Empires of Ruin was a 1750pts 40k tournament held at Tabletop Republic, High Wycombe on Saturday 7th January 2023.
This event used War Zone: Nephilim rules and missions, and did not use the most recent points update and dataslate as they only came out on the Thursday prior to the event!
RESULTS
Rankings were based on the following: Wins > Total Battle Points Scores > Strength of Schedule
Due to reasons beyond his control, Callum Higgins could not make Round 1 so Rhys Evans played in round 1 and was swapped for R2+3
ROUNDS
LISTS
Here are the lists from the Top 3 players, plus a quick rundown of all other's players subfactions and key units!
1st: Hristo Nikolov (Square Base Crew) - Forces of the Hive Mind
++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Tyranids) [67 PL, 3CP, 1,265pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)
Detachment Command Cost
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim
Hive Fleet: Adaptive, Behemoth
+ Stratagems +
Hive Predator [-1CP]: Extra Warlord Trait
Relic [-1CP]
+ No Force Org Slot +
Tyrant Guard [8 PL, 120pts]
. 3x Tyrant Guard (Scything): 3x Two Rending Claws, 3x Two Scything Talons
+ HQ +
Neurothrope [5 PL, 100pts]: Power: Catalyst, Power: Onslaught, Power: Smite, Power: Unstoppable Onslaught, Warlord Trait: Direct Guidance
Winged Hive Tyrant [11 PL, -1CP, 225pts]: Adrenal Glands, Lash Whip and Monstrous Bonesword, Power: Onslaught, Power: Paroxysm, Power: Smite, Power: Unstoppable Onslaught, Relic: The Reaper of Obilterax, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Adaptive Biology
+ Troops +
Tyranid Warriors [8 PL, 120pts]
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
. Tyranid Warrior: Deathspitter, Dual Boneswords
+ Fast Attack +
Raveners [8 PL, 175pts]
. Ravener: Deathspitter, Two Rending Claws
. Ravener: Deathspitter, Two Rending Claws
. Ravener: Deathspitter, Two Rending Claws
. Ravener: Deathspitter, Two Rending Claws
. Ravener: Deathspitter, Two Rending Claws
Raveners [8 PL, 175pts]
. Ravener: Deathspitter, Two Rending Claws
. Ravener: Deathspitter, Two Rending Claws
. Ravener: Deathspitter, Two Rending Claws
. Ravener: Deathspitter, Two Rending Claws
. Ravener: Deathspitter, Two Rending Claws
+ Heavy Support +
Biovores [9 PL, 135pts]
. 3x Biovore: 3x Chitin-barbed Fists, 3x Spore Mine Launcher
Exocrine [10 PL, 215pts]: Adaptive Physiology: Voracious Ammunition
++ Patrol Detachment -2CP (Tyranids - Genestealer Cults) [26 PL, -2CP, 485pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Cult Creed: The Twisted Helix
Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]
+ HQ +
Magus [4 PL, 90pts]: Power: Mass Hypnosis, Power: Might From Beyond, Power: Mutagenic Deviation, Psychic Familiar
+ Troops +
Acolyte Hybrids [3 PL, 45pts]
. 4x Acolyte Hybrid: 4x Autopistol, 4x Blasting Charges, 4x Cult Claws and Knife, 4x Frag Grenades
. Acolyte Leader: Autopistol, Cult Claws and Knife
Acolyte Hybrids [3 PL, 45pts]
. 4x Acolyte Hybrid: 4x Autopistol, 4x Blasting Charges, 4x Cult Claws and Knife, 4x Frag Grenades
. Acolyte Leader: Autopistol, Cult Claws and Knife
+ Elites +
Purestrain Genestealers [8 PL, 155pts]: Proficient Planning: A Trap Sprung
. 10x Purestrain Genestealer: 10x Cult Claws and Talons
Purestrain Genestealers [8 PL, 150pts]: Proficient Planning: They Came From Below
. 10x Purestrain Genestealer: 10x Cult Claws and Talons
++ Total: [93 PL, 1CP, 1,750pts] ++
Created with BattleScribe (https://battlescribe.net)
2nd: Greg Wall (Blitzkrieg) - Chaos Daemons
++ Patrol Detachment 0CP (Chaos - Daemons) [41 PL, 4CP, 810pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)
Chaos Allegiance: Khorne
Detachment Command Cost
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim
+ HQ +
Bloodthirster [18 PL, -2CP, 350pts]: A'rgath, the King of Blades, Devastating Blow, Great axe of Khorne, Indomitable Onslaught, Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord
Skarbrand [17 PL, 330pts]
+ Troops +
Bloodletters [6 PL, 130pts]: Daemonic icon, Instrument of Chaos
. 9x Bloodletter: 9x Hellblade
++ Vanguard Detachment -3CP (Chaos - Daemons) [45 PL, -3CP, 940pts] ++
+ Configuration +
Chaos Allegiance: Chaos Undivided
Detachment Command Cost [-3CP]
+ HQ +
Be'lakor [21 PL, 420pts]: Pall of Despair, Shrouded Step
+ Troops +
Nurglings [3 PL, 60pts]
. 3x Nurgling Swarms: 3x Diseased claws and teeth
Nurglings [3 PL, 60pts]
. 3x Nurgling Swarms: 3x Diseased claws and teeth
+ Elites +
Flamers [6 PL, 150pts]: Pyrocaster
. 5x Flamer: 5x Flickering flames
Flamers [6 PL, 125pts]: Pyrocaster
. 4x Flamer: 4x Flickering flames
Flamers [6 PL, 125pts]: Pyrocaster
. 4x Flamer: 4x Flickering flames
++ Total: [86 PL, 1CP, 1,750pts] ++
3rd: Tom Parrin (BDGaming) - Death Guard
+++ TTR 1750 (Warhammer 40,000 9th Edition) +++
++ Battalion Detachment -3CP (Chaos - Death Guard) [66 PL, 1,298pts, -2CP] ++
+ Configuration [3CP] +
Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP]
. Categories: Configuration
Detachment Command Cost [-3CP]
. Categories: Configuration
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim
. Categories: Configuration
Plague Company: The Wretched
. Categories: Configuration
+ HQ [11 PL, 210pts, -3CP] +
Lord of Contagion [6 PL, 120pts, -2CP]: 3. Hulking Physique, Plague Skull of Glothila, Plaguereaper, Stratagem: Gifts of Decay [-1CP], Stratagem: Plaguechosen [-1CP]
. Categories: HQ, Character, Infantry, Terminator, Faction: Death Guard, Faction: Nurgle, Faction: Heretic Astartes, Faction: Chaos, Lord of Contagion, Bubonic Astartes, Lord of the Death Guard, Faction: Wretched, Stratagems
Malignant Plaguecaster [5 PL, 90pts, -1CP]: 1. Miasma of Pestilence, 5. Curse of the Leper, Bolt pistol, Stratagem: Relic [-1CP], The Daemon's Favour
. Categories: Character, Faction: Death Guard, HQ, Infantry, Faction: Heretic Astartes, Faction: Nurgle, Psyker, Faction: Chaos, Bubonic Astartes, Malignant Plaguecaster, Faction: Wretched
+ Troops [12 PL, 205pts] +
Plague Marines [6 PL, 105pts]
. Categories: Faction: Nurgle, Faction: Heretic Astartes, Infantry, Faction: Chaos, Faction: Death Guard, Troops, Plague Marines, Core, Bubonic Astartes, Faction: Wretched
. Plague Champion [21pts]: Daemonic plague blade, Plasma gun, Power fist
. Plague Marine w/ blight launcher [21pts]
. Plague Marine w/ cleaver [21pts]
. Plague Marine w/ flail [21pts]
. Plague Marine w/ plague spewer [21pts]
Poxwalkers [3 PL, 50pts]
. Categories: Troops, Infantry, Faction: Nurgle, Faction: Death Guard, Faction: Chaos, Poxwalkers, Faction: Wretched
. 10x Poxwalker [50pts]: 10x Improvised weapon
Poxwalkers [3 PL, 50pts]
. Categories: Troops, Infantry, Faction: Nurgle, Faction: Death Guard, Faction: Chaos, Poxwalkers, Faction: Wretched
. 10x Poxwalker [50pts]: 10x Improvised weapon
+ Elites [29 PL, 600pts] +
Blightlord Terminators [10 PL, 225pts]
. Categories: Faction: Chaos, Faction: Death Guard, Elites, Faction: Heretic Astartes, Faction: Nurgle, Infantry, Terminator, Blightlord Terminators, Bubonic Astartes, Core, Faction: Wretched
. Blightlord Champion [45pts]: Balesword, Combi-melta [5pts]
. Blightlord Terminator [45pts]: Balesword, Combi-plasma [5pts]
. Blightlord Terminator [45pts]: Bubotic Axe, Plague spewer [5pts]
. Blightlord Terminator [45pts]: Blight launcher [5pts], Bubotic Axe
. Blightlord Terminator [45pts]: Flail of corruption [5pts]
Blightlord Terminators [10 PL, 225pts]
. Categories: Faction: Chaos, Faction: Death Guard, Elites, Faction: Heretic Astartes, Faction: Nurgle, Infantry, Terminator, Blightlord Terminators, Bubonic Astartes, Core, Faction: Wretched
. Blightlord Champion [45pts]: Balesword, Combi-melta [5pts]
. Blightlord Terminator [45pts]: Flail of corruption [5pts]
. Blightlord Terminator [45pts]: Bubotic Axe, Plague spewer [5pts]
. Blightlord Terminator [45pts]: Bubotic Axe, Reaper autocannon [5pts]
. Blightlord Terminator [45pts]: Balesword, Combi-flamer [5pts]
Deathshroud Terminators [9 PL, 150pts]
. Categories: Faction: Chaos, Faction: Death Guard, Elites, Faction: Heretic Astartes, Infantry, Faction: Nurgle, Terminator, Deathshroud Terminators, Bubonic Astartes, Core, Faction: Wretched
. Deathshroud Champion [50pts]: 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
. 2x Deathshroud Terminator [100pts]: 2x Manreaper, 2x Plaguespurt gauntlet
+ Fast Attack [6 PL, 138pts, -2CP] +
Chaos Spawn [3 PL, 69pts, -1CP]: Grandfatherly Influence [-1CP]
. Categories: Fast Attack, Beast, Faction: Death Guard, Faction: Heretic Astartes, Faction: Nurgle, Faction: Chaos, Chaos Spawn, Faction: Wretched
. 3x Chaos Spawn [3 PL, 69pts]: 3x Hideous mutations
Chaos Spawn [3 PL, 69pts, -1CP]: Grandfatherly Influence [-1CP]
. Categories: Fast Attack, Beast, Faction: Death Guard, Faction: Heretic Astartes, Faction: Nurgle, Faction: Chaos, Chaos Spawn, Faction: Wretched
. 3x Chaos Spawn [3 PL, 69pts]: 3x Hideous mutations
+ Heavy Support [8 PL, 145pts] +
Plagueburst Crawler [8 PL, 145pts]: 2x Entropy cannon [10pts], Heavy slugger
. Categories: Faction: Chaos, Daemon, Faction: Death Guard, Heavy Support, Faction: Heretic Astartes, Faction: Nurgle, Vehicle, Daemon Engine, Plagueburst Crawler, Faction: Wretched
++ Supreme Command Detachment +3CP (Chaos - Death Guard) [25 PL, 450pts, 2CP] ++
+ Configuration [3CP] +
Detachment Command Cost [3CP]
. Categories: Configuration
Plague Company: The Wretched
. Categories: Configuration
+ Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander [25 PL, 450pts, -1CP] +
Mortarion [25 PL, 450pts, -1CP]: 1. Miasma of Pestilence, 1. Revoltingly Resilient, 2. Living Plague, 3. Plague Wind, 4. Arch-Contaminator, 5. Curse of the Leper, Gloaming Bloat, Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], Warlord
. Categories: Faction: Chaos, Faction: Heretic Astartes, Faction: Nurgle, Faction: Death Guard, Character, Daemon, Monster, Primarch, Psyker, Fly, Mortarion, Bubonic Astartes, Supreme Commander, Primarch | Daemon Primarch | Supreme Commander, Warlord, Mortarion Warlord, Configuration
++ Total: [91 PL, 1,748pts, 0CP] ++
4th: Scott Errington-Bazley (Tabletop Republic) - Aeldari (Ulthwe) - Standard array of vehicles, Aspect Warriors and Wraith units, led by Eldrad
5th: Dan Shrimpton (Blitzkrieg) - Orks (Goffs) - Ghaz and lots of boots on the ground, including 2 Boss on Squigs, 30 Gretchin and 18 Squighog boyz
6th: Jake Lovegrove (Tabletop Republic) - Chaos Space Marines (Word Bearers) - Abaddon (of course) with triple Master of Executions, double Master of Possession and a small Daemons detachment with 6 Flamers
7th: James Innes (Blitzkrieg) - Dark Angels - 2 hefty Deathwing Terminator squads backed up by an array of characters and a unit of Ravenwing
8th: Sam Smith (Tabletop Republic) - Chaos Space Marines (Black Legion) - The usual suspects of Abaddon, Terminator blob + MoP but with a Lord of Skulls for fun
9th: Jack Pugh - T'au Empire (T'au Sept) - Mix of Battlesuits, Kroot and Characters
10th: Mat Hunter - Chaos Space Marines (Black Legion) - Usual suspects with some added traitor guard
11th: Chris Crowley-Jenns (Tabletop Republic) - Chaos Daemons - Monster Mash ft Be'lakor, Bloodthirster, Kairos and KoS
12th: Josh French (Wednesdays) - Chaos Knights (Herpetrax) - 2/5 mix, with Abominant and Desecrator leading 3 different dog types
13th: Leo Pesci (Blitzkrieg) - Chaos Space Marines (Bile) - No Abaddon, but more feet on the ground - including 3x Possessed, 2x Warp Talons, 2x 5-man Terminators led by a Lord Disco
14th: Nick Hooper (BDGaming) - Iron Hands - Double Dread + Gladiator with Feirros and Techmarine
15th: Tom Mepham (Tabletop Republic) - Chaos Daemons - Disciples of Be'lakor with 3 War Dogs
16th: Pete Armstrong (Cryptic Cabin) - Tzeentch - Thousand Sons Duplicity with the usual mix, plus a Daemons detachment with 11 flamers
17th: Robert Steenkamp (Tabletop Republic) - Iron Hands - 3 Dreadnoughts and 2 Terminator blobs
18th: James Koch (BDGaming) - T'au Empire (T'au Sept) - Triple battlesuits + double Broadsides
19th: Bradley Melbourne - Aeldari (Ulthwe) - Wraith-focused list with 8 Wraithblades and double Wraithseer
20th: Steve Flood (BDGaming) - Adeptus Custodes (Chosen) - Character-heavy list including Grav-tank and Vindicare
21st: Callum Higgins (Blitzkrieg) - Thousand Sons (Duplicity) - 2 Terminator blobs, beefy Daemon Prince and 25 Rubrics
22nd: Ben Collier (BDGaming) - Blood Angels - Mix of Primaris and Blood Angels units
23rd: Matt Wright (Ambrosden Slayers) - Imperial Fists - Fun mix of some lesser-seen units including Suppressors, Inquisitors and Rapier Carriers
24th: Edward Hann (St Albans Wargamers) - Aeldari (Ulthwe) - Big squads of Banshees + Avengers, 2 Warp Spiders and 2 Fire Prisms
SECONDARIES
Now the fun bit; all the stats, facts and nerdy bits to see what did well at the event
Here are all the secondaries chosen over the event, how many times they were picked and their average score
MOST PICKED SECONDARY: Raise the Banners High (20 times)
BEST SCORING NEPHILIM SECONDARY: Behind Enemy Lines (avg 10.6). Honerable mentions to Assassination (avg 10), Bring it Down (avg 10), No Prisoners (avg 10)
WORST SCORING NEPHILIM SECONDARY (chosen 3+ times): Abhor the Witch (avg 6.5)
BEST SCORING FACTION SECONDARY (chosen 3+ times): Exalt the Dark Gods (Word Bearers, avg 13) + Aerospace Targeting Relays (T'au, avg 13) + Martial Interdiction (Dark Angels, avg 13)
WORST SCORING FACTION SECONDARY (chosen 3+ times): Stand Vigil (Adeptus Custodes, avg 4)
AWARDS
Here are all the awards for the event! The Top 3 + Best Painted were all awarded prizes for their achievements, and all other awards below are just fun awards just for this blog!
1st Place: Hristo Nikolov
2nd Place: Greg Wall
3rd Place: Tom Parrin
Best Painted Army: James Koch's T'au Empire
Most Consistent: Matt Wright (8pts between highest and lowest score)
Closest Game: Scott Errington-Bazley 83 - 83 Josh French (round 2)
Biggest Win: Dan Shrimpton 96 - 29 Tom Mepham + Scott Errington-Bazley 93 - 26 Pete Armstrong (both round 3)
Highest Scoring Game: Jake Lovegrove 96 - 87 Leo Pesci (round 2)
Best Team (2+ players): Blitzkrieg (avg 9.6)
Best Imperium Player: James Innes (Dark Angels, 7th)
Best Chaos Player: Greg Wall (Daemons, 2nd)
Best Xenos Player: Hristo Nikolov (Forces of the Hive Mind, 1st)
Imperium Average Position: 17.2
Chaos Average Position: 10.6
Xenos Average Position: 11.4
The 'Submarine' Award: Jake Lovegrove (highest position after starting loss)
The 'Wooden Spoon' Award: Edward Hann
The 'TO's Player' Award: Matt Wright (the TO was a player, so technically Player's P,layer too!)
The 'Hero' Award: Rhys Evans (once again stepping up as back-up player)
The 'Rivalry' Award: Tabletop Republic vs Blitzkrieg (4th - 8th all TR or Blitz and alternating)
SUMMARY
This was a farewell event to Nephilim with all the new points changes and the new GT book out ahead of the next event!
With 216 secondaries chosen over the 36 games, the average points score was 9.09 - which is a pretty standard benchmark for a "good" secondary option. Plenty of secondaries were pushing up to 12-13 points over the event, with only a handful of ones (mostly from players and armies in the bottom half) going as low as 4-5pts.
Death Guard made a surprising podium - and I expect the army (and Tom Parrin's list) to be a surprise candidate for Arks of Omen MVPs with the new points reductions. Hristo continued his podium streak and became the #1 player in the UK after results were submitted, and team Tabletop Republic went to #10!
and that's the report! Thanks to all those that came to this event and all other, and to you for reading! See you at the next event report!
If there's anything missing or incorrect about the blog, please give us a message!
- Tom Mepham
Tabletop Republic Manager & Event TO