This week’s unbeatable Warhammer 40k army lists are here again, as Pariah Nexus keeps us guessing; what will bust the meta?
Unbeatable Warhammer 40k Army Lists: Sept 10, 2024
This week isn’t dropping super major results, but that doesn’t mean they should be ignored. From Jason McKenzie’s Tau army bringing a [Fire]Knife to a gunfight to John Lennon’s unstoppable Deathwing Knights, there’s no shortage of epic battles and strategic shakedowns. We will look at the 100+ player majors that took place: Smite Club Open 2024 (Mesa, AZ), and Crucible 2024 (Orlando, FL).
Tau Bring A [Fire]Knife To A Gun Fight?
Jason McKenzie decided to retaliate instead of turning the other cheek.
Jason McKenzie’s Retaliation Cadre
CHARACTERS
Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (115 points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
3x Fusion blaster
2x Shield Drone
1x Shield Generator
• Enhancement: Internal Grenade Racks
Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (100 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Cyclic ion blaster
2x Gun Drone
3x Missile pod
• Enhancement: Starflare Ignition System
Ethereal (50 points)
• 1x Honour stave
1x Hover Drone
2x Shield Drone
OTHER DATASHEETS
Broadside Battlesuits (180 points)
• 1x Broadside Shas’vre
• 1x Crushing bulk
1x Heavy rail rifle
2x Missile Drone
1x Twin smart missile system
1x Weapon Support System
• 1x Broadside Shas’ui
• 1x Crushing bulk
1x Heavy rail rifle
2x Missile Drone
1x Twin smart missile system
1x Weapon Support System
Broadside Battlesuits (180 points)
• 1x Broadside Shas’vre
• 1x Crushing bulk
1x Heavy rail rifle
2x Missile Drone
1x Twin smart missile system
1x Weapon Support System
• 1x Broadside Shas’ui
• 1x Crushing bulk
1x Heavy rail rifle
2x Missile Drone
1x Twin smart missile system
1x Weapon Support System
Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (130 points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Gun Drone
1x Marker Drone
2x Missile pod
• 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
1x Gun Drone
1x Marker 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 Marker 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 (75 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
1x Grav-inhibitor Drone
2x Gun Drone
1x Pulse carbine
1x Pulse pistol
1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
• 9x Pathfinder
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Ion rifle
6x Pulse carbine
9x Pulse pistol
Piranhas (55 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Piranha fusion blaster
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine
Riptide Battlesuit (180 points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
2x Missile Drone
1x Riptide fists
1x Twin fusion blaster
Riptide Battlesuit (180 points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
2x Missile Drone
1x Riptide fists
1x Twin fusion blaster
Stealth Battlesuits (60 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
Stealth Battlesuits (60 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
Stealth Battlesuits (60 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
Vespid Stingwings (65 points)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
• 1x Neutron blaster
1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwing
• 4x Neutron blaster
4x Stingwing claws
Retaliation Cadre is always going to lean into battlesuits, the Tau codex is really showing its internal balance being able to shift from boats/transports with guns, to battlesuits with guns.
Jason added flexibility while saving a load of points by taking two leaders for his three different crisis units. This allows you to shift which leader is attached to which unit every game instead of having locked in units that may be less effective in certain matchups.
Retaliation Cadre also buffs up all of those suits with +1 Strength within 12″ and an additional AP if within 6″ of the target. The Starflare Ignition System enhancement gives a unit a traditional “Uppy Downy” to help with scoring and mobility. This also allows one unit to keep carving out opponents in defensive positions when coupled with a 3″ Deep Strike Strategem. No one is safe from these suits.
Deathwing Kings:
John Lennon is still smashing everything in his path with Deathwing Knights.
John Lennon’s Gladius Task Force
CHARACTERS
Apothecary Biologis (85 Points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancements: Fire Discipline
Azrael (105 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Lion’s Wrath
• 1x The Lion Helm
• 1x The Sword of Secrets
Judiciar (70 Points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
• 1x Executioner relic blade
BATTLELINE
Assault Intercessor Squad (75 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant
◦ 1x Hand flamer
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessor
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 4x Heavy bolt pistol
OTHER DATASHEETS
Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 3x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
◦ 1x Hand flamer
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 3x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (80 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
◦ 1x Hand flamer
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 3x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
Deathwing Knights (235 Points)
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
◦ 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
◦ 4x Mace of absolution
Deathwing Knights (235 Points)
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
◦ 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
◦ 4x Mace of absolution
Deathwing Knights (235 Points)
• 1x Watcher in the Dark
• 1x Knight Master
◦ 1x Great weapon of the Unforgiven
• 4x Deathwing Knight
◦ 4x Power weapon
Eradicator Squad (190 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
◦ 4x Marksman bolt carbine
Inner Circle Companions (180 Points)
• 6x Inner Circle Companion
◦ 6x Calibanite greatsword
◦ 6x Heavy bolt pistol
Repulsor (180 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Hunter-slayer missile
• 1x Las-talon
• 1x Repulsor defensive array
• 1x Twin lascannon
Scout Squad (65 Points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
◦ 1x Astartes chainsword
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
◦ 2x Astartes shotgun
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Heavy bolter
◦ 1x Scout sniper rifle
Anyone looking to take down a GT should be expecting to play against almost exactly this list in some capacity on their way. Therein lies the problem that currently exists in the Meta, “How do I beat this pile of beef?”
One of the answers to Deathwing Knights is out OC them with cheap battleline, as we’ve seen from Accursed Cultists Dark Commune lists (another Meta bully). This can be handled by a lot of armies though, throwing cheap trash to deny Deathwing Knights objectives while you deal with the hammers in the list.
The Gladius Detachment allows them a crazy amount of flexibility, having access to Advance/Fallback and Charge, and Fire Discipline on the Biologis. These two abilities make the Deathwing Knights a bear to deal with, and the Eradicators… Eradicate anything.
If a list could be “The Warhammer 40k,” this list is “The Warhammer 40k.” The list does everything, takes all comers, and has room for skill expression while being pilotable by any level of gamer. It’s also “fair and honest” Warhammer. I love this list, play this list if you’re new, or seasoned, or plan to play against it.
Regardless, it was a wild weekend of 40k wargaming, with more players eager to add their own twist to the meta. Innovation is clearly not dead, and the best time to try that new idea is right now. Especially with all the new Warhammer rules changes from the latest balance Dataslate.
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What do you think of the top unbeatable army lists for 10th Edition Warhammer 40k this week?
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.
Basically, he knows 10th Edition Warhammer 40k like few others, so watch this space for some great advice from tactics to army list building.
