Another Warhammer 40k Leviathan Season has begun, and one constant remains from the previous balance update: durability is king.
This week, we are taking another look at the top Warhammer 40k armies on the tournament scene and why they work in the current meta. Will the tournament pack change any time soon? Who knows, but let’s see how these new points are shaking up the Competitive Warhammer 40k Meta this week!
Points Changes In Full Effect, Competitive Warhammer Is Saved
After a week of preparation and practice, we’re seeing many old faces even after the points drop. The biggest tournament of the weekend, The Richmond Open (130 players) and Loaded Dice Games May The 4th Open (25 players), shine a light on the current state of 40k Competitive.
They Get Knocked Down, But They Get Up Again
Joshua Campbell takes down Richmond Open, with a perfect 6-0 Record on Canoptek Court Necrons. Let’s take a look at the list and see what makes it tick.
Joshua Campbell’s Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Canoptek CourtCHARACTERS
Illuminor Szeras (175 points)
• 1x Eldritch Lance
1x Impaling legsPlasmancer (65 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Plasmic lanceTechnomancer (105 points)
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Dimensional SanctumTechnomancer (85 points)
• 1x Staff of lightTechnomancer (85 points)
• 1x Staff of lightTranscendent C’tan (285 points)
• 1x Crackling tendrils
1x Seismic assaultBATTLELINE
Immortals (150 points)
• 10x Immortal
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Tesla carbineOTHER DATASHEETS
Canoptek Doomstalker (135 points)
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayerCanoptek Doomstalker (135 points)
• 1x Doomsday blaster
1x Doomstalker limbs
1x Twin gauss flayerCanoptek Wraiths (220 points)
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious clawsCanoptek Wraiths (220 points)
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious clawsCanoptek Wraiths (220 points)
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious clawsDeathmarks (60 points)
• 5x Deathmark
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Synaptic disintegratorLokhust Destroyers (30 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannonLokhust Destroyers (30 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannon
As expected, 18 Wraiths is still the backbone of Canoptek Court. They’re just the bread and butter unit, loving everything the Court brings and taking their incredible durability to a level that’s hard for most armies to deal with. Wraiths do it all in Court; they’re the damage, the objective holders, and the action doers (Pistols are great!).
Backed up by Szeras and Transcendent C’tan, this list has many durability checks that Joshua’s opponents just couldn’t manage. Durability is king when it comes to scoring objectives and scoring wins games.
The Lokhusts and Deathmarks can be utilized as move-blocking tools, screens, and secondary objective doers.
The whole list is backed up by relatively consistent shooting from two Doomstalkers and 10 Immortals. This list has all the tools to accomplish the challenges presented by the Leviathan Tournament Pack as well as most opposing armies. Overwhelming damage from armies like Thousand Sons might be the only answer to the pile of metal Necrons push across the table.
If You Enjoyed Wraiths, You’ll Love Metanobs!
Meganobs are here to stay. Seriously, they’ve got 3W, T6, and a 2+ 5++ 4+++, and they’re staying, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Once again, durability is king!
Jeff Jew’s Orks
Orks
Bully Boyz
Strike Force (2000 Points)CHARACTERS
Boss Snikrot (85 Points)
• 1x Mork’s Teeth
1x SluggaPainboy (70 Points)
• 1x Power klaw
1x ’Urty syringeWarboss (65 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin sluggasWarboss (65 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin sluggasWarboss (65 Points)
• 1x Attack squig
1x Kombi-weapon
1x Power klaw
1x Twin sluggasWarboss in Mega Armour (105 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x ’Uge choppa
• Enhancements: TellyportaWarboss in Mega Armour (100 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Big shoota
1x ’Uge choppa
• Enhancements: Big GobBATTLELINE
Boyz (170 Points)
• 19x Boy
• 17x Choppa
2x Close combat weapon
2x Rokkit launcha
17x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x SluggaDEDICATED TRANSPORTS
Trukk (65 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ballTrukk (65 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ballTrukk (65 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ballTrukk (65 Points)
• 1x Big shoota
1x Spiked wheels
1x Wreckin’ ballOTHER DATASHEETS
Gretchin (40 Points)
• 10x Gretchin
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
• 1x Runtherd tools
1x SluggaGretchin (40 Points)
• 10x Gretchin
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
• 1x Runtherd tools
1x SluggaGretchin (40 Points)
• 10x Gretchin
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Grot blasta
• 1x Runtherd
• 1x Runtherd tools
1x SluggaMeganobz (150 Points)
• 5x Meganob
• 5x Twin killsawsMeganobz (150 Points)
• 5x Meganob
• 5x Twin killsawsMeganobz (150 Points)
• 5x Meganob
• 5x Twin killsawsNobz (210 Points)
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga
• 9x Nob
• 9x Power klaw
9x SluggaNobz (105 Points)
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga
• 4x Nob
• 4x Power klaw
4x SluggaStormboyz (65 Points)
• 4x Stormboy
• 4x Choppa
4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x SluggaStormboyz (65 Points)
• 4x Stormboy
• 4x Choppa
4x Slugga
• 1x Boss Nob
• 1x Power klaw
1x Slugga
That’s a lot of Green. This army pushes and pushes hard while taking almost no casualties. 
We’re also seeing lots of Wreckin’ Balls Trukks, which is surprising because of how monstrously huge the model is. Many Ork players decide to drop them in favor of less obtuse wargear. Wreckin’ Balls add nearly 2-3 inches to each Trukk and is one of the rare instances that better (free) wargear significantly impacts your model in 10th edition.
The Trukks are filled with extremely points-efficient Ork Boyz and Meganobs that will push any opponent off objectives with overwhelming mass. We will likely see this theme often following this Codex’s release.
The Orks present nearly an identical problem to Wraiths/Necrons: a big durability check and move blocking with objective control. They are more susceptible to AP than Wraiths (who boast a 4++), but overall, math out to be more efficient with the 4+++ FNP during the Waaagh! that now lasts for two turns!
One weakness Meganobs do have that Wraiths seem to avoid is an objective control value of one. They’re vulnerable to being out OC’d by cheap trash, a good reason to throw a few extra units of garbage in your list if you weren’t already.
Orks and Necrons should make everyone writing lists today think about how they deal with extremely tanky armies. Until further notice, durability is king! If you can crack their shell, I’m sure the entire world will be talking about it. Time to solve this problem, Generals!
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.
