Has the 40k Meta been solved? The latest best armies seem to be what we’ve come to expect, just in time for the new balance dataslate!
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.
Warhammer: 40k’s Meta Gets Solved The Weekend Before Dataslate
It seems like the craziness that’s been showing up took a week off. We will look at the The Oxford 40k Super Major (Oxford, UK), and Fantasia Fanatic XLV -40k (Umea, Sweden).
All The Warhammer 40k Ladies
Vik Vijay’s Hallowed Martyrs aren’t breaking out any new tech, but shows why Sisters have been maintaining a healthy 50%+ win rate since last year’s domination at Orlando Open.
Vik Vijay’s Hallowed Martyrs
Adepta Sororitas | Vik | Ignite | 2000
Hallowed MartyrsCHARACTERS
Saint Celestine (135 Points) | Warlord
• Celestine
• The Ardent Blade
• 2x Geminae Superia
• Power Weapon & Bolt PistolTriumph of Saint Katherine (125 Points)
• Relic Weapons & Bolt pistolsCanoness (65 Points)
• Blessed Blade
• Condemnor Boltgun
• Enhancements: Blade of Saint EllynorBATTLELINE
10x Battle Sisters Squad (100 Points)
• Sister Superior
Condemnor Boltgun
Power Weapon & Bolt Pistol
• 9x Battle Sister
1x Multi-Melta
1x Meltagun
1x Simulacrum Imperialis
7x Boltgun
9x Bolt PistolOTHER DATASHEETS
10x Arco-flagellants (150 Points)
• 10x Arco-flails10x Arco-flagellants (150 Points)
• 10x Arco-flails10x Arco-flagellants (150 Points)
• 10x Arco-flails5x Seraphim Squad (70 Points)
• Seraphim Superior
Power Weapon & Plasma Pistol
• 4x Seraphim
4x Ministorum Hand Flamer
4x Bolt Pistol5x Seraphim Squad (70 Points)
• Seraphim Superior
Power Weapon & Plasma Pistol
• 4x Seraphim
4x Ministorum Hand Flamer
4x Bolt Pistol5x Seraphim Squad (70 Points)
• Seraphim Superior
Power Weapon & Plasma Pistol
• 4x Seraphim
4x Ministorum Hand Flamer
4x Bolt Pistol10x Zephyrim Squad (120 Points)
• Zephyrim Superior
Power Weapon & Plasma Pistol
Sacred Banner
• 9x Zephyrim
9x Power Weapon & Bolt pistol5x Zephyrim Squad (60 Points)
• Zephyrim Superior
Power Weapon & Plasma Pistol
Sacred Banner
• 4x Zephyrim
4x Power Weapon & Bolt Pistol2x Crusaders (25 Points)
• 2x Power weapon2x Crusaders (25 Points)
• 2x Power weaponCastigator (140 Points)
• 1x Castigator battle cannon
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolterCastigator (140 Points)
• 1x Castigator battle cannon
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolterCastigator (140 Points)
• 1x Castigator battle cannon
• 3x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolterDEDICATED TRANSPORTS
Immolator (115 Points)
• 1x Twin Multi-Melta
• 1x Heavy bolter
• 1x Hunter-killer missileSororitas Rhino (75 Points)
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolterSororitas Rhino (75 Points)
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Storm bolter
30 Arco-Flagellants are going to be a huge ask for just about any army in the game right now. They’re loaded with 60 S5 [Sustained 1] [Twin-Linked] attacks, a 4+++, and the ability to get +1 to wound from a stratagem, giving this unit some extreme lethality to even hearty targets.
He’s also loaded with three Castigators, another wildly efficient profile into most targets in the game. Blasting their way in with D6+3 [Blast] [Ignores Cover] S10, AP-1, 3 Damage attacks, Castigators put quick work to heavy infantry and rerolling hits against Monsters and Vehicles to help overcome its low strength.
Don’t forget the crazy amount of mission play you can get from three units of Seraphim, and cheap trading or secondary pieces like 25 point Crusaders. This list is built to do what it wants to do regardless of the army on the other side of the board, showing few weaknesses and a ton of scoring potential. It’s no surprise an expert pilot could take this to an undefeated record at the largest event of the weekend.
Necrons Reanimate Back To The Top
The Fantasia Fanatic XLV 40k event featured not one but two Necrons, who went undefeated at the 100+ player event and took both the top spots with completely different Hypercrypt lists.
Jesper Unander-Scharin took the top spot with a Monolith list featuring no infantry. No, wait. There’s one in there for eternity gate. Can you spot it?
Jesper Unander-Scharin’s Hypercrypt Legion
2 (2000 points)
Necrons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Hypercrypt LegionCHARACTERS
C’tan Shard of the Nightbringer (255 points)
• 1x Gaze of death
1x Scythe of the NightbringerImotekh the Stormlord (100 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Gauntlet of Fire
1x Staff of the DestroyerTechnomancer (85 points)
• 1x Staff of light
• Enhancement: Arisen TyrantTranscendent C’tan (275 points)
• 1x Crackling tendrils
1x Seismic assaultTranscendent C’tan (275 points)
• 1x Crackling tendrils
1x Seismic assaultOTHER DATASHEETS
Canoptek Wraiths (220 points)
• 6x Canoptek Wraith
• 6x Particle caster
6x Vicious clawsDoomsday Ark (200 points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer arrayLokhust Destroyers (30 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannonLokhust Destroyers (30 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannonLokhust Destroyers (30 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannonLokhust Heavy Destroyers (150 points)
• 3x Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Gauss destructorMonolith (350 points)
• 4x Death ray
1x Particle whip
1x Portal of exile
That’s right, the Technomancer conveys the Infantry keyword to the Wraiths, allowing them to “hyperphase” and take advantage of the enhancement to reroll hits in a turn. The rerolling hits is critical for Canoptek units because they only hit on 4+.
Arisen Tyrant allows them to have the offensive production of Canoptek Court while still being super flexible do everything they’re asked of in this Hypercrypt list. Stack that with three C’tan defensive profiles and a Monolith, and you’re looking at a high-scoring, durable juggernaut of a list with some punch.
Necron’s weren’t finished there, and Kalle Abrahamsson came in with another 5-0 differential scoring on a completely different flavor of hypercrypt. This list asks the question, “What if I brought more guns?” and the answer seems to be… yes!
Kalle Abrahamsson’s Hypercrypt Legion
== Hypercrypt Legion Army Roster 1995 pts ==
EH1: C’tan Shard of the Nightbringer [255 pts]
CH1: Hexmark Destroyer: Dimensional Overseer [80 pts]
CH2: Plasmancer: Arisen Tyrant [80 pts]
CH3: Transcendant C’tan [275 pts]
CH4: Transcendant C’tan [275 pts]BL1: Immortals: 10xImmortal (Tesla carbine) [140 pts]
MO1: Lokhust Destroyers: Lokhust Destroyer [30 pts]
MO2: Lokhust Destroyers: Lokhust Destroyer [30 pts]
MO3: Lokhust Destroyers: Lokhust Destroyer [30 pts]
MO4: Lokhust Heavy Destroyers: 3xDestroyer w/ gauss destructor [150 pts]
MO5: Lokhust Heavy Destroyers: 2xDestroyer w/ gauss destructor [100 pts]
MO6: Lokhust Heavy Destroyers: 3xDestroyer w/ enmitic exterminator [150 pts]VE1: Doomsday Ark [200 pts]
VE2: Doomsday Ark [200 pts]
Kalle took the same three packs of C’tan Shards, but the rest of the list quickly became heavy firepower. With eight Lokhust Heavy Destroyers and two Doomsday Arks, this firepower can punch through any firepower looking to hit the C’tans.
Necrons showing this codex has exactly what players want: a lot of skill and list expression.
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.
