Welcome to another Meta Monday 40K, the weekly roundup from Grimhammer Tactics covering the latest Warhammer 40K tournament meta trends.
See all past editions of Meta Monday 40K here.
With Winter Storm Fern ravaging most of the eastern United States this weekend, some of the larger events unfortunately had to be canceled. My thoughts are with the thousands affected out there in the wake of the storm. The three largest events this weekend come from beyond the U.S. Today I’ll be looking at the Hamburg Major in Germany, Wet Coast GT up in Canada, and Uprising Adelaide 2026 down under in Australia. The question on everyone’s minds…are C’tan going to dominate the global meta? Let’s get into it.
Hamburg Major 2026 – Germany – 125 Players
Our first stop is over in Germany with the Hamburg Major. Interestingly enough, the Pantheon of Woe Necrons C’tan detachment isn’t in sight anywhere remotely near the top placings. And yes the new Necrons units were legal for this event and, I assume, so was the Pantheon of Woe detachment and the updated C’tan datasheets.
- Mario Titz – Space Wolves – 5-0
- Pau Poensgen – Drukhari – 5-0
- Manuel Wayand – Emperor’s Children – 5-0
- Alessandro Liessem – Space Marines – 5-0
- Arne Klemens – Tau Empire – 4-1
The Winning List: Mario Titz – Space Wolves – Stormlance Task Force
Click to see the List
Space Marines
Space Wolves
Strike Force (2000 points)
Stormlance Task Force
CHARACTERS
Arjac Rockfist (105 points)
• 1x Foehammer
Bjorn the Fell-Handed (160 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Heavy flamer
1x Helfrost cannon
1x Trueclaw
Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
Logan Grimnar (110 points)
• 1x Axe Morkai
1x Storm bolter
1x Tyrnak and Fenrir
Wolf Priest (80 points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Crozius arcanum
• Enhancement: Feinting Withdrawal
BATTLELINE
Intercessor Squad (80 points)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Power fist
• 4x Intercessor
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Bolt rifle
4x Close combat weapon
OTHER DATASHEETS
Thunderwolf Cavalry (230 points)
• 1x Thunderwolf Cavalry Pack Leader
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Teeth and Claws
1x Wolf Guard weapon
• 5x Thunderwolf Cavalry
• 5x Storm Shield
5x Teeth and Claws
5x Wolf Guard weapon
Thunderwolf Cavalry (230 points)
• 1x Thunderwolf Cavalry Pack Leader
• 1x Storm Shield
1x Teeth and Claws
1x Wolf Guard weapon
• 5x Thunderwolf Cavalry
• 5x Storm Shield
5x Teeth and Claws
5x Wolf Guard weapon
Wolf Guard Headtakers (170 points)
• 6x Wolf Guard Headtaker
• 6x Heavy bolt pistol
6x Paired master‑crafted power weapons
Wolf Guard Headtakers (110 points)
• 3x Wolf Guard Headtaker
• 3x Heavy bolt pistol
3x Paired master‑crafted power weapons
• 3x Hunting Wolves
• 3x Teeth and claws
Wolf Guard Terminators (170 points)
• 1x Wolf Guard Terminator Pack Leader
• 1x Relic greataxe
• 4x Wolf Guard Terminator
• 4x Master-crafted power weapon
4x Storm Shield
Wulfen (85 points)
• 5x Wulfen
• 5x Death Totem
5x Wulfen weapons
Wulfen with Storm Shields (200 points)
• 10x Wulfen
• 10x Death Totem
10x Thunder hammer
Wulfen with Storm Shields (100 points)
• 5x Wulfen
• 5x Death Totem
5x Thunder hammer
Wulfen with Storm Shields (100 points)
• 5x Wulfen
• 5x Death Totem
5x Thunder hammer
Space Wolves Wolf Jail take the top spot at another major event. Featuring tons of Wulfen, Thunderwolf Cavalry and some Headtakers along with Logan, Bjorn and Arjac, Mario’s list takes full advantage of a full-court press on the opponent. We’ve seen this list perform solidly over the last few months with a couple of major event wins. Along the way Mario took down 2 Space Marines players and the dreaded Grizzled Company Guard on the way to an undefeated finish and major event win.
Wet Coast GT 2026 – 40k Champs – Burnaby, BC Canada – 185 Plaers
Making our way up to Canada we have this year’s iteration of the long-standing Wet Coast GT. This event has become a staple as a major Warhammer 40K event over the years and this year boasted a massive turnout with 185 players. Our first Pantheon of Woe appearance in a top 5 placing in the three largest events this weekend…finishing 5-1 with a loss in round 6 to Grey Knights. Alex Macdougall takes the top spot at this year’s event going 6-0 with his Genestealer Cults. Let’s take a look at the top 5.
- Alex Macdougall – Genestealer Cults – 6-0
- David Coren – Grey Knights – 6-0
- Brendan McKenzie – Adeptus Sororitas – 6-0
- Devin Swann – Necrons – 5-1
- Brad Bouchard – Thousand Sons – 5-1
The Winning List: Alex Macdougall – Genestealer Cults – Final Day
Click to see the List
Genestealer Cults
Strike Force (2000 points)
Final Day
CHARACTERS
Abominant (85 points)
• 1x Power sledgehammer
Benefictus (90 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Psionic Cascade
• Enhancement: Inhuman Integration
Patriarch (85 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Patriarch’s claws
• Enhancement: Enraptured Damnation
Reductus Saboteur (65 points)
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Demolition charges
1x Remote explosives
BATTLELINE
Neophyte Hybrids (145 points)
• 1x Neophyte Leader
• 1x Autopistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hybrid firearm
• 19x Neophyte Hybrid
• 19x Autopistol
19x Close combat weapon
1x Cult Icon
2x Grenade launcher
11x Hybrid firearm
2x Mining laser
2x Seismic cannon
2x Webber
OTHER DATASHEETS
Achilles Ridgerunners (95 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy mortar
1x Survey Augur
1x Twin heavy stubber
Achilles Ridgerunners (170 points)
• 2x Achilles Ridgerunner
• 2x Armoured hull
2x Heavy mining laser
2x Spotter
2x Twin heavy stubber
Achilles Ridgerunners (95 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
1x Heavy mining laser
1x Spotter
1x Twin heavy stubber
Goliath Rockgrinder (120 points)
• 1x Demolition charge cache
1x Drilldozer blade
1x Heavy mining laser
1x Heavy stubber
Goliath Rockgrinder (120 points)
• 1x Demolition charge cache
1x Drilldozer blade
1x Heavy mining laser
1x Heavy stubber
Hybrid Metamorphs (70 points)
• 1x Metamorph Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 4x Hybrid Metamorph
• 1x Cult Icon
3x Hand flamer
4x Metamorph mutations
Hybrid Metamorphs (70 points)
• 1x Metamorph Leader
• 1x Hand flamer
1x Leader’s cult weapons
• 4x Hybrid Metamorph
• 1x Cult Icon
3x Hand flamer
4x Metamorph mutations
Purestrain Genestealers (140 points)
• 10x Purestrain Genestealer
• 10x Cult claws and talons
ALLIED UNITS
Deathleaper (80 points)
• 1x Lictor claws and talons
Gargoyles (85 points)
• 10x Gargoyle
• 10x Blinding venom
10x Fleshborer
Gargoyles (85 points)
• 10x Gargoyle
• 10x Blinding venom
10x Fleshborer
Hyperadapted Raveners (165 points)
• 1x Ravener Prime
• 1x Prime claws and talons
• 4x Raveners
• 4x Ravener heavy claws and talons
1x Venom bolt
Hyperadapted Raveners (165 points)
• 1x Ravener Prime
• 1x Prime claws and talons
• 4x Raveners
• 4x Ravener heavy claws and talons
1x Venom bolt
Neurolictor (70 points)
• 1x Piercing claws and talons
Alex takes a GSC Final Day list all the way to the top and a major event win. Final Day is an interesting detachment making use of Tyranids units to both gain buffs to hit and regenerate Tyranids units wounds. It’s an interesting build that really takes advantage of the detachment rule with the Hyperadapted Raveners and the Deep Striking GSC units to overlay those buffs together. Alex is a master Tyranids player and has won multiple major events over the years. This combination for his Final Day list proves to be a great choice as he makes an undefeated finish and another event win.
Uprising Adelaide 2026 – Highbury, South Australia – 176 Players
Finally we head down under to Australia to the annual Uprising Adelaide 2026. This event has become a staple in Australia over the years and this year’s event did not disappoint boasting 176 players duking it out. Once again we see a Pantheon of Woe list make the top 5 but along the way takes a loss.
- Michael Pappin – Space Marines – 7-1
- Jono Bishop – Tau Empire – 7-1
- Rhys Cunningham – Grey Knights – 7-1
- Matthew Lyndon – Necrons – 7-1
- Michael Hamilton – Space Marines – 7-1
The Winning List: Michael Pappin – Space Marines – Gladius Task Force
Click to see the List
+ FACTION KEYWORD: Imperium – Adeptus Astartes – Ultramarines
+ DETACHMENT: Gladius Task Force (Combat Doctrines)
+ TOTAL ARMY POINTS: 2000pts
+
+ WARLORD: Char2: Marneus Calgar
+ ENHANCEMENT: The Honour Vehement (on Char3: Captain with Jump Pack)
+ NUMBER OF UNITS: 15
+ SECONDARY: – Bring It Down: (3×2) + (1×4) – Assassination: 4 Characters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Char3: 1x Captain with Jump Pack (90 pts): Power Fist, Plasma Pistol
Enhancement: The Honour Vehement (+15 pts)
Char1: 1x Cato Sicarius (95 pts): Artisan Plasma Pistol, Talassarian Tempest Blade
Char2: 3x Marneus Calgar (200 pts): Warlord
• 1x Marneus Calgar: Gauntlets of Ultramar
• 2x Victrix Honour Guard: 2 with Victrix Power Sword
5x Intercessor Squad (80 pts)
• 4x Intercessor
3 with Bolt pistol, Bolt Rifle, Close combat weapon
1 with Astartes grenade launcher, Bolt pistol, Bolt Rifle, Close combat weapon
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant: Bolt pistol, Bolt Rifle, Power Fist
1x Impulsor (80 pts): Armoured Hull, Ironhail Heavy Stubber, Ironhail Skytalon Array, 2x Storm Bolter
1x Impulsor (80 pts): Armoured Hull, Ironhail Heavy Stubber, Ironhail Skytalon Array, 2x Storm Bolter
3x Inceptor Squad (120 pts)
• 2x Inceptor: 2 with Close combat weapon, Plasma Exterminators
• 1x Inceptor Sergeant: Close combat weapon, Plasma Exterminators
5x Infernus Squad (90 pts)
• 4x Infernus Marines: 4 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Pyreblaster
• 1x Infernus Sergeant: Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Pyreblaster
1x Land Raider Redeemer (270 pts): Armoured Tracks, 2x Flamestorm Cannon, Hunter-killer missile, Multi-melta, Storm Bolter, Twin Assault Cannon
5x Scout Squad (70 pts)
• 2x Scout
1 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Heavy Bolter
1 with Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Scout Sniper Rifle
• 1x Scout Sergeant: Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon, Astartes Chainsword
• 2x Scouts: 2 with Astartes Shotgun, Bolt pistol, Close combat weapon
5x Vanguard Veteran Squad with Jump Packs (100 pts)
• 1x Vanguard Veteran Sergeant with Jump Pack: Vanguard Veteran Weapon, Inferno Pistol
• 4x Vanguard Veterans with Jump Packs: 4 with Vanguard Veteran Weapon, Inferno Pistol
6x Victrix Honour Guard (220 pts)
• 1x Chapter Ancient: Banner of Macragge, Master-crafted Power Weapon
• 1x Chapter Champion: Blades of Honour
• 4x Victrix Honour Guard: 4 with Master-crafted Bolt Carbine, Master-crafted Power Weapon
6x Victrix Honour Guard (220 pts): 6 with Master-crafted Bolt Carbine, Master-crafted Power Weapon
1x Vindicator (185 pts): Armoured Tracks, Demolisher Cannon, Hunter-killer missile, Storm Bolter
Space Marines Gladius Task Force takes the top spot at Uprising Adelaide with a 7-1 finish. While this one did feature two large bricks of Victrix Honour Guard it also posed some interesting meta choice such as the Captain with Jump Pack and Vanguard Veterans along with the infamous Land Raider Redeemer, the scourge of melee armies in 10th edition. This list is otherwise pretty standard out of what we might see from a powerful Ultramarines build. Michael takes this list all the way to a 7-1 finish and an event win in one of Australia’s most popular 40K events of the year.
Final Thoughts
While we have not yet seen the full impact of the much discussed Pantheon of Woe C’tan builds, these early results do not suggest a serious issue. It is likely that many players are still refining their lists and have not brought fully optimized versions to major events. So far, the concern around this detachment appears overstated. In my view, C’tan heavy lists function as stat check armies, similar to Chaos Daemons monster mash or Imperial Knights. They are undeniably powerful, but that alone does not make them a problem for the broader metagame. It will be worth watching how this develops over the coming weeks.
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