📜 List Building in 40K: The Fine Art of Not Getting Tableflipped by Turn 2
Welcome, warlords — fresh-faced Neophytes and grizzled Chapter Masters alike.
Today we're talking list building in Warhammer 40,000, that fine alchemical blend of math, dreams, and regret. Whether you're trying to win your next RTT, or just want to stop your models from getting vaporized before they even touch an objective, this one's for you.
Let’s break it down — from beginner-friendly basics to spicy veteran-level builds. And yes, T’au players, I see you calculating your odds of success with a spreadsheet and a prayer to the Greater Good. We’ll talk about that too.
THE BASICS: BUILDING BLOCKS OF A DECENT 40K LIST
💰 1. Point Budgeting: More Than Just Math
You’ve got a budget. 2,000 points (usually), and every single one counts. Just like in real life, you're never quite sure how you spent it all until you're broke and holding five elite units and no screens.
Start with:
HQ: Gotta have at least one, might as well pick one that does something.
Troops: They’re your rent-payers. Not sexy, but vital.
Detachment rules: These are your “army perks.” Don’t ignore them — they can make or break your synergy.
Playstyle vision: Want to castle and shoot? Rush the midboard? Do backflips with Harlequins? Build with your endgame in mind.
🔥 Hot Tip: “Cool” doesn’t mean “good.” Just because you love your Chaos Spawn doesn’t mean they belong in every list. Be strong. Be ruthless. Leave Tim the Spawn at home... unless Tim is part of your grand plan (see: Rule of Cool below).
RULE OF COOL: BECAUSE THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN, REMEMBER?
Listen, we all know that one unit.
Maybe it’s your custom-painted T’au Riptide with a cape. Maybe it’s a Dreadnought with twin lascannons and a dramatic backstory. Maybe it’s a single Kroot Hound you’ve named “Bark’el.”
If it makes you smile, it belongs in your list.
“But it’s not competitive…”
Who cares? This is a game about genetically modified supermen, ancient robots, and blue space communists with mechs. Sure, optimizing matters — especially in tournaments — but fun and flavor are what keep us in the hobby.
You can build around cool stuff and still make it work.
How to make Rule of Cool work with Rule of Win:
Build your list around your favorite unit. Not every list needs 100% optimization — some need a plan to let your Blightlord Terminators or XV8 Crisis suits shine.
Support them tactically. Buffs, transports, stratagems — treat your favorite unit like the VIP it is.
Practice with them. The more reps you get, the more you'll discover clever ways to maximize their impact.
Know your limits. Maybe your Hammerhead doesn’t top the meta — but when it one-shots a Knight from downtown? Chef’s kiss.
💡 Pro move: A “fun” list doesn’t mean a “bad” list. It just means it was built with passion, not just a spreadsheet. Even the T’au Empire would approve of that logic.
FOR THE BEGINNERS: SAFE AND SOLID STYLES
You're new, you're excited, you're building a list with 3 Warlords because "they look sick." We’ve all been there. Let’s make sure your list can actually play the mission.
Balanced Core List
2 HQs (one support, one beatstick)
3-4 Troop or Battleline units
1-2 elite units (your flex muscle)
1-2 heavy/fire support units
Fast stuff to snag objectives (bikes, jump packs, stealth suits)
🎯 Goal: You can do a bit of everything. Shoot, move, hold, and hit.
MSU (Multiple Small Units)
Tons of small, cheap squads.
Great for spreading out, screening, and overwhelming.
🧪 Works best with factions that have good cheap units and buffs that affect many units — yes, T’au, your Fire Warriors count (unless you roll ones again).
Castle & Gunline
Park your army in a defensive spot.
Buff up and shoot everything that moves.
Think Astra Militarum, AdMech, or a T’au gunline with Markerlight madness.
⚠️ Weak to armies that move fast and charge hard. Bring screens or prepare to get hugged by Hormagaunts and regret.
FOR THE VETERANS: TIME TO GET SPICY
Alright, champ. You’ve memorized the Detachment combos, you know the stats of every unit in your codex — and probably theirs too. Time to talk shop.
Skew Lists
You go ALL IN on one thing: shooting, melee, psykers, etc.
Force your opponent to deal with your strength or lose.
Example: Triple Knight lists, 9 Broadsides, full Harlequin boat spam.
Toolbox Lists
Every unit has a job. You’ve got a counter to everything.
These lists reward knowledge and surgical play.
🧠 Great for players who think five turns ahead and know when to hold or push. T’au players, this is where your drones actually earn their keep.
Alpha Strike
Hit hard, hit fast, and ideally win by Turn 3.
Relies on pre-game movement, redeploy tricks, and sheer speed.
☠️ High risk. If it fails, you probably get tabled. But when it works? It’s like rolling five sixes with a Railgun.
Jank Lists (AKA “I can’t believe this works”)
Some wild interaction that shouldn’t be good but is.
Think deepstrike grenades, weird stratagem abuse, or massed characters.
🎲 High skill cap, high meme potential, occasionally wins majors. Usually wins hearts.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Here’s what every list builder should have in their toolbox:
✅ BattleScribe or Warhammer 40K App: List building apps (your best friends).
📊 Meta trackers (MetaWatch, Goonhammer, StatCheck): See what’s hot — or not.
💬 Faction Discords/Subreddits: Someone’s already tested your weird idea.
🎲 Tabletop Simulator or proxies: Test before you buy. Save cash, save tears.
💡 Sticky notes + caffeine: Optional, but recommended for all late-night theorycrafting.
FINAL THOUGHTS: FUN + FUNCTION > META LISTS
It’s easy to get caught up in building “the best list.” But unless you’re aiming for Worlds, remember:
Build lists that excite you.
You’ll play better with an army you love.
Know your local meta — what wins at a GT might suck at your FLGS.
And finally:
Practice beats theory. Every time.
Even the most meta-perfect list won’t save you if you forget your secondaries or charge a Land Raider into a Carnifex because it “seemed cinematic.” (Not speaking from experience... 👀)
Now get out there, build your next monstrosity, and remember — no plan survives contact with the enemy… but a good list (with style) might just make it through Turn One.
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