Summer 40k League R1 Predictions

Let's get cracking then! I have dug myself out of my work hole and am back ready to wrongly predict your games.

I was going to do a survey of where people thought they might come and why they took the list they did but I ended up deciding it would mean talking to you lot more than I want to so binned it off. But I wanted you to know.

As Jack, Dickie, Mike and Chris were such fucking eager beavers they don't get a prediction this week but for the record I would have predicted Chris and Jack, so half right. Any time Chris loses, with his aids indirect, I get a little hit of dopamine so thank you for that Mike.

Luke N (Awakened Necrons) VS Craig (Champions Death Guard)

Prediction: Craig

Now we all know I think "Craig" is not just a morally bankrupt human being but also one of the worst 40k players to every touch a mini. Unfortunately due to the ludicrous strength of Death Guard (I am definitely not bitter) this has forced me to elevate "Craig" into a position of predicted win. Disgusting.

Ryan (Imperial Knights) VS James (Invasion Nids)

Prediction: James

Now this is a bit of a shot in the dark as I haven't played Ryan or James yet to assess how smooth their brains our on the Hobby Henchmen scale. I think it will really depend on how effectively the Tyrannofex's pop off this game and how quickly Ryan can get them murdered. Lethal hits with Exocrines and Maleceptors might also be quite unpleasant for Ryan.

All is not lost however as there is a high density of OC with the Knights and they can clear Ryan's Gaunts off quick sharp so although many Knights may fall it could still be a point win.

Ross (Aspect Host Aeldari) VS John (Big Brick Oathband Votann)

Prediction: Ross

Sorry John but I don't think anyone, including yourself, is expecting anything other than a Ross victory here. However I have looked at your list and consider it suitably bonkers to do potentially weird things - 2 Pioneer bricks, 2 Beserk Bricks and 2 Land Fortresses and still a reasonable amount of activations.

Ross' Fire Dragons will annihilate Land Fortresses and Sagitaurs but they will fall over. Land Fortresses and Sagitaurs can handily deal with an Avatar, which basically removes the main Aeldari primary holder. Massive unit of Swooping Hawks is cool as well.

Just push it all forward and stand on objectives and hope for the best mate. I'll bring vaseline.

Ben J (Gladius UM) VS Sean (Zerker Warband WE)

Prediction: Sean

Ben has gone for an all rounder UM build with Guilliman, Calgar, Aggressors, Hellblasters, Rep Ex, Lancer and Ballistus. That stuff is gonna murder. Hard. Sean's is double Forgefiend, four MSU variations of 8Bound, DP and lots of various chaff. No Angron. If any of it touches the marines the marines die but they gotta get there first. Forgefiends will do horrible things to Aggressors as well.

Straight up love the amount of murder Ben is bringing to the table but there is a lot of small killy units for Sean that I think will win the trade war and punch up.

Sam (Imperial Knights) VS Luke (MSU Oathband Votann)

Prediction: Luke

I believe it is likely this will be my very first outing with Knights and Luke will be eager for retribution for how I have treated his Knights in the past. I honestly have no idea whether I am supposed to go for mad pressure with the many Armigers or slowly trade and the deployment on Mission 1 is going to be deeply unpleasant for me I feel.

Fuck it run it all forward and hope he can't kill enough before Canis comes in and hopefully rolls hot.

Harry Lord of the Rubric (Index Tsons) VS Ben B (Ynnari)

Prediction: Ben B

Harry is having one last terrible run out that I have no doubt will continue his fabled history of terrible run outs whilst piloted his beloved Thousand Sons.

This seems like a horrible match up at the best of times to be honest as ideally you want to either not shoot Ynnari or shoot the ever living snot out of them. Plan 1 won't work for Tsons and Plan 2 won't work because Harry.

Max (Imperial Agents) Vs Tom D (Taktical Orks)

Prediction: Max

Tom's greatest strength is his ability to play with speed and assertiveness. Max's biggest strength is playing with a truly deadly army with no weaknesses. Oh wait sorry I just spent a minute in Opposite World.

Tom just push your boys forward, give them orders and shoot Max's stuff. See what happens. Max will then punch you really hard with his Deathwatch. Then just shoot them. It's not like a very narrowly beat IA at the weekend with a wildly superior set of tools....

Fletcher (Peerless EC) VS Freddie (WTF Wolves)

Prediction: Fletcher

I thought Freddie was done astounding me with utterly absurd lists. So imagine my surprise when looking at his list and seeing TWO Stormfang Gunships. Not a clue. I mean they can make Fulgrim only 12" move??

On the other side of things it is cool to see Fulgrim on the table, not seen him in action yet.

This prediction is just a guess because the Stormfang's could murder the shit out of all Fletcher's Battleline and maybe Freddie has come up with something genius. I harbour doubts.

Angus (Index Tsons) VS Mark (Skysplinter Drukhari)

Prediction: Angus

Mark is still in the masochistic phase of trying to learn Drukhari against the better judgement of health professionals everywhere. They can effectively kill infantry, of which Angus has plenty, but they are going to fall over to hard to Magnus. If Lelith can missile in there and somehow murder the big man it is game on.

Dan (Virulent DG) VS Nick (Lions Custodes)

Prediction: Dan

Nick seems to be getting the hang of the golden lads now and Lions can tear absolutely anything down. However Dan has a truly obnoxious amount of D3 stuff in his list. Like truly horrendoes. Honestly Nick just roll 4s mate.

I do really like Nick's list, lots of stuff that can punch super effectively but will likely have to rely on range to kill Poxwalkers and play super cagey, which isn't amazing but it is doable, otherwise stepping any other unit out it will be immediate death.

Jenko (Kauyon Tau) VS Gary (Virulent DG)

Prediction: Jenko

There is one thing I know Gary loves and that is sucking cock. Oh and also playing Tau. Two weeks in a row.

Jenko is convinced he has found a way to rescue Tau from the bottom of the winrate barrel and that is endless Breacher-Fish. Who knows he might be right. I don't actually think they do that much into DG however the Sky-Rays love Heavy Bloat Drones.

Gary's list seems to have less stuff in it that both other DG players so assume he is scared of running more than three different profiles, like Wardogs. Or he is just rubbish.

Callum (Biosanctic GSC) VS Tom (MSU Vanguard UM)

Prediction: Callum

Despite being on a sabatical from 40k I just don't think Tom's list has the chutzpah to get through 20 Aberrants and 20 Purestrains before they are in the lines eating blue bois for luncheon.

Tom has tons of scoring units and can get all over the place but there will likely be flamers waiting for him when he arrives. Additionally Vindicators and Ballistus are not going to be super effective profiles into a lot of Callum's danger units. God speed Tom.