Welcome to Competitive Innovations, our weekly feature for a number of game lines across the tabletop wargame space. Each week our army list and tactics experts canvass the top tournaments for their game of specialty, looking at the week’s top match-ups and how they played out on the tabletop to let you know what’s hot, what’s not, and what might be coming next as the competitive meta evolves year-round.

Whirlwind super speed CI because I ended up busier than expected!

This Week's Events

Part 1 on Wednesday:

The UKTC Windsor Super-Major
3 GT Bilbao
The Rumbling Rockies 40k GT
Pembrokeshire Wargaming Spring GT

Part 2 on Friday:

Prague Grand Tournament - Spring 2026
07 & 08 March 2026 - OWN's Breaking Point GT at Primal Nerds
II Iberian Cripta de los Héroes
Trash-Events GT #6

Part 3 on Saturday:

The Phoenix GT 2026 – Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament
Triple Cities GT
The Cro's Nest 40K Open: The Big Weekend
The Warp - Spring GT

The Phoenix GT 2026 – Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament

63-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Hoofddorp, NH, Netherlands on March 07 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

JC van der Lee - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) - 1st Place

Deathwatch Raptors Sniper with Stalker Bolt Rifle Credit: Alfredo Ramirez

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

10-10 army. Theme song: 21 guns (per squad) - Green Day (1995 points)

Space Marines Deathwatch Strike Force (2000 points) Black Spear Task Force

CHARACTERS

Captain in Gravis Armour (105 points) • 1x Boltstorm gauntlet 1x Power fist 1x Relic chainsword • Enhancement: Thief of Secrets

Judiciar (70 points) • Warlord • 1x Absolvor bolt pistol 1x Executioner relic blade

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

Watch Master (125 points) • 1x Vigil spear • Enhancement: The Tome of Ectoclades

BATTLELINE

Deathwatch Veterans (190 points) • 1x Watch Sergeant • 1x Astartes shield 1x Xenophase blade • 9x Deathwatch Veterans • 3x Astartes shield 2x Close combat weapon 4x Deathwatch thunder hammer 2x Frag cannon 3x Power weapon

Deathwatch Veterans (190 points) • 1x Watch Sergeant • 1x Astartes shield 1x Xenophase blade • 9x Deathwatch Veterans • 1x Astartes shield 4x Close combat weapon 4x Deathwatch thunder hammer 2x Frag cannon 2x Infernus heavy bolter 1x Power weapon

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

Fortis Kill Team (180 points) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 1x Bolt pistol 1x Deathwatch bolt rifle 1x Power fist • 3x Kill Team Intercessor • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 4x Plasma incinerator • 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Castellan launcher 2x Close combat weapon 1x Superkrak rocket launcher 1x Vengor launcher

Fortis Kill Team (180 points) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 1x Bolt pistol 1x Deathwatch bolt rifle 1x Power fist • 3x Kill Team Intercessor • 1x Astartes grenade launcher 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 3x Deathwatch bolt rifle • 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 4x Plasma incinerator • 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher • 2x Bolt pistol 2x Castellan launcher 2x Close combat weapon 1x Superkrak rocket launcher 1x Vengor launcher

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

Indomitor Kill Team (265 points) • 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists • 3x Auto boltstorm gauntlets 3x Fragstorm grenade launcher 3x Twin power fists • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle • 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 2x Melta rifle 1x Multi-melta

Indomitor Kill Team (265 points) • 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors • 4x Bolt pistol 4x Close combat weapon 2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle 2x Deathwatch heavy bolter • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists • 3x Flamestorm gauntlets 3x Twin power fists • 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle • 3x Bolt pistol 3x Close combat weapon 2x Melta rifle 1x Multi-melta

Invader ATV (60 points) • 1x Bolt pistol 1x Close combat weapon 1x Multi-melta 1x Twin bolt rifle

Storm Speeder Thunderstrike (135 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Stormfury missiles 1x Thunderstrike las-talon 1x Twin Icarus rocket pod

Exported with App Version: v1.47.0 (110), Data Version: v743

Archetype

Double Veteran Deathwatch

Thoughts

Our first winner today is a slightly melee-skewed variant on the current popular Deathwatch setup, dropping a Fortis team for a second big Veteran unit. I'd say that gambles on hitting more melee armies and fewer C'tan, but the correct calculation must have been that this army just rolls C'tan full stop, and all that paid off with a run through two Necron builds then Bastion Templars in the final, where extra veterans will have been extremely clutch. Congratulations!

Kjell Lutz - Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) - 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Credit: Robert "TheChirurgeon" Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

The GOAT (2000 Points)

Thousand Sons Grand Coven Strike Force (2.000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Daemon Prince of Tzeentch with Wings (205 Points) • 1x Dark Blessing • 1x Hellforged weapons • 1x Infernal cannon • Enhancements: Eldritch Vortex of E'Taph

Magnus the Red (435 Points) • Warlord • 1x Blade of Magnus • 1x Gaze of Magnus • 1x Tzeentch's Firestorm

Sorcerer (80 Points) • 1x Force weapon • 1x Inferno bolt pistol • 1x Pandaemonic Delusion • 1x Prosperine khopesh

Sorcerer (80 Points) • 1x Force weapon • 1x Inferno bolt pistol • 1x Pandaemonic Delusion • 1x Prosperine khopesh

Sorcerer (80 Points) • 1x Force weapon • 1x Inferno bolt pistol • 1x Pandaemonic Delusion • 1x Prosperine khopesh

Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (105 Points) • 1x Force weapon • 1x Gaze of Hate • 1x Inferno combi-bolter • Enhancements: Umbralefic Crystal

BATTLELINE

Rubric Marines (100 Points) • 1x Aspiring Sorcerer ◦ 1x Force weapon ◦ 1x Malefic Curse ◦ 1x Warpflame pistol • 4x Rubric Marine ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Icon of Flame ◦ 1x Soulreaper cannon ◦ 3x Warpflamer

Rubric Marines (100 Points) • 1x Aspiring Sorcerer ◦ 1x Force weapon ◦ 1x Malefic Curse ◦ 1x Warpflame pistol • 4x Rubric Marine ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Icon of Flame ◦ 1x Soulreaper cannon ◦ 3x Warpflamer

Rubric Marines (100 Points) • 1x Aspiring Sorcerer ◦ 1x Force weapon ◦ 1x Malefic Curse ◦ 1x Warpflame pistol • 4x Rubric Marine ◦ 4x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Icon of Flame ◦ 1x Soulreaper cannon ◦ 3x Warpflamer

OTHER DATASHEETS

Scarab Occult Terminators (360 Points) • 1x Scarab Occult Sorcerer ◦ 1x Force weapon ◦ 1x Inferno combi-bolter ◦ 1x Malefic Curse • 9x Scarab Occult Terminator ◦ 2x Hellfyre missile rack ◦ 7x Inferno combi-bolter ◦ 9x Prosperine khopesh ◦ 2x Soulreaper cannon

Sekhetar Robots (80 Points) • 2x Sekhetar Robot ◦ 2x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Heavy warpflamer ◦ 2x Hellfyre missile rack ◦ 2x Power claw ◦ 2x Warpflame projector

Sekhetar Robots (80 Points) • 2x Sekhetar Robot ◦ 2x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Heavy warpflamer ◦ 2x Hellfyre missile rack ◦ 2x Power claw ◦ 2x Warpflame projector

Sekhetar Robots (80 Points) • 2x Sekhetar Robot ◦ 2x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Heavy warpflamer ◦ 2x Hellfyre missile rack ◦ 2x Power claw ◦ 2x Warpflame projector

Tzaangor Enlightened (45 Points) • 1x Aviarch ◦ 1x Autopistol ◦ 1x Chainsword • 2x Enlightened ◦ 2x Autopistol ◦ 2x Chainsword

Tzaangors (70 Points) • 1x Twistbray ◦ 1x Tzaangor blades • 9x Tzaangor ◦ 1x Brayhorn ◦ 1x Herd banner ◦ 9x Tzaangor blades

Exported with App Version: v1.46.2 (1), Data Version: v732

Archetype

Extra Sekhetar Grand Coven Goodstuff

Thoughts

Another mild twist on a popular choice here, Grand Coven Magnus and Scarabs but with lots of Sekhetars to seed around the board and stop the army getting excessively pressured early, allowing the grindy power to shine. It also helps preserve space for the threat of the turn one Terminator teleport, which forces a lot of caution from foes; it's one of those moves that the threat of does almost as much as the actual swing, and that really help keep the enemy guessing, just as Tzeentch likes. Well done Kjell!

Sjors Meijer - Ultramarines (Blade of Ultramar) - 3rd Place

Redemptor Dreadnought. Credit: SRM

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Gladius (2000 Points)

Space Marines Ultramarines Blade of Ultramar Strike Force (2.000 Points)

CHARACTERS

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

Marneus Calgar (200 Points) • 1x Marneus Calgar ◦ 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar • 2x Victrix Honour Guard ◦ 2x Victrix power sword

Roboute Guilliman (340 Points) • Warlord • 1x Emperor's Sword • 1x Hand of Dominion

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

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

Redemptor Dreadnought (195 Points) • 1x Heavy flamer • 1x Icarus rocket pod • 1x Macro plasma incinerator • 1x Redemptor fist • 1x Twin storm bolter

Redemptor Dreadnought (195 Points) • 1x Heavy flamer • 1x Icarus rocket pod • 1x Macro plasma incinerator • 1x Redemptor fist • 1x Twin storm bolter

Repulsor Executioner (220 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Heavy laser destroyer • 1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon • 1x Icarus rocket pod • 1x Ironhail heavy stubber • 1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array • 1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber • 1x Twin heavy bolter

Repulsor Executioner (220 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Heavy laser destroyer • 1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon • 1x Icarus rocket pod • 1x Ironhail heavy stubber • 1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array • 1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber • 1x Twin heavy bolter

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

Victrix Honour Guard (220 Points) • 1x Chapter Ancient ◦ 1x Banner of Macragge ◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon • 1x Chapter Champion ◦ 1x Blades of honour • 4x Victrix Honour Guard ◦ 4x Master-crafted bolt carbine ◦ 4x Master-crafted power weapon

Wardens of Ultramar (90 Points) • 1x Ancient Gadriel ◦ 1x Bolt rifle ◦ 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Veteran Sergeant Metaurus ◦ 1x Heavy bolt pistol ◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon ◦ 1x Storm Shield • 1x Gaius Silva ◦ 1x Archeotech laspistol ◦ 1x Power weapon ◦ 1x Refractor Field • 1x Aemelia Minervas ◦ 1x Archeotech laspistol ◦ 1x Power weapon • 1x Dainal Komelius ◦ 1x Astropathic Blast ◦ 1x Force stave • 1x Lucia Vestha ◦ 1x Archeotech laspistol ◦ 1x Close combat weapon

Exported with App Version: v1.47.0 (1), Data Version: v743

Archetype

Guilliman Hulltramarines

Thoughts

In third we've got another player opting for the melee option, though here it's one of the two standard Ultramarine setups. Guilliman and Redemptors give you a bit more push potential. No further explanation needed, everyone knows how this works at this point, well done Sjors.

Rob Goossens - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) - 4th Place

Szarekh, The Silent King. Credit: Rockfish

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

starrrsssssssss (2000 points)

Necrons Strike Force (2000 points) Starshatter Arsenal

CHARACTERS

C'tan Shard of the Nightbringer (315 points) • 1x Gaze of death 1x Scythe of the Nightbringer

Technomancer (105 points) • 1x Staff of light • Enhancement: Chrono-impedance Fields

The Silent King (400 points) • 1x Szarekh • Warlord • 1x Sceptre of Eternal Glory 1x Staff of Stars 1x Weapons of the Final Triarch • 2x Triarchal Menhir • 2x Annihilator beam 2x Armoured bulk

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Canoptek Wraiths (220 points) • 6x Canoptek Wraith • 6x Particle caster 6x Vicious claws

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

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

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

Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (55 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Enmitic exterminator

Ophydian Destroyers (80 points) • 3x Ophydian Destroyer • 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons 1x Plasmacyte

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

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

Triarch Stalker (110 points) • 1x Heavy gauss cannon array 1x Stalker's forelimbs

Exported with App Version: v1.47.0 (110), Data Version: v743

Archetype

Doomsday Starshatter

Thoughts

Classic Starshatter to round out this top four, running with one C'tan and a heavy setup of Wraiths, Doomsdays and utility. From the points, this appears to have been pre-dataslate, but this only gets better as a plan after it, so expect to see plenty of this, as I'm going to hazard a ten point tax and a minor rules nerf isn't going to change the story too substantially! Good job Rob.

The Best of the Rest

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

5th - Pieter Meijer - Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): Awakened double Wraiths, double C'tan with a Command Barge for extra OC. Looks very similar to what I've got drafted for a post-Dataslate build.
6th - Martijn Van der Most - Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): Magnus Grand Coven goodstuff with a full Scarab brick.
7th - Ron Eliyahoo - Tyranids (Subterranean Assault): Mid-weight Subterranean monsters, including a Carnifex/Old One Eye tag-team, supported by a Zoanthrope squad.
8th - Christian Domburg - Black Templars (Bastion Task Force): Double full Crusaders and double RepEx.
9th - Jort Kassies - Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): Infantry horde with loads of Custodians and Venatari.
10th - Tom Veenvliet - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): Melee-skewed Ultramarines with Guilliman, cuting one of the normal RepExes for a squad of Bladeguard with a Judiciar.
11th - Wouter Van Der Meiden - Astra Militarum (Grizzled Company): High damage Grizzled with Dorns, Kasrkin, a drop Scion unit and one Vanquisher.

Triple Cities GT

39-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Binghamton, NY, United States on March 07 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Connor Reynolds - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet) - 1st Place

Norn Emissary. Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Oh, great Games Workshop, once a beacon of power and glory, how the mighty have crumbled! The heavens have forsaken you, stripping you of the Mandate that once crowned your reign. Your tyranny has cast a dark dataslate over our land, and your greed has drained the lifeblood from your people!

Dice itself rebels against your rule, Rogal Dorns rage, and the earth trembles beneath the weight of your hubris. Each C'tan is a divine warning, a clarion call that you have strayed far from the path of virtue and justice.

Listen! The anguished cries of the oppressed rise like a chorus of thunder, demanding retribution for your cruel indifference. The spirits of the ancestors weep for the suffering you have wrought. It is time for you to awaken to the truth: the heavens favor the just, and your reign, founded on deceit and desolation, must be dismantled! The people rise, emboldened by the fury of the heavens, ready to reclaim their destiny and restore honor to our realm!

+ FACTION KEYWORD: Xenos - Tyranids + DETACHMENT: Invasion Fleet (Hyper Adaptions) + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1980pts + + WARLORD: Char1: The Swarmlord + ENHANCEMENT: + NUMBER OF UNITS: 11 + SECONDARY: - Bring It Down: (7x2) + (3x4) - Assassination: 1 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char1: 1x The Swarmlord (220 pts): Warlord, Bone Sabres, Synaptic Pulse

1x Biovores (50 pts): Chitin-barbed limbs, Spore mine launcher 1x Exocrine (140 pts): Bio-plasmic cannon, Powerful limbs 1x Exocrine (140 pts): Bio-plasmic cannon, Powerful limbs 1x Exocrine (140 pts): Bio-plasmic cannon, Powerful limbs 1x Maleceptor (170 pts): Massive scything talons, Psychic overload 1x Maleceptor (170 pts): Massive scything talons, Psychic overload 1x Maleceptor (170 pts): Massive scything talons, Psychic overload 1x Norn Emissary (260 pts): Monstrous rending claws, Monstrous scything talons, Psychic tendril 1x Norn Emissary (260 pts): Monstrous rending claws, Monstrous scything talons, Psychic tendril 1x Norn Emissary (260 pts): Monstrous rending claws, Monstrous scything talons, Psychic tendril

Archetype

Ultra-Heavy Invasion Fleet

Thoughts

Hell yeah full send big bugs. This adapts to a vicious metagame by going all in on the big stuff, and it can be a complete nightmare to clear. Even C'tan and Ultramarines can struggle to kill Norns fast, so you can simply outscore the Necron threat and speedbump Marines. It's a thing of beauty, great stuff from Connor.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Gregory Hunter - T'au Empire (Mont'ka): Mont'ka suits with triptide and the first showing for the Twin Lance.
3rd - Clarence Ellsworth - Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force): Elite Space Wolf aggro with ThunderCav, lots of Wolf Guard Terminators and some Wulfen.
4th - Tom Comstock - Adeptus Custodes (Shield Host): Custodians and Venatari with one Caladius.
5th - Joseph Sault - T'au Empire (Retaliation Cadre): Crisis toolbox, triptides and (I'm assuming given the list is 1840pts as written) the Twin Lance.
6th - Jonathan Cote - Necrons (Cryptek Conclave): Warrior/Immortal blocks, a big Tomb Blade squad for the combo pop-off, and the Deceiver because why not.

The Cro's Nest 40K Open: The Big Weekend

34-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Lismore, NSW, Australia on March 06 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

Unknown Mission

Morgan Sizer-Robertson - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet)

Army List - Click to Expand

Invasion Fleet (2000 Points)

Tyranids Invasion Fleet Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Deathleaper (80 Points) • 1x Lictor claws and talons

Neurotyrant (105 Points) • Warlord • 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes • 1x Psychic scream

Tervigon (160 Points) • 1x Massive scything talons • 1x Stinger salvoes

BATTLELINE

Hormagaunts (65 Points) • 10x Hormagaunt ◦ 10x Hormagaunt talons

Termagants (120 Points) • 20x Termagant ◦ 20x Chitinous claws and teeth ◦ 2x Strangleweb ◦ 18x Termagant spinefists

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (50 Points) • 1x Chitin-barbed limbs • 1x Spore Mine launcher

Exocrine (140 Points) • 1x Bio-plasmic cannon • 1x Powerful limbs

Genestealers (140 Points) • 10x Genestealer ◦ 10x Genestealers claws and talons

Genestealers (140 Points) • 10x Genestealer ◦ 10x Genestealers claws and talons

Maleceptor (170 Points) • 1x Massive scything talons • 1x Psychic overload

Neurolictor (70 Points) • 1x Piercing claws and talons

Psychophage (110 Points) • 1x Psychoclastic torrent • 1x Talons and betentacled maw

Screamer-Killer (125 Points) • 1x Bio-plasmic scream • 1x Screamer-Killer talons

Screamer-Killer (125 Points) • 1x Bio-plasmic scream • 1x Screamer-Killer talons

Tyrannofex (200 Points) • 1x Powerful limbs • 1x Rupture cannon • 1x Stinger salvoes

Zoanthropes (200 Points) • 1x Neurothrope ◦ 1x Chitinous claws and teeth ◦ 1x Warp Blast • 5x Zoanthrope ◦ 5x Chitinous claws and teeth ◦ 5x Warp Blast

Exported with App Version: v1.46.2 (1), Data Version: v732

vs.

Lochlan Bonney - Imperial Knights (Questoris Companions)

Army List - Click to Expand

Vote Greens (2000 points)

Imperial Knights Strike Force (2000 points) Questoris Companions

CHARACTERS

Canis Rex (415 points) • Warlord • 1x Freedom's Hand 1x Las-impulsor 1x Questoris multi-laser

Cerastus Knight Lancer (410 points) • 1x Cerastus shock lance • Enhancement: Pennant of Silvered Fury

Cerastus Knight Lancer (395 points) • 1x Cerastus shock lance

Cerastus Knight Lancer (395 points) • 1x Cerastus shock lance

Knight Crusader (385 points) • 1x Avenger gatling cannon 1x Heavy flamer 1x Meltagun 1x Stormspear rocket pod 1x Thermal cannon 1x Titanic feet

Exported with App Version: v1.46.2 (108), Data Version: v732

Thoughts

I'll level - I have to write this edition in a hurry, and this is going to be a blood bath - the Tyranids are decently set up to play a board control game, but they don't have enough heavy lifting to reliably clear the Knights, and the Knights have a Crusader to ensure those Termagants don't become an endlessly persistent threat. Everything else here gets rolled fast once the Knights start swinging. The bugs are basically leaning on high rolling and immediately dropping a Lancer and a bit the first time they shoot, and that's right on the edge of variance, so unlikely to come off. It duly did not, and the big robots ran away with it.

Result

Imperial Knights (Questoris Companions) Victory - 88 - 31

Lochlan Bonney - Imperial Knights (Questoris Companions) - 1st Place

Imperial Knight Lancer. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Triple Lancer bigs

Thoughts

A win for the Imperium, off the back of triple Lancer supported by the best two other bigs for the configuration. The Crusader ensures opponents need a serious commitment to hordes rather than a dalliance to out-score you, and the Lancers put the biggest ask on foes. Strong setup, well rewarded, congratulations Lochlan!

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Shane Meys - Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion): Triple Birds, Be'lakor, a Daemon Prince, standard Battleline pieces, and some Screamers.
3rd - Morgan Sizer-Robertson - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Mid-weight monsters, Zoanthropes and a Tervigon/Termagant setup.
4th - Jarryd Wilson - Space Wolves (Saga of the Great Wolf): Heavy hitting Great Wolf, sporting a RepEx and Ballistus for shooting, and full Headtaker, Terminators and Wulfen (two units) as melee hammers.
5th - Ciaran Bullen - Thousand Sons (Changehost of Deceit): Two Birds, a Daemon Prince, two Mutaliths to tarpit foes, and a mix of Rubricae and Blue Horrors as Battleline.
6th - Nathan Kerr - Necrons (Pantheon of Woe): The three named C'tan, a Wraith unit, and utility support.

The Warp - Spring GT

30-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in England, United Kingdom on March 07 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Adam Merrett - Necrons (Cursed Legion) - 1st Place

The Deceiver. Credit: Wings

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

C'tancer GSC take a lot of effort to play man, I need a weekend off (1995 points)

Necrons Strike Force (2000 points) Cursed Legion

CHARACTERS

C'tan Shard of the Deceiver (295 points) • 1x Cosmic insanity 1x Golden fists

C'tan Shard of the Nightbringer (325 points) • 1x Gaze of death 1x Scythe of the Nightbringer

C'tan Shard of the Void Dragon (320 points) • 1x Canoptek tail blades 1x Spear of the Void Dragon 1x Voltaic storm

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

Overlord (105 points) • 1x Resurrection Orb 1x Voidscythe • Enhancement: Destroyer Ankh

Skorpekh Lord (90 points) • 1x Enmitic annihilator 1x Flensing claw 1x Hyperphase harvester

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Lokhust Destroyers (40 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Gauss cannon

Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (55 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Gauss destructor

Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (55 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Gauss destructor

Lokhust Heavy Destroyers (55 points) • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Gauss destructor

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

Ophydian Destroyers (80 points) • 3x Ophydian Destroyer • 3x Ophydian hyperphase weapons 1x Plasmacyte

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

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

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

Exported with App Version: v1.48.0 (111), Data Version: v750

Archetype

Triple C'tan Cursed

Thoughts

More C'tan to close, with the points changes in effect and leading a Cursed Legion list. This uses one big Lychguard squad as an exceptional stage/reach threat and then lots of small Skorpekh squads, who get a lot better as trade pieces with base S9. This is a pretty solid demonstration of why C'tan aren't going anywhere - they're so good with minimal support that you can use tjem to anchor a build in almost any detachment, then lean into the best synergies from that army in the rest of your list. Congratulations Adam!

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Josh Truran - Ultramarines (Blade of Ultramar): Extra shooty Hulltramarines with double RepEx and double Vindicator.
3rd - Richard Forrest - Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): A Liberator mix of Death Company, Sanguinary Guard and Ballistus Dreadnoughts, using lots of jump Characters to add heft.
4th - Adam Parmenter - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force): Horde Kill Teams with the current popular mix of three Fortis, two Indomitor and a Judiciar Veterans squad.
5th - Daniel Lipscombe - Leagues of Votann (Dêlve Assault Shift): 40 Beserks, a couple of Land Forts and support.
6th - Samuel Godding - Blood Angels (Liberator Assault Group): All-melee Liberator wiht a big Sanguinary Guard unit.

Wrap Up

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[40k] Competitive Innovations in 10th: Plus Ultra pt.3

This Week's Events

The Phoenix GT 2026 – Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament

JC van der Lee - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) - 1st Place

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Kjell Lutz - Thousand Sons (Grand Coven) - 2nd Place (Undefeated)

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Sjors Meijer - Ultramarines (Blade of Ultramar) - 3rd Place

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Rob Goossens - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) - 4th Place

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The Best of the Rest

Triple Cities GT

Connor Reynolds - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet) - 1st Place

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The Cro's Nest 40K Open: The Big Weekend

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Unknown Mission

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Lochlan Bonney - Imperial Knights (Questoris Companions) - 1st Place

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The Warp - Spring GT

Adam Merrett - Necrons (Cursed Legion) - 1st Place

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