The Third and Largest US Open in Austin Texas Warhammer 40k Tournament, hosted by Games Workshop, had an attendance of over 200 players. The Balance Update from Games Workshop was placed out early just for this event to reign in the excess of Drukhari and other Spam found in lists. However, Grey Knights were untouched and that was reflected throughout the event. Unfortunately, the new Black Templars were not allowed as well as Warzone Octarius 2.
Hivefleet Leviathan made a huge comeback with their latest round of bonuses from Warzone Octarius. While many players got to bring their Bugs out to play, many others took that in consideration with their list design.
US Open Austin: 1st place Richard Siegler – Drukhari
Amazingly, this was the third Games Workshop US Open that Richard Siegler has come up on top. He stunned the warhammer community with his first two finishes using Adeptus Mechanicus. Metallica and then a Mars Skitarii Cohort dominated in competitive play. However the recent round of nerfs from the Balance Data Slate encouraged the use of Drukhari as they are still very strong. It will be very interesting to see if Richard can continue to come out on top in future events!
Artist of Flesh reduces damage taken by 1. That means the average for Damage d3 is Damage 1. Hive Guard have a Damage D3 weapon so that’s one way to reduce their effectiveness. Combined with healing models 3 wounds at a time, big things are sticking around longer.
Using the Animus Vitae, helps allow a turn 1 advance and charge by pushing the Power from Pain Ability one step further. This is very powerful in games with short No Man’s Lands.
US Open Austin First Place Winning List
++ Artists of the Flesh Patrol Detachment 0CP Drukhari ++
+ HQ +
Haemonculus [4 PL, 70pts]: Master Regenerist, The Animus Vitae, Warlord
+ Troops +
Wracks x18 w/ Blades, Electrocorrosive Whip & Ossefactor
Wracks x5
Wracks x5
+ Elites +
Grotesques x4 w/ Cleavers
Grotesques x4 w/ Cleavers
+ Heavy Support +
Talos x2 w/ Heat Lances, Gauntlet & Injector
Talos x2 w/ Heat Lances, Gauntlet & Injector
++ Dark Technomancers Patrol Detachment Drukhari ++
+ Stratagems +
Stratagem: Prizes from the Dark City [-1CP]
+ HQ +
Succubus 3 – Hypex, Quicksilver Fighter, Stratagem: Tolerated Ambition, The Triptych Whip, Agoniser & Archite Glaive, Show Stealer
+ Troops +
Wracks x5
+ Heavy Support +
Cronos x3 w/ Vortex x3 and 1 Spirit Probe
Cronos x3 w/ Vortex x3 and 1 Spirit Probe
++ Kabal of the Black Heart: Patrol Detachment 0CP ++
Obsession: Kabal of the Black Heart: Thirst for Power
+ Stratagems +
Stratagem: Prizes from the Dark City [-1CP]
+ No Force Org Slot +
Court of the Archon w/ Sslyth x4 & Ur-Ghul x4
+ HQ +
Archon: Ancient Evil, , Huskblade, Overlord, Splinter Pistol, Stratagem: Tolerated Ambition, The Djin Blade. Splintered Genius
+ Troops +
Wracks x5
+ Elites +
Mandrakes x5
++ Total: [122 PL, 8CP, 2,000pts] ++
US Open Austin 2nd Place Sean Nayden -Drukhari
Sean took custom Cults and Covens with his Drukhari mix. Test of Skill helps the Cult units wound monsters and vehicles a bit more often. Combined with one turn of extra drug effects means the Cult units will hit hard in melee. The custom Kabal, has a small defensive ability causing a few mortal wounds when moving and charging within 12” of this Kabal. Webway Raiders can help save a few command points if choosing to put two of those Kabal units into the Webway to pop up anywhere on the board.
As it was, Command points were going to be spent anyway to bring Drazhar so this was a way to make those command points go further. Plus, having 5 characters can mistakenly give the opponent the idea that taking Assassinate is a good idea. It’s not because they can go into reserve after deployment and come back too late for their opponent to kill them. Kabal of the Black Heart is a strong Kabal. Furthermore, increasing the cost of Stratagems can help negate Tyranid Hive Guard shooting twice.
Coming second after taking the L is hard to do when they’re are over 200 players on the field to be sure. Congratulations.
US Open Austin Second Place List
++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Drukhari) [85 PL, 1,638pts, 9CP] ++
Obsession: Kabal of the Black Heart: Thirst for Power, Realspace Raid, The Prophets of Flesh: Connoisseurs of Pain, *Custom Cult*: Stimulant Innovators, Test of Skill
+ Stratagems +
Alliance of Agony, Prizes from the Dark City x2
+ No Force Org Slot +
Court of the Archon: Sslyth x2, Ur-Ghul x2
+ HQ +
Archon [4 PL, 75pts]: Ancient Evil, As Detachment (Kabal), Huskblade, Overlord, Splinter Pistol, Warlord
Haemonculus [5 PL, 90pts]: As Detachment (Coven), Stratagem: Alliance of Agony WLT, The Vexator Mask, Twisted Animator & Alchemical Maestro
Succubus [3 PL, 80pts]: 2 – Grave Lotus (Combat Drug), As Detachment (Wych Cult), Precision Blows, Stratagem: Alliance of Agony WLT, The Triptych Whip w/ Agoniser & Archite Glaive
+ Troops +
Haemoxytes x8 Blades & Electrocorrosive Whip
Kabalite Warriors 5
Wyches x5 w/ 3 – Hypex
+ Elites +
Incubi x5 w/ Demiklaives on Klaivex
Incubi x5 w/ Demiklaives on Klaivex
+ Fast Attack +
Hellions x10 w/ 1 – Adrenalight (Combat Drug), As Detachment (Wych Cult)
Hellions x10 w/ 1 – Adrenalight (Combat Drug), As Detachment (Wych Cult)
Reavers x6 w/ Splintermind, 2x Grav-talon, 2x Heat Lance
+ Heavy Support +
Ravager w/ 3x Dark Lance, Shock Prow
+ Dedicated Transport +
Raider w/ Dark Lance, Grisly Trophies, Kabal of the Black Heart, Shock Prow
Raider w/ Dark Lance, Grisly Trophies, Kabal of the Black Heart
Raider w/ Dark Lance, Grisly Trophies, Kabal of the Black Heart
++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Aeldari – Drukhari) [20 PL, 360pts, -3CP] ++
Obsession
. *Custom Kabal*: Dark Mirth, Webway Raiders
+ HQ +
Archon w/ Blast Pistol, Hatred Eternal, Huskblade, Overlord, Stratagem: Tolerated Ambition, The Djin Blade, Splintered Genius
Drazhar
+ Troops +
Kabalite Warriors x5
+ Dedicated Transport +
Venom: Grisly Trophies, Splinter Cannon, Twin splinter rifle
++ Total: [105 PL, 6CP, 1,998pts] ++
Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)
US Open Austin 3rd Place Jack Harpster – Grey Knights
Jack was just featured last weekend as the Champion of WarZone Atlanta. This weekend His Grey Knights clearly did well but were stalled a bit by his teammate John Lennon’s mix of Leviathan Tyranids and Genestealer Cults. 5 Dreadknights is hard to deal with. Crowe is slightly more expensive than a Brotherhood Champion but comes with the bonuses to make up for that. So the army has plenty of melee and decent shooting to go with Psychic powers to go on every single unit. Allowing for an easy 15 points from the Purify Secondary.
Well done.
Us Open 3rd Place Winning List
++ Swordbearers Patrol Detachment 0CP (Imperium – Grey Knights) [38 PL, 765pts, 12CP] ++
+ HQ +
Castellan Crowe [5 PL, 90pts]: 2: Hammer of Righteousness, 3: Sanctuary, Warlord
Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight: 1: Gate of Infinity, 2: Empyric Amplification, Teleporter, Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Greatsword, Servant of the Throne
+ Troops +
Strike Squad x5 w/ 4x Falchions & Halberd on the Justicar
+ Heavy Support +
Nemesis Dreadknight w/ Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Psycannon
Nemesis Dreadknight w/ Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Psycannon
++Prescient Brethren Outrider Detachment -3CP (Imperium – Grey Knights)++
+ Stratagems +
Armoury of Titan [-1CP]: 1 Additional Relic
+ HQ +
Brotherhood Techmarine [5 PL, 100pts, -1CP]: 5: Warp Shaping, A Noble Death, Aetheric Conduit, Boltgun, Divination, Omnissian Power Axe, Shield of Humanity
Grand Master in Nemesis Dreadknight: 1: Gate of Infinity, 4: Vortex of Doom, Dreadknight teleporter, Foretelling of Locus, Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis Greatsword, Sigil of Exigence Extra Warlord Trait:Unyielding Anvil
+ Fast Attack +
Interceptor Squad x10 w/ 3x Halberd & 7x Swords
Interceptor Squad x10 w/ Halberd
Interceptor Squad x10 w/ Halberd
+ Heavy Support +
Nemesis Dreadknight w/ teleporter, Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Psycannon
++ Total: [105 PL, 6CP, 2,000pts] ++
Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)
The Winning Lists Results
As always you can find all of the previous Grand Tournament and Winning Lists results on our dedicated page here.
Have you rocked any of these lists in your games against friends or in other games? Let us know in the comments.
