Unlock victory with the top 40k tournament army lists featuring Death Guard and Necrons from the Maryland Open.
The Maryland Open 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.
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1st Place: Derek Apsche – Death Guard Army Lists
Derek’s Death Guard didn’t sprint to victory—they lurched in, oozing across the table with all the grace of a sewer overflow and the effectiveness of a chainsaw in a pillow fight.
At the top of this pestilent parade were some of Nurgle’s greatest hits. Mortarion brought his usual cocktail of death, durability, and airborne disgust. If you’re thinking, “Can one model really delete half an army?” the answer is “Yes, if he’s also coughing on you while doing it.”
Typhus joined in to bring more psychic muscle, more plague-infested melee, and a scythe that’s seen things. Bad things.
Backing up the named nightmares were a solid group of character support. A Daemon Prince soared in with a mix of menace and mobility. A Biologus Putrifier and a Foul Blightspawn brought the kind of aura effects that make every fight dirtier and every nearby unit nastier.
Two Lords of Contagion tied it all together with some up-close brawling and extra helpings of disease-spreading stubbornness.
On the troop front, things stayed classic and unpretentious: one unit of Plague Marines. Not fast, not fancy—but they’ll hold objectives, shrug off small arms fire, and hit back with surprising punch.
A Rhino gave them a ride, which helps when you move like a rusted fridge in molasses.
A single unit of Chaos Spawn slithered in too—cheap, unpredictable, and a great way to soak up hits or cause a distraction by simply existing where nobody wants them to.
To help cover Mortarion and friends, two Deathshroud Terminators stepped in. These guys aren’t just bodyguards—they’re heavily-armored scythe-wielding reapers that refuse to go down quietly. They protect characters, wreck infantry, and look stylish in their own disgusting way.
For fire support, two Bloat-Drones hovered onto the field, loaded with launchers. They’re mobile, reasonably durable, and shoot just enough to make light armor flinch.
Two units of Poxwalkers wrapped things up, wobbling across the battlefield like an undead conga line. They’re slow, they’re cheap, and they won’t win many fights.
2nd Place: Tyler Principio – Death Guard Army Lists
3rd Place: Max Berlove – Necrons Army Lists
Final Thoughts on Army Lists
In the end, the Maryland Open showcased a delightful blend of Death Guard’s grotesque grit and Necrons‘ cold, calculated efficiency, proving that even the most decrepit forces can rise to the top!
From the slow but steady oozing of Nurgle’s finest, to the unyielding metal warriors of the Silent King, this tournament had it all—who knew decay could be so competitive?
The performance of these winning armies is an exclamation mark on the ever-evolving nature of the competitive Warhammer 40k meta.
Best of all, 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 This Year
What do you think of the results and top Warhammer 40k army lists at the Maryland Open for Death Guard Necrons?
