Unlock victory with the top 40k tournament army lists featuring Chaos Knights, Drukhari, and Aeldari from the IOWAAAGH!
IOWAAAGH! is over, and now we can look at which 40k factions’ playstyles and army lists managed to secure a place at the top! Check out what these winners brought in their armies, with our expert commentary on their selections.
Final Tournament Standings:
Checking out these winning army lists and their tactical synergies can really help you sharpen your strategy, especially with the latest updates to the balance dataslate rules and points. If you’re looking to level up your game even more, think about applying to Team USA to compete in the World Team Championships every year!
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1st Place: Dan Sammons – Chaos Knights Army Lists
Dan showed up to IOWAAAGH! with a plan so simple, it bordered on rude: bring an army full of War Dogs, point them at the enemy, and let the battlefield sort itself out. It worked.
At the top of the pile stood an upgraded War Dog Stalker, the leader of this mechanized pack. This thing isn’t subtle—it’s fast, tough, and hits like a truck full of hate. And in classic Chaos fashion, it brought friends. A lot of them.
Five Brigands filled out the gunline. They shoot well, move well, and don’t fall apart the second someone looks at them funny. These aren’t just filler—they’re the reason that objective-holders and support units across the table suddenly start sweating.
On the other side of the toolkit, five Karnivores brought the pain up close.
This whole list was a lesson in aggressive balance. Ranged firepower to keep opponents honest. Melee threats to push the pressure. Enough armor to stick around longer than most would like. It’s like bringing sledgehammers to a chess match—and somehow still playing better than everyone else.
Now, War Dogs are good, but they don’t do everything. Holding ground and soaking up hits isn’t exactly their specialty. So Dan looked to the Warp for some backup. Three units of Nurglings and three Beasts of Nurgle wandered in—probably burped, giggled, and parked themselves right where the opponent didn’t want them.
Nurglings are small, sticky, and generally just in the way. They grab objectives, annoy shooters, and exist in places that slow everything down. Beasts of Nurgle, meanwhile, are walking walls of ooze and bad decisions.
They’re hard to kill and irritating to ignore, which makes them perfect for plugging gaps in a list that otherwise screams forward like a possessed freight train.
2nd Place: Cody Jiru – Drukhari (Dark Eldar) Army Lists
3rd Place: Tom Cohen – Aeldari (Eldar) Army Lists
Final Thoughts on Army Lists
In the grand tapestry of the IOWAAAGH!, Chaos Knights proved that sometimes it’s better to charge headfirst with sledgehammers rather than sneak around like the Drukhari, who, let’s be honest, may have been just a bit too busy to play nice. Meanwhile, the Aeldari reminded everyone that elegance can still leave a mark, even amidst the chaos. All in all, it looks like it was a wild ride on the battlefield!
The performance of these armies really puts an exclamation mark on the ever-evolving nature of the competitive Warhammer 40k meta. Looking at those winning army lists and how their tactics work together can really give you some great insights for improving your strategy. It’s a smart way to up your game!
See the Top Warhammer Army Lists & 40k Tournament Schedule for 2025
What do you think of the results and top Warhammer 40k army lists at the IOWAAAGH! for Chaos Knights, Drukhari, and Aeldari?
