Warhammer 40k Metawatch: Custodes and Tyranid Rampage Continues

The Custodes and the Bugs are wrecking shop out there!  Welcome to our series covering weekly meta changes and tournaments.

Welcome to part two of our weekly two-part article series covering weekly meta changes and tournament results. Lists, data, and all stats are based on information pulled from either Best Coast Pairings, Down Under Pairings, or Tabletop TO.

This week we had 4 GT or larger events taking place according to BCP, DUP, and Tabletop TO (Qualifying events had at least 28 participants):

• Beachhead Brawl
• The 36 Chambers
• West of Scotland
• Norcal Open

In today’s article we will be covering overall meta status and winning lists from the following events:

• Norcal Open
• The 36 Chambers

Now onto some tournament results

Norcal Open

First Place – Treynore Wolfe (Custodes)

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Adeptus Custodes) [101 PL, 11CP, 1,998pts] ++

+ Configuration +

Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)

Detachment Command Cost

Detachment Type / Shield Host: Adeptus Custodes, Emperor’s Chosen

+ Agents of the Imperium +

Inquisitor [4 PL, 60pts]: 1) Terrify, Boltgun, Chainsword, Ordo Hereticus, Psyker

+ HQ +

Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike [10 PL, -2CP, 180pts]: (Emperor’s Chosen): Auric Exemplar, 3. Superior Creation, Castellan’s Mark, Misericordia, Salvo Launcher, Stratagem: The Emperor’s Heroes, Stratagem: Victor of the Blood Games, Tip of the Spear

Trajann Valoris [9 PL, 1CP, 160pts]

+ Troops +

Prosecutors [3 PL, 60pts]: Prosecutor Sister Superior
. 4x Prosecutor: 4x Boltgun

Sagittarum Custodians [7 PL, 153pts]
. 2x Sagittarum: 2x Adrastus Bolt Caliver
. Sagittarum w/ Misericordia: Misericordia

Sagittarum Custodians [7 PL, 150pts]
. 3x Sagittarum: 3x Adrastus Bolt Caliver

+ Elites +

Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought [9 PL, 160pts]: 2x Lastrum Storm Bolter

Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought [9 PL, 160pts]: 2x Lastrum Storm Bolter

Custodian Wardens [7 PL, 150pts]
. 3x Warden w/ Castellan Axe & Misericordia: 3x Castellan Axe, 3x Misericordia

+ Fast Attack +

Vertus Praetors [12 PL, 255pts]
. 3x Praetor w/ Salvo Launcher & Misericordia: 3x Interceptor Lance, 3x Misericordia, 3x Salvo Launcher

Vertus Praetors [12 PL, 255pts]
. 3x Praetor w/ Salvo Launcher & Misericordia: 3x Interceptor Lance, 3x Misericordia, 3x Salvo Launcher

Vertus Praetors [12 PL, 255pts]
. 3x Praetor w/ Salvo Launcher & Misericordia: 3x Interceptor Lance, 3x Misericordia, 3x Salvo Launcher

++ Total: [101 PL, 11CP, 1,998pts] ++

Army Key Features

• Emperor’s Chosen appears to be the current meta darling. Likely thanks to increased durability into mortal wounds (which is honestly one of the major weaknesses of other sub-factions) and more flexibility provided by their faction stratagem. Letting you make one of your units pretend to be another shield host for a day, or turn, probably depends on how much CP you have.
• Oh, and master crafter style rerolls in case you ever roll ones
• An Inquisitor provides a cheap and easy psyker for access to some great secondaries like Mental Interrogation which received a glow up in CA 2022 by not requiring line of sight anymore and being 24” range. Terrify can always be used to turn off overwatch if somebody has say 10 AFP or a bunch of flamers they can point at your combat unit as well.
• Trajann ‘Why don’t I ever get a break’ Valoris is an auto-include in Custodes lists as he is, let me put this politely, very inexpensive for what he provides
• A Shield Captain on Jetbike provides a mobile platform that can be turned towards character assassination or beatstick. In this list we Auric Exemplar for bonus attacks, Castellan’s Mark for redeploy shenanigans, Tip of the Spear for some rerolls, and Superior Creation so that when you get there you don’t die. Basically, instead of specializing this character is a nice toolkit.
• 3X3 Vertus Praetors with salvo launchers to maximize the efficiency of the reroll and let you pick up all of your opponent’s vehicles or monsters.
• Contemptor Achillus are excellent mid-table bullies thanks to their D3+3 damage spear attacks and flat 3 damage ranged weapons on a modestly durable chassis.
• Wardens keep your characters safe

TLDR

• Standard Golden Stuff Emperor’s Chosen list with excellent characters, bikes, and brawling units. With an Inquisitor who interrogates foes, psychically, from a safe distance.

The 36 Chambers

First Place – Matt Robertson (Tyranids)

== Batallion Detachment == [18PL, 1998pts] 0 CP

+HQ+

SwarmLord (240) Catalyst, Onslought [12PL] 240pts

Hive Tyrant (155), Wings(30), Monstrous bone swords(20), Monstrous Rending Claws (0), Adrenal Glands(5), Synaptic Hive blades, Murderous Size, Swarm Leader, Rampaging Beast, Synaptic Barrier, Aggressive Surge [11PL] 210pts (WARLORD)

Hive Tyrant (155), Wings(30), 2 x Monstrous Scything talons(20), Adrenal Glands(5), Biomorphic Carapace, Psychic Scream, Paroxysm [11PL] 210pts

+Troops+

3x Tyranid Warriors (51), 3 x 2 Scything Talons(0), Bio weapon bond(15) [4PL] 66pts
3x Tyranid Warriors (51) 3 x 2 Scything Talons(0) [4PL] 51pts
3x Tyranid Warriors (51) 3 x 2 Scything Talons(0) [4PL] 51pts

+Elites+

6x Hive Guard (240) 6 Impaler cannons(60) [14PL] 300pts

+Fast Attack+

Dimachaeron (280) [14PL] 280pts
Dimachaeron (280) [14PL] 280pts

+Flyers+

Harpy (155) [8PL] 155pts
Harpy (155) [8PL] 155pts

Total: [18PL, 1998pts] 0 CP

Key Features

• This is by far my favorite list format I’ve ever seen, so thanks for that. Otherwise, as we are growing very familiar with Crusher Stampede provides amazing buffs to Tyranid monsters in the form of -1 damage, a 5++ and counting as their wounds characteristic worth of models on a point. Leviathan lets those monsters become Obsec and also provides a few other neat little stratagem tricks and traits as well.
• A Hive Tyrant starts us out with Swarm Leader for full rerolls, Synaptic Hive Blades to ignore invulnerable saves, Murderous Size to improve a set of weapons, and Rampaging Beast to provide a bonus D3 attacks. This combination of things lets the Hive Tyrant stay up front with the beasts and go character or Custodes hunting thanks to ignoring invulnerable saves.
• A second Hive Tyrant with wings has the biomorphic carapace relic making it -1 to wound, meaning it can also make it to inconvenient places and probably not die.
• 2 Harpies, 2 Dimachaerons are the monsters for this list, which thanks to their high speed combined with the two Winged Hive Tyrants and Swarmlord means this list can get into your face nearly immediately and not let up on the pressure.
• A trio of warriors provide actions, backfield objective holding, and +1 to hit to the Hive Guard
• Hive Guard do Hive Guard things, which mostly means eating anything without -1 damage for lunch while safely behind a building.

TLDR

• Extremely Fast monsters make themselves known while having just enough durability to ensure they get there

~Thought of the Day – All our ignorances bring us closer to annihilation.

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Author: Reece Robbins

Reece Robbins, is one of the most respected names in tabletop gaming. He founded Frontline Gaming and the largest Warhammer 40K tournament in the world, the Las Vegas Open. Reece has been playing competitively and covering Warhammer since the 1980s. He has won major events including Adepticon.