In an age of Knights, Knights, and more Knights, there was a list at NOVA that nobody was expecting. Check out the overall winner’s unique list!
We are at a pivotal time for 40k right now. GW is using the armies that ran rampant at NOVA as FAQ targets. As we wait for the FAQ to pop, we should look at this list that flew under the radar and managed to come out on top winning the best overall award for both hobby and battle scoring combined.
A List We Didn’t Expect: Custodes Won Overall At NoVA
North Carolina native, Joe “Papa Behre” Behrend’s Custodes are a gorgeous sight to behold. They were on hand at NoVA this year with a fresh new display board that helped earn them top-notch paint scores from the event.
Placing in the top bracket overall, Joe’s list was no slouch either:
Battalion Detachment-Custodes (1461 pts)
- Shield Captain (sword & Board)
- Shield Captain on Bike with Auric Aquilas
- Shield Captain in Terminator Armor
- Allarus Custodians x3 Grenade Launcher
- Vexilus Praetor in Terminator Armor
- Vexilus Praetor
- 3x Cusodian Guard (One Storm Shield, One Sword, Two Spears)
Supreme Command Detachment-Guard (123 pts)
- Company Commander with Kurov’s Aquila
- Primaris Psyker
- Primaris Psyker
Vanguard Detachment-Assassinorum (415 pts)
- Eversor Assassin
- Vindicare Assassin
- 3x Cullexus Assassins
The ONLY thing remotely similar to what most lists are running now is the Guard splashed in for CP farm. But Joe didn’t even take a cheap battalion of Guard for it. He needed any points where he could find them to go into the Custodes. They did the legwork for the army while the Assassins caused all kinds of disruption.
The Anti-Meta List
Rest assured, this list went up against a host of “boogeyman” lists. At first glance, you’ll notice that the list isn’t running any big walker or heavy artillery. All he brought was the Emperor’s football team and some Imperial Guard Cheerleaders. Realistically, most of the players going up against this probably underestimated its board presence potential.
The Custodian on a bike was able to be at any part of the map in a short notice, the Terminators with Grenade Launchers acted as an area-denial unit.
Meanwhile, the Custodian Guard on-foot ran interference on whatever the closest spooky thing was.
Also, rest in peace to any poor Psyker list that had to go up against not one, not two, but three Cullexus Assassins. If you didn’t know it, you only hit them on 6+s no matter what, they screw with the psychic energies around them, and they can target enemy Psykers.
Papa Behre’s Custodes
Joe (left) and his award from NoVA
Knights may be running rampant (literally) on the tabletop these days but rest assured, they can still be beaten and this list proves it! No Slam Captain needed!
What do you think about this list? Have you been trying to make an anti-meta list yourself?
Let us know in the comments of our Facebook Hobby group.
About the Author: Wesley Floyd
Wesley Floyd
Job Title: Staff Writer
Joined: 2018
Socials:@RealmbrushPainting
Bio: Imperial fanboy, tabletop fanatic, and the self-proclaimed King of Sprues. Wes has been in the Warhammer hobby since 2015 and joined the Spikey Bits writing team in 2018. He knows for a fact that Mephiston red is the best-tasting paint and is the commission painting equivalent of a Wendy’s 4 for $4.
If you like what he writes and want to reach out or get your models painted (to a mostly okayish standard), message him on Instagram.
