Honestly, who knows at this point. The metagame eddies and churns once more, this week bringing us a heady blend of crunch meta, melee meta and some Xenos factions, notably Aeldari and Necrons, throwing their weight around after a few weeks on the back burner. T’au have also woken up after a slightly shaky start, putting in both a solid middle-of-the-road win rate and some big standout performances.

All that and the next mission pack goes up for pre-order on Saturday, along with multiple additional Codexes, any or all of which could unleash big shakeups.

At this point, let’s just enjoy the rest of the Leviathan ride.

This week we’re covering:

Today in part 1:

Bugeater GT
Southcon 2024 40K Tournament
PNW Warlords Clash Warhammer 40K GT
Broadside Bash Revived 2024
Wild Hunt GT: Summer

Tomorrow in part 2:

Wargames for Warriors 2024 – 40K Major
Dicehammer Open 40k GT VII
90. Bedburger Scheunenkloppen
Hydra GT II 2024

Friday with Lowest of Men for part 3:

2d6 Dawn of Vår
From Hell Open 2 – Back into the Trench!
Spring Assault at the Ironweld Open
Thylacine Cup GT
Viking Games – The Battle for Vanheim

We’ve also got three Showdowns this week, two voted for by Patrons and one placed lovingly upon my desk by yet another of Goonhammer’s strongest soldiers.

They are:

Aeldari vs Bully Boyz at the Bugeater GT
Invasion Fleet vs Skitarii Hunter Cohort from Spring Assault at the Ironweld Open
T’au Retaliation Cadre vs Chaos Knights at the Dicehammer Open

Bugeater GT

79-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Omaha, NE, United States on June 01 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Supply Drop – Chilling Rain – Search and Destroy

James “Boon” Kelling – Aeldari (Battle Host)
Army List - Click to Expand

Just Elf Things (2000 points)

Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host

CHARACTERS

Autarch Wayleaper (115 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
1x Howling Banshee Mask
1x Star glaive

Avatar of Khaine (335 points)
• 1x The Wailing Doom

Death Jester (105 points)
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• Enhancement: Fate’s Messenger

Farseer (80 points)
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing spear

Fuegan (130 points)
• 1x Searsong
1x The Fire Axe

Karandras (100 points)
• 1x Arhra’s Bane
1x Isirmathil
1x The Scorpion’s Bite

BATTLELINE

Guardian Defenders (100 points)
• 10x Guardian Defender
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Heavy Weapon Platform
• 1x Bright lance
1x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dire Avengers (70 points)
• 1x Dire Avenger Exarch
• 1x Avenger shuriken catapult
1x Avenger shuriken catapult
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Dire Avenger
• 4x Avenger shuriken catapult
4x Close combat weapon

Falcon (140 points)
• 1x Pulse laser
1x Scatter laser
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Wraithbone hull

Shroud Runners (80 points)
• 3x Shroud Runner
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Ranger long rifle
3x Scatter laser
3x Shuriken pistol

Skyweavers (95 points)
• 2x Skyweaver
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Skyweaver haywire cannon
2x Zephyrglaive

Striking Scorpions (65 points)
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
• 1x Biting blade
1x Mandiblasters
• 4x Striking Scorpion
• 4x Mandiblasters
4x Scorpion chainsword
4x Shuriken pistol

Support Weapons (135 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult

Swooping Hawks (80 points)
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasblaster
• 4x Swooping Hawk
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Lasblaster

Exported with App Version: v1.15.0 (43), Data Version: v397

vs.

Colton Wolinski – Orks (Bully Boyz)
Army List - Click to Expand

We Dem’ Boyz (2000 Points)

Orks
Bully Boyz
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Boss Snikrot (85 Points)
• 1x Mork’s Teeth
1x Slugga

Ghazghkull Thraka (235 Points)
• 1x Ghazghkull Thraka
• Warlord
• 1x Gork’s Klaw
1x Mork’s Roar
• 1x Makari
• 1x Makari’s stabba

Warboss (65 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin sluggas

Warboss in Mega Armour (105 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x ’Uge choppa
• Enhancements: Tellyporta

Warboss in Mega Armour (90 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x ’Uge choppa
• Enhancements: ’Eadstompa

BATTLELINE

Boyz (85 Points)
• 9x Boy
• 9x Choppa
9x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Trukk (65 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ball

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Meganobz (180 Points)
• 6x Meganob
• 6x Kustom shoota
6x Power klaw

Meganobz (150 Points)
• 5x Meganob
• 5x Twin killsaws

Nobz (105 Points)
• 1x Ammo Runt
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga
• 4x Nob
• 4x Power klaw
4x Slugga

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

Warbikers (70 Points)
• 2x Warbiker
• 2x Choppa
2x Close combat weapon
2x Twin dakkagun
• 1x Boss Nob on Warbike
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin dakkagun

Exported with App Version: v1.15.0 (38), Data Version: v397

Thoughts

As always when one of our squad makes it to a top table, I’m just going to hand over to them for the details – take it away Boon!

Boon: Supply Drop is such a tough mission to end on – you’re not just battling a top-table opponent but you’re also now hoping that when deployment is all said and done, the Alpha and Omega objectives won’t be a disadvantage and create an uphill fight by favoring your opponent.

While Colton had some familiarity with Aeldari, I had recently asked my buddy Bill Stineman to run me through an Ork matchup ahead of the event. Low and behold Colton was running a nearly identical list as Bill ran a few days prior. So after walking him through my list and him walking me through his, we sat about deploying. Having a good idea of what he wanted to do I assumed turns 2 and 3 would be his Waaagh turns and deployed with the following ideas in mind:

Ensure no easy charges on T1 that would pin me down (taking a T1 Waagh into account)
Balance my deployment with a slight weight towards the far objective
Hold the Avatar, D-Cannons, and Skyweavers for last so I knew where his Trukks would be.
Deploy so that I could find angles to put his embarked units on foot if I went first

Owing to his fewer drops I was able to deploy knowing his max charge distances and where his greatest mobility was. I wanted to keep him penned in and slowed as much as possible. With the Auatarch, Farseer/Guardians and Avatar center, a D-Cannon, Falcon + embarked, and a unit of Skyweavers on either edge of my deployment zone, Hawks back edge, and the Shroud Runners and Fuegan to my right, I was prepared to push to the far objective should I need to while fast enough to cover the center easily. Knowing that Bully Boyz don’t have much in the way of shooting, I pushed my D-Cannons slightly forward and in the open to gain the best possible coverage out of his deployment zone and get direct shots where possible.

By contrast he deployed heavily to the center with one trukk of double Nobs to his right (my near objective) and two trukks of Nobz and Meganobz to his left side (his near objective). Ghaz and his retinue sat central with everything else while Snikrot infiltrated close to my near objective.

I hoped to go first to pop his Trukks but ended up going second, giving Colton the ability to get out of his zone, shrink the board, and stage for the Waaagh. The Alpha objective (goes away on turn 4) ended up being his near objective while the Omega objective (last objective) was the center – a slight advantage for me. In pre-game my Shroud Runners scouted out along my long board edge towards the far objective.

Without much in the way of shooting his T1 was quick – he zoomed out to stage around the no man’s land objectives with his Trukks, one along the back board edge in support of Snikrot who hopped on my near objective. The other two securing and screening his near objective. The Trukk with Meganobz advanced onto the Alpha objective with bikers nearby, while the other with a single group of Nobz swung towards my DZ to screen and stage for the next turn. Ghaz and his retinue inched closer behind cover, ready to leap out, while the Stormboyz, having rolled a 6 on the advance, sensed an opportunity for a long charge on one of my D-Cannons. Much to my disappointment at having even made it a possibility, Colton made the charge and picked up the platform.

In response, I flattened my center, holding the Avatar and Guardians tight around my objective, and ensuring 23” between the Avatar and Ghaz’s unit so it could not be charged on what was surely to be a Waaagh turn. Everything else grabbed as much board as possible to ensure no Rapid Ingress Meganobz would find a weakness on my flank or backfield. The Guardians easily cleared the Stormboyz while Fuegan moved out to speed bump a Ghaz/retinue movement. The units on either flank swung out to draw sight on the Trukks and my Shroud Runners moved out to contest his near objective from the Trukk with embarked Meganobz sitting there. They shot into his backfield at Gretchin leaving just a Runtherd and then prepared to charge. Meanwhile my right flank Falcon disgorged its Avengers and then combined with a unit of Skyweavers to destroy the screening Trukk with a single unit of Nobz. The Avengers grenaded then shot up the Nobz leaving just a severely wounded Warboss remaining.

The Death Jester softened the other Trukk, careful not to roll too hot and put his embarked Meganobz on the objective. On the other end, a similar story unfolded as the Skyweavers and Falcon handled the Trukk behind Snikrot. Having drawn Engage on All Fronts, my Hawks positioned on the board corner were then in position to fire on the disembarking Nobz after the remaing D-Cannon picked up a few. The result was a second unit of Nobz eliminated with just a severely wounded Warboss remaining. To cap an already vicious turn, the Falcon then made a tank shock charge into Snikrot who was forced onto the wall in order to stand on the objective. He too was left below half-strength. The Shroud Runners completing the charge ensured Colton secured no primary on T2.

Waaagh! Having lost nearly a third of his power the Waaagh began in earnest with Ghaz/retinue advancing out to the midfield objective in range to threaten my Avengers. His Boyz shifted towards my near objective as the unscathed Nobz unit moved to threaten the Hawks, while Snikrot remained in combat with my Falcon. Both wounded Warbosses remained frozen lest they draw an overwatch from either the Hawks or Avengers. Meanwhile on his objective the Meganobz dismounted to clear my Shroud Runners while the Warbikes moved towards center. Finally his third squad of Meganobz came in from deep-strike to relieve Snikrot.

With so little shooting we quickly moved to charges – my Avengers having phantasm’d away from Ghaz made them an exceptionally challenging charge target. With a 9” charge to all three of the Death Jester, Feugan, and the Avengers I opted to hold my Overwatch. The Ghaz charge failed which left just the lone, wounded Warboss to eat the Avenger overwatch, and was promptly dispatched. However, the deep strikers were more successful, completing a charge into the Falcon along with the remaining, wounded Warboss but not surrounding. The Nobz charged and destroyed the Hawks while the disembarked Meganobz destroyed the Shroud Runners. The Falcon, now engaged with two angry Warbosses, Snikrot, and a bunch of trash cans quickly went down. Karandras and his droogs scrambling from the wreckage and looking for vengeance.

With all the pieces on the board, bottom of two was the pivotal turn. The name of the game was counter-charge and eliminate options. Ghaz/retinue bracing in the center now faced the combined might of the Avatar, Farseer/Guardians, a D-Cannon, the Death Jester, Fuegan, a Falcon, and the Avengers. Forgoing the Alpha objective Meganobz, the Death Jester used Fate’s Messenger and his Precision profile to put dev wounds into Ghaz thereby ensuring the Avatar wouldn’t face the Makari shield, then everything else proceeded to pick up the entire retinue.

On my near objective, Special K and the boys finished the Warboss with shooting then charged Snikrot and the Meganobz, dispatching four of them and Snikrot, leaving the squad severely depleted, though the Fight on Death and crackback by the remaing Warboss and Nob put down all but Karandras. The nearby Skyweavers attempted to avenge the Hawks and slow the Nobz in the corner but whiffed and promptly died. Importantly, the Avatar put down Ghaz and Makari thereby leaving the center objective, the Omega objective, practically uncontestable with what Colton had remaining. Joined by Fuegan, two Skyweavers, and the Avengers, I now had a stranglehold on the center.

While the game would continue to be bloody from here, the major power had been stripped from Colton’s list and the remaining units were out of position or unable to stop my holding Primary into turn 4 and 5. Colton had given a hell of a fight and pushed every opportunity he could, but in the end he had too many disadvantages heading into this matchup that proved too difficult to overcome.

Result

Aeldari (Battle Host) Victory – 86 – 42

James “Boon” Kelling – Aeldari (Battle Host) – 1st Place

Avatar of Khaine. Credit: James “Boon” Kelling

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Shooty Avatar Aeldari

Thoughts

Thrilled that it only took one week of Aeldari touching the bottom of the win rates to rouse Boon from hibernation and unleash him upon an unsuspecting metagame. Love that for us, love that for him, congratulations on the big win and golden ticket!

Colin Kay – Black Templars (Ironstorm Spearhead) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Black Templars Repulsor Executioner. Credit: SRM

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

1,2,3,4 I declare a Repulsor War (Is this what they meant by building your list for fixed?) (1995 Points)

Space Marines
Black Templars
Ironstorm Spearhead
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (100 Points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• Enhancements: Master of Machine War (Aura)

Techmarine (90 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancements: Adept of the Omnissiah

Techmarine (95 Points)
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancements: Target Augury Web (Aura)

The Emperor’s Champion (75 Points)
• 1x Black Sword
1x Bolt Pistol

OTHER DATASHEETS

Black Templars Gladiator Lancer (170 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Lancer laser destroyer
1x Multi-melta
2x Storm bolter

Black Templars Repulsor Executioner (235 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy laser destroyer
1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Multi-melta
1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array
1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber
1x Twin heavy bolter

Land Raider Redeemer (260 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Flamestorm cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Multi-melta
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin assault cannon

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

Exported with App Version: v1.15.0 (38), Data Version: v397

Archetype

Templar Quadrepex

Thoughts

The executions will continue until morale improves, or at least until someone at Games Workshop’s end finally admits that maybe you shouldn’t be able to take both regular and Templar Repulsor Executioners in the same list. Until then, this continues to be very funny, and this spin on it is particularly well tuned to a player-placed terrain environment via tripling up on Lone Operatives and extra Lancers. Congratulations Colin on the undefeated second place!

Nicholas Bialek – Genestealer Cult (Ascension Day) – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

A1 Sauce (1995 points)

Genestealer Cults
Strike Force (2000 points)
Ascension Day

CHARACTERS

Biophagus (90 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Autopistol
1x Chemical vials
1x Injector goad
• Enhancement: Inscrutable Cunning

Clamavus (90 points)
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancement: Meticulous Planner

Kelermorph (55 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Liberator autostubs

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

Primus (90 points)
• 1x Cult bonesword
1x Scoped needle pistol
1x Toxin injector claw

Primus (105 points)
• 1x Cult bonesword
1x Scoped needle pistol
1x Toxin injector claw
• Enhancement: Prowling Agitant

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

BATTLELINE

Acolyte Hybrids (170 points)
• 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

Neophyte Hybrids (90 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
2x Grenade launcher
5x Hybrid firearm
2x Seismic cannon

Neophyte Hybrids (180 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
4x Grenade launcher
11x Hybrid firearm
4x Seismic cannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Aberrants (360 points)
• 1x Aberrant Hypermorph
• 1x Heavy power weapon
1x Hypermorph tail
• 9x Aberrant
• 9x Heavy power weapon

Achilles Ridgerunners (75 points)
• 1x Heavy mortar
1x Ridgerunner wheels
1x Survey Augur
1x Twin heavy stubber

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

Exported with App Version: v1.15.0 (43), Data Version: v397

Archetype

Aberrants and Horde

Thoughts

Ironically, given they’re joint next to receive a Codex, Genestealer Cults have been having a quiet recovery the last few weeks, which Nicholas continues here. They adapt pretty well to a metagame with a mix of melee and crunch, as both archetypes can be vulnerable to the sheer nightmarish damage potential the army presents out of Deep Strike, and you get good flexible options to apply pressure with the Infiltrators. Great to see players getting a last bit of mileage out of their Index ahead of the new book, and well done to Nicholas.

Ryan Mcguire – Space Wolves (Gladius Task Force) – 4th Place

Gladiator Lancer by Craig “MasterSlowPoke” Sniffen

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

The Danger Zone (1995 points)

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

CHARACTERS

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

Logan Grimnar (100 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Storm bolter
1x The Axe Morkai

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
• 1x Heavy bolt pistol
1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
• 4x Astartes chainsword
4x Heavy bolt pistol

Brutalis Dreadnought (160 points)
• 1x Brutalis bolt rifles
1x Brutalis fists
1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber
1x Twin multi-melta

Gladiator Lancer (160 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Lancer laser destroyer
2x Storm bolter

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
4x Marksman bolt carbine

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
3x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy bolter

Thunderwolf Cavalry (180 points)
• 1x Thunderwolf Cavalry Pack Leader
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
1x Heirloom weapon
1x Storm Shield
• 5x Thunderwolf Cavalry
• 5x Crushing teeth and claws
5x Heirloom weapon
5x Storm Shield

Wulfen Dreadnought (130 points)
• 1x Blizzard Shield
1x Fenrisian great axe
1x Heavy flamer

Exported with App Version: v1.15.0 (43), Data Version: v397

Archetype

Wolf Dreadnought GTF

Thoughts

This feels extra on-point because I’m pretty sure if you add up Crunch Meta and Melee Meta you get Dreadnought spam. It’s a good shout as a melee build on Player Placed Terrain, as it gives you good durability in the open. I also like the secret sauce of the Jump Chaplain Assault Intercessor units – not only can they be staged a long way away, with access to Logan’s full hit re-rolls on a go turn, these end up being very nasty into almost anything, particularly once the Mortal Wounds from both the Chaplain and the unit’s abilities are factored in. This feels like a really interesting and fairly unique combination of tools to adapt to terrain factors, so well done to Ryan on devising it and doing so well!

The Best of the Rest

There were 11 more players on 4-1 records. They were:

5th – Colton Wolinski – Orks (Bully Boyz): See showdown.
6th – Alex Vian – Black Templars (Gladius Task Force): Counterpunch transport Templars.
7th – Miles Engrav – Grey Knights: Lots of Librarians and five Dreadknights.
8th – Chase Campbell – Necrons (Canoptek Court): Triple Wraiths, double Doomstalker and a Transcendant.
9th – Kyle McCord – Black Templars (Gladius Task Force): Counterpunch transport templars.
10th – Tyler Devries – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Ultra hefty Hypercrypt, with the Silent King zapping around with two Monoliths and a Tesseract Vault.
11th – Jason Jones – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Triple C’tan, double Doomsday.
12th – Rylee Mckitterick – T’au Empire (Kauyon): A squad each of Fireknight and Sunforge suits, supported by Ghostkeels, gunships and Kroot. Maximises redeploy potential with access to both the Solid-Image Projection Unit and a Trail Shaper.
13th – Matthew Doughman – Imperial Knights: A crunch meta survivor of Canis Rex and two Knights Atrapos.
14th – Darrel Laumann – Imperial Knights: A Gallant and their gallant Armiger followers.
15th – Treynor Wolfe – Genestealer Cult: Lighter on the Infantry core than normal to pay for Infiltrating Aberrants and two units of Catachans in Chimeras.

Southcon 2024 40K Tournament

44-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand on May 31 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Note that this event was only 1500pts, but by the time I realised I had written half of it anyway, so it stays in.

Sean Saunders – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Kauravan 252nd Conservators (1500 points)

Astra Militarum
Strike Force
Combined Regiment

CHARACTERS

Lord Solar Leontus (125 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Conquest
1x Konstantin’s hooves
1x Sol’s Righteous Gaze

Platoon Command Squad (60 points)
• 1x Platoon Commander
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Laspistol
• 4x Veteran Guardsman
• 4x Close combat weapon
3x Lasgun
4x Laspistol
1x Master Vox
1x Medi-pack
1x Plasma gun
1x Regimental Standard

Tank Commander (205 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Multi-melta

BATTLELINE

Cadian Shock Troops (60 points)
• 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Drum-fed autogun
• 9x Shock Trooper
• 9x Close combat weapon
7x Lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster

Infantry Squad (60 points)
• 1x Sergeant
• 1x Chainsword
1x Plasma pistol
• 7x Guardsman
• 7x Close combat weapon
6x Lasgun
1x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster
• 1x Heavy Weapons Team
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lascannon
1x Laspistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chimera (70 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Chimera multi-laser
1x Heavy bolter
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lasgun array

OTHER DATASHEETS

Basilisk (150 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Earthshaker cannon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile

Kasrkin (120 points)
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
• 9x Close combat weapon
4x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
2x Hot-shot volley gun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster

Leman Russ Demolisher (200 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Demolisher battle cannon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
2x Plasma cannon

Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (260 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Co-axial autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
2x Meltagun
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon

Scout Sentinels (60 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
1x Sentinel chainsaw

Exported with App Version: v1.15.0 (43), Data Version: v397

Archetype

Tank

Thoughts

That is a vicious quantity of tank for 1500pts, particularly once you factor in the Dorn’s once-per-game ablative protection (generally more potent as you shrink the game, as the opponent will have fewer big shots) and the Tank Commander’s ability to trade for something as he dies. I’m not going to go much deeper than that given this was an unusual game size, but it’s definitely a reminder that if you are playing at a smaller army size event, it’s worth thinking through how it can transform the impact of some units and abilities. Congratulations to Sean.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Caelum Greaves – Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort): Ultra-horde AdMech with tonnes of Skitarii, with two full Sterylizor squads adding a bit of damage.
3rd – Francis Mclauchlan – Ultramarines (Vanguard Spearhead): A skewed version of Vanguard Ultramarines, adding some RepExes to the Calgar/Aggressor and Centurion core. Alarming amounts of chonk at 1500pts.
4th – Chris Elder – Death Guard (Plague Company): Lots of Poxwalkers (including a big unit with Typhus) shambling into battle behind Mortarion.
5th – Joe Kahu – Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): All-rounder GTF with Calgar and Aggressors again the centrepiece.
6th – Alec Whitticase – T’au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Suits galore, three units of Crisis, a Riptide, things of this nature.

PNW Warlords Clash Warhammer 40K GT

39-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Ellensburg, WA, United States on June 01 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Steve Trimble – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

I like to go forward in an extreme speed. (2000 Points)

Chaos Space Marines
Renegade Raiders
Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Abaddon the Despoiler (295 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Drach’nyen
1x Talon of Horus

Chaos Lord (90 Points)
• 1x Daemon hammer
1x Power fist

Master of Executions (105 Points)
• 1x Axe of dismemberment
1x Bolt pistol
• Enhancements: Mark of the Hound

Master of Executions (80 Points)
• 1x Axe of dismemberment
1x Bolt pistol

BATTLELINE

Cultist Mob (50 Points)
• 1x Cultist Champion
• 1x Autopistol
1x Brutal assault weapon
• 9x Chaos Cultist
• 9x Autopistol
9x Brutal assault weapon

Legionaries (160 Points)
• 1x Aspiring Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 9x Legionary
• 6x Astartes chainsword
9x Bolt pistol
9x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Lascannon
1x Reaper chaincannon

Legionaries (80 Points)
• 1x Aspiring Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Reaper chaincannon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (75 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Combi-weapon
1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chosen (250 Points)
• 1x Chosen Champion
• 1x Accursed weapon
1x Bolt pistol
1x Boltgun
• 9x Chosen
• 5x Accursed weapon
5x Bolt pistol
3x Boltgun
1x Chaos Icon
4x Combi-weapon
2x Paired accursed weapons
4x Plasma pistol
2x Power fist

Venomcrawler (110 Points)
• 2x Excruciator cannon
1x Soulflayer tendrils and claws

Warp Talons (220 Points)
• 1x Warp Talon Champion
• 1x Warp claws
• 9x Warp Talon
• 9x Warp claws

Exported with App Version: v1.15.0 (38), Data Version: v397

Archetype

Aggro Raiders

Thoughts

Sound the new Codex siren here – Renegade Raiders makes its first splash here. Unsurprisingly given the detachment’s strengths, this initial showcase from a previous US Open winner is highly aggressive, build around melee pressure from two big footslogging units (Abaddon’s Chosen and the big Scouting Legionary/MoE unit in a Rhino) and two Warp Talon squads to cycle in and out of touch via their ability and Opportunistic Raiders. More Legionaries and Characters in a second Rhino are still a genuine threat to smaller enemy units on an Objective thanks to Wound re-rolls, while Venomcrawlers round things out with some cheap and cheerful hulls that overcome their low AP challenge in this detachment. Brawling for objectives, it turns out, is still something that the Chaos Space Marines are extremely good at! Congratulations to Steve for leading the chaotic charge.

Nicholas Fromme – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Logan Grimnar Santa Mode — Logan Grimnar as Santa Claus. Credit: Kevin Stillman

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Sons of Russ (2000 points)

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

CHARACTERS

Librarian in Phobos Armour (70 points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Force weapon
1x Smite

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

Logan Grimnar on Stormrider (180 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Flurry of teeth and claws
1x Storm bolter
1x The Axe Morkai

Wolf Guard Battle Leader on Thunderwolf (80 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Crushing teeth and claws
1x Storm Shield
1x Thunder hammer

Wolf Lord on Thunderwolf (100 points)
• 1x Crushing teeth and claws
1x Twin lightning claws

OTHER DATASHEETS

Hounds of Morkai (90 points)
• 1x Hound of Morkai Pack Leader
• 1x Morkai bolt pistol
1x Morkai combat knife
• 4x Hound of Morkai
• 4x Morkai bolt pistol
4x Morkai combat knife

Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle

Wulfen (160 points)
• 1x Wulfen Pack Leader
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Stormfrag auto-launcher
1x Wulfen hammer
• 9x Wulfen
• 9x Storm Shield
9x Stormfrag auto-launcher
9x Wulfen hammer

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.13.0 (41), Data Version: v373

Archetype

Max Stormlance

Thoughts

Less novel, but still very effective, it’s max ThunderCav and max Wulfen, a real flag-bearer for melee meta here. I do like the tech inclusion of some Hounds of Morkai with a Librarian just to put a bit of fear into any Thousand Sons who try to renew a 10,000 year old grudge, feels well targeted to the current metagame. Good work from Nicholas.

The Best of the Rest

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

3rd – Andrew Johnson – Leagues of Votann (Oathband): A bit of everything, most notably a full unit of Thunderkyn with an Iron Master.
4th – Jason Rider – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Skew out the gate here – double Lord of Skulls and 30 Warp Talons.
5th – Alex Pina – Thousand Sons: Truly spectacularly Character-heavy Tsons.
6th – Jason Byrd – Chaos Knights: Lots of Dogs, lots of Nurglings and some Blue Horrors.
7th – Sean Bursek – Grey Knights: Ultracrunch with two Redeemers and four Dreadknights.

Broadside Bash Revived 2024

33-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in San Diego, CA, United States on June 01 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

James Carmona – Chaos Space Marines (Pactbound Zealots) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Don’t Be Scurrd (1995 points)

Chaos Space Marines
Strike Force (2000 points)
Pactbound Zealots

CHARACTERS

Chaos Lord (90 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• Warlord
• 1x Daemon hammer
1x Plasma pistol

Chaos Lord (90 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 1x Daemon hammer
1x Plasma pistol

BATTLELINE

Legionaries (80 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 1x Aspiring Champion
• 1x Chaos Icon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Plasma pistol
• 4x Legionary
• 2x Astartes chainsword
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Heavy melee weapon
1x Lascannon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (75 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Combi-bolter
1x Havoc launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

Accursed Cultists (85 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 5x Mutant
• 5x Blasphemous appendages
• 3x Torment
• 3x Hideous mutations

Accursed Cultists (85 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 5x Mutant
• 5x Blasphemous appendages
• 3x Torment
• 3x Hideous mutations

Chaos Predator Destructor (130 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Combi-bolter
1x Havoc launcher
2x Lascannon
1x Predator autocannon

Forgefiend (190 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Armoured limbs
2x Ectoplasma cannon
1x Ectoplasma cannon

Helbrute (130 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Multi-melta

Warp Talons (220 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle
• 1x Warp Talon Champion
• 1x Warp claws
• 9x Warp Talon
• 9x Warp claws

Warp Talons (220 points)
• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh
• 1x Warp Talon Champion
• 1x Warp claws
• 9x Warp Talon
• 9x Warp claws

ALLIED UNITS

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

Exported with App Version: v1.16.0 (44), Data Version: v400

Archetype

Brawler Pactbound

Thoughts

Hot on the heels of the Renegade Raiders we have a second showing for the new book, here sticking to some tried and true plans albeit with new toys. Nurgle gunlines as Pactbound Zealots are still tremendously effective, as is supplementing them with brawler units in Rhinos, but we’ve got some new tools (or at least, differently utilised ones) in the latter part. Warp Talons are one of the best units in the book now they can jump back into Deep Strike when they’ve murdered something, and this list’s split of Slaanesh and Nurgle on two full units feels potent – the former can use Advance/Charge to reliably hit combat then cycle out, while the latter can play on a flank away from the enemy’s biggest guns while protected by the Nurgle Stratagem.

The other interesting inclusion is three MSUs of Accursed Cultists, where it looks like at 85pts they provide enough utility to a list with tanks to screen that they’re just good. It also highlights something I don’t think I’d really clocked before – Accursed Cultists can ride in a Rhino, so you can use one of the Scout Slaanesh units to do a bit of resilient staging and threat projection out the gate here. All good stuff, and fun to see some new uses of units in the wild, well done James.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Nathan Carnes – Grey Knights (Teleport Strike Force): A genuinely out-there pick to back up a crunchy Grey Knights list – a Knight Castellan. Also features a full Paladin unit with the Sigil and a Grand Master to murderise C’tan.
3rd – Rock Liberty – Thousand Sons (Cult of Magic): A fairly Character-light Tsons build, using the extra points to cram in two ten-model Rubricae squads and a Mutalith.
4th – Tre O’Rourke – World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): Lots of the normal core stuff, but cutting out regular Eightbound and some Berzerkers for a pair of Maulerfiends.
5th – Joe Bravo – Space Marines (Firestorm Assault Force): A Redeemer and Stormraven filled with Aggressors and Eradicators are the centre of a flaming hot Marine concoction.

Wild Hunt GT: Summer

28-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Montague, MI, United States on June 01 2024. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Eric Gibbs – Necrons (Canoptek Court) – 1st Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Army Roster (Xenos – Necrons) [2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size: 2. Strike Force (2000 Point limit)

Detachment Choice: Canoptek Court

+ Epic Hero +

C’tan Shard of the Nightbringer [295pts]

+ Character +

Technomancer [85pts]

Technomancer [105pts]: Dimensional Sanctum

Technomancer [100pts]: Autodivinator, Warlord

+ Infantry +

Deathmarks [60pts]
. 5x Deathmark: 5x Close combat weapon, 5x Synaptic disintegrator

+ Swarm +

Canoptek Scarab Swarms [40pts]
. 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm: 3x Feeder mandibles

+ Mounted +

Tomb Blades [75pts]
. Tomb Blade: Shadowloom, Twin tesla carbine
. Tomb Blade: Particle beamer, Shadowloom
. Tomb Blade: Particle beamer, Shadowloom

+ Beast +

Canoptek Wraiths [220pts]
. 6x Wraith w/ claws and particle caster: 6x Particle caster, 6x Vicious claws

+ Vehicle +

Canoptek Doomstalker [135pts]

++ Total: [2,000pts] ++

Created with BattleScribe ()

Archetype

Canoptek Court

Thoughts

Rounding out our event champions this week, we’ve got a very down-the-line Canoptek Court build showing that skilled Phaerons can still put it to work. Triple Wraiths and triple Doomstalkers is a great balance of durability and shooting, the Nightbringer is still a horrific threat at +40pts, and the suite of utility units the army has access to is excellent. Well done Eric.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd – Rick Kincaid – Orks (Bully Boyz): Bully Boyz with Mozrog and some Squighogs (small unit) as a speedy hammer.
3rd – Ben Isenhoff – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders): Vashtorr gets a first outing with the new book, accompanying tonnes of Legionaries and one unit of Rubricae packed into Rhinos, with Warp Talons and Destructors in support.
4th – Baxter Seguin – Necrons (Hypercrypt Legion): Destroyer-tastic Hypercrypt, packing in full units each of Lokhusts, heavy Lokhusts and Skorpekh.

Wrap Up

That’s it for part 1 – you get a slightly smaller part 2 from me tomorrow, then another generous ration of delicious content from Lowest of Men on Friday. Make sure to check back in then!

Competitive Innovations in 10th: Xenos Roulette pt.1

Bugeater GT

The Showdown

Supply Drop – Chilling Rain – Search and Destroy

Thoughts

Result

James “Boon” Kelling – Aeldari (Battle Host) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Colin Kay – Black Templars (Ironstorm Spearhead) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Nicholas Bialek – Genestealer Cult (Ascension Day) – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Ryan Mcguire – Space Wolves (Gladius Task Force) – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Southcon 2024 40K Tournament

Sean Saunders – Astra Militarum (Combined Regiment) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

PNW Warlords Clash Warhammer 40K GT

Steve Trimble – Chaos Space Marines (Renegade Raiders) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Nicholas Fromme – Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force) – 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Broadside Bash Revived 2024

James Carmona – Chaos Space Marines (Pactbound Zealots) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wild Hunt GT: Summer

Eric Gibbs – Necrons (Canoptek Court) – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Wrap Up

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