Chef’s League Thousand Sons | Warhammer 40,000 List Analysis

Avatar The Chef January 26, 202378  83 78 Likes

YouTube video

Chef dons the mantle of the sorcerer as he seeks to use forbidden power to take him to the Championships, but will this new League Season prove fruitful with the warriors of the Thousand Sons, or will madness take hold in this first List Analysis for League Season 2!

00:00 Intro
01:07 Magnus Rant
01:35 This is Thousand Sons, not Thousand Sons ft Daemons
1:59 List Intro – Cult of Duplicity
2:38 HQs – Daemon Prince
4:30 HQs – Ahriman
5:46 HQs – Infernal Master
6:41 HQs – Sorcerer
9:15 Troops – Rubric Marines
10:37 Troops – Rubric Marines BUT WITH FLAMERS
12:45 Elites – Scarab Occult Terminators
14:09 Elites – Helbrutes
15:44 List Wrap Up and Caballistic Ritual Thoughts
16:19 Backup Psychic Powers
16:53 Starting CP Tactics
17:20 Secondary Tactics
17:30 Wrath of Magnus Thoughts
17:49 Warpcraft – Mutate Landscape & Psychic Interrogation
19:23 Battlefield Supremacy – Behind Enemy Lines
19:58 No Mercy, No Respite & Purge The Enemy
20:35 Shadow Operations – Raise the Banners High & Retrieve Battlefield Data
21:25 Sorcerous Prowess
22:02 Burn Empires
22:45 Secondary Choices
24:33 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up

🎥 Want even more Tabletop Tactics videos? Check out our website and sign up for On Demand! 

🏆 Make sure to follow along with the League Rankings!

(Spoiler Warning! The Rankings are updated the day after every release, so don’t read it until you’ve watched the game!)

📖 Learn the ways of war with our in depth Tactical Guides!

🎲 Like to roll in style? Tabletop Tactics Merchandise 

🛒 For all your hobby and gaming needs, visit Tabletop Tactics’ sponsors Element Games

🗺 Game Mats provided by gamemat.eu 

🎵 All music is licensed with artists credited at the end of the video

The Army List (watch the video for discussion and tactics though!)

Thousand Sons

Cults of the Legion: Cult of Duplicity
Arks of Omen Compulsory Choice: Elites
Starting CP: 2
+ HQ +
Thousand Sons Daemon Prince: Warlord, Relic- Egleighen’s Orrery, Warpforged Sword, Wings
Powers- Glamour of Tzeentch, Swelled by the Warp
Ahriman: Disc of Tzeentch
Powers- Twist of Fate, Presage, Weaver of Fates,
Infernal Master: High Acolyte- Master Misinformator, Sorcerous Arcana- Umbralefic Crystal
Pacts- Glimpse of Eternity, Malefic Maelstrom,
Power- Desecration of Worlds
Sorcerer: Legion Command- Loyal Thrall, High Acolyte- Seeker After Shadows, Force Stave, Inferno Bolt Pistol
Powers- Baleful Devolution, Perplex
+ Troops +
5x Rubric Marines
Aspiring Sorcerer: Force Stave, Inferno Bolt Pistol, Power- Doombolt
Rubric Marine: Soulreaper Cannon, Icon of Flame
3x Rubric Marines: Inferno Boltgun
5x Rubric Marines
Aspiring Sorcerer: Force Stave, Inferno Bolt Pistol, Power- Tzeentch’s Firestorm
Rubric Marine: Soulreaper Cannon, Icon of Flame
3x Rubric Marines: Inferno Boltgun
5x Rubric Marines
Aspiring Sorcerer: Force Stave, Inferno Bolt Pistol, Power- Gaze of Hate
Rubric Marine: Soulreaper Cannon, Icon of Flame
3x Rubric Marines: Inferno Boltgun
5x Rubric Marines
Aspiring Sorcerer: Force Stave, Inferno Bolt Pistol, Power- Cacodaemonic Curse
Rubric Marine: Soulreaper Cannon, Icon of Flame
3x Rubric Marines: Inferno Boltgun
10x Rubric Marines:
Aspiring Sorcerer: Legion Command- Ardent Automata, Force Stave, Warpflame Pistol, Power- Pyric Flux
Rubric Marine: Warpflamer, Icon of Flame
8x Rubric Marines: Warpflamer
+ Elites +
Helbrute: Helbrute Fist, Multi-melta, Heavy Flamer
Helbrute: Helbrute Fist, Multi-melta, Heavy Flamer
Helbrute: Helbrute Fist, Multi-melta, Heavy Flamer
10x Scarab Occult Terminators:
Scarab Occult Sorcerer: Legion Command- Protégé, Force Stave, Inferno Combi-bolter, Powers- Dark Blessing, Temporal Surge
2x Terminators: Prosperine Khopesh, Inferno Combi-bolter, Hellfyre Missile Rack
2x Terminators: Prosperine Khopesh, Soulreaper Cannon
5x Terminator: Prosperine Khopesh, Inferno Combi-bolter
Total: 1,997 pts


Subscribe
Notify of
83 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Justin Prato
Lifetime Member
1 year ago

As a fellow thousand sons player I like the list, however, I do like to put my best MW spells on characters rather than units as the units can use their one cast for smite, while characters can smite +MW spell if necessary to kill something. Also I think you are spending to much on the WL traits and relics. Realistically I would just bring the crystal and the redeploy. I can’t wait to see this list in action.

Collin Stiglbauer
1 year ago

Take a look at a block of 5 chaos spawn. At 105 points for the whole unit, they’re absurdly killy and if you toss weaver of fates on them they’re really durable. Temporal surge on them instead of the termies gives them 14 inch moves before a charge too.

drdz
1 year ago

Really enjoy the tactical ponderings of list analyses, and it’ll be interesting to see whether variety or redundancy win out in the psychic powers – as an Aeldari player, I’m often torn over the same question.

Shardspear
1 year ago

Looking forward to seeing these games! Don’t forget that pistol upgrades are free for those rubric marines so you could give them all plasma pistols instead of inferno bolt pistols at no extra points cost.

Kdash
Lodge Warrior Member
Kdash
1 year ago

Looking forward to watching you use TSons competitively! Though I am a bit sad that you don’t have any units of spawn in your list right now. I’ve always found them to be super useful and massively underestimated – even just using 2 units of 1 to come in from reserves turn 2 behind enemy lines and LoS to score some points. Though units of 5 can do a lot of work, especially if you’ve not got a weaver of fates target in mind. Another option that might (or might not) is changing to 2, 5 man, units of scarabs.… Read more »

Hi Im Fluffyy
1 year ago

I dont remember if you guys have them, but the Chaos War Dog “Brigands” (the double gun armigers) is what i run to cover what TS really lack, Ranged Firepower. I would consider Lascannon/ML helbrutes, cause as you said they are just so goddamn slow and they rarely if ever make it to combat on THEIR terms. when they do its usually them being charged by something that can just bonk them into the ground. Also they would work better with Eglewhateveritscalled’s Orrery, cause of the timing of activation. (Orrery, timing wise is kinda awkward) Scarabs are such great midboard… Read more »

Jeroen Meijboom
Jeroen Meijboom
1 year ago

Is it possible in between leagues we can get some competitive match ups towards the start of the league?

Keep up the good work!

Tormund the Brute
1 year ago

But Chef, where are your Tzaangors? From how every TS boxset is constructed, i thought they would be an integregal part of any TS army…

Sluggy
Lifetime Member
1 year ago

Oh man, I can’t wait. I don’t know much about TS on the tabletop, but thematically, this is extremely cool. Powerful characters and elite troops, tons of magical tricks up your sleeve, I think this army will be a lot of fun.

Philippe Boulanger
Lodge Member
1 year ago

I’m looking forward to following your games in the League. All these tzeetchian shenanigans suit you perfectly well, it will be fun.

And of course Ahriman would defer to Prince Philip, how can you even question this ! 😝

Thijs Schrijnemakers

Chef, the whispers in your ear are the Divine One inspiring you to your Victory. Trust in your gut instict, for that is the will of the Changer of Ways. The 15th will conquer.
Can’t wait for the league.

Robert Kriszun
Lifetime Member
1 year ago

Oh baby! My favourite format and my favourite boys! What can possibly go wrong? I’m sure you’ll command them to glory, chef. I like your list and your thoughts secondarywise. It’s a tough one. It’s hard to pick and hard to deny secondary points for your opponent. My goto secondary would be warpritual. You only have to do it three times for 12 VP and you don’t have to controll an objective. A shamen is very pointefficent for that job. But a loyal trall sorcerer with seeker can do the buisness. Behind enemy lines is surprisingly doable for TSons. But… Read more »

SlipperyWeasel
Lodge Member
1 year ago

Love the league. Sad there won’t be any blood angels this time though

The_happy_wargamer
1 year ago

That was an excellent analysis of the list and why you choose the units, top t’son banter. I am looking forward to your games chef, even though I hate psykic and every time I have used it I hate myself more, but that’s a good thing because I turn that hate into anger for my world eater boys. I have always had a soft spot for the t sons as they did what they are made for, but was punished severely through betrayal and other primarchs decision. But Magnus did stay true to his sons and stood by them, I… Read more »

Humphrey_Appleby
Lodge Member
1 year ago

hmm my guess for the league:
Spider = Aeldari
Beard = Orcs
Stig = Custodes
Bard = Guards
Jinx = Drukhari
Chef = Thousand Sons

Michael Whiffin
Lodge Member
Michael Whiffin
1 year ago

@Chef you missed a great opportunity to wear the belt! Your first video leading into the league and no hamming it up!?

Sven Hegenbart
Lifetime Member
1 year ago

I will be honest that i barely managed to avoid a fan girl scream when this pop up xD I think the list looks solid – I stay away from DP and use 2 Exalted Sorcerer. A little more expensive but more Cabal points, more powers and bigger spread of Aura . Rehati and Paradigm of change upgrade is pretty nice even more now that Khopesh swords are free for them. Relics are good choice as I also don’t leave the house with the crystal and Orrey. Think Behind Enemy Lines could be easy to prevent for the enemy but… Read more »

Riley Fitzgerald
1 year ago

Chef for the win! I know who I’m rooting for

SchnitzelHip
Lifetime Member
1 year ago

Stoked for Season 2. Hoping to see some Astra Militarum from the Bard, Eldar or Orks from Spider, Custodes from Stig just to completely throw everyone expecting AdMech. Really looking forward to this.

Samuel Aster
Lodge Warrior Member
1 year ago

yesss, so hyped for this one, you r already my favorite for this season 😀

Shawn Chenoweth
Lifetime Member
1 year ago

Emperor: Magnus trust in me and my plan.
Magnus: Cool story Pops, hold my beer while I learn you something old man. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Shawn Chenoweth
Lifetime Member
1 year ago

Yes, new league. Finger crossed for Deathwatch! Inquisition needs to be represented as it’s unlikely we will see Grey Knights again. I am excited to see the Orks under Lawrence. It will be interesting to see how he runs them.

Kurtis Carlson
Kurtis Carlson
1 year ago

Fyi a tzaangor shaman is a cheap psychic action monkey and could open up warp ritual (and banners once he’s done with ritual)if you lose. There’s a relic that works on psychic actions too that works with this combo

Wael Riad
Lodge Member
1 year ago

As an Egyptian, i approve 😁🥰 routing for you all the way smit thee.

Dean Brereton
Dean Brereton
1 year ago

Chef running Thousand sons is right. Quick question Chef, would you like to see a wounds cap for Magnus but he stays the same points? or do you think he is overcosted in general?

MackDaddy303
Lifetime Member
1 year ago

So much dust… love it!

Mike S.
Lodge Member
Mike S.
1 year ago

I’m so hyped for Season 2😍 TSons can be very powerful. Will be interesting to see how your Secondaries work out.

Ben H
Lifetime Member
Ben H
1 year ago

Possibly not necessary given the other armies in play, but don’t discount Empyric Guidance. Playing a 30” engagement game with your brick of terminators can really help to keep them safe from an advance and charge, particularly where fate/miracle dice are involved. Also means that you can screen them from those charges with rubrics and keep the rubrics fairly safe at 24”.

Michael Johnson
1 year ago

Thousand sons the first and favourite army since coming back to play in 9th, excited to see what’s to come!

I do think a shaman might be worth considering over the sorcerer it’s cheaper and faster but a little more fragile, and could be used in the same sort of psychic action function.

Julian Stark
Julian Stark
1 year ago

Guess I will have to sign back up once the second season comes close to an end 😀 (was kind of the plan anyway to let some of the reports I enjoy pile up since I’ve gotten a bit tired of tempest and boarding actions just doesn’t hit the spot for me)

Nicholas Long
Nicholas Long
1 year ago

Great to see the sons of Magnus in the league. Currently painting up some Thousand Sons myself. Hope to see them dominate come game time. Go Chef!

Joe Gough
Joe Gough
1 year ago

The last league was amazing and I’m super excited to see this one! Rooting for you this season Chef!

Corruption
Lifetime Member
1 year ago

Looks like a good list, interested to see how it plays.
Also kudos Chef for the Trogdor reference you sneaked in there 🙂

Justin Mendoza
Justin Mendoza
1 year ago

health on you Chef and all followers of the thrice cursed changer.

Crazyshak48
Crazyshak48
1 year ago

I’ll be excited to see this army at work. One of the first TT episodes I watched was Chef’s Thousand Sons turning Bard’s White Scars inside out with psychic might, and I run my Necrons as Szarekhan to this day because of that 😅 So I am excited but also a tad concerned to see how they do in the league

Christopher Krueger
Lodge Member
Christopher Krueger
1 year ago

Spider = Orks
Chef = Thousand Sons
Bard = Guard
Stig = Adeptus Mechanicus
Katie – going to guess Dark Eldar since her Templars aren’t done.
Fletcher – guessing Space Wolves
Beard – guessing Votann

Jiří Dokoupil
1 year ago

Always nice to see some psychic heavy action, looking forwards to that!

Any chance of a sneakpeak if the new guard will be present in the league? 😎

kyle weaver
kyle weaver
1 year ago

Don’t know much on running T.S but it does look like a nasty list. Plus a little hint in bards list intresting

Paul is bad at stuff

I’d be interesting in seeing how the triple helbrute runs, as well as how you handle the movement shinanigans with all the rubric squads. My biggest issue with TSons when I play outside of generally being bad at the game is trying to plan out all the teleports, temporal surges and getting into range without leaving a HQ open. I usually play with 2×10 SOTs, which doesn’t leave many points for harder hitting shooting, so the Helbrutes seem really good. I also notice you have the Hellfyre Racks and Soulreaper Cannons separated in the SOT squad. Is that intentional or… Read more »

Felix
Lodge Member
Felix
1 year ago

I knew it! Made my day, all is dust and dust is all what remains of your enemy! May all the faces of your father be with you🦾

Asprueloose
1 year ago

Magnus did everything wrong. If there was a list of things Magnus should have done, everything he did would be the exact opposite.

Brett Pettitt
Lodge Member
1 year ago

Doesn’t ahriman count as an exalted sorcerer for normal sorcerers?

Daniel Sandsjö
Lifetime Member
Daniel Sandsjö
1 year ago

As predicted 😉 Really looking forwards to this! Cant wait to see!

Joshua Vizcaino
Joshua Vizcaino
1 year ago

What is that Daemon Prince model? It is so gorgeous

DjSynista
Lodge Member
1 year ago

Oh Chef, you’ve made me a happy man/disciple of Tzeentch 🥰💖

List looks solid as too 🤙

P.s Magnus done nothing wrong

Fight me 🤣

Ben Day-McDonnell
Ben Day-McDonnell
1 year ago

Those hell brutes are underrated

Archmike
Lodge Warrior Member
1 year ago

Attitude era was amazing. There’s no one like Stone Cold/Taker/!The Rock in WWE these days 🙁

Luke Flynn
Luke Flynn
1 year ago

Let’s GOOOOO more ts vids

Matt Hudson
Matt Hudson
1 year ago

Nice Chef! Are you really playing TS unless you scream UNLIMITED POWER as you smite away in the psychic phase

Metcon
1 year ago

Excited for this