This league is designed for players of all skill levels to grow a new army, develop a better grasp of the rules, and overall enjoy a fun event for Warhammer 40k.

This league will run from 500 points to 1250/1500 points (depending on number of rounds). Entry is $20 and sign-ups will be open until the start of the league. All league participants will receive 15% off Warhammer and Citadel products for the duration of the league.

Register here:
https://shoptoptiergaming.com/warhammer-40k-escalation-league-registration/

The league will be on an eight to ten week schedule, with rounds lasting two weeks (up to 16 players: four rounds/eight weeks; more than 16 players: five rounds/ten weeks). Players must field a Battle-forged Army for the duration of the event.

Details of how to build a Battle-forged Army can be found on page 244 of the Warhammer 40k 9th Edition Core Rules. You cannot include any Understrength units in your army. All of the units in each Detachment in your Battle-forged army must have at least one Faction keyword in common, and this keyword cannot be CHAOS, IMPERIUM, AELDARI, YNNARI or TYRANIDS, unless the Detachment in question is a Fortification Network (this has no effect on your Army Faction). If you are playing a Combat Patrol battle (Rounds One and Two), the only Detachment your army can include is one Patrol Detachment (pg 248), unless your Army Faction is IMPERIAL KNIGHTS or CHAOS KNIGHTS, in which case the only Detachment your army can include is one Super-heavy Detachment (pg 250). With the exception of units with the Troops or Dedicated Transport Battlefield Roles, or units that are added to your army during the battle that cost Reinforcement points, each player can only include the same datasheet in their army three times. For the purposes of this restriction, the Daemon Prince, Daemon Prince of Chaos, Daemon Prince of Nurgle and Daemon Prince of Tzeentch datasheets are all considered to be the same datasheet. In addition, if by deleting the word ‘Cult’ or ‘Brood Brothers’ from a datasheet’s title in Codex: Genestealer Cults it would match the title of a datasheet from Codex: Astra Militarum, then for the purposes of this restriction, those datasheets are considered to be the same.

Note: army composition may change from round to round, but a player may not switch armies entirely.

Each player must provide a reliable method of contact upon signing up so that opponents may coordinate times to play each other. Most players communicate through Facebook Messenger or our group Top Tier Wargaming Crew. We also have a Discord server (https://discord.gg/rAYXQEM) that can be used to communicate and schedule games.

Schedule

Every round, matches will be played at the current point level. Pairings will be available the Monday following the close of a round on Challonge, and you will be paired against a similarly-ranked opponent. The Challonge link will be posted in our Facebook group Top Tier Wargaming Crew as well as on our Discord server (message us for an invite). All results are due in by the Sunday of round end by close. Results must be reported to the employee on staff directly after the match has finished.

NOTE: There will be no make-up rounds in this league. All matches must be completed and reported by the Sunday of round end. Players may forfeit matches to have their opponent receive full combat points, and either player may bring their army for the round to the store to be inspected by the employee on staff and receive applicable hobby points. If neither player wishes to concede, the match will be considered a tie, with each player receiving one combat point.

Any league participant who does not play their match for two rounds in a row will dropped from the league without refund.

Round One - 500pts: Mar 28 - Apr 10
Round Two - 750pts: Apr 11 - Apr 24
Round Three - 1000pts: Apr 25 - May 8
Round Four -1250pts: May 9 - May 22
Round Five - 1500pts: May 23 - Jun 5 (if applicable)

All rounds will be played on a 44"x30" table.

Scoring

Matches in each round will add to your overall score. Match scoring is as follows:

Win - 3 points
Tie - 1 point
Loss - 0 points

In addition, points will be awarded on a hobby basis, with players scoring an additional point each for Completely Painted, Fully Based, and WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get).

Scenarios

Games are considered to be Matched Play. Grand Tournament Pack: War Zone Nachmund missions will be used in each round. We will have an open copy of the book available in the store for anyone to reference during league games. Players may mutually decide on a mission at the current battle size or roll for any mission at the current battle size.

Entry: $20
Start: March 28th
Format: 40k Escalation League / Swiss
Prizes:
Store credit and other prizes will be awarded based on the following categories in order. A winner from one category is ineligible to win from any further categories:
- Most Combat Points (Hobby Points Tiebreak)
- Most Hobby Points (Combat Points Tiebreak)
- Best Sport (voted)
- Most Improved (voted)