The Meta Strikes Back This Week!

By Steven Ross | June 18th, 2024 | Categories: 10th Edition 40k, 40k News & Articles, 40k Rumors, Games Workshop, News & Rumors, Tournament Coverage, Warhammer Army Lists, Warhammer Community

What is old is new again as the constantly evolving Warhammer 40k meta grinds through another weekend with no clear army at the top!

The 40k Competitive scene continues to change, and it seems like any army or archetype can succeed at any given moment! Here is a closer look at the top-performing armies and the game-changing strategies that are shaking up the competitive scene.

Warhammer 40k Meta: Tau Retaliates!

Last week we saw Grey Knights and Thousand Sons continue Index-Hammering the competition. This week Aeldari show their index still has legs, and Tau players are coming to grips with their new book as well.

We’ll take a microscope at the top performers of Dicehammer Open 40k GTII (Irvine, CA), and Bugeater GT (Omaha, NE)

Check out the latest full articles on the current best armies in the Warhammer 40k meta and the recent updates from Games Workshop for all the juicy details.

Aeldari: Support Weapons, Still Good!

First up, James Kelling of Goonhammer took down the Bugeater GT with a classic (10th Edition) Style of Eldar.

James Kelling’s Aeldari
Strike Force (2000 points)
Battle Host

CHARACTERS

Autarch Wayleaper (115 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Dragon fusion gun
1x Howling Banshee Mask
1x Star glaive

Avatar of Khaine (335 points)
• 1x The Wailing Doom

Death Jester (105 points)
• 1x Jester’s blade
1x Shrieker cannon
• Enhancement: Fate’s Messenger

Farseer (80 points)
• 1x Eldritch Storm
1x Shuriken pistol
1x Singing spear

Fuegan (130 points)
• 1x Searsong
1x The Fire Axe

Karandras (100 points)
• 1x Arhra’s Bane
1x Isirmathil
1x The Scorpion’s Bite

BATTLELINE

Guardian Defenders (100 points)
• 10x Guardian Defender
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Shuriken catapult
• 1x Heavy Weapon Platform
• 1x Bright lance
1x Close combat weapon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Dire Avengers (70 points)
• 1x Dire Avenger Exarch
• 1x Avenger shuriken catapult
1x Avenger shuriken catapult
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Dire Avenger
• 4x Avenger shuriken catapult
4x Close combat weapon

Falcon (140 points)
• 1x Pulse laser
1x Scatter laser
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Wraithbone hull

Falcon (140 points)
• 1x Pulse laser
1x Scatter laser
1x Twin shuriken catapult
1x Wraithbone hull

Shroud Runners (80 points)
• 3x Shroud Runner
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Ranger long rifle
3x Scatter laser
3x Shuriken pistol

Skyweavers (95 points)
• 2x Skyweaver
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Skyweaver haywire cannon
2x Zephyrglaive

Skyweavers (95 points)
• 2x Skyweaver
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Skyweaver haywire cannon
2x Zephyrglaive

Striking Scorpions (65 points)
• 1x Striking Scorpion Exarch
• 1x Biting blade
1x Mandiblasters
• 4x Striking Scorpion
• 4x Mandiblasters
4x Scorpion chainsword
4x Shuriken pistol

Support Weapons (135 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult

Support Weapons (135 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x D-cannon
1x Shuriken catapult

Swooping Hawks (80 points)
• 1x Swooping Hawk Exarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasblaster
• 4x Swooping Hawk
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Lasblaster

What if I told you, Support Weapons started 10th Edition at 65 points? They’re still being taken in almost every list at 135! They are wildly efficient with Eldar Fate Dice and rerolls, plus they are indirect and can even bang heavy armor into the ground. Anyway you slice it, Support Weapons are still a game changer.

Karandras is a new twist on the old Eldar formula, he can attach to the Striking Scorpions to bolster their combat effectiveness. Infiltrators and Indirect seem to be making a big push recently, and no doubt controlling the tempo helped James top the Bugeater GT.

Tau: Infiltrating the Meta

Jason Mckenzie likes Giant Robots, and he was good enough to take them to the top of the Dicehammer Open!

Jason Mckenzie’s T’au Empire
Strike Force (2000 points)
Retaliation Cadre

CHARACTERS

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (125 points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Burst cannon
1x Cyclic ion blaster
1x High-output burst cannon
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
1x Shield Generator
• Enhancement: Prototype Weapon System

Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (130 points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Cyclic ion blaster
2x Fusion blaster
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
1x Shield Generator
• Enhancement: Internal Grenade Racks

Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (110 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Cyclic ion blaster
1x Marker Drone
3x Missile pod
1x Shield Drone
• Enhancement: Starflare Ignition System

Ethereal (50 points)
• 2x Gun Drone
1x Honour stave
1x Hover Drone

OTHER DATASHEETS

Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (150 points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Gun Drone
1x Missile pod
1x Missile pod
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Gun Drone
4x Missile pod
2x Shield Drone

Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (130 points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
1x Burst cannon
1x Gun Drone
1x Shield Drone
1x T’au flamer
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon
2x Gun Drone
2x Shield Drone
2x T’au flamer

Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits (170 points)
• 1x Crisis Sunforge Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
2x Fusion blaster
1x Gun Drone
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
4x Fusion blaster
2x Gun Drone
2x Shield Drone

Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points)
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Cyclic ion raker
1x Ghostkeel fists
1x Twin fusion blaster

Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 points)
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Cyclic ion raker
1x Ghostkeel fists
1x Twin fusion blaster

Kroot Carnivores (75 points)
• 1x Long-quill
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Kroot pistol
1x Kroot rifle
• 9x Kroot Carnivore
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Kroot rifle

Pathfinder Team (90 points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
2x Gun Drone
1x Pulse carbine
1x Pulse pistol
1x Recon Drone
1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
• 9x Pathfinder
• 9x Close combat weapon
6x Pulse carbine
9x Pulse pistol
3x Rail rifle

Piranhas (55 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Piranha fusion blaster
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine

Piranhas (55 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Piranha fusion blaster
2x Seeker missile
2x Twin pulse carbine

Riptide Battlesuit (180 points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
2x Missile Drone
1x Riptide fists
1x Twin fusion blaster

Riptide Battlesuit (180 points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
2x Missile Drone
1x Riptide fists
1x Twin fusion blaster

Stealth Battlesuits (60 points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Battlesuit fists
1x Fusion blaster
1x Gun Drone
1x Homing Beacon
1x Marker Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon

Stealth Battlesuits (60 points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Battlesuit fists
1x Fusion blaster
1x Gun Drone
1x Homing Beacon
1x Marker Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon

Stealth Battlesuits (60 points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Battlesuit fists
1x Fusion blaster
1x Gun Drone
1x Homing Beacon
1x Marker Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst cannon

With two Ghostkeels and Three Battlesuit Units, this retaliation cadre is all gas, and no brakes. The infiltrators aren’t alone in the pressure department either, Pathfinders and Piranhas also scout! Talk about tempo.

This list can be all up in your face before you even get a turn.

With one of each flavor of Crisis Suit following up the pressure push, this list has a perfect unit to scalpel any defensive profile.

The Retaliation Cadre Detachment backs up the In-Your-Face playstyle by increasing the Strength of Weapons (+1 at 12″) and the AP (+1 at 6″) allowing it to push through even the heartiest of targets quickly. This style of list is such a fresh new style of Tau, while also being a different playstyle than we’ve been seeing all edition.

It was a wild weekend of 40k wargaming, with more players eager to add their own twist to the meta. Innovation is clearly not dead, and the best time to try that new idea is right now.

Take your shot, have fun, and surprise the meta—this is what the hobby is all about.

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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.

Basically, he knows 10th Edition Warhammer 40k like few others, so watch this space for some great advice from tactics to army list building.