Summer 40k League R2 Predictions

We have had a dataslate and MFM so everyone has access to a free wildcard but the changes weren't too dramatic (unless you are Ben B) so I don't think there are any crazy shifts. With only James playing Tyranids will he become the scourge of the league with the new burrowing bastards or will he keep his faith in the fleet?

We also have the new secondary mission pack, with challenger cards so they could make things closer than ever.

The predictions might be a bit wonky as I don't have everyones Wildcards yet but I live life on the ragged edge so doing it anyway.

Luke (MSU Votann) V Freddie (WTF Wolves)

Prediction: Luke

I mean he is running two Stormfang gunships.

Dickie (Combined Guard) V Luke N (Awakened Necrons)

Prediction: Luke

I genuinely believe Dickie was on the cusp of abandoning the super heavy and making an actual competitive list. Then Leontus returned to being able to order Baneblades and all doubts of Dickie's faded into the past. Until next week.

This is actually a difficult one to call as that Baneblade can pick up a great deal of Warriors in a single activation but my guess is not enough to wipe the unit before they start standing back up again. Having that brick plus the Wraiths is really really aids to get through while Luke is cranking up the primary. If Dickie can kill one quickly and compete for two he might be in with a crack.

Mark (Reapers Drukhari) V Harry Lord of the Rubric (Rubricae Tsons)

Prediction: Harry

Despite Harry's assurances he will beat Mark I think the buff Reapers Wager got is pretty tasty and Harry is Harry. However the Rubricae Phalanx is actually at near maximum efficiency into Drukhari with its +1 save.

I initially had Mark down for the win but this will likely mean his whole army is playing at -1AP, which is absolutely brutal.

If he surprises Harry with the Beast Pack and a Solitaire though things could get spicy and go either way. Wouldn't be surprised if I have backed a lame horse here.

Ben (Ultras Gladius) V Nick (Lions Custodes)

Prediction: Nick

I think Ben has a lot of murder in his list but a lot of it is high powered low volume, which Custodes are largely OK with. Calgar, Guilliman and the Hellblasters are the real threat to the lads in gold so if Nick can dictate those engagements the game will swing strongly in his favour.

Ben is in Gladius though and Calgar will punch a whole punch of Custodes right back to the Throne Room if given half a change. Trajann also has the capability to pull Guillimans head right off so movement will be king here and Ben does have more pieces he can screen with. But Ben rejects the very notion of strategy at every opportunity.

Ryan (Imperial Knights) V John (Hekatons Votann)

Prediction: Ryan

This is another close one to call and if Ryan was using his R1 list I would have back John. But rumours are than Ryan will be dropping a second Big for several more Armigers and that makes this tougher.

Purge is generally a favourable mission for Knights which is why I have plumped for Ryan here as John is going to have to put his squishier stuff out first and then commit his anti tank first as well, which is a tough situation here. The flipside is that Sagitaurs could just roll hot alongside the Hekatons and just delete 5 little knights in a round.

Tom D (Taktikal Orks) V Chris (Still reasonably balanced Combined Guard)

Prediction: Chris

Chris has been sulking since the MFM but even in such a vulnerable state we couldn't tempt him to his primal urges of ALL TANKS ALL MURDER ALL THE TIME. Which is a shame for everyone.

Tom actually does have a lot of answers for hulls in his list - double Snagga Beastboss and double Tankbustas, so if he can time he go turn right he could really clobber Chris' big hitters. Flash Gitz can also clear off ALL the Krieg when they fancy it. The question is whether Tom can get that timing right and not buckle under the pressure of the indirect murdering his grots. My prediction answers that question.

Callum (Biosanctic GSC) V Gary (Vectorium DG)

Prediction: Gary

Callum is coming into this relatively fresh back into competitive 40k and Gary is pretending he is doing well with the best faction in the game and therefore hungry to back that delusion up.

Plenty of Infiltrators on both sides and Callum's will gobble Gary's up but after that I am not sure (outside of the big Aberrant brick) there is enough punch to get through the rest of the DG. Then again Gary has taken a huge brick of Blight Lords, which I am still fairly confident is poo, so it could prove that there are just too many little GSC idiots running around scoring.

Angus (Magnus is back! Tsons) V Ross (Prism is back! Aeldari)

Prediction: Ross

This might be a very sad game to have chosen to bring Magnus back for...

Sam (Canis + Armigers IK) V (Starshatter Goodstuff Necrons)

Prediction: Sam

I am only backing myself because Mike gave advice on how to beat other Necrons and I plan to follow it. It could be a masterful double bluff but I think there is a limit on how many Knights he can kill in a turn so a bumrush it is.

Jenko (Breacherfish Spam Kauyon Tau) V Fletcher (Peerless EC with Fulgrim)

Prediction: Jenko

The removal of basically all the guide/spotting ballache is a really nice QOL change for Tau but balanced by a notable nerf to Kauyon I think Mont'ka suddenly becomes the choice detachment. Jenko his disregarded that notion in hubris.

Fletcher's EC will demolish anything and everything they touch but it will need to be carefully calculated to kill the Breachers after the Devilfish dies other they are gonna be trading down really hard.

Fletcher is also mentally broken after playing DG three games in a row so he's fucked.

Tom S (MSU Gladius) V Dan (Vectorium DG) Prediction: Dan

Unfortunately for Tom I think this is going to be a bloodbath as Dan has brought a really strong DG list (take note Gary) that would need a lot to beat. It isn't a guaranteed thing as Guilliman, the Vindicator and Ballistus bros can all tackle the DG armour but it just isn't as efficient as ALL of Dan's stuff. The Deathshroud and Plague Marines can eat Marines for breakfast and I think the armour-off comes out positive for Dan as well.

Cook your dice Tom, no one will judge you.

James (Balanced Fleet Nids) V "Craig" (Champions DG)

Prediction: Craig

Another hard one to call here as James seems to have a good handle on his Nids but "Craig" is super familiar with his smelly lads and they have received something of a power-up recently.

Whilst it would have been cool, and terrifying, to see the new Burrower detachment I think it was wise for James to stick with what he knows, especially as there could be some emergency patching done as I think it might be madness.

Nids do have good answers to the many medium tanks that DG now bring, with Exocrines, Maleceptors and Tyrannofexes, as well as a bunch of pretty mobile OC chaff so this really could go either way. If I knew James better I might even be tempted to back him. I hope this is the rise of the Nid.

"Craig's" list is also pretty decent Gary.

Ben B (Aeldari formerly known as the artist Ynnari) V Sean (Forgefiend Zerker WE)

Prediction: Sean

This prediction is pretty hard to make as Aeldari can lean into a lot of different builds and I haven't heard from Ben about his list since the MFM. I presume he is still sat in a shower crying whilst cradling Yvraine. Last I heard he still believed in the Ynnari and I hope he can pull it off but I have my doubts.

Sean has a great deal of choppy boys and they can actually trade pretty efficiently into Aspect Warriors so this combined with an openly weeping Ben is going to get the job done.

Jack (Final Day GSC) V Max (IA)

Prediction: Jack

Two titans facing off at the top of the table here. To be clear, I don't mean titan in terms of prowess but purely in terms of water displacement.

I think this might be a horrible experience for Mr Max here as Jack's army looks almost perfectly composed to murder the various shapes and sizes of the Inquisition. A bazillion flamers to clear out the Subductors and then very little of individual worth for the Deathwatch to come and smack back with.

To get some value out of his hammer lads Max is going to need to connect with the Metamorphs or Purestrain brick otherwise they are going to comfortably wipe a unit of idiots off the board (who will resurrect) and then get eaten.

The counterpoint to this is Jack.