Check out the Warhammer: The Previous World meta breakdown we noticed at Adepticon 2026. There have been some large surprises!
Final month noticed the largest Previous World occasion in North American happen at Adepticon. The occasion was a ton of enjoyable and over the lengthy weekend greater than 100 individuals performed in numerous Previous World occasions. Whereas I bought to play within the doubles, I additionally judged the opposite occasions. Particularly the championship attracted a whole lot of nice gamers with nice lists. The occasion did have some gentle comp (by right now’s requirements). So right now I wished to check out what the occasion tells us in regards to the meta, by each wanting on the comp and what was performed there. So lets dig in.
The Adepticon 2026 Comp
The general comp at Adepticon was meant to be pretty mild. The bottom of it was constructed off of the matched play information, specifically the Grand Melee and Mixed Armies guidelines, which have change into pretty commonplace. Of notice nonetheless is that we didn’t truly use these guidelines. So whereas the comp mirrored the restrictions, having different restrictions didn’t get round these limits. On prime of that there have been caps on flying items/monsters and on Cathay lanterns.
There have been additionally a couple of extra focused errata’s within the FAQ. Whereas these didn’t restrict what you could possibly take, they alter a few guidelines geared toward sturdy armies. These are extra of steadiness modifications than “comp” however are likely to get all lumped in collectively.
Comp Targets and Outcomes
Finally the purpose of the comp we used to permit for a extra enjoyable setting. The purpose was to provide a greater expertise to the typical participant and information the occasion in direction of a much less tremendous onerous core really feel. So these modifications had been largely geared toward slicing down among the prime meta builds. Undead, each TK and VC the place hit by modifications to rising. Wild Herd, one of many different prime armies, bought a magic nerf. Fly modifications had been particularly directed at limiting Peg and Gyrocopter spam to extra manageable builds. Flying monster limits had been focused in direction of Cathay and TK monster mash spam, in addition to a couple of different much less widespread lists. Usually the thought was not simply to focus on among the prime armies, but in addition among the lists which might be a lot much less enjoyable to play agasint.
And I feel total the comp did work. The lists we noticed had been generally not as onerous core as some occasions and a whole lot of the more serious offenders didn’t have a giant subject day. We’ll check out the speard, however we had a very good and assorted prove.
What Armies Confirmed Up
Adepticon had a fairly good unfold of armies present up. By my rely the next armies the place performed:
- Warriors Chaos -7
- Wolves of the Seas – 6
- Heralds of Darkness -1
- Beastmen -4
- Wild Herd -3
- Minotaur Breyherds -1
- O&G – 7
- Troll Horde – 2
- Nomadic Waaagh! – 1
- Bretonnia -2
- Exiles -2
- Errantry -4
- Cathay -2
- Jade Fleet – 1
- Excessive Elves 4
- Tomb Kings – 2
- Royal Host -1
- Mort Cult -1
- Wooden Elves -3
- Wild Hunt -2
- Host of Talsyn -1
- Renegade Crowns – 1
- Dwarves -2
- Royal Clan -2
- Expeditionary Pressure -1
- Empire -4
- Ogres-1
- VC -2
- Deamons of Chaos -1
With 14 whole armies Warriors of Chaos was the largest single faction to be performed. Nevertheless they had been break up fairly evenly between Grand Military and Wolves. Each WoC Grand Military and Orcs & Goblins Grand Military had 7 gamers deliver them and tied for largest sub-faction. All of the core armies had been represented, included Renegade Crowns. And an enormous unfold of Armies of Infamy confirmed up, together with each Wooden Elf AoIs. On the flip facet Legacy armies noticed little or no play, regardless of some assist for them. General I feel it is a nice unfold, and whereas there are a few armies that had been very talked-about these weren’t at all times essentially the most highly effective armies.
The High Ten
Now it’s simple to have a look at the highest ten outcomes and say “oh the comp failed, Cathay and TK nonetheless took 1/2.” Nevertheless I don’t suppose that’s very reasonable. The concept of the comp was to make these armies extra enjoyable to play vs, not make them dangerous armies, extra over Andrea and Blue are a few the most effective gamers in North America, its not a shock they’d do effectively. And looking out on the prime 10 you’ll seen a fairly good unfold. Beastmen, not Wild Herd both, are the one military to make the highest 10 twice. Tomb Kings and Wooden Elves as factions, did additionally nab two spots, however with completely different armies. Finally you’ve got 7 factions represented within the two ten. Six of the ten core factions made it up there. The highest 5 had been all from completely different factions as effectively.
Once more its clear that nobody faction was dominating the occasion. As an alternative you’re looking at a bunch of nice gamers on the prime tables ultimately. We’ve seen some occasions with the highest 3 all taken by the identical faction and that didn’t occur. Whereas there won’t have been any large stunning entries into the highest ten, Wooden Elves doing so effectively is the closest, I feel that is the sort of unfold you wish to see and represents a fairly wholesome subject.
Some Different Enjoyable Particulars
A couple of enjoyable info about lists that present the “taste” of the occasion:
- Within the 7 O&G lists there have been a mixed whole of solely 21 fanatics. 3 of the lists didn’t take any and two of them solely took a single unit with them.
- By my rely there have been 23 Gigantic Spawn of Chaos, by far the preferred Uncommon Alternative. That is seemingly a unit that wants tremendous tuning.
- A number of Bret lists didn’t deliver Peg Knights in any respect. We did see a number of items of Grail Knights and various items of Questing Knight, a really uncommon sight.
- The #4 Checklist Tod Silber’s Wooden Elves spent solely 253 pts on characters, one of many lowest I’ve seen.
- Solely 3 of the highest 10 lists had a dragon. 5 of them had a flying ridden monster.
- Orcs & Goblins the place the preferred checklist to not make the highest 10. (Focus on the relation to the primary level.)
- Poor Empire faired the worst of any military, profitable solely 2 video games out of 4 gamers.
Ultimate Takeaways
General as I’ve stated, I feel the comp at Adepticon labored. A whole lot of enjoyable lists confirmed up and most of them weren’t loopy “sweaty” lists. I additionally suppose the individuals who confirmed up had a whole lot of enjoyable, and fewer horrible feels dangerous moments. Greater than steadiness that was the purpose. I feel it exhibits that Dwarves and Empire might have gotten hit onerous by among the limitations, or want extra of a buff. Excessive Elves are additionally in a tough spot. The comp did allow us to bought a pleasant balanced unfold of armies and armies within the prime ten. I feel in a whole lot of methods we noticed participant skill shine by means of a bit extra than simply bringing a tough checklist, however the lists that gained had been typically good lists.
As to what this says in regards to the better meta, it’s a bit onerous to guess. (Chaos and O&G are as at all times actually standard, I can say that). This was a unique setting, as are nearly all large occasions today. As an example I wouldn’t say that Wild Herd is a mid tier military, occasion if they’d a mid tier efficiency at Adepticon, we focused them with comp in any case. I do suppose it exhibits that gamers need a enjoyable match and notion that they’ve a shot at profitable. So my primary take away is that although its unlucky that we want comp proper now, it does work and may also help craft the occasion you need.
Tell us what you concentrate on Adepticon 2026 and it’s Previous World meta.
Abe is that uncommon factor, an Austin native born and raised right here. Although he retains on transferring round, DC, Japan, ETC., he at all times appears to search out his method again ultimately. Abe has many years of expertise with a variety of tabletop and RPG video games, from historicals, to Star Wars to D&D and 40K. He has been contributing to BOLS since nearly the beginning, again when he labored at after which owned a neighborhood gaming retailer. He was large into the aggressive Warhammer match scene however age has mellowed him and he now appreciates a very good informal match. He at present covers Warhammer: The Previous World, in addition to all issues Star Wars, with occasional dabbling in different matters. Abe mourned over lack of WFB for its total hiatus, however has been reborn like a gaming phoenix with Warhammer: The Previous World.
