Your guide to the best (top winning lists) and worst Warhammer 40k armies in the tournaments meta, according to the data from GW’s Metawatch.
Updated on July 17th, 2025, by Rob Baer with the latest best and worst Warhammer 40k armies, which are currently overpowered in the meta right now, and the latest Balance Dataslate changes.
GW’s been keeping a close eye on the meta lately, trying to keep every Warhammer 40k army at that sweet 50% win rate with their Balance Dataslates, Rules Commentary, and FAQs.
Also, big news – GW is now updating the 40k Balance Dataslate every other quarter, but the points will still be changing every quarter.
According to the folks over at Warhammer Community, here’s the scoop on the best and worst 40k armies in the tournament meta (along with the most OP army).
40k Metawatch & Best Armies:
In Warhammer 40k, the meta can be as unpredictable as a Chaos Spawn on a good day! With Games Workshop keeping a close eye on the battlefield, we’ve sifted through the latest numbers to uncover the top contenders and the not-so-glorious underdogs.
We’ll look at win rates, event wins, and the occasional crisis of faith as we break down the best and worst armies, reshaping the 40k landscape. So, whether you’re gearing up for a tournament or just trying to figure out what to paint next, this is the scoop you don’t want to miss!
Which Warhammer Armies Are Currently Overpowered: Tier List
Which Warhammer armies are currently overpowered? Well, that’s pretty easy, Death Guard! Most would consider them the best 40k army right now. Let’s not pretend: Death Guard just hijacked the Warhammer 40k meta limo, cranked up the win rate to 57%, and casually picked up five event wins like it was no big deal.
If you’re wondering how they pulled that off, you’re not alone. Some folks are whispering that they need a NERF right away… and they might be right.
They’re joined by Thousand Sons (two wins, 56%) and Chaos Daemons, who aren’t topping win rates anymore but are still farming trophies and 4-0 starts like it’s casual Friday.
A-tier? That’s the land of punchy consistency. Votann are hanging tough with a 57% win rate, and Chaos Space Marines just won’t quit (and keep grabbing event wins). Aeldari are still hanging on, though not the menace they once were. Meanwhile, Custodes and Tau are showing up to the fight with enough edge to stay relevant, and even Imperial Knights are causing headaches again.
B-tier is where things start wobbling. World Eaters clawed their way up, and Genestealer Cults, Astra Militarum, and Necrons are hanging in with “solid but not scary” energy.
Sororitas finally broke 50% win rate, and it shows. Space Marines and Tyranids… well, they’re here too. Neither have the best win rates, but with such large player pools, the rates get brought down compared to people playing the meta armies.
The C & D Tier
C-tier is the heartbreak zone. Orks got hammered by NERFS—down to 43% win rate and no trophies. Grey Knights are wandering the wilderness (they had a decent win rate but no wins and a tiny player pool). Dark Eldar, AdMech, and Blood Angels haven’t found their footing.
And D-tier? Let’s pour one out. Imperial Agents aren’t even showing up. Black Templars and Dark Angels fell hard.
Deathwatch? Still at the bottom, still waiting for their moment.
Bottom line: meta matters. If you’re aiming to grab that trophy—or at least dodge a 0-4 weekend—picking strong factions like Death Guard or Thousand Sons might just save you from a bad case of bottom-tier syndrome.
40k Armies, Faction Win Rates: (June 24th, 2025)
Stat Check shared their latest Warhammer 40k tier list with win rates for the best armies. From those that need buffs to those that are currently overpowered.
If you’re trying to make sense of this meta, welcome to the madness. Right now, it’s like a three-way arm wrestle between Leagues of Votann, Thousand Sons, and Death Guard. Each flexing hard. Votann are clocking in at a nasty 57% win rate and even snagged a tournament win.
Thousand Sons aren’t far behind with a 56% win rate and two event wins under their belt. And Death Guard? They’re loudly racking up five event victories, which is just rude at this point. The community is calling for NERFS, and it makes sense!
Meanwhile, the Adepta Sororitas (Sisters of Battle) have finally cracked the 50% mark. A little Balance Dataslate love did them good, though they’re still lagging behind Chaos cousins. World Eaters, bless their skull-stained boots, have crawled out of the basement to a respectable 49%.
Keep an eye on Chaos Daemons. Their win rate isn’t spiking anymore, but with three tourney wins and 11% of their players going 4-0 to start? They’re lurking with intent. But don’t worry, Chaos Space Marines are doing almost as well for once!
The Lower End of 40k Win Rates
And on the sad end: Deathwatch are still holding the “please buff us” sign. Space Wolves (pre-codex mostly) and Black Templars are faltering.
The Imperial Agents faction is basically that guy who RSVPs and never shows. And Orks—oh, the Orks—got their wings clipped hard. No wins, 43% win rate, and a meta hangover they’re not shaking anytime soon.
Moral of the story? Don’t chase last month’s winners. The meta shifts fast—build smart, watch the trends, and maybe don’t nerf the Orks that hard.
Final Thoughts on The Best & Worst Warhammer 40k Armies
And there you have it—another twist in the 40k soap opera. Death Guard’s out here stomping around like they paid extra for plot armor, while poor Deathwatch is just trying to remember what winning feels like.
The meta’s doing its usual thing: flipping tables, shuffling power rankings, and making sure no army gets too comfortable. If you’re planning your next list, maybe don’t base it on last month’s hot takes. Today’s OP is tomorrow’s patch note on the Warhammer 40k tier list.
If you are looking for more on the top Warhammer 40k armies in the meta right now. Read our in-depth breakdowns of the latest top army finishers at major events, in these recent 40k Meta Monday articles:
Also, be sure to check out the latest Warhammer 40000 Best Army resources below.
- Weekly Warhammer 40k Tournament Coverage & Top Tier Army Lists
- Latest Balance Dataslate
- 40k Points Update & Changes
- Upcoming Warhammer Tournaments & Events
- Latest Warhammer 40k Rumors
- New Release Roadmap For Warhammer 40k
- Warhammer 40k 10th Edition Balance Dataslate Updates
- Warhammer 40k Codex Release Date Guide
- 40k Base Sizes Resource Guide
- How to Paint Miniatures: Warhammer & Other Tabletop Games
A Complete Guide to Every Warhammer 40k Army
What do you think about the best and worst lists in the metawatch right now, the current Warhammer 40k meta tier lists, and which Warhammer 40k armies are currently overpowered?
