Spikey Bits » Warhammer 40k » The Flesh Is Strong: 40k’s Meta Exploded The Weekend

Warhammer 40k exploded back onto the scene after the lull last weekend with tons of events taking place and a “New Codex Influenced” Meta has started to evolve.

If you thought the Warhammer 40k scene was taking a nap, think again! The recent explosion of events has brought a fresh wave of excitement and a whole new meta to dive into. Let’s take a closer look at the top-performing armies and the game-changing strategies that are shaking up the competitive scene.

The Flesh Is Strong As The 40k Meta Exploded Over The Weekend

Warhammer 40k is back in full force! The recent weekend saw a flurry of events, and the competitive scene is buzzing with new strategies and armies shaking things up. From Tyranids making a strong comeback to Chaos Daemons causing a stir, it’s clear that the meta is evolving. Players are getting creative and breaking the mold, which is what makes this hobby so exciting.

We’ll take a microscope at the top performers of Warhammer 40,000 GT US Open Dallas (Dallas, TX), Mayhem 3 in 3D (Mebane, NC), and the Maryland Open 2024 (Westminster, MD).

The Flesh Is… Strong!

Tyranids and Hordes—name a more iconic duo? Samuel Pope has been running a horde Tyranid list for most of the edition. He placed highly even during the height of Eldar and Necron’s power at the 2024 Las Vegas Open. The style hasn’t changed much, but the Meta sure has!

Samuel Pope’s Tyranids
Strike Force (2000 points)
Unending Swarm

CHARACTERS

Neurotyrant (105 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Neurotyrant claws and lashes
1x Psychic scream

Tervigon (190 points)
• 1x Massive scything talons
1x Stinger salvoes

Winged Hive Tyrant (210 points)
• 1x Monstrous bonesword and lash whip
1x Tyrant talons

BATTLELINE

Gargoyles (170 points)
• 20x Gargoyle
• 20x Blinding venom
20x Fleshborer

Hormagaunts (65 points)
• 10x Hormagaunt
• 10x Hormagaunt talons

Termagants (120 points)
• 20x Termagant
• 20x Chitinous claws and teeth
2x Strangleweb
18x Termagant spinefists

Termagants (120 points)
• 20x Termagant
• 20x Chitinous claws and teeth
2x Strangleweb
18x Termagant spinefists

Termagants (120 points)
• 20x Termagant
• 20x Chitinous claws and teeth
2x Strangleweb
18x Termagant spinefists

Termagants (120 points)
• 20x Termagant
• 20x Chitinous claws and teeth
2x Strangleweb
18x Termagant spinefists

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (75 points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
1x Spore Mine launcher

Exocrine (135 points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Exocrine (135 points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Exocrine (135 points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Lictor (55 points)
• 1x Lictor claws and talons

Neurogaunts (90 points)
• 2x Neurogaunt Nodebeast
• 2x Chitinous claws and teeth
• 20x Neurogaunt
• 20x Chitinous claws and teeth

Neurolictor (80 points)
• 1x Piercing claws and talons

Venomthropes (70 points)
• 3x Venomthrope
• 3x Toxic lashes

The Tyranids codex has been much maligned throughout its edition, showing its face here and there, but it is often considered one of the weaker offerings so far. Well, over 140 bodies exploding into your face is definitely a problem. That problem was unable to be solved this weekend in Dallas, with Pope taking down the Dallas Open with an 8-0 record. The bugs are back!

Tyranids are always an army with play due to their ability to pile massive amounts of OC and bodies onto the entire board, the meta has been relatively horde free until this point, but now those low quality shots are definitely looking more attractive in lists.

 

 

The end result of this may be even more factions finding their way into the mix, as Generals now have to plan for wild lists like this! Biovores even score a lot of points, too.

No Be’lakor? Is That Allowed?

Kyle Trayah fielded a Chaos Daemon army that left Be’lakor at home and the competition in the dust!

Kyle Trayah’s Chaos Daemons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Daemonic Incursion

CHARACTERS

Great Unclean One (260 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Bilesword
1x Plague flail
1x Putrid vomit
• Enhancement: The Endless Gift

Keeper of Secrets (290 points)
• 1x Phantasmagoria
1x Shining Aegis
1x Snapping claws
1x Witstealer sword

Lord of Change (285 points)
• 1x Bolt of Change
1x Staff of Tzeentch
• Enhancement: The Everstave

Skarbrand (305 points)
• 1x Bellow of endless fury
1x Slaughter and Carnage

The Masque of Slaanesh (85 points)
• 1x Serrated claws

BATTLELINE

Daemonettes (110 points)
• 1x Alluress
• 1x Slashing claws
• 9x Daemonette
• 9x Slashing claws

Nurglings (40 points)
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth

Nurglings (40 points)
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth

Nurglings (40 points)
• 3x Nurgling Swarm
• 3x Diseased claws and teeth

Plaguebearers (110 points)
• 1x Plagueridden
• 1x Plaguesword
• 9x Plaguebearer
• 9x Plaguesword

OTHER DATASHEETS

Flamers (75 points)
• 1x Pyrocaster
• 1x Flamer mouths
1x Flickering Flames
• 2x Flamer
• 2x Flamer mouths
2x Flickering Flames

Flamers (75 points)
• 1x Pyrocaster
• 1x Flamer mouths
1x Flickering Flames
• 2x Flamer
• 2x Flamer mouths
2x Flickering Flames

Flamers (75 points)
• 1x Pyrocaster
• 1x Flamer mouths
1x Flickering Flames
• 2x Flamer
• 2x Flamer mouths
2x Flickering Flames

Flesh Hounds (70 points)
• 1x Gore Hound
• 1x Burning roar
1x Collar of Khorne
1x Gore-drenched fangs
• 4x Flesh Hound
• 4x Collar of Khorne
4x Gore-drenched fangs

Flesh Hounds (70 points)
• 1x Gore Hound
• 1x Burning roar
1x Collar of Khorne
1x Gore-drenched fangs
• 4x Flesh Hound
• 4x Collar of Khorne
4x Gore-drenched fangs

Flesh Hounds (70 points)
• 1x Gore Hound
• 1x Burning roar
1x Collar of Khorne
1x Gore-drenched fangs
• 4x Flesh Hound
• 4x Collar of Khorne
4x Gore-drenched fangs

Much like the Samuel Pope Tyranids list, we see Kyle prioritize models that score points. Daemons are an army with a built-in Redeploy and a 3″ Deep Strike Stratagem, making them extremely hard to pin down and extremely effective at scoring.

Have you ever planned on a Great Unclean One 3″ deep striking in your backfield? Most people haven’t, since there have not been many Daemons armies seeing competitive play. Still, it might be time to start thinking about that little guy plopping himself behind your front lines or just dealing with his enormous pile of durability!

If he fits, he sits!

Nurglings being run in their bespoke army?! Wild! Take three of them, along with Flamers and Flesh Hounds. This list is not shy about fielding triplicates to achieve its plan.

Kyle is the poster child for taking good datasheets and sticking to a style works; don’t be afraid of the rule of three!

A Thousand Problems, But Winning Isn’t One

Thousand Sons have been an extremely strong army all edition for a variety of reasons, but often trip up on the way to an undefeated record. TJ Lannigan was able to fly over those obstacles with one simple trick!

TJ Lannigan’s Thousand Sons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Cult of Magic

CHARACTERS

Ahriman (130 points)
• 1x Black Staff of Ahriman
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Psychic Stalk

Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (135 points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
• Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal

Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (115 points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol

Exalted Sorcerer on Disc of Tzeentch (115 points)
• 1x Arcane Fire
1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol

Infernal Master (115 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Screamer Invocation
• Enhancement: Arcane Vortex

Magnus the Red (440 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm

Thousand Sons Daemon Prince with Wings (215 points)
• 1x Hellforged weapons
1x Infernal cannon
• Enhancement: Lord of Forbidden Lore

BATTLELINE

Rubric Marines (210 points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 9x Rubric Marine
• 9x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
8x Warpflamer

Rubric Marines (105 points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Warpflame pistol
1x Warpsmite
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer

Tzaangors (65 points)
• 1x Twistbray
• 1x Tzaangor blades
• 9x Tzaangor
• 1x Brayhorn
1x Herd banner
9x Tzaangor blades

OTHER DATASHEETS

Mutalith Vortex Beast (165 points)
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex

Thousand Sons Cultists (55 points)
• 1x Thousand Sons Cultist Champion
• 1x Brutal assault weapon
1x Cultist firearm
• 9x Thousand Sons Cultist
• 9x Brutal assault weapon
6x Cultist firearm
1x Flamer
1x Grenade launcher
1x Heavy stubber

Tzaangor Enlightened (45 points)
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 2x Enlightened
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Fatecaster greatbow

Tzaangor Enlightened (45 points)
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 2x Enlightened
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Fatecaster greatbow

Tzaangor Enlightened (45 points)
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 2x Enlightened
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Fatecaster greatbow

A Thousand Sons Daemon Prince With Wings? That’s a new one. The datasheet is rather unassuming until you get to the part where it can be redeployed. With all the other movement shenanigans that Thousand Sons have, adding a redeploy to the mix makes your opponents have to play that much tighter every turn.

Something that no one at the Maryland Open was able to do.

Magnus is always a staple, and of course, he made it into the list. He continues to be the backbone of every Thousand Sons list.

However, the Tzaangor datasheet pops up FOUR times for TJ, taking two different, low-cost but effective datasheets. The unassuming Tzaangor will put valuable victory points on the board every game, which is how you win at 40k!

The Boyz Are Ona Comeback Tour!

Orks also went undefeated at Mayhem 3 in 3D, and they look to be a powerful army throughout the rest of the 10th edition, but that’s a future me(ta) problem!

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.

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