This week’s new and old Warhammer 40k meta yields some interesting results; we’ll examine the 10th Edition team army lists from the SoCal Open and singles at Denver 40k Fight Club.
Top Warhammer 40k 10th Edition Meta Lists: October 21, 2024
First, we will look at the 102-player Denver 40k Fight Club Open 2024 (Denver, CO), then we will take a dive into the biggest event of the weekend: SoCal Open (Las Vegas, NV) with 25 8-player teams!
Warhammer 40k 10th Edition Meta Army lists: Ben Neal – Denver Mountain Trolls
Starting off, Ben Neal proved what every top end player has been saying all along, “Space Marines aren’t bad, they’re just overshadowed by special characters in other detachments.”
Ben Neal’s Space Marines
Ultramarines
Strike Force (2000 points)
Vanguard Spearhead
CHARACTERS
Apothecary Biologis (95 points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• Enhancement: The Blade Driven Deep
Captain Sicarius (85 points)
• 1x Artisan plasma pistol
1x Talassarian Tempest Blade
Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (100 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• Enhancement: Shadow War Veteran
Marneus Calgar (185 points)
• 1x Marneus Calgar
• Warlord
• 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar
• 2x Victrix Honour Guard
• 2x Victrix power sword
Uriel Ventris (75 points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Invictus
1x Sword of Idaeus
DEDICATED TRANSPORTS
Impulsor (80 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Fragstorm grenade launcher
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Shield dome
OTHER DATASHEETS
Centurion Devastator Squad (370 points)
• 1x Devastator Centurion Sergeant
• 1x Centurion fists
1x Centurion missile launcher
1x Twin lascannon
• 5x Devastator Centurion
• 5x Centurion fists
5x Centurion missile launcher
5x Twin lascannon
Company Heroes (95 points)
• 1x Ancient
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Company Champion
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 2x Company Veteran
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
1x Master-crafted bolt rifle
1x Master-crafted heavy bolter
Company Heroes (95 points)
• 1x Ancient
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Company Champion
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 2x Company Veteran
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Close combat weapon
1x Master-crafted bolt rifle
1x Master-crafted heavy bolter
Eradicator Squad (200 points)
• 1x Eradicator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
• 5x Eradicator
• 5x Bolt pistol
5x Close combat weapon
3x Melta rifle
2x Multi-melta
Inceptor Squad (130 points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Assault bolters
2x Close combat weapon
Inceptor Squad (260 points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Plasma exterminators
Infiltrator Squad (100 points)
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine
Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
Scout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes chainsword
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Boltgun
4x Close combat weapon
This list is reminiscent of the traditional Vanguard of old (way back in November of last year, the long long ago). It’s sporting the new points and rules, but it still just plays Warhammer extremely well in all phases. There’s a reason John Lennon took this list to the World Championships of Warhammer finals.
Centurion Devastators are still an absolute load to bring down, with efficient weapons profiles, especially when they have the ability to uppy-downy every turn to make up for their lack of mobility.
Two Scout Squads seems to be the perfect amount, we’ve been watching this archetype succeed all edition. The datasheet just has so much to be desired with Infiltrators, Scout 6, relatively durable bodies, and an every-turn uppy-downy built-in. They give to tempo on turn 1, scoring without exposing much of your army, and then help you keep it later into the game after trading effectively or just moving onto secondary duties. Great unit; use them!
Two units of Company Heroes as well; this is another datasheet that floats around and is likely underplayed. My assumption would be most people just don’t have the models, so they opt for other datasheets in their place. The unit naturally gains +1 OC from the Ancient and is -1 to Wound when led by a character, so they’re just a solid objective holder. Their offensive capabilities are completely valid for their points as well; they are just a solid unit, which seems to be the mantra of this list.
Now for the Spicy Sicarius! I had to look this datasheet up, and I’m glad I did. Sicarius is a pretty insane leader, giving his unit Scout 6 AND a once-per-game reactive move of flat 6″ (no dice roll here!). This, coupled with a unit of Company Heroes, makes for a really annoying and undefeated unit of action/objective holders, which every list loves.
A new twist on a traditional list, that’s what we love to see in the meta, it also proves a well written list is nearly immune to a fluctuating meta! Something to really think about before throwing your old lists out just because a few things changed, this worked at the World Champs and it still works a year later.
Warhammer 40k 10th Edition Army Lists: XPZ
XPZ Took down SoCal 8-Man teams and actually took both of the top spots with 3-0-2 records.
A quick look at this has some surprising takeaways when compared to singles events.
Custodes and Daemons are both real edge case wild card lists. As a newcomer to teams, I don’t know exactly how the meta revolves around these two, but given they’re undefeated, they exist for a purpose!
Arthur’s CSM were able to pick apart opponents without a horde stopper as well. This list is one we’ve seen a lot of in singles, with the extremely efficient and problematic bodies of Accursed Cultist Dark Commune units. However, we won’t see this archetype much anymore with the changes in the recent dataslate.
Votann is another army that is rock and stone solid. They may have a relatively short list of datasheets, but the ones they do have can really sing with the right pilot. The +1 to Hit and Wound from grudge tokens also make sometimes unassuming profiles extremely deadly in a large variety of matchups, which is great for teams.
Thousand Sons have been a staple all edition, and they’re a problem that might be solved with the most recent dataslate. They will likely stay a staple of teams lists because of their unique properties, the army has specialties no other army can come close to.
Lastly, Dark Angels and Tyranids are both stalwart staples of teams; they play the mission in unique but effective ways, which is perfect for playing defenders in most matchups. Solid role players, every team needs them!
So there you have it; the recent events at the Denver 40k Fight Club and SoCal Open have revealed another pivot in the dynamic and evolving meta for Warhammer 40k’s 10th Edition. Ben Neal’s Space Marines, particularly his Ultramarines list, showcase the strength of well-rounded units and strategic versatility.
The success of traditional archetypes like Centurion Devastator Squads and the underappreciated Company Heroes underscores that even in a shifting landscape, effective gameplay still relies on synergy and adaptability. As players continue to explore these new strategies and refine their approaches, it will be fascinating to see how the Warhammer 40k 10th edition army lists meta shifts further in the coming weeks.
It’s always exciting to see how players innovate and adapt to make the top Warhammer 40k 10th Edition meta-army lists. Innovation is clearly not dead, and the best time to try that new idea is right now. Especially with the new Warhammer rules changes from the latest Warhammer rules changes and points updates.
Click Here For More Top Warhammer Army Lists
What do you think of this week’s top Warhammer 40k 10th Edition tournament meta and army lists?
About the Author: Steven Ross
Steven Ross
Job Title: Competitive 40k Writer
Socials: Steven on Facebook
About Steven Ross: Steven plays more Warhammer 40k in a week than most people do in a quarter, maybe even a calendar year. He studies every Warhammer tournament army list each week, watches all the live streams, and interacts everywhere he can online.
After only being in the hobby for a few years, Steven placed 8th overall out of several hundred at the Warhammer 40k Adepticon Championships in 2024, and was selected to play in the Warhammer World Championships as well.
Basically, he knows 10th Edition Warhammer 40k like few others, so watch this space for some great advice from tactics to army list building.
