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 November 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. Aeldari, Adeptus Mechanicus, and Adepta Sororitas 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 shows who’s ruling the tabletop and who’s struggling to keep their dice hot. Sitting at the top in S-Tier, we’ve got Adeptus Mechanicus, Adepta Sororitas, Genestealer Cults, and the ever-powerful Aeldari.
These factions are the bullies of the schoolyard right now, punching above their weight and walking away with the best win rates and most event success. If you’re facing them, better bring an offering.
Warhammer 40k Factions A & B Tiers:
The A Tier is stacked with the Warhammer 40k factions that are always on deck to crash the meta. World Eaters, the T’au Empire, Chaos Knights, Necrons, Grey Knights, Space Marines, Thousand Sons, and Genestealer Cults are all lurking at the top with enough teeth to ruin anyone’s run.
They hit hard, they score well, and they show up ready to take trophies if the S Tier slips.
The B Tier crowd is the definition of healthy competition. Tyranids, Chaos Space Marines, Black Templars, Dark Angels, Orks, Death Guard, Leagues of Votann, Adeptus Custodes, Drukhari, and Blood Angels all hover in the middle.
They win, they lose, they grind, and with a clever general, they can absolutely podium. No shame here, just honest work.
Warhammer Meta – C & D Tiers:
So the C Tier is where the Warhammer meta stress test starts. Astra Militarum, Drukhari,and Blood Angels are fighting uphill and burning brain cells to stay even.
These factions can spike, but you are definitely earning every victory the hard way.
The D Tier is a lonely place. Imperial Knights, Emperor’s Children, and Space Wolves are here, looking like they could use a balance patch and a hug. They still have fans and they still have flavor, but in the current game, they are bringing a foam sword to a fusion gun fight.
The overall picture shows a pretty competitive middle band with a whole pack of factions living comfortably in B Tier, but the top of the Warhammer meta sits miles ahead.
Right now, it’s Mechanicus, Sororitas, Aeldari, and Daemons are calling the shots, while the bottom range is waving politely for assistance…
Warhammer 40k Factions: Win Rates (November 30th, 2025)
Stat Check shared their latest Warhammer 40k factions’ win rates for the armies that need buffs and those that are currently overpowered.
Aeldari are destroying the tournament scene with a 56% win rate, which is not too wild, but they took down nine event wins!
Adeptus Mechanicus and Adepta Sororitas are both sitting pretty at the top of the Warhammer 40k meta with a whopping 56% win rate each. Both armies have picked up event wins, but nothing compared to the Aeldari, which has played over 1,000 games.
Deathwatch and Chaos Daemons are right there with high win rates, but Deathwatch were not able to grab a win, while Daemons nabbed three.
The upper mid-table is stacked with steady contenders like Genestealer Cults, Space Marines, Tau, World Eaters, and Necrons, all chilling around 51–54%. Orks actually picked up a few wins this time around, after a long time of drought.
In the balanced-but-not-broken range, you’ve got a huge swath of armies. In terms of raw win rates, this is one of the most balanced we’ve seen in a while.
Sure, you could argue that the actual tournament wins do not support that, but at least the overall win rates are balanced. From Leagues of Votann to GSC, you have fourteen armies of nearly 30 Warhammer 40k factions with 49% to 51% win rate.
The Bottom of the Warhammer 40k Meta
Dropping down to the mid-40s, Astra Militarum, Adeptus Custodes, and Blood Angels are scraping by. Knights and Space Wolves share the same fate: one of the few armies that not only had a bad win rate, but also couldn’t win any events.
And then, at the bottom of the barrel, we’ve got the Space Wolves, Imperial Knights (again, after being on top for a while), Emperor’s Children, and poor Drukhari. It looks like people are still working out the kinks in the new codex. Space Wolves and Emperor’s Children hover in the low 40s, showing up but not really doing much with it.
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. Sisters, Aeldari, and AdMech are clearly running the show, with Space Marines 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.
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- 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