OK so the good news first – a reasonable number of TOs have rushed to adopt last week’s balance changes, so this week’s results are somewhat less elf-oriented. Only somewhat though – between a mixture of some events not updating, and Aeldari still being extremely good there’s still a substantial amount of elf nonsense afoot, just more showings from everyone else too. Let’s take a little look, shall we.
Today we’ll be covering:
- TGX Warhammer 40K (major)
- The Salt City GT 2023 Warhammer 40K (major)
- Hee Yaw Grand Tournament
- The Warhound GT at Game Grid in July
- Capital City Clash 40k Gt
- IV GT Coliseum Murciano
- The Deck Box Masters Grand Tournament
With a substantially greater variety in showdowns, democracy has also returned. Only two this week, because I’m flying out to Tacoma for the US Open on Wednesday, but they are:
- Thousand Sons vs Thousand Sons at the Hee Yaw Grand Tournament.
- Necrons vs Imperial Knights at IV GT Coliseum Murciano
Let’s go!
TGX Warhammer 40k Tournament
86-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Mississauga, ON CA on July 08 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
This event was using the balance changes.
Tim Deetlefs – Aeldari – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Aeldari CHARACTERS Autarch Wayleaper (80 Points) Death Jester (85 Points) Farseer (65 Points) Prince Yriel (100 Points) The Yncarne (270 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Fire Prism (150 Points) Fire Prism (150 Points) Fire Prism (150 Points) Wraithknight (475 Points) Wraithknight (475 Points)
TGX (2000 Points)
Battle Host
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
1x Howling Banshee Mask
1x Star glaive
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• Enhancements: Fate’s Messenger
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witchblade
• 1x The Eye of Wrath
1x The Spear of Twilight
• 1x Swirling soul energy
1x Vilith-zhar, the Sword of Souls
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Heavy wraithcannon
1x Heavy wraithcannon
2x Starcannon
1x Titanic feet
• 1x Heavy wraithcannon
1x Heavy wraithcannon
2x Starcannon
1x Titanic feet
Archetype
Shooty Null Deploy Eldar
Final Round Matchup
87 – 76 Victory against Nick Jagiello – Necrons.
Thoughts
Immediately very happy with the prediction of “still the best, not by as much” if I’m honest. As the final round shows, the best Aeldari lists now give much closer games, and certainly can be beaten, but the sheer power of their Index is still brutal – this list is down nearly 300pts from what it would have been last week, and still took down a major. It also highlights the depth of tricks available to Aeldari via it’s ability to near null-deploy against Towering shooty builds, aiming to ensure the first big punch happens on its terms. Prince Yriel being able to pull three additional units into Strategic Reserves means that you can end up with very little on the table other than Lone Operatives to bank some points from the home objective, and although you probably score low early from doing that, there’s almost nothing that can win a shooting race against this when it gets the first swing at full power. An impressive new angle from Tim there, and congratulations on the win.
Nick Jagiello – Necrons – 2nd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER Hexmark Destroyer (100 points) Hexmark Destroyer (70 points) Hexmark Destroyer (70 points) Imotekh the Stormlord (105 points) Overlord (110 points) Technomancer (60 points) Technomancer (60 points) Transcendent C’tan (290 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Canoptek Reanimator (95 points) Canoptek Scarab Swarms (40 points) Cryptothralls (40 points) Cryptothralls (40 points) Cryptothralls (40 points) Flayed Ones (70 points) Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (90 points) Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (90 points) Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (90 points) Lychguard (190 points) Lychguard (190 points) Tomb Blades (160 points)
TGX (2000 points)
Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Awakened Dynasty
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• Enhancement: The Sovereign Coronal (Aura)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• Warlord
• 1x Gauntlet of Fire
1x Staff of the Destroyer
• 1x Resurrection Orb
1x Voidscythe
• Enhancement: Hypermaterial Ablator
• 1x Canoptek Cloak
1x Staff of light
• 1x Canoptek Cloak
1x Staff of light
• 1x Crackling tendrils
1x Seismic assault
• Enhancement: Sempiternal Weave
• 2x Atomiser beam
1x Reanimator’s claws
• 3x Feeder mandibles
• 2x Scouring eye
2x Scythed limbs
• 2x Scouring eye
2x Scythed limbs
• 2x Scouring eye
2x Scythed limbs
• 5x Flayer claws
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Gauss destructor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Gauss destructor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Gauss destructor
• 10x Dispersion Shield
10x Hyperphase sword
• 10x Dispersion Shield
10x Hyperphase sword
• 6x Close combat weapon
6x Particle beamer
6x Shadowloom
6x Shieldvanes
Archetype
Lychguard and Hexmarks
Thoughts
Hell yeah that’s what we want to see. Lychguard blocks with a Technomancer and Thralls are truly monstrous things to try and deal with, as is the Sempiternal Weave Transcendant, allowing this build to tank even the most violent onslaughts. Packing three Hexmark Destroyers adds insult to injury on that front, two of them ready to punish opponents for even having the temerity to try and cut down the gleaming phalanx, and a third providing a safe way to deploy the Sovereign Coronal for buffing the Destroyers. This army can quite legitimately just walk forward and demand opponents try to stop it, and most of the time they probably won’t, especially if they underestimate just how much punishment the big units can soak and split their fire.
The other interesting model to call out is Imotekh, who I was initially pretty low on, but have been warming to. When you have multiple big bricks you can’t use a regular Overlord’s ability on more than one, and Imotekh provides you with both a nice, all-round offensive profile and a steady flow of CP to power your stuff. That’s particularly good here, as I’m sort of assuming this list is planning to Rapid Ingress a Hexmark pretty much every game, so ensuring that you have a bounteous CP pool by turn two is vital.
Overall, huge fan of everything that’s going on here, well done to Nick on taking second.
Adam Houser – Genestealer Cult – 3rd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Genestealer Cults CHARACTERS Biophagus (80 Points) Jackal Alphus (75 Points) Nexos (50 Points) Nexos (50 Points) Primus (70 Points) Primus (70 Points) BATTLELINE Acolyte Hybrids (150 Points) Acolyte Hybrids (150 Points) Acolyte Hybrids (150 Points) Neophyte Hybrids (160 Points) Neophyte Hybrids (160 Points) Neophyte Hybrids (160 Points) DEDICATED TRANSPORTS Goliath Truck (110 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Aberrants (330 Points) Achilles Ridgerunners (75 Points) Atalan Jackals (160 Points)
SURPRISE! GSC baby! Fuck ya! (2000 Points)
Ascension Day
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Autopistol
1x Chemical vials
1x Injector goad
• Enhancements: Inscrutable Cunning
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Cult sniper rifle
• Enhancements: Prowling Agitant
• Warlord
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Cult bonesword
1x Scoped needle pistol
1x Toxin injector claw
• 1x Cult bonesword
1x Scoped needle pistol
1x Toxin injector claw
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 9x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon
5x Cult claws and knife
4x Cult claws and knife
4x Demolition charges
4x Hand flamer
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 9x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon
5x Cult claws and knife
4x Cult claws and knife
4x Demolition charges
4x Hand flamer
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 9x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon
5x Cult claws and knife
4x Cult claws and knife
4x Demolition charges
4x Hand flamer
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
• 19x Autopistol
19x Close combat weapon
1x Cult Icon
11x Hybrid firearm
4x Seismic cannon
4x Webber
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
• 19x Autopistol
19x Close combat weapon
1x Cult Icon
4x Grenade launcher
11x Hybrid firearm
4x Mining laser
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
• 19x Autopistol
19x Close combat weapon
1x Cult Icon
4x Grenade launcher
11x Hybrid firearm
4x Mining laser
• 1x Demolition charge cache
1x Goliath wheels
1x Heavy stubber
1x Twin autocannon
• 1x Aberrant Hypermorph
• 1x Heavy power weapon
1x Hypermorph tail
• 9x Aberrant
• 9x Heavy power weapon
• 1x Heavy mortar
1x Ridgerunner wheels
1x Spotter
1x Twin heavy stubber
• 8x Atalan Jackal
• 8x Atalan power weapon
6x Atalan small arms
2x Grenade launcher
• 2x Atalan Wolfquad
• 2x Atalan small arms
2x Close combat weapon
2x Mining laser
Archetype
Horde and Hammers
Thoughts
Another strong showing for the already very familiar GSC setup here – a large horde of endlessly respawning infantry, able to launch brutal shooting assaults from reserves, backed by lots of nasty Characters and two big alpha units. Those comprise a big squad of bikes ready to do the Mortal Wound dance and an Aberrant brick ready to soak punishment and kill stuff with hammers. A very effective recipe, and a clear favourite to start racking up wins – with the only possible challenge being that it can struggle into Necrons, particularly on some deployment maps, and it was Nick’s robots who dealt the Cults their one loss here. Everyone else, however, couldn’t keep up with all the trickery that Adam was deploying here, and well done on third.
Éric Marcoux – Aeldari – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER Autarch Wayleaper (80 points) Death Jester (85 points) Farseer (65 points) Spiritseer (80 points) The Yncarne (270 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Fire Prism (150 points) Fire Prism (150 points) Fire Prism (150 points) Shadow Spectres (80 points) Support Weapons (105 points) Wraithguard (310 points) Wraithknight (475 points)
TGX (2000 points)
Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host
• Warlord
• 1x Shuriken pistol
1x Star glaive
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• Enhancement: The Weeping Stones
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witchblade
• 1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witch staff
• Enhancement: Fate’s Messenger
• 1x Swirling soul energy
1x Vilith-zhar, the Sword of Souls
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Prism rifle
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Wraithcannon
• 1x Heavy wraithcannon
1x Heavy wraithcannon
2x Starcannon
1x Titanic feet
Archetype
Shooty Eldar
Thoughts
Yet more indications that Aeldari are still hyper-potent, and Fire Prisms in particular are still extremely good at 150pts. The unit to note here is the Wraithguard – these are super strong for their cost, but were eclipsed by how cheap some other stuff was before. Now that the price differential between a unit of ten and a Wraithknight is rather larger, they become a very strong second big threat, as seen here. Congratulations Éric on rounding out the top four.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 5-1 records. They were:
- 5th – Lucas Badgery – Tyranids: Massive monster mash with lots of big shooty bugs and Maleceptors.
- 6th – Thomas Faulkner – Aeldari: Aeldari with three big haymakers – a Wraithknight, 10 Wraithguard and the Avatar.
- 7th – Ridvan Martinez – Drukhari: Archon Skari unleashes a very mobile Drukhari force using lots of shooty boats with a unit of Talos as a slightly crunchier core, backed up by loads of Scourges out of reserve.
- 8th – Zach Ahrens – Imperial Knights: Shooty-skewed triple bigs, with a pair of Crusaders and an Errant out front.
- 9th – Joseph Miedema – Aeldari: Triple Prisms and a Wraithknight.
The Salt City GT 2023 Warhammer 40K
74-player, 7-round Major in Syracuse, NY US on July 07 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
This event was not using the balance changes.
Steven Crawley – Imperial Knights – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Imperial Knights CHARACTERS Knight Crusader (445 Points) Knight Crusader (435 Points) Knight Errant (375 Points) BATTLELINE Armiger Helverin (145 Points) Armiger Helverin (145 Points) Armiger Warglaive (140 Points) Armiger Warglaive (140 Points) Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
Everyone has a plan till they get shot in the face (1980 Points)
Noble Lance
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Avenger gatling cannon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Rapid-fire battle cannon
1x Stormspear rocket pod
1x Titanic feet
• Enhancements: Banner of Macharius Triumphant
• 1x Avenger gatling cannon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Stormspear rocket pod
1x Thermal cannon
1x Titanic feet
• Enhancement: Mysterious Guardian
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chainsword
1x Stormspear rocket pod
1x Thermal cannon
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
Archetype
Shooty Knights
Final Round Matchup
60 – 80 Loss against Chris martens – Aeldari. (no one finished this event undefeated)
Thoughts
Knight Crusader goes brrr. Results elsewhere indicate that Knights are still a credible threat post balance changes, but obviously this specific build will need to be retooled to account for them. Still, it was 3-1 against pre-nerf Aeldari over the course of the event, which is an extremely impressive feat from Steven!
Brad Chester – Aeldari – 2nd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER Autarch Wayleaper (80 points) Illic Nightspear (65 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Fire Prism (125 points) Fire Prism (125 points) Fire Prism (125 points) Hornet (80 points) Hornet (80 points) Night Spinner (140 points) Night Spinner (140 points) Night Spinner (140 points) Rangers (55 points) Support Weapons (85 points) Support Weapons (85 points) Support Weapons (85 points) War Walkers (95 points) War Walkers (95 points) War Walkers (95 points) Warp Spiders (100 points) Warp Spiders (100 points) Warp Spiders (100 points)
Kung fu eldar (1995 points)
Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host
• Warlord
• 1x Howling Banshee Mask
1x Reaper launcher
1x Star glaive
• 1x Aeldari power sword
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Voidbringer
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Wraithbone hull
• 2x Bright lance
1x Wraithbone hull
• 2x Bright lance
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Doomweaver
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Doomweaver
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Doomweaver
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Ranger long rifle
5x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Death spinner
1x Death spinner
1x Powerblades
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Death spinner
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Death spinner
1x Death spinner
1x Powerblades
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Death spinner
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Death spinner
1x Death spinner
1x Powerblades
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Death spinner
Archetype
Go-wide shooty Eldar
Thoughts
Speaking of pre-nerf Aeldari – this list is hyper-lethal and spread across so many units that it’s extremely difficult to efficiently take down. Steven’s Knights did manage it, but everyone else got blasted off the table. Well done Brad.
Chris Martens – Aeldari – 3rd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Farseer with singing spear Guardian Defenders with Aeldari Missile Launcher(110), 2 Rangers x5(55×2=110), Spiritseer Fate’s Messenger(15), 1 2 6 10 Wraithguard with wraithcannon(310), Wraithknight with 2 heavy wraithcannon and 2 starcannon (370)
Salt City GT List:
(65) with
Reader of the Runes (20),
Farseer Skyrunner with singing spear
(75) with
The Weeping Stones (15),
2 Fire Prism with shuriken cannon (125×2=250),
(65) with
2
Support Weapons with D Cannon(2×85=170),
Vyper with Bright Lance and twin shuriken catapult(75),
War Walkers with 2 Bright Lance(2×95=190),
Windriders with shuriken cannon(160),
Archetype
Shooty Aeldari
Thoughts
Chris got in on the Wraithguard tech early here (Fate’s Messenger is quite the thing on them) to strong effect, but otherwise this is another showcase of just how much violence pre-nerf Aeldari could muster.
Sam Bouabane – Aeldari – 4th Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Aeldari CHARACTERS Autarch Wayleaper (80 Points) Death Jester (70 Points) Death Jester (70 Points) Farseer (65 Points) Prince Yriel (100 Points) Solitaire (115 Points) Spiritseer (65 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Fire Prism (125 Points) Fire Prism (125 Points) Fire Prism (125 Points) Wraithguard (310 Points) Wraithknight (370 Points) Wraithknight (370 Points)
The finest cheddar (1990 Points)
Battle Host
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
1x Star glaive
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witchblade
• 1x The Eye of Wrath
1x The Spear of Twilight
• 1x Solitaire weapons
• 1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witch staff
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Wraithbone hull
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Wraithcannon
• 1x Heavy wraithcannon
1x Heavy wraithcannon
2x Scatter laser
1x Titanic feet
• 1x Heavy wraithcannon
1x Heavy wraithcannon
2x Scatter laser
1x Titanic feet
Archetype
Shooty Aeldari
Thoughts
Ten Wraithguard and two Wraithknights. Good lord.
The Best of the Rest
There was 1 more players on a 6-1 record. This was:
- 5th – Cullen Burns – Aeldari: Triple Prism, Triple Spinner, loads of Warp Spiders.
Hee Yaw Grand Tournament
48-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Killeen, TX United States on July 08 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
This event was using the balance changes.
The Showdown
Matchup & Mission – Hammer and Anvil/Supply Drop/Sweep and Clear/Supply Lines (Maelstrom double Mission Rule)
Matthew Allee – Thousand Sons: Magnus and the boys with Scarabs and a Vortex Beast CHARACTER Ahriman on Disc of Tzeentch (115 points) Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (125 points) Magnus the Red (410 points) Thousand Sons Sorcerer (100 points) Thousand Sons Sorcerer (110 points) Thousand Sons Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (105 points) BATTLELINE Rubric Marines (95 points) Rubric Marines (95 points) Rubric Marines (190 points) Rubric Marines (95 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Mutalith Vortex Beast (145 points) Scarab Occult Terminators (410 points)
Army List - Click to Expand
1st Draft (1995 points)
Thousand Sons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Cult of Magic
• 1x Black Staff of Ahriman
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Psychic Stalk
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancement: Arcane Vortex
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancement: Lord of Forbidden Lore
• 1x Coruscating Flames
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno combi-bolter
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 9x Rubric Marine
• 9x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
8x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer
• 1x Betentaled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex
• 1x Scarab Occult Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno combi-bolter
1x Warpsmite
• 9x Scarab Occult Terminator
• 2x Hellfyre missile rack
7x Inferno combi-bolter
9x Prosperine khopesh
2x Soulreaper cannon
vs.
David Hall – Thousand Sons: Magnus and slightly fewer boys, but with two Vortex Beasts Thousand Sons CHARACTERS Ahriman on Disc of Tzeentch (115 Points) Exalted Sorcerer (115 Points) Exalted Sorcerer (90 Points) Magnus the Red (410 Points) Thousand Sons Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (125 Points) BATTLELINE Rubric Marines (95 Points) Rubric Marines (190 Points) Rubric Marines (95 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Mutalith Vortex Beast (145 Points) Mutalith Vortex Beast (145 Points) Scarab Occult Terminators (410 Points) Thousand Sons Chaos Spawn (65 Points)
Army List - Click to Expand
Tsons (2000 Points)
Cult of Magic
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Black Staff of Ahriman
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Psychic Stalk
• 1x Astral Blast
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
• Enhancements: Lord of Forbidden Lore
• 1x Astral Blast
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm
• 1x Coruscating Flames
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno combi-bolter
• Enhancements: Umbralefic Crystal
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
3x Inferno boltgun
1x Soulreaper cannon
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 9x Rubric Marine
• 9x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
8x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
3x Inferno boltgun
1x Soulreaper cannon
• 1x Betentaled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex
• 1x Betentaled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex
• 1x Scarab Occult Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno combi-bolter
1x Warpsmite
• 9x Scarab Occult Terminator
• 2x Hellfyre missile rack
7x Inferno combi-bolter
9x Prosperine khopesh
2x Soulreaper cannon
• 2x Hideous mutations
Thoughts
I am going to assume this is taking place deep within the twisted confines of Magnus’ mind palace, particularly given the mission is a full on double-dip chaos mode. Presumably he’s trying to decide what to have for lunch or something. Anyway, whenever the Goonhammer patrons vote for me to do a mirror match I cross my fingers that there’s at least some difference between the two builds to grab onto, and luckily here there is. Matthew has gone for an extra Character and a few more Rubricae, while David’s gone for more brutality from a second Vortex Beast. Both extremely credible choices (because good lord the Vortex Beast is a nasty datasheet), but which comes out on top?
Could go either way, honestly, and different elements of the mission pull in each direction. I think Hammer and Anvil favours the Vortex Beasts, as the more numerous list Matthew is packing can’t take advantage of its wider board coverage as much as on some maps. However, the Supply Drop scoring means that if the larger force can blunt the initial Vortex assault it’ll be able to take advantage as the game goes on, and it will also benefit from a deeper pool of Cabal Points into the mid-late game. I think there’s a version of this game where they stumble in the face of the initial pressure that gets mounted, and can’t break into the game, but the pool of tricks available to them is deep enough that they should be able to find a route to victory, and that appears to be what happened.
Result
Thousand Sons Victory (Matthew) – 69 – 31
Matthew Allee – Thousand Sons – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER Ahriman on Disc of Tzeentch (115 points) Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (125 points) Magnus the Red (410 points) Thousand Sons Sorcerer (100 points) Thousand Sons Sorcerer (110 points) Thousand Sons Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (105 points) BATTLELINE Rubric Marines (95 points) Rubric Marines (95 points) Rubric Marines (190 points) Rubric Marines (95 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Mutalith Vortex Beast (145 points) Scarab Occult Terminators (410 points)
1st Draft (1995 points)
Thousand Sons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Cult of Magic
• 1x Black Staff of Ahriman
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Psychic Stalk
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancement: Arcane Vortex
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancement: Lord of Forbidden Lore
• 1x Coruscating Flames
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno combi-bolter
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 9x Rubric Marine
• 9x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
8x Warpflamer
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer
• 1x Betentaled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex
• 1x Scarab Occult Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno combi-bolter
1x Warpsmite
• 9x Scarab Occult Terminator
• 2x Hellfyre missile rack
7x Inferno combi-bolter
9x Prosperine khopesh
2x Soulreaper cannon
Archetype
Magnus and the boys
Thoughts
Another clear favourite to challenge for the top spots in a post-balance world. This list combines reasonably good durability with some incredible power pieces, and backs it all up with a huge pool of Cabal points to do terrible things to unwitting opponents. Or witting ones, honestly. Magnus isn’t super picky, except about lunch. Well done Matthew, and everyone else make sure to read up on what this build can do, you’ll be seeing plenty of it.
The Best of the Rest
There were 8 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Samuel Cook – Aeldari: Triple Prisms, Triple Spinners, still good at +165pts apparently.
- 3rd – Noah Pope – Aeldari: Yncarne, Wraithknight, big Wraithguard brick.
- 4th – Justin Phillips – Thousand Sons: Magnus and his boys, backed up by some fairly hefty shooting from Forgefiends and Annihilators.
- 5th – Joseph Snyder – Black Templars: Serious style points here for running as actual Righteous Crusaders, with the dynamic due of Helbrecht and Grimaldus leading a warhost containing a full Primaris Crusader block, lots of Redemptors and some Sternguard.
- 6th – Will Davis – Necrons: A buffed-up block of Lychguard anchoring some shooty backfield toys and a pair of C’tan, including the extremely hateful Sempiternal Weave Transcendent.
- 7th – David Hall – Thousand Sons: Magnus and the boys with a pair of Mutaliths and a full Scarab block.
- 8th – Bryan Brooks – Genestealer Cult: Neophyte horde with the big unit each of Jackals and Aberrants backing them, plus a squad of Genestealers for early mauling.
- 9th – James Miller – Adepta Sororitas: A bit of everything on show here, a real all-rounder build with Repentia as melee hammers, various tanks and gun-totings Sisters for shooting, and some powerful heroes in the form of Junith (presumably leading the Sacresant unit) and the Triumph. Made it to 4-0 before falling to Thousand Sons, so definitely worth Sororitas fans checking out.
The Warhound GT at Game Grid in July
43-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Lehi, UT US on July 08 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
This event did not use the balance changes.
Chase Chappell – Ynnari – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER Death Jester (85 points) Farseer (65 points) Illic Nightspear (65 points) The Visarch (90 points) The Yncarne (270 points) Yvraine (100 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Fire Prism (125 points) Fire Prism (125 points) Rangers (55 points) Support Weapons (85 points) Support Weapons (85 points) Support Weapons (85 points) War Walkers (95 points) War Walkers (95 points) Warp Spiders (100 points) ALLIED UNITS Kabalite Warriors (120 points) Kabalite Warriors (120 points) Mandrakes (70 points) Venom (80 points) Venom (80 points)
ynarri (1995 points)
Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• Enhancement: Fate’s Messenger
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Witchblade
• 1x Aeldari power sword
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Voidbringer
• 1x Asu-var, the Sword of Silent Screams
• 1x Swirling soul energy
1x Vilith-zhar, the Sword of Souls
• Warlord
• 1x Kha-vir, the Sword of Sorrows
1x Storm of Whispers
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Ranger long rifle
5x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet
• 1x Warp Spider Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Death spinner
1x Death spinner
1x Powerblades
• 4x Warp Spider
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Death spinner
• 1x Sybarite
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Phantasm grenade launcher
1x Sybarite weapon
• 9x Kabalite Warrior
• 1x Blaster
9x Close combat weapon
1x Dark lance
1x Shredder
1x Splinter cannon
5x Splinter rifle
• 1x Sybarite
• 1x Blast pistol
1x Phantasm grenade launcher
1x Sybarite weapon
• 9x Kabalite Warrior
• 1x Blaster
9x Close combat weapon
1x Dark lance
1x Shredder
1x Splinter cannon
5x Splinter rifle
• 1x Nightfiend
• 1x Baleblast
1x Glimmersteel blade
• 4x Mandrake
• 4x Baleblast
4x Glimmersteel blade
• 1x Bladevanes
1x Splinter cannon
1x Splinter cannon
• 1x Bladevanes
1x Splinter cannon
1x Splinter cannon
Archetype
Ynnai
Final Round Matchup
63 – 18 Victory against Chris Johnson – Tyranids.
Thoughts
Another list that’s jumping ahead – I expect to see a lot more tinkering with Ynnari after the balance updates, but well known Ynnari fan Chase is already out here winning with them. The sell here is broadly what I expect to draw people to Ynnari – cheap Drukhari infantry and transports are a great addition to the overall Aeldari recipe, providing a mix of inexpensive board control and Darklight shots that benefit massively from the detachment. Bringing in a big Kabalite squad from strategic reserves and using Bladestorm on them is also extremely real into some armies. All delightful fun and games that I’m sure everyone is going to learn a lot more about in the near future, for now congratulations Chase.
The Best of the Rest
There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Chris Johnson – Tyranids: A mix of board control from cheap Gargoyles and some Leapers, shooting from Zoanthropes, and big pressure from some big bugs.
- 3rd – Derek Holder – Adeptus Custodes: Caladius Tanks and two buffed-up Warden blocks.
- 4th – Grant Eklund – Aeldari: Wraithknight, Triple Prism, big Wraithguard unit etc.
- 5th – David Johansen – Aeldari: Triple Wraithknight.
- 6th – Nicolas Wenker – Chaos Daemons: Monster mash centred around Be’lakor, Shalaxi and a Bloodthirster, with various utility toys and board control in support. Includes a unit of Plaguebearers with the Bilepiper among the latter, which is definitely a good way to give opponents headaches when planning to take objectives.
- 7th – Antonius Tolman – Adeptus Custodes: Triple Caladius and double Wardens.
- 8th – Scott Rumple – Imperial Knights: Canis, Castellan, Crusader, truly a horrifying engine of shooty murder.
Capital City Clash 40k Gt
39-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Tallahassee, Florida US on July 08 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
This event did not use the balance changes.
Nick Nanavati – Genestealer Cult – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Genestealer Cults CHARACTERS Biophagus (80 Points) Clamavus (40 Points) Clamavus (40 Points) Nexos (50 Points) Nexos (50 Points) Primus (70 Points) Primus (70 Points) Primus (85 Points) Reductus Saboteur (95 Points) BATTLELINE Acolyte Hybrids (150 Points) Acolyte Hybrids (75 Points) Neophyte Hybrids (160 Points) Neophyte Hybrids (160 Points) Neophyte Hybrids (160 Points) Neophyte Hybrids (160 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Aberrants (330 Points) Achilles Ridgerunners (75 Points) Achilles Ridgerunners (75 Points) Achilles Ridgerunners (75 Points)
GSC (2000 Points)
Ascension Day
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Alchemicus Familiar, 1x Autopistol, 1x Chemical vials, 1x Injector goad
• Enhancements: Inscrutable Cunning
• 1x Autopistol, 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Autopistol, 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Autopistol, 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Autopistol, 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Cult bonesword, 1x Scoped needle pistol, 1x Toxin injector claw
• 1x Cult bonesword, 1x Scoped needle pistol, 1x Toxin injector claw
• Warlord
• 1x Cult bonesword, 1x Scoped needle pistol, 1x Toxin injector claw
• Enhancements: Prowling Agitant
• 1x Autopistol, 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Demolition charges, 1x Remote explosives
• Enhancements: Meticulous Planner
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer, 1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 9x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon, 9x Cult claws and knife, 4x Demolition charges, 4x Hand flamer
• 1x Acolyte Leader
• 1x Hand flamer, 1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
• 1x Cult Icon, 4x Cult claws and knife, 1x Demolition charges, 2x Hand flamer
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol, 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
• 19x Autopistol, 19x Close combat weapon, 1x Cult Icon, 4x Flamer, 11x Hybrid firearm, 4x Seismic cannon
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol, 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
• 19x Autopistol, 19x Close combat weapon, 1x Cult Icon, 4x Flamer, 11x Hybrid firearm, 4x Seismic cannon
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol, 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
• 19x Autopistol, 19x Close combat weapon, 1x Cult Icon, 4x Flamer, 11x Hybrid firearm, 4x Seismic cannon
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol, 1x Close combat weapon, 1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
• 19x Autopistol, 19x Close combat weapon, 1x Cult Icon, 4x Flamer, 11x Hybrid firearm, 4x Seismic cannon
• 1x Aberrant Hypermorph
• 1x Heavy power weapon, 1x Hypermorph tail
• 9x Aberrant
• 9x Heavy power weapon
• 1x Heavy mortar, 1x Ridgerunner wheels, 1x Survey Augur, 1x Twin heavy stubber
• 1x Heavy mortar, 1x Ridgerunner wheels, 1x Survey Augur, 1x Twin heavy stubber
• 1x Heavy mortar, 1x Ridgerunner wheels, 1x Survey Augur, 1x Twin heavy stubber
Archetype
No-bike Cult
Final Round Matchup
88 – 52 Victory against Hogan Franklin – Genestealer Cult.
Thoughts
Genestealer Cults are good again, so of course Nick is out and about winning tournaments – that’s just how it works. His spin on the cults eschews the bike trickery in favour of even more horde and the full three Ridgerunners to hide behind walls and tee up Crossfire with Mortar shots. Extremely effective into opponents already reeling from Infiltrating Aberrants, and earns Nick his first event win of what will, let’s be honest, be many in 10th Edition.
Jason Watts – Dark Angels – 2nd Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand Space Marines CHARACTERS Azrael (120 Points) Chaplain in Terminator Armour (110 Points) Lion El’Jonson (380 Points) Primaris Apothecary (70 Points) OTHER DATASHEETS Deathwing Knights (235 Points) Desolation Squad (120 Points) Desolation Squad (120 Points) Devastator Squad (120 Points) Devastator Squad (120 Points) Drop Pod (70 Points) Hellblaster Squad (250 Points) Scout Sniper Squad (75 Points) Thunderfire Cannon (90 Points) ALLIED UNITS Callidus Assassin (115 Points)
Unforgiven (1995 Points)
Dark Angels
Unforgiven Task Force
Strike Force (2000 Points)
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
1x The Lion Helm
1x The Sword of Secrets
• 1x Crozius arcanum
1x Storm bolter
• Enhancements: Heavenfall Blade
• Warlord
• 1x Arma Luminis
1x Fealty
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Reductor pistol
• Enhancements: Stubborn Tenacity
• 1x Knight Master
• 1x Flail of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
• 4x Mace of absolution
• 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
• 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
• 1x Devastator Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Close combat weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Devastator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Grav-cannon
• 1x Devastator Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Close combat weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Devastator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Lascannon
• 1x Storm bolter
• 1x Hellblaster Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma incinerator
1x Plasma pistol
• 9x Hellblaster
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Plasma incinerator
9x Plasma pistol
• 1x Scout Sniper Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Scout sniper rifle
• 4x Scout Sniper
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Scout sniper rifle
• 1x Techmarine Gunner
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Flamer
1x Gunner’s servo-arms
1x Plasma cutter
• 1x Thunderfire Cannon
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Thunderfire cannon
• 1x Neural shredder
1x Phase sword and poison blades
Archetype
Shooty Dark Angels
Thoughts
Sporting the most powerful unique Datasheets, Dark Angels are firmly back into the position that our extremely objective and unbiased editorial policy believes they deserve – Marines++. The Lion is an absolute monster, and Deathwing Knights with a Terminator Chaplain are an astoundingly nasty brawler piece. All this is obviously excellent backed with Desolation squads too, but there are plenty of other shooty toys Marines can try now these have gone up in points. Among those, as this list shows, are Hellblasters, who are a pretty serious shooty threat now, particularly great into mirrors or Thousand Sons. It also showcases that the Thunderfire Cannon is once more a strong unit, with the easily-applied move debuff causing big headaches for some armies (I’ve faced one with my Necrons, would not recommend). Dark Angels and Deathwatch definitely look like faves to establish themselves as the Marines of choice right now, and congratulations to Jason for getting to scoreboard one for the Unforgiven.
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 3rd – Hogan Franklin – Genestealer Cult: Horde with the Aberrant and Bike units in backup, plus a couple of Mortar Ridgerunners to line things up.
- 4th – Jeremy Stan – Adeptus Custodes: Full central Custodian brick, two Caladius tanks and two Warden bricks in support.
- 5th – Teddy Woody – Aeldari: Yncarne, Night Spinners, Wraithknights.
- 6th – Robert Birmingham – Aeldari: Triple Prism, lots of Spiders, Wraithknight.
- 7th – Mark Perry – Space Marines: Mobile Marines wearing the livery of the Raven Guard, featuring lots of jump pack and Phobos units, Shrike to lead one squad to war, and Desolation Marines as shooty backup.
IV GT Coliseum Murciano
37-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Murcia, MC España on July 08 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
This event was using the balance changes.
The Showdown
Matchup & Mission – Unknown
OuX ™ – Imperial Knights: Post-balance shooty Knights with a Castellan. CHARACTER Knight Castellan (565 points) Knight Crusader (515 points) BATTLELINE Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) ALLIED UNITS Vindicare Assassin (80 points)
Army List - Click to Expand
Murcia (2000 points)
Imperial Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance
• Warlord
• 1x Plasma decimator
2x Shieldbreaker missile launcher
1x Titanic feet
2x Twin meltagun
1x Twin siegebreaker cannon
1x Volcano lance
• 1x Avenger gatling cannon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Rapid-fire battle cannon
1x Stormspear rocket pod
1x Titanic feet
• Enhancement: Unyielding Paragon
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Exitus pistol
1x Exitus rifle
1x Vindicare combat knife
vs.
Daniel SSotano – Necrons: Double Lychguard and shooting. CHARACTER Hexmark Destroyer (100 points) Overlord (85 points) Overlord (85 points) Technomancer (60 points) Technomancer (60 points) Transcendent C’tan (290 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Canoptek Reanimator (95 points) Cryptothralls (40 points) Cryptothralls (40 points) Doomsday Ark (185 points) Doomsday Ark (185 points) Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (135 points) Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (90 points) Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (90 points) Lychguard (190 points) Lychguard (190 points) Tomb Blades (80 points)
Army List - Click to Expand
Yunque de Ankhaset (2000 points)
Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Awakened Dynasty
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols
• Enhancement: The Sovereign Coronal (Aura)
• 1x Resurrection Orb
1x Voidscythe
• Warlord
• 1x Resurrection Orb
1x Voidscythe
• 1x Canoptek Cloak
1x Staff of light
• 1x Canoptek Cloak
1x Staff of light
• 1x Crackling tendrils
1x Seismic assault
• Enhancement: Sempiternal Weave
• 2x Atomiser beam
1x Reanimator’s claws
• 2x Scouring eye
2x Scythed limbs
• 2x Scouring eye
2x Scythed limbs
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer array
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer array
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Gauss destructor
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Enmitic exterminator
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Enmitic exterminator
• 10x Dispersion Shield
10x Hyperphase sword
• 10x Dispersion Shield
10x Hyperphase sword
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Particle beamer
3x Shadowloom
3x Shieldvanes
Thoughts
Lychguard bricks are tough, but if anything is going to be able to take them down it’s Knights. OuX has taken one of the routes that looked promising after the nerf – pivot to a Castellan, since although they’re pricy, their relatively more attractive now that other big Knights went up. They also, of course, have some of the wildest shooting in the business, and alongside a Crusader can make decent work of what the Necrons have here, at least assuming that they don’t get blasted. The Necrons have brought some big guns of their own, and while they probably won’t win a protracted gunfight, they certainly have a shot at dropping a big Knight, which is very much in their favour.
As the Necrons here, I think the play is plausibly to go ahead and reserve both Doomsdays – while it means you don’t get to alpha strike if you win the rolloff, that’s less guaranteed to go well for them than the Knights fully unloading into the Doomsdays will from the other direction, whereas the Lychguard bricks and C’tan can happily roll with a turn of being shot out the gate if they have to. That allows concentrating everything on dropping a big Knight when stuff arrives turn two, aiming to either put one down or at least tee it up to die turn three (Protocol of the Hungry Void is great for allowing Lychguard to handle T12 stuff), allowing the Necrons to last throughout the game (as I do think they’ll eventually run dry if both Knights stay up). From the scoreline, my guess is that a big Knight going down took too long – the Necrons put up a strong score, but the Knights just about edged their way to victory.
Result
Imperial Knights Victory – 84 – 76
OuX ™ – Imperial Knights – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER Knight Castellan (565 points) Knight Crusader (515 points) BATTLELINE Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) Armiger Warglaive (140 points) ALLIED UNITS Vindicare Assassin (80 points)
Murcia (2000 points)
Imperial Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance
• Warlord
• 1x Plasma decimator
2x Shieldbreaker missile launcher
1x Titanic feet
2x Twin meltagun
1x Twin siegebreaker cannon
1x Volcano lance
• 1x Avenger gatling cannon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Rapid-fire battle cannon
1x Stormspear rocket pod
1x Titanic feet
• Enhancement: Unyielding Paragon
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear
• 1x Exitus pistol
1x Exitus rifle
1x Vindicare combat knife
Archetype
Shooty Knights
Thoughts
I’ll admit I was just a hint worried that the Knight nerfs went a little too far (certainly relative to Aeldari), but apparently I shouldn’t have been – while reduced in numbers on the table, the power that big Knights can unleash is still of tournement-winning calibre, especially when going full shooty as OuX has here. Congratulations on continuing a glorious run for the Questoris!
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 or better records. They were:
- 2nd (4.5-0.5) – Fernando Pérez – Necrons: Two big, buffed up Lychguard units holding down the fort for a tonne of Lokhusts and Doomsdays to blast stuff.
- 3rd – Angel C4KILLER – Thousand Sons: Magnus and the boys with double Mutaliths and some Scarabs, plus the Changeling sneaking in to chill on an objective.
- 4th – Daniel SSotano – Necrons: Double Lychguard with shooty and Sempiternal C’tan backup.
- 5th – Dadu Polo – Aeldari: Prisms, Spinners and a Wraithknight, just in more reasonable numbers than previously.
- 6th – Husa Lord Six – Imperial Knights: Knights skewing big, going for a Castellan, Crusader and Paladin.
The Deck Box Masters Grand Tournament (10th Edition)
34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Halifax, NS CA on July 08 2023. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.
This event was using the balance changes.
Jonathon Betteridge – Asuryani – 1st Place
The List
Army List - Click to Expand CHARACTER Autarch Wayleaper (80 points) Avatar of Khaine (295 points) Death Jester (85 points) Farseer (65 points) Illic Nightspear (65 points) The Yncarne (270 points) OTHER DATASHEETS Fire Prism (150 points) Fire Prism (150 points) Fire Prism (150 points) Rangers (55 points) Swooping Hawks (75 points) Voidweaver (100 points) Voidweaver (100 points) Vypers (75 points) War Walkers (95 points) War Walkers (95 points) War Walkers (95 points)
aeldari v2 (2000 points)
Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host
• Warlord
• 1x Howling Banshee Mask
1x Reaper launcher
1x Star glaive
• 1x The Wailing Doom
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• Enhancement: Fate’s Messenger
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing spear
• 1x Aeldari power sword
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Voidbringer
• 1x Swirling soul energy
1x Vilith-zhar, the Sword of Souls
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 1x Prism cannon
1x Shuriken cannon
1x Wraithbone hull
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Ranger long rifle
5x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
• 1x Aeldari power sword
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hawk’s talon
• 4x Swooping Hawk
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Lasblaster
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Prismatic cannon
2x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Prismatic cannon
2x Shuriken cannon
• 1x Bright lance
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Wraithbone hull
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet
• 2x Bright lance
1x War Walker feet
Archetype
Double Avatar Aeldari
Final Round Matchup
100 – 33 Victory against Keenan Elliot – Imperial Knights.
Thoughts
We end as we begun – with an Aeldari list sweeping up a post-balance event. This essentially substitutes in the Avatar for a Wraithknight and the Prism hike compared to some of the pre-nerf builds, and crafts something that’s still ultra-potent. The firepower from all the small shooty threats packing re-rolls combined with the threat of the Yncarne popping up if you kill them is ultra strong, and all it needs is some gigantic anchor to thrive – something the Avatar is more than able to provide. Congratulations Jonathon!
The Best of the Rest
There were 5 more players on 4-1 records. They were:
- 2nd – Nathan Chow – Genestealer Cult: Horde with the Aberrant/Jackal/Purestrain backup.
- 3rd – Todd Deagle – Orks: Ladz in Kanz. Mozrog, Ghaz and a second Squigboss too, lots of hefty stuff.
- 4th – Nate Quig – Adeptus Custodes: A slightly more go-wide Custodes spin, going for small units of Guard, Allarus and Wardens with a couple of Caladius and a couple of Assassins supporting.
- 5th – Keenan Elliot – Imperial Knights: Crusader/Warden with lots of Armigers and an Assassin supporting.
- 6th – Matthew Reeson – Necrons: Void Dragon and two units of Heavy Destroyers behind a big unit each of Warriors and Lychguard.
Wrap Up
OK, done with the preliminaries – this weekend we’ve got our first supermajor for 10th at Tacoma, so lets see what builds people have up their sleeves for that. I will (unusually for a US event) see you there, since as you read this I am likely on a plane over the Atlantic heading to the Open. Very excited, both to play in a massive 10E event and to meet lots of US fans!
