Unlock victory with the top 40k tournament army lists featuring Orks, Astra Militarum, and Space Marines from the Dark Sphere February GT.
Final Standings:
The tournament 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.
Studying these winning army lists for their tactical synergies provides valuable insights for honing your strategic approach 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: Gustavo José Branco Varandas de Sousa – Astra Militarum / Imperial Guard Army Lists
Gustavo’s Astra Militarum army stormed the Dark Sphere February tournament with all the precision and firepower you’d expect from the Imperium’s finest meat shields. It was a glorious display of military might, tactical brilliance, and a good helping of “For the Emperor!” shouted at the right moments.
Leading the charge was none other than Gaunt’s Ghosts, the famed Tanith First and Only. These guys are the closest thing to ninjas the Imperium’s got—silent, deadly, and almost impossible to hit. Lone operatives who can appear out of nowhere and ruin someone’s day faster than you can say “Sabbat Worlds Crusade.”
They were the perfect assassins, slipping through enemy lines like shadows and delivering pinpoint death to high-value targets. It’s no wonder Gaunt and his crew are legends—being dead sneaky keeps you from just being, well, dead.
Backing them up were three Tempestus Command Squads, because when you need orders barked with military precision, who better than the Scions?
And speaking of craters, two Tank Commanders rolled in with their Leman Russ tanks to make sure nothing was left standing. There’s just something heartwarming about the sound of a Leman Russ battle cannon going off. It’s the Emperor’s way of saying, “I don’t like that squad. Make it go away.”
These mobile fortresses rained destruction downrange with pinpoint accuracy, carving through enemy armor and infantry alike.
The final HQ pick was Ursula Creed, doing what she does best: ordering her troops with a mix of iron discipline and just the right amount of shouting. She was the linchpin holding the battleline together, ensuring every Guardsman knew where to stand, where to shoot, and when to charge (even if it meant charging straight into a Carnifex, because orders are orders). With her leadership, the army moved like a well-oiled war machine—efficient, deadly, and unrelenting.
For the basic infantry, Gustavo went with two units of Jungle Fighters and three squads of Tempestus Scions. The Jungle Fighters brought that Catachan spirit, pushing up the lines and holding objectives with grit and muscle (and probably a few well-timed knife fights).
The Tempestus Scions, meanwhile, were the scalpel to the Catachans’ hammer, surgically striking where it hurt most and holding ground with elite discipline.
To get them where they needed to be, two Taurox transports rolled in, ensuring these troopers didn’t have to hoof it across the battlefield. Nothing says “mobile infantry” quite like an armored death-wagon charging full speed toward the enemy.
Adding to the firepower was a Field Ordnance Battery and two units of Heavy Weapons Teams. Because when you want to make a statement in the 41st Millennium, you do it with high-explosive shells and lots of them. These teams set up camp and rained death on anything too stubborn to die from the initial bombardment.
To round out the threats, Gustavo included two squads of Kasrkin and an Aquilon Squad. The Kasrkin brought that elite infantry feel, storming objectives and holding ground with an unwavering loyalty to Cadia (even if Cadia isn’t exactly there anymore… too soon?).
Meanwhile, the Aquilon Squad delivered surgical strikes with pinpoint accuracy, eliminating key threats before the enemy even knew they were there.
2nd Place: Jak Payne – Space Marines / Adeptus Astartes (Ultramarines) Army Lists
3rd Place: Vincent Stein – Orks Army Lists
Final Thoughts on Army Lists From Dark Sphere February GT
Gustavo and his Astra Militarum reminded us why the Imperium’s finest are the ultimate meat shields—who knew precision firepower could be so satisfying? Meanwhile, Jak Payne and the Ultramarines demonstrated that tactical finesse can still pack a punch, proving that sometimes, it pays to be blue and proud of it.
On the other end of the spectrum, Vincent Stein showed us that Orks can bring the ruckus like nobody else—not to mention a good dose of green brutality! Their rambunctious playstyle always keeps us on our toes, reminding us that when in doubt, just charge in and yell “WAAAGH!”
The performance of these armies really puts an exclamation mark on the ever-evolving nature of the competitive Warhammer 40k meta. Studying these winning army lists for their tactical synergies provides valuable insights for making your strategic approach.
See the Top Warhammer Army Lists & 40k Tournament Schedule for 2025
What do you think of the results and top Warhammer 40k army lists at Dark Sphere February GT for Orks, Astra Militarum, and Space Marines?
Over the past 15 years, Andrew has played all the games, including tabletop and video games, and immersed himself in the associated lore. Andrew joined the Spikey Bits team in 2018 and covers the Warhammer hobby and tournament scene, along with the latest in tabletop miniatures, each week.
Aspiring diplomat, Lord of Fluff, and Master of Ice Hammer, He loves Star Wars, Chaos Undivided, and Gundam. During his free time, he hunts Platinum trophies on PS5 and reads international news. On weekends, Andrew plays commander and cEDH games, often with unique strategies that push the limits.
