# T'au Empire Meta: 40k Winning Tournament Lists > T'au Empire in the 40k 11th edition meta: share of winning tournament lists, top detachments, the consensus list and the models it needs. Canonical: https://lexmechanic.com/metamerge/t-au-empire § WIN · 11th edition # T'au Empire Meta: Rank 7 of 28 in the 11th edition field: 5.5% of recent winning lists, fading. What its winners run, merged down to the models. T'au Empire ranks 7th of 28 factions in the 11th edition field, holding 5.5% of the winning tournament lists the feed carries: 47 lists across 6 detachment builds. Its largest build, Retaliation Cadre, took 24 of them, 24 of which could be read and merged into the list below. A player of that build owns 8 datasheets in its spine, 48 models in all. Rank by winners #7 of 28 Share of winners 5.5% Winning lists (GT) 47 lists Last 2 weeks v prior 2 Fading 11 v 17 Feed as of 2026-09-17 [Open in Meta Merge](/metamerge?faction=t-au-empire) [T'au Empire stratagems](/print/stratagems/t-au-empire) 6 builds · 47 winning lists ## 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. | № | Detachment | Lists | Share of winners | Record | Top disposition | Biggest win | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | I | Retaliation Cadre | 24 | 51% | 110-2-16 | Purge the Foe | WTC Warmaster GT 2026 · 578p | | II | Experimental Prototype Cadre + Kauyon | 13 | 28% | 56-11 | Reconnaissance | The MANCHESTER 40k SUPER-MAJOR - SUMMER · 226p | | III | Mont'ka | 6 | 13% | 28-6 | Priority Assets | NOVA Open 2026 Grand Tournament · 373p | | IV | Kroot Hunting Pack + Advanced Acquisition Cadre | 2 | 4% | 9-2 | Take and Hold | The Upkeep Games GT I 2026 · 123p | | V | Kroot Hunting Pack | 1 | 2% | 4-1 | Take and Hold | The MANCHESTER 40k SUPER-MAJOR - SUMMER · 226p | | VI | Kroot Hunting Pack + Experimental Prototype Cadre | 1 | 2% | 4-1 | Priority Assets | DAWN OF ARMAGEDDON GT · 18p | Retaliation Cadre · 24 of 24 lists merged ## 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. ### Spine in four lists in five or more 8 datasheets - 1–3 × Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits Every build 100 pts 24/24 lists 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 · 16 of 24 run this loadout - 2–3 × Stealth Battlesuits Every build 100 pts 24/24 lists 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 · 15 of 24 run this loadout - 1 × The Twin Lance Every build 220 pts 23/24 lists - 1–3 × Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit 95 pts 23/24 lists 1x Battlesuit fists · 2x Burst cannon · 1x Cyclic ion blaster · 1x High-output burst cannon · 1x Marker Drone · 1x Shield Drone · 4 of 23 run this loadout - 1 × Commander Farsight Warlord 70 pts 23/24 lists - 1–2 × Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits 100 pts 21/24 lists 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 · 10 of 21 run this loadout - 1–2 × Pathfinder Team Every build 85 pts 21/24 lists 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 · 4 of 21 run this loadout - 1–2 × Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit Starflare Ignition System Every build 100 pts 20/24 lists 1x Battlesuit fists · 1x Marker Drone · 4x Missile pod · 1x Shield Drone · 4 of 20 run this loadout ### Flex a real choice, in a third of the lists or more 7 datasheets - 1–2 × Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits Every build 125 pts 18/24 lists 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 · 13 of 18 run this loadout - 1–2 × Broadside Battlesuits 150 pts 13/24 lists 1x Broadside Shas'vre · 1x Crushing bulk · 1x Heavy rail rifle · 2x Missile Drone · 1x Twin smart missile system · 1x Weapon Support System · 1x Broadside Shas'ui · 1x Crushing bulk · 1x Heavy rail rifle · 2x Missile Drone · 1x Twin smart missile system · 1x Weapon Support System · 2 of 13 run this loadout - 1–2 × Ghostkeel Battlesuit 165 pts 12/24 lists 1x Battlesuit Support System · 1x Cyclic ion raker · 1x Ghostkeel fists · 1x Twin fusion blaster · 5 of 12 run this loadout - 1 × Kroot Carnivores 65 pts 12/24 lists 1x 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 · 7 of 12 run this loadout - 1 × Darkstrider 60 pts 11/24 lists - 1–3 × Riptide Battlesuit 215 pts 10/24 lists 1x Ion accelerator · 2x Missile Drone · 1x Riptide fists · 1x Twin fusion blaster · 4 of 10 run this loadout - 1 × Vespid Stingwings 70 pts 9/24 lists 1x Vespid Strain Leader · 1x Neutron blaster · 1x Stingwing claws · 4x Vespid Stingwing · 4x Neutron blaster · 4x Stingwing claws · 8 of 9 run this loadout ### Tech in fewer than a third: one player's answer to one matchup 10 datasheets - 1–2 × Hammerhead Gunship 150 pts 8/24 lists 2x Accelerator burst cannon · 1x Armoured hull · 1x Railgun · 2x Seeker missile · 4 of 8 run this loadout - 1 × Firesight Team 55 pts 5/24 lists 1x Close combat weapons · 1x Longshot pulse rifles · 1x Pulse pistol · 4 of 5 run this loadout - 1 × Krootox Riders 60 pts 2/24 lists 2x Krootox Rider · 2x Close combat weapon · 2x Krootox fists · 2x Repeater cannon · 1 of 2 run this loadout - 1 × Stormsurge 375 pts 1/24 lists 1x Cluster rocket system · 1x Destroyer missiles · 1x Pulse blast cannon · 1x Thunderous footfalls · 1x Twin burst cannon · 2x Twin smart missile system - 1 × Commander Shadowsun Warlord 100 pts 1/24 lists - 1 × Breacher Team 90 pts 1/24 lists 1x Support turret · 1x Breacher Fire Warrior Shas'ui · 1x Close combat weapon · 1x Guardian Drone · 1x Gun Drone · 1x Pulse blaster · 1x Pulse pistol · 9x Breacher Fire Warrior · 9x Close combat weapon · 9x Pulse blaster · 9x Pulse pistol - 1 × Devilfish 75 pts 1/24 lists 1x Accelerator burst cannon · 1x Armoured hull · 2x Seeker missile · 2x Twin pulse carbine - 1 × Strike Team 70 pts 1/24 lists 1x Support turret · 1x Fire Warrior Shas'ui · 1x Close combat weapon · 1x Pulse pistol · 1x Pulse rifle · 9x Fire Warrior · 9x Close combat weapon · 9x Pulse pistol · 9x Pulse rifle - 1 × Piranhas 65 pts 1/24 lists 1x Armoured hull · 1x Piranha fusion blaster · 2x Seeker missile · 2x Twin pulse carbine - 1 × Ethereal 50 pts 1/24 lists 1x Honour stave · 1x Warlord, Hover Drone, Marker Drone, Shield Drone ### Consensus list 1,665 pts One list, taken from the copies and loadouts most of this build's lists run. 335 pts are left for flex, most often Broadside Battlesuits (13/24), Ghostkeel Battlesuit (12/24), Darkstrider (11/24). META CONSENSUS (1665 points) T'au Empire Strike Force (2000 points) Retaliation Cadre Force Dispositions: Purge the Foe 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 The Twin Lance (220 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 Coldstar Battlesuit (95 Points) • 1x Battlesuit fists • 2x Burst cannon • 1x Cyclic ion blaster • 1x High-output burst cannon • 1x Marker Drone • 1x Shield Drone Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit (95 Points) • 1x Battlesuit fists • 2x Burst cannon • 1x Cyclic ion blaster • 1x High-output burst cannon • 1x Marker Drone • 1x Shield Drone Commander Farsight (70 Points) • Warlord • 1x Dawn Blade • 1x High-intensity plasma rifle 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 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 in Enforcer Battlesuit (100 Points) • Enhancement: Starflare Ignition System • 1x Battlesuit fists ◦ 1x Marker Drone ◦ 4x Missile pod ◦ 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 Kroot Carnivores (65 Points) • 1x 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 25 datasheets · 23 of 24 lists ## 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. 48 models in the spine · 72 with the flex · 8 datasheets in the spine | Datasheet | Lists | Models | When taken | How it is built | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Stealth Battlesuits Every build | 23/23 | 10 | 10–15 | | | Crisis Starscythe Battlesuits Every build | 23/23 | 6 | 3–9 | 4× Crisis Starscythe Shas’ui · 2× Crisis Starscythe Shas’vre | | Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit | 22/23 | 2 | 1–3 | 2× Commander in Coldstar Battlesuit | | The Twin Lance Every build | 22/23 | 2 | Always 2 | 1× Ri'Lantar · 1× Ri'Locai | | Commander Farsight | 22/23 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Commander Farsight | | Pathfinder Team Every build | 20/23 | 20 | 10–20 | 12× Pathfinders w/ pulse carbine · 6× Pathfinders w/ rail rifle · 2× Pathfinder Shas'ui · also seen: Pathfinders w/ pulse carbine and grenade launcher, Pathfinders w/ ion rifle | | Crisis Fireknife Battlesuits | 20/23 | 6 | 3–6 | 4× Crisis Fireknife Shas’ui · 2× Crisis Fireknife Shas’vre | | Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit Every build | 19/23 | 1 | 1–2 | 1× Commander in Enforcer Battlesuit | | Crisis Sunforge Battlesuits Every build | 18/23 | 6 | 3–6 | 4× Crisis Sunforge Shas’ui · 2× Crisis Sunforge Shas’vre | | Broadside Battlesuits | 13/23 | 4 | 1–4 | 2× Broadside Shas’vre · 2× Broadside Shas’ui | | Kroot Carnivores | 12/23 | 10 | Always 10 | 8× Kroot Carnivores · 1× Long-quill · 1× Kroot Carnivore w/ tanglebomb launcher | | Ghostkeel Battlesuit | 11/23 | 1 | 1–2 | 1× Ghostkeel Battlesuit | | Riptide Battlesuit | 10/23 | 2 | 1–3 | 2× Riptide Battlesuit | | Darkstrider | 10/23 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Darkstrider | | Vespid Stingwings | 8/23 | 5 | Always 5 | 4× Vespid Stingwings w/ Neutron Blaster · 1× Vespid Strain Leader | | Hammerhead Gunship | 7/23 | 1 | 1–2 | 1× Hammerhead Gunship | | Firesight Team | 4/23 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Firesight Team | | Krootox Riders | 2/23 | 2 | 1–2 | 2× Krootox Rider w/ repeater cannon | | Breacher Team | 1/23 | 10 | Always 10 | 10× Breacher Fire Warriors | | Strike Team | 1/23 | 10 | Always 10 | 9× Fire Warrior w/ pulse rifle · 1× Fire Warrior Shas'ui | | Commander Shadowsun | 1/23 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Commander Shadowsun | | Devilfish | 1/23 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Devilfish | | Ethereal | 1/23 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Ethereal | | Piranhas | 1/23 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Piranhas | | Stormsurge | 1/23 | 1 | Always 1 | 1× Stormsurge | 24 lists · largest event first · 12 shown ## The sources The lists behind the numbers above, from the largest event down. - Durante "Glynisir" Bozzini WTC Warmaster GT 2026 · Retaliation Cadre 578p 2026-08-11 5-1 - Durante "Glynisir" Bozzini NOVA Open 2026 Grand Tournament · Retaliation Cadre 373p 2026-09-04 8-1 - Rad Bolt Crucible 2026 · Retaliation Cadre 163p 2026-09-11 6-1 - Kenneth Fiala The Upkeep Games GT I 2026 · Retaliation Cadre 123p 2026-08-15 6-0 - Gregor Wildmoser BAYERN MAJOR 40k 2026 · Retaliation Cadre 114p 2026-09-12 5-0 - ZoZik BMC Cup · Retaliation Cadre 84p 2026-08-07 4-1-0 - Chris Brady Summer Slaughter: Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament · Retaliation Cadre 73p 2026-08-15 5-0 - Alex Hollings Oxford Onslaught Major 40k · Retaliation Cadre 63p 2026-08-15 4-1 - Michael Aigner 21st Legion Wargaming Presents: Heart of War 2026 40K hosted by Away Games · Retaliation Cadre 60p 2026-08-15 4-1 - Noah Keeth 21st Legion Wargaming Presents: Heart of War 2026 40K hosted by Away Games · Retaliation Cadre 60p 2026-08-15 4-1 - Campbell Freeman Battle in the Bush 2026 · Retaliation Cadre 59p 2026-09-11 4-1 - Thibault KINEIDER Geneva GT III · Retaliation Cadre 58p 2026-09-05 4-1 ## 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. 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. Model counts come from the 11th edition catalogue, not from how an export spells its models out. [Chaos Daemons Meta](/metamerge/chaos-daemons) [Tyranids Meta ](/metamerge/tyranids)