Interview: Ben Jurek on Astra Militarum at Palm Springs Open

Reecius

4 hours ago

At the recent Palm Springs Open run by Games Workshop, competitive Warhammer 40,000 player Ben Jurek piloted Astra Militarum to an impressive 7–1 finish, securing 5th place overall. His only loss came in a razor-close streamed game against Junior Aflleje — a match that showcased just how strong and efficient the Guard can be in the current meta.

As I’ve been getting back into competitive 40K (specifically Astra Militarum), I learned a lot from watching Ben’s streamed game, so I reached out with some follow-up questions about his list, matchups, and overall take on Guard right now.

*List at the bottom of the article.

Hey Ben, you played a strong Astra Militarum list at the recent Palm Springs Open run by Games Workshop, with a 7-1 record, losing only to Junior Aflleje in an incredibly close game on stream. I really enjoyed watching the game and as I am getting back into competitive 40k, specifically Guard, and I learned a lot from watching the game, so I wanted to ask some follow up questions. Congrats on the 5th place finish!

“Thank you very much. You can’t win em all but I gave it my best.”

On the Strength of the List

What works about the list, and what are its weaknesses?

“This list is a really solid take-all-comers list that just has a lot of pure efficiency. It doesn’t particularly have any big weaknesses. I mostly don’t enjoy someone who has more guns than me on the lighter boards.”

The takeaway here is efficiency and flexibility. The list doesn’t hinge on a single gimmick — it’s built to trade well, apply pressure, and respond to a wide variety of threats.

Tweaks & Flexibility

Are there elements of the list you would change?

“You have about 200-ish points of wiggle room that you can adjust as you see fit. You can also skew for teams in one direction or another, be it guns or melee. The easiest swap is cutting the horses for more Catachans and another transport.”

Guard players will appreciate that flexibility. The core remains strong, but there’s space to tailor the list depending on expected matchups.

Matchups

Best and worst matchups?

“My best matchups are melee armies on open boards. They really struggle with the Bullgryn counter-charge plus guns elements.”

The combination of layered shooting and a durable counter-charge threat gives Guard a strong answer to aggressive melee pushes.

Unit Breakdown & Tactical Roles

Kasrkin in Chimeras — how are you typically using them?

“You usually use them to push flanks or push their expansion objective turn over turn, denying their primary.”

How do you typically use the foot Kasrkin unit? I saw you kept them back in that game to help screen?

“In that game I used them to screen — that was a mistake. Most of the time they walk on board edge and help shoot or ingress to get where I need them to be.”

Do you typically use the Bullgryn for holding objectives? Are there scenarios where you use them more offensively?

“Bullgryn are often the 2nd or 3rd wave of models hitting the objective. They’re often solving a problem that killed a trash unit while your guns answer other problems.”

This layered wave approach is key: cheap units trade first, Bullgryn stabilize, guns clean up.

How important are the Scions units in your list? What is the best use for them?

“Scions give the list mobility and demand your opponent respect your reserves. It also gives you 2 orders on demand via rapid ingress — often dropping down and giving Take Cover to two regiment units, and often refunding the CP from their vox caster.”

Tank Choices & Leontus

Do you think there is a place for other tanks or are the Dorn commanders simply the most efficient in your view?

“These and Leman Russ Vanquishers are the go-to gun platforms on a points-to-bang ratio.”

What are your views on using Leontus? Would it work in a list like yours or would you build a list differently to utilize his abilities?

“I like Leontus in a guns-focused list where you bring Leman Russ battle tanks instead of commanders. Leontus is clunky in the Ogryn lists since the leaders you want are Cadian Command + Cadians + Commissar for 24-inch orders.”

Do you think the Aquilan Eye is worth taking or did you have extra points?

“It was just extra points. Almost never came up.”

Utility Units & List Building

Do you think there is a place for another utility unit such as Death Riders or Aquilons?

“Yeah, there’s totally 200–300 points of stuff to move around. I like Engineers, Krieg HWTs, Krieg, 20-man Cadian, Ogryn Bodyguard + Cadian Command. Guard has no shortage of great units to slot in here.”

How useful was the Laud Hailer in your list, lol?

“Not at all. 10 extra points.”

The State of Guard

Any final thoughts?

“Guard is one of the best armies in the game even after the nerf super recently. Losing reroll 1s to wound is a small nerf.”

Where to Follow Ben

You can find more insights from Ben here:

Articles at Goonhammer.com
Coaching services at ArtOfWar40k.com

Huge thanks to Ben for taking the time to break down his list and approach. If you’re getting back into competitive Guard — like I am — there’s a lot here to learn from.

Grizzled dorns (2000 Points)

Astra Militarum
Grizzled Company
Strike Force (2,000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Cadian Command Squad (75 Points)
• 1x Cadian Commander
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
◦ Enhancements: Laud Hailer
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
◦ 1x Laspistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Lasgun
◦ 1x Master Vox
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Lasgun
◦ 1x Medi-pack
• 1x Cadian Veteran Guardsman
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Plasma gun

Commissar (50 Points)
• Warlord
• 1x Plasma pistol
• 1x Power weapon
• Enhancements: Abhuman Detail

Militarum Tempestus Command Squad (105 Points)
• 4x Tempestus Scion
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hot-shot lasgun
◦ 2x Hot-shot laspistol
◦ 1x Master Vox
◦ 1x Medi-pack
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun
• 1x Tempestor Prime
◦ 1x Command Rod
◦ 1x Tempestus dagger
◦ Enhancements: Aquilan Eye

Rogal Dorn Commander (275 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Coaxial autocannon
• 1x Heavy stubber
• 2x Heavy stubber
• 2x Multi-melta
• 1x Oppressor cannon
• 1x Pulveriser cannon

BATTLELINE

Cadian Shock Troops (65 Points)
• 1x Shock Trooper Sergeant
◦ 1x Chainsword
◦ 1x Laspistol
• 9x Shock Trooper
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 7x Lasgun
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Vox-caster

Catachan Jungle Fighters (65 Points)
• 1x Jungle Fighter Sergeant
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Laspistol
• 9x Jungle Fighter
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 2x Flamer
◦ 7x Lasgun
◦ 1x Vox-caster

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Chimera (85 Points)
• 1x Armoured tracks
• 1x Heavy flamer
• 1x Heavy flamer
• 1x Heavy stubber
• 1x Hunter-killer missile
• 1x Lasgun array

OTHER DATASHEETS

Attilan Rough Riders (120 Points)
• 1x Rough Rider Sergeant
◦ 1x Hunting lance
◦ 1x Lasgun
◦ 1x Laspistol
◦ 1x Power sabre
◦ 1x Steed’s hooves
• 9x Rough Rider
◦ 9x Hunting lance
◦ 9x Lasgun
◦ 9x Laspistol
◦ 9x Steed’s hooves

Bullgryn Squad (200 Points)
• 1x Bullgryn Bone ’ead
◦ 1x Brute Shield
◦ 1x Bullgryn maul
◦ 1x Close combat weapon
• 5x Bullgryn
◦ 5x Brute Shield
◦ 5x Bullgryn maul
◦ 5x Close combat weapon

Kasrkin (110 Points)
• 1x Kasrkin Sergeant
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power weapon
• 9x Kasrkin
◦ 9x Close combat weapon
◦ 3x Hot-shot lasgun
◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
◦ 1x Hot-shot marksman rifle
◦ 1x Melta Mine
◦ 2x Meltagun
◦ 2x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Vox-caster

Tempestus Scions (70 Points)
• 1x Tempestor
◦ 1x Plasma pistol
◦ 1x Power fist
• 4x Tempestus Scion
◦ 4x Close combat weapon
◦ 1x Hot-shot lasgun
◦ 1x Hot-shot laspistol
◦ 1x Meltagun
◦ 1x Plasma gun
◦ 1x Vox-caster

Exported with App Version: v1.46.2 (1), Data Version: v732

list found in https://listengine.online/lists/696daad7bb69568b7f36c39d