See which Warhammer 40k factions are crushing the meta and which ones are flopping hard in a full ranking of the best and worst 40k armies right now.
Games Workshop has been keeping a close eye on the competitive meta lately, trying to keep every Warhammer 40k army at that sweet 50% win rate with their Balance Dataslates, Points updates, Rules Commentary, and FAQs.
We’ll look at 40k win rates, event wins, and the occasional crisis of faith as we break down the best and worst Warhammer 40k factions, reshaping the 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
Updated on December 20th, 2025, by Rob Baer, this list features the latest best and worst Warhammer 40k factions that are currently overpowered in the meta, by army.
Image Source: Auspex Tactics
Which Warhammer armies are currently overpowered? Well, that’s pretty easy: Drukhari, Space Marines, and Astra Militarum! Most have worked their way from the mid pack to be at the top of the best Warhammer 40k tier list!
The latest Warhammer 40k tier shake-up is already painting a pretty clear picture of who is running the table and who is scrambling for answers. Sitting comfortably in S Tier, we have Space Marines, Astra Militarum, Drukhari, Chaos Daemons, and Blood Angels. These are the armies showing up in force, putting up the best win rates, and actually converting games into top-table finishes.
These factions are doing exactly what strong armies are supposed to do post-Balance Dataslate update. They hit hard, score reliably, and punish mistakes fast.
Warhammer 40k Factions A & B Tiers
The A Tier is packed with armies that feel like they are one good weekend away from breaking into the top. Orks, Necrons, Dark Angels, Death Guard, Thousand Sons, Genestealer Cults, and Adeptus Mechanicus all live here right now. Some of them are putting up very strong win rates with smaller sample sizes, others are just rock-solid and benefiting from the top of the meta getting trimmed back a bit.
These are the armies that quietly ruin brackets. They might not dominate headlines every week, but if the S Tier slips even a little, these are the factions ready to take trophies.
The B Tier is where things feel surprisingly healthy. Chaos Space Marines, Adeptus Custodes, World Eaters, Grey Knights, Emperor’s Children, and Leagues of Votann are all hanging around the middle. They win some, they lose some, and with a solid list and a good pilot, they can absolutely make a run. Nothing flashy here, just honest games of 40k.
Warhammer Meta C & D Tiers
Once you drop into C Tier, things start to feel a lot more uphill. Aeldari, Tyranids, Adepta Sororitas, Black Templars, and Space Wolves are all struggling to keep pace after the balance update. Some of that is heavy NERFS, some of it is players still figuring things out, but the results are pretty clear right now. Wins are possible, but you have to work for every single one.
Down in D Tier, we have some struggling armies. Imperial Knights and Chaos Knights are sitting at the bottom with low win rates and almost no event success to speak of. They still have their fans and moments, but competitively, they feel left behind by this update.
Overall, the meta actually looks fairly healthy in the middle, with a big cluster of armies living comfortably in A and B Tier. That said, the top is clearly defined right now. Space Marines, Guard, Drukhari, Blood Angels, and Daemons are calling the shots, while the bottom end of the field is quietly hoping the next balance update comes sooner rather than later.
Warhammer 40k Factions: Win Rates (December 19th, 2025)
This time, Auspex Tactics did the breakdown of the post-Dataslate info! We’re using their data for now, but keep in mind it’s still early in the new meta.
We’ll check back with Stat Check when they release their breakdowns in January to see which armies need buffs and which are currently overpowered.
Top Tier Armies
Right now, the post-balance meta already looks pretty different from what it did a couple of weeks ago, and none of it is all that surprising. Space Marines are sitting near the top at around a 55% win rate, and that is with the biggest sample size by far. Victrix Honor Guard barely noticed the balance pass, and Marines are already converting that into strong placings and undefeated runs.
Astra Militarum is right there with them at roughly 53%, which is a big deal for an army that usually lives in the middle of the pack. Grizzled Company has clearly clicked, and Guard players are finally seeing the results. Blood Angels are also making a loud entrance thanks to Rage-Cursed Onslaught, with multiple undefeated GT runs and a win rate pushing into the low-to-mid 50s.
Chaos Daemons had a very strong weekend, with Lords of Change everywhere and multiple undefeated runs pushing them into the upper 50s. Drukhari might be the biggest surprise so far, with Spectacle of Spite looking borderline silly and early win rates climbing into the high 50s (they could be the best army right now, as they had 139 games played and a 58% win rate). Thousand Sons (only 53 games), Adeptus Mechanicus (81 games), and Genestealer Cults (only 44 games) are also flashing high win rates, but with much smaller sample sizes, so for now they are firmly in the “super strong, but unproven” camp.
Middle Tier
The middle of the meta actually feels pretty healthy. A huge chunk of armies are living between about 47 and 52%, and while not all of them are winning events, most feel playable and competitive. Orks and Necrons are doing what they always do, hovering around 52% and quietly benefiting from other factions getting toned down. Dark Angels and Death Guard are also putting up solid low-50s numbers without completely running away with events.
Emperor’s Children and Grey Knights are sitting right around the 50% mark, which feels about right as people continue to experiment with new builds. World Eaters and Custodes are a bit lower, hovering around 48%, capable of good runs but not exactly terrifying. Chaos Space Marines and Leagues of Votann round out this pack, neither collapsing nor breaking out just yet.
The Bottom of the 40k Meta
At the lower end, things get rougher pretty quickly. Aeldari are struggling in the low 40s after taking some heavy nerfs, and it shows in both confidence and results. Tyranids and Adepta Sororitas are in a similar spot, also stuck in the low-40% range and largely absent from top tables.
Black Templars and Space Wolves are not far behind, feeling the impact of nerfs and a shifting meta. Imperial Knights and Chaos Knights round out the bottom tier, posting low-to-mid 40s win rates with very little event success. Knights in particular feel like they were left behind this update, and the numbers back that up. After a strong start with their codexes, NERFS have hit them hard.
As always, this is early data, and it will change. The top will come down, the bottom will creep up, and the middle will stay crowded.
Still, if you play Marines, Guard, Blood Angels, Drukhari, or Daemons right now, you probably feel pretty good. If you’re playing Knights, Sisters, Nids, or Aeldari, you’re almost certainly already back at the drawing board.
Final Thoughts on The Best & Worst Warhammer 40k Factions List
At the end of the day, the Warhammer 40k tier list feels like a buffet where most armies get a decent plate, but a few are piling theirs sky-high. Space Marines, Drukhari, and Astra Militarum are clearly running the show, with Thousand Sons and Cults making sure nobody forgets their tricks.
The middle is stacked with capable armies that can swing high with the right pilot, while the bottom still needs a rescue mission from GW’s balance team. If you’re chasing trophies, lean into the top tables’ favorites. If you’re just rolling dice for fun, plenty of factions still have the tools to surprise.
Either way, the Warhammer 40k meta is alive and well now!
If you are looking for more on the Best Warhammer 40k armies in the meta right now. Read our in-depth breakdowns of the latest top army finishers at major events, our recent 40k Meta Monday articles, and army lists by tournaments.
🔗 Related Reads:
- 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 All The Warhammer 40k Armies
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 factions are currently overpowered?
Not sure why high player base is considered more impressive. Death Guard have the most wins and the highest playrate, which is statistically expected, and is less impressive than having most wins and a low playrate. Someone needs a stats lesson
Simply put, one is indicative of skill, and the other indicates a faction may be a little overpowered if “anyone” can do it, lol. Hope that clears it up for you.
High player count can be detrimental to the overall performance of a faction for example marines are the starter army for most players however new players aren’t as skilled as most players and can drag the statistics down however a complicated faction like admech with its low representation statistically bumps its numbers up as the more skilled players take to the stage also admechs price tag is just stupid in comparison but the point stands that skill will always beat over-representation