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.
Last weekend was a quiet one with the Valentine’s Day holiday in the U.S. and not a lot happening on the 40K events front. This weekend made up for that as we had several large events including 3 full super-major events! Not to mention the Pyra Cup Teams event in Poland (congrats to Team USA for taking down Team France and bringing home the gold there by the way). We start over in the UK for the Manchester GT 40K Super Major, then it’s over to Finland for Talvisota Grand Tournament 2026 and finally we wrap this week’s Meta Monday up back in the U.S. with the Cherokee Open 2026. Let’s get into it!
The MANCHESTER 40k SUPER-MAJOR – UK – 300 Players
Get ready because this is probably going to shock you, but Innes Wilson wins yet ANOTHER super major event with his Space Marines. Shocking I know BUT…he didn’t use Ultramarines this time! This weekend Innes changes it up a bit and brings out a Deathwatch army to take down the UK’s largest event. Let’s look over the top 5.
- Innes Wilson – Space Marines – 7-0
- David Gaylard – Space Marines – 7-0
- Chris Kinnair – Necrons – 6-1
- Matthew Langton – Tyranids – 6-1
- Greg Chamberlain – Leagues of Votann – 5-1
The Winning List: Innes Wilson – Deathwatch – Black Spear Task Force
Click to see the List
Space Marines
Deathwatch
Strike Force (2000 points)
Black Spear Task Force
CHARACTERS
Captain in Gravis Armour (105 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Boltstorm gauntlet
1x Power fist
1x Relic blade
• Enhancement: Thief of Secrets
Judiciar (95 points)
• 1x Absolvor bolt pistol
1x Executioner relic blade
• Enhancement: Beacon Angelis
Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
Watch Master (125 points)
• 1x Vigil spear
• Enhancement: The Tome of Ectoclades
BATTLELINE
Deathwatch Veterans (190 points)
• 1x Watch Sergeant
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Xenophase blade
• 9x Deathwatch Veterans
• 4x Astartes shield
1x Black Shield blades
4x Deathwatch thunder hammer
4x Power weapon
Intercessor Squad (80 points)
• 1x Intercessor Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Bolt rifle
1x Power fist
• 4x Intercessor
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
4x Bolt pistol
4x Bolt rifle
4x Close combat weapon
OTHER DATASHEETS
Fortis Kill Team (180 points)
• 1x Kill Team Sergeant
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
1x Bolt pistol
1x Deathwatch bolt rifle
1x Power fist
• 3x Kill Team Intercessor
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
3x Deathwatch bolt rifle
• 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator
• 3x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Plasma incinerator
1x Plasma pistol
• 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Castellan launcher
2x Close combat weapon
1x Superkrak rocket launcher
1x Vengor launcher
Fortis Kill Team (180 points)
• 1x Kill Team Sergeant
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
1x Bolt pistol
1x Deathwatch bolt rifle
1x Power fist
• 3x Kill Team Intercessor
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
3x Deathwatch bolt rifle
• 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator
• 3x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Plasma incinerator
1x Plasma pistol
• 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Castellan launcher
2x Close combat weapon
1x Superkrak rocket launcher
1x Vengor launcher
Fortis Kill Team (180 points)
• 1x Kill Team Sergeant
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
1x Bolt pistol
1x Deathwatch bolt rifle
1x Power fist
• 3x Kill Team Intercessor
• 1x Astartes grenade launcher
3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
3x Deathwatch bolt rifle
• 4x Kill Team Intercessor with plasma incinerator
• 3x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
4x Plasma incinerator
1x Plasma pistol
• 2x Kill Team Intercessor with superfrag rocket launcher
• 2x Bolt pistol
2x Castellan launcher
2x Close combat weapon
1x Superkrak rocket launcher
1x Vengor launcher
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
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
Indomitor Kill Team (265 points)
• 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle
2x Deathwatch heavy bolter
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists
• 3x Flamestorm gauntlets
3x Twin power fists
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle
• 3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
2x Melta rifle
1x Multi-melta
Indomitor Kill Team (265 points)
• 4x Kill Team Heavy Intercessors
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
2x Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle
2x Deathwatch heavy bolter
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with power fists
• 3x Flamestorm gauntlets
3x Twin power fists
• 3x Kill Team Heavy Intercessor with melta rifle
• 3x Bolt pistol
3x Close combat weapon
2x Melta rifle
1x Multi-melta
Infiltrator Squad (100 points)
• 1x Infiltrator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Marksman bolt carbine
• 4x Infiltrator
• 4x Bolt pistol
4x Close combat weapon
1x Helix Gauntlet
1x Infiltrator Comms Array
4x Marksman bolt carbine
Deathwatch has seen pretty consistent results in the past couple of months albeit not a large representation on the tournament circuit. Some of this, of course, is because they have largely been overshadowed by the more popular (and more accessible) Ultramarines builds, and because Deathwatch have kind of a complicated build platform in terms of how their units are constructed with Kill Teams. Innes’s list is taking full advantage of Deep Striking threats and eliminating them with a powerful double Oaths “go turn” with some incredibly heavy firepower. Because of the flexibility of the Site-to-Site Teleportation stratagem, allowing up to 2 Kill Team units to “up/down” and gain Deep Strike on top of it all for 1 CP. Mission Tactics is also a pretty powerful Detachment rule allowing you to swap over to get Sustained Hits 1 or Lethal Hits and even Precision on ranged attacks on critical hits. This build has a ton of flexibility and Innes once again takes down another UK super major.
Talvisota Grand Tournament 2026 – Finland – 129 Players
Next it’s over to Finland for the Talvisota Grand Tournament 2026. Like many European events, this one used the WTC terrain layouts. Space Marines continue to dominate the scene in this format as well. Let’s see how the top 5 came out.
- George Yu – Space Marines – 5-0
- Andrejs Isajevs – Space Marines – 5-0
- Jouni Haavisto – Orks – 4-1
- Samppa Orhanen – Space Marines – 4-1
- Eetu Peltola – World Eaters – 4-1
The Winning List: George Yu – Space Marines – Blade of Ultramar
Click to see the List
Space Marines
Ultramarines
Strike Force (2000 points)
Blade of Ultramar
CHARACTERS
Captain in Gravis Armour (90 points)
• 1x Boltstorm gauntlet
1x Power fist
1x Relic blade
• Enhancement: Armour of Antoninus
Lieutenant with Combi-weapon (70 points)
• 1x Combi-weapon
1x Paired combat blades
Marneus Calgar (200 points)
• 1x Marneus Calgar
• Warlord
• 1x Gauntlets of Ultramar
• 2x Victrix Honour Guard
• 2x Victrix power sword
Techmarine (70 points)
• 1x Forge bolter
1x Grav-pistol
1x Omnissian power axe
1x Servo-arm
• Enhancement: Oath of Macragge
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
Eradicator Squad (180 points)
• 1x Eradicator Sergeant
• 1x Bolt pistol
1x Close combat weapon
1x Melta rifle
• 5x Eradicator
• 5x Bolt pistol
5x Close combat weapon
3x Melta rifle
2x Multi-melta
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 (220 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
Repulsor Executioner (220 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
3x Combat knife
1x Heavy bolter
Storm Speeder Hammerstrike (125 points)
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Hammerstrike missile launcher
2x Krakstorm grenade launcher
1x Melta destroyer
Stormraven Gunship (280 points)
• 1x Armoured hull
2x Hurricane bolter
2x Stormstrike missile launcher
1x Twin heavy plasma cannon
1x Twin multi-melta
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 (90 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
The Ultramarines continue their dominance in the competitive meta and George brings out an interesting Blade of Ultramar build featuring a squad of 6 Eradicators and a Stormraven Gunship, a bit of a departure from what we’ve been seeing in the meta with the Ultramarines builds. I assume the inclusion of the Eradicators here is specifically for C’tan countering, which makes sense with full re-rolls to hit, wound and damage rolls and the added bonus damage when in melta range. The rest of the list is pretty much what we have come to expect with Calgar, Wardens of Ultramar, Victrix Honour Guard and a pair of Repulsor Executioners. Space Marines had dominant showing in general at this event taking 3 of the 5 top placings including the top 2 spots same as the Manchester GT.
The Cherokee Open 2026 40K Champs – U.S. – 436 Players
Frontline Gaming’s Cherokee Open event returns for 2026. This year’s event was the biggest of the weekend with 436 players. Although Space Marines still came out strong in this event, they did not take the top spot. Let’s take a look at the top 5.
- Seth Piper – T’au Empire – 7-0
- Zach Point – Space Marines – 7-0
- Ronnie Kinney – Leagues of Votann – 7-0
- Noah Neundorfer – Space Marines – 6-1
- Sascha Alexander Edelkraut – Chaos Space Marines – 6-1
The Winning List: Seth Piper – T’au Empire – Mont’ka
Click to see the List
T’au Empire
Mont’ka
Strike Force (2,000 Points)
CHARACTERS
Commander Farsight (85 Points)
• 1x Dawn Blade
• 1x High-intensity plasma rifle
Commander Shadowsun (100 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Advanced Guardian Drone
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Command-link Drone (Aura)
• 1x Flechette launcher
• 2x High-energy fusion blaster
• 1x Light missile pod
• 1x Pulse pistol
Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (120 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Fusion blaster
• 3x Fusion blaster
• 1x Marker Drone
• 1x Shield Drone
• Enhancements: Strike Swiftly
Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (90 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Marker Drone
• 1x Missile pod
• 3x Missile pod
• 1x Shield Drone
• Enhancements: Exemplar of the Mont’ka
Firesight Team (60 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapons
• 1x Longshot pulse rifles
• 1x Pulse pistol
OTHER DATASHEETS
Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (120 Points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 2x Missile pod
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 4x Missile pod
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (120 Points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 2x Missile pod
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 4x Missile pod
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (120 Points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 2x Plasma rifle
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 4x Plasma rifle
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits (140 Points)
• 1x Crisis Sunforge Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
• 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Fusion blaster
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits (140 Points)
• 1x Crisis Sunforge Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
• 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Fusion blaster
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
• 1x Cyclic ion raker
• 1x Ghostkeel fists
• 1x Twin fusion blaster
Ghostkeel Battlesuit (160 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
• 1x Cyclic ion raker
• 1x Ghostkeel fists
• 1x Twin fusion blaster
Pathfinder Team (90 Points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas’ui
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Pulse carbine
◦ 1x Pulse pistol
◦ 1x Recon Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Pulse carbine
◦ 9x Pulse pistol
Piranhas (60 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Piranha fusion blaster
• 2x Seeker missile
• 2x Twin pulse carbine
Piranhas (60 Points)
• 1x Armoured hull
• 1x Piranha fusion blaster
• 2x Seeker missile
• 2x Twin pulse carbine
Riptide Battlesuit (200 Points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
• 2x Missile Drone
• 1x Riptide fists
• 1x Twin fusion blaster
Stealth Battlesuits (110 Points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Pulse pistol
• 4x Stealth Shas’ui
◦ 4x Battlesuit fists
◦ 3x Burst cannon
◦ 1x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Homing Beacon
Vespid Stingwings (65 Points)
• 1x Vespid Strain Leader
◦ 1x Neutron blaster
◦ 1x Stingwing claws
• 4x Vespid Stingwing
◦ 4x Neutron blaster
◦ 4x Stingwing claws
T’au continue to prove to be a top table contender. Here we have a Mont’ka list featuring Farsight, Shadowsun, a bunch of Crisis Suit units and a lone Riptide, a pair of Ghostkeels, along with various scoring and “spotting” units to ramp up the shooting efficiency. I’ve noted in several other Meta Monday articles in the last few weeks that T’au have several builds perfectly capable of performing at the highest levels and certainly Mont’ka is among them. Clearly it’s a winning formula for success.
Final Thoughts
Another weekend down and Space Marines continue their dominance across the competitive 40K scene. Necrons still are a serious contender but seem to have fallen a bit. Meanwhile Astra Militarum Grizzled Company has taken a major slide off the top podium finishes after last week’s nerf to their Detachment rule removing the ability to re-roll 1s to Wound when targeting enemy units on objectives. It is hard to say if the results are indeed indicative of the rules nerf or simply that players moved on to something different. We should be seeing a Balance Dataslate soon which will inevitably tone down Space Marines and Ultramarines in particular. Otherwise the meta continues on in a pretty healthy state.
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See you on the tabletop.
