Check out the most unusual army list at the London Grand Tournament and how it could disrupt the Warhammer 40K meta.
The London Grand Tournament is the ultimate playground for the competitive scene of Warhammer 40K. This is the battleground where the best players in the world officially define the meta, and in 2025, it’s the biggest event ever, bringing together over 1,000 players. With numbers like that, a few unusual lists were bound to sneak in—but the real surprise comes when these off-meta armies make it deep into the tournament.
Warhammer 40K at the London Grand Tournament
One such list did more than just make an appearance—it surged all the way to the final four. The list, Ultramarines Stormlance, was piloted by Innes Wilson, a player widely respected in the hobby. Known recently for dominating with Genestealer Cults over the past year, Wilson decided to ride the recent success of Space Marines in the latest Balance Dataslate, creating a list that both surprises and threatens the meta.
Wilson’s full list is available on Best Coast Pairings, but here’s the gist: the standard Marneus Calgar and Roboute Guilliman, the usual battleline chaff for objectives, and the core backbone consisting of three Redemptor Dreadnoughts, two Storm Speeder Hammerstrikes, and a Stormraven Gunship. If that doesn’t scream off-meta, it’s hard to know what does.
The Build That Could Shift the Meta
Early in the edition, similar builds popped up—especially Space Wolves with Ironstorm—but Redemptor Dreadnoughts were mostly overlooked. Not anymore. At only 195 points, Redemptors provide a lethal combination of durability, melee pressure with five 3-damage attacks, and impressive shooting thanks to both the Micro Plasma Incinerator and the Onslaught Gatling Cannon. With 12 wounds, T10, and -1 damage on incoming attacks, these units become almost untouchable blenders capable of shredding nearly anything.
When paired with Stormlance, Redemptors gain additional movement options—assault, advance and charge, or fall back and shoot—significantly increasing their effectiveness. This versatility makes them efficient at tackling hordes, standard Space Marine units, and even heavy hitters depending on the battlefield situation.
Warhammer 40K Units That Make This List Work
Next, the Storm Speeder Hammerstrikes bring even more unexpected power to the table. Rarely seen in competitive lists, this unit thrives on re-rolls and +1 to wound from Oath of the Moment, hits with plenty of Strength 9 attacks, moves 14 inches, and crucially, strips cover. Working alongside Redemptors, these units can annihilate almost any target in the game.
Then there’s the Stormraven Gunship, another off-meta choice that synergizes perfectly with this army. Its ability to transport Redemptor Dreadnoughts enables creative movement strategies and opens up impressive shooting opportunities, making this army more flexible and deadly than it initially appears.
Why This List Matters
Before this event, lists like this weren’t part of the meta conversation. Now, it’s likely that other players will experiment with similar builds, taking advantage of these strong, cost-effective units. The meta has been searching for answers to units like Knights and Death Guard, and Wilson’s army provides an innovative blueprint that could disrupt the balance in future tournaments.
Wilson may not have won the entire London Grand Tournament, but his success is a reminder of what makes Warhammer 40K so exciting: the ability to bring creativity, strategy, and off-meta armies to the table and still compete at the highest level.
Stick with us for coverage on the London Grand Tournament to see how lists like this continue to influence the Warhammer 40K meta and inspire competitive players worldwide.
Husband, Florida State Seminole, and fan of all things grimdark, sometimes even winning a game or two.
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