Don’t miss the top Warhammer 40k tournament army lists featuring Orks, Eldar, and Leagues of Votann from the Bedford Beatdown.
The Iron Cage: Bedford Beatdown is over, and now we can look at which 40k factions’ playstyles and army lists managed to secure a place at the top! Check out what these winners brought in their armies with our expert commentary on their selections.
Final Tournament Standings:
Studying these winning army lists for their tactical synergies can provide great insights for playing your army since the latest balance dataslate rules changes and points updates. If you want to elevate your game even further, consider applying to Team USA to compete at the World Team Championships each year!
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1st Place: Justin Moore – Orks Army Lists
Orks don’t win by accident. Sure, they love a good scrap, and yeah, they might act like a bunch of half-mad hooligans with a fondness for duct tape engineering, but when they take the field, they do so with intent. Justin’s army at the Bedford Beatdown wasn’t just some ramshackle pile of green muscle and rusted metal—it was a well-oiled war machine.
Every good WAAAGH! needs some leadership, and Justin brought plenty. Four Big Meks strutted into battle, each one bringing the kind of durability and battlefield presence that makes opponents rethink their life choices. These Meks weren’t just there to look good in patchwork armor; they provided critical support, keeping key units alive long enough to do what Orks do best—get stuck in.
Backing them up were three Warbosses. These brutes weren’t just there to look mean (though they did that effortlessly); their presence meant reliable re-rolls, ensuring that when the Boyz swung, something on the other side wasn’t getting back up.
Speaking of Boyz, this list had plenty. Two solid units held the front lines, crashing into enemy positions with all the grace of a wrecking ball through a stained-glass window. And for a little extra speed? A unit of Stormboyz zipped around the battlefield, proving that sometimes an Ork with a jetpack is exactly what you need to ruin someone’s day.
A proper Ork army doesn’t just run screaming into battle (well, mostly). It gets there in style. Five Trukks rumbled across the battlefield, packed with green-skinned destruction waiting to be let loose. More than just transport, these ramshackle vehicles acted as mobile cover, soaking up early fire and keeping the important bits intact.
Once the Trukks delivered their cargo, the Breaka Boyz got to work. These Orks don’t believe in subtlety. Armed with weapons built to break anything unfortunate enough to stand in their way, they made sure enemy lines folded like a poorly built Gretchin hut.
Not everything in an Ork army is about getting up close and personal. Sometimes, you need a little dakka. Flash Gitz brought some serious ranged firepower to the table, their snazzguns shredding anything foolish enough to stand at medium range.
And when it came to armored targets? That’s where the Tankbustas came in. Three units of these explosive-happy lunatics made sure no enemy vehicle left the battlefield in one piece.
Let’s not forget the Gretchin. These little runts may not win glory, but they do what they do best—get in the way. Whether acting as cheap screens or grabbing objectives when nobody was looking, they played their part. Every Ork general knows that sometimes, you need a few expendable bodies between you and the enemy’s big guns.
Justin’s army wasn’t just a collection of random units thrown together in a fit of Waaagh-fueled enthusiasm. It had speed, firepower, and plenty of raw aggression. Durable leaders kept things running, Trukks got the right units where they needed to be, and once the fighting started, it didn’t stop until the battlefield was covered in scrap—and victory.
2nd Place: Dominic Gierber – Eldar Army Lists
3rd Place: Kit Smith – Leagues of Votann Army Lists
Final Thoughts on Army Lists: Bedford Beatdown
The Bedford Beatdown wrapped up with a bang, showcasing the wild and raucous Orks led by Justin Moore, who turned chaos into a well-oiled war machine. Meanwhile, Dominic Gierber’s Eldar danced their way to second place, proving that finesse can outmaneuver brute force, while Kit Smith’s Leagues of Votann brought their high-tech might to claim the bronze. It seems whether you’re a green-skinned brawler, an elegant elf, or a technological titan, there’s a spot at the top waiting for you!
So, whether you’re planning to play in the next big tournament or just looking to spice up your games at home, take a page from these winners and remember: every unit counts, and sometimes, all you need is a good plan and a whole lot of golden armored bodies.
See the Top Warhammer Army Lists & 40k Tournament Schedule for 2025
What do you think of the results and top Warhammer 40k Bedford Beatdown army lists for Orks, Eldar, and Leagues of Votann?
