Golden Demon is the biggest, most hyped Warhammer painting competition on the planet, and for once I’m not here to cry about missing it—I actually went. I flew all the way to Milwaukee for Adepticon 2025, entered my own miniature (yes, little crayon eater Titus), got to stare at the cabinets in real life, and I even made it to the awards ceremony to see the winners announced live. I’m jet-lagged, my voice is broken, and my hair is pink like a flamingo, but it was absolutely worth it. The big story this year is that Golden Demon has genuinely changed in a way that (in my opinion) makes it the best it’s ever been. There’s a new online entry process, a collectible card for entrants, and—most importantly—a new pin and ranking system: Notable Entry (bronze), Commended Entry (silver), and Finalist (gold). I love this because it makes the whole thing feel way more accessible for “average to good” painters, not just the absolute monsters at the top. I also talk about the updated judging setup, including an external guest judge (this year: Roman L), which I think adds prestige and helps keep things fair. Then we do the proper roundup: standout winners across 40k and AoS singles, Old World, Blood Bowl, Diorama/Duel, and of course the Slayer Sword—won by Borha Cabo Bertran Delei with a stunning Iridan the Witness that made me appreciate the sculpt way more than I ever did on release.