This is the top three lists for Top Three AoS Lists for the Sydney GT 2025 that took place in Australia between the 4th amd 5th of October 2025. It saw 126 players vying to be crowned champion in a 5-game tournament.
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The Top Three AoS Lists
Fyreslayers
Scales of Vulcatrix (10 Points)
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 5
Prayer Lore – Vulkyn Gifts
Manifestation Lore – Magmic Invocations
Battle Tactic Cards: Intercept and Recover, Restless Energy
General’s Regiment
Auric Runefather on Magmadroth (320)
• General
Scourge of Ghyran Auric Runeson on Magmadroth (320)
• Incandescent Blaze
• Blood of the Berzerker
Regiment 1
Scourge of Ghyran Auric Runeson on Magmadroth (330)
• Droth-helm – (10) Points
Regiment 2
Scourge of Ghyran Auric Runeson on Magmadroth (320)
Regiment 3
Auric Runemaster (180)
Hearthguard Berzerkers with Berzerker Broadaxes (240)
• Reinforced
Regiment 4
Auric Runesmiter on Magmadroth (280)
Faction Terrain
Magmic Battleforge
Kevin Lathers: Another 5-0 for Fyreslayers with a resounding win from David.
This list leans hard into Magmadroths with five total on the field. The SoG Runeson on Magmadroth is a hammer and this list exists to table opponents with three of them. Adding fuel to the fyre is the Hearthguard Berserkers with Broadaxes which gain an attack near damaged heroes: meaning shooting or attacking the droths makes the lone infantry unit a true hammer — especially if paired with a rune use of Crit(Mortal).
The Smiter Magmadroth also adds a useful rampage (mortal damage to large model count units) and ability (priest and +1 wound to a nearby unit) to the mix for some utility and defensive power to support the 3 hammers. The rampage alone can sometimes justify the smiter droth where a pre-combat 4-6 mortal damage can be the difference between a SonDroth living or dying.
The Runefather exists to give -1 save to enemies, +1 damage to the SonDroths and +1 attack to broadaxes (on top of their possible warscroll bonus, for 4 attacks per model). His damage ain’t nothing but he’s just a further set piece for the son droths.
Similarly the Runemaster exists as battle trait rune buff and a prayer machine. It’s good to note that the prayer lore further enhances things with the a hero phase movement, +1 to hit (enhanced for +2 companion attacks, even on the breath), and enhanced lava blood (3 or d3+3 extra damage on a bleed back can certainly add up).
The Runesons on Magmadroth are the center pieces here and the list revolves around them. One is a hammer in a list, but three can clear nearly anything in the game; and if they fail their lava blood can often knock in those few final damage points.
With good positioning and rune usage the list exists to table the opponents.
The lists big weakness, traditionally, is shooting which may kill Magmadroths without worry of their lava blood (made more potent by prayers) or their strikes first (activated once per game by runes). But with two KO players defeated, perhaps that is less than the whole truth.
The other issue, like all Fyreslayers lists, is that with a few misuses of once per game abilities, or slightly poor positioning, and the entire house of cards will fall apart on this list particularly hard. The wound count here is low with a monster spam list and magmadroths can die fast in the wrong places.
It’s an aggressive list and he brought it home. Congratulations to David.
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 (250)
Terrorgheist (220)
Regiment 3
Vampire Lord (160)
• Lash of the Sire
• Shard of Night
Faction Terrain
Cursed Sepulchre
Connor Irwin: Congratulations to Matthew Tyrrel for the excellent 5-0 showing with his monster-heavy Soulblight Gravelords at the Sydney GT.
Matthew picked the evergreen Bachannal of Blood formation to give his vampires +1 to their casting when out of combat and +1 to wound rolls when they charge. He had the points to spare, so he went with the morbid conjuration manifestation lore. The casting values in that lore are a little higher than average, but that’s where the formation bonus adds a lot of value. His tactic cards are Intercept and Recover and Master the Paths, both favoring his aggressive list design.
Starting from the bottom of the list, a rogue agent Vampire Lord bears both army enhancements, the Shard of Night and Lash of the Sire. Because of ability activation sequencing, this lets the Vampire Lord use its teleport ability on a 3+ and then its lash to nudge critical units d6” closer to their targets on another 2+. With a 3+ save, it presents a very unattractive covering fire target as well and can teleport right up to 3” from a hero. A solid tactical jack-knife wizard for its points.
Next, there’s momma Lauka Vai, a great beat stick by herself that has the usual rend debuff aura all vengorians sport and a punchy rampage. She also has the Queen’s Dictate warscroll spell that adds d3 attacks to a nearby monster’s companion weapon profile, or can boost her own impaling talons to devastating effect. The spell works very well with the Soulblight terrorghiest who loves the added chances to push 6 mortal damage out of its Fanged Maw critical hits, and is even very useful on vhodrai’s mount as well in a pinch (Peter – Edit: Apologies, we have since found that Lauka Vai’s spell cannot be used on unique monsters 13/10/25)
Next, there’s the surprising appearance of the Wight King on Skeletal Steed, which has come down in cost and adds punch and durability to the ten black knights it likely leads, unlocking their 5+ ward. The king’s ability to add +1 to hit for the knights when they attack units within 6” of an objective or terrain feature in enemy territory, then decrease the save of a unit it damages by -1 with his Ancient Barrow Curse means he can very effectively push a unit off an objective when the time comes. This is especially effective if the unit has fight-last from the Prison of Grief spell but demands some hard decisions of the opponent regardless.
Last, we come to Prince Vhodrai and his Blood Knight escort. You often see more blood knights, vargheists or trueblades to maximize the effect of his devastating Saint of Slaughter buffs, but some (myself for sure) have found the ability hard to get value out of with hammers spread all over the table. Matthew’s approach demands finesse, as he likely uses Vhodrai to soften up an enemy with his tricksy rampage and fight first spell, for the blood knights to finish the kill and collect their buffs. Even just five knights can become truly terrifying with +1 to damage and attacks, and have a much smaller footprint to get over enemy screens with their Trampled to Dust ability.
With Soulblight Gravelords coming into this recent battlescroll update a solidly mid-tier army, it’s awesome to immediately see a great performance using some non-traditional tools like the terrorghiest and mounted wight king.
Cheers to Matthew, and congratulations again.
Idoneth Deepkin
Ethersea Predators (20 Points)
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 3
Spell Lore – Lore of the Deeps
Manifestation Lore – Aetherwrought Machineries
Battle Tactic Cards: Scouting Force, Master the paths
General’s Regiment
.Ellen Brody.
Mathaela, Oracle of the Abyss (160)
• General
Akhelian Allopex (170)
• 1x Razorshell Harpoon
Akhelian Allopex (170)
• 1x Razorshell Harpoon
Akhelian Allopex (170)
• 1x Razorshell Harpoon
Akhelian Allopex (170)
• 1x Razorshell Harpoon
Regiment 1
.Chief Martin Brody.
Eidolon of Mathlann, Aspect of the Sea (340)
• Merciless Raider
• Armour of the Cythai
Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (340)
• Reinforced
Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (340)
• Reinforced
Regiment 2
.Mrs. Kintner.
Isharann Tidecaster (110)
Faction Terrain
.Quints Boat – The ORCA.
Gloomtide Shipwreck
Calypso: Mitch’s homage to Jaws (check the names) brought the sharks and eels out for a swim. Running four sharks, he uses Ethersea Predators to recur one a turn and swaps the usual Leviadon for an extra pack of eels and a Tidecaster. The list excels at spreading the board, and its defensive buffs make these drowned elves deceptively tanky—Tides provide -1 to Hit or -1 Rend. Knowing when to trigger each effect is an art, but the army’s speed lets it dictate engagements.
The spell lore skips the Incarnate of the Deep for the more controlling Aetherwrought Machinery. The Pendulum provides area denial and forces awkward positioning, while Cogs grants -1 to Hit for wizards. The Eidolon of the Sea brings a slick defensive kit, Merciless Raider allows the Eidolon a 6″ pile-in into a damaged unit, and when paired with the Armour of Cynthai, inflicts -1 to Hit on enemies in combat. Eight harpoon shots and eel charge damage ensure plenty of targets for that pile-in.
The Tidecaster can be devastating into certain matchups. The Ikon of the Storm is a great pick here too, offering Retreat and Charge to avoid being pinned down. With no Obscuring Terrain for anyone except the Tidecaster, the list handles CoS Cannons and KO shooting more comfortably with the Tidecaster.
The tactics choice is also clever. Scouting seems like the obvious pick for an army with six Scout units moving 12″ and the ability to return four from board edges. Master the Paths is a strong alternative different take from the ubiquitous Restless Energy or Wrathful Cycles. It forces some difficult choices – the three sharks able to teleport, they can easily pressure vulnerable support pieces.
This is a disciplined, controlling list executed expertly by Mitch—surely the shark in this picture. Judging by his expression, he’s enjoying a well-earned snack, likely courtesy of the AOS Coach as his tournament prize.
Maggotkin of Nurgle
Plague Cyst
General’s Handbook 2025-26
Drops: 4
Spell Lore – Lore of Malignance
Prayer Lore – Bendictions of Sickness
Manifestation Lore – Aetherwrought Machineries
Battle Tactic Cards: Wrathful Cycles, Restless Energy
General’s Regiment
Scourge of Ghyran Rotigus (430)
• General
Sloppity Bilepiper, Herald of Nurgle (100)
Regiment 1
Harbinger of Decay (150)
Pusgoyle Blightlords (210)
Putrid Blightkings (380)
• Reinforced
Regiment 2
Gutrot Spume (130)
Lord of Plagues (100)
Putrid Blightkings (190)
Faction Terrain
Feculent Gnarlmaw
Regiments of Renown
Godmarked Ascendant (260)
Daemon Prince
• Corpulent Avalanche
• Rustfang
• 1x Wings
Hayden: With the scourge of ghyran update, we received lots of new and interesting tools to pilot and play our army. Here, I’ll explain how I try to push nurgle to its limit in a playstyle. I find fun and enjoyable!
Nurgle’s biggest weakness has always been it’s speed and with the continuous point drops that pusgoyles blight lords have received, it’s finally time to put them on the table. Not only do they help with speed to capture the early objective turn 1 for battle tactics, but with a 2″ unit coherency they are a great choice for really stretching out the screening needed to combat all the deep striking and teleporting going around.
Gutrot Spume with a Lord of Plagues and 5 BK make an appearance to help tag those back marker objectives your opponents have left open. Or they can help pin units that are making an attack on your army, and with the Lord of Plagues +1 attack on a 2+, it gives your 5 stack that perfect punch to help when needed.
The update to Rotigus has been huge, with its -1 to save starting on a 6″ bubble and increasing 3″ everytime on a roll of 6, helping to grind through those 3+ saves that most other armies struggle with. His rampage of dealing mortals equal to the amour save makes a big impact when people charge their big hero into Rotigus trying to take him down. The +1 to spell cast is nice on rotigus, and makes him able to cast the pendulum on a 5+, being the perfect screening tool to close up any gaps in the line, and being able to move it on your opponents turn to try and tag any units chasing down your front line.
With the real hero added to the soggy update being the Demon Prince. He’s often being run in most nurgle lists now, and the ability to deal mortals on a 3+ with the dice based on his movement means a potential counter charge can be brutal for your opponent.
we are running the rust fang here to help give out a permanent -1 amour save on your opponents big hero monsters helping to push through a turn 1 kill on their biggest target, with the potential mortal on his charge an a Sloppity buff on a 2+ turning off wards made by the DP attacks, this model can take down heros twice his point cost.
Another big point on this list is being 50 points under the 2k cap. This allows us to start the first turn with an extra CP which can come in handy. As with being a 4 drop list, most of the time, our opponents will out drop us, making us go first. This gives us the breathing room for magical intervention to retry a fleshy abundance if it failed on our turn, and being able to afford a counter charge, when your BK wall gets hit while leaving us with the option to all out attack or defence in the fighting phase.
With this list, you are no longer taking 20 BK an a hero and marching to the middle of the board while taking hits and hoping you survive. You have a frontline of 10BK and a soggy rotigus. Flank the edges with a DP all while trying to pin your opponents backline or edges with your deep striking unit, giving your nurgle the option to be the aggressor for once
Final Tournament Placings
