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.
Updated on October 1st, 2025, by Rob Baer, this list features the latest best and worst Warhammer 40k armies that are currently overpowered in the meta.
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
Image Source: Auspex Tactics
Which Warhammer armies are currently overpowered? Well, that’s pretty easy, Adeptus Mechanicus and Adepta Sororitas worked their way from the mid pack to be the best 40k armies!
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-annoying 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 snacks for the salt.
Warhammer 40k Factions A & B Tiers:
In A-Tier, things are spicy but not quite oppressive. Deathwatch, Leagues of Votann, Necrons, Drukhari (Dark Eldar), and Grey Knights are circling the top tables, consistently bringing heat without warping the game. They’re dangerous, reliable, and always lurking just below the top dogs, ready to ruin someone’s weekend.
B-Tier is where balance lives. Black Templars, World Eaters, Tau Empire, Dark Angels, Chaos Knights, Chaos Space Marines, Blood Angels, Death Guard, Adeptus Custodes, Orks, and Chaos Daemons all hang around here. They’re solid contenders, living in that 48–51% win rate comfort zone. With the right general and a little luck, any of these armies can podium, but none are the terror of the scene right now.
C & D Tiers:
C-Tier is where life starts to feel rough. Astra Militarum, Imperial Knights, Tyranids, and Space Wolves are all floundering, needing either creative lists or some serious FAQ love to keep pace. They can spike on occasion, but you’re going uphill against the meta favorites.
And then there’s D-Tier, where sadness lives. Imperial Agents, Thousand Sons, and your everyday Space Marines are all gasping for air. They’ve got loyal fans and some flavorful builds, but right now they’re bringing plastic knives to a plasma fight.
The big takeaway? The field feels competitive in the middle of the Warhammer meta with loads of armies bunched up in that B-Tier sweet spot. But the top end is clear: Mechanicus, Sororitas, Cults, and Aeldari are running the table, while the bottom is begging for buffs.
Warhammer 40k Factions: Win Rates (September 30th, 2025)
Stat Check shared their latest Warhammer 40k factions’ win rates for the armies that need buffs and those that are currently overpowered.
Adeptus Mechanicus and Adepta Sororitas are sitting pretty at the top of the Warhammer 40k meta with a whopping 59% win rate each. Both armies have picked up event wins, and they’re doing it on a relatively small slice of the player pool.
Aeldari aren’t far behind with a 56% win rate and two trophies to their name, proving that space elves just refuse to go quietly. Deathwatch and Leagues of Votann are right there with high win rates, but they’re more like sleeper hits, not showing up much, and not actually grabbing event wins.
The upper mid-table is stacked with steady contenders like Drukhari, Orks, Necrons, Grey Knights, and Black Templars, all chilling around 53–54%. Orks in particular are funny, they keep showing up over-represented with plenty of 4-0 starts, but they just can’t seem to seal the deal on a trophy.
In the balanced-but-not-broken range, you’ve got armies like World Eaters, Tau, Dark Angels, and Emperor’s Children cruising around the 50%-53% mark. Solid but not flashy. Then comes the 47–49% crowd, Death Guard (after dominating the meta for a while), Custodes, Chaos Knights, CSM, Genestealer Cults, Blood Angels, and Daemons.
Genestealer Cults are the standout here with one event win despite being barely represented, a true “punching above their weight” story.
The Bottom of the Meta
Dropping down to the mid-40s, Astra Militarum, Imperial Knights (again, after being on top for a while), and Tyranids are scraping by. Knights and Orks share the same weird fate: good over-representation and solid starts, but no wins when it matters. Tyranids at least managed to snag a trophy, so they’re not completely in the biomass bin.
And then, at the bottom of the barrel, we’ve got the Space Wolves, vanilla Marines, Thousand Sons, and poor Imperial Agents. Space Wolves and Marines hover in the low 40s, showing up but not really doing much with it. Thousand Sons are struggling hard, and Imperial Agents, bless ’em, are last place with a 40% win rate and barely anyone even playing them.
Final Thoughts on The Best & Worst Warhammer 40k Armies
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 and AdMech are clearly running the show, with Aeldari 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.
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 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 armies 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