Another week, another screaming horror of a metagame in 40k. It’s bad enough out there that we’re all celebrating a win for underdog faction Crusher Stampede. If you’re paying attention you’ve already seen that the new lords and masters of the 40k scene are the Harlequins, and specifically Light Saedath Harlequins packing as many Voidweavers as it’s legal to put into a list. Our own Falcon has put together the stats from this weekend, and they make for grim reading. Excluding mirror matches, Harlequins hit a 77.9% win rate, “Aeldari” 65.1%, Craftworlds 61.7%. That’s high anyway, but they’ve also pushed down T’au Empire and Adeptus Custodes, who sit at 58.7% and 57.2% respectively – both factions were sitting comfortably around 60-65% before, and spiking up to as high as the 70% range on good weekends. The only other factions with positive win rates from this weekend are Chaos and Chaos Daemons (both with a small number of games), and Crusher Stampede Tyranids, plus GSC and Ad Mech sitting on 50% exactly – everything else is sub-50%, and even Drukhari have slipped into a negative win rate for the first time since their codex last year. Even worse, Adepta Sororitas (28.6%) and Astra Militarum (20.4%) have slipped down to the 20-29% bracket, as have a number of Space Marine Chapters (the most meaningful in terms of number of games played is Blood Angels, rejoicing this week in a 26.7% win rate from 60 games played).

What this means is that we’re looking at a meta even more oppressive than last year’s. Drukhari hit some stunning heights, but at the point that we had Ad Mech and Orks in there as well all three factions hovered between 55% and 65% – too high, but not this high. The field was also a lot weaker generally; the next-best books were Dark Angels and Death Guard. We’re now in a metagame where Harlequins are oppressing other S-tier books. On his way to the semi-finals, John Lennon’s first three games at Adepticon were against Tau, Tau, and Custodes; his opponents averaged 14 victory points per game (excluding paint scores). At Manchester GT, the first non-Tau/Custodes/Aeldari/Innes player was Henry Bearne down in 22nd. Only three players went 4-1 or higher with an army other than those – two guys (including Henry) on Thousand Sons, and one Chaos Daemons player. Every other faction went 3-2 or worse. Across the broader picture, the only army really keeping pace with the top three is Crusher Stampede Tyranids, and well, that is also an army that has a lot of problems (and an imminent new Codex which looks likely to catapult it into the Harlequins tier).

James is on a business trip this week, so I’m writing this intro and I’m going to indulge myself in some editorialising. In short: shit’s fucked, and it looks unlikely to get better over the coming months. 9th edition has arguably the best core rules a 40k edition has had; it’s certainly the one I like the most. The codex design, in terms of injecting flavour to books and making most units in most books viable, is better than it’s ever been – a constant feature of pre-9th edition books was 50%+ of an army’s datasheets consisting of stuff which was meant to do a particular job but had absolutely no rules to actually support them doing it, consigning them to either niche usability in an unexpected role or another few years sitting in the cabinet. Unfortunately the design team has also completely lost control of the melange of army-wide rules, faction traits, Stratagems, and other bonuses, and seems to assign points costs by throwing darts at a board and then adding or subtracting 10% depending on if Jupiter is in ascendance or not. The dataslates are a good step forwards in terms of addressing things in a timely way, and have made meaningful impacts on a couple of issues, but points updates in the Munitorum Field Manuals are laughable – there seems to be very little thought put into looking at each faction holistically, and instead we get scattershot points adjustments based on out of date information, paired with a core reluctance to make significant changes and an apparent “rubber band” effect where if some units get cheaper some others must be uprated to compensate.

Bluntly, the problem here is the print model. I am not someone who hates print codexes as a point of principle, and I don’t think rules should be free just because – they’re a valuable part of the experience, and they take time and cost to develop. Games can lead with free rules, but that’s a business strategy based on market position, not a norm that has to be applied to every game. The GW model right now is the worst of both worlds, though; the lead time on physical books means that new updates are fired out into the world months after they were written, which is bad enough for codexes but especially galling for things like the War Zone seasonal updates and particularly the Munitorum Field Manuals. For as long as this persists we’re going to continue seeing bizarre points tweaks made to units months after their competitive viability fell off, and buffs and nerfs to units made on the basis of incomplete memories of a metagame from 2 years ago which we’re then stuck with until the next codex, potentially years and another edition of the game away. Meanwhile there are enough changes that players are buying expensive hardback books which become more and more Swiss-cheese-like as the months pass, which is bad for everyone; it crushes trust in the print books among competitive-minded players, and creates a knowledge gap between competitive and casual players where the latter don’t even necessarily know an update has happened.

To understand a codex now, you have to pick it up and read it, and then go and check the FAQs and erratas and Downloads and the new points costs in the MFM to find out all the things that don’t work any more, and all the units which cost more (or less, but usually more) than your codex says they do, which is not even to mention the campaign supplements or random White Dwarf rules. All this so that you can turn up to a game and get your face crushed by Harlequins 77% of the time (or more, if you’re playing in the beer leagues comprising the other 20ish factions that aren’t the top 4). GW – you need more rules writers, you need more and better playtesting, and you need to break the reliance on print. At the very least, let’s have a fully digital competitive play pack, which can be tweaked and adjusted as needed, and which isn’t bound by the strictures of the print books. If it must be tied to a subscription model, Warhammer+ is right there.

Wings: I have returned from the Business Factory on Tuesday night to cover off what’s left, and yeah that all sounds broadly accurate.

Anyway, that’s enough of me complaining. Let’s talk about the events that actually happened this weekend:

Majors

Adepticon 2022 40k Champs – 8 games, 256 players
The Manchester 40k GT – 7 games, 186 players
[Challenger] Kraków Arena 2022 – 5 games, 70 players

GTs

The Portal 40k Spring GT – 5 games, 40 players
Mythicos Studios Mahwah Lepricon 2022 Grand Tournament – 5 games, 41 players
FactoruM Warhammer 40,000 GT March 2022 – 5 games, 28 players

We’re also going to talk about the San Luis WTSL RTT from this weekend; we don’t normally discuss events of this size, but we wanted to spotlight this one because it happened in Argentina, a country with a very small 40k scene; not only is Argentina itself quite remote from the global 40k scene, but San Luis is even more so, with many players travelling hundreds of kilometres from Buenos Aires to the foothills of the Andes to play. In 40k terms it’s very much off the beaten track, and we’re always happy to highlight events in places that are outside the normal ambit of 40k discussion.

Adepticon 2022 40k Champs

All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission: Conversion

Zach Point – Harlequins – Light Saedath Harlequins with 9 Voidweavers

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Harlequins) [103 PL, 8CP, 1,996pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Saedath Characterisation: Light: Blaze of Light

+ Stratagems +

Stratagem: Treasures of the Aeldari [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Shadowseer [5 PL, 125pts]: 3. Mirror of Minds (Witchfire), 6. Webway Dance (Aura) (Blessing), Mirror Architect, Shuriken Pistol
. Shadow Stone

Troupe Master [4 PL, -1CP, 90pts]: 3: A Foot in the Future, Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss, Player of the Light, Stratagem: Favoured of the Laughing God, Warlord
. Cegorach’s Rose

+ Troops +

Troupe [4 PL, 65pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [4 PL, 88pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [4 PL, 80pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Blade
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss

Troupe [4 PL, 85pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Blade
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Blade

+ Elites +

Death Jester [3 PL, -1CP, 70pts]: 1: Favour of Cegorach, Harvester of Torment, Stratagem: Champion of the Aeldari
. The Laughing God’s Eye

Solitaire [6 PL, 110pts]

+ Heavy Support +

Voidweavers [15 PL, 270pts]
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon

+ Dedicated Transport +

Starweaver [4 PL, 80pts]

++ Total: [103 PL, 8CP, 1,996pts] ++

vs.

Matt Robertson – Harlequins – Light Saedath Harlequins with 9 Voidweavers

Army List - Click to Expand

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Player: Matt Robertson
+ TOTAL COMMAND POINTS: 9
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000
+ POWER LEVEL: 106
+ ARMY FACTIONS USED: Aeldari (Harlequins , Light)
+ TOTAL REINFORCEMENT POINTS: 0
+ PRE GAME STRATAGEMS: Favoured of the laughing god (1cp), Champion of the Aeldari (1cp) Treasures of the Aeldari (1cp)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

== Batallion Detachment == [106PL, 2000pts] 0 CP

HQ: Troupe Master, harlequins kiss, Cegorachs Rose, foot in future, player of light [85pts 4PL]
HQ:Shadowseer, shadow stone, mirror architect, webway dance, mirror of minds [125pts 6PL]

EL: Death Jester, favour of cegorach, harvester of torment [70pts 4PL]
EL: Solitaire, prince of sins [130pts 7PL]

TR: 5 Troupe, 1 harlequins kiss [70pts 4PL]
TR: 5 Troupe, 1 harlequins kiss [70pts 4PL]
TR: 5 Troupe, 2 Fusion pistol, 1 harlequins kiss [80pts 4PL]
TR: 5 Troupe, 2 Fusion pistol, 1 harlequins kiss [80pts 4PL]
TR: 5 Troupe, 2 Fusion pistol, 1 harlequins kiss [80pts 4PL]

HVY: 3 Voidweavers Prismatic cannon [270pts 15PL]
HVY: 3 Voidweavers Prismatic cannon [270pts 15PL]
HVY: 3 Voidweavers Prismatic cannon [270pts 15PL]

DT: Starweaver [80pts 4PL]
DT: Starweaver [80pts 4PL]
DT: Starweaver [80pts 4PL]
DT: Starweaver [80pts 4PL]
DT: Starweaver [80pts 4PL]

Thoughts

The key strategy here is to roll 4s or higher and not roll 3s or lower. If you can roll more of the former than your opponent does, you win the game. These lists are incredibly similar, with the only major divergence being that Zach cuts a Starweaver for slightly more Troupes and a bit more tooling on the ones he has, while Matt has opted for adding Prince of Sins to his Solitaire, which doesn’t make that much difference in this matchup, as Harlequins are generally saving their re-rolls to jam out saves rather than throwing them after hits and wounds (though it’s fantastic in every other game). I actually think the arguably most impactful difference is that Zach has a couple of his Troupes set up with Harlequin’s Embraces, as a source of some Mortals outside the normal flow of combat could legitimately act as a tipping point, especially if they take out a key character in combination with Mirror of Minds or the neuro disruptors that one unit is toting.

Outside of that though, there really is going to be an unavoidable luck component here – it feels like you’re angling for going second so you don’t have to be the first player to move into the open (and can get that sweet, sweet end of game scoring) but beyond that you’re really hoping that when you get to line up shots your opponent doesn’t spike 4+ saves. You probably also want to take secondaries you can score while minimising your exposure to the enemy, but both sides are going to be doing that and that really just amplifies the desire for second turn – though with the terrain allowing you to move and line up shots at wide angles (Liam: if you haven’t seen the tables from this weekend, many of them looked very suitable for playing WHFB on, less so 40k), just going in guns blazing from first and trying to dominate the table for long enough to pull ahead also seems feasible.

In the end, Zach came out ahead – congratulations to him on the victory, and let’s all hope that this final is one of those games that makes something happen.

Result

Harlequins (Zach) Victory – 80-60

Zach Point – Harlequins – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown.

Archetype

Light Saedath Voidweaver spam

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

It’s the best army in the game, and it’s not close. Adding the Embraces definitely feels like a strong play, and if you’re building for the mirror rather than Tau then having the extra unit rather than a fifth Starweaver certainly feels alright, but this is already one of those lists where about 90% of the points and choices are fully locked in, and any changes are going to be limited in the impact they can have. Nevertheless, congratulations to Zach for successfully triumphing through Aeldari hellworld.

Matt Robertson – Harlequins – 2nd Place

The List

See Showdown.

Archetype

Light Saedath Voidweaver spam

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Mostly same again – lighter loadouts on the Troupes, but a spicy upgrade for the Solitaire and a fifth Starweaver instead. Very much tuning around the edges, but always excellent to see one of the UK’s finest performing on the US stage.

Thomas Ogden – T’au Empire – 3rd Place

XV8 Crisis Battlesuit Team. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (T’au Empire) [68 PL, 1,147pts, 9CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Sept Choice: T’au Sept

+ HQ +

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit [8 PL, 165pts, -1CP]: 1. Precision of the Hunter, Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, DW-02 Advanced Burst Cannon, High-output Burst Cannon, Onager Gauntlet, Shield Generator, Stratagem: Promising Pupil

+ Troops +

Kroot Carnivores [3 PL, 60pts]
. 10x Kroot: 10x Kroot Rifle, 10x Quill Grenades

+ Elites +

Crisis Battlesuits [20 PL, 309pts]
. Crisis Shas’ui: Fusion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’ui: Fusion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’ui: Fusion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’ui: Fusion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’vre: Fusion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Velocity Tracker
. Marker Drone
. 2x Shield Drone: 2x Shield Generator

Crisis Battlesuits [20 PL, 309pts]
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’ui: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’vre: Cyclic Ion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Velocity Tracker
. Marker Drone
. 2x Shield Drone: 2x Shield Generator

+ Heavy Support +

Broadside Battlesuits [17 PL, 304pts]
. Broadside Shas’ui: Heavy Rail Rifle, Twin Smart Missile System, Velocity Tracker
. Broadside Shas’ui: Heavy Rail Rifle, Twin Smart Missile System, Velocity Tracker
. Broadside Shas’vre: Heavy Rail Rifle, Twin Smart Missile System, Velocity Tracker
. Marker Drone
. 2x Shield Drone: 2x Shield Generator

++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (T’au Empire) [48 PL, 702pts, -4CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]

Sept Choice: T’au Sept

+ Stratagems +

Stratagem: Emergency Dispensation [-1CP]: Additional Relics

+ HQ +

Commander in Crisis Battlesuit [8 PL, 150pts, -1CP]: 6. Exemplar of the Mont’ka, Advanced EM Scrambler, Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Plasma Rifle, Stratagem: Promising Pupil, T’au Flamer, Thermoneutronic Projector

+ Troops +

Kroot Carnivores [3 PL, 60pts]
. 10x Kroot: 10x Kroot Rifle, 10x Quill Grenades

+ Elites +

Crisis Battlesuits [19 PL, 242pts]
. Crisis Shas’ui: Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’ui: Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’ui: Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Velocity Tracker
. Crisis Shas’vre: Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Velocity Tracker
. Marker Drone
. Shield Drone

Crisis Bodyguards [18 PL, 250pts]
. Crisis Bodyguard Shas’ui: Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Target Lock
. Crisis Bodyguard Shas’ui: Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Target Lock
. Crisis Bodyguard Shas’ui: Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Target Lock
. Crisis Bodyguard Shas’ui: Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Target Lock
. Crisis Bodyguard Shas’vre: Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, Target Lock

++ Supreme Command Detachment +2CP (T’au Empire) [8 PL, 150pts, 2CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost [2CP]

Sept Choice: T’au Sept

+ Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander +

Commander Shadowsun [8 PL, 150pts]: 2x High-energy Fusion Blaster, Warlord

++ Total: [124 PL, 1,999pts, 7CP] ++

Archetype

T’au Sept Suit Spam with Shadowsun

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Battling underdogs T’au Empire make it into the semifinals of a supermajor. This list definitely has killing elves as a driving goal, sacrificing some of the resilience that the Crisis Teams normally pack in favour of Velocity Trackers everywhere, and if you look at the rest of the top four that’s clearly the correct choice in this world. It does mean that in a Tau or Custodes matchup the list has to play a bit more cagily, but the vast majority of the key threats in those lists have FLY as well, and this list is almost purely built out of alpha units rather than including utility stuff, so it can also absorb the loss of a Crisis Team much more comfortably than some builds. It is not a great sign that even the Tau need to pivot to just absolutely maximising the damage they can deal to the exclusion of everything else, desperately hoping to keep enough on the table to push damage into Harlequins, but the list is extremely well targeted to the event and was duly rewarded with third place, so good work from Thomas.

John Lennon – Harlequins – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Harlequins) [103 PL, 2,000pts, 9CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Saedath Characterisation: Light: Blaze of Light

+ Stratagems +

Stratagem: Treasures of the Aeldari [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Shadowseer [5 PL, 125pts]: 3. Mirror of Minds (Witchfire), 6. Webway Dance (Aura) (Blessing), Mirror Architect, Shuriken Pistol
. Shadow Stone

Troupe Master [4 PL, 115pts, -1CP]: 3: A Foot in the Future, Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss, Player of the Light, Queen of Shards, Stratagem: Favoured of the Laughing God, Warlord
. Cegorach’s Rose

+ Troops +

Troupe [4 PL, 70pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [4 PL, 80pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Caress, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol

+ Elites +

Death Jester [3 PL, 70pts, -1CP]: 1: Favour of Cegorach, Harvester of Torment, Stratagem: Champion of the Aeldari
. The Laughing God’s Eye

Solitaire [6 PL, 110pts]

+ Heavy Support +

Voidweavers [15 PL, 270pts]
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon

+ Dedicated Transport +

Starweaver [4 PL, 80pts]

++ Total: [103 PL, 9CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

It’s not even interesting in this top four. I don’t think John found it interesting. We’re three lists and one event in and I am already sick to death of trying to think of something to say about Harlequins. With any luck, James will give this a pass later and add something intelligent, but even his incredible powers of dragging out something to say about every individual list are going to be tested this week.

Wings: Queen of Shards seems legit I guess? Can’t re-roll an invuln if you can’t make one in the first place taps head. I think I actually like the exact setup here best of the three lists in the top four if you’re expecting the mirror a lot, an Embrace on every unit and the Troupe Master being a huge counterpunch threat into any enemy characters that get too close give it the most angles.

The Rest of the Best

The other semi-finalists in the knockout round (i.e. the top 8) were:

5th – Benjamin Cherwien – Asuryani: Ulthwe with double Farseers, double Banshees, double Scorpions, and three Shadow Weavers plus six D-cannons. Ben here following the rule of “two is one, one is none” by bringing a spare of everything in the list.
6th – James Kelling – Aeldari: Our own Boon gets to play his Biel-tan as Biel-tan, which is nice. On the Craftworlds side, Dire Avengers and Warp Spiders take advantage of the Craftworld’s strengths, while some Light Harlequins have also come to play and brought 3 Voidweavers with them. The whole pack is flying out of a Webway Gate too; good enough to beat 5 people, but not enough to overcome John’s Harlequins in the semis.
7th – Austin Wingfield – Necrons: Necrons clawing their way into the top 8 on the back of their recent rebalancing. Literally clawing, in this case, as Skorpekh and Ophidian Destroyers tear across the table in a Nihilakh army backed up by the Silent King.
8th – Jack Harpster – Asuryani: Jack brings out the other half of the Art of War Asuryani collection, rocking an Ulthwe army headed up by Eldrad, plus Baharroth and the motherfucking Avatar of Khaine. There’s even some Shroud Runners in here! Jack may have gone out in the semis, but he’s the winner of our hearts.

The Manchester 40k GT

All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission: Death & Zeal

Innes Wilson – Tyranids – Crusher Stampede with double Harpies.

Army List - Click to Expand

Player: Innes “No Thoughts Only Vibes” Wilson
Team: Team Scotland

Factions Used: Tyranids
Army of Renown: Crusher Stampede
Army Points: 2000
Reinforcement Points: 0
Number of Units / Killpoints: 12

Pre Game Stratagems: Alpha Leader-Beast, Bounty of the Hive Fleet, Progeny of the Hive
Starting Command Points: 9

Warlord & Trait: Hive Tyrant – Rampaging Beast
Army Trait: Hulking Behemoths, Shielded by the Hive Mind

Secondary Objectives Information
No Prisoners: 54
To the Last Units: Hive Guard, Dimachaeron, The Swarmlord
Titan Hunter: N/A
Bring it Down: 15
Assassination: 10
Abhor the Witch: 9
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
== Tyranids – Leviathan – Battalion = -3CP, [103PL, 2000pts] ==
Hive Fleet Adaptation: None

HQ: The Swarmlord [12PL, 240pts] Psyker – Onslaught, Catalyst

HQ: Hive Tyrant [11PL, 235pts] Wings, 2 Twin Devourer With Brainleech Worms, Monstrous
Boneswords, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Psyker – Aggressive Surge, Synaptic Barrier, Warlord –
Rampaging Beast, Alpha Leader-Beast – Strategic Adaptation, Relic – Synaptic Hive Blades, Progeny
of the Hive – Murderous Size (Monstrous Boneswords)

HQ: Hive Tyrant [11PL, 225pts] Wings, 2 Twin Devourer With Brainleech Worms, Monstrous Scything
Talons, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Psyker – Paroxysm, Catalyst, Bounty of the Hive Fleet – Biomorphic Carapace
(-1CP)

TR: 3 Tyranid Warrior [4PL, 51pts] 6 Scything Talon

TR: 3 Tyranid Warrior [5PL, 72pts] 4 Scything Talon, 2 Lash Whip and Bonesword, Synaptic Link – Bioweapon Bond

EL: 6 Hive Guard [14PL, 300pts] 6 Impaler Cannon

FA: Dimachaeron [14PL, 280pts]

FA: 3 Ravener [3PL, 60pts] 3 Deathspitter

HS: Exocrine [8PL, 155pts]

FL: Harpy [8PL, 155pts]

vs.

Alex Harrison – Aeldari – Hail of Doom/Webway Warriors Asuryani backed up by 6 Light Saedath Voidweavers

Army List - Click to Expand

== Patrol Detachment – Aeldari Asuryani== (+0 CP, 1140pts)
Craftworld: Far-flung Craftworlds (Hail of Doom & Webway Warriors)

HQ 1: Farseer Skyrunner (90), Shuriken Pistol (0), Witchblade (0), Twin-Shuriken Catapult (0) [120]
Powers: Smite, Doom & Guide
Warlord: Mark of the Incomparable Hunter
Treasures of the Aeldari: Kurnous’ Bow (-1 CP)

HQ 2: Baharoth [140]

NO FO: 2 Warlocks [40]
Powers: Smite & Jinx/Protect

Troops 1: 5 Rangers [65]

Elites 1: 10 Dire Avengers (120), Extra Avenger Shuriken Catapult (0) [120]
Elites 2: 10 Dire Avengers (120), Extra Avenger Shuriken Catapult (0) [120]

Fast Attack 1: 5 Guardian Jetbikes (100), 5 Scatter Lasers (25) [125]
Fast Attack 2: 5 Guardian Jetbikes (100), 4 Scatter Lasers (20), 1 Shuriken Cannon (10) [130]

Heavy Support 1: Nightspinner (140), Twin Shuriken Catapult (0), Doomweaver (0) [140]
Heavy Support 2: Nightspinner (140), Twin Shuriken Catapult (0), Doomweaver (0) [140]

== Patrol Detachment – Harlequins == (-2 CP, 860pts)
Saedath: Light

HQ 3: Troupe Master (75), Kiss (10), Veiled King (20) [105]
Champions of the Aeldari: A Foot in the Future (-1 CP)
Free Relic: Cegorach’s Rose

Elite 3: Death Jester (55), Harvester of Torment (15) [70]
Champions of the Aeldari: Favour of Cegorach (-1 CP)

Troops 2: 5 Troupe (65), 5 Shuriken Pistols (0), 5 Harlequins Blades (0) [65]

Heavy Support 3: 3 Voidweavers (270), Prismatic Cannons (0), 6 Shuriken Cannons (0) [270]
Heavy Support 4: 3 Voidweavers (270), Prismatic Cannons (0), 6 Shuriken Cannons (0) [270]

Transport 1: Starweaver (80), 2 Shuriken Cannons (0) [80]

Total: 2000pts
Starting CP: 7

Thoughts

A significant bonus when games like this happen is that I can just ask Innes to write up his thoughts, instead of trying to guess them. Here’s the Hive Tyrant himself, explaining his cunning plan to tear elves limb from limb:

The mission means that Alex is going to castle in his back ruin, as it doesn’t really require him to get on too many objectives. He’s going to get a bonus VP for taking back an objective I take off him each turn, so primary denial is a little less efficient here, and given the reserved Avengers and the Farseer’s mortal wound output (Wings Note: see the description of Alex’s list below for how that works) I probably lose anything I throw towards him, so not expecting more than 3, maybe 4 turns out of that. I picked Stranglehold, Grind and Assassination, while Alex picked Engage, RND and Bring it Down.

I got first turn, and threw my Harpies and -1 to wound Flyrant right at him. He failed to kill the Flyrant in response, and it swung back on 1w and killed the Troupe Master, allowing me to keep up the pressure. Murder Flyrant does the usual vs Voidweavers and picks up a whole squad, and having redeployed the Hive Guard forward with Strategic Adaptation they do some good work.

Eventually the Avengers come in and some rough rolling on both sides means they take out my Tyrants, 5 Hive Guard and the Dimachaeron, with Alex also getting a turn of 8 primary from the Death Jester on the centre objective tanking through the Exocrine’s shooting. Despite that, we count scores after my 4, and from that point work out that if everything goes perfectly for Alex he caps at 73, and I’m already at 71 with guaranteed points at start of my turn 5, so given it was the final we called it there.

–

Thanks to Innes for the insight – really hammers home how terrifying the momentum that Crusher can achieve is, with even the incredible counterpunch of the Dire Avengers not being able to stop it.

Result

Tyranids Victory – 76-73

Innes Wilson – Tyranids – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown.

The Standout Features/Archetype

Crusher Stampede

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Things have turned about very rapidly – a few weeks ago pre-Harlequins the most successful Crusher builds sported lots of Hierodules and a Maleceptor, but that plan is a big liability against Harlequins thanks to being extremely vulnerable to prismatic cannons (as the Hierodules can’t hide). Instead, being able to absolutely maximise mobility so you can tag multiple Voidweaver units, options to deploy Breaking Through and windows to steal objectives using Synaptic Imperative are what you want now, and Innes’ build has all of that in spades. Hive Guard are also remain very strong into Craftworld Eldar, perfectly statted for downing their tanks or picking up any utility toys like jetbikes, so this list is well suited to elf hell.

The 8th Edition Tyranid Codex can’t be long for the world at this point, given they’ve already moved on to announcing the next books after the bugs, but this is definitely a fitting sendoff for it from Innes, and huge congratulations on the massive win.

Alex Harrison – Asuryani & Harlequins – 2nd Place

The List

See Showdown.

The Standout Features/Archetype

Hail of Doom/Webway Warriors combines for an interesting angle on Craftworlds
Six Voidweavers in Light Saedath, because no Aeldari player should leave home without them
Champion dickhead Baharroth enhances objective play
10 Windriders, 9 with scatter lasers!

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Like most Aeldari lists, this army wants to maximise its ability to unleash hell on the opponent while minimising their ability to prevent or avoid it. The Light Saedath Voidweavers need no explanation at this point, but the Craftworld stuff is a different kind of mean. Dire Avengers are phenomenal in the new book, and the trend in UK Asuryani-sporting lists seems to be to try and maximise this with custom Craftworlds. Here, the combination of Hail of Doom and Webway Warriors gives a truly appalling reinforcement setup – you can bring the unit in, pop Bladestorm for double exploding sixes, and unleash a massive number of AP-4 wounds, all while performing a point of RND if you feel like it. That’s great stuff, and isn’t where this list’s volume firepower ends – two units of Windriders adds up to a hefty ration of scatter laser shots, especially if you Doom the target first, and don’t forget that if Alex wants to use one of these to harrass the enemy at the same time as a Voidweaver unit, Matchless Agility essentially acts as a second Fire and Fade for the bikes.

That plus the Night Spinners means that the opponent is going to be constantly bleeding models from the word go, and Baharroth plus the Voids are excellent To The Last targets, combining to force the opponent to play proactively – but when they do the Dire Avenger sucker punch is waiting in the wings. The final thing to call out here is the use of Kurnous’ Bow and Mark of the Incomparable Hunter on the Farseer, a sneaky bit of tech for Hail of Doom lists that people have figured out. Essentially it means that you can convert Strands dice into many Mortals in a very explosive fashion, which can be clutch if you need to drop a Harlequin character in a hurry (and is never a bad thing to have as a backup plan) Note: I imagine there might be some debate in the comments about whether “the attack sequence ends” stops extra mortals from the Warlord Trait here, I think it’s arguable either way and the event was ruling that the extra mortals worked. It’s extremely mean and gives an already vicious list some extra spice to lean on at a key moment that many players won’t see coming. Congratulations to Alex for finishing in second.

Andy Oakham – Harlequins – 3rd Place

Harlequins Troupe Master. Credit: Corrode

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Harlequins) [99 PL, 2,000pts, -4CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost

Saedath Characterisation: Light: Blaze of Light

+ Stratagems +

Stratagem: Treasures of the Aeldari [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Shadowseer [5 PL, 125pts]: 3. Mirror of Minds (Witchfire), 6. Webway Dance (Aura) (Blessing), Mirror Architect, Shuriken Pistol
. Shadow Stone

Troupe Master [4 PL, 105pts, -1CP]: 3: A Foot in the Future, Harlequin’s Kiss, Player of the Light, Shuriken Pistol, Stratagem: Favoured of the Laughing God, Veiled King, Warlord
. Cegorach’s Rose

+ Troops +

Troupe [4 PL, 95pts]
. Lead Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Harlequin’s Caress, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [4 PL, 90pts]
. Lead Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player: Harlequin’s Caress, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol

+ Elites +

Death Jester [3 PL, 70pts, -1CP]: 1: Favour of Cegorach, Harvester of Torment, Stratagem: Champion of the Aeldari
. The Laughing God’s Eye

Solitaire [6 PL, 130pts]: Prince of Sins

+ Heavy Support +

Voidweavers [15 PL, 270pts]
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon

+ Dedicated Transport +

Starweaver [4 PL, 80pts]

++ Total: [99 PL, -4CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Light Saedath Voidweaver spam

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Mostly more of the same from the Harlequins, but the Laughing God’s Eye is definitely proving to be a stronger choice than expected because Mortals are pretty much the only reliable tool for chipping away at Harlequins, and against Asuryani in particular you need to watch out for Eldritch Storm being dropped on your castle.

Konrad Bartkiewicz – Asuryani & Harlequins – 4th Place

Windriders with Shuriken Cannons. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Spearhead Detachment -3CP (Aeldari – Craftworlds) [89 PL, -3CP, 1,640pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Craftworld Cannon Boys
. *Far-Flung Craftworld*: Masterful Shots, Expert Crafters

Detachment Command Cost [-3CP]

+ HQ +

Baharroth [7 PL, 140pts]

Farseer Skyrunner [6 PL, 120pts]: 1. Guide, 2. Doom, Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade

+ Elites +

Dire Avengers [6 PL, 130pts]
. 9x Dire Avenger
. Dire Avenger Exarch: Stand Firm, Two Avenger Shuriken Catapults

Warlock Skyrunners [3 PL, 60pts]: 4. Protect/Jinx
. Warlock Skyrunner: Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade

+ Fast Attack +

Swooping Hawks [4 PL, 100pts]
. 4x Swooping Hawk
. Swooping Hawk Exarch: Hawk’s Talon

Windriders [12 PL, 225pts]
. 9x Windrider – Scatter Laser: 9x Scatter Laser

+ Heavy Support +

Night Spinner [8 PL, 150pts]: Crystal Targeting Matrix, Twin Shuriken Catapult

Support Weapons [9 PL, 135pts]
. Support Weapon: Shadow Weaver
. Support Weapon: Shadow Weaver
. Support Weapon: Shadow Weaver

War Walkers [10PL, 130pts]
. War Walker: Shuriken Cannon, Shuriken Cannon
. War Walker: Shuriken Cannon, Shuriken Cannon

+ Dedicated Transport +

Wave Serpent [8 PL, 150pts]: Shuriken Cannon, Twin Shuriken Cannon

++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Harlequins) [15 PL, 10CP, 360pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Gametype: Matched

Saedath Characterisation: Dark: Dark Deeds

+ HQ +

Troupe Master [4 PL, -1CP, 110pts]: 3: A Foot in the Future, Harlequin’s Kiss, Player of the Dark, Queen of Shards, Shuriken Pistol, Stratagem: Favoured of the Laughing God, Warlord
. Cegorach’s Rose

+ Troops +

Troupe [4 PL, 90pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. 2x Player w/ Harlequin’s Caress: 2x Harlequin’s Caress
. Player w/ Harlequin’s Embrace: Harlequin’s Embrace
. Player w/ Harlequin’s Kiss: Harlequin’s Kiss

+ Elites +

Death Jester [3 PL, -1CP, 70pts]: 1: Favour of Cegorach, Harvester of Torment, Stratagem: Champion of the Aeldari

++ Total: [104 PL, 7CP, 2,000pts] ++

The Standout Features/Archetype

Masterful Shots/Expert Crafters with triple Night Spinners offers a powerful shooting base
Scatter laser Windriders pouring out weight of fire
Tooled-up Dark Saedath Troupes
It’s Baharroth again!

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

More variations on the mixed Aeldari theme of punishing the opponent for the crime of trying to exist on the table, then punishing them more when they try and push back. Here, three Night Spinners provide the To The Last targets, with Crystal Targeting Matrixes both providing a minor boost in some situations (quite a few of the UKTC maps end up with Indirect firing across Dense) and also tweaking the points upward so that they remain as two of the TTL targets alongside the Windriders. Those (and the Shadow Weavers) force the opponent to commit, and then Dire Avengers out of a Serpent plus some Dark Saedath troupes deal a hefty chunk of damage when the opponent closes, and the list is generally challenging enough to pin down that the opponent isn’t going to deal sufficient damage to avoid getting withered to death by all the artillery and massed firepower.

Baharroth also shines here just in the role of a utility objective grabber – one of the army’s only weaknesses is that it doesn’t have that many units that want to be out in the open once the Starweavers die, so being able to non-negotiably take an objective for a turn against Tau if they’re waving a bunch of guns around can be clutch. The War Walkers can also slot into that position grabbing role if needed, and I imagine there are going to be some games where Phantasming them into a position to be annoying when you go first is valuable too. The only real issue I can see with this list is that having the Windriders as a To The Last target can be a bit of a liability into opposing indirect fire, as they’re still somewhat fragile in the face of that (though at least have a 3+ save base in the new book).

It’s great to see Konrad back to repping the Aeldari after a long break, and it’s a great finish for him here.

Stephen Box – Harlequins – 5th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Harlequins) [89 PL, 2,000pts, 8CP] ++

+ Configuration [12CP] +

Saedath Characterisation: Dark: Dark Deeds

+ Stratagems [-2CP] +

Stratagem: Treasures of the Aeldari [-1CP]

+ HQ [9 PL, 235pts, -1CP] +

Shadowseer [5 PL, 125pts]: 2. Fog of Dreams (Blessing), 6. Webway Dance (Aura) (Blessing), Hallucinogen Grenade Launcher, Mirror Architect [25pts], Miststave, Shuriken Pistol, Smite
. The Laughing God’s Eye: Treasures of the Aeldari Relic

Troupe Master [4 PL, 110pts, -1CP]: 3: A Foot in the Future, Harlequin’s Kiss [10pts], Plasma Grenades, Player of the Dark, Queen of Shards [25pts], Shuriken Pistol, Stratagem: Favoured of the Laughing God [-1CP], Warlord
. Cegorach’s Rose: Treasures of the Aeldari Relic

+ Troops [24 PL, 510pts] +

Troupe [4 PL, 90pts]
. Lead Player [18pts]: Harlequin’s Kiss [5pts], Plasma Grenades, Shuriken Pistol
. 2x Player w/ Harlequin’s Caress [36pts]: 2x Harlequin’s Caress [10pts], 2x Plasma Grenades, 2x Shuriken Pistol
. 2x Player w/ Harlequin’s Kiss [36pts]: 2x Harlequin’s Kiss [10pts], 2x Plasma Grenades, 2x Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [4 PL, 85pts]
. Lead Player [18pts]: Harlequin’s Kiss [5pts], Plasma Grenades, Shuriken Pistol
. Player w/ Blade [13pts]: Harlequin’s Blade, Plasma Grenades, Shuriken Pistol
. 2x Player w/ Harlequin’s Caress [36pts]: 2x Harlequin’s Caress [10pts], 2x Plasma Grenades, 2x Shuriken Pistol
. Player w/ Harlequin’s Kiss [18pts]: Harlequin’s Kiss [5pts], Plasma Grenades, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [4 PL, 65pts]
. Lead Player [13pts]: Harlequin’s Blade, Plasma Grenades, Shuriken Pistol
. 4x Player w/ Blade [52pts]: 4x Harlequin’s Blade, 4x Plasma Grenades, 4x Shuriken Pistol

+ Elites [12 PL, 255pts, -1CP] +

Death Jester [3 PL, 70pts, -1CP]: 1: Favour of Cegorach, Harvester of Torment [15pts], Jester’s Blade, Shrieker Cannon, Stratagem: Champion of the Aeldari [-1CP]

Death Jester [3 PL, 75pts]: Jester’s Blade, Rift Ghoul [20pts], Shrieker Cannon
. The Suit of Hidden Knives: Treasures of the Aeldari Relic

Solitaire [6 PL, 110pts]: Solitaire’s Weapons

+ Fast Attack [24 PL, 600pts] +

Skyweavers [8 PL, 200pts]
. Skyweaver [50pts]: Shuriken Cannon, Zephyrglaive [5pts]
. Skyweaver [50pts]: Shuriken Cannon, Zephyrglaive [5pts]
. Skyweaver [50pts]: Shuriken Cannon, Zephyrglaive [5pts]
. Skyweaver [50pts]: Shuriken Cannon, Zephyrglaive [5pts]

+ Dedicated Transport [20 PL, 400pts] +

Starweaver [4 PL, 80pts]: 2x Shuriken Cannon

++ Total: [89 PL, 8CP, 2,000pts] ++

The Standout Features/Archetype

Dark Saedath Harlequins
No Voidweavers in sight!
12 Skyweaver jetbikes and some tooled-up Troupes

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

We wouldn’t normally talk about the 5th placed list here, but neatly Stephen was the only other undefeated player before a mass of 4-1s. He finished 2nd on battle points but bowed out of the knockouts due to travel pressures, and he brought a genuinely different take on Harlequins so it makes sense to talk about his list in full and skip the usual Rest of the Best section.

And what a list! The main differentiation in Harlequins lists this week is down to whether they took 6 Voidweavers or the full 9; Steve skips them all and runs Dark Saedath with Skyweavers instead. This is (clearly, given the result) not a bad call as a way to attack a metagame full of Light Voidweavers, as the Skyweavers are fast enough to force the Voids to backline to not get tagged early, and can rush them down from cover as soon as they emerge, probably able to declare enough charges from short enough distances to overwhelm Capricious Reflections and Feigned Retreat and thus significantly degrading the damage dealing abilities of the opposed clowns. The plan is also strong on UKTC boards specifically, because a lot of the maps have good places to hide or stage a unit of these, and without indirect firepower to prise them out the enemy lists that are using Voidweavers as their prime damage dealers may not have great options to pull that off, and risk a vicious counterattack if they try and wrap around the sides.

Against anyone else the opponent is still going to be dealing with the annoyance that is pushing damage through re-roll prevention effects and Luck of the Laughing God, with all the added pressure of charges out of nowhere from the bikes (especially scary for Tau, with Silken Knife even preventing any chance of Overwatch). The only caveat to throw here is that it will really struggle into Crusher Stampede, as it’s traded out big damage weapons for lots more D2, but with many of the UK’s best Crusher players moving over to Aeldari at speed, that’s a bit less of a risk than it was. Congratulations to Stephen on the strong finish, and we’re a bit sad that we didn’t get to see this tested in the top four!

[Challenger] Kraków Arena 2022

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – The Scouring

Kristian Krawcyzk – Harlequins – Light Saedath, a few more Starweavers in there and only six Voidweavers.

Army List - Click to Expand

PLAYER: Krystian Krawczyk KR414
TK: [KR 414] Krystian Krawczyk
GV: Ransus

+ ARMY FACTION: AELDARI – Harlequins
+ TOTAL COMMAND POINTS: 12 -1 -1 -2 = 8CP
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS:
+ TOTAL KILL POINTS / NUMBER OF UNITS: 19
+ TOTAL MODELS: 47
+ REINFORCEMENT POINTS: 2
+ PRE GAME STRATEGEMS: Favoured of the laughing god, Champion of the Aeldari, 2x Treasures of the Aeldari

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES INFORMATION:
No Prisoners: 36 / 3VP
To the Last Units: 2x Voidweavers, Shadowseer/Solitaire
Titan Hunter: 0
Bring it Down: 12
Assassination: 16
Abhor the Witch: 3

===== Batalion Detachment (Aeldari – Harlequins: Light) [0CP, 2135pts] =====

HQ1: Shadowseer (100)(Mirror Architect(25), Neuro Disruptor(5)) [130pts, 6PL]
Powers: 2. Fog of dreams, 6. Webway Dance(Aura)
Artefact: Treasures of the Aeldari: Shadow Stone

HQ2: Troupe Master(75)(WARLORD, Queen of Shards(25), Fusion Pistol(5), Harlequin’s Kiss(10)) [115, 5PL]
Artefact: Cegorach’s Rose
Warlord Trait: Pleyer of the light, Favoured of the laughing god: A Foot in the Future

HQ3: Troupe Master(75)(Veiled King(20), Fusion Pistol(5), Harlequin’s Power Sword(5) [105, 5PL]
Artefact: Treasures of the Aeldari: The Storied Sword

TR1: 5x Player(13)(2x Fusion Pistol(5), 2x Neuro Disruptor(5), 1x Harlequin’s Kiss(5), 1x Harlequin’s Caress(5), 1x Harlequin’s Embrace(5)) [100pts, 4PL] – RED
Champion: Kiss & Fusion Pistol
Player: Embrace & Fusion Pistol
Player Caress & Neuro Disruptor
Player: Sword & Neuro Disruptor
Player: Sword & Shuriken Pistol

TR2: 5x Player(13)(2x Fusion Pistol(5), 2x Neuro Disruptor(5), 1x Harlequin’s Kiss(5), 1x Harlequin’s Caress(5), 1x Harlequin’s Embrace(5)) [100pts, 4PL] – PURPLE
Champion: Kiss & Fusion Pistol
Player: Embrace & Fusion Pistol
Player Caress & Neuro Disruptor
Player: Sword & Neuro Disruptor
Player: Sword & Shuriken Pistol

TR3: 5x Player(13)(2x Fusion Pistol(5), 2x Neuro Disruptor(5), 1x Harlequin’s Caress(5), 1x Harlequin’s Embrace(5)) [95pts, 4PL] – BLUE
Champion: Caress & Fusion Pistol
Player: Embrace & Fusion Pistol
2 Player: Sword & Neuro Disruptor
Player: Sword & Shuriken Pistol

TR4: 5x Player(13)(2x Fusion Pistol(5), 2x Neuro Disruptor(5), 1x Harlequin’s Kiss(5)) [90pts, 4PL] – BLACK
Champion: Kiss & Fusion Pistol
Player: Sword & Fusion Pistol
2 Player: Sword & Neuro Disruptor
Player: Sword & Shuriken Pistol

TR5: 5x Player(13)(2x Fusion Pistol(5), 2x Neuro Disruptor(5), 1x Harlequin’s Kiss(5)) [90pts, 4PL] – YELLOW
Champion: Kiss & Fusion Pistol
Player: Sword & Fusion Pistol
2 Player: Sword & Neuro Disruptor
Player: Sword & Shuriken Pistol

TR6: 5x Player(13)(2x Fusion Pistol(5), 2x Neuro Disruptor(5), 1x Harlequin’s Kiss(5)) [90pts, 4PL] – GREEN
Champion: Kiss & Fusion Pistol
Player: Sword & Fusion Pistol
2 Player: Sword & Neuro Disruptor
Player: Sword & Shuriken Pistol

E1: Death Jester(55)(Harvester of Torment(15)) [70pts, 4PL]
Warlord Trait: Champion of the Aeldari: Favour of Cegorach

E2: Solitaire(110)(Prince of Sins(20)) [130pts, 7PL]

DT1: Starweaver(80) [80pts, 4PL]
DT2: Starweaver(80) [80pts, 4PL]
DT3: Starweaver(80) [80pts, 4PL]
DT4: Starweaver(80) [80pts, 4PL]
DT5: Starweaver(80) [80pts, 4PL]
DT6: Starweaver(80) [80pts, 4PL]

HS1: 3x Voidweaver(90)(3x Prismatic Cannon(0)) [270pts, 15PL]
HS2: 3x Voidweaver(90)(3x Prismatic Cannon(0)) [270pts, 15PL]

vs.

Michał Gogi Cieślik – Harlequins – Michał mixes it up with some Dark Saedath Harlequins rocking… 9 Voidweavers.

Army List - Click to Expand

+ PLAYER: Michał Cieślik Gogi WA719
+ TK: Player’s: Michał Gogi Cieślik
+ GV: Gogi
+ ID: WA719
+ ARMY FACTION: Harlequins
+ TOTAL COMMAND POINTS: 12-1-1=10
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2136 (111 PL)
+ TOTAL KILL POINTS / NUMBER OF UNITS: 15
+ TOTAL MODELS: 62
+ REINFORCEMENT POINTS: 1
+ PRE GAME STRATEGEMS: Favoured of the Laughing God (x1), Treasures of the Aeldari (x1)

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES INFORMATION:

No Prisoners: 6 (53 wounds)
To the Last Units: 3x 3xVoidweavers
Titan Hunter: 0
Bring it Down: 12
Assassination: 10
Abhor the Witch: 3
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
== Battalion Detachment (Harlequins – Dark) (0 CP) ==
HQ1: (4PL) Troupe Master (75), relic: Cegorach’s Rose (10), pivotal role: Veiled King (20) – [105] – warlord: A foot in the future. Favoured of the Laughing God: Player of the Dark
HQ2: (5PL) Shadowseer (100, extra relic: The Laughing God’s Eye, pivotal role: Mirror Architect (25) – [125], psychc powers: Webway Dance, Mirror of Minds

T1: (9PL) 10x Player (130), Lead Player: harlequin’s kiss (5), 1x Player: harlequin’s embrace (5), 1x Player: harlequin’s caress (5) – [145]
T2: (9PL) 10x Player (130), Lead Player: harlequin’s kiss (5), 1x Player: harlequin’s embrace (5), 1x Player: harlequin’s caress (5) – [145]
T3: (9PL) 10x Player (130), Lead Player: harlequin’s kiss (5), 1x Player: harlequin’s embrace (5), 1x Player: harlequin’s caress (5) – [145]
T4: (4PL) 5x Player (65), Lead Player: fusion pistol (5), harlequin’s kiss (5), 1x Player: fusion pistol (5), 1x Player: neuro distruptor (5) – [85]
T5: (4PL) 6x Player (78), Lead Player: fusion pistol (5), harlequin’s kiss (5), 1x Player: fusion pistol (5), 2x Players: neuro distruptor (10) – [103]
T6: (4PL) 6x Player (78), Lead Player: fusion pistol (5), harlequin’s kiss (5), 1x Player: fusion pistol (5), 2x Players: neuro distruptor (10) – [103]

E1: (6PL) Solitaire (110), pivotal role: Prince of Sins (20) – [130]

HS1: (15PL) 3x Voidweaver (270), 3x prismatic cannon (0) – [270]
HS2: (15PL) 3x Voidweaver (270), 3x prismatic cannon (0) – [270]
HS3: (15PL) 3x Voidweaver (270), 3x prismatic cannon (0) – [270]

DT1: (4PL) Starweaver (80) – [80]
DT2: (4PL) Starweaver (80) – [80]
DT3: (4PL) Starweaver (80) – [80]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thoughts

Dark vs. Light makes a change from Light vs. Light, but unfortunately rapidly highlights why Light is king unless you build a very specific Dark list (i.e. spamming Skyweavers). Although the Dark list here has more Voidweavers to play with, it’s also got far more vehicular targets to try and take down, and the Light list has far more dispersed sources of damage, with more and nastier characters and maximum guns in every boat. All that extra fusion forces the Dark list to stay more bottled up around its Mirror Architect, but that risks getting tied up by bully charges from Starweavers fairly quickly.

The real matchup breaker here is Capricious Reflections though, as it makes the foot Troupes that the Dark list is heavily invested in far less useful than they really should be, as they need to get super close to try a charge at all and can still fluff it. That in the face of the Light list being fully mechanised means that it’s going to be enormously tough for the Dark army to get a handle on this game – they’re going to start losing meaningful stuff much more quickly, and will run out of the more expendable mobile stuff first too. Not a good combination, and a very convincing Light Saedath victory ensured.

Result

Harlequins Victory – 19-1 to Krystian

Kristian Krawcyzk – Harlequins – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown.

The Standout Features/Archetype

Light Saedath Harlequins

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Nothing much new here, just more, using the extra points to heavily tool up the Troupes and add an extra Troupe Master. I imagine that felt good. Congratulations to Kristian.

Emanuel Furmańczyk – T’au Empire – 2nd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+ PLAYER: Emanuel Furmanczyk, Eman, KRK002
+ TK: Emanuel Furmanczyk
+ GV: Eman
+ ARMY FACTION: XENOS, Tau, Farsight Enclaves Allied World
+ COMMAND POINTS: 12 + 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 = 6
+ WARLORD: Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (Precision of the Hunter)
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2135
+ TOTAL KILL POINTS: 14
+ TOTAL MODELS: 84
+ REINFORCEMENT POINTS: 0
+ PRE-GAME STRATEGEMS: Promising Pupil (x2), Emergency Dispensation (2x Additional Relics)

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES INFORMATION:

No Prisoners: 16
To the Last Units: Crisis Battlesuits EL1, Crisis Battlesuits EL3, Crisis Battlesuits E4
Titan Hunter: 0
Bring it Down: 2
Assassination: 10
Abhor the Witch: 0

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
== Patrol Detachement (Xenos – Tau – Farsight Enclaves Allied World)(-2 CP)

HQ1: Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit: WARLORD (TRAIT: Precision of the Hunter), Tau Flamer (Prototype: Thermoneutronic Projector), 2x Cyclic Ion Blaster, Shield Generator, RELIC: Onager Gauntlet , 1x Shield Drone = (10PL, 187pts)

HQ2: Ethereal: Promising Pupil (TRAIT: Through Boldness, Victory), Emergency Dispensation (RELIC: The Humble Stave), Invocations: Sense of Stone, Wisdom of the Guides, Hover Drone, 1x Marker Drone, 1x Shield Drone = (5PL, 87pts)

TROOP1: Breacher Team: 10x Breacher Fire Warrior = (5PL, 85pts)

EL1: Crisis Battlesuits: 5x Crisis Battlesuit, 1x Iridium Battlesuit, Prototype: Stimm Injectors, 5x Cyclic Ion Blaster, 10x Plasma Rifle, 5x Shield Generator, 4x Shield Drone = (21PL, 363pts)

EL2: Stealth Battlesuit: 3x Stealth Battlesuit, 3x Burst Cannon, Homing Beacon, 1x Shield Drone, 1x Marker Drone = (5PL, 102pts)

FA1: Kroot Hounds: 4x Kroot Hound = (1PL, 24pts)

HS1: Broadside Battlesuits: 2x Broadside Battlesuit, 2x Heavy Rail Rifle, 2x Twin Smart Missile System, 2x Stabilised Optics, 3x Shield Drone, 1x Marker Drone = (12PL, 226pts)

DT1: Devilfish: 2x Smart Missile System = (6PL, 105pts)

=======================================================================
== Patrol Detachement (Xenos – Tau – Farsight Enclaves Allied World)(-4 CP)

HQ3: Commander in Crisis Battlesuit: Promising Pupil (TRAIT: Exemplar of Kauyon), Iridium Battlesuit, Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Cyclic Ion Blaster, Shield Generator, Emergency Dispensation (RELIC: Be'gel Hunter's Plate), 1x Shield Drone, 1x Marker Drone = (8PL, 162pts)

TROOP2: Kroot Carnivores: 10x Kroot = (3PL, 60pts)

TROOP3: Kroot Carnivores: 10x Kroot = (3PL, 60pts)

EL3: Crisis Battlesuits: 5x Crisis Battlesuit, 1x Iridium Battlesuit, 5x Cyclic Ion Blaster, 10x Plasma Rifle, 5x Shield Generator, 4x Shield Drone = (21PL, 353pts)

EL4: Crisis Battlesuits: 5x Crisis Battlesuit, 1x Iridium Battlesuit, 10x Airbursting Fragmentation Projector, 5x Tau Flamer, 5x Target Lock, 3x Shield Drone = (20PL, 291pts)

FA2: Kroot Hounds: 5x Kroot Hound = (2PL, 30pts)

=======================================================================
++ Total: [121 PL, 2135pts] ++

Archetype

Outer Enclaves

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Another well known archetype made even nastier with extra points – here they allow the list to stretch to including a Devilfish with Breachers as well as three tooled-up Crisis Teams and two Broadsides. That adds some extra redundancy and flexibility to an already brutally potent list, so it’s no surprise to see it in second.

Michal Chruszczow – Harlequins – 3rd Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

PLAYER: Michal Chruszczow
+ ARMY FACTION: Aeldari Harlequins
+ TOTAL COMMAND POINTS: 12 – 1 -1 = 10
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2135
+ TOTAL KILL POINTS / NUMBER OF UNITS: 17
+ TOTAL MODELS: 40
+ PRE GAME STRATEGEMS: Treasures of the Aeldari, Champion of the Aeldari

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES INFORMATION:

No Prisoners: 30
To the Last Units: 3 x 3 Voidweavers
Titan Hunter: N/A
Bring it Down: 13
Assassination: 16
Abhor the Witch: 3

Light Masque
HQ1: Troupe Master [4 PL, 105pts]
—— Warlord
—— Relic: Cegorach’s Rose (10)
—— A Foot in the Future
—— Pivotal Role: Veiled King

HQ2: Shadowseer [5 PL, 125pts]
—— Relic: Shadow Stone (-1CP)
—— Mirror of Minds
—— Webway Dance
—— Pivotal Role: Mirror Architect

EL1: Solitaire [130]
—— Pivotal Role: Prince of Sins (20)

EL2:Death Jester [70]
—— Pivotal Role: Harvester of Torment (15)
—— Traits: Favour of Cegorath (-1CP)

EL3:Death Jester [75]
—— Pivotal Role: Lord of Crystal Bones (20)

TR1: 5 Players [4 PL, 100pts] Kiss x3, Caress, Embrace, 2x Fusion Pistol
TR2: 5 Players [4 PL, 100pts] Kiss x3, Caress, Embrace, 2x Fusion Pistol
TR3: 5 Players [4 PL, 100pts] Kiss x3, Caress, Embrace, 2x Fusion Pistol
TR4: 5 Players [4 PL, 100pts] Kiss x3, Caress, Embrace, 2x Fusion Pistol

FA: 2 Skyweavers: Shuriken Cannon, Zephyrglaive [4 PL, 100pts]

HS1: 3 Voidweavers (Prismatic Cannon) [270]
HS2: 3 Voidweavers (Prismatic Cannon) [270]
HS3: 3 Voidweavers (Prismatic Cannon) [270]

TRANSPORT1: Starweaver [80]
TRANSPORT2: Starweaver [80]
TRANSPORT3: Starweaver [80]
TRANSPORT3: Starweaver [80]

The Standout Features/Archetype

Light Saedath Voidweavers

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

There’s a couple Skyweavers in there I guess. You’d probably take them out in a list played at a good, honest points value like 2k.

Paweł “Kruker” Kruk – Tyranids – 4th Place

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+ PLAYER: Paweł “Kruker” Kruk RZ008
+ TK: Kruker
+ GV: kruker
+ ARMY FACTION: Tyranids, Leviathan
+ TOTAL COMMAND POINTS: 12 – 1(Bounty of the Hive Fleet) – 1(Progeny of the Hive) -1(Alpha Leader-Beast) = 9
+ COMMAND POINTS AFTER PRE GAME SPENDING: 9
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2137
+ REINFORCEMENT POINTS: 0
+ TOTAL POWER LEVEL: 112
+ TOTAL KILL POINTS: 13
+ TOTAL MODELS: 21
+ PRE GAME STRATEGEMS: Bounty of the Hive Fleet 1CP, Progeny of the Hive 1CP, Alpha Leader-Beast 1CP
+ WARLORD TRAIT: Swarm Leader, Strategic Adaptation

Secondary Objectives Information
No Prisoner: 36
To the Last Units: Swarmlord, Dimachaeron, Dimachaeron
Titan Hunter: N/A
Bring it Down: 20
Assasination: 10
Abhor the Witch: 9
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [112 PL, 9CP, 2,137pts] ++
Army of Renown – Crusher Stampede
Hive Fleet: Leviathan

HQ1: Hive Tyrant [11 PL 215pts]: 2x Monstrous Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands, Power: Aggressive Surge, Power: Synaptic Barrier, Relic: Biomorphic Carapace, Toxin Sacs, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Strategic Adaptation, Wings, Adaptive Physiology: Murderous Size (Monstrous Scything Talons)
HQ2: The Swarmlord [14 PL, 240pts]: Power: Catalyst, Power: Onslaught
HQ3: Hive Tyrant [11 PL, 230pts]: Adrenal Glands, Monstrous Boneswords, Relic: Synaptic Hive Blades, Stranglethorn Cannon, Toxin Sacs, Wings, Adaptive Physiology: Murderous Size (Monstrous Boneswords), Power: Aggressive Surge, Power: Infused Energies

TR1: Tyranid Warriors [5 PL, 70pts]: Synaptic Link: Bioweapon Bond, 2x Tyranid Warrior: Rending Claws, Scything Talons, 1x Tyranid Warrior: 2x Scything Talons
TR2: Tyranid Warriors [5 PL, 66pts]: Synaptic Link: Bioweapon Bond, 3×2 Scything Talons
TR3: Tyranid Warriors [5 PL, 66pts]: Synaptic Link: Bioweapon Bond, 3×2 Scything Talons

FA1: Dimachaeron [14 PL, 280pts]
FA2: Dimachaeron [14 PL, 280pts]
FA3: Raveners [3 PL, 60pts] 3xRavener: Deathspitter, Rending Claws, Scything Talons

HS1: Exocrine [8 PL, 155pts]
HS2: Trygon [8 PL, 165pts]: Adrenal Glands, Prehensile Pincer Tail, Toxin Sacs

FL1: Harpy [8 PL, 155pts]: 2x Stranglethorn Cannon
FL2: Harpy [8 PL, 155pts]: 2x Stranglethorn Cannon

The Standout Features/Archetype

Crusher Stampede

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Oh look it’s fucking Crusher Stampede again. At least it’s not more Harlequins.

Wings: Similar to Innes’ build, the advent of Harlequins means that Hierodule season is over, and we’re back to Dimachaeron/Harpy season, because being able to go fast and Break things is your key out into the Aeldari menace.

The Rest of the Best

Neatly the top 4 was also all the 4-1s, so there is no rest this time. Shout out to our sometimes contributor Danny Porter, who managed to go 5-0 with GSC and finish 10th. Whether this is a strength or a drawback of the 20-0 system is left as an exercise for the reader.

The Portal 40k Spring GT

All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Note: There were three undefeated players entering round five, so we’ve featured the matchup where two 4-0 players squared off.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Unknown

Daniel Wohlmuth – Asuryani – Ulthwe combining finesse melee options with artillery and evasive firepower to pin the opponent down on many fronts.

Army List - Click to Expand

Craftworld Eldar [1997pts, 8CP]
Patrol Detachment 0CP (Asuryani) [63pl, 1232pts]
Craftworld: Ulthwe

+HQ+
Jain Zar [7pl, 140pts]
Baharroth [7pl, 140pts]

+TROOPS+
Rangers [3pl, 65pts] x5

+ELITES+
Howling Banshees [5pl,105pts] x5, Mirrorswords, Piercing Strikes
Howling Banshees [4pl, 90pts] x5, Mirrorswords

+FAST ATTACK+
Swooping Hawks [8pl, 162pts] x9, Lasblaster x9, Relic(-1CP): Phoenix Plume
Shining Spears [6pl, 120pts] x3, Twin ShuriCat, Laser Lance x2, Paragon Saber, Heartstrike, Relic: Khaines Lance

+HEAVY SUPPORT+
Falcon [9pl, 140pts] Twin Shuriken Catapult, Scatter Laser
Support Weapons [6pl, 130pts] x2, D-Cannon x2

+DEDICATED TRANSPORT+
Wave Serpent [8pl, 140pts] Twin Shuriken Catapult, Twin Shuriken Cannon

Patrol Detachment -2CP (Asuryani) [41pl, 765pts]
Craftworld: Ulthwe

+No Force Org+
Warlock Skyrunner [3pl, 60pts]: Protect/Jinx, WLT(-1CP): Fate Reader

+HQ+
Farseer [5pl, 90pts]: Will of Asuryan, Guide, Ghostwalk, Warlord:Seer of the Shifting Vector, Relic:Ghosthelm of Alishazier
Farseer Skyrunner [6pl, 120pts]: Doom, Executioner

+TROOPS+
Rangers [4pl, 65pts] x5

+ELITES+
Dire Avengers [3pl, 65pts] x5, Avenger Shuriken Catapult x6
Howling Banshees [4pl, 90pts] x5, Mirrorswords

+HEAVY SUPPORT+
Nightspinner [8pl, 140pts] Twin Shuriken Catapult
Nightspinner [8pl, 140pts] Twin Shuriken Catapult

(Totals: 8 Starting CP, 22 Units, 53 No Prisoner Wounds, 5 Character Models, 6 Vehicles[10pts])

vs.

Joseph Demastrie – Harlequins – Light Saedath with six Voidweavers and some Skyweavers.

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Harlequins) [96 PL, 9CP, 2,000pts] ++
Saedath Characterisation: Light: Blaze of Light

+ Stratagems +
Stratagem: Treasures of the Aeldari [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Shadowseer [5 PL, 125pts]: 1. Twilight Pathways (Blessing), 6. Webway Dance (Aura) (Blessing), Mirror Architect, Shuriken Pistol
. Shadow Stone

Troupe Master [4 PL, -1CP, 110pts]: 3: A Foot in the Future, Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress, Player of the Light, Stratagem: Favoured of the Laughing God, Veiled King, Warlord
. The Suit of Hidden Knives

+ Troops +

Troupe [4 PL, 100pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [4 PL, 95pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Caress, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Shuriken Pistol

+ Elites +

Death Jester [3 PL, -1CP, 70pts]: 1: Favour of Cegorach, Harvester of Torment, Stratagem: Champion of the Aeldari

Solitaire [6 PL, 110pts]

+ Fast Attack +

Skyweavers [8 PL, 165pts]
. Skyweaver: Skyweaver Haywire Cannon, Zephyrglaive
. Skyweaver: Skyweaver Haywire Cannon, Zephyrglaive
. Skyweaver: Skyweaver Haywire Cannon, Zephyrglaive

+ Heavy Support +

Voidweavers [10 PL, 180pts]
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon

+ Dedicated Transport +

Starweaver [4 PL, 80pts]

++ Total: [96 PL, 9CP, 2,000pts] ++

Thoughts

One side of this needs no introduction – Joseph has mixed up the formula of Voidweaver spam a bit, cutting one from each unit to add Skyweavers that can potentially be useful in the mirror, but the core plan of just being incredibly deadly, fast and hard to deal with remains.

On the other side of the table the other half of the Craftworld codex rides solo, with Daniel putting together a powerful Ulthwe concoction that had already put paid to two Harlequin players in the run up to the final round. In keeping with lots of Craftworld armies, it has a strong To The Last plan (exceptional flexibility of options here), artillery to force the opponent’s hand and some hard to engage with shooting threats, but is distinctly different to the other builds we’ve seen today. Daniel was kind enough to send us some thoughts about his army, and it’s very cool.

For starters, one of the shooting threats is Swooping Hawks, a unit that’s been getting some increasing hype behind them as people have tried them out, and only look stronger as Harlequins become more dominant – they give you loads of shots and access to mortals from Grenade Pack, and their drawbacks (weakness to indirect, lack of AP) are totally irrelevant in the Harlequin game – here they rule. Keeping the opponent bottled up while the shooting does its work we also see Howling Banshees make an appearance, three units with mirrorswords to be precise. Even on the two units without an Exarch power, the volume of attacks the mirrorswords give them lets them operate a bit like Incubi, threatening to charge down and trade up into quite a lot of things, and being (again) especially well statted for Harlequin games. Making whatever they charge Fight Last is also huge into Harlequins, as it means that if multiple Troupes need to be mopped up in a single phase then they can just do that without needing to worry about interrupts. Having Jain Zar along for the ride only doubles down on that, and combining her ObSec aura with the ability to pick up lots of enemy Troop choices at once if needed can provide a powerful primary swing. Baharroth also retains his reserved slot in every Asuryani list, providing another angle for ObSec play.

Finally, this list manages to pack in two Farseers and a bike Warlock, providing it with considerable psychic might and also allowing it to really leverage Eldritch Storm in games where it’s good…one of which happens to be Harlequins. The clowns are heavily incentivised to cluster up around their Shadowseer, but if they do here then a massive, double boosted Storm can be dropped on their heads for spectacular damage, and with the army having plenty of different ways to chip the last two wounds left off a boat after this, that can be a brutal swing. Daniel apparently used this a lot over the course of the event, and thanks to the strengths of his list was able to pick the comfortable combination of To The Last, Stranglehold and Psychic Ritual in almost every game.

It also provides the power to properly confront the Light Saedath menace, and potentially beat them at their own game. The combination of artillery and the looming threat of Eldritch Storm mean that the Asuryani are actually going to be in the driving seat as regards how the game kicks off – Harlequins need to move out to bring their guns to bear, and if they stay too clustered up they’re getting a lot of mortals dropped on them. When they do come out, however, the Asuryani can then focus on trying to strip away their ObSec stuff as quickly as possible, using pesty melee units to tie down any shooting units that stray too close, and then using the Phoenix Lords to lock down the game – remove the Troupes and these are suddenly a challenge for the Harlequins to one-round, and will always threaten to use some Strands of Fate auto-saves in the Fight Phase to hold on at a key moment and take a massive Primary swing. This particular Light build is also especially vulnerable to the Craftworld plan – the threats being wider and shallower makes it more vulnerable to big Mortal Wound drops, and the Skyweavers don’t feel like they add as much payoff as they would in a mirror.

Daniel was, in fact, able to convert that into a win, flying the Asuryani flag successfully and adding yet another list to the pile of ones that I really want to give a go myself.

Result

Asuryani Victory – 97-42

Benjamin Rubenstein – T’au Empire – 1st Place

Tau Broadside Battlesuit with Railgun. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (T’au Empire) [106 PL, 7CP, 1,850pts] ++
Sept Choice: T’au Sept

+ Stratagems +
Stratagem: Emergency Dispensation [-1CP]: Additional Relics

+ No Force Org Slot +

Crisis Bodyguards [8 PL, 126pts]
. Crisis Bodyguard Shas’ui: Burst Cannon, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. Crisis Bodyguard Shas’vre: Burst Cannon, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock
. 3x Gun Drone: 6x Pulse Carbine
. Shield Drone

+ HQ +

Commander in Crisis Battlesuit [9 PL, -1CP, 165pts]: 1. Precision of the Hunter, Missile Pod, Onager Gauntlet, Plasma Rifle, Shield Generator, Stratagem: Promising Pupil, T’au Flamer, Thermoneutronic Projector
. 2x Marker Drone: 2x Markerlight

Ethereal [5 PL, -1CP, 85pts]: 2. Sense of Stone, 6. Exemplar of the Mont’ka, 6. Wisdom of the Guides, Hover Drone, Stratagem: Promising Pupil, The Humble Stave
. 2x Marker Drone: 2x Markerlight

+ Troops +

Kroot Carnivores [3 PL, 60pts]
. 10x Kroot: 10x Kroot Rifle, 10x Quill Grenades

+ Elites +

Crisis Battlesuits [21 PL, 336pts]
. Crisis Shas’ui: Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Shield Generator, T’au Flamer
. Crisis Shas’ui: Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Shield Generator, T’au Flamer
. Crisis Shas’ui: Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Shield Generator, T’au Flamer
. Crisis Shas’ui: Iridium battlesuit, Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Shield Generator, T’au Flamer
. Crisis Shas’vre: Plasma Rifle, Plasma Rifle, Shield Generator, T’au Flamer
. 2x Marker Drone: 2x Markerlight
. 3x Shield Drone: 3x Shield Generator

Crisis Battlesuits [21 PL, 334pts]
. Crisis Shas’ui: Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, Shield Generator, T’au Flamer
. Crisis Shas’ui: Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, Shield Generator, T’au Flamer
. Crisis Shas’ui: Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, Shield Generator, T’au Flamer
. Crisis Shas’ui: Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, Shield Generator, T’au Flamer
. Crisis Shas’vre: Burst Cannon, Burst Cannon, Iridium battlesuit, Shield Generator, Stimm Injectors, T’au Flamer
. Gun Drone
. 3x Shield Drone: 3x Shield Generator

+ Fast Attack +

Kroot Hounds [1 PL, 24pts]
. 4x Kroot Hound: 4x Ripping Fangs

Tactical Drones [2 PL, 40pts]
. 4x Marker Drone: 4x Markerlight

+ Heavy Support +

Broadside Battlesuits [18 PL, 340pts]
. Broadside Shas’ui: Heavy Rail Rifle, Stabilised Optics, Twin Smart Missile System
. Broadside Shas’ui: Heavy Rail Rifle, Stabilised Optics, Twin Smart Missile System
. Broadside Shas’vre: Heavy Rail Rifle, Stabilised Optics, Twin Smart Missile System
. Marker Drone
. 5x Shield Drone: 5x Shield Generator

++ Supreme Command Detachment +2CP (T’au Empire) [8 PL, 2CP, 150pts] ++
Sept Choice: T’au Sept

+ Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander +

Commander Shadowsun [8 PL, 150pts]: 2x High-energy Fusion Blaster, Warlord

++ Total: [114 PL, 9CP, 2,000pts] ++

Archetype

Crisis and Broadside Spam

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

In common with other successful Tau lists this week Benjamin’s list eschews utility units in favour of packing as many powerhouses in as possible, including plenty of Broadside Battlesuits with which to chip away at clown cars. Stabilised Optics on the Broadsides also potentially sets this list up to play a more defensive Kauyon game if the matchup demands it, which with three very tough TTL choices and loads of smart missiles, might prove to be worthwhile quite a bit of the time. There really is no such thing as overkill when kitting out a list for the metagame right now, and Benjamin joins the ranks of players who have successfully identified that and reaped the rewards.

Daniel Wohlmuth – Asuryani – 2nd Place ✪

The List

See Showdown

Archetype

Ulthwe Trickiness

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Covered in the showdown – this list uses lots of the Asuryani’s best disruptive tools to keep the opponent at bay while dealing withering amounts of damage, and can lean in hard to unleashing psychic firepower if the situation calls for it. Great work from Daniel.

The Rest of the Best

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

3rd – Trevor Harris – Adeptus Custodes: Emperor’s Chosen Goodstuff
4th – Adam Weinstein – Harlequins: Light Saedath Voidweaver spam
5th – Daniel Meyer – Drukhari: Never thought you’d be excited to see Drukhari here, did you? Daniel brings three Black Heart Ravagers to back up some Prophets of Flesh Grotesques and 30 Wracks
6th – Cullen Burns – Asuryani: Ulthwe Spearhead with 20 Striking Scorpions and Karandras plus some truly grotesque artillery spam – 9 D-cannons and 3 Night Spinners
7th – Joseph Demastrie – Harlequins: See Showdown.

Mythicos Studios Mahwah Lepricon 2022 Grand Tournament

All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Unknown

Anthony Vanella – Harlequins – Light Saedath bullshit like you already saw five times this week, this time with only six Voidweavers.

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Harlequins) [66 PL, 2,000pts, 8CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment Command Cost

Saedath Characterisation: Light: Blaze of Light

+ Stratagems +

Stratagem: Treasures of the Aeldari [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Shadowseer [5 PL, 125pts]: 3. Mirror of Minds (Witchfire), 6. Webway Dance (Aura) (Blessing), Mirror Architect, Shuriken Pistol
. Shadow Stone

Troupe Master [4 PL, 105pts]: Aeldari Power Sword, Fusion Pistol, Veiled King
. The Storied Sword

+ Troops +

Troupe [4 PL, 100pts]
. Lead Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player w/ Fusion Pistol & Kiss: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player w/ Harlequin’s Caress: Harlequin’s Caress
. 2x Player w/ Harlequin’s Embrace: 2x Harlequin’s Embrace, 2x Plasma Grenades, 2x Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [4 PL, 95pts]
. Lead Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player w/ Blade
. Player w/ Fusion Pistol & Kiss: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. Player w/ Harlequin’s Caress: Harlequin’s Caress
. Player w/ Harlequin’s Embrace: Harlequin’s Embrace

Troupe [4 PL, 80pts]
. Lead Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss
. 3x Player w/ Blade: 3x Harlequin’s Blade, 3x Plasma Grenades, 3x Shuriken Pistol
. Player w/ Fusion Pistol: Fusion Pistol

Troupe [4 PL, 65pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. 4x Player w/ Blade: 4x Harlequin’s Blade, 4x Plasma Grenades, 4x Shuriken Pistol

+ Elites +

Death Jester [3 PL, 70pts, -1CP]: 1: Favour of Cegorach, Harvester of Torment, Stratagem: Champion of the Aeldari

Solitaire [6 PL, 130pts]: Prince of Sins

+ Heavy Support +

Voidweavers [270pts]
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon

+ Dedicated Transport +

Starweaver [4 PL, 80pts]

++ Total: [66 PL, 2,000pts, 8CP] ++

vs.

Derek Apsche – Grey Knights – Blades of Victory Grey Knights with the requisite 4 Dreadknights and a Callidus Assassin

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Grey Knights) [101 PL, 10CP, 2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Brotherhood: Blades of Victory

Detachment Command Cost

+ Stratagems +

Armoury of Titan [-1CP]: 1 Additional Relic

+ Agents of the Imperium +

Callidus Assassin [5 PL, 100pts]

+ HQ +

Brotherhood Techmarine [6 PL, 110pts]: 5: Warp Shaping, Aetheric Conduit, Boltgun, Foretelling of Locus, Omnissian Power Axe
. Servo Arms

Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight [11 PL, -1CP, 245pts]: 2: Empyric Amplification, 3: Unyielding Anvil, 4: Vortex of Doom, Dreadfist, Dreadknight teleporter, Exemplar of the Silver Host, Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Greatsword, Servant of the Throne, Sigil of Exigence, Vanguard Aggression, Warlord

Kaldor Draigo [9 PL, 180pts]: 1: Gate of Infinity, 2: Empyric Amplification, 3: Sanctuary

+ Troops +

Strike Squad [6 PL, 110pts]
. 4x Grey Knight (Sword): 4x Nemesis Force Sword, 4x Storm Bolter
. Grey Knight Justicar
. . Nemesis Force Sword

+ Fast Attack +

Interceptor Squad [8 PL, 130pts]
. 4x Interceptor (Halberd): 4x Nemesis Force Halberd, 4x Storm Bolter
. Interceptor Justicar
. . Nemesis Force Halberd

+ Heavy Support +

Nemesis Dreadknight [8 PL, 195pts]: Dreadfist, Dreadknight teleporter, Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Greatsword

Nemesis Dreadknight [8 PL, 185pts]: Dreadfist, Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Greatsword

+ Dedicated Transport +

Rhino [4 PL, 80pts]

++ Total: [101 PL, 10CP, 2,000pts] ++

Thoughts

Look, I think you can probably guess how this one ends.

Grey Knights do have some actual strengths into Harlequins that are at least worth considering. The guns and melee on Dreadknights are both pretty good in the matchup – they sit in the sweet spot where they’ll do something even through all the nonsense. Incidental storm bolters are great at picking up Troupes, and will rack up some chip damage elsewhere. Access to lots of Smites is handy, though I do think not bringing the psychic murder Librarian is probably a missed opportunity given the metagame. I do like the choice of bringing a Callidus Assassin though, as taxing a few extra CP early and forcing the characters to bubble up close is genuinely good into all Aeldari flavours and she’s basically never outright bad in almost any matchup except Crusher.

Unfortunately all of this is offset by a couple of crippling weaknesses, these being that the updated versions of Harlequin guns are monstrously strong into Grey Knights, and that Capricious Reflections shuts down a whole bunch of their plans (most notably charges out of Gate of Infinity or Teleport Shunt). At T6 with no damage reduction, Dreadknights are perfectly tuned to die horribly to prismatic cannons and shuriken cannons, and the less said about what the latter will do to Grey Knight infantry the better. The super Death Jester is particularly egregious on the latter point, very plausibly making back his points every single time he shoots. Blades of Victory also doesn’t do that much here – Harlequins can comfortably backline hard enough to avoid it making too much difference, and still strike back just as hard.

Grey Knights were once the masters of the counterpunch hammerblow, but Harlequins just have so much going on that it’s almost impossible for the Silver Host to come off the better when they trade blows, especially with how the weapons line up, and Anthony won out convincingly here. His choice to bring an extra Troupe Master kind of shuts down the option to try and stage some Interceptors in the mid board then go for lots of charges at once – the Storied Sword master can just pick up one unit and the Solitaire the other, and it’s then straight back to the Dreadknights getting picked apart by everything else the list has going on. I feel like if Grey Knights have any shot against Harlequins it’s going to be by leaning hard into Purifiers with the super Librarian and Crowe in tow – maximise the mortals you can dump into the Aeldari, and use Untained and Unbowed so that it at least takes a normal amount of firepower to pick up key units.

Result

Harlequins Victory – 94-45

Anthony Vanella – Harlequins – 1st Place

A Harlequins Shadowseer. Credit: Corrode

The List

See Showdown.

The Standout Features/Archetype

Light Saedath Voidweaver spam

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

It’s not even interesting today. Sorry Anthony. Good job taking down another GT.

Wings: Storied Sword/Veiled King is an interesting way to throw out some very, very reliable hits and wounds I guess. There, that’s an interesting thing!

TJ Lanigan – Tyranids – 2nd Place ✪

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [106 PL, 9CP, 1,998pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Army of Renown – Crusher Stampede

Hive Fleet: Leviathan

+ Stratagems +

Bounty of the Hive Fleet [-1CP]: 1 Extra Bio-artefact

Progeny of the Hive [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Hive Tyrant [11 PL, 205pts]: 2x Monstrous Scything Talons, Power: Catalyst, Power: Onslaught, Power: Smite, Relic: Biomorphic Carapace, Wings

Hive Tyrant [11 PL, -1CP, 210pts]: Adrenal Glands, Monstrous Boneswords, Monstrous Rending Claws, Power: Paroxysm, Power: Psychic Scream, Power: Smite, Relic: Synaptic Hive Blades, Stratagem: Alpha Leader-Beast, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Rampaging Beast, Warlord Trait: Swarm Leader, Wings
. Adaptive Physiology: Murderous Size

The Swarmlord [12 PL, 240pts]: Power: Aggressive Surge, Power: Synaptic Barrier

+ Troops +

Tyranid Warriors [5 PL, 66pts]: Synaptic Link: Bioweapon Bond
. Tyranid Warrior: 2x Scything Talons
. Tyranid Warrior: 2x Scything Talons
. Tyranid Warrior: 2x Scything Talons

Tyranid Warriors [4 PL, 51pts]
. Tyranid Warrior: 2x Scything Talons
. Tyranid Warrior: 2x Scything Talons
. Tyranid Warrior: 2x Scything Talons

+ Elites +

Hive Guard [14 PL, 300pts]
. 6x Hive Guard (Impaler): 6x Impaler Cannon

+ Heavy Support +

Scythed Hierodule [12 PL, 235pts]

+ Flyer +

Harpy [8 PL, 155pts]: 2x Stranglethorn Cannon

++ Total: [106 PL, 9CP, 1,998pts] ++

The Standout Features/Archetype

Crusher Stampede

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

It looks like TJ didn’t get the memo that Innes distributed throughout the Tyranid Hive mind about Hierodules being last week’s news, but that didn’t stop him from picking up an undefeated run here, including running over Harlequins in round four. Even though they can be sniped through Obscuring terrain, they do still represent a whole bunch of wounds, and it won’t take much of a stumble as the Harpy and tough Flyrant run interference to allow them to run over the opponent. Congratulations to TJ for the second place finish.

The Rest of the Best

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

3rd – Joseph Dragonetti – Tyranids: Double Harpy Crusher Stampede
4th – Brandon Fox – Adeptus Custodes: Emperor’s Chosen Goodstuff
5th – Tony Phillips – Adeptus Custodes: Shadowkeepers rocking double Caladius
6th – William Caruso – Tyranids: Crusher Stampede with a Maleceptor
7th – Michael Butler – Harlequins: Light Saedath with 8 Voidweavers

FactoruM Warhammer 40,000 GT March 2022

All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Tear Down Their Icons

Sam Nash – Adeptus Custodes – Shadowkeepers Custodes

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adeptus Custodes) [100 PL, 2,000pts, 9CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Type / Shield Host: Adeptus Custodes, Shadowkeepers

+ Stratagems +

Stratagem: Open the Vaults [-1CP]: Additional Relics

+ HQ +

Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike [10 PL, 180pts, -2CP]: (Shadowkeepers): Lockwarden, (Shadowkeepers): Statis Oubliette, 3. Superior Creation, Misericordia, Salvo Launcher, Stratagem: The Emperor’s Heroes, Stratagem: Victor of the Blood Games, Tip of the Spear

Trajann Valoris [8 PL, 160pts, 1CP]

+ Troops +

Custodian Guard Squad [7 PL, 135pts]
. 3x Custodian w/ Guardian Spear & Misericordia: 3x Guardian Spear, 3x Misericordia

Prosecutors [3 PL, 60pts]: Prosecutor Sister Superior
. 4x Prosecutor: 4x Boltgun

Sagittarum Custodians [7 PL, 150pts]
. 3x Sagittarum w/ Misericordia: 3x Adrastus Bolt Caliver, 3x Misericordia

+ Elites +

Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought [9 PL, 170pts]: Lastrum Storm Bolter, Twin Adrathic Destructor

Contemptor-Galatus Dreadnought [9 PL, 170pts, -1CP]: Stratagem: Eternal Penitent

Custodian Wardens [7 PL, 150pts]
. 3x Warden w/ Guardian Spear & Misericordia: 3x Guardian Spear, 3x Misericordia

Vexilus Praetor [6 PL, 105pts]: Castellan’s Mark, Guardian Spear, Vexilla Magnifica

+ Fast Attack +

Venatari Custodians [8 PL, 165pts]
. Venatari Custodian: Misericordia
. . Kinetic Destroyer and Tarsus Buckler
. Venatari Custodian: Misericordia
. . Kinetic Destroyer and Tarsus Buckler
. Venatari Custodian: Misericordia
. . Kinetic Destroyer and Tarsus Buckler

Vertus Praetors [12 PL, 255pts]
. 3x Praetor w/ Salvo Launcher & Misericordia: 3x Interceptor Lance, 3x Misericordia, 3x Salvo Launcher

++ Total: [100 PL, 2,000pts, 9CP] ++

vs.

Matt Arvida – Asuryani – Pure Ulthwe Craftworlds bringing a diverse mix of cool toys

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Craftworlds) [103 PL, 9CP, 2,000pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Craftworld Attribute: Ulthwe: Foresight of the Damned

Detachment Command Cost

+ Stratagems +

Stratagem: Relics of the Shrines [-1CP]

Stratagem: Treasures of the Aeldari [-1CP]

+ HQ +

Baharroth [7 PL, 140pts]

Eldrad Ulthran [8 PL, 145pts]: 1. Guide, 2. Doom, 5. Will of Asuryan, Ulthwe: Fate Reader, Warlord

Farseer [5 PL, -1CP, 90pts]: 3. Fortune, 3. Ghostwalk, 5. Focus Will, 6: Seer of the Shifting Vector, Shuriken Pistol, Stratagem: Champion of the Aeldari, Witchblade
. The Ghosthelm of Alishazier

+ Troops +

Guardian Defenders [4 PL, 90pts]
. 10x Guardian Defender: 10x Plasma Grenades, 10x Shuriken Catapult

Rangers [4 PL, 65pts]
. 5x Ranger: 5x Ranger Long Rifle, 5x Shuriken Pistol

+ Elites +

Fire Dragons [6 PL, 135pts]
. 4x Fire Dragon: 4x Dragon Fusion Gun
. Fire Dragon Exarch: Blazing Fury, Dragon Fusion Gun

Warlocks [2 PL, 40pts]: 4. Protect/Jinx
. The Weeping Stones
. Warlock: Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade

Warlocks [2 PL, 40pts]: 1. Conceal/Reveal
. Warlock: Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade

Wraithblades [10 PL, 225pts]: Ghostaxe and Forceshield, 5x Wraithblade

+ Fast Attack +

Shining Spears [11 PL, 195pts]
. 4x Shining Spear: 4x Laser Lance, 4x Twin Shuriken Catapult
. Shining Spear Exarch: Expert Lancers, Khaine’s Lance (Shrine Relic), Laser Lance, Twin Shuriken Catapult

Swooping Hawks [9 PL, 195pts]
. 9x Swooping Hawk: 9x Lasblaster
. Swooping Hawk Exarch: Lasblaster, The Phoenix Plume (Shrine Relic), Winged Evasion

Windriders [4 PL, 75pts]
. 3x Windrider – Scatter Laser: 3x Scatter Laser

+ Heavy Support +

Falcon [9 PL, 145pts]: Scatter Laser, Shuriken Cannon

Fire Prism [9 PL, 170pts]: Star Engines, Twin Shuriken Catapult

Fire Prism [9 PL, 160pts]: Twin Shuriken Catapult

++ Total: [103 PL, 9CP, 2,000pts] ++

Thoughts

The Aeldari bring their new tricks to bear to try and take out the Custodes, and they’ve certainly got some big toys to play with. A pair of Fire Prisms is a very, very scary thing for Custodes to see across the table, as Linked Fire can pick up pretty much whatever it points at, and this Custodes list doesn’t have the number of salvo shots it would need to reliably blow away one of the Prisms through Strands of Fate and Ulthwe. Fire Dragons also represent a swingy but potentially deadly threat, and them coming out of a Falcon means they’ll represent some real pressure until they arrive.

That said, it’s not all bad for the Custodes here, especially not on FactoruM’s tables where there are plenty of places to hide. Though they don’t really have the reach to take out the Fire Prisms trivially, they can make use of the terrain to push their large supply of infantry up the table and aim to dominate the primary. Some of the Aeldari units in this matchup also look a bit dicey – Swooping Hawks need Jinx to get anything done against Custodes, and all the melee units are going to underwhelm into Shadowkeepers. The Wraithblades in particular have serious issues here – only ten attacks from the unit after the debuff is just not going to get anything done through Arcane Genetic Alchemy, and even with Will of Asuryan up the Custodes might be able to out model count them on objectives.

What really brings issues to a head is that the Asuryani have their work cut out on Secondaries here. Custodes, as ever, give none up, and the Craftworld list is a bit short on comfortable RND performers generally, and definitely short on them for this mission where you want to be planting bombs as well. A Psychic Secondary seems like a reasonable choice, but even that has its issues – the Lockwarden Bike Captain will kill any of the Psykers he touches, maybe even two a turn if he manages to get off a shot as well (the Warlord trait applies here too), and with Wardens to escort him up the table it’s going to be difficult to stay far at bay, especially if Psychic Actions are required.

Essentially, the overall picture of this game feels like one where the Aeldari can’t really stop the Custodes from establishing themselves in the mid-table, and the combination of Shadowkeepers and defensive stratagems will then stop them being pushed out, and they’ll run away with the Primary (and probably max out Assassinate and Grind as they mop up units). That does, in fact, look like what must roughly have happened.

Result

Adeptus Custodes Victory – 94-44

Sam Nash – Adeptus Custodes – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown.

The Standout Features/Archetype

Shadowkeepers Custodes

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Custodes haven’t gone anywhere, and it’s notable that it’s Shadowkeepers that have thrown up the win again. Emperor’s Chosen just doesn’t do that much against Harlequins, whereas pretty much everything in the Shadowkeepers package is really powerful into them, so it feels like the choice if you want to take a crack at the top positioned faction. Well done to Sam.

The Rest of the Best

3 players finished on 4-1 records. They were:

2nd – Chris Anderson – T’au Empire: T’au Sept Crisis spam.
3rd – Matt Arvida – Asuryani ✪: See Showdown.
4th – Robby Sweeney – Asuryani: Eldrad and Baharroth make a second appearance, leading a column of Ulthwe Aspects and a scattering of Forge World vehicles.

San Luis WTSL

All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Tide of Conviction

Antonio Gardella – Harlequins – Dark Saedath Harlequins bursting out of a Webway Gate

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Harlequins) [99 PL, 1,920pts, 10CP] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment Command Cost

Saedath Characterisation: Dark: Dark Deeds

+ HQ +

Shadowseer [5 PL, 125pts]: 2. Fog of Dreams (Blessing), 6. Webway Dance (Aura) (Blessing), Mirror Architect, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe Master [4 PL, 110pts, -1CP]: 3: A Foot in the Future, Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Kiss, Player of the Dark, Stratagem: Favoured of the Laughing God, Veiled King, Warlord
. Cegorach’s Rose

+ Troops +

Troupe [4 PL, 95pts]
. Lead Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Embrace
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Neuro Disruptor

Troupe [4 PL, 75pts]
. Lead Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Caress, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [9 PL, 152pts]
. Lead Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress
. Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [9 PL, 147pts]
. Lead Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress
. Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol

Troupe [9 PL, 139pts]
. Lead Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress
. Player: Fusion Pistol, Harlequin’s Caress
. Player: Harlequin’s Embrace, Neuro Disruptor
. Player: Harlequin’s Kiss, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol
. Player: Harlequin’s Blade, Shuriken Pistol

+ Elites +

Death Jester [3 PL, 70pts, -1CP]: 1: Favour of Cegorach, Harvester of Torment, Stratagem: Champion of the Aeldari

Solitaire [6 PL, 130pts]: Prince of Sins

+ Fast Attack +

Skyweavers [8 PL, 195pts]
. Skyweaver: Shuriken Cannon, Star Bolas
. Skyweaver: Shuriken Cannon, Zephyrglaive
. Skyweaver: Shuriken Cannon, Zephyrglaive
. Skyweaver: Shuriken Cannon, Zephyrglaive

+ Heavy Support +

Voidweavers [15 PL, 270pts]
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon

Voidweavers [10 PL, 180pts]
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon
. Voidweaver: Prismatic Cannon

+ Dedicated Transport +

Starweaver [4 PL, 80pts]

++ Fortification Network 0CP (Aeldari – Harlequins) [4 PL, 80pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Detachment Command Cost: Command Benefit

Saedath Characterisation: Dark: Dark Deeds

+ Fortification +

Webway Gate [4 PL, 80pts]

++ Total: [103 PL, 10CP, 2,000pts] ++

vs.

Felipe Torresillas – Adeptus Custodes – Emperor’s Chosen Goodstuff

Army List - Click to Expand

Golden Bois (Warhammer 40,000 9th Edition) [97 PL, 10CP, 2,000pts]

Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adeptus Custodes) [97 PL, 10CP, 2,000pts]
Configuration [12CP]
Battle Size [12CP]
Selections: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [12CP]
Detachment Command Cost
Detachment Type / Shield Host
Selections: Adeptus Custodes, Emperor’s Chosen

HQ [18 PL, -1CP, 335pts]

Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike [10 PL, -2CP, 175pts]
Selections: 3. Superior Creation, 4. Impregnable Mind, Castellan’s Mark, Hurricane Bolter, Misericordia, Stratagem: The Emperor’s Heroes [-1CP], Stratagem: Victor of the Blood Games [-1CP], Tip of the Spear [1 PL, 15pts]

Trajann Valoris [8 PL, 1CP, 160pts]

Troops [28 PL, 600pts]

Custodian Guard Squad [7 PL, 150pts]
3x Custodian w/ Sentinel Blade & Praesidium Shield [150pts]
Selections: 3x Praesidium Shield [15pts], 3x Sentinel Blade

Sagittarum Custodians [7 PL, 150pts]
3x Sagittarum w/ Misericordia [150pts]
Selections: 3x Adrastus Bolt Caliver, 3x Misericordia

Sagittarum Custodians [7 PL, 150pts]
Sagittarum [50pts]
2x Sagittarum w/ Misericordia [100pts]
Selections: 2x Adrastus Bolt Caliver, 2x Misericordia

Elites [15 PL, -1CP, 300pts]

Allarus Custodians [6 PL, 120pts]
2x Allarus w/ Castellan Axe & Misericordia [6 PL, 120pts]
Selections: 2x Balistus Grenade Launcher, 2x Castellan Axe, 2x Misericordia

Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought [9 PL, -1CP, 180pts]
Selections: 2x Infernus Incinerator [20pts], Stratagem: Eternal Penitent [-1CP]

Fast Attack [36 PL, 765pts]

Vertus Praetors [12 PL, 255pts]
3x Praetor w/ Salvo Launcher & Misericordia [12 PL, 255pts]
Selections: 3x Interceptor Lance, 3x Misericordia, 3x Salvo Launcher [15pts]

Thoughts

A different spin on Harlequins to close out the week, setting up a rather unique matchup. Rather than leaning on Light Voidweavers, this list uses the power of the Webway gate to feed relatively nasty Dark Troupes straight into the opponent’s face, presumably swiping objectives off them and taking decent chunks out in the Fight Phase with the help of Kiss of Death. There are still some Voidweavers to back that up, with a big unit using Fire and Fade presumably the main actor for a lot of the game, and a backup unit to pull off flanking maneuvres. Finally, a large bike squad can be kept safe with Fog of Dreams, setting it up to strike wherever it’s most disruptive – definitely a concern for some opponents.

Maybe not this one though – while the Custodes might struggle to get a good hit in on the Harlequins, their bikes are pretty well set to soak up anything they can do in melee. Not all the Troupe models have special weapons, so they’re relying on mortals to really get damage done into tough targets, but the Emperor’s Chosen will soak up half of those. The Custodes do, also, have a nasty unit to counterpunch with in the form of the dreadnought, as the infernus flamers are great for depleting Troupe numbers (though Silken Knife keeps it from reaching its fullest potential).

Still, in any fight as long as the clowns can drop one model from a unit they’re probably OK on the swingback – the layered defences of a hit modifier from their Panoply and a 4+ invuln will do a lot to help. The Troupes are also much nastier into the shield Guard – the extra point of AP from Dark comes in clutch here, as it means the attacks from the basic blades will actually chip the odd wound through on top of the special weapons.

That allows the Harlequins to pressure the ability of the Custodes to out-ObSec them pretty effectively, and that combines with a few other factors here to give them some good angles. While the melee isn’t that great, Voidweavers absolutely are, and a squad firing with Bladestorm up is a huge pain for a Bike unit – they can use Alchemy to hopefully tank the worst of the main guns, but probably still lose one to two models without much recourse. The Characters are also extra nasty barbs that need to be watched out for – the Troupe Master threatens to pick up multiple models from whatever he touches, the Solitaire is an extra bit of oopmh to be thrown into the right place, and the Death Jester merely kills a Sagittarum every turn on normal dice. The Harlequin list is also unusually difficult for Custodes to take their preferred Secondaries against – Stranglehold is going to be risky with the Webway Gate presumably near some central objectives, and Grind is way more failable than normal here – there aren’t the usual endless supplies of Starweavers to shoot out. The Harlequins, on the other hand, can comfortably go for Stranglehold or Take Your Places, have plenty of units for RND and can probably will out a third with a Psychic option or Deadly Performance if they’re feeling spicy. The threat of the gate is also particularly good on Tide of Conviction, as you can plausibly threaten multiple objectives with it.

All this combines to give the Harlequins some opportunities they can seize – and they did, taking the game with a very convincing scoreline. I do think that some of the choices in the Custodes list might have performed better against the more standard Light build here – the flamers on the dreadnought would do more without Overwatch suppression, and just having lots of boats to send the bikes on a rampage through would let them do more. They could also, maybe, have started very cautiously and tried to grind enough of the Harlequins off the table to pull back on points in the late game – but that’s tough when working against all the tricks here, and the option to recycle Harlequins back into the gate with Virtuosos of the Webway means they can pull off some significant late game tricks. This time, the power of Darkness was able to overcome the golden host.

Result

Harlequins Victory – 97-25

Antonio Gardella – Harlequins – 1st Place

The List

See Showdown.

Archetype

Dark Saedath Harlequins

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Mostly covered above – but cool to see a Webway gate used to enable a more unusual Harlequin build, and well done to Antonio.

Joaquin Farah – Ultramarines Successors – 2nd Place ✪

Credit: Javier Corigliano (the event’s TO)

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Ultramarines) [96 PL, 2,000pts, 7CP] ++

+ Configuration +

**Chapter Selector**: Custom Chapter, Master Artisans, Ultramarines Successor, Whirlwind of Rage

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment Command Cost

+ HQ +

Chapter Master with Master-crafted Heavy Bolt Rifle [8 PL, 145pts, -1CP]: Adept of the Codex, Chapter Command: Chapter Master, Storm of Fire, Stratagem: Exemplar of the Chapter, Warlord

Primaris Librarian [5 PL, 95pts]: 2) Might of Heroes, 6) Psychic Fortress (Aura)

Primaris Techmarine [5 PL, 100pts, -1CP]: Chapter Command: Master of the Forge, Rites of War, Seal of Oath, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter

+ Troops +

Incursor Squad [5 PL, 115pts]: Haywire Mine
. 4x Incursor: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Occulus bolt carbine, 4x Paired combat blades
. Incursor Sergeant

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 105pts]: Bolt rifle
. 4x Intercessor: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades
. Intercessor Sergeant: Power sword

+ Elites +

Invictor Tactical Warsuit [8 PL, 160pts]: Twin ironhail autocannon

Invictor Tactical Warsuit [8 PL, 160pts]: Incendium cannon

Redemptor Dreadnought [9 PL, 195pts]: 2x Storm Bolters, Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon

Relic Contemptor Dreadnought [8 PL, 195pts, -1CP]: Cyclone missile launcher, 2x Twin volkite culverin

+ Heavy Support +

Whirlwind Scorpius [10 PL, 170pts, -1CP]

+ Dedicated Transport +

Land Speeder Storm [3 PL, 55pts]

++ Total: [96 PL, 7CP, 2,000pts] ++

The Standout Features/Archetype

Ultramarines with a pile of Dreadnoughts and Invictors makes a re-appearance!
Rarely-seen Gravis Captain with the big boy bolt rifle hits the field as a shooting-based Chapter Master

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Ultramarines doing what they do best here – pile up a whole lot of guns around the Seal of Oath, apply early pressure via Invictor pushes, and aim to ride that to victory. Being able to use Rapid Redeployment to reposition something as nasty as an Invictor with this Chapter Tactic remains a cool trick, and being able to adapt their positioning helps with the fact that they’re desperately fragile in some games. The main gunline here also throws out a lot of powerful shots, more than enough to give average armies real pause, and definitely inching towards the sort of numbers where there’s at least a small chance that you point them in the direction of a Harlequin army, roll a bit hot, and deal enough damage that you get to play a game. Psychic Fortress from the Librarian to protect Dreadnoughts from the horror of prismatic cannons also helps with that, and having damage reduction on the shooting core helps mitigate the effect of shuriken cannons.

Playing Marines at the moment is definitely playing on hard mode, but similar to how the successful Tau lists this week just go all in on as many killing machines as possible, lists like this and some Iron Hands/Deathwatch builds that just bring as much shooting violence as possible with a few melee tricks to round out are plausibly the best bet – they have the power to cut through other normal factions, and just about enough strength to try just swinging for the fences into the top stuff and see what happens.

Wrap Up

What will next week hold in store for us? Probably more Voidweavers, but the future is yet uncertain, so come back and check just in case. Comments, questions and suggestions to contact@goonhammer.com.

Competitive Innovations in 9th: Down with the Clown

Adepticon 2022 40k Champs

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission: Conversion

Thoughts

Result

Zach Point – Harlequins – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Matt Robertson – Harlequins – 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Thomas Ogden – T’au Empire – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

John Lennon – Harlequins – 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

The Rest of the Best

The Manchester 40k GT

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission: Death & Zeal

Thoughts

Result

Innes Wilson – Tyranids – 1st Place

The List

The Standout Features/Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Alex Harrison – Asuryani & Harlequins – 2nd Place

The List

The Standout Features/Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Andy Oakham – Harlequins – 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Konrad Bartkiewicz – Asuryani & Harlequins – 4th Place

The List

The Standout Features/Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Stephen Box – Harlequins – 5th Place

The List

The Standout Features/Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

[Challenger] Kraków Arena 2022

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – The Scouring

Thoughts

Result

Kristian Krawcyzk – Harlequins – 1st Place

The List

The Standout Features/Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Emanuel Furmańczyk – T’au Empire – 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Michal Chruszczow – Harlequins – 3rd Place

The List

The Standout Features/Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Paweł “Kruker” Kruk – Tyranids – 4th Place

The List

The Standout Features/Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

The Rest of the Best

The Portal 40k Spring GT

The Showdown

Matchup & Mission – Unknown

Thoughts

Result

Benjamin Rubenstein – T’au Empire – 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Why it’s Interesting in 9th

Daniel Wohlmuth – Asuryani – 2nd Place ✪