It’s time to take a look at some of the most unique 40k army lists from the 2019 SoCal Open. Check out these top three homebrew army compositions!
The Socal Open brought over two-hundred different players under one roof to roll dice. With so many different methods of thought from the players, some brought some incredibly unique lists.
Thanks to Best Coast Pairings, we can look back at the event as if we were there ourselves.
Kenny Boucher- Chaos
Starting off with Kenny’s list, he brought in the very basic structure of a Chaos list. Two Lord Discos led a cheap-o Battalion of Cultists for a CP battery. However, the main segment of points went into the machinery. Two Heldrakers were brought to add some speed to the list. These units could fly up the board, flame one unit, and charge another…All while buying time for the Discordants to get into combat.
Meanwhile, three Knights sharing a whopping six thermal cannons were fielded. While that might not be much for a normal screening unit, if anything had the Vehicle keyword, it’s time was limited.
Dustin Harnois- Tyranids
Moving into this Tyranid list, the same basic principle from Kenny’s Chaos list applies. A few points were thrown into a Battalion for the CP while the rest went into chunky units full of firepower. This list brought a total of ten Heavy Venom Cannons out to play with a Hive Tyrant taking the Miasma Cannon (a relic Heavy Venom Cannon that can auto-hit and always wounds anything other than vehicles on a 2+).
Rippers were taken for cheap objective camping and to fill out the mandatory Troops slots for a Battalion. Hive Guard were also brought for some added firepower that didn’t need LOS.
The real punch from the list came from three units of Carnifexes decked out with S9 firepower. They also all had enhanced senses to make sure they were even more deadly. And finally, a single Exocrine was brought along with the leftover points. As far as most Tyranid lists go, this one was more on the elite low model count scale. While the model count was low, all of the firepower was at S8 or better. Nice job!
Don Hooson- Imperial Fists
Don is no stranger to the top tables, but at SoCal Open he brought Codex Space Marines IF, with some Vigilus flair. Perhaps he was prepping for the unlocking of Imperial Fists after this event for ITC?
Bringing an entire brigade, the backbone of this list came from the Intercessors each with a Grenade Launcher and Thunder Hammer. A Chaplain hung around these guys to make their bullets angrier and rerolls came from a Captain and Lieutenant. Note that this was the only detachment Don brought and also paid the CP for Siegebreaker Cohort.
Warsuits were brought geared with the Autocannons over the much more popular Incendium Cannon and served as a cheap multi-damage firing platform. But where this list really gets interesting is the fact that he chose not to bring any Centurions. Instead, his points went toward three Tarantula Heavy Bolter turrets and three Contemptor Mortis Dreads decked out with Heavy Bolters. The Bolter spam in this list was still very high but packed an overall higher-toughness scale from spamming Centurions.
To top it all off, two squads of Eliminators were brought because they’re too good to pass up. It’s different, but perhaps we’ll see more of this style in Codex IF lists going forward?
And there you have it! Three lists that surprised the meta from the SoCal open! Have you been experimenting with a similar list to one of these?
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About the Author: Wesley Floyd
Wesley Floyd
Job Title: Staff Writer
Joined: 2018
Socials:@RealmbrushPainting
Bio: Imperial fanboy, tabletop fanatic, and the self-proclaimed King of Sprues. Wes has been in the Warhammer hobby since 2015 and joined the Spikey Bits writing team in 2018. He knows for a fact that Mephiston red is the best-tasting paint and is the commission painting equivalent of a Wendy’s 4 for $4.
If you like what he writes and want to reach out or get your models painted (to a mostly okayish standard), message him on Instagram.
