With Mother’s Day over the weekend, the short slate of tournaments isn’t a surprise, but innovation remains the Mother of the Meta.
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.
With a short slate of tournaments, the deep dive will take the top cut of the Midwest Conquest GT (Independence, MO) and the Corsair Open GT (Munich, Germany)
Death, Taxes, and Reanimation?
Necrons, they’re still here, but with a new flavor, Fritz Peters shows innovation still exists and can come from even the most commended army of 10th has room for it.
Fritz Peters’ Necrons
Hypercrypt Legion
Strike Force (2000 Points)CHARACTERS
Chronomancer (80 Points)
• 1x Chronomancer’s stave
• Enhancements: Hyperspatial Transfer NodeChronomancer (65 Points)
• 1x Chronomancer’s staveIlluminor Szeras (175 Points)
• 1x Eldritch Lance
1x Impaling legsThe Silent King (420 Points)
• 1x Szarekh
• Warlord
• 1x Sceptre of Eternal Glory
1x Staff of Stars
1x Weapons of the Final Triarch
• 2x Triarchal Menhir
• 2x Annihilator beam
2x Armoured bulkBATTLELINE
Immortals (150 Points)
• 10x Immortal
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Tesla carbineImmortals (150 Points)
• 10x Immortal
• 10x Close combat weapon
10x Tesla carbineOTHER DATASHEETS
Canoptek Reanimator (75 Points)
• 2x Atomiser beam
1x Reanimator’s clawsCanoptek Scarab Swarms (40 Points)
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
• 3x Feeder mandiblesCanoptek Scarab Swarms (40 Points)
• 3x Canoptek Scarab Swarm
• 3x Feeder mandiblesDoomsday Ark (200 Points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer arrayDoomsday Ark (200 Points)
• 1x Armoured bulk
1x Doomsday cannon
2x Gauss flayer arrayLokhust Destroyers (30 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Gauss cannonMonolith (375 Points)
• 4x Death ray
1x Particle whip
1x Portal of exile
Big Guns Are Never Sleeping could be the theme behind the heavy-firepower-invested list. Bringing 2 Doomsday Arks, a Monolith, AND a Silent King (Yes, that profile says six damage, not D6), this list brings the hurt. There are also two full units of Tesla Immortals to deal with that new pesky Green Tide that’s been going around.
The Silent King has been one of those datasheets in the fringes of Necron play. The Datasheet offers a plethora of extremely desirable efficiency buffs like rerolling 1s to hit and wound; very helpful on doomsday cannons that can hit and wound 2s into rhinos! In Hypercrypt, the unwieldy Doomsday Arks also become much more destructive since they should always find quality targets after hyperphasing.
Szeras finds himself into the list once again, even with the (+15) points hike, the man is still a load to bring down and wildly increases the efficacy of Immortals.
This list reiterates that innovation remains the mother of the meta by bringing back the Reanimator. A unit we haven’t seen much of since the Codex changed its preposterously huge 12″ aura down to 3″, it still can find a place in lists and absolutely punishes opponents that “swing and miss” when the Necron army reanimates 2D3 wounds after taking a hit.
Dark Angels Redemptor Era Tour?
Jeremy Capko continues to dig innovation out of the original Space Marines codex with his own Dark Angels twist.
Jeremy Capko’s Dark Angels
Dark Angels
Strike Force (2000 points)
Ironstorm SpearheadCHARACTERS
Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (100 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
• Enhancement: Master of Machine War (Aura)Techmarine (90 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancement: Adept of the OmnissiahTechmarine (95 points)
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancement: Target Augury Web (Aura)OTHER DATASHEETS
Inceptor Squad (260 points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Plasma exterminators
• 5x Inceptor
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Plasma exterminatorsInceptor Squad (130 points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Assault bolters
2x Close combat weaponInceptor Squad (130 points)
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant
• 1x Assault bolters
1x Close combat weapon
• 2x Inceptor
• 2x Assault bolters
2x Close combat weaponInfiltrator Squad (100 points)
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
4x Marksman bolt carbineRavenwing Darkshroud (115 points)
• 1x Assault cannon
1x Close combat weaponRedemptor Dreadnought (210 points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin storm bolterRedemptor Dreadnought (210 points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin storm bolterRedemptor Dreadnought (210 points)
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Macro plasma incinerator
1x Onslaught gatling cannon
1x Redemptor fist
1x Twin storm bolterRepulsor Executioner (220 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy laser destroyer
1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon
1x Icarus rocket pod
1x Ironhail heavy stubber
1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array
1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber
1x Twin heavy bolterScout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shotgun
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifleScout Squad (65 points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
• 1x Astartes shotgun
1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
• 2x Astartes shotgun
4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Missile launcher
1x Scout sniper rifle
A Dark Angels list that takes a total of one Dark Angel Datasheet means we absolutely have to investigate it! The Ravenwing Darkshroud gives all friendly units within 6″ Stealth and Cover. This is huge for a list with a lot of big vehicles rolling your way.
Capko shows he’s not afraid to bring datasheets he finds complementary, adding three Redemptor Dreadnoughts. They’re an extremely durable and effective profile for the wide range of infantry-esque armies we’re seeing lately, some more elite than others. Skewing its durability and utility even more with the Darkshroud and Ironstorm enhancements really makes these guys good at everything.
Inceptors are also back on the menu, bringing another triple stack of the datasheet (2×3 Bolter 1×6 Plasma). Inceptors are still just so great at either playing the mission, threatening your opponent’s objectives, or blowing up squishy backline.
Will Chaos Space Marines be the next to shatter the Meta Mold?
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.
Basically, he knows 10th Edition Warhammer 40k like few others, so watch this space for some great advice from tactics to army list building.
