A week after major events like Adepticon and Manchester GT, coupled with Easter, there was a bit of a lull in the event circuit.
This week, we are taking another look at the top Warhammer 40k armies on the tournament scene and why they work in the current meta.
Warhammer 40k META Was Just Fooled By This One Simple Trick
Thanks to Best Coast Pairings, we can look back at the event as if we were all there ourselves. Click this special promo link to save $20 on a year’s subscription to BCP.
This week featured only two major events: Wet Coast GT with 164 players and Gothcon 40k Open with 64. The low turnout for 40k tournaments isn’t an entirely unexpected result after last week’s big events and the Easter holiday.
This week’s competitions, however, featured only one Necron army in the top ten (placing sixth), suggesting that the reign of robots may be over.
Drukari took down Gothcon with not just one but two armies placing in the top ten, while Grey Knights had three armies across both events. An extremely diverse meta has proven all armies are viable in this latest environment. That being said, it’s all just as planned for the meta to get thrown back into a state of Crisis (suits – get it) soon.
So now the one trick you will find carrying armies across this wild west of a Warhammer 40k Tournament Scene is speed.
Drukhari Primed to Strike & Fade from the Shadows
Drukhari has all the tools, trash, shenanigans, and speed to win with the best of them. Andreas Holm’s Skysplinter Assault took down Gothcon.
++ Army Roster (Aeldari – Drukhari) [2,000pts] ++
+ Epic Hero +
Drazhar [75pts]
Lelith Hesperax [85pts]
+ Character +
Archon [75pts]: Blast Pistol, Warlord
Archon [95pts]: Blast Pistol, Nightmare Shroud
+ Battleline +
Kabalite Warriors [110pts]
. 5x Kabalite Warrior: 5x Close Combat Weapon, 5x Splinter rifle
. Kabalite Warrior with Blaster
. Kabalite Warrior with Dark Lance
. Kabalite Warrior with Shredder
. Kabalite Warrior with Splinter Cannon
. Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter Rifle, Sybarite WeaponKabalite Warriors [110pts]
. 5x Kabalite Warrior: 5x Close Combat Weapon, 5x Splinter rifle
. Kabalite Warrior with Blaster
. Kabalite Warrior with Dark Lance
. Kabalite Warrior with Shredder
. Kabalite Warrior with Splinter Cannon
. Sybarite: Phantasm Grenade Launcher, Splinter Rifle, Sybarite WeaponWracks [60pts]
. Acothyst
. 3x Wrack: 3x Wrack blades
. Wrack with Liquifier GunWyches [90pts]
. Hekatrix: Blast Pistol, Phantasm Grenade Launcher
. 9x Wych: 9x Hekatarii Blade, 9x Splinter Pistol+ Infantry +
Incubi [150pts]
. 9x Incubi: 9x Klaive
. Klaivex: DemiklavesIncubi [75pts]
. 4x Incubi: 4x Klaive
. Klaivex: DemiklavesIncubi [75pts]
. 4x Incubi: 4x Klaive
. Klaivex: DemiklavesMandrakes [65pts]
. 4x Mandrake: 4x Baleblast, 4x Glimmersteel Blade
. NightfiendMandrakes [65pts]
. 4x Mandrake: 4x Baleblast, 4x Glimmersteel Blade
. NightfiendScourges [110pts]
. Scourge with Heavy Weapon: Dark Lance
. Scourge with Heavy Weapon: Dark Lance
. Scourge with Heavy Weapon: Dark Lance
. Scourge with Heavy Weapon: Dark Lance
. Solarite: Shardcarbine, Solarite WeaponScourges [110pts]
. Scourge with Heavy Weapon: Dark Lance
. Scourge with Heavy Weapon: Dark Lance
. Scourge with Heavy Weapon: Dark Lance
. Scourge with Heavy Weapon: Dark Lance
. Solarite: Shardcarbine, Solarite Weapon+ Monster +
Cronos [50pts]
. Cronos: Spirit VortexTalos [160pts]
. Talos: Talos Gauntlet, Twin Haywire Blasters, Twin Liquifier Gun
. Talos: Talos Gauntlet, Twin Haywire Blasters, Twin Liquifier Gun+ Dedicated Transport +
Raider [80pts]: Dark Lance
Raider [80pts]: Dark Lance
Venom [70pts]: Splinter Cannon
Venom [70pts]: Splinter Cannon
Venom [70pts]: Splinter Cannon
Venom [70pts]: Splinter Cannon
++ Total: [2,000pts] ++
If you’re curious about how Drukhari are scooting around the battlefield and somehow surviving with those fragile T3 bodies, look no further than the trusty Venom’s Ability.
This allows units to make precision attacks and survive while being lightning fast, able to threaten all parts of the board, and score at will. This gave Andreas Holm the ability to go undefeated at Gothcon, which is no small feat for differential scoring, either!
How The Grey (Knights) Slay
Mobility, Mobility, Mobility! The Secret is out. We’re seeing it in all lists these days, and Grey Knights, like previously mentioned Drukhari, are fast and mobile with their Teleporting shenanigans. Trevor Loewen went undefeated at Wet Coast GT, the largest event of the weekend, with the Grey Knights.
++ Army Roster (Imperium – Grey Knights) [2,000pts] ++
+ Epic Hero +
Kaldor Draigo [125pts]: Warlord
+ Character +
Brotherhood Techmarine [60pts]: Bolt Pistol
Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight [230pts]: Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Daemon Greathammer, Sigil of Exigence
+ Battleline +
Brotherhood Terminator Squad [420pts]
. 5x Terminator: 5x Nemesis Force Weapon, 5x Storm Bolter
. Terminator with Ancient’s Banner: Storm Bolter
. Terminator with Heavy Weapon: Psycannon
. Terminator with Heavy Weapon: Psycannon
. Terminator with NartheciumStrike Squad [125pts]
. 4x Grey Knight: 4x Nemesis Force Weapon, 4x Storm Bolter
. JusticarStrike Squad [125pts]
. 4x Grey Knight: 4x Nemesis Force Weapon, 4x Storm Bolter
. Justicar+ Infantry +
Interceptor Squad [135pts]
. 4x Interceptor: 4x Nemesis Force Weapon, 4x Storm Bolter
. JusticarInterceptor Squad [135pts]
. 4x Interceptor: 4x Nemesis Force Weapon, 4x Storm Bolter
. Justicar+ Vehicle +
Nemesis Dreadknight [185pts]: Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Greatsword
Nemesis Dreadknight [185pts]: Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Daemon Greathammer
Nemesis Dreadknight [185pts]: Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Daemon Greathammer
+ Allied Units +
Callidus Assassin [90pts]
++ Total: [2,000pts] ++
This list does carry one big hammer for Draigo to go into. Teleporting a six-inch-deep strike with 10 Terminators terrifies even the heartiest of foes and delivers with consistency. Strike Squads have a 2+ save with Armor of Contempt equivalent to Truesilver Armor, so good luck taking those guys off objectives with anything less than dedicated firepower.
They also bring the dread with the newly revamped Dreadknights, and when playing against an army like Necrons, with low toughness but invulnerable saves to negate excessive Armor Penetration, they are almost the perfectly efficient counter units.
It was a wild weekend of 40k wargaming, with more players showing up eager to put their own twist on the meta. Innovation clearly isn’t dead; it’s clear that the best time to try that new idea is right now.
Take your shot, have fun, and surprise the meta—this is what the hobby is all about.
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About the Author: Steven Ross
Steven Ross
Job Title: Competitive 40k Writer
Socials: Steven on Facebook
About Steven Ross: Steven plays more Warhammer 40k in a week than most people do in a quarter, maybe even a calendar year. He studies every Warhammer tournament army list each week, watches all the live streams, and interacts everywhere he can online.
After only being in the hobby for a few years, Steven placed 8th overall out of several hundred at the Warhammer 40k Adepticon Championships in 2024, and was selected to play in the Warhammer World Championships as well.
Basically, he knows 10th Edition Warhammer 40k like few others, so watch this space for some great advice from tactics to army list building.
