[Warhammer 40k] Ben Jurek’s Road to LVO, Part 4: Tacoma Recap

Even with Alaska Airlines attempting to strand me in the Pacific Northwest, I have once again returned to fabulous Las Vegas to write to you all about my journey leading to the largest Warhammer 40k event in the world, the 2025 Las Vegas Open.

We are just wrapping up back-to-back-to-back-to-back weekends of something 40k related happening each weekend between GTs, Majors, and RTTs. If you’ve missed any of those, you can find recaps here:

Unlike the last 3 events, this week I returned home with only a podium finish instead of the gold. I fell short of the finish line in the semi-finals vs the eventual winner, Steven Trimble. I will happily accept this finish – with more than 450 players in attendance, there was a lot of competition at the event, and the size of the event means that it will definitely set me up for a possible ITC run down the line, especially once we start looking at adding a possible score from LVO 2025.

Tacoma 2025

Let’s start with my list.

My List - Click to Expand

************

Player Name: Ben Jurek
Team Name: Art of War
Factions Used: Imperial Knights
Army Points: 1995
Army Enhancements: None
Detachment Name: Noble Lance

****************

Big man blastoise (1995 Points)

Imperial Knights
Noble Lance
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (380 Points)

Warlord
1x Chainbreaker las-impulsor
1x Chainbreaker multi-laser
1x Freedom’s Hand

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (365 Points)

1x Atrapos lascutter
1x Graviton singularity cannon

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (365 Points)

1x Atrapos lascutter
1x Graviton singularity cannon

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (365 Points)

1x Atrapos lascutter
1x Graviton singularity cannon

BATTLELINE

Armiger Helverin (130 Points)

2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 Points)

2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 Points)

2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber

Armiger Helverin (130 Points)

2x Armiger autocannon
1x Armoured feet
1x Questoris heavy stubber

The Tacoma open is fast becoming one of my favorite annual trips . It has everything I want in an event – I have so many friends in the area, there are fantastic bars and food options all nearby. Oh and one of the largest 40k events in the country. I can’t forget that part.

I hit-up team Aegis and fellow Goonhammer author Noah Beddome for Airbnb accommodations. Floof, a great GSC player, reached out to me looking to room together and I got everyone introduced. I love when I get to have my friends make new friends. Floof ended up being my ground transportation and roommate which becomes kind of funny later in this recap.

We arrived, exchanged a bit of trash talk and then prepared ready for the three-day battle

Round 1: Angel Valdivia on Retaliation Cadre Tau

Layout 1, Search and Destroy, Linchpin

Angel's List - Click to Expand

Mombasa Streets (2000 points)

T’au Empire
Strike Force (2000 points)
Retaliation Cadre

CHARACTERS

Commander Farsight (95 points)
• 1x Dawn Blade
1x High-intensity plasma rifle

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (115 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Battlesuit fists
3x Fusion blaster
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
1x Shield Generator
• Enhancement: Starflare Ignition System

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (95 points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Cyclic ion blaster
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
1x Shield Generator
2x T’au flamer

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (95 points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Cyclic ion blaster
1x High-output burst cannon
1x Marker Drone
1x Missile pod
1x Shield Drone
1x Shield Generator

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (80 points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Marker Drone
4x Missile pod
1x Shield Drone

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (80 points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
4x Fusion blaster
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone

OTHER DATASHEETS

Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (130 points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Gun Drone
2x Missile pod
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Gun Drone
4x Missile pod
2x Shield Drone

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (110 points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon
1x Gun Drone
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
4x Burst cannon
2x Gun Drone
2x Shield Drone

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (110 points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Gun Drone
1x Shield Drone
2x T’au flamer
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Gun Drone
2x Shield Drone
4x T’au flamer

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (110 points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
2x T’au flamer
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Gun Drone
2x Shield Drone
4x T’au flamer

Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits (150 points)
• 1x Crisis Sunforge Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
2x Fusion blaster
1x Gun Drone
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
4x Fusion blaster
2x Gun Drone
2x Shield Drone

Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points)
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Cyclic ion raker
1x Ghostkeel fists
1x Twin fusion blaster

Kroot Carnivores (65 points)
• 1x Long-quill
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Kroot pistol
1x Kroot rifle
• 9x Kroot Carnivore
• 9x Close combat weapon
8x Kroot rifle
1x Tanglebomb launcher

Pathfinder Team (90 points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Grav-inhibitor Drone
2x Gun Drone
1x Pulse carbine
1x Pulse pistol
1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
• 9x Pathfinder
• 9x Close combat weapon
2x Ion rifle
6x Pulse carbine
9x Pulse pistol
1x Rail rifle

Sky Ray Gunship (140 points)
• 2x Accelerator burst cannon
1x Armoured hull
1x Seeker missile rack

Stealth Battlesuits (80 points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Battlesuit fists
1x Fusion blaster
1x Homing Beacon
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon

Exported with App Version: v1.38.0 (90), Data Version: v651

Pairings go up and we all hold our breaths, hoping that the pairings gods will smile upon us… annnnd I draw a crisis suit-focused T’au list. Angel is a very kind and friendly person and I introduce myself, asking where he is from and if he is local to the area. I do my army explanations, tell him my “gotchas” and we deploy. This game ends up being short. Most of the suits start in reserves aside from an uppy-downy Sunforge unit that gets used to take out a Helverin that stepped onto the center objective turn 1. This unit contains his warlord, which is bad news for him and good news for me granting my army a 5+++ the rest of the game. Atrapos clear out any of the vehicle units fast and the game ends around the 3rd turn with a tabling.

Angel asks me nicely when we will be paired into opponents of similar skill levels and I explain to tell him how the Games Workshop pod system splits everyone into brackets based on their win-loss records after the fourth round, so it’ll happen on day two. I take this round 100-33.

Round 2: James Kelling on Seer Council Aeldari

Layout 1, Crucible of Battle, Terraform

Boon's list - click to expand

Call this list Big Dumper because it knocks it out of the park (2000 points)

Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Seer Council

CHARACTERS

Autarch Wayleaper (80 points)
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
1x Star glaive

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

Farseer (100 points)
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing spear
• Enhancement: Lucid Eye

Fuegan (120 points)
• 1x Fire Axe
1x Searsong

Lhykhis (120 points)
• 1x Brood Twain
1x Spider’s Fangs
1x Weaverender

Maugan Ra (100 points)
• 1x Maugetar

Solitaire (115 points)
• 1x Flip Belt
1x Solitaire weapons

BATTLELINE

Corsair Voidreavers (60 points)
• 1x Voidreaver Felarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Mistshield
1x Neuro disruptor
1x Power sword
• 4x Corsair Voidreaver
• 1x Blaster
4x Close combat weapon
3x Power sword
3x Shuriken pistol

Storm Guardians (100 points)
• 10x Storm Guardian
• 8x Close combat weapon
2x Flamer
2x Fusion gun
2x Power sword
6x Shuriken pistol
• 1x Serpent’s Scale Platform
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Serpent shield

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dark Reapers (90 points)
• 1x Dark Reaper Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
• 4x Dark Reaper
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Reaper launcher

Fire Dragons (120 points)
• 1x Fire Dragon Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Firepike
• 4x Fire Dragon
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Dragon fusion gun

War Walkers (85 points)
• 2x Starcannon
1x War Walker feet

Warlock Conclave (130 points)
• 4x Warlock
• 4x Destructor
4x Shuriken pistol
4x Singing Spear

Warlock Conclave (55 points)
• 2x Warlock
• 2x Destructor
2x Shuriken pistol
2x Singing Spear

Warlock Skyrunners (45 points)
• 1x Destructor
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing Spear
1x Twin shuriken catapult

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

Exported with App Version: v1.37.0 (88), Data Version: v647

After having lunch with Rob, aka TheChirurgeon, and even talking about Boon’s Seer Council list. Wouldn’t you know it, we end up getting paired up! Now for those who don’t know, I have the fear of god in me for anything resembling a Warhost or 20+ fire dragon list. James is bringing a little of each with a whole bunch of Seer Council tricks I had to learn on the spot. I quickly scroll through the GW app and scout as much as I can before heading to the table. Rob chides me and says I don’t need to know.

Robnote: It’s true. After Ottawa I decided there was no reason to fear Boon’s list.

Seer Council honestly does some really cool stuff. It is no slouch of a list and James is no slouch of a player. I wasn’t expecting a highly competitive round this early but we buckle in. I have the advantage here on mission as knights enjoy terraforming where elves do not. I get to go first as well which on Terraform can be a nice boost to the score. James chooses a non conventional path of bring it down and behind enemy lines for fixed objectives. Not betting on killing all the bigs but killing enough while sending units all the way into my DZ. I focus on this early and deny my DZ for a couple turns so as to deny points that cannot be earned later.

As James is setting up his fire dragons to kill Canis Rex I say don’t worry it’s just going to explode and take everyone with it. James is able to take down Canis in a single 5 man activation… and then disaster strikes and my called shot hits: Canis Explodes and I roll a 6 on the damage into the next fire dragon unit that has not activated, completely bricking the original plan. James makes adjustments and is able to clear what I had on that flank but is not able to tie up the Atrapos waiting to counter.

This loss of resource and game-changing explosion spells doom for the Eldar as I target anything else able to hurt a knight and proceed to take this game down with a 93-62 victory

Round 3: Danny McDevitt on Dark Angels Wrath of the Rock

Layout 8 Hammer and Anvil, Supply Drop

Danny's list - click to expand

Feel the Wrath of my Rock (1995 Points)

Space Marines
Dark Angels
Wrath of the Rock
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

Captain in Gravis Armour (105 Points)
• 1x Boltstorm gauntlet
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Relic chainsword
• Enhancements: Ancient Weapons

Chaplain in Terminator Armour (90 Points)
• 1x Crozius arcanum
• 1x Storm bolter
• Enhancements: Deathwing Assault

Librarian (65 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Force weapon
• 1x Smite

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

Lion El’Jonson (315 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Arma Luminis
• 1x Fealty

BATTLELINE

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Deathwing Knights (250 Points)
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
◦ 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
◦ 4x Power weapon

Eradicator Squad (200 Points)
• 1x Eradicator Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Melta rifle
• 5x Eradicator
◦ 5x Bolt pistol
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Melta rifle
◦ 2x Multi-melta

Infiltrator Squad (100 Points)
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Helix Gauntlet
◦ 1x Infiltrator Comms Array
◦ 4x Marksman bolt carbine

Inner Circle Companions (180 Points)
• 6x Inner Circle Companion
◦ 6x Calibanite greatsword
◦ 6x Heavy bolt pistol

Invader ATV (60 Points)
• 1x Bolt pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Onslaught gatling cannon
• 1x Twin bolt rifle

Scout Squad (70 Points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
◦ 1x Astartes chainsword
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Combat knife
◦ 1x Missile launcher
◦ 1x Scout sniper rifle

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.36.0 (3), Data Version: v638

Another Round, another 40k content creator to battle. Danny and I had just caught up between my last round into James and this round. It was a very pleasant pairing. I don’t think I’ve gotten to play Danny yet in a big event and it was really about time. Danny is rocking an off-meta Wrath of the Rock build. The big features being a full Inner Circle Companions brick, A deathwing knight brick and a stearnguard brick +Azrael. You add in the lion for some flavor plus some odds and ends and that’s the list.

Danny had yet to have the meta knights experience. I get the go ahead go first. Unfortunately for Danny I am able to get an angle on 2 units and kill 1 infiltrator unit while wounding a portion of his Stearnguard brick. He strikes back much harder than I would expect on his bottom of 1 landing a big nine inch deep strike charge into one of my front helverins . This provided by Wrath’s special enhancement. We swing back and cripple , but not kill the big shove in the center of ICC and DWK. Canis Rex + Thunder stomp proves to be a very effective DWK killing tool. The Lion pushes into an Atrapos who makes a few invulnerable saves in combat which allows it to live. The Imperial knights break through his lines and leave the table empty of marines. I take this one down 97-17.

Round 4: Jubilee Alexander on Death Guard Death Lord’s Chosen

Layout 6 Crucible of Battle, Hidden Supplies

Jubilee's List - click to expand

The Garden of Joy (1995 Points)

Death Guard
Death Lord’s Chosen
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Lord of Contagion (140 Points)
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancements: Warprot Talisman

Lord of Contagion (120 Points)
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancements: Face of Death

Lord of Contagion (125 Points)
• 1x Manreaper
• Enhancements: Vile Vigour

Mortarion (380 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Lantern
• 1x Rotwind
• 1x Silence

Tallyman (40 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Plasma pistol

Typhus (90 Points)
• 1x Lakrimae

OTHER DATASHEETS

Deathshroud Terminators (140 Points)
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
◦ 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
◦ 1x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator
◦ 2x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Foetid Bloat-Drone (90 Points)
• 1x Plague probe
• 2x Plaguespitter

Myphitic Blight-Haulers (90 Points)
• 1x Bile spurt
• 1x Gnashing maw
• 1x Missile launcher
• 1x Multi-melta

Poxwalkers (60 Points)
• 10x Poxwalker
◦ 10x Improvised weapon

Poxwalkers (130 Points)
• 20x Poxwalker
◦ 20x Improvised weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.37.0 (1), Data Version: v647

This is a mighty important round as it is the final round before everyone is placed into brackets: It’s win-and-in here with regard to making the top cut; only three non-4-0 players will make the top cut. And with this pairing I go 3-for-3 on getting paired into 40k content creators over rounds 2-4. Jubilee has something like 227 thousand followers on Tiktok. You can find them with @titan_of_joy on that platform.

Jubilee is playing a detachment I’ve never against played before. It is a bit more terminator-focused and also her list is packing Mortarion. It can inflict a ton of additional mortals and those definitely do not go unnoticed in our game. We both decide just to send it in the middle, trading blows back and forth, Canis featuring his hand of freedom once again.

Things quickly turn in my favor, as I’m packing more OC and damage on the middle objectives while home counts for nothing. There is a turn where I shoot 3 Atrapos and 3 Helverins into Mortarion after the primarch decided to make his presence known and I bounce off of him. He then proceeds to go to my home and fails to kill the single Helverin there. So it was a roller coaster of results. Due to the harsh primary lead I am able to convert this into a victory. It’s an 84-55 win and I am headed to the top cut of 32.

Round 5: David T on World Eaters Khorne Daemonkin

Layout 6, Tipping Point Scorched Earth

David's List - Click to Expand

The Twin Angels (2000 points)

World Eaters
Strike Force (2000 points)
Khorne Daemonkin

CHARACTERS

Angron (385 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Samni’arius and Spinegrinder

Lord on Juggernaut (105 points)
• 1x Bladed horn
1x Exalted chainblade
1x Plasma pistol
• Enhancement: Disciple of Khorne

Master of Executions (90 points)
• 1x Axe of dismemberment
1x Bolt pistol
• Enhancement: Blade of Endless Bloodshed

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

Slaughterbound (85 points)
• 1x Lacerator and daemonic claw

BATTLELINE

Bloodletters (90 points)
• 1x Bloodreaper
• 1x Hellblade
• 9x Bloodletter
• 1x Daemonic Icon
9x Hellblade
1x Instrument of Chaos

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Bloodcrushers (220 points)
• 1x Bloodhunter
• 1x Hellblade
1x Juggernaut’s bladed horn
• 5x Bloodcrusher
• 1x Daemonic Icon
5x Hellblade
1x Instrument of Chaos
5x Juggernaut’s bladed horn

Eightbound (150 points)
• 1x Eightbound Champion
• 1x Chainblades
• 2x Eightbound
• 2x Chainblades

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

Goremongers (85 points)
• 1x Blood Herald
• 1x Autopistol
1x Chainblade
1x Close combat weapon
• 7x Goremongers
• 7x Autopistol
1x Blood harpoon
6x Chainblade
7x Close combat weapon

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

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve played David at GW Tacoma Open, I’d have two nickels now. I last played David at the Tacoma Open right after 10th edition was released. It certainly was cool to meetup again and I had just chatted with David at NATC the week prior. So here we are. Years later battling again.

We are on layout 6 and I am into a what is near a total melee army with a bunch of high-powered guns. On paper this looks great for me. I need to be careful as David definitely does have the ability to kill me with both Skarbrand and Angron staring at me from their DZ. The play pattern for this sort of thing and for this list continues to just be. Use Helverins Early. Use bigs to pick up anything that interacts with Helverins. Kill off the things that threaten the bigs. End the game. So we do exactly that. The only special add-on here is being very aware of the stratagem that can teleport bloodletters in. David is only able to chip away at my front line.

I did have one interaction go sideways where I was going to offer Canis Rex and fight on death for the trade. Canis chose to roll a 1 on his walk through a wall ability and got battleshocked. This is not enough to flip the game and we are able to get through Angron, Skarbrand and the rest of the army without issue. I win this one 98-56 and head to the final round of the day.

Round 6: Tommy Aguilu on Chaos Knights Infernal Lance

Layout 3, Sweeping Engagement. Terraform

Tommy's List - Click to Expand

Khorne Dogs

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Chaos – Chaos Knights
+ DETACHMENT: Infernal Lance
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts
+ ALLIED UNITS: Legiones Daemonica
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Knight Despoiler
+ ENHANCEMENT: Knight Diabolus (on Char3: Knight Rampager)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 11
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (6×2) + (3×6) – Assassination: 3 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

1x Chaos Cerastus Knight Atrapos (355 pts)
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
• 1x Graviton singularity cannon

1x Knight Despoiler (335 pts)
• 1x Titanic feet
• 1x Ruinspear rocket pod
• 1x Despoiler gatling cannon
• 1x Heavy darkflamer
• 1x Despoiler gatling cannon
• 1x Heavy darkflamer
• 1x Daemonbreath meltagun
• Warlord

1x Knight Rampager (360 pts)
• 1x Diabolus heavy stubber
• 1x Reaper chainsword
• 1x Warpstrike claw
• Knight Diabolus (+25 pts)

OTHER DATASHEETS

1x War Dog Huntsman (140 pts)
• 1x Daemonbreath spear
• 1x Reaper chaintalon
• 1x Daemonbreath meltagun

1x War Dog Karnivore (140 pts)
• 1x Reaper chaintalon
• 1x Slaughterclaw
• 1x Diabolus heavy stubber

ALLIED UNITS

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

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

Tommy is a friend I made in the previous year. We got to play in the most recent charity hammer event which is also hosted in the Seattle area. Last we dueled it was a Thousand Sons vs Grey Knights matchup. Now it’s Imperial Knights vs Chaos Knights, the very cool faction rivalry. This game was streamed on GW’s Twitch stream – you can watch it here.

I am delighted to finally rip an army in pairings that I was fully prepared for: A knights mirror of the spikey variety. I am tech’d to the gills with max Atrapos who have +1 to hit vehicles and +1 to wound if they are titanic. They also grant full hit and wound rerolls to the helverins if the target is titanic or towering. The writer of this mission pack chose violence. This layout and deployment type had very little places to hide and even less room to get away. With Tommy’s karnivores able to pact and move 17 inches he could easily pull some turn 1 charges.

With some luck, I get the go ahead first roll – on Terraform and a map without much hiding, this proves to be a huge advantage. I sieze upon the opportunity and rip up 3 of his 6 war dogs and pass the turn. I have an Atrapos in a dangerous spot where a rampager can make a 6 inch charge. I also have another that is at some risk but one I was willing to take on getting shot by 1 despoiler and his own Atrapos. Tommy strikes back. Making his charge with the rampager, killing that Atrapos. I only proceed to lose 1 war dog in a war dog trading game and start the turn with a bunch of fresh units and a target rich environment. I am able to push back pretty hard on my top of 2 clearing out everything aside from a beast of nurgle , a karnivore and his remaining despoiler and Atrapos. His Atrapos is barely alive at 5 wounds. Tommy swings a hail mary attempting to see what a karnivore can do to an Atrapos in melee but is struck down. I proceed to enter the cleanup phase of the game and terraform all objectives to myself. Tommy, opting to go out on his own terms, charges Canis Rex with his despoiler and goes out with a bang. I win this one 95-65 and we’re headed to the Shadow Round.

Round 7( Shadow) : Floof Cox on Genestealer Cults Host of Ascension

Layout 2, Crucible of Battle Purge the Foe

Floof's List - Click to Expand

Trans rights are human rights (2000 points)

Genestealer Cults
Strike Force (2000 points)
Host of Ascension

CHARACTERS

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

Benefictus (85 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Psionic Cascade
• Enhancement: Assassination Edict

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

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

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

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

BATTLELINE

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

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

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.37.0 (88), Data Version: v647

Remember at the beginning of the article when I said Floof was my ride and room mate? Well as luck would have it, we both made shadow and that’s when we were paired into each other! Floof and I have never actually played before, so I expected our clash would be legendary… and then maybe the trash talk can stop. So it was time to make it happen. We even got a cool commemorative challenge coin for the occasion.

I told Floof the whole week I didn’t want the GSC smoke – this is a matchup I was dreading. I know GSC have a big advantage in damage and OC vs Imperial Knights and I have a volume issue. With a huge stroke of luck the primary mission is incredible for knights going up against a bunch of units (Purge the Foe’s scoring rewards killing more enemy units than the opponent, which is easier to do when your opponent has lots of relatively cheap units and you have a small number of super elite units). I have a very simple gameplan here: Flood the objectives with my giant robots and build a lead with hold more and kill more. So even if they kill off my resources, I may have enough.

I get to go first in on this one. Due to the Cerastus’ height I can see into some ruins and pick up a bike squad inside, landing my first bit of primary for killing a unit. We stay dedicated to the plan and have another turn to build momentum after this. Floof attempts to clear some resources but is unable to, netting zero kills. They make a charge onto the center to deny hold more and I precision out the benefictus. Floof has set up some move blocks and screens. I am able to end up in a situation where I can charge a wolf quad, kill it and then consolidate into a 20 man.

Things go downhill for Floof from here as they get the much anticipated drop turn and I hold on losing 0 models in the process. I am able to touch and tag each neophyte squad after this and flip their home. Floof calls it early so we can go to bed before everyone else, who will be playing until midnight. I take this one 100-14 unofficially. Shadow Round scores don’t matter just win or lose. This puts me in the top 4 and I get to have a 30 minute ride home with Floof and talk about our game.

Round 8: Steven Trimble on Deathguard Mortarion’s Hammer

Layout 2 Search and Destroy Take and Hold

Steve's list - click to expand

UH OH STINKY! POOPY! HAHA! (1995 Points)

Death Guard
Mortarion’s Hammer
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Lord of Contagion (110 Points)
• 1x Manreaper

Lord of Virulence (110 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Power fist
• 1x Twin plague spewer
• Enhancements: Tendrilous Emissions

OTHER DATASHEETS

Deathshroud Terminators (140 Points)
• 1x Deathshroud Champion
◦ 1x Icon of Despair (Aura)
◦ 1x Manreaper
◦ 1x Plaguespurt gauntlet
• 2x Deathshroud Terminator
◦ 2x Manreaper
◦ 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet

Foetid Bloat-Drone with Heavy Blight Launcher (100 Points)
• 1x Heavy blight launcher
• 1x Plague probe

Myphitic Blight-Haulers (90 Points)
• 1x Bile spurt
• 1x Gnashing maw
• 1x Missile launcher
• 1x Multi-melta

Plagueburst Crawler (195 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy slugger
• 1x Plagueburst mortar
• 2x Entropy cannons

Poxwalkers (60 Points)
• 10x Poxwalker
◦ 10x Improvised weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.37.0 (1), Data Version: v647

Steve Trimble and I have also played each other before, at Charity Hammer. So we are familiar opponents. Steve is bringing what I think is the strongest list in the top 8. It really just is the Death Guard’s best datasheets taken as many times as you can take them. Steven was the winner of Tacoma Open 2023 and is no stranger to the top tables.

Steve gets to go first and takes a conservative approach. I make a mistake in deployment and don’t really set myself up to do the Helverins-first sort of game plan I had been doing. In part due to being a bit shy and unable to hide and stage in places. I get greatly punished for this as I end up going the more stat check route of play, denying Steve’s primary and hoping he isn’t able to do much into my bigs.

Well, this is where our hero dies. With just two activations from some blight haulers an Atrapos (who was Battle-shocked and couldn’t rotate) takes 28 damage before Feel No Pains. A bloat drone finishes it off. This allows the rest of his army to shoot another Atrapos and take close to half its wounds as well. I do my best to claw back from this terrible start but it’s not enough. While we both finish the game with next to no models left, it just doesn’t equate to any possibility of winning as Steven is able to do so much damage into the remains of my army even with only a couple drones left.

Sorry folks, I messed this one up. No excuse here. You really can’t make mistakes into high level opponents . We head into the last round looking to secure a podium spot

Round 9: Steven Salazar on Imperial Knights Noble Lance

Layout Crucible of Battle Scorched Earth.

Steven's List - Click to Expand

lol (1990 points)

Imperial Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Noble Lance

CHARACTERS

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

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (390 points)
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
1x Graviton singularity cannon
• Enhancement: Mysterious Guardian

Cerastus Knight Atrapos (365 points)
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
1x Graviton singularity cannon

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

BATTLELINE

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

ALLIED UNITS

Sisters of Battle Immolator (115 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Immolation flamers

Sisters of Battle Squad (115 points)
• 1x Sister Superior
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Inferno pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Battle Sister
• 9x Bolt pistol
7x Boltgun
9x Close combat weapon
1x Meltagun
1x Multi-melta
1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Exported with App Version: v1.38.0 (90), Data Version: v651

I am so fortunate that I’ve gotten to play with friends and great people through the majority of this journey. Steven and I are good friends and we met last year at this very event, where we were introduced to each other by TheChirurgeon. Since then, Steven and I have shared many recipes, and have played and talked 40k extensively. Steven is walking away with a golden ticket no matter what the outcome of this event (I and the other top four players already have tickets), and he is ecstatic. I couldn’t ask for a better opponent to close out the event with.

We are back in the knight mirror and Steven has packed two Atrapos of his own. Instead of a third he brings a Lancer. I had been offering commentary on how I did not like the Lancer and hopefully I don’t have to eat humble pie about it. I take fixed and he takes tactical, which surprises me.

I once again go first and the layout does leave a Helverin open. I am able to drop it to one wound remaining but get no kills. We play this one cautiously as a range game for a bit. I am ok with this, having two more helverins then Steven, as he has chosen a sisters and immolator package. Steven has reserved his lancer and I screen the board edges with my helverins. This leads to a lethal error where a screening Helverin lives due to an under commit and the game suddenly gets into peril with no good place to deliver the Lancer.

I am able to down an Atrapos with some bondsmanned Helverins focusing it down with Squires duty. This trade is significant and the loss of resources begins to snowball. The Lancer gets into a bad trade of only taking down a Helverin then dying. I ride this snowball to the end and take down the final round and a podium placing 97-59.

What a ride. Nine rounds of 40k and a podium finish of a 450+ person event. Woo!

Looking Ahead

Alright, Now that I have done The Chirurgeon’s bidding for another week, I can finally rest. I am headed off for a European vacation and to act as a coach for Team USA while also reporting to you all live from Leoben, Austria with Wargames Live. You can look forward to more articles in the next couple of weeks, including more Imperial Knights content, some vacationing tips and tricks, and how that relates to planning a 40k event in those plans.

So keep an eye out for more of that, plus whatever else Rob wants me to talk about.

Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com. Want articles like this linked in your inbox every Monday morning? Sign up for our newsletter. And don’t forget that you can support us on Patreon for backer rewards like early video content, Administratum access, an ad-free experience on our website and more.

[Warhammer 40k] Ben Jurek’s Road to LVO, Part 4: Tacoma Recap

Tacoma 2025

Round 1: Angel Valdivia on Retaliation Cadre Tau

Round 2: James Kelling on Seer Council Aeldari

Round 3: Danny McDevitt on Dark Angels Wrath of the Rock

Round 4: Jubilee Alexander on Death Guard Death Lord’s Chosen

Round 5: David T on World Eaters Khorne Daemonkin

Round 6: Tommy Aguilu on Chaos Knights Infernal Lance

Round 7( Shadow) : Floof Cox on Genestealer Cults Host of Ascension

Round 8: Steven Trimble on Deathguard Mortarion’s Hammer

Round 9: Steven Salazar on Imperial Knights Noble Lance

Looking Ahead

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[Warhammer 40k] Ben Jurek’s Road to LVO, Part 4: Tacoma Recap

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Round 1: Angel Valdivia on Retaliation Cadre Tau

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Round 3: Danny McDevitt on Dark Angels Wrath of the Rock

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Round 9: Steven Salazar on Imperial Knights Noble Lance

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