Warhammer 40k just rebalanced Knights and Death Guard with key point hikes. Check out what changed in the balance dataslate and how it affects your lists.
Warhammer 40k just dropped a balance update that hits two very different armies right in their power cores. Imperial Knights saw some hefty point hikes that will make spamming towering mechs a tougher call, while Death Guard players are watching their already slow march get even heavier with key units costing more.
The new changes force both factions to rethink their list-building tricks, and the meta is about to feel that shift in a big way.
Let’s break down what got hit, what it means for your games, and how these tweaks shake up your next match.
Knights & Death Guard Take a Hit
The Warhammer Studio has crunched mountains of tournament data, and the numbers don’t lie: Imperial Knights, Chaos Knights, and Death Guard were stomping a little too hard across tabletops everywhere.
From kitchen table brawls to high-stakes events, these factions were warping the game. As events were already starting to ban and restrict these two factions, the GW studio decided not to wait for the next quarterly balance dataslate.
They dropped changes early to keep matched play from turning into a continued KnightFest or Plague Party.
Why Did Knights and Death Guard Get Nerfed?
If you’re wondering: Why were Imperial Knights, Chaos Knights, and Death Guard singled out in this update?
The answer is simple: they were overperforming. Knights were getting too many massive chassis into lists thanks to overly generous points, creating brutal matchups unless you built specifically to counter them. Death Guard were stuffing in more tough and deadly units than most armies could handle, making every battlefield look like a Nurgle convention.
What Changed for Imperial Knights and Chaos Knights?
The biggest Knight problem was cost. The average points dropped too low, letting players field more towering titans than opponents could reasonably deal with. The update bumps points to restore balance:
- Large Imperial and Chaos Knights increased by 15 to 30 points
- Cerastus and Questoris Knights up by 30 to 40 points
- Canis Rex increased by 35 points
- The Warp-borne Stalker enhancement costs 15 points more
Will Knights Still Be Competitive?
We say yes! Knights still hit like trucks and hold table presence, but now you won’t see as many of them crowding the field. Lists will be tighter, and every big model choice carries more weight.
What Changed for Death Guard?
Death Guard weren’t spamming giant robots, but they were spamming everything else. Their mix of durability, damage, and cheap costs allowed too many models per list. The update spreads small point hikes across a wide range of units:
- Biologus Putrifier
- Deathshroud Terminators
- Foetid Bloat-drone
- Foul Blightspawn
- Lord of Virulence
- Myphitic Blight-haulers
- Plagueburst Crawler
- Poxwalkers
- Tallyman
- Typhus
All went up 5 to 20 points. This trims one or two units from standard competitive lists without wrecking the entire faction.
Are Death Guard Still Worth Playing?
Definitely still worth playing. They still ooze toughness and plague-powered resilience, but the days of drowning opponents in cheap units are gone. We think the balance pass keeps them strong without letting them overwhelm every game.
When Do These Changes Take Effect?
The new points are live right now in the Warhammer 40,000 App. That means if you’re planning your next tournament list or even a casual match, it’s time to re-check your math.
What’s Next for Warhammer 40k Balance?
If you are new to 40k and are wondering: How often does Warhammer 40k get balance updates?
Games Workshop releases a quarterly Balance Dataslate that tackles faction imbalances and rules tweaks. This special Knight and Death Guard update dropped early, but you can expect more changes in the next full dataslate scheduled for next month.
Final Thoughts from Us
Balance updates might sting when your favorite models get pricier, but they’re good for the game. The Knight and Death Guard nerfs keep the competitive scene fair and stop casual players from getting stomped into the carpet.
Knights still tower above the battlefield, and Death Guard still ooze across it, but we don’t think either will dominate quite as easily. Look for Necrons, Tau, and Aeldari to step up in the vacuum this update creates.
If you play either of these armies, take it as a challenge: tweak your lists, try new builds, and prove you can still win with skill instead of relying on bargain points.
