Your guide to the best (top winning lists) and worst Warhammer 40k armies in the tournaments meta, according to the data from GW’s Metawatch.
Updated on July 1st, 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.
Also, big news – GW is now updating the 40k Balance Dataslate every other quarter, but the points will still be changing every quarter.
According to the folks over at Warhammer Community, here’s the scoop on the best and worst 40k armies in the tournament meta (along with the most OP army).
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, Death Guard! Most would consider them the best 40k army right now. Let’s not pretend: Death Guard just hijacked the Warhammer 40k meta limo, cranked up the win rate to 57%, and casually picked up five 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 they need a NERF right away… and they might be right.
They’re joined by Thousand Sons (two wins, 56%) and Chaos Daemons, who aren’t topping win rates anymore but are still farming trophies and 4-0 starts like it’s casual Friday.
A-tier? That’s the land of punchy consistency. Votann are hanging tough with a 57% win rate, and Chaos Space Marines just won’t quit (and keep grabbing event wins). Aeldari are still hanging on, though not the menace they once were. Meanwhile, Custodes and Tau are showing up to the fight with enough edge to stay relevant, and even Imperial Knights are causing headaches again.
B-tier is where things start wobbling. World Eaters clawed their way up, and Genestealer Cults, Astra Militarum, and Necrons are hanging in with “solid but not scary” energy.
Sororitas finally broke 50% win rate, and it shows. Space Marines and Tyranids… well, they’re here too. Neither have the best win rates, but with such large player pools, the rates get brought down compared to people playing the meta armies.
The C & D Tier
C-tier is the heartbreak zone. Orks got hammered by NERFS—down to 43% win rate and no trophies. Grey Knights are wandering the wilderness (they had a decent win rate but no wins and a tiny player pool). Dark Eldar, AdMech, and Blood Angels haven’t found their footing.
And D-tier? Let’s pour one out. Imperial Agents aren’t even showing up. Black Templars and Dark Angels fell hard. Deathwatch? Still at the bottom, still waiting for their moment.
Bottom line: meta matters. If you’re aiming to grab that trophy—or at least dodge a 0-4 weekend—picking strong factions like Death Guard or Thousand Sons might just save you from a bad case of bottom-tier syndrome.
40k Armies, Faction Win Rates: (June 24th, 2025)
Stat Check shared their latest Warhammer 40k tier list with win rates for the best armies. From those that need buffs to those that are currently overpowered.
If you’re trying to make sense of this meta, welcome to the madness. Right now, it’s like a three-way arm wrestle between Leagues of Votann, Thousand Sons, and Death Guard. Each flexing hard. Votann are clocking in at a nasty 57% win rate and even snagged a tournament win.
Thousand Sons aren’t far behind with a 56% win rate and two event wins under their belt. And Death Guard? They’re loudly racking up five event victories, which is just rude at this point. The community is calling for NERFS, and it makes sense!
Meanwhile, the Adepta Sororitas (Sisters of Battle) have finally cracked the 50% mark. A little Balance Dataslate love did them good, though they’re still lagging behind Chaos cousins. World Eaters, bless their skull-stained boots, have crawled out of the basement to a respectable 49%.
Keep an eye on Chaos Daemons. Their win rate isn’t spiking anymore, but with three tourney wins and 11% of their players going 4-0 to start? They’re lurking with intent. But don’t worry, Chaos Space Marines are doing almost as well for once!
The Lower End of 40k Win Rates
And on the sad end: Deathwatch are still holding the “please buff us” sign. Space Wolves (pre-codex mostly) and Black Templars are faltering. The Imperial Agents faction is basically that guy who RSVPs and never shows. And Orks—oh, the Orks—got their wings clipped hard. No wins, 43% win rate, and a meta hangover they’re not shaking anytime soon.
Moral of the story? Don’t chase last month’s winners. The meta shifts fast—build smart, watch the trends, and maybe don’t nerf the Orks that hard.
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. 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:
The latest Warhammer 40k rules update dropped, and while not every faction got fireworks, some walked away grinning. Adepta Sororitas finally have room to experiment thanks to buffs and a more flexible detachment. Blood Angels are back in the spotlight too—Death Company got cheaper, punchier, and a lot more fun.
Drukhari’s gamble mechanic now pays off more often, making them less of a coin-flip army. T’au cleaned up their Observer system, and suddenly it’s usable without a flowchart. Leagues of Votann got a small but meaningful fix: no more transport headaches with character attendants. Clean, simple, effective.
Chaos Space Marines got real upgrades—Daemon Princes are now Lone Operatives, and characters like Vashtorr finally feel like threats on the tabletop.
On the flip side, Aeldari got their wings clipped, especially with Devoted of Ynnead losing some teeth. Ultramarines lost their command point farming combo, and Tyranids got a slowdown with Hive Tyrants. Not brutal, but noticeable.
Astra Militarum made some quiet gains—Lord Solar can now command Titanic units, which is spicy for super-heavy lists. And Orks? Faster, meaner, scarier. But watch for those nerfs—they weren’t spared entirely.
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):
- Adepta Sororitas – Castigator, Immolator, Junith Eruita, Paragon Warsuits, Retributors, Repentia, Seraphim, and Triumph of Saint Katherine are all cheaper.
- Adeptus Custodes – Allarus Custodians dropped across all unit sizes.
- Adeptus Mechanicus – Ironstriders, Skorpius Disintegrators, Sydonian Dragoons with Taser Lances, and enhancements discounted.
- Chaos Knights – Their points were put out later, but they seem to have gotten massive buffs across the board.
- Chaos Space Marines – Chaos Lord with Jump Pack, Dark Apostle, Fellgor Beastmen, Master of Possession, and Traitor Enforcer all cost less.
- Drukhari – Mandrakes, Raider, Ravager, and Venom are now more affordable.
- Genestealer Cults – Atalan Jackals dropped in cost.
- Grey Knights – Brotherhood Champion, large Terminator Squads, and Paladins got points cuts.
- Imperial Knights – Just like their chaos cousins, the big knights went way down in points, letting you squeeze a couple more into the list.
- Space Marine Chapter – Aggressors, Vanguard Veterans, Marneus Calgar, Heavy Intercessors, and more units saw price drops.
- Space Wolves – Bjorn the Fell-Handed, Grey Hunters, and Wolf Guard units are now cheaper.
- Tyranids – Hive Tyrant, Winged Hive Tyrant, Hive Guard, Screamer-Killer, and Swarmlord dropped in points.
- Black Templars – Grimaldus, Helbrecht, Sword Brethren, and Crusaders are now more righteous and more affordable.
- Blood Angels – Astorath, Dante, Mephiston, Lemartes, Death Company Dreadnoughts and Jump Marines, Sanguinary Guard, and Sanguinary Priest all dropped.
NERF-ed Factions (Warhammer 40k Armies Which are Currently Overpowered):
- Aeldari – Autarchs, Fire Dragons, Howling Banshees, Warlock Conclave, and Ynnari elites went up.
- Astra Militarum – Krieg Infantry, Leman Russ Battle Tank, Taurox, and Ursula Creed all got costlier.
- Death Guard – Nurglings saw a point hike—Grandfather Nurgle is charging extra for giggling plagues.
- Emperor’s Children – Daemon Prince of Slaanesh (with wings), Lucius the Eternal, and Noise Marines went up.
- Necrons – Lokhust Destroyers and Skorpekh Lord saw cost increases.
- Orks – Flash Gitz, Lootas, Tankbustas, Big Mek with Shokk Attack Gun, and others increased in price.
- T’au Empire – Stealth Battlesuits and enhancements got more expensive.
- Chaos Daemons – (Outside of one buff), a couple of enhancements saw nerfs, and Nurglings go up.
Final Thoughts on The Best & Worst Warhammer 40k Armies
And there you have it—another twist in the 40k soap opera. Death Guard’s out here stomping around like they paid extra for plot armor, while poor Deathwatch is just trying to remember what winning feels like.
The meta’s doing its usual thing: flipping tables, shuffling power rankings, and making sure no army gets too comfortable. If you’re planning your next list, maybe don’t base it on last month’s hot takes. Today’s OP is tomorrow’s patch note on the Warhammer 40k tier list.
If you are looking for more on the top Warhammer 40k armies in the meta right now. Read our in-depth breakdowns of the latest top army finishers at major events, in these recent articles:
- 40k Meta: 10th Edition Army Lists Breakdown June 16th
- 40k Meta: 10th Edition Army Lists Breakdown May 26th
- 40k Meta: 10th Edition Army Lists Breakdown April 1st
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 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?
