Don’t miss the top Warhammer 40k army lists featuring Imperial Knights, Dark Angels, and Chaos Knights from The Big Sky Open.
The Big Sky Open is over, and now we can look at which 40k factions’ playstyles and army lists managed to secure a place at the top!
While the 40k meta may be in a state of emergency, let’s check out what these winners brought in their armies, with our expert commentary on their selections.
Final Tournament Standings:
Studying these winning army lists for their tactical synergies can provide great insights for playing your army since the latest balance dataslate rules changes and points updates. If you want to elevate your game even further, consider applying to Team USA to compete at the World Team Championships each year!
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1st Place: Colin Kay, Chaos Knights Army Lists
When your army’s average model height requires a flight plan, subtlety is off the table. At the Big Sky Open, one Chaos Knight list showed up, stomped around, and left a trail of smoldering craters and broken dreams in its wake.
The warband was led by a Chaos Cerastus Knight Atrapos, a murder machine wrapped in heresy and powered by bad intentions.
Backing it up were two Knight Despoilers with enough ranged firepower to make a Baneblade sweat. These guys held lanes, deleted problem units, and reminded the table that Knights still bring the loudest guns to the party.
For close-range chaos, a Knight Rampager handled the smashy end of the spectrum. If it reached your lines, something big and expensive probably didn’t survive the turn.
Three War Dog Karnivores rounded out the mechanical side. Fast, brutal, and reasonably priced by Knight standards, they zoomed around the flanks like angry buzzsaws with better aim.
Then came the weird. Beasts of Nurgle, six Nurglings, and a Sloppity Bilepiper wandered in from the nearest warp rift. They soaked wounds and sat on objectives while giggling like fungus-cloaked lunatics.
2nd Place: James Walsh, Dark Angels Army Lists
3rd Place: Jason Welch, Imperial Knights Army Lists
Final Thoughts From Us:
The Big Sky Open gave us a snapshot of what works right now in the 40k meta, and it turns out towering war engines and ruthless efficiency still carry weight.
Hulking Chaos Knights stomped their way to victory. The Dark Angels reminded us that even the stealthiest warriors can emerge from the shadows to claim glory. While the Imperial Knights showed off their regal dominance with a flair for the dramatic.
If you’re planning to play in the next big tournament or just looking to spice up your games at home, take a page from these winners and remember: every unit counts, and sometimes, all you need is a good plan and a whole lot of models.
See the Top Warhammer Army Lists & 40k Tournament Schedule for this year
What do you think of the results and top Big Sky Open Warhammer 40k army lists for Imperial Knights, Dark Angels, and Chaos Knights?