Don’t miss the top Warhammer 40k army lists featuring Astra Militarum, Dark Angels, and Death Guard from the Rise of The Empire GT.
The Rise of The Empire GT brought the heat, and we’re not talking about plasma guns.
So, if you want to see which lists ruled the tables and what tricks they used to crush their foes, you’re in the right place.
Let’s break down the top 40k army lists from the weekend, shaking up the meta right now.
Top 40k Tournament Army Lists: Rise of The Empire GT
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.
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1st Place: David Smith, Astra Militarum Army Lists (Imperial Guard)
The new Astra Militarum Grizzled Company list is built to apply pressure in layers, starting with command support, rolling straight into armored firepower, and finishing with fast melee and elite infantry trades. On the table, it plays like a disciplined hammer blow rather than a finesse army.
At the top, the Cadian Command Squad, Commissar, Gaunt’s Ghosts, and Lord Solar Leontus form the control center. Orders are the fuel here, keeping infantry relevant and tanks lethal.
Gaunt’s Ghosts bring pure utility, forward pressure, screening, scoring secondaries, and generally being annoying in places opponents thought were safe. Lord Solar is the linchpin, pushing rerolls onto the big guns and making sure the army does not whiff when it counts.
The lone unit of Cadian Shock Troops is cheap, flexible, and mostly exists to ride in a Chimera and claim early objectives.
Speaking of Chimeras, both transports are workhorses. They move bodies, block lanes, burn infantry off objectives, and force awkward trades with their flamers and bulk.
From there, the list ramps up the threat level fast. The two Attilan Rough Rider units are disposable missiles. They sit back until the moment is right, then charge in to delete something important and flip an objective. If they die afterward, that’s fine; the damage is already done.
Bullgryns anchor the midboard. This unit exists to stand on a key objective and soak an unreasonable amount of firepower. While the opponent is busy trying to shift them, the rest of the army goes to work.
The Heavy Weapons Squad with mortars handles backfield utility, indirect fire, and cheap scoring.
The Kasrkin squads are elite problem solvers, popping out to clear objectives, trade up with plasma and melta, and punish exposed units.
Finally, the armor closes it out. Three Leman Russ Vanquishers and a Rogal Dorn Battle Tank are the primary damage dealers. They hunt enemy vehicles, monsters, and elite targets from turn one, forcing opponents to react immediately or lose the firepower war.
How This Astra Militarum Army List Scores
Simply put, this list scores by owning the midboard, trading aggressively, and letting its tanks dictate the pace of the game.
2nd Place: Raul Valencia, Dark Angels Army Lists (Space Marines)
3rd Place: Jensen Simmons, Death Guard Army Lists
Final Thoughts From Us: Rise of The Empire GT
In the end, Astra Militarum showed us that discipline and firepower can turn the tide of battle. The Dark Angels demonstrated that a clever combination of control and swift movements can keep opponents off guard. As for the Death Guard, they may have been lurking in the shadows… But rest assured, their time to shine is always just a plague away!
Each faction showed off exactly why they belong at the top tables, and now players are scrambling to tweak lists, sharpen combos, and keep up with a 40k meta that just won’t sit still.
See the Top Warhammer Army Lists & Latest 40k Tournament Schedule
What do you think of the results from the Rise of The Empire GT Warhammer 40k Astra Militarum, Dark Angels, and Death Guard army lists?
