Your guide to the latest Warhammer 40k Balance Dataslate 10th Edition update and rules changes from 2024 through September 2025.
Updated on September 15th, 2025, by Rob Baer with the latest points and Balance Dataslate updates from Games Workshop.
The Warhammer studio dropped the new 40k Balance Dataslate early because of leaks this time. Regardless of timing, you know what that means for the meta: fresh rules, point tweaks, and a shake-up that could flip your army list on its head. Since early 2024, Games Workshop has been fine-tuning the game with updates that reward clever list-building and punish lazy choices.
This guide breaks down the newest changes in 10th Edition so you can see what got buffed, what took a hit, and how it all stacks up at the table, until the next balance dataslate drops.
Latest Warhammer 40k Balance Dataslate Update
GW released the latest full 10th Edition Warhammer 40k Balance Dataslate in September 2025, along with updated point changes to the Munitorum Field Manual.
Keep reading for the latest shifts in the 40k meta, and don’t forget to grab the full download of every new rules change right here.
Big Winners: 40k Balance Update
The latest Warhammer 40k Balance Dataslate updates are here, and as always, they will shake things up across the battlefield.
Winners: Imperial Factions
- Adepta Sororitas have reasons to smile. Points drop across key picks, and Retributors pick up a small rules lift that makes multi-melta bricks punchy and affordable.
- Adeptus Custodes gain buffs that put elite bricks back in the spotlight. But like most armies this time, they get better through points and not actual rule changes.
- Astra Militarum trend cheaper in many slots. But there are no actual rule changes in the Dataslate.
Xenos Faction Winners:
- Orks score a stack of point cuts, unit, and detachment buffs. In terms of rules, Battlewagons, Deff Dreads, Kommandos, and Ghazghkull all get some buffs.
- T’au Empire land widespread point drops that reward combined arms. The riptide grabs Strength 9 and 10 on the Ion accelerator.
- Tyranids pick up a wave of points buffs that lift both anvil and hammer pieces. Expect fresh takes on objective play.
Chaos Faction Winners:
- Chaos Space Marines get cheaper options but no core rule changes.
- Emperor’s Children drop in cost, which opens the door to nastier pressure turns. Flawless blades go to four attacks, and Fulgrim can move over terrain features for free.
- Chaos Knights adjust Infernal Lance and Lords of Dread detachments. The points go up and down across the board, but the detachments taking a hit might move their win rate to where it needs to be.
40k Dataslate: Sad Losers
- Space Wolves go up in points, and you will feel it in the last 100 points.
- Genestealer Cults change across three detachments with Ambush planning shifts.
- Thousand Sons increase across much of the roster, plus edits to Doombolt and Terminators tone down mortal spikes and anvil abuse.
- Imperial Knights see many stratagem tune-ups with both cuts and lifts across points. Pilots will need new reps to find the right tempo.
Mixed Bag
- Adeptus Mechanicus eats some points NERFs, yet weapon tweaks help a lot. Ironstriders gain Twin-linked and Sustained Hits, and Belisarius Cawl gets another ability rework. At this point, you’re using the Dataslate for about half of your army instead of the codex. Just putting that out there.
- Space Marines land in a give-and-take territory. Some staples trimmed, some tools cheaper, so the internal balance shifts more than the win plan.
- World Eaters get an Exalted Eightbound ability change that reins in excess, though the faction still swings hard with tight positioning.
That’s not all, add more to your list to read before your next game night. First are chunky FAQs for about a dozen armies, core rules updates, and a refreshed Chapter Approved: Tournament Companion (we have the biggest change below).
Then be sure to read more about the latest Warhammer 40,000 point changes in our Munitorum Field Manual changes article, which breaks down each faction in detail.
Challenger Cards Removed From Tournaments
Saying the Challenger Cards caused a little drama is like saying a Warlord Titan is “kinda big.” In the latest FAQ, GW just pulled the plug on both Challenger and Twist cards for tournament play. Translation: no more cheeky tricks like running an unpainted model just to start ten points in the hole.
40k Balance Dataslate: Final Thoughts From Us
Overall, the 40k Balance Dataslate keeps shaking things up, and this round proves no army is safe from a good old-fashioned points increase. Some factions are cashing in on discounts, others are footing the bill, and everyone has new tech to test.
If you’re already wondering “When is the next 40k balance dataslate?”, it should be in December 2025 or January 2026 (unless GW needs another emergency update.)
But for now, grab the new rules, rebuild 2,000 points, and run matchups until the muscle memory clicks.
New Munitorum Field Manual 40k Points Update
What do you think about all the latest rules and points changes in the Warhammer 40k 10th edition balance dataslate?
