This is the top three lists for the Nova Open that took place in the US on the 29th of August to the 1st of September 2025. It saw 62 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
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The Top Three Old World Lists
310 – Lord Magistrate, Dragon Fire Bombs, General, Sky Lantern, Iron Hail Guns and Dragon Fire Bombs, Sky Lantern Bombs, Alchemist’s Mask, Talisman Of Protection
150 – Shugengan General, Light Armour, Wizard Level 1, Lore of Yin, High Magic, Burning Blade
374 – Shugengan Lord, Heavy Armour, Wizard Level 4, Lore of Yin, Illusion, The Monkey King’s Wisdom, Learned Feng Shi Bo
182 – 8 Jade Lancer, Ambushers, Drilled, Jade Lancer Officer
182 – 8 Jade Lancer, Ambushers, Drilled, Jade Lancer Officer
137 – 10 Jade Warriors, Shield, Drilled, Jade Officer, Standard Bearer, Icon of Heavenly Fury
165 – 2 Cathayan Grand Cannon
• 1x Ogre Loader
165 – 2 Cathayan Grand Cannon
• 1x Ogre Loader
165 – 2 Cathayan Grand Cannon
• 1x Ogre Loader
170 – Sky Lantern, Iron Hail Guns and Dragon Fire Bombs, Sky Lantern Bombs
In the first big Old World GT, Cathay comes out with a great showing. People had been worried about how strong Cathay would be and they proved their dominance at the NOVA Open going 1 and 2.
The winning list only took a mere 2 lanterns but loaded up on 3 cannons and 2 Shugengan heroes. The level 4 goes all in on a melee build with illusion and The Monkey King’s Wisdom. 2d6 strength 10 attacks with d3 wounds can really put a hurt on something while Learned Feng Shi Bo greatly increases the chances of still getting Doppelganger while not relying on Lore Familiar.
290 – Lord Magistrate, Gunpowder Bombs, General, Sky Lantern, Iron Hail Guns and Dragon Fire Bombs, Sky Lantern Bombs, Armour of Meteoric Iron, Talisman Of Protection
344 – Shugengan Lord, Light Armour, Heavy Armour, Wizard Level 3, Lore of Yin, Elementalism, The Monkey King’s Wisdom, Learned Feng Shi Bo
273 – 10 Jade Lancer, Ambushers, Drilled, Jade Lancer Officer, Alchemist’s Mask, Standard Bearer, Musician
228 – 27 Jade Warriors, Shield, Jade Officer, Standard Bearer
130 – Cathayan Grand Cannon
130 – Cathayan Grand Cannon
130 – Cathayan Grand Cannon
135 – Sky Lantern, Sky Lantern Crane Guns
170 – Sky Lantern, Iron Hail Guns and Dragon Fire Bombs, Sky Lantern Bombs
170 – Sky Lantern, Iron Hail Guns and Dragon Fire Bombs, Sky Lantern Bombs
In second place we have a lantern heavy list running 4 total lanterns. It can be very hard for most armies to handle that many. We also see 3 Grand Cannons without the Ogre Loaders to make room for more lantern, as well as a melee focused Shugengan Lord which seem to be staples in Cathay lists. While this list and the first place list did not have to go head to head, I really would have liked to see who would have won between the two. Either way, expect to see a lot more Cathay in the top 3 with lanterns, 3 Cannons and Shugengan Lords.
420 – High Priest, Necrolith Bone Dragon, Wizard Level 3, Illusion, Serpent Staff, Warding Splint, Lore Familiar
124 – Royal Herald, Battle Standard Bearer, Skeleton Chariot, Great Weapon
452 – Tomb King, Shield, General, Necrolith Bone Dragon, Biting Blade, Armour of the Ages, Talisman Of Protection
270 – 5 Sepulchral Stalkers, Ambushers
60 – 12 Skeleton Archers
283 – 5 Skeleton Chariots, Master Charioteer, Obsidian Lodestone, Standard Bearer, Icon of Rakaph, Musician
195 – Necrosphinx
195 – Necrosphinx
In 3rd, we have tomb kings running the double dragon and double sphinx combo. We have seen this list do well in the past and still did well enough to score max points against every opponent except the loss to Cathay so this list still has it. This one runs the very hard to kill tomb king as well as a similar approach we saw with Cathay, in using illusion for spectral doppelganger and a magic weapon for melee punch. They also run a royal herald on chariot which can help to soak up wounds from the Tomb King making it even harder to kill, as well as run with a very fast block of chariots with Icon of Rakaph for free reforms. 5 Stalkers can ambush and keep up with a very fast-moving army with the mandatory skeleton archers being able to sit on an objective and maybe be lucky enough to pick off a wound here and there.
Well, there we have it. The first really large sample size post 1.5 updates and Cathay drop. Will we continue to see Cathay dominate? I will be watching closely to see how the meta shakes up next and only time will tell.
Final Tournament Placings
