Goatboy here and we got two things coming in hard and fast on the Metagame as well as the current lists that continue to do well.
I don’t think both new Chaos legion codexes are going to do anything too crazy with one of them I think pushed to good and the other one most likely going to hide under a powerful data sheet mixed with a player base trying to figure out what works now. Let’s step back, pull up a comfy chair, and talk about how the Meta will roll out these next few months.
Again as usual with any of this I think if you find something that feels too strong in the 10th Edition meta, you can expect GW to step in and nerf it at some point in the future. If you already don’t have it painted why invest the time? If you can’t just borrow hammer it what is the point? That is how I think of anything in this game. I really would rather play with my alright painted models that I enjoyed doing.
Alright let’s look at the top of the list and are usually the harder armies to play with. I am basing this on what some of the all star players are messing with right now and what will most likely win a big event or get a few people in the top. Usually it revolves around an army that can kinda do just about it all – movement, damage, and scoring abilities.
Chaos Daemons – Shadow Legion
The New Shadow Legion Detachment has really breathed new life into Chaos Daemons. They are utilizing some powerful rules, a very rough close combat option, and even some strong shooting. It really excels in the overall gameplay aspects of the game – having a ton of units that can go up and down and allow the army to easily score those secondaries. It isn’t nearly as “punchy” as some of the other armies but it just makes up for it with an army that can almost score at will. I get the feeling any army that can quickly get there or quickly get around the table can stop it. It is the same on how if you force the board you can stop GSC you could do the same with this type of army.
Death Guard – Virulent Vectorum
Next up is I think the new Death Guard are going to show up. Lately there are some armies that have popped up in Team events and I think the new book pushes the army in a way that will make it show up. You have tough as nails options, some powerful teleport choices with the Death Shroud, and an army rule that can just grind the enemy down. The Virulent Vectorium seems to be pointing to the best all around list as having massed army wide Sticky Objective means the army can move, hold those neoprene circles, and then continue to move closer to you. The army loves to be close and grinding you down which is exactly what this detachment will do.
Aeldari – Devoted of Ynnead
I still think the Ynarri detachment is an issue and the only reason we are not seeing more is the skill level it takes to make sure the army works. It takes a bit of control on the stacking of rules and some of the new Knight Armies really do love going against them meaning there is a mid-table bully that could knock the Space Elves out. Really just being able to move in your opponents phase and oops control more objectives than you started the turn with just feels powerful. We’ll see if they answer the move powers they have or hit it with a nerf bat in the future.
Emperor’s Children – Coterie of the Conceited
The Emperor’s Children Coterie of the Conceited is going to start showing up soon as people figure out ways to “speed” paint that purple pink color. It is a very fast army that benefits the aggressive player who is there to “jail” you in waves of excess. While the book has a low amount of datasheets the ones they use can all punch above their weight and every “death” they get for their Pact bonus just amplifies the damage they can do. While getting it to a 7+ is amazing it isn’t hard to get it to hit the 5+ and watch as your army rerolls 1’s to wound, hit, and has Lethal/Sustained hits to get the creepy ball of damage going.
Space Marines – Gladius Task Force
Space Marines are still good and I think any event is going to have 2-3 in the top 8. The ability to do a ton of damage in the shooting and assault phase just means you have to worry about whatever color Marine is coming at you looking to purify your face for the Emperor. I really think some of the Dark Angels stuff seems strong and having Advance and Charge Deathwing Knights just feels really mean with the Storm Talon detachment. Heck the Gladius is also still really good as well as a ton of other fun options. The army is powerful and only kept down in the percentage win rate by the sheer number of players pulling out their old marines and throwing them on the table top.
The Runners Up
Where does World Eaters live in all of this? I think it is an interesting army that is going to be played heavily and probably gonna get beaten up pretty good. There is a good army in there and it just isn’t the way the army was before. You will need to shoot, figure out better movement tricks, and just not rush forward and hope you get those high advance rolls. I think this is good for the army as it will help people play better and just learn a different way to interact. Will see as it is the army I plan on messing with and hopefully I can get more wins than losses as I throw a bunch of idiots on the tabletop.
What do you think is the best army? Astra Militarum seems pretty strong too but again – it has some of the issues the Space Marines have with a ton of players and not all of them being good. Genestealer Cult seems strong too but has to be played with by players who know all ways to “get” the most out of these filthy cultists. Really the field is pretty wide open which is a good thing as you can just play what you want.
Happy gaming and always roll 6’s!
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Thomas Reidy, aka Goatboy, the ever-evil member of BoLS. I do arts, play 40k, and even paint a lot of stuff. I have been playing Warhammer 40K since the 1990s, and have won multiple national events including Adepticon and GW GTs. I’ve been writing for BoLS for 15 years. Look at my Instagram to see what I am working on – or working on for someone. I am always doing something hobby related.
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