The 40k Blog Returns

We have some fresh faces and some old hands playing the league these days and after a season's break I have decided it it time to return with all my AI slop imaging. Bask in my glory.

As I am sure many of you know the format has changed slightly and we have four separate "divisions" that all have promotion and relegation at the end of the season as well as an overall Champion. The title of Hobbiest Henchmen went to Adam last season, HH league virgin. Me giving up my shot at the title by giving Freddie the bye week has left me without the slightest hateful bitter taste in my mouth. He will receive his chainsword as prize on the 10th.

Who is in what and where?

These are the players and their current division:

Promotion and Relegation Predictions

Lets start off by guessing the big winners and losers for each league here before going onto the Round 1 pairings predictions.

League 1

Winner: Sam

Relegated: Chris

League 2

Winner: Josh

Relegated: Luke N

League 3

Winner: Dan

Relegated: Harry

League 4

Winner: Leo

Loser: Mark F

I am fully feeling the hate for Horus and the red mist has descended so I am backing myself to unleash the rage on these hapless fools. Unless I lose to Adam Round 1 and then I will blame LAG's winrate. Chris is going down because he has fully committed to a Chris-List and I think it will backfire.

I think Josh might smooth fire himself to the top of this one due to decent match ups in this league except maybe Freddie. But Freddie is slowly unlearning how to play 40k so it shouldn't be an issue. Luke I think is going to get stung by a dataslate and does weird shit like have a life, family and holidays so plays less regularly.

I think Leo could pip a promotion here due to really regular play time with his list but Jamie's Knights could be the key game as big knights aren't ideal for him. Mark has had a torrid time with the Nids in recent weeks so he has the unfortunate honour of being predicted as the leagues spoon.

Round 1 - Terraform

Sam (LAG BA) vs Adam (Heathband Votann)

Prediction: Sam

I fucking hate Votann and their stupid deepstriking murder bricks, the Heathguard. They will execute me and my angry lads with absolute impunity. I have consulted tactical scholars on this and after weighing up all their suggestions, and then throwing said suggestions in the bin, I shall charge him extremely aggressively and hope for the best.

Chris (Cryptic Conclave) vs Sean (Cursed Legion)

Prediction: Who cares it's Necrons vs Necrons

Look I do respect what Chris is doing here - no Ctans, no DDAs and an off meta detachment choice. But that respect only goes so far when there is still 20 warriors, 6 wraiths, techno, reanimator, Orikan and a Ghost Ark. Sean on the other hand is bringing a Ctan so he is a bumbaclart.

I genuinely don't know how this one pans out. Killing the Ctan will be tough but so will killing the Warriors. I think they will all just smush in the middle and death hug each other.

Mike (Starshatter Ctan) vs Alex (Guardian Battlehost)

Prediction: Alex

Talking of aids.....but Sam you didn't say anything about aids? I know but still look at that big pile of aids (Nightbringer, Deceiver, TSK, Wraiths)! Wow that is a big pile of aids.

This is actually an interesting one as it is always a bit of a grudge match between these two so it is a saucy starting fixture. The thing that makes this interesting is I don't really know how effectively these two armies kill each other. Alex's Guardians do a murderous amount of shooting (and full of normal Aeldari tricks) but not stuff that threatens huge durability pieces generally. The flip side is Ctan aren't very good at chewing through loads of invul bodies, especially at minus one to wound.

The OC advantage early doors will be huge for Alex to potentially build up a lead but the Deceiver being able to precision shoot all of Alex's juicy characters will also be key.

Max (Double Warden Custodes) vs James (bit of everything Nids)

Prediction: Max

It is going to feel bad shooting Tyrannofex's in this matchup - grossly inefficient to maybe kill one Custodian so they need to just be irritating 5OC chongus' to stand on objectives I think. Who doesn't love 400 pts for 10OC.

James does have shooting that scares Custodes (2 Exocrine and a Maleceptor) alongside double Broodlord Genestealer bricks to threaten melee. This is helpful in dealing with wardens as they can only pick their 4+++ once however Valerian really punishes the Stealer brick back down to AP0.

I don't think this is as cut-and-dried as other matchups but those Exocrines are gonna have to pop the fuck off.

Freddie (Hull UM Blades) vs Luke (SS Necrons)

Prediction: Freddie

This is a bit of a weird one as Luke has shown restraint with only one Ctan and TSK but brings in some old favourites - double DDAs, which I think actually help him in this matchup. Actually I don't know if it does but what has the world come to when I am glad to see DDAs in a list.

Freddie will be hoping for a reversal in his recent fortunes and has turned over a new leaf - there are ZERO Whirlwinds in his list! He is going to be so annoyed not being able to kill Luke's five little scoring lists and then complain afterwards "Whirlwinds would have been so useful here".

Jack (Spectacle Drukhari) vs Josh (Bigs Incursion)

Prediction: Josh

I have to back my boy that I put as division winner! However this is less easy to predict if we remove "the Jack factor". Like I know a bunch of greater daemons are far from the ideal targets for Spectacle but I don't know how Josh scores any primary here, like ever. I mean I guess the solid answer is just fucking kill everything. Yeah that sounds like an appropriate solution to be fair.

Ryan (5 Bigs IK) vs John (Warhorde standard)

Prediction: John

I feel like Ryan heard my list plans and shamelessly stole from me, and I respect it. However one of the lists I would really hate to see across from me would be Warhorde Orks. Ghaz, Beastsnaggas with Boss and Breaka Boyz are all mega threats to big knights.

The saving grace here is that John has only had a couple of games with Orks so won't be playing them at optimal efficiency. Plus Ryan could just move everything 14"-18" Turn 1 and charge outside of the Waagh. That pretty much fucks John if he deploys too close or without screens.

Dan (Mortarions Hammer) vs Dickie (Carnival EC)

Prediction: Dan

Dickie has unfortunately sold all his Guard to fund a dangerous gambling problem. He asked me not to mention it but feels like something we can all help him with, as a team. Make sure you offer to keep his money safe next time you see him.

I don't know what the fuck Carnival of Excess does! I know it has a cool sling shotting charge thing it can do and that is about it. It brings aching joy to see Shalaxi in the mix though - I look forward to seeing if she goes round hunting things or if Dan just hides her target and she wanders around looking sexy sad.

I feel like there isn't enough murder in the EC list for the durability of a Hammer DG list and plenty of murder back. Which is a simple enough equation for me to solve.

Chatgpt wouldn't let me include Daemonettes unless they were clothed.

Ben (Double DP WE) vs Leo (Coterie goodstuff)

Prediction: Leo

Ben is doubling down on making life harder for himself by not playing Ultramarines and instead playing a double Daemon Prince WE army, bravo sir, you are a brave man.

Leo continues to bin off the EC DPs in favour of more board presence and his Flawless Blades and triple Noise Marine package.

I really feel like this is a horrible match up for Ben as the World Eaters don't have enough stuff to hold objectives and push the EC guns back far enough. The EC trading pieces outnumber those of the WE and Noise Marines will eat Berzerkers for breakfast. However one misplay of positioning that allows that giant 20 man to get in and start carving up the backline could be catastrophic.

Angus (Coven Tsons) vs Jamie (3 Bigs Questoris)

Prediction: Jamie

So although I have predicted Jamie I think the result of this entirely depends on Angus' use of Magnus. Being able to position him so he can pop Armigers while remaining out of LOS of the Crusader AND the magnificent threat range of the Lancer will be the way to manage this. Without that I think the many small pieces will struggle to compete for primary AND kill Armigers before being clapped by the big lads.

It is a doable game but will take good screening because Jamie could just put massive pressure on early doors, which Tsons will struggle with.