCav unit and shift a few things around and otherwise be golden – Wolves should still be fine. Congratulations Forrest.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Joshua Suarez – Adepta Sororitas (Army of Faith): Vahl, lots of Dominions, and a couple of Zephyrim/Canoness units.
3rd – Miles Howell – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Triple double Gatling, a Rampager, and Rotigus.
4th – Evan Simpson – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Double C’tan, double Doomsday, and some Wraiths.
5th – Alex Smith – Aeldari (Aspect Host): Dragon bus, Asurmen in a Falcon, lots of MSUs.
6th – Daniel Rogers – Chaos Space Marines (Soulforged Warpack): Mecha monster mash with Maulers, Venomcrawlers, Vashtorr and double Disco.

Iron Cage: September Slaughter

35-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Bedford, TX, US on September 13 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

NATHANIEL BJORGE – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Now with less Zoanthropes (2000 points)

Tyranids
Strike Force (2000 points)
Subterranean Assault

CHARACTERS

Hyperadapted Raveners (180 points)
• 1x Ravener Prime
• 1x Prime claws and talons
• Enhancement: Vanguard Intellect
• 4x Raveners
• 4x Ravener heavy claws and talons
1x Venom bolt

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)
• 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes
1x Psychic scream

The Swarmlord (220 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Bone sabres
1x Synaptic pulse

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

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

Screamer-Killer (135 points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic scream
1x Screamer-Killer talons

Von Ryan’s Leapers (70 points)
• 3x Von Ryan’s Leaper
• 3x Leaper’s talons

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

Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (97), Data Version: v686

Archetype

Ravener Horde

Thoughts

A powerful, albeit fairly glass-cannon spin on Subterranean Assault gets it done here. Big Ravener units are terrifying, they just also die very fast, and this build aims to craft situations where they can excel. Lots of Leapers and Lictors carve out drop zones and force the enemy to move up to try and stop early scoring, at which point the Raveners can be unleashed, ideally alongside the Zoanthropes trying to spike out whatever the biggest damage three threat there is on the table. High risk and high reward, but very high reward when it works, which it did here – Nathaniel won all five games with 100VP, carving through a solid roster of players to do it. When in doubt, more snakes, apparently!

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Jony Velazquez – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Double Berzerkers and double Forgefiend, but light on Characters to pack in lots of Eightbound alongside that.
3rd – Robert Moreland – Astra Militarum (Mechanised Assault): Transport alpha strike guard, using lots of Kasrkin in regular Taruox and three Scion/Command units in Primes.
4th – Matt Jackowski – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Heavy duty warband, packing lots of Eightbound into Land Raiders to unleash upon the foe.
5th – The Snake of Justice – Grey Knights (Warpbane Task Force): Triple GMDK, 10/5/5 Purifiers with Crowe/Razorbacks respectively.
6th – Shreyash Pandey – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Triple C’tan Hypercrypt, what year is it?

gt surrender II

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Rubí, CT, España on September 13 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Unknown Mission

Erik Hermosilla – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband)
Army List - Click to Expand

troll eaters motxo style (2000 points)

World Eaters
Strike Force (2000 points)
Berzerker Warband

CHARACTERS

Daemon Prince of Khorne (215 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
• Enhancement: Favoured of Khorne

Khârn the Betrayer (100 points)
• 1x Gorechild
1x Plasma pistol

Master of Executions (70 points)
• 1x Axe of dismemberment
1x Bolt pistol
• Enhancement: Battle-lust

BATTLELINE

Khorne Berzerkers (180 points)
• 1x Khorne Berzerker Champion
• 1x Chainblade
1x Plasma pistol
• 9x Khorne Berzerker
• 7x Bolt pistol
7x Chainblade
1x Icon of Khorne
2x Khornate eviscerator
2x Plasma pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chaos Spawn (90 points)
• 2x Chaos Spawn
• 2x Hideous mutations

Eightbound (135 points)
• 1x Eightbound Champion
• 1x Chainblades
• 2x Eightbound
• 2x Chainblades

Exalted Eightbound (140 points)
• 1x Exalted Eightbound Champion
• 1x Chainblades
• 2x Exalted Eightbound
• 2x Chainblades

Jakhals (65 points)
• 1x Jakhal Pack Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Chainblades
• 1x Dishonoured
• 1x Skullsmasher and mangler
• 8x Jakhal
• 8x Autopistol
7x Chainblades
1x Icon of Khorne
1x Mauler chainblade

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (95), Data Version: v683

vs.

Barthes . – Aeldari (Warhost)
Army List - Click to Expand

Aeldari warhost (1995 Points)

Aeldari
Warhost
Strike Force (2.000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Eldrad Ulthran (110 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Mind War
• 1x Shuriken pistol
• 1x The Staff of Ulthamar and witchblade

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

BATTLELINE

Corsair Voidreavers (65 Points)
• 1x Voidreaver Felarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Mistshield
◦ 1x Neuro disruptor
◦ 1x Power sword
• 4x Corsair Voidreaver
◦ 1x Blaster
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Power sword
◦ 3x Shuriken pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dark Reapers (90 Points)
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Reaper launcher
• 4x Dark Reaper
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Reaper launcher

Falcon (130 Points)
• 1x Bright lance
• 1x Pulse laser
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Wraithbone hull

Fire Dragons (220 Points)
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Firepike
• 9x Fire Dragon
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Dragon fusion gun

Howling Banshees (95 Points)
• 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
◦ 1x Executioner
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Howling Banshee
◦ 4x Banshee blade
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Rangers (55 Points)
• 5x Ranger
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 5x Long rifle
◦ 5x Shuriken pistol

Swooping Hawks (85 Points)
• 1x Aspect Shrine Token
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Exarch’s lasblaster
• 4x Swooping Hawk
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Lasblaster

Warp Spiders (95 Points)
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Powerblade array
• 4x Warp Spider
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Death spinner

Warp Spiders (95 Points)
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Death weavers
◦ 1x Spinneret rifle
• 4x Warp Spider
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Death spinner

Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (1), Data Version: v675

Thoughts

The keepaway Aeldari menace faces a World Eaters list that’s early to the melee party, going hard on Eightbound alongside the normal melee core of Berzerkers and Spawn.

There is a big issue there out of the gate, which is that no Forgefiends makes it pretty hard to shut down the Transport keepaway nonsense the Aeldari are planning, which is something of a problem. Fire Dragons may be missing a truly premium target here, but they’ll happily shrug and take a massive chunk out of some elite stuff every turn, or just smoke a couple of Spawn units and be happy. Maugen Ra is also pretty solid, while used in the right way Lhykhis and Jain Zar can do serious work as well.

Definite Aeldari advantage, but not necessarily an insurmountable one – they potentially do struggle to push back against this list if it pushes with lots of the small units at once, with Berzerkers out of Rhinos as a second wave. I think as the World Eaters you have to just stage aggressively on turn 1, then try and hit on all fronts on turn 2, because if you let the game go on, you’re just getting picked apart. I don’t think that’s especially likely to succeed because the Aeldari have also brought a load of cheap scoring pieces, but if you actually want to win this as the World Eaters, it’s death or glory. They didn’t do badly score wise, but the Aeldari took their foretold victory in relative comfort.

Result

Aeldari (Warhost) Victory – 95 – 72

Barthes . – Aeldari (Warhost) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Aeldari warhost (1995 Points)

Aeldari
Warhost
Strike Force (2.000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Eldrad Ulthran (110 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Mind War
• 1x Shuriken pistol
• 1x The Staff of Ulthamar and witchblade

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

BATTLELINE

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dark Reapers (90 Points)
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Reaper launcher
• 4x Dark Reaper
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Reaper launcher

Falcon (130 Points)
• 1x Bright lance
• 1x Pulse laser
• 1x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Wraithbone hull

Fire Dragons (220 Points)
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Firepike
• 9x Fire Dragon
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Dragon fusion gun

Howling Banshees (95 Points)
• 1x Howling Banshee Exarch
◦ 1x Executioner
◦ 1x Shuriken pistol
• 4x Howling Banshee
◦ 4x Banshee blade
◦ 4x Shuriken pistol

Rangers (55 Points)
• 5x Ranger
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 5x Long rifle
◦ 5x Shuriken pistol

Warp Spiders (95 Points)
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Powerblade array
• 4x Warp Spider
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Death spinner

Warp Spiders (95 Points)
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Death weavers
◦ 1x Spinneret rifle
• 4x Warp Spider
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Death spinner

Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (1), Data Version: v675

Archetype

Keepaway Elf Menace

Thoughts

Public enemy number 1 as we head into the new metagame, the Warhost variant of the elf menace leans on the mixture of hard-to-stop damage from the Transports and an exceptional suite of cheap, fast scoring pieces (that aren’t negligible in terms of damage output). The combination of this is really hard to handle unless you can overwhelm them, and that’s easier said then done when they can hit hard on the counterpunch. Great work Barthes, and everyone else, study this one and work out how you beat it.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Erik Hermosilla – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): OK what memo went out about Eightbound before they got improved?
3rd – Marc Soler – Raven Guard (Shadomark Talon): The Shan/Shrike double act hits the stage, bringing lots of jump pack threats and melee MSUs to the table, plus a big old brick of Centurion Devastators to zip around.
4th – Giri {°_°} – T’au Empire (Mont’ka): Ta’unar and a grab bag of smaller hulls.
5th – Elliot Gibson – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): Bobby G/Calgar gunline.

No Surrender 2025

26-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand on September 12 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Francis Mclauchlan – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

tsons (2000 points)

Thousand Sons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Grand Coven

CHARACTERS

Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (115 points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
• Enhancement: Incandaeum

Infernal Master (110 points)
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
• Enhancement: Eldritch Vortex of E’Taph

Magnus the Red (420 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm

Sorcerer (95 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Pandaemonic Delusion
1x Prosperine khopesh
• Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal

Sorcerer (75 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Pandaemonic Delusion
1x Prosperine khopesh

BATTLELINE

Rubric Marines (100 points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Malefic Curse
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
3x Inferno boltgun
1x Soulreaper cannon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (90 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Havoc launcher
1x Inferno combi-bolter
1x Inferno combi-weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 points)
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex

Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (80 points)
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 5x Enlightened
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Fatecaster greatbow

Tzaangors (70 points)
• 1x Twistbray
• 1x Tzaangor blades
• 9x Tzaangor
• 9x Tzaangor blades

Exported with App Version: v1.40.1 (94), Data Version: v675

Archetype

Grand Coven Goodstuff

Thoughts

Classic Coven to close, and as already discussed earlier, this one goes straight back to the drawing board – it’s not a build that can just absorb losing whole units and a drop in reliability. Fun while it lasted, well done Francis.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Alex Towse – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Two gatling and one thermal Despoiler, a Lancer and some support.
3rd – Jeremy Aitken – Orks (More Dakka): Deffkoptas and Tankbustas in More Dakka, the former helping fill out the damage now that Sustained 2 is a distant dream.
4th – Pearce Matthew – Aeldari (Aspect Host): Reaper bus, lots of MSUs, and a full conclave for Eldrad.
5th – Aaron Moore – Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Plague Marine Rhino rush, which is definitely one way to (partially) dodge the hikes.

Wrap Up

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Competitive Innovations in 10th: Scrambled Signals pt.1

Flying Monkey Con 40k Champs 2025

kyle lamperez – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Dan Sammons – Astra Militarum (Combined Arms) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Kyle McCord – Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Kit Smith Hanna – Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

X-4 Presents: Summer Waaagh Series

Tivi Piechocki – Adepta Sororitas (Hallowed Martyrs) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Reynolds Wagemaker – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Central Valley Crucible GT

Forrest Phanton – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Iron Cage: September Slaughter

NATHANIEL BJORGE – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

gt surrender II

The Showdown

Unknown Mission

Thoughts

Result

Barthes . – Aeldari (Warhost) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

No Surrender 2025

Francis Mclauchlan – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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