Best 40k Dreadnoughts Guide: Top 10 Picks + Lore & Best Uses

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New to Warhammer 40k dreadnoughts? Get a fast, readable breakdown of the top picks, lore hooks, and what each one does best on the tabletop.

If there’s one thing 40k players can agree on, it’s this: nothing says “problem solved” like a walking coffin packed with guns. Dreadnoughts are the perfect mix of grimdark legend and tabletop efficiency, but not every chassis earns a spot in the hall of stomp.

Some bring brutal melee pressure, some delete targets at range, and a few pull double duty while looking ridiculously cool doing it.

In this guide, we’re ranking the best Dreadnoughts in 40k with a top ten list built for real games and collections. You’ll get quick overviews, standout weapons worth building around, and the no-nonsense reason each pick made the cut.

What Are 40k Dreadnoughts?

Updated February 8th 2026, by Rob Baer with new information and links to relevant content.

Dreadnoughts are basically a Space Marine hero’s second life: a wounded legend sealed into a walking armored coffin and sent back out to keep wrecking things. In the lore, they’re revered like living relics (like the Furioso dreadnought of the Blood Angels), woken from long stasis only when the chapter needs a problem erased or a war won. Even characters like Librarians have been entombed. 

On the tabletop, they’re tough, versatile bruisers that can lean into big guns, nasty melee, or a mix of both, depending on the loadout and the job you need done. They’re also one of the easiest “plug and play” units to build around since a single kit can cover a lot of roles with the right weapons.

Chaos has its own twisted takes, too, with corrupted walkers that hit like a truck and look like they crawled straight out of a nightmare. And it’s not just Marines, either: plenty of Xenos factions field their own “big stompy veteran-in-a-box” equivalents, even if they call them something else.

Exact background details shift depending on the book, the edition, and when it was written, so treat this as a practical, hobby-friendly overview rather than gospel.

Quick Jump List

Take a close look at any of the units we’ve ranked by jumping to any of the sections below, or just dig in from the beginning!

• Deff Dread (Ork Dreadnought)
• Aeldari Wraithlord (Eldar Dreadnought)
• Brutalis Dreadnought (Space Marines)
• Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought (Imperium)
• Bjorn the Fell-Handed (Space Wolves)
• Chaos Helbrute (Chaos Dreadnought)
• Venerable Dreadnought (Space Marines)
• Telemon Heavy Dreadnought (Adeptus Custodes)
• Redemptor Dreadnought (Primaris Space Marines)
• Leviathan Dreadnought (Space Marines)

The 10 Strongest Warhammer 40k Dreadnoughts

Here’s our ranking of the strongest Warhammer 40k Dreadnoughts for firepower, durability, and tabletop impact. Before we get into it, here’s a quick criterion for ranking these Dreadnoughts. 

How We’re Ranking the Best 40k Dreadnoughts

We’re not handing out trophies for “coolest sarcophagus,” even though plenty of these walkers deserve one. This top ten is ranked by what actually wins games and feels good to put on the table.

So, we’re looking at firepower (damage, range, and target types), melee punch (how hard it hits and how reliably it gets there), versatility (loadout options and list fit), toughness (how annoying it is to remove), and battlefield role (backline shooter, mid-board bully, counterpunch, or problem-solver).

If a Dreadnought can threaten multiple targets, survive the clapback, and still do a job turn after turn, it climbs the list fast.

Carab Culln (Red Scorpions Successor Chapter) Forge World Model

10. Ork Deff Dread 40k Dreadnought

• Overview: The Deff Dread is pure Ork engineering: a scrapyard nightmare that runs on bad ideas, loud noises, and the unshakable belief that more claws solves everything. Built by a Big Mek and held together by spite, it lumbers forward looking clunky, then starts turning units into spare parts.
• Best for: aggressive melee pressure and throwing your opponent’s plans into the trash.
• Why ranked #10: big up-close tabletop impact, but its firepower and durability are less consistent than the higher-ranked Dreadnoughts.
• Weapons: Often loaded with Big Shootas, Rokkits, and power claws, Deff Dreads are perfect for charging into enemy lines and wreaking havoc. Their weapons are optimized for causing chaos rather than precise strikes.
• Special Abilities: Though it lacks the finesse of Imperial or Aeldari walkers, the Deff Dread’s raw force and disregard for its own safety make it a brutal asset, especially effective in overwhelming foes with unrelenting attacks.

9. Aeldari Wraithlord

• Overview: The Aeldari Wraithlord is an elegant, brutal spirit-construct, basically a “ghost warrior” given a towering body and told to get back to work. Instead of an Imperial-style interment, it’s guided by the soul of a fallen Aeldari bound to a Spirit Stone, which is why it fights with that eerie calm and precision.
• Note: the Wraithlord is an Aeldari faction equivalent, not a sarcophagus-piloted Imperial Dreadnought.
• Best for: flexible mid-board presence with solid firepower and a credible melee threat.
• Why ranked #9: strong tabletop impact and versatility, but it does not bring the same raw durability or all-in damage ceiling as the higher picks.
• Weapons: The Wraithlord wields sophisticated, lethal weapons such as the Shuriken Cannon, Bright Lance, and Ghostglaive, allowing it to engage from a distance with precision or to slice through foes in close combat.
• Special Abilities: Its semi-spiritual nature renders the Wraithlord immune to fear, and when paired with an Aeldari Spiritseer, it can perform fluid, tactical maneuvers with devastating results.

8. Brutalis Dreadnought 40k 

• Overview: The Brutalis is the modern Primaris-sized answer to “what if a Dreadnought just sprinted at the problem and started tearing?” Built on the Redemptor-scale chassis, it’s all about close-combat destruction, with just enough guns bolted on to soften targets before the real violence starts.
• Primaris-sized note: the Brutalis shares the modern Redemptor-scale frame, but leans hard into melee.
• Best for: smashing the mid-board with aggressive melee pressure and high charge impact.
• Why ranked #8: brutal up close and a real tabletop threat, but it’s more one-note than the more versatile, higher-ranked picks.
• Weapons: Equipped with twin bolt rifles and either power fists or talons, the Brutalis can tear through enemy infantry and light vehicles. For heavier enemies, it can be armed with twin heavy bolters or twin multi-meltas on its chest.
• Special Abilities: The Brutalis Dreadnought inflicts mortal wounds upon charging, making it a devastating force against tough opponents. It’s perfect for taking the fight straight to the enemy, dominating the frontline with brutal efficiency.

7. Contemptor Pattern 40k Dreadnought

• Overview: The Contemptor is a Horus Heresy-era classic, loved because it feels sleeker and more agile than a lot of the boxier walking coffins, while still wearing plenty of armor. It’s a revered relic in Space Marine collections for a reason: it looks great, it carries serious “ancient war machine” energy, and it can be kitted to handle a bunch of jobs.
• Era note: the Contemptor is a Horus Heresy pattern that still shows up in modern 40k collections and narratives, so its “strength” here is about iconic flexibility and role on the tabletop rather than a strict edition-by-edition datasheet cage match. Obviously, there were also chaos Contemptors rampaging in the Horus Heresy as well.
• Best for: adaptable mid-range pressure with loadouts that can flex into different matchups.
• Why ranked #7: strong versatility and solid tabletop impact, but it’s not as universally dominant as the top modern heavy hitters.
• Weapons: Outfitted with options like the Kheres Assault Cannon and multi-meltas, the Contemptor is highly adaptable and a great attacking model. It can tackle both armored and infantry units, excelling in mid- to close-range engagements.
• Special Abilities: The Contemptor’s advanced design includes shielding technology that allows it to evade damage more effectively than other Dreadnoughts, giving it a unique balance of agility and firepower.

6. Bjorn the Fell-Handed Space Wolves Dreadnought

• Overview: Bjorn the Fell-Handed is the Space Wolves’ ultimate “we’re not losing today” button, a living relic who fought alongside Leman Russ and has been stomping around since the Horus Heresy. He’s not just a Dreadnought, he’s a chapter icon with a reputation big enough to make enemies second-guess their life choices.
• Iconic named Dreadnought: Bjorn is one of the most famous Dreadnought characters in 40k, and a perfect starting point if you’re here for lore as much as tabletop impact.
• Best for: a tough, flexible centerpiece that can brawl, shoot, and anchor the board.
• Why ranked #6: strong durability and reliable tabletop impact with solid all-round threat, but the top entries bring even more raw efficiency or role dominance.
• Weapons: Armed with his unique Lightning Claw, Bjorn is exceptional in close-quarters combat. He is also outfitted with heavy weapons for ranged attacks, making him versatile on the battlefield.
• Special Abilities: Bjorn’s greatest strength is his experience and wisdom, which provide a tactical advantage to any unit he leads. His sanity and presence on the battlefield boost the morale of surrounding troops, making him a strategic asset beyond his combat prowess.

5. Chaos 40k Helbrute Dreadnought

• Overview: The Helbrute is what happens when Chaos takes the Dreadnought concept and replaces “honored relic” with “angry nightmare in a metal shell.” It’s a warped, brutal walker driven by rage and corruption, built to maul anything nearby and look horrifying while doing it.
• The Chaos Equivalent: the Helbrute fills the Dreadnought role for Chaos forces, trading reverence and stability for warp-tainted brutality.
• Best for: a nasty mid-board threat that can scrap up close while still bringing real punch at range.
• Why ranked #5: strong toughness and tabletop impact, but it’s less consistent and more swingy than the top-tier Imperial heavy hitters.
• Weapons: Armed with corrupted lascannons, autocannons, and Power Scourges, the Helbrute channels its fury into a brutal assault, with the added unpredictability of warp mutations.
• Special Abilities: A Helbrute’s connection to the warp often grants it insane levels of resilience, as well as a wild, unhinged strength that can overwhelm even heavily armored foes. It’s both feared and pitied, its existence a punishment for the fallen Chaos Marine within.

4. Venerable Space Marine Dreadnought 40k

• Overview: The Venerable Dreadnought is the classic Space Marine “ancient hero escaping death in a box,” loaded into a sarcophagus and sent back out because the chapter still needs its legends on the front line to serve the Emperor. It’s got that old-school vibe, but it also brings dependable performance, especially when you want a steady workhorse instead of a flashy showpiece.
• Variants: the Venerable is a classic Space Marine Dreadnought pattern, prized more for tradition and reliability than raw modern output.
• Best for: a durable, no-drama anchor that can shoot, countercharge, and hold ground.
• Why ranked #4: reliable toughness and solid tabletop impact, but it does not hit the same damage ceiling or multi-role dominance as the top three.
• Weapons: Typically armed with an Assault Cannon and Heavy Flamer, this Dreadnought can hold its own in any firefight. Its armaments are reliable and deadly across various combat scenarios.
• Special Abilities: Thanks to its pilot’s age and wisdom, this Venerable 40k Dreadnought often serves as a strategic advisor. It also possesses enhanced armor plating, giving it an edge in durability, which, coupled with the respect it commands, makes it highly valuable.

3. Telemon Heavy Dreadnought 40k 

• Overview: The Telemon Heavy Dreadnought is Custodes-level overkill in walker form: rare, absurdly advanced, and built to shrug off punishment while returning it with interest. When one shows up, it does not feel like “just another Dreadnought,” it feels like a boss fight with legs.
• Why it belongs here: the Telemon is an elite Imperium heavy walker that fills the same battlefield role as a “super-dreadnought” equivalent, so it stacks up cleanly against the best Space Marine options in this ranking.
• Best for: a high-end anchor that wins trades through durability and heavy firepower.
• Why ranked #3: top-tier toughness with serious shooting output and huge tabletop impact, even if its premium status makes it less common than the Marine staples.
• Weapons: Outfitted with the Arachnus Storm Cannon and Iliastus Accelerator Culverin, the Telemon brings immense firepower to bear, with unmatched precision and armor-piercing capabilities.
• Special Abilities: The Telemon is incredibly durable and possesses technological advancements beyond the standard Dreadnought, making it exceptionally resistant to damage. Its status as a Custodes warrior also enhances its combat efficiency, often turning the tide of critical battles.

2. Redemptor Dreadnought 40k 

• Overview: The Redemptor is the Space Marines’ go-to powerhouse, packing real long-range punch while still being mean up close when something wanders into stomping distance. It’s basically the “do everything” bruiser that set the bar for modern Marine walkers.
• Modern range note: the Redemptor is the flagship Primaris-sized Dreadnought kit, and the common baseline for comparing newer variants on the same chassis.
• Best for: a flexible, durable centerpiece that can shoot, brawl, and hold the mid-board without babysitting.
• Why ranked #2: a rare mix of versatility, toughness, and consistently high tabletop impact across matchups.
• Weapons: Its loadout includes the Macro Plasma Incinerator, Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, and Fragstorm Grenade Launchers, allowing it to obliterate enemies from afar or in close combat.
• Special Abilities: The Redemptor is especially tough, capable of ignoring a portion of the damage it takes. This makes it one of the most resilient Dreadnoughts, able to withstand heavy bombardment and still fight on effectively.

1. Leviathan 40k Dreadnought 

• Overview: The Leviathan is the “you brought that… so I brought this” pick, a heavy siege-walker built to crack hard targets and keep stomping through the return fire. It’s the kind of Dreadnought that turns a lane into a no-go zone and makes your opponent start doing threat math out loud.
• Era note: the Leviathan is a Horus Heresy-era siege pattern that still gets talked about in 40k because it nails the heavy-walker fantasy, so “#1” here means it best fits our rubric for the ultimate top-end Dreadnought experience, not a strict edition-by-edition datasheet shootout.
• Best for: maximum presence with elite-level armor and brutal damage options.
• Why ranked #1: it hits the sweet spot of top-tier durability plus devastating firepower, with the kind of battlefield role impact that forces opponents to react immediately.
• In short: if you want the biggest mix of firepower, survivability, and “deal with this now” tabletop impact, the Leviathan is the crown-wearer.
• Weapons: Armed with siege claws, heavy flamers, and ranged weaponry like storm cannons, the Leviathan excels at cracking through the toughest defenses and overpowering both infantry and armored units.
• Special Abilities: With near-impenetrable armor and an arsenal capable of both melee and ranged destruction, the Leviathan Dreadnought is unrivaled in its power and survivability. Its presence on the battlefield often forces enemies to redirect all available firepower, as failing to neutralize it can spell doom for opposing forces.

40k Dreadnought FAQs

Quick note: these answers are general, since Dreadnought size and durability can vary a lot by faction, pattern, and even which story or rules set you’re looking at. Use this as a solid baseline, then cross-reference the exact model lore for a more precise answer.

How Large is a 40k Dreadnought?

If you’ve ever wondered how tall Dreadnoughts are in 40k, let’s just say they’re not exactly built for subtlety. Most of the classic Space Marine patterns tend to land around three to five meters tall, give or take, but size varies a lot by pattern and faction equivalent, not just by “model.” A boxy old-school Marine dread, a Primaris-scale chassis, and something like a Custodes Telemon do not map one-to-one in height or bulk.

Some of the bigger siege-style beasts can push past six meters, which is basically the tabletop version of shouting “deal with me” across the room. Whether it’s a compact brawler or a towering heavy walker, the point is the same: these things are built to be seen, soak hits, and make whatever they touch regret existing.

Is Being a Dreadnought Fun in Warhammer 40k?

Image Credit and Tutorial: The Ward Save

Let’s be real, fun probably isn’t the first word that comes to mind when you’re entombed in a walking metal coffin for eternity. Being a Warhammer 40k Dreadnought isn’t exactly a vacation. It’s more like a never-ending shift as the universe’s most overqualified frontline worker.

On the plus side, you’re practically indestructible, get to wield weapons bigger than most tanks, and your levels of 40k dreadnought cred is through the roof. On the downside? Well, you’re a bit… stuck.

 Most Dreadnought 40k pilots are warriors who were so good at their job they couldn’t stop even after they were mortally wounded. The Imperium’s solution? Slap them into a massive armored war machine and tell them to get back to work.

Art by Pen User on DV

In short, being a Dreadnought is a mixed bag. It’s the ultimate comeback gig for the galaxy’s toughest, but the work-life balance? Let’s just say it’s nonexistent. You can see what the inside of a Dreadnought looks like in this article here. 

What Weapons can a 40k Dreadnought Survive?

When it comes to Dreadnoughts in 40k, these armored beasts are basically tanks with attitude, built to take a beating and keep coming. Between heavy plating and the general “good luck scratching this” vibe, they’re famously annoying to put down, especially when they get to plant themselves in the right spot and dare you to try.

So what can they handle? In the lore, they’ve been shown soaking everything from heavy las fire to plasma and melta-level nastiness, and even Chaos-warped Helbrutes can be stubbornly hard to finish off. That is the whole point of the chassis: keep the warrior alive, keep the guns firing, keep the problem moving forward.

In short, they’re a pain to remove by design, but focused firepower, nasty melee tools, and the right tech can still bring them down if someone commits.

Lore note: this is a theme-and-vibes durability rundown, not a rules breakdown. On the tabletop, how tough something feels comes down to the exact datasheet, wargear, and matchup, plus how much dedicated anti-armor your opponent is willing to unload into it.

Final Thoughts From Us on Warhammer 40k Dreadnoughts

Whether you’re a 40k newcomer here from the big Cavill news or the Space Marine 2 game, or a veteran player with tales of these walking war machines in action, we think it’s safe to say that Dreadnoughts have an undeniable pull.

They are so much more than armored war machines; they’re the echoes of legendary warriors, the reluctant soldiers who didn’t know when to quit (or couldn’t, even if they wanted to).

They’re not only among the most formidable units in Warhammer 40k but also some of the most visually imposing. They bring a bit of everything: lore, firepower, and a good dose of tragedy.

 After all, the real magic of Warhammer 40k isn’t just in the firepower but in the tales these war machines carry with them. 

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Which Warhammer 40k Dreadnought do you think is the strongest? Share your favorite 40k Dreadnought in the comments.

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