Get the full list of all the Warhammer 40k factions, armies, and races in our guide to how each army fights so you can find your tabletop favorite.
Updated October 2nd, 2025, by Rob Baer with new information and links to relevant content.
Looking for the right Warhammer 40k faction or army to match your style? This guide breaks down the full list of the Warhammer 40,000 races and factions to help answer the question of “What Warhammer 40k army should I play?”
From the stoic resilience of Space Marines to the overwhelming hordes of the Tyranids, this Warhammer 40k factions list has everything you need to navigate the vast galaxy of choices.
Regardless of whether you’re learning how to build a Warhammer 40k army or switching things up with a current one, this guide will point you in the right direction!
Full List of Warhammer 40k Races and Factions:
Click any of the links to jump to that Warhammer army’s breakdown, or just dig in from the top!
How to Build a Warhammer 40k Army
Sure, starting a Warhammer 40k army can be overwhelming with so many factions and races to choose from. So, if you’re wondering what 40k army should I play, here are the key factors to consider, like painting the actual minis:
Playstyle
First, figure out which Warhammer 40k faction you are most likely to vibe with. Do you like smashing faces, sniping from afar, or bending the rules of reality with psychic powers? Every Warhammer 40k faction leans into one of those lanes.
Some armies hit like a wrecking ball. Others win by never letting you touch them. Know your flavor..
- Orks: All-in melee aggression
- T’au: Long-range firepower
- Grey Knights: Elite psychic warfare
Looks and Theme
Pick a Warhammer 40k faction that excites you visually. You’ll be assembling, painting, and fielding them, so style matters:
- Space Marines: Classic power-armored heroes
- Necrons: Undead robot menace
- T’au: High-tech, battlesuit-heavy aesthetic
Ease of Use
Some Warhammer 40k armies come with training wheels. Others expect you to do mental gymnastics before turn one.
- Good for new players: Space Marines, T’au, Necrons
- Hard mode: Thousand Sons, Aeldari, Genestealer Cults
Skill Level Snapshot
| Faction | Skill Level Needed | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|
| Space Marines | Easy | Balanced (Ranged & Melee) |
| Necrons | Easy | Durable, Ranged Focus |
| T’au Empire | Easy-Medium | Ranged, Tactical |
| Astra Militarum | Medium | Ranged, Large Infantry |
| Orks | Medium | Melee, Horde |
| Grey Knights | Medium-Hard | Psychic, Elite |
| Thousand Sons | Hard | Psychic, Ranged |
| Craftworld Aeldari | Hard | Fast, Psychic, Tactical |
| Genestealer Cults | Hard | Ambush, Moblility |
The Three Big Buckets of Warhammer 40k Factions
Every Warhammer 40k army fits into one of three groups:
- Imperium of Man: Space knights, tanks, religious flamethrowers
- Chaos: Spikes, daemons, corruption, and screaming
- Xenos: Aliens with grudges and galaxy-smashing agendas
Each group has subfactions with wildly different units and tactics. There’s a reason the Warhammer 40k factions list takes up half a codex itself.
Warhammer 40k Armies Breakdown
Let’s hit every major Warhammer 40k army with a deeper summary of what makes them unique, how they play, and why you might want to collect them.
The Imperium of Man
The Imperium of Man looms large in the Warhammer 40k, a sprawling, galaxy-spanning juggernaut packed with more list-building options than you can shake a chainsword at. This iron-fisted empire was forged in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy, a civil war so catastrophic it nearly wiped out humanity.
At its helm sits the God-Emperor, a near-dead deity entombed on the Golden Throne, keeping things running through sheer divine willpower (and probably a lot of duct tape).
Yet, amidst the chaos, there are still those who cling to hope, driven by faith, sacrifice, and a stubborn belief that humanity’s empire can endure.
Space Marines
Space Marines, aka the Adeptus Astartes are humanity’s ultimate badasses, genetically jacked super-soldiers built through a secretive gene-seed process. Organized into Chapters, each with its own flair, tactics, and epic backstory, they trace their origins to the Primarchs; half-legend, half-genetic wonders created by the Emperor himself.
Skill Level Needed to Play Space Marines
Newbie-friendly: Space Marines are the game’s Swiss Army knife; versatile, tough, and forgiving. Their good stats and endless options make them perfect for newcomers to Warhammer 40k.
Blood Angels
The Blood Angels are a noble but tragically cursed Chapter of Space Marines descended from the legendary Primarch Sanguinius. While they aim to live up to his ideals of grace and heroism, they’re plagued by two nasty afflictions: the Red Thirst, an uncontrollable craving for blood, and the Black Rage, a berserker madness that hits like a freight train of trauma.
Skill Level Needed to Play Blood Angels
Intermediate: Charging headfirst into battle might sound easy, but there’s an art to knowing who to send in first, when to hold back, and how to rack up points while keeping things together. That said, they’re a blast to play, especially in casual games; sometimes, running straight at the enemy is all the strategy you need.
Black Templars 40k Armies
The Black Templars are the Imperium’s hardcore crusaders, a zealous and fiercely independent Chapter of Space Marines. Once part of the Imperial Fists, they broke off after the Horus Heresy to become a full-time, galaxy-spanning wrecking crew.
Skill Level Needed to Play Black Templars
Beginner-friendly: With solid Space Marine stats, versatile unit options, and some epic rules, they’re easy to pick up once you’ve got a handle on their playstyle. A straightforward, smash-and-burn approach makes them a great pick for newer players.
Astra Militarum
The Astra Militarum, or Imperial Guard if you’re feeling old-school, is the Imperium’s go-to army of regular folks doing extraordinary things. Pulled from countless planets, these regiments of everyday men and women band together to fend off enemies that could vaporize them with a glance.
Skill Level Needed to Play Astra Militarum
Novice to Intermediate: Sure, plopping a swarm of models on the table sounds easy, but keeping them alive? Not so much. Your troops are squishy, and if your artillery gets caught off guard, the game can go south fast. On the plus side, with sheer numbers, you’ve got room for a few mistakes without it being lights out.
Imperial Agents
The Imperial Agents are the Imperium’s secret weapons, covert operatives who step in when regular armies can’t cut it. These include the Inquisition, Adeptus Arbites, Officio Assassinorum, and other shadowy organizations.
Think of them as the Emperor’s mix of detectives, judges, and assassins.
Skill Level Needed to Play Imperial Agents
Advanced: Tossing a few Imperial Agents into your main army? Easy. Running a whole army of these quirky units? That’s another story.
Their odd mix of troops makes coordination tricky. If you’re new, stick to sprinkling a few agents into your existing force for flavor and impact.
Adeptus Custodes
The Adeptus Custodes are the crème de la crème of the Imperium’s warriors. Clad in radiant golden armor, these superhuman guardians are the Emperor’s personal bodyguards, defending Terra and the Golden Throne with unmatched skill and devotion.
Skill Level Needed to Play Adeptus Custodes
Advanced: They hit like trucks and have some of the best stats in the game, but their small, elite armies are expensive and lack numbers. This makes scoring objectives tricky; hordes, they are not.
Dark Angels Warhammer 40k Armies
The Dark Angels are Space Marines shrouded in mystery, obsessed with one thing: redeeming their Chapter from the stain of the Fallen, a group of traitors who broke away during the Horus Heresy. They guard their secrets so closely that they’d rather silence allies than let the truth out.
Skill Level Needed to Play Dark Angels
Novice to Intermediate: A standard Dark Angels army is straightforward, but diving into their specialized forces, like the bike-heavy Ravenwing or the elite Deathwing, adds complexity. Each plays differently, so balancing them can take some skill.
Deathwatch
The Deathwatch is the Imperium’s all-star team of Space Marines, handpicked from different Chapters to take on the galaxy’s most dangerous alien threats. These elite warriors specialize in covert operations, forming Kill-Teams that hunt down alien leaders, gather intel, and disrupt enemy plans with ruthless efficiency.
Skill Level Needed to Play Deathwatch
Intermediate: Deathwatch both slot into the Imperial Agents roster, and can be run as standalone armies too. You’ve got flexibility here: field them on their own with their full index rules, or weave them into a larger Imperial Agents force.
Either way, they’ve got dedicated rules that will carry them through the rest of 10th, so you’re free to build lists that lean fully into their identity or mix them in with the wider Imperium without losing their flavor.
Adepta Sororitas
The Adepta Sororitas, or Sisters of Battle, are the Imperium’s holy warriors, bringing fire and faith to the battlefield. Armed to the teeth and clad in power armor adorned with religious icons, these zealous women are a flaming testament to the Emperor’s will, purging heresy wherever it rears its ugly head.
Skill Level Needed to Play Adepta Sororitas
Intermediate: Their unique mechanics, like miracle dice, can take some getting used to. Knowing when to push your units and when to hold back is key, making them a bit trickier than your standard army, but highly rewarding once mastered.
Imperial Knights
The Imperial Knight Households are towering symbols of the Imperium’s might, piloted by noble warrior clans bound by ancient oaths of honor and duty. These massive war machines, armed to the teeth and standing taller than most buildings, are the ultimate display of battlefield dominance.
Skill Level Needed to Play Knights
Advanced: With so few models on the board, every move counts. Scoring objectives is challenging without swarms of units, so planning your strategy around secondaries is crucial. Of course, if you just want to smash things with giant robots, it’s hard to have a bad time.
Grey Knights 40k Armies
The Grey Knights are the Imperium’s psychic powerhouses, a secretive group of Space Marines built specifically to take on the daemonic forces of Chaos. Armed with the best gear, psychic abilities, and the Emperor’s personal blessing, these warriors are Chaos’ worst nightmare.
Skill Level Needed to Play Grey Knights
Advanced: Like the Custodes, Grey Knights rely on a small, elite force (you won’t have a lot of models), so every casualty stings. Add teleportation tricks and psychic powers into the mix, and you’ve got an army that’s incredibly strong but takes practice to use well.
Adeptus Mechanicus
The Adeptus Mechanicus is the Imperium’s tech-savvy faction, worshipping the Machine God while Tech Priests are cranking out advanced technology war machines. These cybernetic fanatics mix man and machine, blending religious zeal with technological mastery.
Skill Level Needed to Play Adeptus Mechanicus
Intermediate-Advanced: Pulling off their synergies takes planning, and their datasheets aren’t exactly top-tier right now. Add the challenge of intricate models to build and paint, and they’re not for the faint of heart.
Space Wolves
The Space Wolves are the Emperor’s feral warriors, known for their brutal combat style and ties to their savage homeworld of Fenris and their Primarch, Leman Russ. With wolf-like traits and a take-no-prisoners attitude, they’re all about honor, loyalty, and ripping apart enemies in close combat.
Skill Level Needed to Play Space Wolves
Intermediate: While they’re technically Space Marines, their unique mechanics and oddball rules take some getting used to. They might not win as often as other armies, but they bring a ton of flavor to the table.
Warhammer 40k Armies: Chaos Faction
The Chaos Gods have always lurked in the background, they truly stole the show when some Space Marines decided to betray the Emperor during the Horus Heresy. Now, these traitors are twisted, corrupted shadows of their former selves, fully devoted to the whims of their dark gods.
Chaos Space Marines
Chaos Space Marines are the galaxy’s edgelords, fallen heroes turned villains, driven by the whispers of the Chaos Gods. Once loyal defenders of humanity, these twisted warriors now revel in destruction, serving Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch, or Slaanesh in their endless pursuit of power and corruption.
Skill Level Needed to Play Chaos Space Marines
Novice-Intermediate: They’re like their loyalist cousins but a bit trickier to use. Some editions make them easier to pick up, while others demand a bit more finesse. Either way, they pack a punch when used well.
Chaos Daemons Warhammer 40k Armies
Chaos Daemons are the terrifying manifestations of the Warp, born from mortal emotions and desires. Serving the Chaos Gods, these beings are pure nightmares, wielding eldritch powers and tearing into reality to wreak havoc across the galaxy.
Skill Level Needed to Play Chaos Daemons
Advanced: This army has wild mechanics, from reality-warping powers to god-specific playstyles. Making it all click takes effort, but the rewards are worth it.
Death Guard
The Death Guard are the bloated, disease-ridden warriors of Nurgle, once loyal Space Marines who now spread the Chaos God’s plagues across the galaxy. Resilient, relentless, and revolting, they are the XIV Legion reborn in rot with Mortarion at the helm.
Skill Level Needed to Play Death Guard
Intermediate: They’re tough as nails, but their slow and methodical playstyle demands precision. Their rules are strong, but timing is everything when managing plagues and positioning.
Thousand Sons
The Thousand Sons are the cursed scholars of Chaos under their Primarch Magnus, a once-noble Legion of Space Marines who fell to their thirst for forbidden knowledge. Now, twisted servants of Tzeentch, the Chaos God of Change, they wield devastating psychic powers, their bodies trapped in suits of psychic armor thanks to a warp-born curse.
Skill Level Needed to Play Thousand Sons
Advanced: This army is all about pulling off tricky combos. When you get it right, they’re a powerhouse, but mastering their mechanics takes practice!
World Eaters
The World Eaters are chaos incarnate, a brutal Chaos Space Marine Legion driven by Khorne’s insatiable thirst for blood. Once loyal warriors, they now charge headlong into battle as Khornate Berserkers, their lives dedicated to violence and skull-collecting, with Angron leading the charge.
Skill Level Needed to Play World Eaters
Intermediate: Running headfirst into combat is straightforward, but managing the army’s dice mechanics and positioning expensive units takes finesse. A misstep, and you’re getting shot off the board.
Emperor’s Children 40k Armies
The Emperor’s Children are the ultimate divas of Chaos Space Marines. Once the Emperor’s favorite perfectionists, these prima donnas fell hard for Slaanesh, the Chaos God of excess and sensory overload.
Led by their fabulous Primarch, Fulgrim, they’ve traded honor and loyalty for endless debauchery and ear-splitting sonic weapons. If you like your battles loud, flashy, and downright unhinged, this is your jam.
Skill Level Needed to Play Emperor’s Children
Intermediate to Advanced: They’re not your plug-and-play faction. You’ll need to juggle precise positioning, unit synergies, and timing to make them shine. Play recklessly, and you’ll see your glass-cannon units shatter faster than a poorly tuned guitar solo.
Xenos Warhammer 40k Armies
The Xenos factions of Warhammer 40k are a colorful mix of aliens, monsters, and machines, all with one thing in common: they’d love to see humanity (and Chaos) crushed. With endless ways to build and play these extraterrestrial armies, they bring diversity and mayhem to the tabletop.
Each of these Warhammer factions and races has its own vibe, tech, and tactics, making them as unpredictable as they are deadly.
Tyranids
The Tyranids are the galaxy’s hungriest monsters, a relentless swarm driven by a single goal: consume everything. They descend in colossal Hive Fleets, announced by psychic chaos called the Shadow in the Warp, and leave nothing but barren worlds in their wake. Constantly adapting and evolving, they’re a nightmare that keeps getting worse. They are the apex predators in the list of Warhammer 40k races and factions.
Skill Level Needed to Play Tyranids
Intermediate: Strong units and powerful synergies make them dangerous, but if you can’t link your pieces together effectively, they’ll feel like they’re missing their bite.
Aeldari
The Aeldari, are a race of ancient psychic warriors in Warhammer 40k, that stand on the brink of extinction thanks to their own indulgence and the rise of the Chaos God Slaanesh. Divided into factions, they include the Craftworld Aeldari, who cling to survival, and the Drukhari, who feed off the suffering of others to stave off their doom.
Skill Level Needed to Play Aeldari
Advanced: Fragile but fast, the Aeldari rely on careful positioning and timing. In the hands of a capable player, they can dominate, but one wrong move, and they crumble.
Drukhari
The Drukhari, or Dark Eldar, are sadistic pirates living in the shadowy city of Commorragh. Fueled by a need to feed on pain and suffering, they raid the galaxy with terrifying speed, employing brutal hit-and-run tactics to strike hard and vanish before anyone knows what hit them.
Skill Level Needed to Play Drukhari
Advanced: They’re as fragile as they are deadly. If you can’t balance their high-risk, high-reward gameplay, you’ll be watching your army evaporate faster than you can say “Webway.”
Orks Warhammer 40k Armies
The Orks, affectionately (and fearfully) known as Greenskins, are the galaxy’s ultimate wrecking crew. They’re a brutal, chaotic race fueled by an unquenchable love for battle, destruction, and generally smashing stuff up.
Created by the mysterious Old Ones as living war machines, the Orks were built for endless combat. Unfortunately, their creators are long gone, leaving them to run amok with no plan except to fight and have a good time doing it.
Skill Level Needed to Play Orks
Intermediate: Orks are a horde army with a talent for combat but questionable aim. Their weapons are decent; it’s just the Orks themselves who couldn’t hit a barn door half the time. Building a strong, themed list helps balance their chaotic nature.
Necrons
The Necrons are ancient robotic overlords who’ve spent millennia snoozing in their tomb worlds. Now awakened, they’re on a mission to reclaim the galaxy by wiping out anything that breathes, or doesn’t.
Skill Level Needed to Play Necrons
Novice: Tough, reliable, and straightforward, Necrons are perfect for newcomers. They’re resilient, hit hard, and excel at scoring objectives, making them one of the easier factions to pick up and play.
Genestealer Cults
The Genestealer Cults are the galaxy’s ultimate infiltrators, serving as the vanguard for the Tyranid Hive Fleets. These creepy, clandestine factions spread their influence by infecting and converting populations into devoted, fanatical followers.
Skill Level Needed to Play Genestealer Cults
Intermediate-Advanced: To play Genestealer Cults effectively, you’ll need to master ambushes and guerrilla tactics. They have plenty of scoring potential, but their reliance on precision makes them tricky.
T’au Empire
The T’au Empire is all about unity, progress, and shooting things from very, very far away. Led by the Ethereal Caste, they’re the galaxy’s idealists, expanding through diplomacy, colonization, and (when necessary) overwhelming firepower. With advanced tech and battlesuits, they offer a slick, high-tech alternative to the grimdark chaos of the galaxy.
Skill Level Needed to Play Tau
Novice: If you like robots, lasers, and lots of dice flying across the table, T’au is a great pick. They’re mobile, excellent at shooting, and forgiving for new players who prefer a ranged playstyle.
Leagues of Votann
Summary
The Leagues of Votann are the galaxy’s best-kept secret, a collection of technologically advanced and fiercely independent factions that prioritize freedom and self-determination, and are the newest Warhammer 40k army to be added to the game. With a knack for guerrilla tactics and heavy firepower, they’re tough to pin down and even tougher to take out.
Skill Level Needed to Play Leagues of Votann
Intermediate: These guys are tanky and shoot well, but their slower movement and shorter range mean positioning is everything. Manage that, and they’ll grind through opponents with precision.
Warhammer 40k Armies by Play Style
Melee Armies
- World Eaters: Berserkers who charge in and rip everything apart.
- Blood Angels: Fast, stylish melee that wins in dramatic assaults.
- Orks: Sheer numbers and brutal swings.
- Space Wolves: Ferocious warriors who thrive in close combat.
Shooting Armies
- T’au Empire: The greater good is supreme at long-range combat.
- Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard): Gunlines with tanks and artillery.
- Necrons: Mid-range consistency with reanimation support.
- Adeptus Mechanicus: Gun-heavy armies with mechanical precision.
Psychic Armies
- Thousand Sons: Psychic masters with deadly combos.
- Grey Knights: Psychic super soldiers with teleport tricks.
- Aeldari: Psyker support with speed.
Small Armies
- Custodes: Few models, overwhelming stats.
- Grey Knights: Limited numbers, high efficiency.
- Deathwatch: Elite squads with alien-killing tools.
40k Armies & Faction FAQs
What is the best Warhammer 40k army?
There isn’t one. The Meta shifts constantly. Build what you’ll enjoy, and you will be a lot happier.
Which factions do Warhammer 40k players use to win tournaments?
Check the latest event results. Custodes, Aeldari, and T’au often perform well, but balance updates shake things up.
What’s the easiest army to start with?
Space Marines, Necrons, and T’au Empire. Forgiving stats and clear rules.
Which Warhammer 40k races are the most fun to paint?
- Orks: Unlimited creativity and conversions
- Aeldari: Bright colors and detail
- Custodes: Gold everywhere
How Many Factions Are In Warhammer 40k?
There are 20 main armies, 13 offshoot races or factions, and countless subgroups and armies scattered across the Warhammer 40k universe. With so many options, picking the right Warhammer 40k factions or races from a list for your playstyle can be tough, but exciting.
What’s the weirdest Warhammer 40k faction?
Genestealer Cults, Chaos Daemons, and Leagues of Votann top the list.
Final Thoughts on Warhammer 40k Armies, Factions, & Races
If you’re here, you already love this hobby. Picking a Warhammer 40k army isn’t about chasing the best meta for a month. It’s about finding the faction you want to paint, field, and brag about.
The Warhammer 40k factions list is huge. That’s the fun part. Whether it’s an alien swarm, a human empire, or spiky traitors, your Warhammer 40k race will feel personal once it’s on the table.
So pick a faction, roll some dice, and get ready to start your next Warhammer 40k army. And don’t be surprised when one army turns into three. That’s just how this hobby works.
GW Confirms the Best and Worst 40k Armies
What is your favorite of the Warhammer 40k factions, armies, and races in this 10th edition army list tier guide?
