Old 40k meta bullies are back, as speed has become king in our breakdown of the top Warhammer 40k army lists from weekend tournaments.
Still, on the bubble of new 40k codexes being in full swing, we saw lots of players taking a wide range of armies to massive events over the weekend. Let’s take a closer look at the top-performing armies and the game-changing strategies that are shaking up the competitive scene.
Warhammer 40k Meta: The Grey Knights Are Back!
Sometimes, the more the 40k meta changes, the more it stays the same, as we saw massive events being taken down by Index Armies we’ve had from the beginning of the edition.
We’ll take a microscope at the top performers of III GT Andorra & Open Ordino (Ordino, AD), Frontline Gaming Bay Area Open (Burlingame, CA), 40k Rocky Top Rumble (Knoxville, TN), and The Alamo GT ’24 (San Antonio, TX).
Grey Knights: Oops, All Flamers!
Andorra and The Alamo both saw Grey Knights return to the undefeated category this weekend. Two different lists taking down two Majors shows how flexible Mists of Deimos can be as a weapon.
GT Andorra & Open Ordino: Grey Knights
Alejandro Mancuso Serrano’s Grey Knights
Strike Force (2000 points)
Teleport Strike ForceCHARACTERS
Brotherhood Librarian (120 points)
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Purge SoulBrotherhood Librarian (150 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Purge Soul
• Enhancement: Sigil of ExigenceCastellan Crowe (75 points)
• 1x Black Blade of Antwyr
1x Purifying Flame
1x Storm bolterBATTLELINE
Brotherhood Terminator Squad (210 points)
• 1x Terminator Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Brotherhood Terminator
• 1x Ancient’s Banner
1x Incinerator
1x Narthecium
4x Nemesis force weapon
2x Storm bolterStrike Squad (120 points)
• 1x Justicar
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 4x Grey Knight
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Incinerator
3x Nemesis force weapon
3x Storm bolterOTHER DATASHEETS
Grey Knights Land Raider Redeemer (260 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
2x Flamestorm cannon
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Multi-melta
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin assault cannonNemesis Dreadknight (195 points)
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammerNemesis Dreadknight (195 points)
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammerNemesis Dreadknight (195 points)
• 1x Heavy incinerator
1x Heavy psycannon
1x Nemesis daemon greathammerPaladin Squad (225 points)
• 1x Paragon
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolter
• 1x Paladin Ancient
• 1x Ancient’s Banner
1x Incinerator
1x Nemesis force weapon
• 3x Paladin
• 2x Incinerator
3x Nemesis force weapon
1x Storm bolterPurifier Squad (250 points)
• 1x Knight of the Flame
• 1x Nemesis force weapon
1x Purifying Flame
1x Storm bolter
• 9x Purifier
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Incinerator
5x Nemesis force weapon
9x Purifying Flame
5x Storm bolter
Alejandro took a relatively lore appropriate Grey Knights Army, you love to see it. The bricks of terminators are an absolute mountain of durability to get through for most armies. Grey Knights also have Truesilver Armor, which is Armor of Contempt but conveniently isn’t a battle tactic, which means you can’t use Vect abilities to increase the cost of it.
Being able to spam AoC on 2+ bodies helps survivability immensely.
The Army also included a unit we haven’t seen much of, the Purifier Squad. The 10-man 2+ save Space Marines bodies come with some serious horde-clearing firepower. They are putting out an average of over 30 AP -1 Ignores Cover attacks.
They weren’t going to let last week’s Green Tide or Unending Swarm get the upper hand, that is for sure!
Alamo GT: Grey Knights
Justin Moore took a much more in-your-face style of Grey Knights to The Alamo GT and also went undefeated.
Justin Moore’s Grey Knights
+ Character +
Brotherhood Techmarine: Bolt Pistol, Warlord
Brotherhood Techmarine: Bolt Pistol
Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight: Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Daemon Greathammer, Sigil of Exigence
Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight: Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon, Inescapable Wrath, Nemesis Daemon Greathammer
+ Vehicle +
Grey Knights Land Raider Redeemer: Hunter-killer Missile, Multi-melta, Storm Bolter
Grey Knights Land Raider Redeemer: Hunter-killer Missile, Multi-melta, Storm Bolter
Grey Knights Land Raider Redeemer: Hunter-killer Missile, Multi-melta, Storm Bolter
Nemesis Dreadknight: Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Daemon Greathammer
Nemesis Dreadknight: Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Daemon Greathammer
Nemesis Dreadknight: Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Daemon Greathammer
+ Allied Units +
Inquisitorial Henchmen
4x Inquisitorial Acolyte: 4x Acolyte firearm, 4x Acolyte melee weapon
There’s not a whole lot to say about this list; it’s running five Dreadknights and three, notably empty, Land Raider Redeemers.
This list will force you to stay back and be able to teleport to angles, preventing you from staging them with anything you’d want to charge into the Redeemers. This is a Stat Check army, for sure.
Votann Stand Tall At the BAO!
We haven’t seen Votann much in the last few months, but at the Bay Area Open, they climbed out of the hole they’d been mining to go undefeated!
Junior Aflleje’s Leagues of Votann
Oathband
Strike Force (2000 Points)CHARACTERS
Brôkhyr Iron-master (85 Points)
• 1x Brôkhyr Iron-master
• 1x Graviton hammer
1x Graviton rifle
• Enhancements: Appraising Glare
• 1x Ironkin Assistant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Las-beam cutter
• 1x E-COG
• 1x Plasma torch
• 1x E-COG
• 1x Manipulator arms
• 1x E-COG
• 1x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol
1x Close combat weaponEinhyr Champion (80 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Autoch-pattern combi-bolter
1x Mass hammer
1x Weavefield Crest
• Enhancements: Grim DemeanourEinhyr Champion (60 Points)
• 1x Autoch-pattern combi-bolter
1x Mass hammer
1x Weavefield CrestBATTLELINE
Hearthkyn Warriors (100 Points)
• 1x Theyn
• 1x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Kin melee weapon
1x Weavefield Crest
• 9x Hearthkyn Warrior
• 9x Autoch-pattern bolt pistol
7x Autoch-pattern bolter
9x Close combat weapon
1x Comms Array
1x HYLas auto rifle
1x Magna-rail rifle
1x Medipack
1x Pan Spectral ScannerDEDICATED TRANSPORTS
Sagitaur (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x L7 missile launcher
1x Sagitaur missile launcher
1x Twin bolt cannonSagitaur (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x L7 missile launcher
1x Sagitaur missile launcher
1x Twin bolt cannonSagitaur (115 Points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x L7 missile launcher
1x Sagitaur missile launcher
1x Twin bolt cannonOTHER DATASHEETS
Brôkhyr Thunderkyn (170 Points)
• 6x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn
• 6x Close combat weapon
6x Graviton blast cannonBrôkhyr Thunderkyn (85 Points)
• 3x Brôkhyr Thunderkyn
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Graviton blast cannonCthonian Beserks (100 Points)
• 5x Cthonian Beserk
• 5x Concussion maulEinhyr Hearthguard (320 Points)
• 1x Hesyr
• 1x Concussion hammer
1x Exo-armour grenade launcher
1x Teleport Crest
1x Volkanite disintegrator
• 9x Einhyr Hearthguard
• 9x Concussion gauntlet
9x Exo-armour grenade launcher
9x Volkanite disintegratorEinhyr Hearthguard (160 Points)
• 1x Hesyr
• 1x Concussion hammer
1x Exo-armour grenade launcher
1x Teleport Crest
1x Volkanite disintegrator
• 4x Einhyr Hearthguard
• 4x Concussion gauntlet
4x Exo-armour grenade launcher
4x Volkanite disintegratorHekaton Land Fortress (225 Points)
• 1x Armoured wheels
1x MATR autocannon
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
1x SP heavy conversion beamer
2x Twin bolt cannonHernkyn Pioneers (90 Points)
• 3x Hernkyn Pioneer
• 3x Bolt revolver
3x Bolt shotgun
1x HYLas rotary cannon
3x Magna-coil autocannon
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
3x Plasma knife
1x Rollbar SearchlightHernkyn Pioneers (90 Points)
• 3x Hernkyn Pioneer
• 3x Bolt revolver
3x Bolt shotgun
1x HYLas rotary cannon
3x Magna-coil autocannon
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
3x Plasma knife
1x Rollbar SearchlightHernkyn Pioneers (90 Points)
• 3x Hernkyn Pioneer
• 3x Bolt revolver
3x Bolt shotgun
1x HYLas rotary cannon
3x Magna-coil autocannon
1x Pan Spectral Scanner
3x Plasma knife
1x Rollbar Searchlight
The last time we saw Votann lists, they were a collection of, “Can you find six Sagitaurs?” Junior has cut that total down to only three. The extra points allow this list to take more total units than we usually see in Votann lists, allowing them a lot more flexibility when it comes to scoring.
Hernkyn Pioneers are one of the most flexible datasheets in the codex, and maybe all of 10th Edition. They’re extremely mobile with a redeploy every turn, but also pack some solid damage with their Magna-Coil Autocannons.
A three-bike unit also has 10 T6 wounds, which is just great all around.
Rocky Top GT: Bringing A Doom Bolt To A Knife Fight
Noah took down another major with his Thousand Sons, proving once again that Thousand Sons are one of the top armies.
Noan Neundorfer’s Thousand Sons
Detachment Choice: Cult of Magic+ Epic Hero +
Ahriman on Disc of Tzeentch [3Cabal Points, 140pts]: Black Staff of Ahriman, Inferno bolt pistol, Psychic Stalk
Magnus the Red [4Cabal Points, 440pts]: Blade of Magnus, Gaze of Magnus, Tzeentch’s Firestorm, Warlord
+ Character +
Exalted Sorcerer [2Cabal Points, 120pts]: Astral Blast, Force weapon, Prosperine khopesh, Umbralefic Crystal, Warpflame pistol
Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch [2Cabal Points, 150pts]: Arcane Fire, Force weapon, Lord of Forbidden Lore, Prosperine khopesh, Warpflame pistol
Infernal Master [2Cabal Points, 115pts]: Arcane Vortex, Force weapon, Inferno bolt pistol, Screamer Invocation
Thousand Sons Daemon Prince with wings [2Cabal Points, 180pts]: Hellforged weapons, Infernal cannon
+ Battleline +
Rubric Marines [1Cabal Points, 210pts]: Icon of Flame
. Aspiring Sorcerer: Force weapon, Warpflame pistol, Warpsmite
. 9x Rubric Marine w/ warpflamer: 9x Close combat weapon, 9x WarpflamerRubric Marines [1Cabal Points, 210pts]: Icon of Flame
. Aspiring Sorcerer: Force weapon, Warpflame pistol, Warpsmite
. 9x Rubric Marine w/ warpflamer: 9x Close combat weapon, 9x WarpflamerRubric Marines [1Cabal Points, 105pts]: Icon of Flame
. Aspiring Sorcerer: Force weapon, Warpflame pistol, Warpsmite
. 4x Rubric Marine w/ warpflamer: 4x Close combat weapon, 4x WarpflamerTzaangors [65pts]: Brayhorn, Herd banner
. Pistol and chainsword: Autopistol, Chainsword
. 9x Tzaangor blades: 9x Tzaangor bladesTzaangors [65pts]: Brayhorn, Herd banner
. Pistol and chainsword: Autopistol, Chainsword
. 9x Tzaangor blades: 9x Tzaangor blades+ Beast +
Thousand Sons Chaos Spawn [65pts]
. Chaos Spawn: Hideous Mutations
. Chaos Spawn: Hideous MutationsThousand Sons Chaos Spawn [65pts]
. Chaos Spawn: Hideous Mutations
. Chaos Spawn: Hideous MutationsThousand Sons Chaos Spawn [65pts]
. Chaos Spawn: Hideous Mutations
. Chaos Spawn: Hideous Mutations
There isn’t a whole lot that hasn’t been said about Thousand Sons, their Meta is mostly solved at this point. While other armies seem to be sharing new and exciting rules (Like Redeploys), Thousand Sons have access to rules no one else does.
Only they can turn off a Land Raider’s save, and it will keep them at the top of the Meta all edition in its current state.
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, 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.
