Theres nothing the Australian Age of Sigmar Scene loves more than a Destro army, and Pete himself LOVES a good Destro build – he’s built his entire identity around playing Destruction, and calling Order players wankers.
But what if you’re more of a sophisticated wargamer?
What if you enjoy hitting on something better than 4s?
What if you don’t full send your army every game?
And what if you like using your head as something other than a hat rack?
Then this review is for you!
With Order making up 37% of the total army lists (with half of them being Stormcast and Sylvaneth), you can say that Cancon is going to be pretty wankery. So I’ll be taking a look at some of my favourite lists from all GAs outside of Destruction – Pete’s already covered that angle – focused on the top and bottom of the representation. If you’re mad that own your faction or list isn’t being covered here – why don’t you take that shit personally?
Stormcast
Aight starting out of with the poster boys is this very cool list from Michael Frangos:
Intdrake 1990/2000 pts
Stormcast Eternals
Thunderhead Host
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 5
Spell Lore – Lore of the Storm
Prayer Lore – Prayers of the Stormhosts
Manifestation Lore – Primal Energy (20 Points)
Battle Tactic Cards: Restless Energy, Wrathful Cycles
General’s Regiment
Lord-Celestant on Stardrake (480)
• General
• Mirrorshield
• Hour of Glory
Dracothian Guard Tempestors (170)
Dracothian Guard Tempestors (170)
Knight-Vexillor (100)
Praetors (130)
Regiment 1
Knight-Relictor (120)
Questor Soulsworn (200)
Questor Soulsworn (200)
Regiment 2
Knight-Arcanum (120)
Regiment 3
Knight-Judicator with Gryph-hounds (130)
Regiment 4
Knight-Judicator with Gryph-hounds (130)
Faction Terrain
Stormreach Portal (20 Points)
This list is completely glorious. A bunch of heroes all over the place, a couple units of Questor Soulsworn. I think this is the first time I have seen a SCE list recently that isn’t miserable to play against.
Also this army isn’t without its tricks – its got a lot of play and looks pretty fun too. Handing out of no commands on a 2+ if the Tempestors do a point of damage is real nasty … and the fact that it’s in both players’ turns is *chef’s kiss*.
I don’t know if I love the selected artefacts – I do prefer the bring back to life on a 3+ for the big dragon and the strike first – but I think for a big monster to have Mirrorshield is still a strong choice which can be especially helpful in the right matchup.
Sylvaneth
Our very own Graal (aka Hakan Sjolin) has a very original list indeed – so original that it is identical to another one at the event, so the chances of facing this at Cancon are doubled!
Branch Managers and the Rapid Expansion Team
1980/2000 pts
Sylvaneth
Wargrove of the Burgeoning
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 5
Spell Lore – Lore of the Deepwood
Manifestation Lore – Aetherwrought Machineries
Battle Tactic Cards: Master The Paths, Restless Energy
General’s Regiment
Scourge of Ghyran Drycha Hamadreth (300)
• General
Scourge of Ghyran Revenant Seekers (230)
Spiterider Lancers (380)
• Reinforced
Tree-Revenants (90)
Regiment 1
Spirit of Durthu (320)
• Spellsinger
• Glamourweave
Regiment 2
Belthanos, First Thorn of Kurnoth (350)
Regiment 3
Warsong Revenant (200)
Regiment 4
Branchwych (110)
Faction Terrain
Awakened Wyldwood
There are 10 Sylvaneth lists at Cancon, with only one showing originality1 . This army is S Tier at the moment and it’s definitely an army you would wanna get to grips before attending your next tournament.
Why is this Sylvaneth build sitting at the top of the meta? One main reason is the Branchwych x Glamourweave Durthu Combo. Every list that is performing well at the moment has the Warsong, Branchwych and a Glamourweave Durthu2. When Graal asked me to slowly explain how to play Sylvaneth, I told him to start there and the rest doesn’t really matter.
Giving a big monster like Durthu strike first in the enemy’s turn can be DIABOLICAL. Pairing that with Durthu’s damage 5 sword (which can be up to Rend 4 into monsters) and Glamourweave’s ability to reroll a hit and a wound every phase, it all gets a bit ridiculous. I’ve had games where Durthu has strolled through every combat phase hitting for 20+ damage and solo’d an entire enemy army.
Graal also has the utility of 9 bugs being able to move 18 inches across the board with Belthanos’ run and charge, plus insane damage with Soggy Drycha’s warscroll spell. It’s fast, it’s tanky and does a lot of damage – what’s the weakness of this army again3?
Best of luck to our Senor Supremo Enthusiast (Bradley Baker) who is playing Graal in a grudged round 1. We are all rooting for the NH to take the dub in a PC matchup that isn’t going to result in someone dodging, ducking or diving his way out of a challenge.
Slaves to Darkness
Ahh Slaves, the stock-standard edgelords. I had a look through all of the Slaves lists and wasn’t very inspired to be honest. Couple of Daemon Prince spam armies, couple of cavalry-based ones but reading these Slaves efforts didn’t do much to wake me up after reading Graal’s list. I’ll give a shout out to Matt Trown as I have seen some teasers and this army is going to look insanely cool – check it out if you’re down for the weekend. I don’t have much to say on S2D other than people need to run more Mutalith Vortex Beasts.
Hateful Congregation of the Mother Machinarum.
“Nos sumus dentes in machinis matris”
(We are the cogs in the Mother’s machines)
1990/2000 pts
Slaves to Darkness
Champions of Chaos
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 3
Wounds: 143
Spell Lore – Lore of the Damned
Manifestation Lore – Aetherwrought Machineries
Battle Tactic Cards: Intercept and Recover, Restless Energy
General’s Regiment
Abraxia, Spear of the Everchosen (260)
• General
Varanguard (320)
Ogroid Theridons (170)
Ogroid Myrmidon (120)
• Deathmonger
Chaos Chariot (90)
• Chaos Greatblade
Regiment 1
Chaos Sorcerer Lord (120)
• Head of the Unworthy
Exalted Hero of Chaos (90)
Chaos Warriors (380)
• Reinforced
• The Banner of Rage
Mindstealer Sphiranx (150)
Regiment 2
Chaos Lord on Daemonic Mount (140)
Darkoath Fellriders (150)
• 5x Marauder Javelin
Faction Terrain
Nexus Chaotica
Skaven
The Reigning Champ Joel McGrath is returning with another carpark beers list, this time a strong Moulder Skaven entry.
Did somebody say “carpark beers” 2 2000/2000 pts
Skaven
Fleshmeld Menagerie
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 2
Spell Lore – Lore of Ruin
Manifestation Lore – Aetherwrought Machineries
Battle Tactic Cards: Intercept and Recover, Master The Paths
General’s Regiment
Grey Seer (120)
• General
Hell Pit Abomination (200)
Night Runners (120)
Rat Ogors (280)
• Reinforced
Stormfiends (480)
• Reinforced
• 2x Grinderfists
• 2x Doomflayer Gauntlets
• 2x Clubbing Blows and Warpfire Projectors
Regiment 1
Master Moulder (80)
• Warpstone Charm
• Fleshmeddler
Scourge of Ghyran Brood Terror (240)
Scourge of Ghyran Brood Terror (240)
Scourge of Ghyran Brood Terror (240)
Faction Terrain
Gnawhole
This army has A LOT of meat, and a lot of that meat will flail about randomly and kill you. It’s an army that plays fast, is tough to get through with bulk healing and offers some solid damage. Only issue it’s got is that it moves 6 inches4.
There’s some shenanigans with the Stormfiends’ Any Movement Phase deepstrike setting up some mean counterpunches. The Master Moulder adds some extra end-of-turn healing, and is kitted out with Fleshmeddler and Warpstone Charm which can give a Moulder unit +1 rend for the turn, or if the little guy gets into combat potentially hand out -1 to save, getting Joel’s units to some ridiculously high rend.
I could see this army struggle into opponents that are too fast for it, but best of luck to Joel with his “Destro in a non-Destro army” signature style.5
Soulblight Gravelords
Farking hell – so many Bloodknights running around Cancon. Mathew Tyrrell is running an interesting monster mash, so let’s check that one out.
Soulblight 1950/2000 pts
—–
Grand Alliance Death | Soulblight Gravelords | Bacchanal of Blood
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 4
Spell Lore – Lore of Undeath
Manifestation Lore – Morbid Conjuration (30 Points)
Battle Tactics Cards: Intercept and Recover and Master The Paths
—–
General’s Regiment
Prince Vhordrai (470)
• General
Blood Knights (220)
—
Regiment 1
Wight King on Skeletal Steed (200)
Barrow Knights (420)
• Reinforced
—
Regiment 2
Lauka Vai, Mother of Nightmares (230)
Terrorgheist (220)
—
Regiment 3
Vampire Lord (160)
• Lash of the Sire
• Shard of Night
Is that a Lauka Vai? Fuck it’s been a while since I’ve seen one of them roaming around. This is a pretty tanky monster mash, ignoring rend from the Lauka Vai, plus a handful of combat phase rampages that can mess with your opponent’s activations and then a bunch of healing stacked on top.
He’s got his hammers and even hit enough points for a reinforced unit of Barrowguard as a rough anvil: 30 wounds, with a 5+ ward and an insane amount of model recursion. I can see Tyrell having some issues into strong shooting lists as all monster mash does, and the dreaded Longstrikes could have a field day.
I’m unsure if there might be some past trauma but it looks like he has a little bit of anti-shooting tech by kitting out the Vamp Lord with Shard of Night (giving him Ethereal from shooting attacks). This list looks like a good carpark beers army and that’s what it’s all about – cheers cunts.
Blades of Khorne
I’m going to shout out Connor Simpson running the Baleful Lords army of renown. It’s been doing the rounds on TTS and it’s high time some spotlight was shed on it.
5 Bloodthirsters because Skarbrand is too expensive and I wanted to turn my brain off for 2 days and just run into walls while I play with my war Dollie’s 2000/2000 pts
—–
Blades of Khorne | The Baleful Lords
Army of Renown
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 4
Battle Tactics Cards: Intercept and Recover and Restless Energy
—–
General’s Regiment
Wrath of Khorne Bloodthirster (400)
• General
• Unrivalled Battlelust
Bloodthirster of Insensate Rage (410)
—
Regiment 1
Bloodthirster of Unfettered Fury (390)
—
Regiment 2
Bloodthirster of Insensate Rage (410)
• Crown of the Slaughterborn
—
Regiment 3
Bloodthirster of Unfettered Fury (390)
What we have here is Bloodthirsters with recursion. It brings high damage and is actually a lot less smooth-brain of an army to play than Connor leads you to believe in his list name. It’s an army that snowballs hard with a couple of errors.
The Trait for +1 attacks once per game is REALLY nice on Skarbrand – bit of a shame he’s not in this list, but with the Wrath of Khorne you can get the Boomthrister to 7 attacks. Roll a few 6s and it’s devastating to an army. I still have trauma from when it happened to me a couple years ago in Bendigo.
This army is also real nasty with a 12″ inch aura from the Crown of the Slaughterborn on a Boomthirster that prevents healing or returning models. Pretty nasty for some of the armies above, like Sylvaneth or Soulblight that depend on a lot of their army’s sustain coming from healing and recursion.
Bottom of the Barrel (Honourable Mentions)
These underdogs are the ones we are all rooting for. Shocking no one, they are all armies that have books coming out soon. Shoutout to these legends giving these index armies their last Hoorah before they become utterly broken6. Now let’s look at my favourite picks from the bottom factions
Disciples of Tzeentch
Well with a choice of 1, we have Jamie Sherlock7, the one man on the Tzeentch train. As a Tzeentch enthusiast myself its good that someone is playing them.
It’s just some little guys, don’t worry about them it’s fine they are just little guys, just some craaaaazy little guys man, they aren’t doing nothing man don’t worry about it, just some cool little crazy little fun little guys 2000/2000 pts
Disciples of Tzeentch
Masters of Fate
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 4
Spell Lore – Lore of Change (30 Points)
Manifestation Lore – Manifestations of Tzeentch
Battle Tactic Cards: Master The Paths, Wrathful Cycles
General’s Regiment
Kairos Fateweaver (420)
• General
Chaos Spawn of Tzeentch (60)
Scourge of Ghyran Kairic Acolytes (100)
Scourge of Ghyran Kairic Acolytes (100)
Scourge of Ghyran Kairic Acolytes (100)
Regiment 1
Scourge of Ghyran Ogroid Thaumaturge (160)
• Wyrdflame Blade
• Illusionist – (20) Points
Jade Obelisk (100)
Jade Obelisk (100)
Jade Obelisk (100)
Regiment 2
Magister on Disc of Tzeentch (110)
Scourge of Ghyran Kairic Acolytes (100)
Tzaangor Enlightened on Discs of Tzeentch (280)
• Reinforced
Regiment 3
Fateskimmer, Herald of Tzeentch on Burning Chariot (130)
Changecaster, Herald of Tzeentch (110)
Jamie had some good success getting a solid 4-1 at the Geelong GT last year, and this combat Tzeentch lis is not without its tricks. That Sigil and 100 point ethereal dudes are going to be a pain in the dick for exactly 5 other people, which I am sure Jamie is looking forward to. I won’t rinse Jamie too hard as he’s driving me down and I would like to not be left abandoned in the middle of nowhere – otherwise known as Canberra.
Lumineth Realm Lords
More Painted Option 1970/2000 pts
Lumineth Realm-lords
Alarith Temple
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 3
Spell Lore – Lore of Hysh
Manifestation Lore – Krondspine Incarnate (20 Points)
Battle Tactic Cards: Intercept and Recover, Restless Energy
Hey look, it’s that revival of Teclis and Sentinels that everyone was so eager to see! Cheers for that Adam Hoad.
General’s Regiment
Archmage Teclis and Celennar, Spirit of Hysh (560)
• General
Alarith Stoneguard (260)
• Reinforced
Vanari Auralan Sentinels (320)
• Reinforced
Regiment 1
Alarith Stonemage (120)
• Flawless Commander
Alarith Stoneguard (260)
• Reinforced
Regiment 2
Scinari Cathallar (110)
• Waystone
Vanari Bladelords (300)
• Reinforced
Faction Terrain
Shrine Luminor (20 Points)
Teclis and Sentinels isn’t something we have seen in a while: it’s been mostly Bladelords, Soggy Eltharion and Ellania and Ellathor. It’s got its tough frontline of Stoneguard sitting in front of a Covering Fire engine. Looking at this list for lots of people will feel like a mixture of nightmares and bad memories.
Maggotkin of Nurgle
Have I gone back in time? First Teclis and Sentinels, and now Chris Bugg has followed up with Pusgoyle Blightlord spam?
Flies go buzzzzz 2000/2000 pts
Maggotkin of Nurgle
Affliction Cyst
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 2
Prayer Lore – Bendictions of Sickness
Battle Tactic Cards: Restless Energy, Attuned to Ghyran
General’s Regiment
Lord of Afflictions (170)
• General
• Unctuous Preacher
• Rustfang
Plague Drones (170)
Pusgoyle Blightlords (420)
• Reinforced
Pusgoyle Blightlords (420)
• Reinforced
Pusgoyle Blightlords (210)
Regiment 1
Gutrot Spume (130)
Lord of Plagues (100)
Putrid Blightkings (380)
• Reinforced
Faction Terrain
Feculent Gnarlmaw
I can’t look at any of his rules because my app’s updated but the old rules are in for Cancon, so like everybody else I have no idea what’s going on here, giving Chris full reign to make up whatever rules he likes and we just have to go along with it I suppose8. It’s a lot of wounds on a 3+ and 5++ ward, so he’s probably going to spend the whole game standing in a spot and not dying. As someone who hasn’t recovered from the trauma of Fly Spam I wish Chris the worst this weekend.
Wrap up
For all those going to Canberra, the PC Team wish you the best of luck – though Pete is barracking slightly more for the Destro-sexuals. This should be a good weekend whether you’re there to show off your army, have a beer or smash your way to the podium.
A Patreon exclusive article will be coming soon with a deep dive into my own Sylvaneth list, and the thoughts and strategies around piloting such a list. I myself will be hoping to do as well as I can, since my last GT had me looking like this according to Graal…
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Plastic Craic 