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.

Have the horrors intensified? Yes. Yes they have.

This week we're firmly into emergency nerf territory, because as Necron players have adjusted to just what C'tan let them do, the faction's numbers have only increased, and this week they've hit escape velocity. >60% win rate and a staggering level of dominance across the other metric we track. I have conducted my own field research into this phenomenon (in my capacity as a journalist, obviously), and can confirm that running around with three C'tan is currently 40K on easy mode, and that hitting them immediately is fully justified. Without that, I think there's a big risk that the next Dataslate spits out an imbalanced metagame as something currently being suppressed by C'tan sneaks under the radar.

Anyway, back to that field research, because this week I got to be part of the problem...

This Week's Events

Part 1 on Wednesday:

Beachhead Brawl 2026
Green Dice Games Winter Ruin III Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament
Danish Open, singles. Hydra 40k Grand Tournament 1 of 2026.
Safety’s Off Hell Raisin’ Dale Praisin’ GT

Part 2 on Friday:

DUTCH MASTERS SEASON FINALE GT
Shuffle Wars II: Cupid Protocol
7. Nurglemania
Open de la Table Ovale

Part 3 on Saturday:

Dicehammer Open 40k GT IX
Battlefield Birmingham 25
WETTCON Vinter 2026
Gaming Expo 40k Open
North Coast Games WinterHell GT Invitational

Beachhead Brawl 2026

211-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in England, GB on February 06 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

The Showdown

...

Hmm

That's not quite right.

There we go.

Supply Drop - Sweeping Engagement

James "One_Wing" Grover - Necrons (Awakened Dynasty)

Army List - Click to Expand

Awakened C'tan Herohammer (2000 Points)

Necrons Awakened Dynasty Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

C'tan Shard of the Deceiver (285 Points) • 1x Cosmic insanity • 1x Golden fists

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

C'tan Shard of the Void Dragon (310 Points) • 1x Canoptek tail blades • 1x Spear of the Void Dragon • 1x Voltaic storm

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

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

Nekrosor Ammentar (165 Points) • 1x Blade tail and whip coils • 1x Enmitic disintegrators • 1x Nullstone Field Generator (Aura) • 1x Unmaker Gauntlet

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

Technomancer (80 Points) • 1x Staff of light

OTHER DATASHEETS

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

Flayed Ones (60 Points) • 5x Flayed One ◦ 5x Flayer claws

Flayed Ones (60 Points) • 5x Flayed One ◦ 5x Flayer claws

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

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

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

vs.

Ross Tully - T'au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack)

Army List - Click to Expand

Krooty want that Juicy Booty (1990 points)

T'au Empire Strike Force (2000 points) Kroot Hunting Pack

CHARACTERS

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

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

Kroot Lone-spear (90 points) • Warlord • 1x Blast javelin 1x Close combat weapon 1x Hunting javelin 1x Kalamandra's bite • Enhancement: Kroothawk Flock

Kroot Trail Shaper (75 points) • 1x Kroot rifle 1x Shaper's blade • Enhancement: Nomadic Hunter

Kroot War Shaper (60 points) • 1x Dart-bow and tri-blade 1x Kroot pistol 1x Shaper's blade • Enhancement: Root-carved Weapons

BATTLELINE

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

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

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

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

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

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Kroot Farstalkers (85 points) • 1x Kroot Kill-broker • 1x Kroot pistol 1x Ritual blade 1x T'au-tech rifle • 9x Kroot Farstalker • 9x Close combat weapon 1x Dvorgite skinner 8x Farstalker firearm 9x Kroot pistol 1x Pech'ra • 2x Kroot Hound • 2x Ripping fangs

Kroot Farstalkers (85 points) • 1x Kroot Kill-broker • 1x Kroot pistol 1x Ritual blade 1x T'au-tech rifle • 9x Kroot Farstalker • 9x Close combat weapon 1x Dvorgite skinner 8x Farstalker firearm 9x Kroot pistol 1x Pech'ra • 2x Kroot Hound • 2x Ripping fangs

Kroot Hounds (40 points) • 5x Kroot Hound • 5x Ripping fangs

Kroot Hounds (40 points) • 5x Kroot Hound • 5x Ripping fangs

Kroot Hounds (40 points) • 5x Kroot Hound • 5x Ripping fangs

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vespid Stingwings (65 points) • 1x Vespid Strain Leader • 1x Neutron blaster 1x Stingwing claws • 4x Vespid Stingwing • 4x Neutron blaster 4x Stingwing claws

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

Thoughts

OK, I at least have documentary evidence on this very website that I've been obsessed with multi-C'tan builds for more than half a decade.

I made a diagram and everything:

This is...still pretty much the plan, honestly. I've had a busy few months at work and wanted something reasonably brainless, plus the chance to use my new toys. Therefore, I went for an Awakened Herohammer shell for the Star Gods, which I think is the second best build behind a Starshatter one I don't have the models for (conveniently also seen in the top four of this event). Going Awakened racks up a whole host more sticky threats from the resiliant, revivable Herohammer pieces, lets you be very aggressive at pushing Ammentar into weak spots, and adds utility to the Wraith unit as your big positional piece - being able to revive the Technomancer against Precision is clutch, and Protocol of the Hungry Void lets them actually punch into targets like Custodes.

Most of my games involved the Wraiths drawing foes into a big punchup on a side objective with one C'tan backing them while Szeras acted as bait for another C'tan (or two, sometimes one was in Deep Strike) in the middle. Whichever fight the opponent picked, they'd generally lose enough stuff by the time it was over that they couldn't handle the two or sometimes three big durable threats I still had alive, and even in the game where the Lion improbably killed three C'tan after surviving eight continuous rounds of combat with one or more of them (and one exploding in his face), the tarpitting was just enough to give me a win on points.

This game, however, was going to a bit different, as Kroot prison is exactly the kind of list that can outscore C'tan into oblivion, and we're on a mission with unusual scoring patterns. My goal here is essentially to score 15 Primary on the final turn by being the only thing left alive, keep Ross's Primary to 5/5/8 (which is almost an unavoidable floor) and hope I can either pick up a 5VP somewhere earlier or that his army is sufficiently degraded in the late game that he stops scoring Secondaries. He, in turn, wants to try and score 15/10/8, by boxing me in, at which point I can essentially never catch him.

That means I need to win either the Attacker/Defender role or go first. With Defender, I can string one of my Flayed One units across the centre through the mid-board, then the other across the line on whichever side his first Infiltrator doesn't go, and then fight hard for that side's objective and the centre, and just leave him to camp on the other one. I didn't win that rolloff, so instead had to set up for going first and fighting on a broader front - the Wraiths to push one objective, Szeras and two C'tan up the middle, and the third C'tan and a bunch of herohammer pieces (plus some now spare Flayed Ones) on the other flank. Having to fight across the board isn't ideal, I need to press forward on a broad front to stop him being able to create a bow wave of pressure from an ignored objective without me having an equivalent ability to lock one down early on.

Luckily, I got the first turn, so swept forward and cleared all his Infiltrators, and on the right flank deliberately pushing my Skorpekh Lord out a bit so that if some Krootox came for him, they'd end up in a fight not fully on the objective. He cracked back hard - with all the stacked buffs his army can, just about, kill a whole entire C'tan on the first go turn if he commits two Krootox unit's impact mortals to it, and he just about pulled that off on the Nightbringer (also taking down the Skorpekh Lord, as I'd spent my CP on interrupting with the Nightbringer, as he still had 4W left after the first Krootox unit swung, and I hoped I might manage to clear enough to tank it). From there on, obviously, the killing was very much in my favour, and the Skorpekh's sacrifice had bought me 5VP on the right objective, so the plan was partially on track, though I was getting bogged down slightly more than I could afford. Ross could see this and spent his resources to keep my Wraiths tangled up as well, cycling shooty Krootox units into them, keeping the other flank (which was the 8VP objective) locked down, and preserving tools for Actions (as what I really wanted the Wraiths doing was scything through his chaff).

Still, the bleeding on his side was very real, and I was able to lock in my 15VP on turn 5 by packing Ammentar, Szeras, and the Void Dragon on the centre, and he didn't have anything that could challenge for it through a heroic. After scoring that, we were level on 54-54, and I drew Secure and Behind. After working out the lines and possible plays, I was able to fan out and kill anything he had that could reach the centre (including parking Szeras at the far end of it from his remaining "real" unit, and got small Behind from the Deceiver (but missed the extra point due to a short charge roll on the Void Dragon). Ross had, however, been meticulously careful to keep his uppy-downy Vespid alive all game, and that allowed a New Orders to find 6VP to narrowly clinch it, bringing my attempted reign of terror to an end.

Obviously with a close game like this I've been post-morteming anything I could have done differently, and the big one I've come up with is that once deployments were down (and I knew where his Rampagers were), I should have swapped the Nightbringer and the Deceiver's positions with my redeploy, so the Deceiver went to the middle and the Nightbringer went on the right. I knew his list could alpha a central C'tan down turn one if the dice fell right, and my plan assumed this might happen, but getting the kill sufficiently relies on the impact Mortals from multiple Krootox units and massed shooting with re-rolls from the Lone-Spear that it probably doesn't land on the Deceiver - his small base and Stealth will likely reduce the damage enough that it's no longer fatal. If all three C'tan live turn one, I'm in a really good spot, and even if the Deceiver somehow dies, just the Nightbringer being 2" faster at getting somewhere else relevant once I'd collapsed the right flank could have helped. Was great to see this list in action in the hands of someone who really knows how to play it - there's definite nuance you pick up once you've seen it properly sing!

Result

T'au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) Victory - 60 - 59

Ross Tully - T'au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) - 1st Place

Krootox Rampager. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Archetype

Kroot Hunting Pack

Thoughts

All covered in the Showdown - this list plays an extremely strong jail game, and can also punch through big threats more than you'd might anticipate if it keeps its momentum going or the Krootox don't die. It's a great counter to some of the top-heavy builds in the metagame, and I can attest that Ross knows exactly how to use it to best effect - congratulations on the win!

Stephen Box - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) - 2nd Place (Undefeated)

Deathwatch Terminator Librarian by Craig "MasterSlowPoke" Sniffen

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Deathwatch - Teams (2000 Points)

Space Marines Deathwatch Black Spear Task Force Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Captain in Gravis Armour (110 Points) • 1x Master-crafted heavy bolt rifle • 1x Master-crafted power weapon • Enhancements: The Tome of Ectoclades

Judiciar (95 Points) • 1x Absolvor bolt pistol • 1x Executioner relic blade • Enhancements: Beacon Angelis

Librarian in Terminator Armour (75 Points) • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Force weapon • 1x Smite

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

Watch Master (120 Points) • Warlord • 1x Vigil spear • Enhancements: Thief of Secrets

BATTLELINE

Deathwatch Veterans (190 Points) • 1x Watch Sergeant ◦ 1x Combi-weapon ◦ 1x Xenophase blade • 9x Deathwatch Veterans ◦ 4x Astartes shield ◦ 1x Black Shield blades ◦ 4x Deathwatch thunder hammer ◦ 4x Power weapon

Deathwatch Veterans (190 Points) • 1x Watch Sergeant ◦ 1x Combi-weapon ◦ 1x Xenophase blade • 9x Deathwatch Veterans ◦ 4x Astartes shield ◦ 1x Black Shield blades ◦ 4x Deathwatch thunder hammer ◦ 4x Power weapon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Rhino (75 Points) • 1x Armoured tracks • 1x Hunter-killer missile • 1x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Deathwatch Terminator Squad (350 Points) • 1x Deathwatch Terminator Sergeant ◦ 1x Storm Shield ◦ 1x Thunder hammer • 9x Deathwatch Terminator ◦ 3x Cyclone missile launcher ◦ 3x Power fist ◦ 6x Storm Shield ◦ 3x Storm bolter ◦ 6x Thunder hammer

Fortis Kill Team (180 Points) • 1x Kill Team Sergeant ◦ 1x Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Deathwatch bolt rifle ◦ 1x Power fist • 3x Kill Team Intercessor ◦ 2x 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 Bolt pistol ◦ 1x Deathwatch bolt rifle ◦ 1x Power fist • 3x Kill Team Intercessor ◦ 2x 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

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

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 ◦ 4x Marksman bolt carbine

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

Archetype

Terminator Deathwatch

Thoughts

Stephen takes undefeated second place with his current spin on Deathwatch (which we alraedy looked at a few weeks bacK0, going for a high model-count build tailored to attack some key metagame threats. Deathwatch are pretty solid at killing C'tan just on baseline, but the standard builds have issues into Warpbane, Scintillating Legion and Daemons in general, and can be vulnerable to melee Marines taking too big a chunk out of them. The former issue is mostly neutralised by the big Terminator/Librarian unit - 4W Terminators with a 4+ Feel No Pain against Psychic laugh at Dreadknights and Lords of Change alike, while for other Marines the big Beacon Veteran squad is great as always, and more redundancy by going for cheaper Fortis teams helps demand then absorb enemy swings. I have been yelling that Deathwatch are underrated forever, and this build feels like another great example of that - I can say that when we were waiting for the pairings in the undefeated pool, this is the list I least wanted to send my C'tan into. Congralations Steve!

William Griffiths - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) - 3rd Place (Undefeated)

The Nightbringer. Credit: Wings

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

NECRON GO BURRRRR(1990 Points)

Necrons Starshatter Arsenal Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

C'tan Shard of the Deceiver (285 Points) • 1x Cosmic insanity • 1x Golden fists

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

Nekrosor Ammentar (165 Points) • 1x Blade tail and whip coils • 1x Enmitic disintegrators • 1x Nullstone Field Generator (Aura) • 1x Unmaker Gauntlet

Technomancer (105 Points) • 1x Staff of light • Enhancements: 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 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 Destroyers (40 Points) • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Gauss cannon

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

Archetype

Starshatter C'tan

Thoughts

A fun experience from Beachhead is that I had three separate conversations where someone asked me whether I thought Awakened C'tan was the best Necron list, and I said no it's second best, then described this one and got back "oh yeah, I lost to that in round X". To be clear, I had not read this list before having any of those conversations, but I do now know who was responsible. I think this is the best build in the game right now - it can do the same plan mine does of forcing foes to make an impossible choice on target priority, and it can also blow stuff up at range, has re-rolls for reliability, and has more volume anti-chaff from the side guns of the Doomsdays in case someone tries running a bunch of Kroot at you. In a metagame of gut punches, this is the gut punchiest option, and that's always a great place to be, congratulations William on rounding out the undefeated podium.

Danny Evison - Astra Militarum (Grizzled Company) - 4th Place

Solar Auxilia Leman Russ. Credit: Andrew_N

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium - Astra Militarum + DETACHMENT: Grizzled Company (Ruthless Discipline) + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts + + WARLORD: Char2: Lord Solar Leontus + ENHANCEMENT: + NUMBER OF UNITS: 17 + SECONDARY: - Bring It Down: (6x2) + (2x4) - Assassination: 5 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Char3: 5x Cadian Command Squad (65 pts) • 4x Cadian Veteran Guardsman 1 with Chainsword, Bolt pistol 1 with Master vox, Close combat weapon, Lasgun 1 with Medi-pack, Close combat weapon, Lasgun 1 with Close combat weapon, Lasgun, Regimental standard • 1x Cadian Commander: Chainsword, Laspistol Char1: 6x Gaunt's Ghosts (100 pts) • 5x Tanith Ghost 1 with Bragg's autocannon, Straight silver knife 1 with Corbec's hot-shot lascarbine, Straight silver knife 1 with Larkin's long-las, Straight silver knife 1 with Lascarbine, Mkoll's straight silver knife 1 with Rawne's lascarbine, Straight silver knife • 1x Ibram Gaunt: Bolt pistol, Gaunt's chainsword Char2: 1x Lord Solar Leontus (130 pts): Warlord, Conquest, Konstantin's hooves, Sol's Righteous Gaze Char4: 1x Rogal Dorn Commander (275 pts): Armoured tracks, Heavy stubber, Pulveriser cannon, 2x Heavy stubber, 2x Multi-melta, Coaxial autocannon, Oppressor cannon Char5: 1x Rogal Dorn Commander (275 pts): Armoured tracks, Heavy stubber, Pulveriser cannon, 2x Heavy stubber, 2x Multi-melta, Coaxial autocannon, Oppressor cannon

10x Cadian Shock Troops (65 pts) • 9x Shock Trooper 6 with Close combat weapon, Lasgun 1 with Vox-caster, Close combat weapon, Lasgun 1 with Close combat weapon, Meltagun 1 with Close combat weapon, Plasma gun • 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant: Chainsword, Laspistol

1x Armoured Sentinels (65 pts): Close combat weapon, Hunter-killer missile, Sentinel chainsaw, Lascannon 5x Attilan Rough Riders (60 pts) • 1x Rough Rider Sergeant: Lasgun, Laspistol, Steed's hooves, Power sabre, Hunting lance • 4x Rough Rider: 4 with Hunting lance, Lasgun, Laspistol, Steed's hooves 5x Attilan Rough Riders (60 pts) • 1x Rough Rider Sergeant: Lasgun, Laspistol, Steed's hooves, Power sabre, Hunting lance • 4x Rough Rider: 4 with Hunting lance, Lasgun, Laspistol, Steed's hooves 5x Attilan Rough Riders (60 pts) • 1x Rough Rider Sergeant: Lasgun, Laspistol, Steed's hooves, Power sabre, Hunting lance • 4x Rough Rider: 4 with Hunting lance, Lasgun, Laspistol, Steed's hooves 5x Death Riders (60 pts) • 1x Ridemaster: Death Rider lascarbine, Frag lance, Power sabre, Steed's savage claws • 4x Death Rider: 4 with Death Rider lascarbine, Frag lance, Power sabre, Steed's savage claws 5x Death Riders (60 pts) • 1x Ridemaster: Death Rider lascarbine, Frag lance, Power sabre, Steed's savage claws • 4x Death Rider: 4 with Death Rider lascarbine, Frag lance, Power sabre, Steed's savage claws 1x Hellhound (125 pts): Hunter-killer missile, Inferno cannon, Heavy bolter, Armoured tracks 1x Hellhound (125 pts): Hunter-killer missile, Inferno cannon, Heavy bolter, Armoured tracks 1x Leman Russ Exterminator (180 pts): Armoured tracks, Exterminator autocannon, Hunter-killer missile, Lascannon, 2x Multi-melta, Heavy stubber 1x Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 pts): Armoured tracks, Vanquisher battle cannon, Hunter-killer missile, Lascannon, 2x Multi-melta, Heavy stubber 1x Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 pts): Armoured tracks, Vanquisher battle cannon, Hunter-killer missile, Lascannon, 2x Multi-melta, Heavy stubber

Archetype

Pony Guard

Thoughts

Grizzled Company take the top 5-1 slot to round out the top four here, with Danny's list dropping the normal Bullgryn for some speedy Hellhounds and lots of cheap horse units to move block foes, deny and score.

That provides plenty of tanks to do what Grizzled Company tanks love to do, reducing the opponent's forces to smoking craters, and this list can flex nicely between all the key targets out there - Vanquishers keep C'tan somewhat honest, while stacking an Eradicator and Hellhound lets Dorns punch through the hulls of Land Raiders or the armour of their passengers. I do worry that without Bullgryn there's a bit more chance of something punching through and ending the army's entire career, which is what happened to Danny against the Starshatter build above in round 5, but if you're more worried about getting rolled by Custodes then the horse wall and stacking buffs feels potent, and if C'tan get hit hard, maybe that's higher priority. Well done to Danny on taking fourth!

The Best of the Rest

There were 17 more players on 5-1 records. They were:

5th - Struan Robertson - Ultramarines (Blade of Ultramar): RepEx/Vindicator Hulltramarines with Bobby G.
6th - James "One_Wing" Grover - Necrons (Awakened Dynasty): See Showdown. I've had my chance to win a supermajor while this was busted and I fluffed it. GW studio, you may fire the nerf missiles when ready.
7th - Euan Bedford-Cooper - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): A blightlord brick and Daemon prince to anchor backed up by all the little Daemon Engines in the world. Euan has done a writeup of the event over on his blog, check it out here.
8th - Byron 🔥🎲 Sidhu - Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion): Epic Hero monster mash, with Be'lakor joined by Skarbrand, Rotigus and Kairos, plus the Everstave Lord.
9th - Liam Callebout - Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): Melee-heavy Dark Angels with the Lion, 2x Deathwing Knights (one with a Deathwing Assault Librarian) and a full squad of Inner Circle Companions with Azrael, backed by some Desolation Marines and a couple of Vengeances.
10th - Lee Page - Death Guard (Virulent Vectorium): Another Daemon Engine-heavy Virulent build, this time with 2x Deathshrouds instead of any Blightlords.
11th - Martyn Cooper - Astra Militarum (Grizzled Company): Durability-skewed Grizzled with double Bullgryn and lots of Chimeras instead of a second Dorn.
12th - Adam Parmenter - Blood Angels (Rage-cursed Onslaught): Melee-focused Rage Cursed with two Dreads and 10/10/5 Jump Company.
13th - Stephen Carmichael-Wilson - Chaos Daemons (Scintillating Legion): Three Bird Scintillating with a unit of six Screamers and some utility pieces instead of the fourth.
14th - Jay Seebarun - Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): A very similar iteration on Wrath to the one above, swapping out a Terminator Librarian for a Chaplain instead.
15th - Marko Preocanin - Dark Angels (Wrath of the Rock): Another similar build, but with two Gladiators (one Lancer, one Reaper) instead of the speeders.
16th - Peter Balchin - Tyranids (Invasion Fleet): Pressure-skewed Invasion Fleet with 2x10 Genestealers with Broodlords and a full Termagant squad, mid-weight monsters as a second wave, and some Zoanthropes at the back.
17th - Kobe Walters - Space Wolves (Saga of the Beastslayer): Infantry melee herohammer with two big Headtaker units.
18th - Joe Kiddle - Necrons (Pantheon of Woe): The named C'tan, a Wraith brick, Ammentar and change.
19th - Vincent Chandler - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Double C'tan, Silent King, a Doomsday and a Warrior brick.
20th - Terence Bennett - Space Wolves (Stormlance Task Force): Heavy pressure Stormlance with two ThunderCav squads and 2x5 Terminators clanking into battle behind them.
21st - Tom Mitchell - World Eaters (Berzerker Warband): All-melee Warband, taking the standard template and dropping the two Forgefiends for Angron.

Green Dice Games Winter Ruin III Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament

70-player, 6-round Grand Tournament in Slatington, PA, United States on February 07 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Derek Apsche - Orks (Green Tide) - 1st Place

Ork Bad Moons Choppa Boyz. Credit: Greggles

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

1 greentide (1995 points)

Orks Strike Force (2000 points) Green Tide

CHARACTERS

Boss Snikrot (75 points) • 1x Mork's Teeth 1x Slugga

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

Painboy (95 points) • 1x Power klaw 1x 'Urty syringe • Enhancement: Bloodthirsty Belligerence

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

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

Weirdboy (65 points) • 1x Weirdboy staff 1x 'Eadbanger

Zodgrod Wortsnagga (90 points) • 1x Da Grabzappa 1x Squigstoppa

BATTLELINE

Boyz (170 points) • 19x Boy • 17x Choppa 2x Close combat weapon 2x Rokkit launcha 17x Slugga • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Power klaw 1x Slugga

Boyz (170 points) • 19x Boy • 17x Choppa 2x Close combat weapon 2x Rokkit launcha 17x Slugga • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Power klaw 1x Slugga

Boyz (170 points) • 19x Boy • 17x Choppa 2x Close combat weapon 2x Rokkit launcha 17x Slugga • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Power klaw 1x Slugga

Boyz (80 points) • 9x Boy • 8x Choppa 1x Close combat weapon 1x Rokkit launcha 8x Slugga • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Power klaw 1x Slugga

Boyz (80 points) • 9x Boy • 8x Choppa 1x Close combat weapon 1x Rokkit launcha 8x Slugga • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Power klaw 1x Slugga

Boyz (80 points) • 9x Boy • 8x Choppa 1x Close combat weapon 1x Rokkit launcha 8x Slugga • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Power klaw 1x Slugga

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Trukk (70 points) • 1x Big shoota 1x Spiked wheels 1x Wreckin' ball

OTHER DATASHEETS

Battlewagon (160 points) • 4x Big shoota 1x Deff rolla 1x Grabbin' klaw 1x Lobba 1x Wreckin' ball 1x Zzap gun 1x 'Ard Case

Gretchin (80 points) • 20x Gretchin • 20x Close combat weapon 20x Grot blasta • 2x Runtherd • 2x Runtherd tools 2x Slugga

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

Kommandos (120 points) • 1x Bomb Squig 1x Distraction Grot • 9x Kommando • 1x Breacha ram 1x Burna 4x Choppa 4x Close combat weapon 2x Kustom shoota 1x Rokkit launcha 4x Slugga • 1x Boss Nob • 1x Power klaw 1x Slugga

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

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

Archetype

Prison Tide

Thoughts

Derek's continued experimentation with various factions that let him out-horde people continues here, moving onto Green Tide Orks. Similar to Kroot Hunting Pack, this can outscore heavy-duty builds by locking them out of Primary, sacrificing some pre-game positioning and respawn for higher durability, different reactive tricks and one big wrecking ball. Their Blood Surge equivalent can disrupt enemy shooting plans with high efficiency, respawning models in the Command Phase is a great way to further force the issue on Primary, and Ghaz's unit can actually dunk on heavy threats if the opponent lets them. I like adding Zodgrod's unit to the setup too - it means that if you go first you can still do lots of work to jail the foe straight away, and further augments the attributes that make this list strong. Congratulations Derek on the win!

Gregory Hunter - T'au Empire (Mont'ka) - 2nd Place

Tau Riptide. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Montka (1990 Points)

T'au Empire Mont'ka Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Commander Shadowsun (100 Points) • Warlord • 1x Advanced Guardian Drone • 1x Battlesuit fists • 1x Command-link Drone (Aura) • 1x Flechette launcher • 2x High-energy fusion blaster • 1x Light missile pod • 1x Pulse pistol

Ethereal (50 Points) • 1x Honour stave • 1x Hover Drone • 1x Marker Drone • 1x Shield Drone

BATTLELINE

Breacher Team (90 Points) • 1x Support turret • 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas'ui ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Guardian Drone ◦ 1x Gun Drone ◦ 1x Pulse blaster ◦ 1x Pulse pistol • 9x Breacher Fire Warrior ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 9x Pulse blaster ◦ 9x Pulse pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Devilfish (85 Points) • 1x Accelerator burst cannon • 1x Armoured hull • 2x Seeker missile • 2x Smart missile system

OTHER DATASHEETS

Broadside Battlesuits (80 Points) • 1x Broadside Shas'vre ◦ 1x Crushing bulk ◦ 1x Heavy rail rifle ◦ 2x Missile Drone ◦ 1x Twin smart missile system ◦ 1x Weapon Support System

Broadside Battlesuits (80 Points) • 1x Broadside Shas'vre ◦ 1x Crushing bulk ◦ 1x Heavy rail rifle ◦ 2x Missile Drone ◦ 1x Twin smart missile system ◦ 1x Weapon Support System

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

Hammerhead Gunship (145 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Railgun • 2x Seeker missile • 2x Smart missile system

Kroot Carnivores (65 Points) • 1x Long-quill ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 1x Kroot pistol ◦ 1x Kroot rifle • 9x Kroot Carnivore ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 9x Kroot rifle

Pathfinder Team (90 Points) • 1x Pathfinder Shas'ui ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Gun Drone ◦ 1x Pulse carbine ◦ 1x Pulse pistol ◦ 1x Recon Drone ◦ 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher • 9x Pathfinder ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Ion rifle ◦ 6x Pulse carbine ◦ 9x Pulse pistol

Pathfinder Team (90 Points) • 1x Pathfinder Shas'ui ◦ 1x Close combat weapon ◦ 2x Gun Drone ◦ 1x Pulse carbine ◦ 1x Pulse pistol ◦ 1x Recon Drone ◦ 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher • 9x Pathfinder ◦ 9x Close combat weapon ◦ 3x Ion rifle ◦ 6x Pulse carbine ◦ 9x Pulse pistol

Piranhas (60 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Piranha fusion blaster • 2x Seeker missile • 2x Twin pulse carbine

Piranhas (60 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Piranha fusion blaster • 2x Seeker missile • 2x Twin pulse carbine

Piranhas (60 Points) • 1x Armoured hull • 1x Piranha fusion blaster • 2x Seeker missile • 2x Twin pulse carbine

Riptide Battlesuit (200 Points) • 1x Ion accelerator • 2x Missile Drone • 1x Riptide fists • 1x Twin smart missile system

Riptide Battlesuit (200 Points) • 1x Ion accelerator • 2x Missile Drone • 1x Riptide fists • 1x Twin smart missile system

Riptide Battlesuit (200 Points) • 1x Ion accelerator • 2x Missile Drone • 1x Riptide fists • 1x Twin smart missile system

Stealth Battlesuits (110 Points) • 1x Stealth Shas'vre ◦ 1x Battlesuit fists ◦ 1x Fusion blaster ◦ 1x Gun Drone ◦ 1x Marker Drone ◦ 1x Pulse pistol • 4x Stealth Shas'ui ◦ 4x Battlesuit fists ◦ 3x Burst cannon ◦ 1x Fusion blaster ◦ 1x Homing Beacon

Vespid Stingwings (65 Points) • 1x Vespid Strain Leader ◦ 1x Neutron blaster ◦ 1x Stingwing claws • 4x Vespid Stingwing ◦ 4x Neutron blaster ◦ 4x Stingwing claws

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

Archetype

Mont'ka Hulls

Thoughts

High-speed Mont'ka in second place here, going for a fairly standard setup on the medium hulls, and then taking a few more speedy/individual units than you'd normally see instead of any Crisis. That provides a bit more scoring depth if the plan A of killing stuff with Hammerheads and Riptides bounces off an Invulnerable save. Only downside of that is that no starscythe unit creates a bit of a vulnerability to hordes, and Gregory ran into Derek's Orks in the final. Outside that, though, a successful day of going fast and blasting things, well done Gregory.

Dan Meloro - Thousand Sons (Rubricae Phalanx) - 3rd Place

Credit: Robert "TheChirurgeon" Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

If they wanted me to use my brain when I play 40k, then they would have nerfed Scarab Occult Terminators.

Thousand Sons Strike Force (2000 points) Rubricae Phalanx

CHARACTERS

Ahriman (100 points) • Warlord • 1x Black Staff of Ahriman 1x Inferno bolt pistol 1x Transmogrifying Blast

Daemon Prince of Tzeentch (185 points) • 1x Dark Blessing 1x Hellforged weapons 1x Infernal cannon • Enhancement: Arcane Thralls (Aura)

Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (115 points) • 1x Force weapon 1x Gaze of Hate 1x Inferno combi-bolter • Enhancement: Risen Rubricae

Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (85 points) • 1x Force weapon 1x Gaze of Hate 1x Inferno combi-bolter

Sorcerer in Terminator Armour (85 points) • 1x Force weapon 1x Gaze of Hate 1x Inferno combi-bolter

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

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

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

Tzaangor Enlightened (45 points) • 1x Aviarch • 1x Divining spear • 2x Enlightened • 2x Divining spear

Tzaangors (70 points) • 1x Twistbray • 1x Autopistol 1x Chainsword • 9x Tzaangor • 9x Autopistol 1x Brayhorn 9x Chainsword 1x Herd banner

Tzaangors (70 points) • 1x Twistbray • 1x Autopistol 1x Chainsword • 9x Tzaangor • 9x Autopistol 1x Brayhorn 9x Chainsword 1x Herd banner

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

Archetype

Scarab Spam Phalanx

Thoughts

Continuing the metagame theme of everyone slamming robust, violent builds into one another and seeing who survives, we have a wall of thirty Rubricae. This will walk forward with guns blazing, and probably bounce the majority of foes off it. Once again, the Ork horde was able to prevent that through sheer weight of bodies (this is definitely a place where having purely sacrificial super Grots as a first wave is good, as they can kind of bypass the robots too), but nothing else made a dent. Well done to Dan on taking third.

Kyle Myers - Dark Angels (Ironstorm Spearhead) - 4th Place

Credit: Robert "TheChirurgeon" Jones

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

ENTER LION-MAN

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium - Adeptus Astartes - Dark Angels + DETACHMENT: Ironstorm Spearhead (Armoured Wrath) + TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 1995pts + + WARLORD: Char2: Lion El'Jonson + ENHANCEMENT: The Flesh is Weak (on Char3: Captain in Gravis Armour) & Master of the Machine War (on Char5: Techmarine) & Adept of the Omnissiah (on Char6: Techmarine) + NUMBER OF UNITS: 16 + SECONDARY: - Bring It Down: (8x2) - Assassination: 6 Characters +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CHARACTER

Azrael (125 pts) • 1x Lion's Wrath • 1x The Sword of Secrets

Captain in Gravis Armour (90 pts) • 1x Boltstorm Gauntlet • 1x Power Fist • 1x Relic Blade • The Flesh is Weak (+10 pts)

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 pts) • 1x Combi-weapon • 1x Paired Combat Blades

Lion El'Jonson (315 pts) • 1x Arma Luminis • 1x Fealty • Warlord

Techmarine (75 pts) • 1x Forge Bolter • 1x Grav-pistol • 1x Omnissian Power Axe • 1x Servo-arm • Master of the Machine War (+20 pts)

Techmarine (90 pts) • 1x Forge Bolter • 1x Grav-pistol • 1x Omnissian Power Axe • 1x Servo-arm • Adept of the Omnissiah (+35 pts)

BATTLELINE

Assault Intercessor Squad (75 pts) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant • 1x Heavy Bolt Pistol • 1x Astartes Chainsword • 4x Assault Intercessors • 4x Astartes Chainsword • 4x Heavy Bolt Pistol

Intercessor Squad (80 pts) • 1x Intercessor Sergeant • 1x Bolt pistol • 1x Bolt Rifle • 1x Close combat weapon • 4x Intercessor • 4x Bolt pistol • 4x Bolt Rifle • 4x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 pts) • 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack • 1x Plasma Pistol • 1x Power Fist • 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Pack • 4x Astartes Chainsword • 3x Heavy Bolt Pistol • 1x Plasma Pistol

Land Speeder Vengeance (120 pts) • 1x Close Combat Weapon • 1x Plasma storm battery • 1x Heavy bolter

Land Speeder Vengeance (120 pts) • 1x Close Combat Weapon • 1x Plasma storm battery • 1x Heavy bolter

Land Speeder Vengeance (120 pts) • 1x Close Combat Weapon • 1x Plasma storm battery • 1x Heavy bolter

Ravenwing Darkshroud (100 pts) • 1x Close Combat Weapon • 1x Heavy bolter

Redemptor Dreadnought (195 pts) • 1x Icarus Rocket Pod • 1x Redemptor Fist • 1x Macro Plasma Incinerator • 1x Onslaught Gatling Cannon • 1x Twin Fragstorm Grenade Launcher

Redemptor Dreadnought (195 pts) • 1x Icarus Rocket Pod • 1x Redemptor Fist • 1x Macro Plasma Incinerator • 1x Onslaught Gatling Cannon • 1x Twin Fragstorm Grenade Launcher

Storm Speeder Thunderstrike (135 pts) • 1x Close combat weapon • 1x Stormfury Missiles • 1x Thunderstrike Las-talon • 1x Twin Icarus Rocket Pod

Archetype

Lionstorm

Thoughts

The rare Lionstorm sighting in 4th place here, showcasing yet another brutal build in a brutal metagame. Dark Angels are a genuinely excellent chapter to run Ironstorm with, and it's probably only the appeal of Wrath (or just going Ultramarines) that stops it being less common. Vengeances are a really good unique hull, Azrael's CP farming keeps the powerful Stratagems rolling, and the Lion is even better here than normal. Not only do the re-rolls help make him even more reliable (helps avoid dropping dice to 2s to wound against big targets), his defences make him very likely to end up wandering about down a few wounds, at which point opponent's are going to discover what Unbowed Conviction does, and learn that they do not care for it. Funnily enough, it's especially good in a Dark Angels mirror, as it lets him eviscerate enemy Deathwing Knights (traitors, maybe?), but also obviously helps put C'tan back in their box too. Well done Kyle for showing there's still life in Ironstorm yet.

The Best of the Rest

There was 1 more player on 5-1 records and a bunch on 4.5-1.5, and while I cannot stress enough that this is a promise to always cover those, today we are because some were from a draw in the final round. They were:

5th - Aidan Longacre - Adeptus Custodes (Lions of the Emperor): Elite Infantry Lions that sticks to mostly Wardens, bringing just one Land Raider and Guard squad (with Draxus, obviously).
6th - Max Berlove - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): The honourable no-C'tan option of the Silent King, one Wraiths and triple Doomsday.
7th - TJ Lanigan - Genestealer Cult (Biosanctic Broodsurge): Lots of Jackals and Purestrains for move blocking and early pressure, two big Metamorph bricks for big damage.
8th - Cole Westbrook - Ultramarines (Gladius Task Force): Extra Herohammery Ultramarines, packing all the normal Character hits and the new Titus. He can set up in various configurations, as the Wardens are also here, and all the melee/hero stuff is backed by a couple of Vindicators.
9th - Chance Crawford - Black Templars (Bastion Task Force): Another herohammer melee build, this time going for lots of Assault Intercessor and Crusader MSUs to pair with the Templar power Characters, backed up/ferried by a pair of RepExes.

Danish Open, singles. Hydra 40k Grand Tournament 1 of 2026.

50-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Køge, Danmark on February 07 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Martin Bræmer Nielsen - Adeptus Custodes (Talons of the Emperor) - 1st Place

Adeptus Custodes Custodian Guard Squad. Credit: Jack Hunter

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

talons (2000 points)

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

BATTLELINE

Custodian Guard (190 points) • 5x Custodian Guard • 4x Guardian spear 1x Misericordia 1x Praesidium Shield 1x Vexilla

Custodian Guard (190 points) • 5x Custodian Guard • 4x Guardian spear 1x Praesidium Shield 1x Sentinel blade

Custodian Guard (190 points) • 5x Custodian Guard • 4x Guardian spear 1x Misericordia 1x Praesidium Shield 1x Vexilla

Custodian Guard (150 points) • 4x Custodian Guard • 3x Guardian spear 1x Praesidium Shield 1x Sentinel blade

Custodian Guard (150 points) • 4x Custodian Guard • 3x Guardian spear 1x Praesidium Shield 1x Sentinel blade

Custodian Guard (150 points) • 4x Custodian Guard • 4x Guardian spear

OTHER DATASHEETS

Prosecutors (50 points) • 1x Prosecutor Sister Superior • 1x Boltgun 1x Close combat weapon • 4x Prosecutor • 4x Boltgun 4x Close combat weapon

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

Venerable Land Raider (220 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 2x Godhammer lascannon 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter 1x Twin heavy bolter

Venerable Land Raider (220 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 2x Godhammer lascannon 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter 1x Twin heavy bolter

Venerable Land Raider (220 points) • 1x Armoured tracks 2x Godhammer lascannon 1x Hunter-killer missile 1x Storm bolter 1x Twin heavy bolter

Witchseekers (45 points) • 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Witchseeker flamer • 3x Witchseeker • 3x Close combat weapon 3x Witchseeker flamer

Witchseekers (45 points) • 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Witchseeker flamer • 3x Witchseeker • 3x Close combat weapon 3x Witchseeker flamer

Witchseekers (45 points) • 1x Witchseeker Sister Superior • 1x Close combat weapon 1x Witchseeker flamer • 3x Witchseeker • 3x Close combat weapon 3x Witchseeker flamer

ALLIED UNITS

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

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

Archetype

Talons Land Raiders

Thoughts

Yet another of the metagame's most brutal builds on show here; chewing through six Custodian units and three Land Raiders is an almost impossible lift for some armies, and the Talons version is extra durable thanks to the ability for units to flee back into a tank if they're about to get alpha struck. This helps prevent C'tan winning a damage race against you, and this build definitely feels like it has the best shot into them (and indeed, defeated them handily on the way to the top here). Congratulations Martin!

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Simon Darre - Thousand Sons (Grand Coven): An unusual Herohammer Grand Coven build, backing Magnus with triple Winged Daemon Prince and anchoring that via a full Scarab unit. Also fields some Annihilators for ranged deterrence.
3rd - Michael Roune - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal): Triple C'tan, Silent King and a Wraith Brick.
4th - Anton Søgaard - Necrons (Pantheon of Woe): Quad C'tan and the Silent King.
5th - Peter Herbild - Aeldari (Seer Council): Various Aspect/Phoenix MSUs and two fully tooled up Guardian/Conclave units.
6th - Andreas Illum - Necrons (Pantheon of Woe): Slightly more scoring-skewed Pantheon, going for quad C'tan (two Transcendent, the Nightbringer and the Void Dragon) and lots of single Destroyers/Reanimators.
7th - Morten Bryld - Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance): Extra-heavy infernal Lance, backing the classic triple gatling Despoilers with a Rampager so you can actually kill a C'tan.
8th - Paul Bridge - Drukhari (Spectacle of Spite): Spectacle with extra stuff squeeed in, swapping a Scourge unit for a Ravager to shave points, and trading out Malys for another Wych/Succubus unit.

Safety’s Off Hell Raisin’ Dale Praisin’ GT

32-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Roebuck, SC, United States on February 07 2026. All the lists for this event can be found in Best Coast Pairings.

Collin Watts - Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort) - 1st Place

Adeptus Mechanicus - Ironstrider Ballistarii
Credit: Pendulin

The List

Army List - Click to Expand

Ad Mech (2000 points)

Adeptus Mechanicus Strike Force (2000 points) Skitarii Hunter Cohort

CHARACTERS

Belisarius Cawl (210 points) • Warlord • 1x Arc scourge 1x Cawl's Omnissian axe 1x Mechadendrite hive 1x Solar atomiser

Skitarii Marshal (60 points) • 1x Control stave 1x Mechanicus pistol • Enhancement: Cantic Thrallnet

BATTLELINE

Skitarii Rangers (85 points) • 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha • 1x Alpha combat weapon 1x Close combat weapon 1x Mechanicus pistol • 9x Skitarii Ranger • 1x Arc rifle 9x Close combat weapon 6x Galvanic rifle 1x Omnispex 1x Plasma caliver 1x Transuranic arquebus

Skitarii Rangers (85 points) • 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha • 1x Alpha combat weapon 1x Close combat weapon 1x Mechanicus pistol • 9x Skitarii Ranger • 1x Arc rifle 9x Close combat weapon 6x Galvanic rifle 1x Omnispex 1x Plasma caliver 1x Transuranic arquebus

OTHER DATASHEETS

Ironstrider Ballistarii (255 points) • 3x Ironstrider Ballistarii • 3x Ironstrider feet 3x Twin cognis lascannon

Ironstrider Ballistarii (255 points) • 3x Ironstrider Ballistarii • 3x Ironstrider feet 3x Twin cognis lascannon

Pteraxii Skystalkers (75 points) • 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha • 1x Flechette blaster 1x Taser goad • 4x Pteraxii Skystalker • 4x Close combat weapon 4x Flechette carbine

Sicarian Infiltrators (75 points) • 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps • 1x Flechette blaster 1x Taser goad • 4x Sicarian Infiltrator • 4x Flechette blaster 4x Taser goad

Sicarian Infiltrators (75 points) • 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps • 1x Flechette blaster 1x Taser goad • 4x Sicarian Infiltrator • 4x Flechette blaster 4x Taser goad

Sicarian Ruststalkers (165 points) • 1x Sicarian Ruststalker Princeps • 1x Transonic razor and chordclaw • 9x Sicarian Ruststalker • 9x Transonic razor and chordclaw

Sicarian Ruststalkers (165 points) • 1x Sicarian Ruststalker Princeps • 1x Transonic razor and chordclaw • 9x Sicarian Ruststalker • 9x Transonic razor and chordclaw

Skorpius Disintegrator (165 points) • 1x Armoured hull 3x Cognis heavy stubber 1x Disruptor missile launcher 1x Ferrumite cannon

Skorpius Disintegrator (165 points) • 1x Armoured hull 3x Cognis heavy stubber 1x Disruptor missile launcher 1x Ferrumite cannon

Skorpius Disintegrator (165 points) • 1x Armoured hull 3x Cognis heavy stubber 1x Disruptor missile launcher 1x Ferrumite cannon

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

Archetype

Shooty Hunter Cohort

Thoughts

AdMech to close out, reminding us that the faction is still pretty good, even if not as utterly dominant as in the previous metagame. Currently, the big thing they have going for them is that they have one of the least complicated packages available for threatening C'tan at range. Obviously invulnerable saves can spike, but if the two lascannon squads blast a C'tan with Protector and Cawl Oaths up, it has a pretty realistic shot of killing them outright, and that's attached to mobile platforms that seriously outrange most Necron tools (and there are plenty of other guns to back them up). Obviously it's kind of wild that this is only a "maybe" solution to any target out there, but you work with what you've got, and Ruststalkers are also a very efficient way to include capability against melee Marine lists and Custodes, which are other priority targets. AdMech have a good suite of tools to use, and I think the combination assembled here is very solid for the metagame, congratulations to Collin for deploying them to good effect.

The Best of the Rest

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

2nd - Seth Piper - Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade): A big squad of each Kataphron flavour, backed by lots of small units.
3rd - John Casey - Adeptus Custodes (Talons of the Emperor): Guard/Land Raider spam.
4th - rOBIN rOBERTS - Genestealer Cult (Host of Ascension): Loads of Characters, two full squads each of Acolytes and Neophytes and one each of Purestrains and Jackals, providing maximum flexibility on how to use the RP.
5th - Sam Uhlhorn - Necrons (Pantheon of Woe): Quad C'tan and a Warrior brick.

Wrap Up

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Competitive Innovations in 10th: Part of the Problem pt.1

This Week's Events

Beachhead Brawl 2026

The Showdown

Supply Drop - Sweeping Engagement

Thoughts

Result

Ross Tully - T'au Empire (Kroot Hunting Pack) - 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Stephen Box - Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force) - 2nd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

William Griffiths - Necrons (Starshatter Arsenal) - 3rd Place (Undefeated)

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Danny Evison - Astra Militarum (Grizzled Company) - 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Green Dice Games Winter Ruin III Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament

Derek Apsche - Orks (Green Tide) - 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Gregory Hunter - T'au Empire (Mont'ka) - 2nd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Dan Meloro - Thousand Sons (Rubricae Phalanx) - 3rd Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

Kyle Myers - Dark Angels (Ironstorm Spearhead) - 4th Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Danish Open, singles. Hydra 40k Grand Tournament 1 of 2026.

Martin Bræmer Nielsen - Adeptus Custodes (Talons of the Emperor) - 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

Safety’s Off Hell Raisin’ Dale Praisin’ GT

Collin Watts - Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitarii Hunter Cohort) - 1st Place

The List

Archetype

Thoughts

The Best of the Rest

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