§ WIN · 11th edition
T'au Empire MetaRank 9 of 27 in the 11th edition field: 4.5% of recent winning lists, holding. What its winners run, merged down to the models.
T'au Empire ranks 9th of 27 factions in the 11th edition field, holding 4.5% of the winning tournament lists the feed carries: 44 lists across 9 detachment builds. Its largest build, Retaliation Cadre, took 18 of them, 17 of which could be read and merged into the list below. A player of that build owns 9 datasheets in its spine, 55 models in all.
- Rank by winners
- #9of 27
- Share of winners
- 4.5%
- Winning lists (GT)
- 44lists
- Last 2 weeks v prior 2
- Holding12 v 14
- Feed as of
- 2026-10-26
What is winning
The detachment builds that won for T'au Empire at Grand Tournaments, largest share first. Most of them play Purge the Foe.
9 builds · 44 winning lists
| № | Detachment | Lists | Share of winners | Record | Top disposition | Biggest win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Retaliation Cadre | 18 | 41% | 80-14 | Purge the Foe | The London Grand Tournament - 40k Main Event (LGT 40k GT) · 1049p |
| II | Experimental Prototype Cadre + Kauyon | 10 | 23% | 49-3-6 | Reconnaissance | The London Grand Tournament - 40k Main Event (LGT 40k GT) · 1049p |
| III | Mont'ka | 8 | 18% | 36-7 | Priority Assets | The London Grand Tournament - 40k Main Event (LGT 40k GT) · 1049p |
| IV | Kroot Hunting Pack + Experimental Prototype Cadre | 3 | 7% | 13-2 | Take and Hold | The London Grand Tournament - 40k Main Event (LGT 40k GT) · 1049p |
| V | Auxiliary Cadre + Kauyon | 1 | 2% | 4-1 | Reconnaissance | Siege of Mordrax GT · 44p |
| VI | Kroot Hunting Pack + Advanced Acquisition Cadre | 1 | 2% | 5-1 | Take and Hold | LVO 2026 - Warhammer 40k Championships - Las Vegas Open · 652p |
| VII | Advanced Acquisition Cadre + Kauyon | 1 | 2% | 4-1 | Reconnaissance | Gamez Knight - 2 Day 2k · 18p |
| VIII | Mont'ka + Kauyon | 1 | 2% | 4-1 | Priority Assets | Dearg Doom XIII, don't play in Cian's sandbox · 67p |
| IX | Retaliation Cadre + Mont'ka + Kauyon | 1 | 2% | 4-1 | Purge the Foe | Warhammer 40K SA Nationals · 52p |
The list
Take the spine, choose from the flex, and treat the rest as tech. Copies count only the lists that take a unit; the loadout is the one most of them run.
Retaliation Cadre · 17 of 18 lists merged
Spine
in four lists in five or more
9 datasheets
- 1×The Twin Lance240 ptsStaple240 pts17/17 lists
- 1–3×Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit100 ptsStarflare Ignition System100 pts17/17 lists1x Battlesuit fists · 1x Marker Drone · 4x Plasma rifle · 1x Shield Drone · 2 of 17 run this loadout
- 1–2×Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits100 pts100 pts17/17 lists1x Crisis Fireknife Shas'vre · 1x Battlesuit fists · 1x Gun Drone · 2x Plasma rifle · 1x Shield Drone · 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas'ui · 2x Battlesuit fists · 2x Gun Drone · 4x Plasma rifle · 2x Shield Drone · 5 of 17 run this loadout
- 1–2×Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits100 ptsStaple100 pts17/17 lists1x Crisis Starscythe Shas'vre · 1x Battlesuit fists · 2x Burst cannon · 1x Gun Drone · 1x Shield Drone · 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas'ui · 2x Battlesuit fists · 4x Burst cannon · 2x Gun Drone · 2x Shield Drone · 7 of 17 run this loadout
- 2–3×Stealth Battlesuits100 ptsStaple100 pts17/17 lists1x Stealth Shas'vre · 1x Battlesuit fists · 1x Fusion blaster · 1x Gun Drone · 1x Marker Drone · 1x Pulse pistol · 4x Stealth Shas'ui · 4x Battlesuit fists · 3x Burst cannon · 1x Fusion blaster · 1x Homing Beacon · 12 of 17 run this loadout
- 1–3×Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit95 pts95 pts17/17 lists1x Battlesuit fists · 4x Fusion blaster · 1x Marker Drone · 1x Shield Drone · 5 of 17 run this loadout
- 1–3×Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits125 pts125 pts16/17 lists1x Crisis Sunforge Shas'vre · 1x Battlesuit fists · 2x Fusion blaster · 1x Gun Drone · 1x Shield Drone · 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas'ui · 2x Battlesuit fists · 4x Fusion blaster · 2x Gun Drone · 2x Shield Drone · 8 of 16 run this loadout
- 1–3×Pathfinder Team85 ptsStaple85 pts15/17 lists1x Pathfinder Shas'ui · 1x Close combat weapon · 1x Grav-inhibitor Drone · 1x Pulse carbine · 1x Pulse pistol · 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher · 2x Shield Drone · 9x Pathfinder · 9x Close combat weapon · 6x Pulse carbine · 9x Pulse pistol · 3x Rail rifle · 2 of 15 run this loadout
- 1×Commander Farsight70 ptsWarlord70 pts14/17 lists
Flex
a real choice, in a third of the lists or more
3 datasheets
- 1–2×Broadside Battlesuits150 ptsStaple150 pts11/17 lists1x Broadside Shas'vre · 1x Crushing bulk · 1x Heavy rail rifle · 2x Missile Drone · 1x Seeker missile · 1x Weapon Support System · 1x Broadside Shas'ui · 1x Crushing bulk · 1x Heavy rail rifle · 2x Missile Drone · 1x Seeker missile · 1x Weapon Support System · 5 of 11 run this loadout
- 1×Darkstrider60 pts60 pts9/17 lists
- 1–2×Riptide Battlesuit215 pts215 pts6/17 lists1x Ion accelerator · 2x Missile Drone · 1x Riptide fists · 1x Twin plasma rifle · 3 of 6 run this loadout
Tech
in fewer than a third: one player's answer to one matchup
12 datasheets
- 1×Ghostkeel Battlesuit150 pts150 pts5/17 lists1x Battlesuit Support System · 1x Fusion collider · 1x Ghostkeel fists · 1x Twin fusion blaster · 4 of 5 run this loadout
- 1×Vespid Stingwings70 pts70 pts4/17 lists1x Vespid Strain Leader · 1x Neutron blaster · 1x Stingwing claws · 4x Vespid Stingwing · 4x Neutron blaster · 4x Stingwing claws
- 1×Commander Shadowsun100 ptsWarlord100 pts3/17 lists
- 1×Kroot Carnivores65 pts65 pts3/17 lists1x Long-quill · 1x Close combat weapon · 1x Kroot carbine · 1x Kroot pistol · 9x Kroot Carnivore · 9x Close combat weapon · 8x Kroot rifle · 1x Tanglebomb launcher
- 1×Hammerhead Gunship150 pts150 pts2/17 lists2x Accelerator burst cannon · 1x Armoured hull · 1x Railgun · 2x Seeker missile
- 1×Ethereal50 pts50 pts2/17 lists1x Ethereal · 1x Hover Drone · 1x Marker Drone · 1x Shield Drone · 1x Honour stave · 1 of 2 run this loadout
- 1×Sky Ray Gunship140 pts140 pts1/17 lists2x Accelerator burst cannon · 1x Armoured hull · 1x Seeker missile rack
- 1×Breacher Team80 pts80 pts1/17 lists1x Support turret · 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas'ui · 1x Close combat weapon · 1x Guardian Drone · 1x Pulse blaster · 1x Pulse pistol · 1x Shield Drone · 9x Breacher Fire Warrior · 9x Close combat weapon · 9x Pulse blaster · 9x Pulse pistol
- 1×Strike Team70 pts70 pts1/17 lists1x Support turret · 1x Fire Warrior Shas'ui · 1x Close combat weapon · 1x Guardian Drone · 1x Marker Drone · 1x Pulse pistol · 1x Pulse rifle · 9x Fire Warrior · 9x Close combat weapon · 9x Pulse pistol · 9x Pulse rifle
- 1×Piranhas65 pts65 pts1/17 lists1x Armoured hull · 1x Piranha fusion blaster · 2x Seeker missile · 2x Twin pulse carbine
- 1×Firesight Team55 pts55 pts1/17 lists1x Close combat weapons · 1x Longshot pulse rifles · 1x Pulse pistol
- 1×Kroot Hounds45 pts45 pts1/17 lists5x Kroot Hound · 5x Ripping fangs
Consensus list1,715 pts
One list, taken from the copies and loadouts most of this build's lists run, at today's points, not what those lists printed. 285 pts are left for flex, most often Broadside Battlesuits (11/17), Darkstrider (9/17), Riptide Battlesuit (6/17). Trimmed to fit 2,000 pts: Darkstrider, Broadside Battlesuits.
META CONSENSUS (1715 points)
T'au Empire
Strike Force (2000 points)
Retaliation Cadre
Force Dispositions: Purge the Foe
The Twin Lance (240 Points)
• 1x Ri'Lantar
• 1x Fusion eliminator
◦ 1x MV15 Gun Drone
◦ 1x Shardstorm burst system
◦ 1x XV pulse pistol
• 1x Ri'Locai
• 1x Ion scattercannon
◦ 1x MV15 Gun Drone
◦ 1x Shardstorm burst system
◦ 1x XV pulse pistol
Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit (100 Points)
• Enhancement: Starflare Ignition System
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Marker Drone
• 4x Plasma rifle
• 1x Shield Drone
Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (100 Points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas'vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Plasma rifle
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas'ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 4x Plasma rifle
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits (100 Points)
• 1x Crisis Fireknife Shas'vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Plasma rifle
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Fireknife Shas'ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 4x Plasma rifle
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (100 Points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas'vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Burst cannon
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas'ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Burst cannon
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits (100 Points)
• 1x Crisis Starscythe Shas'vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Burst cannon
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Starscythe Shas'ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Burst cannon
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Stealth Battlesuits (100 Points)
• 1x Stealth Shas'vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Fusion blaster
• 1x Gun Drone
• 1x Marker Drone
• 1x Pulse pistol
• 4x Stealth Shas'ui
• 4x Battlesuit fists
• 3x Burst cannon
• 1x Fusion blaster
• 1x Homing Beacon
Stealth Battlesuits (100 Points)
• 1x Stealth Shas'vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
• 1x Fusion blaster
• 1x Gun Drone
• 1x Marker Drone
• 1x Pulse pistol
• 4x Stealth Shas'ui
• 4x Battlesuit fists
• 3x Burst cannon
• 1x Fusion blaster
• 1x Homing Beacon
Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (95 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (95 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (95 Points)
• 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Marker Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits (125 Points)
• 1x Crisis Sunforge Shas'vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas'ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Fusion blaster
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits (125 Points)
• 1x Crisis Sunforge Shas'vre
• 1x Battlesuit fists
◦ 2x Fusion blaster
◦ 1x Gun Drone
◦ 1x Shield Drone
• 2x Crisis Sunforge Shas'ui
• 2x Battlesuit fists
◦ 4x Fusion blaster
◦ 2x Gun Drone
◦ 2x Shield Drone
Pathfinder Team (85 Points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas'ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Grav-inhibitor Drone
◦ 1x Pulse carbine
◦ 1x Pulse pistol
◦ 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
◦ 2x Shield Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
• 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 6x Pulse carbine
◦ 9x Pulse pistol
◦ 3x Rail rifle
Pathfinder Team (85 Points)
• 1x Pathfinder Shas'ui
• 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Grav-inhibitor Drone
◦ 1x Pulse carbine
◦ 1x Pulse pistol
◦ 1x Semi-automatic grenade launcher
◦ 2x Shield Drone
• 9x Pathfinder
• 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 6x Pulse carbine
◦ 9x Pulse pistol
◦ 3x Rail rifle
Commander Farsight (70 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Dawn Blade
◦ 1x High-intensity plasma rifle
The models
What a winning Retaliation Cadre player puts on the table: the usual number of models per datasheet, and how most of them build it.
24 datasheets · 14 of 17 lists
55 models in the spine · 61 with the flex · 9 datasheets in the spine
| Datasheet | Lists | Models | When taken | How it is built |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stealth BattlesuitsStaple | 14/14 | 10 | 10–15 | 6× Stealth Shas'ui w/ burst cannon · 2× Stealth Shas'ui w/ fusion blaster · 2× Stealth Shas'vre |
| Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits | 14/14 | 6 | 3–6 | 4× Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui · 2× Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre |
| Crisis Starscythe BattlesuitsStaple | 14/14 | 6 | 3–6 | 4× Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui · 2× Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre |
| Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit | 14/14 | 3 | 1–3 | 3× Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit |
| The Twin LanceStaple | 14/14 | 2 | Always 2 | 1× Ri'Lantar · 1× Ri'Locai |
| Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit | 14/14 | 1 | 1–3 | 1× Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit |
| Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits | 13/14 | 6 | 3–9 | 4× Crisis Sunforge Shas’ui · 2× Crisis Sunforge Shas’vre |
| Pathfinder TeamStaple | 12/14 | 20 | 10–30 | 12× Pathfinders w/ pulse carbine · 6× Pathfinders w/ rail rifle · 2× Pathfinder Shas'ui · also seen: Pathfinders w/ ion rifle, Pathfinders w/ pulse carbine and grenade launcher |
| Commander Farsight | 12/14 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Commander Farsight |
| Broadside BattlesuitsStaple | 9/14 | 4 | 2–4 | 2× Broadside Shas’ui · 2× Broadside Shas’vre |
| Darkstrider | 9/14 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Darkstrider |
| Riptide Battlesuit | 5/14 | 1 | 1–2 | 1× Riptide Battlesuit |
| Ghostkeel Battlesuit | 4/14 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Ghostkeel Battlesuit |
| Vespid Stingwings | 3/14 | 5 | Always 5 | 4× Vespid Stingwings w/ Neutron Blaster · 1× Vespid Strain Leader |
| Kroot Carnivores | 2/14 | 10 | Always 10 | 8× Kroot Carnivores · 1× Kroot Carnivore w/ tanglebomb launcher · 1× Long-quill |
| Commander Shadowsun | 2/14 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Commander Shadowsun |
| Ethereal | 2/14 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Ethereal |
| Hammerhead Gunship | 2/14 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Hammerhead Gunship |
| Breacher Team | 1/14 | 10 | Always 10 | 9× Breacher Fire Warriors · 1× Breacher Fire Warrior Shas'ui |
| Strike Team | 1/14 | 10 | Always 10 | 9× Fire Warrior w/ pulse rifle · 1× Fire Warrior Shas'ui |
| Kroot Hounds | 1/14 | 5 | Always 5 | 5× Kroot Hounds |
| Firesight Team | 1/14 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Firesight Team |
| Piranhas | 1/14 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Piranhas |
| Sky Ray Gunship | 1/14 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Sky Ray Gunship |
The sources
The lists behind the numbers above, from the largest event down.
18 lists · largest event first · 12 shown
- Thomas HumeThe London Grand Tournament - 40k Main Event (LGT 40k GT) · Retaliation Cadre1049p2026-09-256-1
- Antoine - Zorro BlondThe London Grand Tournament - 40k Main Event (LGT 40k GT) · Retaliation Cadre1049p2026-09-255-0
- Oliver CampbellThe London Grand Tournament - 40k Main Event (LGT 40k GT) · Retaliation Cadre1049p2026-09-254-1
- Matthew ThomasRatcon 2026 · Retaliation Cadre94p2026-10-164-1
- Jono BishopRoll for Damage GT - Presented by Dragon's Lair · Retaliation Cadre85p2026-09-185-1
- David CapponiOpen des 3 Frontières · Retaliation Cadre66p2026-09-194-1
- Evan TomchinNew York Open: 40k · Retaliation Cadre63p2026-09-265-0
- benjamin strohOpen de Bretagne FINISTERHAMMER · Retaliation Cadre56p2026-10-035-0
- Jason McKenzieTHERE IS ONLY WAR V 40k GT · Retaliation Cadre52p2026-09-195-1
- Alex CowanWarpstorm 3 · Retaliation Cadre48p2026-10-034-1
- BisouLa Grande Castagne Ardéchoise 2026 · Retaliation Cadre48p2026-09-194-1
- Benjamin [Stratèges d'Ambre]Limoges Wargames solo 2000pts · Retaliation Cadre45p2026-10-244-1
How this is computed
A list counts here when it went undefeated or lost once at a Grand Tournament in the weeks the feed covers; the smaller events the tool can add are left out of this page. The feed carries no losing lists, so no share on it is a win rate. 1 list could not be read and is counted as a winner but left out of the merges.
The list is sorted by take rate across the build's readable lists: a datasheet in 80% of them or more is spine, 35% or more is flex, and the rest is tech — one player's answer to one matchup. A datasheet tagged Staple is taken by at least 50% of the readable lists in each of the faction's largest builds (up to 3, each with 5 or more readable lists).
The consensus list takes the number of copies and the loadout most of those lists run for each datasheet, then drops the least-shared datasheets until it fits 2,000 points. Prices are today's points, not what the lists printed. Model counts come from the 11th edition catalogue, not from how an export spells its models out.