Your guide to the best (top winning lists) and worst Warhammer 40k armies in the meta, according to the data from GW’s Metawatch.
Updated on May 13th, 2025, by Rob Baer with updated information on the current best and worst Warhammer 40k armies, which are currently overpowered in the meta right now, and the latest Balance Dataslate changes.
GW’s been keeping a close eye on the meta lately, trying to keep every Warhammer 40k army at that sweet 50% win rate with their Balance Dataslates, Rules Commentary, and FAQs. According to the folks over at Warhammer Community, here’s the scoop on the best and worst 40k armies in the meta (along with the most OP army).
Also, big news – GW is now updating the 40k Balance Dataslate every other quarter, but the points will still be changing every quarter.
40k Metawatch & Best Armies:
In Warhammer 40k, the meta can be as unpredictable as a Chaos Spawn on a good day! With Games Workshop keeping a close eye on the battlefield, we’ve sifted through the latest numbers to uncover the top contenders and the not-so-glorious underdogs.
We’ll look at win rates, event wins, and the occasional crisis of faith as we break down the best and worst armies, reshaping the 40k 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
Which Warhammer armies are currently overpowered? Well, that’s pretty easy, EC! Let’s not pretend: Emperor’s Children just hijacked the Warhammer 40k meta limo, cranked up the win rate to 67%, and casually picked up three event wins like it was no big deal.
If you’re wondering how they pulled that off, you’re not alone. Some folks are whispering that their rules are being creatively interpreted, while others think the sheer mix of speed, durability, and pressure is finally clicking for players.
While they’re not even on the tier list yet (we’ll add them after we get some more data), they’ve clearly earned a VIP seat at the top—call it S+ Tier. Right alongside the usual suspects: Aeldari, Imperial Knights, Genestealer Cults, and those slippery Chaos Daemons. These armies aren’t just winning; they’re shaping how every other list is built.
Speaking of shaping lists, Orks are pulling off the strangest trick of all—winning big without a great win rate. War Horde builds have snagged two event wins despite a 47% average. It’s messy, scrappy, and very Orky.
If you’ve been benching your greenskins, maybe it’s time to let War Horde do the heavy lifting. However, the Death Guard have kept a good win rate for a long time, so they stay up in the A-tier.
The D Tier
At the bottom end, Tau continues to be that one friend who peaked in high school. With a 38% win rate, they’re showing up to events, sure, but just can’t seem to land a solid finish. World Eaters and Blood Angels aren’t faring much better—both hanging around the low-40s win rate, with zero event wins to show for it. These armies might need more than clever list building; they need help straight from GW’s dataslate pen.
If you’re looking to climb the ranks, avoid the trap of stubborn loyalty. Unless you’re running Emperor’s Children—or a War Horde list that slaps—meta awareness might just be your strongest weapon. Tau might look flashy, but right now? They’re better as a shelf ornament.
Bottom line: meta matters. If you’re aiming to grab that trophy—or at least dodge a 0-3 weekend—picking strong factions like Orks or Aeldari might just save you from a bad case of bottom-tier syndrome.
40k Armies, Faction Win Rates: (May 5th, 2025)
Meta Monday shared their latest Warhammer 40k tier list Stat Check with win rates for the best armies, from those that need buffs to those that are currently overpowered.
Let’s talk about Emperor’s Children. Fresh off a 67% win rate weekend and three event trophies, they’re either the hottest thing in Chaos—or someone’s not reading the rulebook closely enough. The debate’s loud: Are they this strong, or is there a “creative” interpretation of the rules floating around? Hard to say, but one thing’s clear: they’re making noise, and TOs are definitely going to be watching.
On the more predictable side of the battlefield, Imperial Knights keep doing Knight things—big, stompy, and effective with a tidy 57% win rate and another gold medal. They’re not as flashy anymore, but they’re consistent. Think of them like that one friend who brings the same list to every tournament… and still ends up in the finals.
Meta Shockers
Now, for a bit of a shocker: Adeptus Mechanicus decided to show up. After a long stint in the bargain bin of win rates, they jumped to 56% this weekend and even took home an event win. The dataslate clearly did something right.
And Leagues of Votann? They’re finally delivering on their promise with solid results post-fix. Maybe all they needed was a little fine-tuning (and less rage-quit from players burned by the launch edition).
Sisters of Battle had a quiet but strong showing with a 52% win rate and one top placing. Nothing flashy, but reliable.
Now, Orks. Oh, the Orks. War Horde is doing the heavy lifting, dragging an overall 47% win rate into respectability with two event wins. Not bad when your faction’s strategy often involves yelling “WAAAGH!” and hoping dice behave.
The Bottom Tier
Meanwhile, things aren’t looking great for Tau (38%) despite decent representation and a few top placings. Blood Angels aren’t faring much better, and World Eaters continue to struggle (as are the Thousand Sons), with zero event wins and a rough 44% weekend. Then, with a new codex coming up, the Grey Knights are also sitting pretty low on the totem pole.
So if you’re tuning your army list this month, maybe don’t start with Necrons unless you enjoy uphill battles. Or hey, just bring Emperor’s Children and see how much carnage will ensue!
Latest Points Changes, 40k Balance Dataslate Updates
Alright, let’s break down the latest confirmations from GW about which armies are the best in Warhammer 40k.
They’ve dropped some big updates shaking up the best and most overpowered Warhammer 40k armies, and there’s a little something for everyone—or at least enough to keep us all arguing over meta-shifts.
In March, we saw a massive Dataslate with changes for Daemons, Sisters, and most armies. Plus points updates for almost every army! This shakeup should really change how the meta is going.
The latest dataslate is a game of give and take—some factions are getting the nudge they need to stay relevant, while others are being reined in before they spiral out of control. Adeptus Custodes, who were living the high life, have been knocked down a peg with points increases on their best units. They’ll still be strong, but list-building just got a bit trickier.
Balance Dataslate Update:
Meanwhile, Adepta Sororitas got a Miracle Dice boost and point reductions, which should keep them in the game and maybe let them start breaking back into the top table. Expect Sisters players to get a little more mileage out of their faith-based plays!
Leagues of Votann just got a serious early-game buff with their new Judgement Token rules, meaning they can start punishing key targets right away. Expect to see more Votann lists pushing the tempo, which could shake up the early turns of many matchups.
Chaos Daemons, on the other hand, got their wings clipped. The Legion of Excess detachment is less punishing for opponents now, which means no more free re-rolls to Hit and Wound unless they’re in Shadow of Chaos. It’s a hit, but not one that will send them into the abyss.
Astra Militarum and Orks both got important rule clarifications—Guard players will have to work harder for their Bridgehead Strike Detachment benefits, while Orks can’t launch Bomb Squigs blindly anymore. These changes tone down the more abusable aspects of these factions while keeping them playable.
For Aeldari, Asurmen’s tweak to Devastating Wounds means one of their best units is slightly less terrifying. That being said, Aeldari were already strong, so this is more of a gentle nerf rather than a major hit.
10th Edition 40k Munitorium Field Manual Updates
Both these points updates and the Balance Dataslate will shake up the best and worst Warhammer 40k Armies in the meta and lists, but that’s generally a good thing. Let’s look at the Munitorum Field Manual 40k points changes winners, and losers from the lastest update.
Buffed Factions (Best Warhammer 40k Armies):
- Adeptus Mechanicus: Those Kastelan Robots and Datasmiths are rolling in discounts.
- Black Templars: Cheaper Repulsors and Executioners for the holy hammer time.
- Blood Angels: Sanguinary Guard and Death Company with better prices for more blood-spilling.
- Chaos and Imperial Knights: Affordable War Dogs mean more barking on the battlefield.
- Chaos Space Marines: Bikes are zooming in for less.
- Necrons: Warriors, Ghost Arks, and Ophydian Destroyers are resurrecting those budget vibes.
- Leagues of Votann: Thunderkyn and Iron-masters are dropping those gold nuggets.
- Tyranids: Norn and Trygon are hungry for action at a discount buffet.
NERF-ed Factions (Warhammer 40k Armies Which are Currently Overpowered):
- Astra Militarum: Infantry squads, characters, and tanks got a little heavier, but some units like Death Korps and Ogryns are feeling fresh.
- Adepta Sororitas: Castigator and Exorcist turned into luxury items.
- Adeptus Custodes: Dawneagle Jetbikes got fancy price tags, but received buffs in the Dataslate.
- Drukhari: Scourges and Grotesques are making you pay for the pain.
- Tau Empire: Tiger Shark’s new price tag hits like its railgun.
- Space Wolves: Scouts and Wulfen getting fancier to deploy.
- Space Marines: Intercessors, Scouts, and Guilliman got a price hike—ouch!
Final Thoughts on The Best & Worst Warhammer 40k Armies
That’s the latest on all the armies in the Warhammer 40k meta, along with the recent updates from Games Workshop for all the juicy details on which armies are currently overpowered (or the most OP) and which need help.
While some factions are licking their wounds from heavy nerfs (which Warhammer 40k armies were overpowered), others are priming their war engines for a comeback (and might finally make the good side of a Warhammer 40k tier list).
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 Every Warhammer 40k Army
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?
