Warhammer 40K Competitive Monday Meta Review: The Greater Good Awakens

October 13, 2025 - 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.

It’s time for another meta Monday review for competitive 40K. Today I’ll be looking at the 3 largest events from this past weekend of October 10-12th, 2025. I’ll be looking at the top 5 from the Battle for Salvation GT, Gem City GT and the Mektoberfest GT. What armies took the top spots and what looks to be pushing the meta forward as we push closer to the World Championships of Warhammer? Let’s get into it.

Battle for Salvation GT – New York, USA – 140 Players

Battle for Salvation has been running for many years. It is one of the premiere events in New York. Boasting well over 100 players this year it again did not disappoint. Let’s take a look at the top 5:

Sam Pope – Tyranids – 6-0
Drew Salzborn – Leagues of Votann – 6-0
Johnny Zoo – Chaos Space Marines – 5-1
Cameron Marinoccio – Adeptus Sororitas – 5-1
Jack Murphy – Aeldari – 5-1

The winning list: Sam Pope – Tyranids – Invasion Fleet

Click to see the List

I don’t WANT another sword but I still have to make them earn it (2000 points)

Tyranids
Strike Force (2000 points)
Invasion Fleet

CHARACTERS

Tervigon (185 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Massive scything talons
1x Stinger salvoes
• Enhancement: Adaptive Biology

Winged Hive Tyrant (170 points)
• 1x Monstrous bonesword and lash whip
1x Tyrant talons

BATTLELINE

Hormagaunts (65 points)
• 10x Hormagaunt
• 10x Hormagaunt talons

Termagants (120 points)
• 20x Termagant
• 20x Chitinous claws and teeth
2x Strangleweb
18x Termagant spinefists

OTHER DATASHEETS

Biovores (50 points)
• 1x Chitin-barbed limbs
1x Spore Mine launcher

Exocrine (140 points)
• 1x Bio-plasmic cannon
1x Powerful limbs

Genestealers (140 points)
• 10x Genestealer
• 10x Genestealers claws and talons

Neurolictor (70 points)
• 1x Piercing claws and talons

Venomthropes (70 points)
• 3x Venomthrope
• 3x Toxic lashes

Exported with App Version: v1.41.0 (98), Data Version: v687

Sam Pope rocks a horde Tyranids army to an undefeated finish. Pushing out 80 Termagants with a Tervigon to replenish casualties, this list makes use of some great tools in the old standby Invasion Fleet detachment. It’s not fancy, it’s not pretty but Sam makes it work. After the results of LVO and now this, one begins to wonder if we may be entering into a horde meta moving forward? Time will tell.

Gem City GT – Ohio, USA – 64 Players

Next we turn to Dayton, Ohio with the Gem City GT. This 64 player event sees the Tau come out on top piloted by Luke Rolph and then ANOTHER Tau in the top 5 as well! Let’s take a look at the top 5.

Luke Rolph – Tau Empire – 5-0
Scott Ketcham – Adeptus Sororitas – 5-0
Conan Jennings – Space Marines – 4-1
Josh Morrison – Tau Empire – 4-1
Max Saylor – World Eaters – 4-1

The winning list: Luke Rolph – Tau Empire – Kroot Hunting Pack

Click to see the List

Ram’Myr Kinband (2000 points)

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

CHARACTERS

Kroot Flesh Shaper (55 points)
• 1x Kroot scattergun
1x Twin ritualistic blades
• Enhancement: Kroothawk Flock

Kroot Lone-spear (80 points)
• Warlord
• 1x Blast javelin
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunting javelin
1x Kalamandra’s bite

Kroot Lone-spear (80 points)
• 1x Blast javelin
1x Close combat weapon
1x Hunting javelin
1x Kalamandra’s bite

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 (65 points)
• 1x Long-quill
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Kroot pistol
1x Kroot rifle
• 9x Kroot Carnivore
• 9x Close combat weapon
9x Kroot rifle

Kroot Carnivores (140 points)
• 1x Long-quill
• 1x Close combat weapon
1x Kroot pistol
1x Kroot rifle
• 19x Kroot Carnivore
• 19x Close combat weapon
19x Kroot rifle

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

OTHER DATASHEETS

Hammerhead Gunship (145 points)
• 2x Accelerator burst cannon
1x Armoured hull
1x Railgun
2x Seeker missile

Kroot Farstalkers (85 points)
• 1x Kroot Kill-broker
• 1x Farstalker firearm
1x Kroot pistol
1x Ritual blade
• 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 (60 points)
• 2x Krootox Rider
• 2x Close combat weapon
2x Krootox fists
2x Repeater cannon

Stealth Battlesuits (80 points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
• 1x Battlesuit Support System
1x Battlesuit fists
1x Fusion blaster
1x Homing Beacon
1x Marker Drone
1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
2x Burst 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 takes it here with 60 Kroot Carnivores and plenty of other bodies to support. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Kroot Hunting Pack perform well in a major event and this time Luke takes them to an undefeated finish and the win at a major event. This build is quickly turning from “meme” to actually dangerous in this new meta we are seeing. Congrats to Luke for taking it all the way to the top at the event.

Mektoberfest GT – Georgia, USA – 58 Players

Next we turn to Augusta, Georgia and the Mektoberfest GT. Again Tau come away with the win here and again ANOTHER Tau also makes the top 5. It should also be noted that Noah Neundorfer managed to take the Thousand Sons, a faction written off by the internet post-Q3 Dataslate, to an impressive undefeated finish, showing that the dusty bois still have some fight left in them. Let’s take a look at the top 5.

Seth Piper – Tau Empire – 5-0
Noah Neundorfer – Thousand Sons – 5-0
Thomas Fields – Tyranids – 4-1
Ken Edwards – Tau Empire – 4-1
Nick Antzoulatos – Space Marines – 4-1

The winning list: Seth Piper – Tau Empire – Mont’ka

Click to see the List

Strike hard strike fast (1995 Points)

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 (80 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Marker Drone
• 1x Missile pod
• 3x Missile pod
• 1x Shield Drone

Firesight Team (75 Points)
• 1x Close combat weapons
• 1x Longshot pulse rifles
• 1x Pulse pistol
• Enhancements: Strategic Conqueror

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 Starscythe Battlesuits (110 Points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 2x T’au flamer
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Shield Drone
◦ 4x T’au flamer

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

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 Semi-automatic grenade launcher
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 9x Pulse carbine
◦ 9x Pulse pistol

Riptide Battlesuit (190 Points)
• 1x Ion accelerator
• 2x Missile Drone
• 1x Riptide fists
• 1x Twin fusion blaster

Stealth Battlesuits (80 Points)
• 1x Stealth Shas’vre
◦ 1x Battlesuit Support System
◦ 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Burst cannon
◦ 1x Homing Beacon
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Stealth Shas’ui
◦ 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Burst cannon

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

A more traditional list from Seth Piper featuring tons of suits and a Riptide choosing to go for the early pressure with Mont’ka to gain Assault and Lethal Hits with Guided units this list is all about hitting hard and fast early in the game (hence the army name) and decimating the opponent with devastating firepower. It was good enough to take home the win at Mektoberfest!

Final Thoughts

Some interesting builds hitting the tops of the larger events. Seeing more horde armies performing well since LVO seems like we may be seeing a trend shifting to a horde style meta at least in the coming weeks. So many armies are built to counter Knights and other Monster/Vehicle style builds that the horde armies have become a great counter play into the meta. Of course as the lifecycle goes, we will see horde counters begin to rise as well. All in all it’s going to make for a very interesting lead-in to the World Championships of Warhammer next month.

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!

Want more personalized insight into the meta? Looking for some help with an Army List build for your next event? My coaching program is designed to help give you the tools for success to navigate meta changes and weather the storm. I’d love to help you one-on-one level up your game.

See you on the tabletop.

Warhammer 40K Competitive Monday Meta Review: The Greater Good Awakens

Battle for Salvation GT – New York, USA – 140 Players

Gem City GT – Ohio, USA – 64 Players

Mektoberfest GT – Georgia, USA – 58 Players

Final Thoughts

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Robert Chandler

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