So in the aftermath of Feast of Blades a lot of us have been talking about where the developing pre-sixth edition 40k Meta Game is going.
Right now it seems that Grey Knights have a clear advantage over all comers, but have a distinct lack of scoring ability when fielded power armor heavy (besides the “here are ten paladins come at me bro” strategy).
I just got an email in from TPM Paul Murphy who was talking with Goatboy yesterday about this very thing. I posted up Thomas’s army list from Feast of Blades, and as you can see he runs a Cotaez/ Draigo list, but it seems to lack in some areas.
Looks like they came up with a crazy hybrid list based off one me and Kenny Boucher were running earlier in the year. I called it Draigo’s punch, cause it basically was a crazy linebreaking list that hit like your were stealing someone’s lunch money.
I’d been running my Draigo’s Punch list with a few tweeks to scoring ability and firepower, but it still won’t do well at an objective based event. There just isn’t enough models to lock down the whole board (or even half lol).
So here is what TPM and Goatboy worked up yesterday, and it seems viable in most competitive environments. However I wouldn’t play it casually, these lists are kinda mean….
~ 2000 Points Hybrid GK
Draigo
Cotaez
10 Paladins- Apothecary Halberd, Force Halberd x4, Daemonhammer x2 Psycannons x2 Stave (all complex models)
Techmarine, Rad & Psychotroke Grenades
Henchmen x3 (2x Plasmas) Psybolt Razorback
Henchmen x3 (2x Plasmas) Psybolt Razorback
Henchmen x3 (2x Plasmas) Psybolt Razorback
Purifier Squad x5 Psycannons x2 Hammer Rhino
Venerable Psybolt Dread
I’m a fan of purifiers. I think they are probably one of the best units in the game, by far the best in the Grey Knights book. They are like the swiss army knives of 40k, there isn’t much they can’t do (oh and they are fearless too, lol). So when I make lists that aren’t GK, I build for them over Paladins.
Why? Well I can just avoid Paladins, park rhinos in front of them, or heck even tank shock them a few times. They are good, but slow compared to say Blood Angels.
Overall I think the list can use a little tweeking, as I don’t like the plasmas in the henchman squads. When it comes to armor, two is better than one- so I would try to squeeze in another Dreadnought somehow.
Notice the lack of a Librarian? I’ve been seeing that a lot more these days, and I think it’s a good thing (checkout my post here about it).
So that’s the list. Do you think it has what it takes to thrive in the current meta? -MBG
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
