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.

The final part of our transitional week today, as Death Guard and Knights put on a fighting retreat (?) on tables across the world. Let’s round it off, we’ve got:

Part 3 on Saturday:

BEAT THE HEAT 40K GT (new points)
Taps Games Warhammer 40,000 Grand Tournament
EG Grand Slam 40k GT 2025 Aug 23rd/24th
Heroes of the Mid Table Summer GT 2025
Space One Ayala

Part 1 on Wednesday:

WarZone: Tucker Brewing- Bham’s Last Round (new points)
Geekfest – Summer Heat – Warhammer 40K GT (new points)
Utah Cup ’25 – Warhammer 40K
Hammer of Wrath GT
The 40k Circuit Breaker – A Warhammer 40k GT
Glennperor GT

Part 2 on Friday:

That 6++ Grand Tournament South: 2025 (new points)
Trønderdome 3 (new points)
WTGC – South East Siege I The Mandrake Menace (new points)
Capital City Blood Bath 2025 (CCBB2025) 40k
Tactical Chilli GT
Free State Mid Summer GT

BEAT THE HEAT 40K GT

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, US on August 23 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Scorched Earth – Tipping Point

Randy Brigham – T’au (Kroot Hunting Pack)
Army List - Click to Expand

Bobo the gorilla is the friendliest gorilla of them all. Let him give you a hug (1995 Points)

T’au Empire
Kroot Hunting Pack
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Kroot Flesh Shaper (45 Points)
• 1x Kroot scattergun
• 1x Twin ritualistic blades

Kroot Lone-spear (80 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Kalamandra’s bite
• 1x Kroot long gun

Kroot Lone-spear (80 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Kalamandra’s bite
• 1x Kroot long gun

Kroot Trail Shaper (75 Points)
• 1x Kroot rifle
• 1x Shaper’s blade
• Enhancements: Nomadic Hunter

Kroot War Shaper (60 Points)
• 1x Dart-bow and tri-blade
• 1x Kroot pistol
• 1x Shaper’s blade
• Enhancements: Root-carved Weapons

BATTLELINE

Kroot Carnivores (140 Points)
• 1x Long-quill
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Kroot pistol
◦ 1x Kroot rifle
• 19x Kroot Carnivore
◦ 19x Close combat weapon
◦ 17x Kroot rifle
◦ 2x Tanglebomb launcher

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Kroot Farstalkers (85 Points)
• 1x Kroot Kill-broker
◦ 1x Farstalker firearm
◦ 1x Kroot pistol
◦ 1x Ritual blade
• 9x Kroot Farstalker
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Farstalker firearm
◦ 9x Kroot pistol
• 2x Kroot Hound
◦ 2x Ripping fangs

Kroot Hounds (40 Points)
• 5x Kroot Hound
◦ 5x Ripping fangs

Krootox Rampagers (170 Points)
• 6x Krootox Rampagers
◦ 6x Hunting blades
◦ 6x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
◦ 6x Rampager fists

Krootox Riders (90 Points)
• 3x Krootox Rider
◦ 3x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Krootox fists
◦ 3x Repeater cannon

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (1), Data Version: v662

vs.

Adam Kojich – Orks (Green Tide)
Army List - Click to Expand

80 boyz to the dome (2000 Points)

Orks
Green Tide
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun (85 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Grot Assistant
• 1x Shokk attack gun

Painboy (80 Points)
• 1x Grot Orderly
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x ‘Urty syringe

Painboy (100 Points)
• 1x Grot Orderly
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x ‘Urty syringe
• Enhancements: Raucous Warcaller

Warboss (85 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
• 1x Kombi-weapon
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x Twin sluggas
• Enhancements: Ferocious Show Off

Warboss (75 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
• 1x Kombi-weapon
• 1x Power klaw
• 1x Twin sluggas

Weirdboy (80 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Weirdboy staff
• 1x ‘Eadbanger
• Enhancements: Bloodthirsty Belligerence

BATTLELINE

Boyz (170 Points)
• 19x Boy
◦ 19x Choppa
◦ 19x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Trukk (70 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
• 1x Spiked wheels
• 1x Wreckin’ ball

OTHER DATASHEETS

Deffkoptas (80 Points)
• 3x Deffkopta
◦ 3x Kopta rokkits
◦ 3x Slugga
◦ 3x Spinnin’ blades

Flash Gitz (80 Points)
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Kaptin
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 1x Snazzgun
• 4x Flash Git
◦ 4x Choppa
◦ 4x Snazzgun

Gretchin (40 Points)
• 10x Gretchin
◦ 10x Close combat weapon
◦ 10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
◦ 1x Runtherd tools
◦ 1x Slugga

Kommandos (120 Points)
• 1x Bomb Squig
• 1x Distraction Grot
• 9x Kommando
◦ 8x Choppa
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Rokkit launcha
◦ 8x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga

Stormboyz (65 Points)
• 4x Stormboy
◦ 4x Choppa
◦ 4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Power klaw
◦ 1x Slugga

Tankbustas (140 Points)
• 1x Boss Nob
◦ 1x Choppa
◦ 2x Rokkit pistol
• 5x Tankbusta
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Pulsa Rokkit
◦ 5x Rokkit launcha

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (1), Data Version: v662

Thoughts

Horde fight! Orks can sometimes be a bit sad to see T’au, but here they’re promised a proper scrap, facing down tonnes of Kroot of all shapes and sizes. The basic mechanical clash here is between the chunkier core horde pieces (nothing in the Kroot list is quite as hefty as a full Boyz unit) and a more numerous, diverse threat profile from the Kroot. Both sides do also have a few guns backing them up (Tankbustas/Flash Gitz vs. Krootox Repeaters), but there are no great targets for them, so it feels like it’s the melee stuff that will decide this.

It feels like the Kroot end up having a distinct advantage. They’ve got more stuff to play bait with or score Secondaries, and the profile on Krootox Rampagers is surprisingly difficult for the Orks to handle, helping balance out the heftiness of the big Boyz squads. T6 with lots of wounds is kind of an anti-sweet spot for Green Tide to deal with, the charge Mortals and possible Battle-shock are a very real concern for the Boyz, and plenty of S6 attacks is perfect for killing them. I think that unit mismatch stacked on top of the more numerous Kroot make this really hard for the Orks – the numbers let the T’au control how engagements happen, meaning they have maximum chance of using the Krootox as a trump. There’s also the extra (genuinely relevant) threat that the Root-Carved War Shaper, rifle Long-Spear and Farstalkers could conspire to snipe out an Ork Character here or there, and any time that happens its a complete disaster. This bluntly seems really tough for the Orks – with the amount of stuff they’re up against, I just don’t see a real line for them, and that seems to have played out in the score.

Result

T’au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) Victory – 100 – 79

Randy Brigham – T’au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Bobo the gorilla is the friendliest gorilla of them all. Let him give you a hug (1995 Points)

T’au Empire
Kroot Hunting Pack
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Kroot Flesh Shaper (45 Points)
• 1x Kroot scattergun
• 1x Twin ritualistic blades

Kroot Lone-spear (80 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Kalamandra’s bite
• 1x Kroot long gun

Kroot Lone-spear (80 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Kalamandra’s bite
• 1x Kroot long gun

Kroot Trail Shaper (75 Points)
• 1x Kroot rifle
• 1x Shaper’s blade
• Enhancements: Nomadic Hunter

Kroot War Shaper (60 Points)
• 1x Dart-bow and tri-blade
• 1x Kroot pistol
• 1x Shaper’s blade
• Enhancements: Root-carved Weapons

BATTLELINE

OTHER DATASHEETS

Kroot Hounds (40 Points)
• 5x Kroot Hound
◦ 5x Ripping fangs

Krootox Rampagers (170 Points)
• 6x Krootox Rampagers
◦ 6x Hunting blades
◦ 6x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
◦ 6x Rampager fists

Krootox Riders (90 Points)
• 3x Krootox Rider
◦ 3x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Krootox fists
◦ 3x Repeater cannon

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (1), Data Version: v662

Archetype

Hunting Pack

Thoughts

Hunting Pack keeps putting up the numbers, and it’s clear that it isn’t just a meme. Incredible depths of chaff to score with and a big respawrn combined with the decently threatening Krootox troubleshooters to get it over the line in the right hands. Well done to Randy for showing it off.

The Best of the Rest

There were 3 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Ryan Moorefield – Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): A reasonably heavy spin on Broodsurge, combining Aberrants and Genestealers with lots of Ridgerunners and some Rockgrinders.
3rd – Ben Isenhoff – Chaos Space Marines (Pactbound Zealots): An Abaddon hull gunline plus some Discolords and Bikers to go out hunting.
4th – David Padan – Chaos Space Marines (Creations of Bile): A wall of Possessed and Chosen with a few dakka pieces (a Vindicator and Obliterators) behind them.

Taps Games Warhammer 40,000 Grand Tournament

61-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Edmonton, AB, Canada on August 23 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Scotty Bee – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Awakened Dynasty

CHARACTERS

Catacomb Command Barge (120 points)
• 1x Gauss cannon
1x Overlord’s blade
1x Resurrection Orb

Hexmark Destroyer (75 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Enmitic disintegrator pistols

Illuminor Szeras (165 points)
• 1x Eldritch Lance
1x Impaling legs

Imotekh the Stormlord (100 points)
• 1x Gauntlet of Fire
1x Staff of the Destroyer

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

Royal Warden (70 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Relic gauss blaster
• Enhancement: Nether-realm Casket

Skorpekh Lord (120 points)
• 1x Enmitic annihilator
1x Flensing claw
1x Hyperphase harvester
• Enhancement: Enaegic Dermal Bond

BATTLELINE

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

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Canoptek Spyders (75 points)
• 1x Automaton claws
1x Fabricator Claw Array (Aura)
1x Gloom Prism (Aura)
2x Particle beamer

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

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

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

Lychguard (170 points)
• 10x Lychguard
• 10x Dispersion Shield
10x Hyperphase sword

Skorpekh Destroyers (90 points)
• 3x Skorpekh Destroyer
• 1x Plasmacyte
3x Skorpekh hyperphase weapons

Tomb Blades (75 points)
• 3x Tomb Blade
• 3x Close combat weapon
2x Particle beamer
3x Shadowloom
1x Twin tesla carbine

Archetype

Big Warrior Awakened

Thoughts

One Big Warrior unit continues to be One Weird Trick to dominate scoring, and an upcoming reduction in Knight lists (some of which like gatling Infernals can go over the top of this) can only be good news for their prospects. Honestly, when you are fully leant in like this build is (Ghost Ark, Barge and all) even those can sometimes choke at clearing the Warriors, which can leave this build to clear up, though you do need to watch out for savvy opponents trying to just murder everything around them. The big Lychguard unit provides a moderate secondary theat to help you with that, but needs careful use to avoid running into the threats that just lift them. A challenging but powerful build overall, and a promising choice for the future, well done Scotty.

Jorgan Goulet – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Janitorial Cleanup Crew (2000 points)

Adeptus Custodes
Strike Force (2000 points)
Lions of the Emperor

CHARACTERS

Shield-Captain in Allarus Terminator Armour (140 points)
• 1x Balistus grenade launcher
1x Castellan axe
• Enhancement: Admonimortis

Shield-Captain in Allarus Terminator Armour (155 points)
• 1x Balistus grenade launcher
1x Guardian spear
• Enhancement: Superior Creation

Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike (150 points)
• 1x Interceptor lance
1x Salvo launcher

Trajann Valoris (140 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Eagle’s Scream
1x Watcher’s Axe

BATTLELINE

Custodian Guard (170 points)
• 4x Custodian Guard
• 4x Guardian spear

OTHER DATASHEETS

Allarus Custodians (120 points)
• 2x Allarus Custodian
• 2x Balistus grenade launcher
2x Guardian spear

Prosecutors (40 points)
• 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior
• 1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 3x Prosecutor
• 3x Boltgun
3x Close combat weapon

Vertus Praetors (150 points)
• 2x Vertus Praetor
• 2x Interceptor lance
2x Salvo launcher

Witchseekers (50 points)
• 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Witchseeker flamer
• 3x Witchseeker
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Witchseeker flamer

ALLIED UNITS

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

Inquisitor Draxus (95 points)
• 1x Dirgesinger
1x Power fist
1x Psychic Tempest

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (92), Data Version: v662

Archetype

Murder Lions

Thoughts

This feels very much in the genre of builds that were great for the old metagame, but might be less optimal going forward. This build is extra scary into enemies with big targets, as the murderous Allarus units and the bikes are great for pushing into them at speed, and Trajann gives the Custodian core a way of pushing back as well. It does put a lot of eggs into a few baskets because of that, and needs to press up to deal damage unlike builds with Caladius. Depending on how the meta shakes out, that might leave it as a less exciting choice, but a great pick for the last stand of the big robots, great work Jorgan.

Wesley Christopher – Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Chaos knights – Taps Dread (1995 Points)

Chaos Knights
Lords of Dread
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Chaos Cerastus Knight Lancer (375 Points)
• 1x Cerastus shock lance
• Enhancements: Blessing of the Dark Master

Chaos Cerastus Knight Lancer (355 Points)
• 1x Cerastus shock lance

Knight Tyrant (395 Points)
• 1x Brimstone volcano lance
• 1x Ectoplasma decimator
• 2x Gheiststrike missile launcher
• 1x Titanic feet
• 1x Twin Desecrator cannon
• 2x Twin daemonbreath meltagun

Knight Tyrant (395 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Brimstone volcano lance
• 1x Ectoplasma decimator
• 2x Gheiststrike missile launcher
• 1x Titanic feet
• 1x Twin Desecrator cannon
• 2x Twin daemonbreath meltagun

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (1), Data Version: v662

Archetype

Lmao

Thoughts

This is what they took from you – and they were right to do it.

Congratulations to Wesley on unleashing something truly horrifying.

Paul La Rue – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) – 4th Place

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

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

BA Taps GT (2000 Points)

Space Marines
Blood Angels
Liberator Assault Group
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Captain with Jump Pack (75 Points)
• 1x Hand flamer
• 1x Power fist

Captain with Jump Pack (75 Points)
• 1x Hand flamer
• 1x Relic weapon

Chaplain with Jump Pack (75 Points)
• 1x Crozius arcanum
• 1x Power fist

Commander Dante (120 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Perdition Pistol
• 1x The Axe Mortalis

Death Company Captain with Jump Pack (90 Points)
• 1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Power fist
• Enhancements: Gift of Foresight

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

BATTLELINE

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (160 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 9x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
◦ 9x Astartes chainsword
◦ 7x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 2x Plasma pistol

Ballistus Dreadnought (140 Points)
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Ballistus lascannon
• 1x Ballistus missile launcher
• 1x Twin storm bolter

Death Company Marines with Jump Packs (120 Points)
• 5x Death Company Marine with Jump Packs
◦ 2x Astartes chainsword
◦ 1x Eviscerator
◦ 3x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Inferno pistol
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 2x Power fist

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

Outrider Squad (80 Points)
• 1x Outrider Sergeant
◦ 1x Astartes chainsword
◦ 1x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Twin bolt rifle
• 2x Outrider
◦ 2x Astartes chainsword
◦ 2x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 2x Twin bolt rifle

Predator Annihilator (135 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 2x Lascannon
• 1x Predator twin lascannon
• 1x Storm bolter

Sanguinary Guard (240 Points)
• 6x Sanguinary Guard
◦ 4x Angelus boltgun
◦ 6x Encarmine blade
◦ 2x Inferno pistol
◦ 1x Sanguinary Banner

Sanguinary Guard (110 Points)
• 3x Sanguinary Guard
◦ 2x Angelus boltgun
◦ 3x Encarmine blade
◦ 1x Inferno pistol
◦ 1x Sanguinary Banner

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (1), Data Version: v662

Archetype

All-rounder Librerator

Thoughts

A nice balance of high quality melee and cheap shooting from Liberator to close out this top four, and I think the big Jump Assault Intercessor unit is potentially quite clutch going forward to help handle Fights First (via the impact Mortals). Also quite like the bikes as some good bait that doesn’t just die to anything in response. Nothing really surprising beyond that – you basically cannot go wrong by taking Liberator with a mix of units from the upper tiers of the Marine book. Well done Paul.

The Best of the Rest

There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

5th – Jonah Sinclair – Astra Militarum (Combined Arms): Loads of Leman Russes as Combined Arms.
6th – Ryan Mcleod – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer): Plagueburst Hammer.
7th – Chris Hayne – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer): Plagueburst Hammer with a Defiler.
8th – Kieren Trimbee – Thousand Sons (Warpforged Cabal): Loads of shooty hulls and ten Sekhetar Robots, plus a couple of Enlightened/Sorceror units as hard-to-shoot objective pieces.
9th – Matthew Andrusiak – Ultramarines
(Gladius Task Force): A very shooty Bobby G gunline with Vindicators, Lancers, Ballistus Dreads and a Desolation squad, plus Sicarius and Company Heroes as a skirmishing piece.
10th – Joshawa Richter – Adepta Sororitas (Bringers of Flame): A return to fiery tradition here, a classic max Immolator and max Castigator Bringers build.
11th – Jean-Luc La Rue – Tyranids (Subterranean Assault): Melee monster mash Assault with double Trygon, a Norn and some Haruspex.

EG Grand Slam 40k GT 2025 Aug 23rd/24th

44-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on August 23 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Markus Hinson – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

Imperial Knight Castellan. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

markus (2000 points) time to dance/stomp

Imperial Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (380 points)
• 1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
1x Freedom’s Hand

Cerastus Knight Lancer (365 points)
• 1x Cerastus shock lance

Knight Castellan (395 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Plasma decimator
2x Shieldbreaker missile launcher
1x Titanic feet
2x Twin meltagun
1x Twin siegebreaker cannon
1x Volcano lance

Knight Crusader (390 points)
• 1x Avenger gatling cannon
1x Heavy flamer
1x Questoris heavy stubber
1x Stormspear rocket pod
1x Thermal cannon
1x Titanic feet
• Enhancement: Mysterious Guardian

BATTLELINE

Armiger Helverin (130 points)
• 2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Warglaive (140 points)
• 1x Meltagun
1x Reaper chain-cleaver
1x Thermal spear

ALLIED UNITS

Voidsmen-at-Arms (70 points)
• 1x Voidmaster
• 1x Artificer shotgun
1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
• 4x Voidsman
• 4x Close combat weapon
3x Lasgun
4x Laspistol
1x Voidsman rotor cannon
• 1x Canid
• 1x Vicious bite

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (92), Data Version: v662

Archetype

Heavy Lance

Thoughts

Another big Knight-heavy build, which could honestly just keep on trucking by cutting a Helverin and be fine. Markus has been playing Knights well for ages (I have, in fact, lost a game to that specific Knight Crusader all the way back in 8th) so I’m sure he’ll figure it out, well done on the win.

The Best of the Rest

There were 7 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Dan Brooke – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): A massive Berzerker horde (20/20/10) backed by a couple of Forgefiends.
3rd – Taylor Pugh – Chaos Daemons (Plague Legion): Morale Nurgle tarpit, two GUOs and Rotigus forming the main anvil, then Plaguebearers and lots of Beasts of Nurgle to control the flanks.
4th – Andy Quas-Cohen – Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Silent King, triple Doomsday, and solo Skorpekh as counter-charge pieces.
5th – Rory Andrew – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): Classic four Infantry two Tank setup, with some bikes in the flex slot.
6th – Paul Withington – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Hull-heavy Awakened, supplementing the Silent King and triple Doomsday with some Annihilation Barges.
7th – Matt Stratton – Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): Elite Infantry Wrath with the Lion and some Hellblasters.
8th – Andy Bradbury – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): Grand Coven goodstuff with a big Scarab unit instead of Mutaliths.

Heroes of the Mid Table Summer GT 2025

42-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Langley Twp, BC, CA on August 23 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Stu Angel – Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

WCTC Practice List – Creepy Crawlies (2000 Points)

Genestealer Cults
Host of Ascension
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Benefictus (85 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Psionic Cascade
• Enhancements: Assassination Edict

Benefictus (70 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Psionic Cascade

Nexos (60 Points)
• 1x Autopistol
• 1x Close combat weapon

Primus (100 Points)
• 1x Cult bonesword
• 1x Scoped needle pistol
• 1x Toxin injector claw
• Enhancements: A Chink In Their Armour

Reductus Saboteur (65 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Autopistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Demolition charges
• 1x Remote explosives

BATTLELINE

Acolyte Hybrids with Autopistols (65 Points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Leader’s bio-weapons
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
◦ 1x Cult Icon
◦ 1x Cult claws and knife
◦ 3x Heavy mining tool

Acolyte Hybrids with Hand Flamers (70 Points)
• 1x Acolyte Leader
◦ 1x Hand flamer
◦ 1x Leader’s bio-weapons
• 4x Acolyte Hybrid
◦ 1x Cult Icon
◦ 4x Cult claws and knife
◦ 3x Hand flamer

Neophyte Hybrids (145 Points)
• 1x Neophyte Leader
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
◦ 19x Autopistol
◦ 19x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Cult Icon
◦ 2x Grenade launcher
◦ 11x Hybrid firearm
◦ 2x Mining laser
◦ 2x Seismic cannon
◦ 2x Webber

Neophyte Hybrids (65 Points)
• 1x Neophyte Leader
◦ 1x Autopistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hybrid firearm
• 9x Neophyte Hybrid
◦ 9x Autopistol
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Cult Icon
◦ 1x Grenade launcher
◦ 5x Hybrid firearm
◦ 1x Mining laser
◦ 1x Seismic cannon
◦ 1x Webber

OTHER DATASHEETS

Achilles Ridgerunners (85 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Heavy mortar
• 1x Survey Augur
• 1x Twin heavy stubber

Achilles Ridgerunners (85 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Heavy mortar
• 1x Spotter
• 1x Twin heavy stubber

Atalan Jackals (75 Points)
• 4x Atalan Jackal
◦ 2x Atalan power weapon
◦ 3x Atalan small arms
◦ 2x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Grenade launcher
• 1x Atalan Wolfquad
◦ 1x Atalan small arms
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Mining laser

Purestrain Genestealers (75 Points)
• 5x Purestrain Genestealer
◦ 5x Cult claws and talons

Exported with App Version: v1.38.0 (3), Data Version: v651

Archetype

Horde Host

Thoughts

One of the potential big bads of the new metagame stunting on the old here. This build combines reliable and repeatedly expendable scoring units with a massive alpha strike from the horde, and that’s just straight up tough for a lot of armies to handle. I expect to be deep in the tank working out what the hell to do about this as Aeldari soon enough, congratulations to Stu for getting the revolution started.

Aiden McFaull – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – Thousand Sons
+ DETACHMENT: Grand Coven
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char1: Magnus the Red
+ ENHANCEMENT: Incandeum (on Char1: Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch)
& Eldritch Vortex of E’taph (on Char2: Infernal Master)
& Umbralefic Crystal (on Char3: Infernal Master)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 16
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (4×2) + (1×4) – Assassination: 5 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x Magnus the Red (420 pts): Warlord, Blade of Magnus, Gaze of Magnus, Tzeentch’s Firestorm
Char2: 1x Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (115 pts): Arcane Fire, Force weapon, Inferno bolt pistol
Enhancement: Incandeum (+15 pts)
Char3: 1x Infernal Master (110 pts): Fires of the Abyss, Force weapon, Inferno bolt pistol
Enhancement: Eldritch Vortex of E’taph (+25 pts)
Char4: 1x Infernal Master (105 pts): Fires of the Abyss, Force weapon, Inferno bolt pistol
Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal (+20 pts)
Char5: 1x Infernal Master (85 pts): Fires of the Abyss, Force weapon, Inferno bolt pistol

5x Rubric Marines (100 pts)
• 4x Rubric Marine
3 with Close combat weapon, Inferno boltgun
1 with Icon of Flame, Close combat weapon, Soulreaper cannon
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer: Force weapon, Malefic Curse, Warpflame pistol
5x Rubric Marines (100 pts)
• 4x Rubric Marine
3 with Close combat weapon, Inferno boltgun
1 with Icon of Flame, Close combat weapon, Soulreaper cannon
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer: Force weapon, Malefic Curse, Warpflame pistol
5x Rubric Marines (100 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 (100 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

10x Tzaangors (70 pts)
• 1x Twistbray: Tzaangor blades
• 9x Tzaangor: 9 with Tzaangor blades
6x Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster greatbows (80 pts)
• 1x Aviarch: Close combat weapon, Fatecaster greatbow
• 5x Enlightened: 5 with Close combat weapon, Fatecaster greatbow
2x Chaos Spawn (65 pts): 2 with Hideous Mutations
1x Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 pts): Betentacled maw, Mutalith claws, Warp vortex
1x Mutalith Vortex Beast (160 pts): Betentacled maw, Mutalith claws, Warp vortex
1x Forgefiend (140 pts): 2x Ectoplasma cannon, Ectoplasma cannon, Forgefiend claws
1x Chaos Rhino (90 pts): Armoured tracks, Havoc launcher, Inferno combi-bolter, Inferno combi-bolter

Archetype

Grand Coven Goodstuff

Thoughts

Another potential meta threat (albeit not as scary as the Cults), Thousand Sons like to bait foes with Mutaliths and then hose them off the table with Rubricae and Magnus, and boy do they keep getting away with it. Extra Infernal Masters here make this variant especially good at handling hordes, which definitely feels relevant given *gestures upwards*. Expect to see plenty more from Tzeentch’s finest, good job

The Best of the Rest

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

3rd – Jesse Carson – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer): Plagueburst Hammer.
4th – Zac Coon – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): All-rounder Liberator using Bladeguard as a melee hammer, big units of Jump Intercessors for aggro, and Vindicators for shooting.
5th – Patrick Greatbatch – Astra Militarum (Hammer of the Emperor): Triple Dorn Commanders backed by Russes and Kasrkin.
6th – Brandon St Pierre – Death Guard (Mortarion’s Hammer): Plagueburst Hammer.

Space One Ayala

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Makati, NCR, Philippines on August 23 2025. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

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

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Angelic Inheritors (2000 Points)

Space Marines
Blood Angels
Angelic Inheritors
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Captain with Jump Pack (75 Points)
• 1x Hand flamer
• 1x Power fist

Chief Librarian Mephiston (120 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Fury of the Ancients
• 1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Vitarus

Commander Dante (120 Points)
• 1x Perdition Pistol
• 1x The Axe Mortalis

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (95 Points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Paired combat blades
• Enhancements: Ordained Sacrifice

Techmarine (75 Points)
• 1x Forge bolter
• 1x Grav-pistol
• 1x Omnissian power axe
• 1x Servo-arm
• Enhancements: Prescient Flash

The Sanguinor (140 Points)
• 1x Encarmine broadsword

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

Devastator Squad (120 Points)
• 1x Devastator Sergeant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Combi-weapon
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Devastator
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 4x Lascannon

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

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

Sanguinary Guard (110 Points)
• 3x Sanguinary Guard
◦ 2x Angelus boltgun
◦ 3x Encarmine blade
◦ 1x Inferno pistol
◦ 1x Sanguinary Banner

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

Exported with App Version: v1.39.0 (1), Data Version: v662

Archetype

Toolbox Inheritors

Thoughts

Blood Angels really are spoilt at the moment, with both their signature detachments making waves. Inheritors plays a more toolboxy game than Liberator, using the reliable punch that its re-rolls give to smaller melee units, plus the big shooty threat projection from teleporting Inceptors and the Devastator Squad. I like the choice of supporting the shooting with Incursors here as well – if you need Oaths for the Fight Phase, they can stack their buff on something so that the Devastators sort of have it anyway, and they also help get reliable punch from the Vindicators and Inceptors. This build does need to do a decent chunk of its lift at range, so that seems like a great way to build it out. Great stuff from Egor.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Francis Fernandez – Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Triple Despoiler (some gatling, some melta) backed by a Rampager and Karnivores.
3rd – MARCO LAANAN – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance): Double Enhanced Crusader, an Errant and Canis.
4th – Ros Darniel Lantin – Grey Knights (Teleport Strike Force): Terminator MSUs with Librarians and Dreadknights for a final pre-Codex showing.
5th – Dan Monzon – Chaos Daemons (Shadow Legion): Shadow Legion with no Be’lakor, instead using a Great Unclean One as an anvil, and a Tormentbringer leading two Hellflayers with Leaping Shadows as a proactive threat.

Wrap Up

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Competitive Innovations in 10th: The Healing Process pt.3

BEAT THE HEAT 40K GT

The Showdown

Scorched Earth – Tipping Point

Thoughts

Result

Randy Brigham – T’au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Taps Games Warhammer 40,000 Grand Tournament

Scotty Bee – Necrons (Awakened Dynasty) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Jorgan Goulet – Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Wesley Christopher – Chaos Knights (Lords of Dread) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Paul La Rue – Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

EG Grand Slam 40k GT 2025 Aug 23rd/24th

Markus Hinson – Imperial Knights (Noble Lance) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Heroes of the Mid Table Summer GT 2025

Stu Angel – Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Aiden McFaull – Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Space One Ayala

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

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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