As the Tau get set for a fall into their new codex book, here’s what makes the best Warhammer 40k armies work now after Adepticon.
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.
Tau Set To Fail & Secrets To The Best 40k Armies Right Now
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.
The biggest event over the weekend, The Manchester 40k SUPER-MAJOR, has come and gone, leaving us with some exciting and not-so-exciting results. Oh, and there was a little thing called Adepticon as well.
The differences in GW and UKTC terrain/player packets could be on display as the very top cuts of both, while potentially similar at the surface level, were very different once you took a microscope to them.
| Manchester Super-Major | Adepticon Champs 2024 |
| Josh Roberts – Necrons | Brandon Vallee – Tau |
| David Gaylard – Astra Militarum | TJ Lanigan – Thousand Sons |
| Tony Chew – Aeldari | Shaun Reynolds – Necrons |
| Richard Grint – Admech | Kevin Leonard – Chaos Daemons |
| Kyle Grundy – Tau | Justin Cook – Tau |
| Innes Wilson – Space Marines | Ben Andraka – Tyranids |
| Markus Hinson – Tau | David T. – Thousand Sons |
| James McGlough – Black Templars | Steven Ross – Necrons |
| Mark Crombleholme – Necrons | John Ontto – Orks |
| Brett Smith – Necrons | Brian Daugherty – World Eaters |
Looking at the breakdown, a couple of factions jump off the page quickly; the reigning champ since their codex and LVO, meta bully, without a doubt, would be Necrons with five placings and a first overall. Tau, however, has us doing our best Palpatine impersonation:
Just in time for their new book, they also seem to have been able to compete on both terrain layouts, which is interesting given their propensity for ranged.
The Other Best 40k Armies Right Now
Things we will gloss over today: Tau and Canoptek Court. While both are interesting, Tau has been completely revamped from the ground up, so a deep dive isn’t the best route to take at this time. And Necrons, well, it’s the same old same old we’ve seen for months.
We want the new hotness!
Is that Thousand Sons? They won Cherokee just last month. They bully the apparently wide-awake tomb worlds. Why, yes, that sounds like a great place to start. With two placings in the top 10 and three in the top cut of Adepticon, they definitely had a showing.
How Thousand Sons get it done: Lots of single Damage Attacks, Dev Wounds, and Mortal Wounds. TJ Lanigan’s list did have a surprising amount of Tzaangors as well. Their job is to force opponents to make business decisions every turn, either killing deadly things or important objective things. Speed, Damage, Devs, and Mortals—what’s not to love?
Ad Mech Have Entered The Chat
Next up are the mechanical people—no, not the Necrons. We’re talking Ad Mech! Hunter Cohort has been slinking around on the fringes, and they are definitely a force to be reckoned with. Do not write these guys off. OC OC OC, these little guys absolutely smother their opponent on primary with incredible objective control. They are irritating to get rid of because of their Detachment Rule, giving all their infantry bodies Stealth and Cover.
That snuck these guys into the top 4 at Manchester. Oh, and don’t forget, they can get a 5+, feel no pain, and Lone Operative from strats as well. They must have learned that from the Necrons; a real theme is showing.
Escape from Trash Mountain (2000 Points)
Adeptus Mechanicus
Skitarii Hunter Cohort
Strike Force (2000 Points)CHARACTERS
Skitarii Marshal (55 Points)
• 1x Control stave
1x Mechanicus pistol
• Enhancements: Clandestine InfiltratorSkitarii Marshal (55 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Control stave
1x Mechanicus pistol
• Enhancements: Veiled HunterSkitarii Marshal (65 Points)
• 1x Control stave
1x Mechanicus pistol
• Enhancements: Battle-sphere UplinkBATTLELINE
Skitarii Rangers (90 Points)
• 1x Skitarii Ranger Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Ranger
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
6x Galvanic rifle
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
1x Transuranic arquebusSkitarii Vanguard (80 Points)
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebusSkitarii Vanguard (80 Points)
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebusSkitarii Vanguard (80 Points)
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebusSkitarii Vanguard (80 Points)
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebusSkitarii Vanguard (80 Points)
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebusSkitarii Vanguard (80 Points)
• 1x Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
• 1x Alpha combat weapon
1x Close combat weapon
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 9x Skitarii Vanguard
• 1x Arc rifle
9x Close combat weapon
1x Omnispex
1x Plasma caliver
6x Radium carbine
1x Transuranic arquebusDEDICATED TRANSPORTS
Skorpius Dunerider (80 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Cognis heavy stubber arraySkorpius Dunerider (80 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Cognis heavy stubber arraySkorpius Dunerider (80 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Cognis heavy stubber arrayOTHER DATASHEETS
Corpuscarii Electro-Priests (60 Points)
• 5x Corpuscarii Electro-Priest
• 5x Electrostatic gauntletsPteraxii Skystalkers (65 Points)
• 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Pteraxii Skystalker
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Flechette carbinePteraxii Skystalkers (65 Points)
• 1x Pteraxii Skystalker Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Pteraxii Skystalker
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Flechette carbinePteraxii Sterylizors (130 Points)
• 1x Pteraxii Sterylizor Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Pteraxii talons
1x Taser goad
• 9x Pteraxii Sterylizor
• 9x Phosphor torch
9x Pteraxii talonsPteraxii Sterylizors (130 Points)
• 1x Pteraxii Sterylizor Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Pteraxii talons
1x Taser goad
• 9x Pteraxii Sterylizor
• 9x Phosphor torch
9x Pteraxii talonsPteraxii Sterylizors (130 Points)
• 1x Pteraxii Sterylizor Alpha
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Pteraxii talons
1x Taser goad
• 9x Pteraxii Sterylizor
• 9x Phosphor torch
9x Pteraxii talonsSerberys Raiders (60 Points)
• 1x Serberys Raider Alpha
• 1x Cavalry sabre and clawed limbs
1x Galvanic carbine
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 2x Serberys Raider
• 2x Cavalry sabre and clawed limbs
1x Enhanced data-tether
2x Galvanic carbineSerberys Raiders (60 Points)
• 1x Serberys Raider Alpha
• 1x Cavalry sabre and clawed limbs
1x Galvanic carbine
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 2x Serberys Raider
• 2x Cavalry sabre and clawed limbs
1x Enhanced data-tether
2x Galvanic carbineSerberys Raiders (60 Points)
• 1x Serberys Raider Alpha
• 1x Cavalry sabre and clawed limbs
1x Galvanic carbine
1x Mechanicus pistol
• 2x Serberys Raider
• 2x Cavalry sabre and clawed limbs
1x Enhanced data-tether
2x Galvanic carbineSerberys Sulphurhounds (55 Points)
• 1x Serberys Sulphurhound Alpha
• 1x Cavalry arc maul
1x Clawed limbs
1x Mechanicus pistol
1x Sulphur breath
• 2x Serberys Sulphurhound
• 2x Clawed limbs
4x Phosphor pistol
2x Sulphur breathSicarian Infiltrators (70 Points)
• 1x Sicarian Infiltrator Princeps
• 1x Flechette blaster
1x Taser goad
• 4x Sicarian Infiltrator
• 4x Flechette blaster
4x Taser goadALLIED UNITS
Inquisitor (55 Points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Force weapon
1x Psychic Gifts
1x Psychic Shock WaveLord Inquisitor Kyria Draxus (75 Points)
• 1x Dirgesinger
1x Power fist
1x Psychic Tempest
Asymmetric Necrons
The last jumping off-the-page eye-catcher, a 97-point loss for the Necrons list. But, it gets better. Hypercrypt… No Monolith? That’s definitely an unexplored avenue for the Hypercrypt Legion, but a quick glance at this list and you realize who needs a giant rock when you have ALL of the damage.
This wild list took (only) one Ctan, a little 40mm based Nightbringer, and then it gets weird: six Wraiths, this isn’t Canoptek Court, they won’t do any damage without their rerolls, 10 Flayed Ones, nine Lokhust Heavy Destroyers with Gauss Destructors, and six Lokhust Destroyers.
That’s a lot of Dakka.
Heavy Destroyers swing a 1 Shot, S14 AP-4 6-Damage(not D6, 6) cannon with Lethals, oh and they’re rerolling and critting on 5s with the Lord in 1 Unit. The other lord, being attached to the 6-man, naturally gets rerolls against objectives, with three shots S5 AP-2 2-Damage.
Both the destroyer units can punch through most things in the game, and they’re teleporting every turn. Flayed Ones in a 10-man is also a surprising and new twist to the meta, but they can really dig into even the heaviest targets with their silly profile: 4 Attacks, S4 AP-1, 1 Damage, Twin-Linked, Sustained 1, but if the target is below half, Critical hits on 3s. They can turn into a blender fast, and also clear chaff with ease.
Teleportmanteau (1995 Points)
Necrons
Hypercrypt Legion
Strike Force (2000 Points)CHARACTERS
Chronomancer (50 Points)
• 1x Chronomancer’s staveC’tan Shard of the Nightbringer (255 Points)
• 1x Gaze of death
1x Scythe of the NightbringerLokhust Lord (105 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Lord’s blade
1x Resurrection Orb
• Enhancements: Arisen TyrantLokhust Lord (100 Points)
• 1x Lord’s blade
1x Resurrection Orb
• Enhancements: Osteoclave FulcrumTechnomancer (70 Points)
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancements: Dimensional OverseerBATTLELINE
Immortals (70 Points)
• 5x Immortal
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Tesla carbineOTHER DATASHEETS
Canoptek Wraiths (220 Points)
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious clawsDeathmarks (130 Points)
• 10x Deathmark
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Synaptic disintegratorFlayed Ones (140 Points)
• 10x Flayed One
• 10x Flayer clawsLokhust Destroyers (180 Points)
• 6x Lokhust Destroyer
• 6x Close combat weapon
6x Gauss cannonLokhust Heavy Destroyers (150 Points)
• 3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Gauss destructorLokhust Heavy Destroyers (150 Points)
• 3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Gauss destructorLokhust Heavy Destroyers (150 Points)
• 3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Enmitic exterminatorTomb Blades (75 Points)
• 3x Tomb Blade
• 3x Close combat weapon
2x Particle beamer
3x Shadowloom
3x Shieldvanes
1x Twin tesla carbineTomb Blades (75 Points)
• 3x Tomb Blade
• 3x Close combat weapon
2x Particle beamer
3x Shadowloom
3x Shieldvanes
1x Twin tesla carbineTomb Blades (75 Points)
• 3x Tomb Blade
• 3x Close combat weapon
2x Particle beamer
3x Shadowloom
3x Shieldvanes
1x Twin tesla carbine
It was a wild weekend of Wargaming, with literally thousands of players showing up to put their own twist on the meta. Innovation clearly isn’t dead, and these two titanic events prove it without a shadow of a doubt.
The best time to try that new idea is right now. Do it, have fun, 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.
Basically, he knows 10th Edition Warhammer 40k like few others, so watch this space for some great advice from tactics to army list building.
