Unlock victory with the top 40k tournament army lists featuring Death Guard, Space Marines, and Thousand Sons from the AC Champions Cup.
The AC Champions Cup 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.
If you’re looking to level up your game even more, think about applying to Team USA to compete in the World Team Championships every year!
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1st Place: Derek Apsche – Death Guard Army Lists
Derek’s Death Guard didn’t charge—they seeped. This was no blitz. It was a slow, oozing march of corrupted muscle and plague-soaked steel that drowned the AC Champions Cup in filth.
A Foul Blightspawn and Tallyman held the strings backstage, the former melting charge attempts with toxic funk, the latter handing out rerolls like rotten candy.
Up front, a Daemon Prince, two Lords of Contagion, Typhus, and Mortain took turns hammering targets into sludge.
Two squads of Plague Marines marched in to claim objectives, one riding in a Rhino for a bit of speed and protection. Deathshroud Terminators flanked the stars, built like biohazard tanks and just as welcoming. Anyone swinging first usually didn’t swing twice.
Two Bloat Drones floated menacingly, spraying death from range and plugging gaps when the board got crowded. They weren’t subtle, just effective—like everything else in the list.
Then came the Poxwalkers. Dozens of them. They shuffled forward, hugged Typhus, and dared anyone to waste shots trying to clean them up.
The army didn’t win by surprise or speed. It won by being too thick to move, too foul to ignore, and too stubborn to die. Every inch taken was held with rotted fists and rusted bolters.
Derek’s list didn’t just play the mission—it infected it. Opponents tried to break through, but by the time they realized they were knee-deep in plague, it was already over.
2nd Place: David Anderson – Space Marines (Ultramarines) Army Lists
3rd Place: TJ Lanigan – Thousand Sons Army Lists
Final Thoughts on Army Lists
In the grand showdown at the AC Champions Cup, Death Guard oozed their way to the top. They proved that filth truly can triumph over finesse. Meanwhile, Ultramarines showcased their strategic prowess. While Thousand Sons sprinkled a little psychic flair into the mix.
Looking at these winning army lists and how their tactics work together can really give you some great insights for improving your own 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 AC Champions Cup for Death Guard, Space Marines, and Thousand Sons?
