Warhammer 40K: The Unbeatable List – Atlantic City Open 2021 Edition
One list made it all the way to the top against over 200 players at the ACO 2021. But it wasn’t the most interesting one, that we are talking about.
First of all – congrats to Brad Chester for winning it all with a Dark Eldar list that won’t work as well for later events. Let’s take a closer look!
Brad is one of the people I have always liked in 40k. I remember playing him when I first got back into the game and decided to travel to Adepticon. He is just one of those players that there is no issues when throwing dice at each other. We come to play, have fun, and most likely give each other some crap. So a big 80’s high five!
The Unbeatable List
Patrol Detachment 0CP (Aeldari – Drukhari) [33 PL, 14CP, 655pts]
+ Configuration +
Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)
Detachment Command Cost
Obsession: Cult of Strife: The Spectacle of Murder
Raiding Forces – CP Refund [2CP]
+ HQ +
Succubus [3 PL, 60pts]: 1 – Adrenalight (Combat Drug), Dark Lotus Toxin, Precision Blows, Razorflails, Warlord
+ Troops +
Wyches [6 PL, 110pts]: *Random x 2* (Combat Drug)
Hekatrix: Hekatarii Blade, Splinter Pistol
8x Wych: 8x Hekatarii Blade, 8x Plasma Grenades, 8x Splinter Pistol
Wych w/ Shardnet and Impaler: Shardnet and Impaler
Wyches [6 PL, 105pts]: *Random x 2* (Combat Drug)
Hekatrix: Agoniser, Splinter Pistol
9x Wych: 9x Hekatarii Blade, 9x Plasma Grenades, 9x Splinter Pistol
Wyches [3 PL, 50pts]: 3 – Hypex (Combat Drug)
Hekatrix: Hekatarii Blade, Splinter Pistol
4x Wych: 4x Hekatarii Blade, 4x Plasma Grenades, 4x Splinter Pistol
+ Elites +
Incubi [4 PL, 80pts]
4x Incubi: 4x Klaive
Klaivex: Klaive
Incubi [4 PL, 80pts]
4x Incubi: 4x Klaive
Klaivex: Klaive
+ Fast Attack +
Hellions [7 PL, 170pts]: *Random x 2* (Combat Drug)
Helliarch: Hellglaive
9x Hellion: 9x Hellglaive, 9x Splinter Pods
Patrol Detachment -2CP (Aeldari – Drukhari) [29 PL, -1CP, 600pts]
+ Configuration +
Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]
Obsession
*Custom Coven*: Dark Technomancers (All-Consuming)
Raiding Forces – CP Refund [2CP]
+ HQ +
Succubus [3 PL, -1CP, 60pts]: 1 – Adrenalight (Combat Drug),quicksilver fighter, Stratagem: Tolerated Ambition The Glaive Exquisite
Blast pistol and archite glaive
+ Troops +
Wracks [3 PL, 60pts]
Acothyst: Liquifier Gun, Wrack Blade
Wrack w/ Special Weapon: Liquifier Gun
3x Wracks: 3x Wrack Blade
Wracks [3 PL, 60pts]
Acothyst: Liquifier Gun, Wrack Blade
Wrack w/ Special Weapon: Liquifier Gun
3x Wracks: 3x Wrack Blade
Wracks [3 PL, 60pts]
Acothyst: Liquifier Gun, Wrack Blade
Wrack w/ Special Weapon: Liquifier Gun
3x Wracks: 3x Wrack Blade
+ Elites +
Grotesques [6 PL, 135pts]
Grotesque w/ Liquifier Gun: Liquifier Gun
Grotesque w/ Liquifier Gun: Liquifier Gun
Grotesque w/ Liquifier Gun: Liquifier Gun
Grotesques [6 PL, 135pts]
Grotesque w/ Liquifier Gun: Liquifier Gun
Grotesque w/ Liquifier Gun: Liquifier Gun
Grotesque w/ Liquifier Gun: Liquifier Gun
+ Dedicated Transport +
Raider [5 PL, 90pts]: Coven, Dark Lance, Phantasm Grenade Launcher
Patrol Detachment -2CP (Aeldari – Drukhari) [41 PL, -2CP, 745pts]
+ Configuration +
Detachment Command Cost [-2CP]
Obsession
*Custom Coven*: Dark Technomancers (All-Consuming)
Raiding Forces – CP Refund [2CP]
+ Stratagems +
Stratagem: Prizes from the Dark City [-1CP]
+ HQ +
Succubus [3 PL, -1CP, 60pts]: 1 – Adrenalight (Combat Drug), Competitive Edge, Stratagem: Tolerated Ambition, The Triptych Whip
Agoniser & Archite Glaive
+ Troops +
Wracks [3 PL, 60pts]
Acothyst: Liquifier Gun, Wrack Blade
Wrack w/ Special Weapon: Liquifier Gun
3x Wracks: 3x Wrack Blade
Wracks [3 PL, 60pts]
Acothyst: Liquifier Gun, Wrack Blade
Wrack w/ Special Weapon: Liquifier Gun
3x Wracks: 3x Wrack Blade
Wracks [3 PL, 60pts]
Acothyst: Liquifier Gun, Wrack Blade
Wrack w/ Special Weapon: Liquifier Gun
3x Wracks: 3x Wrack Blade
+ Elites +
Incubi [4 PL, 80pts]
4x Incubi: 4x Klaive
Klaivex: Klaive
+ Dedicated Transport +
Raider [5 PL, 85pts]: Coven, Dark Lance
Raider [5 PL, 85pts]: Coven, Dark Lance
Raider [5 PL, 85pts]: Coven, Dark Lance
Raider [5 PL, 85pts]: Coven, Dark Lance
Raider [5 PL, 85pts]: Coven, Dark Lance
Total: 103 PL, 11CP, 2,000pts
Brad came with a similar list to his other winning DE list that will take a bit of a kick to the dingus when the FAQ starts to get used. A lot of raiders, a lot of wracks, incubi, and characters to get some much-needed action. I think will just call it Dark Eldar – Git Liquified! Again this event was pre-FAQ due to the time frame for the release from GW – so this armylist is a dead man walking. It is just about as many auto-hitting guns coming out of a sea of Raiders with some Wyches to back them up. Brad was at the top of the standings most of the event as he wrecked each player and scored a crap ton of points. Below is a pictorial representation of Brad’s List.
Heck, the ACO top 8 was pretty nutty too with a lot of points scored.
The Usual Suspects
Here’s the top 8:
- Brad Chester, Drukhari
- Nick Nanavati, Drukhari
- Thomas Odgen, Dark Angels
- Richard Sielger, T’au
- Charlie Andre, Dark Angels
- Sean Nayden, Aeldari
- Anthony Vanella, Drukhari
- Sascha Edelkraut, Black Templars
It’s the other top finishers that have some interesting ideas:
Second place went to another buddy of mine as well – Mr. Nick Nanavati with his own Dark Eldar version that didn’t have as many Liquefier guns as Brad did. This again is a similar list to the Dallas Open one so you can go find that. Cult of Strife, Kabal of the Black Heart, and that Coven of Cybergoths rounds out his list with all the goodies in each one. Oh and some Incubi. He uses his Court of the Archon to have a ton of snake friends and Ur-Ghuls to round out his list. It seems to be the same sort of thing with just powerfully fast options mixed with deadly output.
Rounding out the top 4 we had another Thomas with a Dark Angels army. I don’t have this army list but I expect it is the same one he has been winning some events with. It is a heavy Raven Guard list from what I find online that throws in a lot of attack bikes, speeders, and a nice little Death Wing contingent to get some strong boots on the ground. The ability to go wide with the army seems to help it – especially in some of these Dark Eldar match ups. Plus it looks to have a ton of Multi-Melta to throw out and destroy things as needed. Look for this list to be strong as heck when Dark Eldar take a nerf in the coming weeks. Heck is this the boogie man we all thought was coming when the book came out?
Onto a true gem…
++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (T’au Empire) [100 PL, 9CP, 1,999pts] ++
-
Configuration +
Battle Size [12CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)
Detachment Command Cost
Sept Choice: Farsight Enclaves
-
Stratagems +
Emergency Dispensation (1 Relic) [-1CP]
Veteran Cadre (4+ models) [-2CP]
-
HQ +
Commander Farsight [7 PL, 130pts]: Dawn blade, High-intensity plasma rifle
Commander in XV86 Coldstar Battlesuit [9 PL, 180pts]: 2. Through Unity, Devastation, Advanced targeting system, 3x Missile pod, Warlord . MV7 Marker Drone: Markerlight
-
Troops +
Breacher Team [3 PL, 65pts]: MV36 Guardian Drone . Fire Warrior Shas’ui: Photon grenades, Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol . 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Pistol: 4x Photon grenades, 4x Pulse blaster, 4x Pulse pistol . MV7 Marker Drone: Markerlight
Breacher Team [3 PL, 65pts]: MV36 Guardian Drone . Fire Warrior Shas’ui: Photon grenades, Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol . 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Pistol: 4x Photon grenades, 4x Pulse blaster, 4x Pulse pistol . MV7 Marker Drone: Markerlight
Breacher Team [3 PL, 65pts]: MV36 Guardian Drone . Fire Warrior Shas’ui: Photon grenades, Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol . 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Pistol: 4x Photon grenades, 4x Pulse blaster, 4x Pulse pistol . MV7 Marker Drone: Markerlight
Breacher Team [3 PL, 65pts]: MV36 Guardian Drone . Fire Warrior Shas’ui: Photon grenades, Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol . 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Pistol: 4x Photon grenades, 4x Pulse blaster, 4x Pulse pistol . MV7 Marker Drone: Markerlight
Breacher Team [2 PL, 45pts] . Fire Warrior Shas’ui: Photon grenades, Pulse blaster, Pulse pistol . 4x Fire Warrior w/ Pulse Pistol: 4x Photon grenades, 4x Pulse blaster, 4x Pulse pistol
-
Elites +
XV104 Riptide Battlesuit [19 PL, 335pts]: 2x Fusion blaster, Amplified ion accelerator, Drone controller, Ion accelerator, Velocity tracker . 2x MV84 Shielded Missile Drone: 2x Missile pod, 2x Shield generator
XV8 Crisis Bodyguards [28 PL, 613pts]: Reactive countermeasures, Veteran Cadre . Crisis Bodyguard: Advanced targeting system, Airbursting fragmentation projector, Shield generator, XV8-02 Crisis Iridium battlesuit . Crisis Bodyguard: Advanced targeting system, 2x Missile pod, XV8-02 Crisis Iridium battlesuit . Crisis Bodyguard: Advanced targeting system, 2x Missile pod, XV8-02 Crisis Iridium battlesuit . Crisis Bodyguard: Advanced targeting system, 2x Missile pod . Crisis Bodyguard: Advanced targeting system, 2x Missile pod . Crisis Bodyguard: Advanced targeting system, 2x Missile pod . Crisis Bodyguard: Advanced targeting system, 2x Missile pod . Crisis Bodyguard: Advanced targeting system, 2x Missile pod . Crisis Bodyguard: Advanced targeting system, 2x Missile pod . MV7 Marker Drone: Markerlight
-
Fast Attack +
Pathfinder Team [5 PL, 80pts]: MV33 Grav-inhibitor Drone . MB3 Recon Drone: Burst cannon . 4x Pathfinder: 4x Markerlight, 4x Photon grenades, 4x Pulse carbine . Pathfinder Shas’ui: Markerlight, Photon grenades, Pulse carbine, Pulse pistol
Vespid Stingwings [2 PL, 56pts] . 3x Vespid Stingwing: 3x Neutron blaster . Vespid Strain Leader: Neutron blaster
-
Flyer +
DX-6 Remora Stealth Drones [3 PL, 60pts] . DX-6 Remora Stealth Drone: 2x Long-barrelled burst cannon, Markerlight, 2x Remora seeker missile
DX-6 Remora Stealth Drones [3 PL, 60pts] . DX-6 Remora Stealth Drone: 2x Long-barrelled burst cannon, Markerlight, 2x Remora seeker missile
-
Dedicated Transport +
TY7 Devilfish [5 PL, 90pts]: Burst cannon . 2x MV1 Gun Drone: 4x Pulse carbine
TY7 Devilfish [5 PL, 90pts]: Burst cannon . 2x MV1 Gun Drone: 4x Pulse carbine
++ Total: [100 PL, 9CP, 1,999pts] ++
Vespids in the Top 4 Baby!
Finally, we have someone we have seen a lot in the past editions near the top with one of the armies he piloted to win a lot of events. Mr. Richard Siegler brought out his Tau for the first “big” event he has gone to if I am right. He is the 3rd Art of War member in this top 4 and I am sure has been practicing a lot versus some of these Dark Eldar lists. From the list write-up online I see a big Suit squad of death and a ton of smaller MSU units to run around the tabletop. I also read that he has some Vespids too? I know we all agree Tau need an interesting rework with a push towards Crisis suits being good – but somehow Richard already made them good for this event. A big congrats to Mr. Siegler for bringing something not Dark Eldar and getting to the top 8 with it.
The rest of the top 8 had another Dark Angels army, Sean with his Ynarri thing that works for him (good job again Sean), Anthony Vanella with another Dark Eldar army (played him at the Dallas Open – good guy and we talked about Run The Jewels as I got liquified), and finally a Black Templars army played by a Sascha Edelkraut. That Black Templars army I will look out for in the coming weeks as that is extremely interesting to see on the tabletop.
About the Event
I saw pictures of the set up and I will say I love how much more room it seems events are putting around tables. It gives players a lot more breathing room and lets you say have a cart for your army or extra chairs to hold your stuff. I do hope events keep this up as I think it is a much better option than doing an event with a ton of Moon Landings. I mean I love the accidental contact like anyone else but we all could use more space from time to time. Good job from Frontline for bringing their events back and I look forward to playing in a few of these the rest of the year and the following year. I know I got to work out some other posters and designs for them during that time so it will be fun to try and figure that out as the year continues on. The swag looked cool too with some special “coins” for the event, dice, and then a poster drawn by myself. I will make sure to have a few silver markers if people want me to write something on them.
Until next time – congrats to the winners and everyone else getting a chance to play competitive 40k again. There wasn’t a stream due to their streaming team not being able to make it down from the great North. The next event should have some streaming action so we all can live thru the event and watch plastic models duke it out for glory on the tabletop.
Play safe out there folks!
