Warhammer 40K Competitive Monday Meta Review: All is Dust in Spain

April 13, 2026 - By Robert Chandler

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.

After the Easter holiday break, we are back in business with 3 super major Warhammer 40K events. Some big results for the Thousand Sons along with the usual suspects of Space Marines, T’au Empire and Necrons. This week we are looking at the Open Iberian Barcelona 2026 GT, The South-Coast 40K Super Major in the UK and the 21st Legion Wargaming Presents: Battle to End Alzheimer’s 2026 40K Super Major. Let’s get into it!

Warhammer 40K meta Monday April 12th 2026

Open Iberian Barcelona 2026 GT – Barcelona, Spain – 142 Players

Spain is quickly becoming a hotbed for competitive 40K and is going to be the host country for this years World Championships of Warhammer in December. The Open Iberian Barcelona GT had 142 players and a couple of surprises in the top 5 with the Thousand Sons taking some big placings including an event win.

Joel Gállego – Thousand Sons – 5-0
Borja FM – Blood Angels – 5-0
Terroxer El Rojo – Thousand Sons – 5-0
Javier Peigneux – Chaos Space Marines – 5-0
Daniel HUMBOLCH – Deathwatch – 5-0

The Winning List: Joel Gállego – Thousand Sons – Grand Coven

Click to see the List

Thousand Sons
Strike Force (2000 points)
Grand Coven

CHARACTERS

Exalted Sorcerer (100 points)
• 1x Astral Blast
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Prosperine khopesh
• Enhancement: Umbralefic Crystal

Exalted Sorcerer (95 points)
• 1x Astral Blast
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Prosperine khopesh
• Enhancement: Incandaeum

Infernal Master (130 points)
• 1x Fires of the Abyss
1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
• Enhancement: Eldritch Vortex of E’Taph

Magnus the Red (435 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blade of Magnus
1x Gaze of Magnus
1x Tzeentch’s Firestorm

Sorcerer (80 points)
• 1x Force weapon
1x Inferno bolt pistol
1x Pandaemonic Delusion
1x Prosperine khopesh

BATTLELINE

Rubric Marines (100 points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Malefic Curse
1x Warpflame pistol
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
1x Soulreaper cannon
3x Warpflamer

Rubric Marines (100 points)
• 1x Aspiring Sorcerer
• 1x Force weapon
1x Malefic Curse
1x Warpflame pistol
• 4x Rubric Marine
• 4x Close combat weapon
1x Icon of Flame
3x Inferno boltgun
1x Soulreaper cannon

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chaos Rhino (90 points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
1x Havoc launcher
2x Inferno combi-bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Mutalith Vortex Beast (170 points)
• 1x Betentacled maw
1x Mutalith claws
1x Warp vortex

Sekhetar Robots (160 points)
• 4x Sekhetar Robot
• 4x Close combat weapon
4x Heavy warpflamer
4x Hellfyre missile rack
4x Power claw
4x Warpflame projector

Tzaangor Enlightened (45 points)
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Divining spear
• 2x Enlightened
• 2x Divining spear

Tzaangor Enlightened with Fatecaster Greatbows (110 points)
• 1x Aviarch
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Fatecaster greatbow
• 5x Enlightened
• 5x Close combat weapon
5x Fatecaster greatbow

Tzaangors (70 points)
• 1x Twistbray
• 1x Tzaangor blades
• 9x Tzaangor
• 1x Brayhorn
1x Herd banner
9x Tzaangor blades

Joel takes a pretty standard Grand Coven list here with the typical things we are used to seeing here including minimum squads of Rubric Marines led by Characters, the dreaded Infernal Master with the Eldritch Vortex Enhancement, Magnus, a Mutalith Vortex, some Tzaangor units for scoring and board control and a 4 man unit of Infiltrating Sekhetar Robots with flamers. This build has become a pretty consistent archetype for Thousand Sons since the release of their Codex and continues to prove viable in the current meta. Thousand Sons have a bit of a cerebral playstyle rewarding smart movement and positioning and well timed placement of Rituals with a nice suite of Stratagems and Enhancements. On the “go turn” this build is capable of dishing out tons of damage with Psychic attacks. Thousand Sons are a complicated army to pilot well, but show their strength here in the current meta in this super major event.

The South-Coast 40K Super Major – United Kingdom – 251 Players

Stop and hold the presses! We actually have a super major 40K event in the UK that was NOT won by Innes Wilson. The UK continues to dominate the tournament landscape with 100-1000 player events seemingly monthly at this point. This one was, of course, the largest event of the weekend, played on UKTC terrain (a notable distinction that must be made with pretty much all of these UK events). Let’s take a look at the top 5.

Ross Tully – T’au Empire – 7-0
Mani Cheema – Space Marines – 7-0
Andy Moore – Space Marines – 6-1
Byron Sidhu – Chaos Daemons – 5-1-1
Joseph “Del” Wilkins – Adeptus Custodes – 5-1

The Winning List: Ross Tully – T’au Empire – Kroot Hunting Pack

Click to see the List

T’au Empire
Strike Force (2000 points)
Kroot Hunting Pack

CHARACTERS

Kroot Flesh Shaper (45 points)
• 1x Kroot scattergun
1x Twin ritualistic blades

Kroot Lone-spear (90 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blast javelin
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunting javelin
1x Kalamandra’s bite
• Enhancement: Kroothawk Flock

Kroot Trail Shaper (75 points)
• 1x Kroot rifle
1x Shaper’s blade
• Enhancement: Nomadic Hunter

Kroot War Shaper (60 points)
• 1x Dart-bow and tri-blade
1x Kroot pistol
1x Shaper’s blade
• Enhancement: Root-carved Weapons

BATTLELINE

Kroot Carnivores (140 points)
• 1x Long-quill
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Kroot carbine
1x Kroot pistol
• 19x Kroot Carnivore
• 19x Close combat weapon
17x Kroot rifle
2x Tanglebomb launcher

Kroot Carnivores (65 points)
• 1x Long-quill
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Kroot carbine
1x Kroot pistol
• 9x Kroot Carnivore
• 9x Close combat weapon
8x Kroot rifle
1x Tanglebomb launcher

OTHER DATASHEETS

Kroot Farstalkers (85 points)
• 1x Kroot Kill-broker
• 1x Kroot pistol
1x Ritual blade
1x T’au-tech rifle
• 9x Kroot Farstalker
• 9x Close combat weapon
1x Dvorgite skinner
8x Farstalker firearm
9x Kroot pistol
1x Pech’ra
• 2x Kroot Hound
• 2x Ripping fangs

Kroot Hounds (40 points)
• 5x Kroot Hound
• 5x Ripping fangs

Krootox Rampagers (170 points)
• 6x Krootox Rampagers
• 6x Hunting blades
6x Kroot pistol and hunting javelins
6x Rampager fists

Krootox Riders (90 points)
• 3x Krootox Rider
• 3x Close combat weapon
3x Krootox fists
3x Repeater cannon

Vespid Stingwings (65 points)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
• 1x Neutron blaster
1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwing
• 4x Neutron blaster
4x Stingwing claws

Kroot Hunting Pack offers a different way to play T’au almost seeming like an entirely different faction altogether. Ross’s list features pretty much an entire Kroot build with only a single squad of Vespid. This build has been seeing success at events for quite some time now. It’s a far departure from the triple Riptide builds that have become so popular with T’au over the years. This list is more about durable hordes that just overwhelm the board and hog objectives. With 11th Edition approaching, and the recent reveal that Terrain footprints will compose objectives, I predict armies like this will become more of the norm with simply blocking out terrain areas entirely with high OC bodies that just simply prevent the opponent from getting onto the terrain features. But we are still a couple of months away from that, and this type of build proves that even in 10th it has legs.

21st Legion Wargaming Presents: Battle to End Alzheimer’s 2026 40K – Dover, Delaware – 98 Players

Back over to the United States for the 21st Legion Battle to End Alzheimer’s major. This one featured a tough cast of players including two former LVO champions in Mark Hertel and Matt Lorah along with other big stars like TJ Lanigan and Derek Apsche. Truly a who’s who of world class 40K players making for an exciting event. I have to give a special shoutout to one of my readers as well, Aaron Moshier, who messaged me about his performance at the event going 5-1 with his Windrider Host Aeldari. His only loss coming to TJ Lanigan in Round 1. Well done, Aaron! Let’s get onto the top 5.

Cole Westbrook – Space Marines – 6-0
Derek Apsche – Orks – 5-0-1
Mark Hertel – 5-0-1
Max Berlove – Necrons – 5-1
Brett Robb – Imperial Knights – 5-1

The Winning List: Cole Westbrook – Space Marines – Blade of Ultramar

Click to see the List

Space Marines
Ultramarines
Blade of Ultramar
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (85 Points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
• 1x Paired combat blades

Roboute Guilliman (340 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Emperor’s Sword
• 1x Hand of Dominion

Uriel Ventris (95 Points)
• 1x Bolt Pistol
• 1x Invictus
• 1x Sword of Idaeus

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

Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs (90 Points)
• 1x Assault Intercessor Sergeant with Jump Pack
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Assault Intercessors with Jump Packs
◦ 4x Astartes chainsword
◦ 3x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Plasma pistol

Ballistus Dreadnought (150 Points)
• 1x Armoured feet
• 1x Ballistus lascannon
• 1x Ballistus missile launcher
• 1x Twin storm bolter

Incursor Squad (80 Points)
• 1x Incursor Sergeant
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Occulus bolt carbine
◦ 1x Paired combat blades
• 4x Incursor
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Haywire Mine
◦ 4x Occulus bolt carbine
◦ 4x Paired combat blades

Repulsor Executioner (230 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Heavy laser destroyer
• 1x Heavy onslaught gatling cannon
• 1x Icarus rocket pod
• 1x Ironhail heavy stubber
• 1x Repulsor Executioner defensive array
• 1x Twin Icarus ironhail heavy stubber
• 1x Twin heavy bolter

Scout Squad (70 Points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
◦ 1x Astartes chainsword
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Combat knife
◦ 1x Heavy bolter
◦ 1x Scout sniper rifle

Scout Squad (70 Points)
• 1x Scout Sergeant
◦ 1x Astartes chainsword
◦ 1x Bolt pistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 4x Scout
◦ 4x Bolt pistol
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Combat knife
◦ 1x Missile launcher
◦ 1x Scout sniper rifle

Victrix Honour Guard (220 Points)
• 1x Chapter Ancient
◦ 1x Banner of Macragge
◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon
• 1x Chapter Champion
◦ 1x Blades of honour
• 4x Victrix Honour Guard
◦ 4x Master-crafted bolt carbine
◦ 4x Master-crafted power weapon

Wardens of Ultramar (105 Points)
• 1x Ancient Gadriel
◦ 1x Bolt rifle
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 1x Veteran Sergeant Metaurus
◦ 1x Heavy bolt pistol
◦ 1x Master-crafted power weapon
◦ 1x Storm Shield
• 1x Gaius Silva
◦ 1x Archeotech laspistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
◦ 1x Refractor Field
• 1x Aemelia Minervas
◦ 1x Archeotech laspistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 1x Dainal Komelius
◦ 1x Astropathic Blast
◦ 1x Force stave
• 1x Lucia Vestha
◦ 1x Archeotech laspistol
◦ 1x Close combat weapon

You know them. You love them (or hate them). The Ultramarines Blade of Ultramar take down this event with a perfect 6-0. Big shoutout to Cole for winning this one given the competition he was up against. This list features the units we’ve all grown accustomed to seeing in these Ultramarines with a pair of Ballistus Dreadnoughts and Repulsor Executioners along with Guilliman, Victrix Honour Guard with Uriel and the much loathed Wardens of Ultramar. This list has become one of, if not the most, powerful builds to close out 10th Edition and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

Final Thoughts

We are getting ever closer to 11th Edition, which with what we’ve already seen so far, is sure to shake things up quite a bit. It looks like we have entered the solved meta state of the current meta lifecycle with Space Marines, T’au, and Necrons continuing to show their dominance with little indication of slowing down as 10th Edition begins to sunset. We will have to wait and see just how much 11th Edition is going to shake things up, but my guess, it will be quite a bit. I am thinking that horde armies are going to return in force like in 8th Edition with how cover looks to work and objectives being in terrain footprints now. But there’s still a lot yet to see.

If you’re new to the game or want to improve quickly, then don’t forget to grab my FREE eBook: Forging Your Path to Victory: A Beginner’s Guide to Competitive 40K. A great starting point for those looking to jump into Competitive 40K. Subscribe and get your free copy!

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See you on the tabletop

Warhammer 40K Competitive Monday Meta Review: All is Dust in Spain

Open Iberian Barcelona 2026 GT – Barcelona, Spain – 142 Players

The Winning List: Joel Gállego – Thousand Sons – Grand Coven

The South-Coast 40K Super Major – United Kingdom – 251 Players

The Winning List: Ross Tully – T’au Empire – Kroot Hunting Pack

21st Legion Wargaming Presents: Battle to End Alzheimer’s 2026 40K – Dover, Delaware – 98 Players

The Winning List: Cole Westbrook – Space Marines – Blade of Ultramar

Final Thoughts

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Robert Chandler

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