Don’t miss the top Warhammer 40k army lists featuring Death Guard, Imperial Knights, and Tyranids from the Warhammer Open Tacoma.
Warhammer Open Tacoma 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: Steve Trimble – Death Guard Army Lists
Steve didn’t bring a scalpel to Tacoma, he brought a rusted cleaver soaked in plague. His Death Guard list didn’t race across the table. It slogged, festered, and refused to fall over.
And while the rest of the field was busy trying to kill them, the army quietly claimed every inch of ground with moldy boots and unholy grit.
The front line was led by two Lords of Contagion and a Lord of Virulence. Both walking plague engines that hit hard, soaked fire, and kept the rest of the army chugging like a leaky tank full of rot.
Backing them up: three squads of Deathshroud Terminators.
For mobility and ranged bite, three Foetid Bloat-Drones zipped around the board launching blight rounds into anything squishy. No finesse, no subtlety just airborne decay.
Two units of Myphitic Blight-Haulers rumbled alongside them, trading flight for armor and a bit more firepower.
Then came the heavy hitters. Three Plagueburst Crawlers squatted in the back like mobile sewage plants, lobbing mortars across the board with the grace of a rusted catapult. Turn after turn, they softened the enemy before the rot closed in.
And while all this was happening, three units of Poxwalkers shambled forward—claiming ground, soaking wounds, and reminding everyone that meat shields are best when they’re already dead.
2nd Place: Ben Jurek – Imperial Knights Army Lists
3rd Place: Jeff Jew – Tyranids Army Lists
Final Thoughts From Us:
At the Warhammer Open Tacoma, the Death Guard truly embraced the ‘slow and steady wins the race’ mantra, while the Imperial Knights charged in like flashy royalty. Meanwhile, the Tyranids reminded everyone that there’s no problem a swarm of hungry bugs can’t solve.
Each faction proved that distinct strengths can lead to victory in the competitive meta of Warhammer 40k.
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 Warhammer Open Tacoma 40k army lists for Death Guard, Imperial Knights, and Tyranids?
