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.
We are closing out January with another great weekend of events. Necrons still fail to make a top placing in the largest events of the weekend as players are starting to lean into the Starshatter C’tan build. The release of the updated C’tan datasheets has breathed new life into the faction, however as they continue the trend from last weekend with a high win-rate in events and lots of X-1 finishes. In this week’s Meta Monday we are looking over the top 3 largest events of the weekend in Best Coast Pairings. We are going over to Spain for the OPEN TALAVERA 2026, then it’s back stateside up in New England for the CaptainCon 2026 40K Event, and finally up to Canada for the I swear there was an LVO here 40k GT. We’re going to look at the top 5 and the winning lists for each event. Let’s get into it!
OPEN TALAVERA 2026 – Spain – 89 Players
Our first stop in this week’s Meta Monday report takes us over to Spain for the Open Talavera 2026 GT. Some of the most notable names in Spain were in attendance such as Borja FM and Terroxer El Rojo. This event sees a couple of Space Marines, Necrons, Emperor’s Children and the event winner; Roger Boira running Grizzled Company Astra Militarum. Let’s look at how the top 5 came out.
- Roger Boira – Astra Militarum – 6-1
- Many CL – Space Marines – 6-1
- Borja FM – Space Marines – 5-1
- El coyote Enmascarado – Necrons – 5-1
- Gonzalo “Raven” de La Moneda – Emperor’s Children – 4-1
The Winning List: Roger Boira – Astra Militarum – Grizzled Company
Click to see the List
Astra Militarum
Strike Force (2000 points)
Grizzled Company
CHARACTERS
Cadian Command Squad (65 points)
• 1x Cadian Commander
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power fist
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Master Vox
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Medi-pack
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Lasgun
1x Regimental Standard
Commissar (50 points)
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• Enhancement: Abhuman Detail
Gaunt’s Ghosts (100 points)
• 1x Ibram Gaunt
• 1x Bolt Pistol
1x Gaunt’s chainsword
• 1x Colm Corbec
• 1x Corbec’s hot-shot lascarbine
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Elim Rawne
• 1x Rawne’s lascarbine
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Hlaine Larkin
• 1x Larkin’s long-las
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x ’Try Again’ Bragg
• 1x Bragg’s autocannon
1x Straight silver knife
• 1x Oan Mkoll
• 1x Lascarbine
1x Mkoll’s straight silver knife
Lord Solar Leontus (130 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Conquest
1x Konstantin’s hooves
1x Sol’s Righteous Gaze
BATTLELINE
Cadian Shock Troops (65 points)
• 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Chainsword
• 9x Shock Trooper
• 9x Close combat weapon
7x Lasgun
1x Meltagun
1x Plasma gun
DEDICATED TRANSPORTS
Taurox (75 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Storm bolter
1x Twin autocannon
OTHER DATASHEETS
Artillery Team (95 points)
• 1x Crew close combat weapons
1x Heavy mortar
1x Lasgun
Attilan Rough Riders (120 points)
• 1x Rough Rider Sergeant
• 1x Hunting lance
1x Lasgun
1x Laspistol
1x Steed’s hooves
• 9x Rough Rider
• 9x Hunting lance
9x Lasgun
9x Laspistol
9x Steed’s hooves
Attilan Rough Riders (60 points)
• 1x Rough Rider Sergeant
• 1x Hunting lance
1x Lasgun
1x Laspistol
1x Steed’s hooves
• 4x Rough Rider
• 4x Hunting lance
4x Lasgun
4x Laspistol
4x Steed’s hooves
Basilisk (140 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Earthshaker cannon
1x Heavy bolter
1x Hunter-killer missile
Bullgryn Squad (200 points)
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ’ead
• 1x Brute Shield
1x Bullgryn maul
1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Bullgryn
• 5x Brute Shield
5x Bullgryn maul
5x Close combat weapon
Kasrkin (110 points)
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
• 1x Plasma pistol
1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
• 9x Close combat weapon
3x Hot-shot lasgun
1x Hot-shot laspistol
1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
1x Melta Mine
2x Meltagun
2x Plasma gun
1x Vox-caster
Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Multi-melta
1x Vanquisher battle cannon
Leman Russ Vanquisher (145 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Heavy stubber
1x Hunter-killer missile
1x Lascannon
2x Multi-melta
1x Vanquisher battle cannon
Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (250 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Coaxial autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
2x Meltagun
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon
Rogal Dorn Battle Tank (250 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Coaxial autocannon
1x Heavy stubber
2x Meltagun
2x Multi-melta
1x Oppressor cannon
1x Pulveriser cannon
Grizzled Company continues to see a lot of success at the top levels of play in major events taking yet another major event win. This list features the usual suspects of Rogal Dorn tanks, Leman Russ Vanquishers, Bullgryn led by the Commissar with the Abhuman Detail enhancement, a Cadian Command Squad, Gaunt’s Ghosts and Kasrkin. This is yet another Grizzled Company list featuring some indirect firepower this time in the form of a Basilisk. It’s certainly a great time to be an Astra Militarum player and despite the influx of C’tan shards, there’s no sign of Grizzled Company slowing down. It should be noted that the Necrons player in this event ran Starshatter and not Pantheon of Woe.
CaptainCon 2026 40K Event Hosted by Away Games – Rhode Island – 76 Players
The biggest event of the weekend here stateside was the CaptainCon 2026 40K Event with 76 players up in Rhode Island. This one sees an event winning build we haven’t seen at the top of a placing in quite some time. Jonas Beardsley takes his Imperial Knights to a top placing finish. Not only that but 2nd place was Chaos Knights. Suffice to say that the Knights are still very capable of high placings in the hands of the right general and with the right matchups. Let’s take a look at the top 5.
- Jonas Beardsley – Imperial Knights – 5-0
- Jaime Paris – Chaos Knights – 5-0
- Tony Phillips – Space Marines – 4-1
- James Culpepper – Death Guard – 4-1
- Nicholas Kudriavetz – Space Marines -4-1
The Winning List: Jonas Beardsley – Imperial Knights – Questoris Companions
Click to see the List
Imperial Knights
Questoris Companions
Strike Force (2,000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Cerastus Knight Atrapos (405 Points)
• 1x Atrapos lascutter
• 1x Graviton singularity cannon
Cerastus Knight Lancer (410 Points)
• 1x Cerastus shock lance
• Enhancements: Pennant of Silvered Fury
Knight Defender (425 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Conversion beam obliterator
• 1x Phosphor blaster
• 1x Plasma executor
• 1x Titanic feet
• 1x Twin incendine combustor
• Enhancements: Wyrmslayer Divination
OTHER DATASHEETS
Armiger Helverin (140 Points)
• 2x Armiger autocannon
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
Armiger Helverin (140 Points)
• 2x Armiger autocannon
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Questoris heavy stubber
Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
• 1x Meltagun
• 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
• 1x Thermal spear
Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
• 1x Meltagun
• 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
• 1x Thermal spear
Armiger Warglaive (140 Points)
• 1x Meltagun
• 1x Reaper chain-cleaver
• 1x Thermal spear
ALLIED UNITS
Inquisitorial Agents (60 Points)
• 1x Tome‐skull
• 5x Inquisitorial Agent
◦ 5x Agent firearm
◦ 5x Agent melee weapon
◦ 1x Eviscerator
◦ 1x Mystic stave
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Gun Servitor
◦ 1x Agent melee weapon
◦ 1x Multi-melta
Questoris Companions are, in my opinion, the best Imperial Knights detachment from the Codex although initially it went under the radar thanks to what appeared to be “broken” builds in Valourstrike Lance (which turned out not to be true of course…thanks Reddit). So, while Questoris Companions having success at a large event isn’t exactly surprising to me, the use of a Knight Defender in the build IS a bit of a shock. This unit was hand-waived from the start for what appeared to be an expensive price point compared to other large Knights, and with what appeared to be underwhelming datasheet abilities, it turns out that it can do some major work. Especially so in Questoris Companions where it can gain the benefit of all the Deeds as the game progresses. Jonas proves the Defender is an actually decent choice into the current meta taking this build all the way to a top placing.
I swear there was an LVO here 40k GT – Canada – 69 Players
Finally we are heading up to Canada for the I swear there was an LVO here 40K GT. For many years the LVO was traditionally held at the end of January marking the end of that previous year’s ITC season, and the beginning of a new one. Those days are behind us now, with LVO taking place in October every year now and is no longer the closing event of the ITC season now that GW is in control of the circuit. Anyway enough history, let’s look at the top 5 here.
- Frasier Parry – Emperor’s Children – 5-0
- Spike Haider – Adeptus Custodes – 5-0
- Anthony Dalla Lana – Space Marines – 4-1
- Gordon Sundin – Necrons – 4-1
- Scotty Bee – Necrons – 4-1
The Winning List: Frasier Parry – Emperor’s Children – Court of the Phoenician
Click to see the List
BEHOLD MY 3-2 ASS LIST
Emperor’s Children
Court of the Phoenician
Strike Force (2,000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with Wings (215 Points)
• 1x Hellforged weapons
• 1x Infernal cannon
Fulgrim (340 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Daemonic blades
• 1x Malefic lash
• 1x Serpentine tail
Lord Exultant (80 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Phoenix power spear
• 1x Rapture lash
Lord Exultant (80 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Phoenix power spear
• 1x Rapture lash
Lord Exultant (80 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Phoenix power spear
• 1x Rapture lash
BATTLELINE
Infractors (85 Points)
• 1x Obsessionist
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Rapture lash
• 4x Infractor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Duelling sabre
◦ 1x Icon of Excess
Infractors (85 Points)
• 1x Obsessionist
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Rapture lash
• 4x Infractor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Duelling sabre
◦ 1x Icon of Excess
Infractors (85 Points)
• 1x Obsessionist
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Rapture lash
• 4x Infractor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Duelling sabre
◦ 1x Icon of Excess
Tormentors (85 Points)
• 1x Obsessionist
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Rapture lash
• 4x Tormentor
◦ 2x Boltgun
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Icon of Excess
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun
Tormentors (85 Points)
• 1x Obsessionist
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Rapture lash
• 4x Tormentor
◦ 2x Boltgun
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Icon of Excess
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun
DEDICATED TRANSPORTS
Chaos Rhino (80 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
Chaos Rhino (80 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Combi-bolter
• 1x Havoc launcher
OTHER DATASHEETS
Chaos Spawn (70 Points)
• 2x Chaos Spawn
◦ 2x Hideous mutations
Maulerfiend (130 Points)
• 2x Magma cutters
• 1x Maulerfiend fists
Maulerfiend (130 Points)
• 2x Magma cutters
• 1x Maulerfiend fists
Noise Marines (145 Points)
• 1x Disharmonist
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Sonic blaster
• 5x Noise Marine
◦ 2x Blastmaster
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Sonic blaster
Noise Marines (145 Points)
• 1x Disharmonist
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Sonic blaster
• 5x Noise Marine
◦ 2x Blastmaster
◦ 5x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Sonic blaster
Fulgrim finally wins a big event! Since his points went down in the last Balance Dataslate update, the question was could he be playable now and could someone win a big event with Fulgrim in the list? The general consensus was (and probably still is) that triple Daemon Princes with Wings was probably still better than taking Fulgrim. Clearly Frasier was surprised as well given his list name! Court of the Phoenician is certainly a great build for Emperor’s Children and as it turns out, Fulgrim is probably pretty good now. So fear not, Emperor’s Children players, you may be safe to add the lord of the legion of excess to your lists, despite his dinner plate sized base. Well done, Frasier!
Final Thoughts
Another week in the books and what an exciting time to be playing competitive 40K! Space Marines continue to be one of the strongest factions in the game with multiple top 5 finishes across the biggest events of the weekend. Necrons players are starting to shift into C’tan heavy Starshatter builds. Grizzled Company proves it’s still one of the best builds in the game. And Imperial Knights and Emperor’s Children with Fulgrim make some surprise top finishes. 500 Worlds is on the way, though with the reveal of Huron Blackheart and his entourage along with the newly unveiled Corsairs models for Aeldari, it will be interesting to see how they impact the meta moving forward as we creep closer to 11th Edition.
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