Here are GW’s Best and Worst Warhammer 40k armies that are either placing at the latest big 10th Edition tournaments or down in the dumps…
Thanks to Mr. Taste at Blood of Kittens, here’s a look at the latest placings and meta from the larger 10th Edition 40k tournaments last weekend!
The Best & Worst 40k Armies in the Meta: August 25th
We may have celebrated a bit too early with Chaos shooting above Eldar last week, perhaps it was a fluke after all…
But how about the larger meta picture overall? Well, Eldar is still probably way too good, with one of their most dominating weeks yet.
Custodes tried to give them a run for their money, but after last week Eldar players really showed up in force this time around.
Overall, Xenos is creeping up, but if Chaos jumps back again, this week may have been the fluke for them and not the other way around.
Warhammer 40k Meta Overview from August 16th 2023:
Statcheck.com has us covered on the overall Warhammer 40k Meta, too, compiling the data up to August 16th, 2023!
Comparing the newly updated rankings to the previous ones below, Eldar has slipped down to a 68% win rate, Deathwatch jumped Imperial Knights, and Necons have assimilated the spot Deathwatch left behind.
This all seems to line up with the results of last week, and the resurgence of Deathwatch perhaps due to their plethora of tactical options and re-rolls.
How to Read This Warhammer 40k Meta Overview Chart:
The Warhammer 40k Meta Overview Chart is color-coded for the most part. Grey is the sweet spot; ideally, every faction would be light grey or between a 45% and 55% win rate. Blues are overpowered, meaning Eldar, GSC, and Imperial Knights all need to be taken down a peg.
In contrast, Oranges are underpowered, with Votann and Death Guard needing some very serious help. Essentially, the darker shades are too far gone and need some changes or shifts in the Meta. That’s not to say every darker blue and orange faction needs balance changes, but it DOES mean something needs to be done.
If Votann and Death Guard see buffs, maybe they’ll shift the meta and lower the blue factions down into grey, but make them too strong, and they’ll shoot up to blue themselves! Game balance and meta are super complex, with each faction (and general’s ability) being its own cogs in the bigger picture.
We know it’s extremely clear that Eldar is too good. Simply put, the most played faction in any competitive game should never be the most winning faction. As the popularity of a faction goes up, the skill, specified knowledge, and experience of the average player in that faction go down (new players moving to it).
With that in mind, you can check out six of the top army lists from events over the weekend below.
Eldar Bore The Salt Lake Open: Top 40k Army Lists
We can look back at the event thanks to Best Coast Pairings as if we were all there ourselves. Save $20 by subscribing for a year of BCP by clicking this special promo link.
Another week, another tournament dominated by Eldar, so instead, we’ll cover the top 3 non-Eldar lists!
7th Place: Nicolas Wenker – Chaos Daemons
6th Place: Chase Chappell – Chaos Daemons
4th Place: Richard Kilton – Adeptus Custodes
Richard’s Custodes did pretty well, led by Trajann as a great named character, a shield-captain for re-rolls, and a blade champion for a great melee threat with precision when he needs it.
Jumping straight into other sheets, two Caladius tanks help with some pretty good armor ranged threats, while three units of Wardens provide some super solid elite bodies that can mitigate damage. Most factions have difficulty matching up against their toughness and built-in buffs like -1 to wound, 4+ once per game feel no pain, or -1 to hit in assault.
Then with allied units, two Assassins bring in some pretty solid specialized threats to help take out some particularly pesky models (or stratagems) that the enemy might be bringing in.
Finally, there are two Extractions squads because it’s simply too hard to meet their extremely low price and efficiency for elite factions like Custodes!
Knights Almost Clutch The Roll For Damage 2023: Top 40k Army Lists
We can look back at the event thanks to Best Coast Pairings as if we were all there ourselves. Save $20 by subscribing for a year of BCP by clicking this special promo link.
Another week, another tournament dominated by Eldar, so instead, we’ll cover the top 3 non-Eldar lists!
6th Place: Chris Boggiano – Adeptus Custodes
3rd Place: Bradley MC – Adeptus Custodes
2nd Place: James Mann – Imperial Knights
James was super close to finishing first but just barely got beat out by a pesky Eldar list. He kept it super simple with two Crusaders, bringing in some durable bodies and fantastic ranged options. They also pair well with the bondsman ability if Armigers are within 12″, they both get +1 to hit!
So, of course, there were Armiger Warglaives to help out with some extra mobility and some great anti-armor weapons to boot!
Finally, rounding out points was a single Eversor to help hopefully take out an opposing character, squad, or two!
Click Here For More Top Warhammer Army Lists
What do you think about the top 10th Edition Warhammer 40k army lists dominating the meta now?
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About the Author: Andrew Schrank
Andrew Schrank
Job Title: Miniatures & Warhammer Hobby Staff Writer
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About Andrew Schrank: Over the past 15 years, Andrew has played all the games, including tabletop and video games, and immersed himself in the associated lore. Andrew joined the Spikey Bits team in 2018 and covers the Warhammer hobby and tournament scene, along with the latest in tabletop miniatures, each week.
Aspiring diplomat, Lord of Fluff, and Master of Ice Hammer, He loves Star Wars, Chaos Undivided, and Gundam. During his free time, he hunts Platinum trophies on PS5 and reads international news. On weekends, Andrew plays commander and cEDH games, often with unique strategies that push the limits.
He believes each day presents a new opportunity to grow and be challenged.
