When it comes to 1000 point games, things can get weird fast. Some armies feel completely oppressive, others feel like they’re missing half their tools, and a lot of lists just don’t translate well from 2000 points. That’s why I wanted to put together a 1000 point Soulblight Gravelords list that actually feels powerful on the table without turning the game into a miserable experience for your opponent.
This list is unapologetically vampires. No chaff, no filler, no random units just to hit points. You’ve got big monsters, elite cavalry, loads of healing, and serious board presence packed into a single drop. It was built specifically with league-style restrictions in mind, and the result is a list that hits hard, plays fast, and puts immediate pressure on the board from turn one.
The List (980 Points)
Soulblight Gravelords
Bacchanal of Blood
Drops: 1
General
Vengorian Lord
Shard of Night
Immortal Ego
Units
Blood Knights
Blood Knights
Revenant Draconith
Vargheists
Faction Terrain
Cursed Sepulchre
Spell Lore
Lore of Undeath
Manifestation Lore
Manifestations of the Grave
Battle Tactic Cards
Master the Paths
Restless Energy
This list is exactly what it says on the tin.
Big vampires. Big monsters. Big pressure.
At 1000 points, this is a single-drop, all-vampire army with insane board presence, heavy damage, and a frankly silly amount of healing packed into a small game size.
You have a dragon, a monster vampire lord, elite cavalry, and fast objective play. There are no chaff units here. Everything hits hard, everything is a threat, and everything demands an answer.
Why This List Is So Strong at 1000 Points
At this points level, most armies simply cannot deal with multiple monsters and elite units at once. This list leans fully into that.
You have:
- Two monsters
- Two elite cavalry units
- A fast deep-striking unit
- Strong recursion and healing
And it all fits in a single drop.
The Vengorian Lord Is the Engine
The Vengorian Lord is doing a ridiculous amount of work here.
- He is a Vampire
- He is a Monster
- He heals himself
- He heals other monsters within 12
That monster healing ability is the glue that holds this list together. The Vengorian Lord can keep himself alive while also supporting the Revenant Draconith. When combined with end-of-turn monster healing, you are often getting double heals every round on your key pieces.
At 1000 points, that is brutal to play into.
The main risk is obvious. If your opponent manages to focus the Vengorian Lord down in a single turn, the list loses a lot of resilience. But unless your opponent is running serious anti-monster tech, that is far easier said than done.
Revenant Draconith: The Other Problem
The Revenant Draconith adds another monster threat that most 1000 point armies simply cannot ignore.
- High mobility
- Solid damage
- Monster healing at the end of the turn
When paired with the Vengorian Lord, this creates a horrible choice for your opponent.
Either they split damage across two monsters and achieve nothing, or they overcommit to one and get punished elsewhere. Neither option is good.
Blood Knights: The Real Win Condition
Ironically, the Blood Knights are probably the units you most want to protect.
They:
- Hit incredibly hard
- Have great mobility
- Apply massive pressure to objectives
- Benefit hugely from healing and recursion
Losing a monster hurts. Losing a Blood Knight unit at the wrong time can lose you the game.
That’s why anti-monster lists are less scary than they appear. Even if your opponent brings heavy damage spikes, hot healing rolls can massively reduce the impact. If the Blood Knights survive long enough to do their job, you are usually ahead on points.
Vargheists: The Utility Piece
The Vargheists do exactly what you want them to do.
- Deep strike
- Threaten back objectives
- Force your opponent to split focus
They are not there to win fights. They are there to win games.
At 1000 points, having a unit that can appear exactly where it is needed is invaluable. They work perfectly alongside the rest of the list applying pressure elsewhere.
Weaknesses to Be Aware Of
No list is perfect, and this one has two clear weaknesses.
Only One Wizard at Level 1
You are not winning a magic war with this list. Your spellcasting is limited, and that’s fine. Magic is support, not the game plan.
Focus Fire Risk
If an opponent spikes damage and kills the Vengorian Lord in one turn, things can get uncomfortable fast. This is rare without dedicated anti-monster tools, but it is the main danger to respect.
How I Would Play This List
- Use the monsters to control the centre and soak attention
- Push Blood Knights down the flanks in a pincer movement
- Deep strike Vargheists to steal or threaten objectives
- Force your opponent into bad target priority decisions
This list wins by overwhelming pressure, not careful trading. At 1000 points, very few armies can answer everything you are throwing at them.
League Rules and Why This List Fits Them
This list was built with local 1000 point league restrictions in mind.
Army Construction Rules
- 1,000 points maximum
- Single faction only
- No allies
- Coalition units only where allowed by core faction rules
Balance Restrictions
- No single unit may exceed 250 points
- Sons of Behemat exception only
- Maximum 2 Heroes
- Maximum 2 Monsters
- Models that are both count toward both limits
- Named or Unique units not permitted
- Maximum 1 reinforced unit
Why This Vampire List Works Under These Rules
Every unit comes in under 250 points.
The army runs exactly 2 Heroes.
It uses exactly 2 Monsters.
There are no named characters.
There are no reinforced units.
Instead of leaning on one absurd centrepiece, the list spreads power across multiple high-impact threats. That’s why it feels strong without being oppressive.
At 1000 points, forcing your opponent to answer a monster vampire lord, a monster dragon, two elite cavalry units, and a fast objective unit all at once is incredibly difficult.
Final Thoughts
This is one of those lists that feels unfair at the right table.
It is:
- Simple
- Aggressive
- Thematically strong
- Extremely effective at low points
If your opponent is not running heavy anti-monster tech, this list is an absolute nightmare to deal with. And even if they are, you still have the tools to win through board control and pressure.
If you want a 1000 point Soulblight list that feels powerful, cohesive, and unapologetically vampiric, this one absolutely delivers.
For more articles like this, check out our Spearhead Tier List.
