The 23 Best Warhammer 40,000 Factions

The grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000 is packed with iconic factions — from the noble Space Marines to the ancient Necrons and the all-devouring Tyranids. Which faction reigns supreme?

1

Space Marines

The iconic poster boys of the 41st millennium — genetically enhanced supersoldiers in power armor who stand as humanity's ultimate defenders.

1000pts

2

Chaos Daemons

The daemonic legions of the four Chaos Gods given physical form in realspace, each embodying a pure aspect of the Warp's corruption.

918pts

3

Drukhari

The sadistic Dark Eldar who inhabit the webway city of Commorragh, raiding realspace to harvest souls and stave off Slaanesh's hunger.

857pts

4

Necrons

The ancient undying machine-race who slumbered in their tombs for sixty million years and are now awakening to reclaim their galaxy.

856pts

5

Blood Angels

The tragic vampire-aesthetic Space Marine chapter cursed by the Red Thirst and Black Rage, known for their devastating assault tactics.

803pts

6

Chaos Space Marines

Fallen Astartes consumed by the Ruinous Powers, spending ten thousand years of bitter vengeance against the Imperium that cast them out.

803pts

7

Leagues of Votann

The stocky, no-nonsense kin of the Squats — an ancient human offshoot culture who mine the galactic core and fight with ancestor-blessed tech.

734pts

8

Adeptus Custodes

The golden-armored guardian demigods of the Emperor himself, each one worth a hundred Space Marines and rarely leaving Terra.

734pts

9

World Eaters

Khorne's berserker legion of Angron, who lobotomized themselves with Butcher's Nails implants and know only endless slaughter and war.

642pts

10

T'au Empire

The young, technologically advanced alien civilization united under the philosophy of the Greater Good, fielding battlesuits and firewarriors.

642pts

11

Death Guard

The bloated, plague-ridden traitor legion of Mortarion, spreading Nurgle's blessings of disease and decay across the galaxy.

642pts

12

Emperor's Children

The decadent traitor legion of Fulgrim devoted to Slaanesh, pursuing sensation and excess to monstrous extremes in search of perfection.

642pts

13

Orks

The rampaging fungal alien warmongers whose WAAAGH! psychic field makes their ramshackle technology work through sheer belief and brutality.

642pts

14

Tyranids

The all-consuming alien swarm from outside the galaxy that strips worlds to bare rock, guided by the universal psychic Hive Mind.

514pts

15

Dark Angels

The secretive first Space Marine Legion harboring a hidden shame, hunting their Fallen brothers across the galaxy in robed Deathwing armor.

514pts

16

Thousand Sons

The sorcerous traitor legion of Magnus the Red, reduced to animated suits of armor containing only dust and psychic residue.

514pts

17

Adepta Sororitas

The Sisters of Battle — fanatical female warriors of the Ecclesiarchy whose faith literally manifests as miraculous Acts of Faith in combat.

321pts

18

Grey Knights

The secretive psychic Space Marines who serve as the Imperium's last line of defense against daemonic incursion, armored in blessed silver.

321pts

19

Astra Militarum

The vast Imperial Guard — countless regiments of ordinary humans holding the line against existential horrors through sheer firepower and sacrifice.

321pts

20

Adeptus Mechanicus

The tech-priest servants of the Omnissiah who replace flesh with machine and safeguard the Imperium's dwindling technological secrets.

321pts

21

Aeldari

The ancient, dying race of psychic elves whose fall birthed a Chaos God and who now fight desperately to avoid total extinction.

321pts

22

Space Wolves

The Viking-inspired Space Marines of Fenris who ride giant wolves, drink mead, and fight with savage ferocity in the name of Russ.

0pts

23

Genestealer Cults

The insidious xenos fifth columnists who infiltrate and subvert human populations from within while waiting for the Tyranid fleet to arrive.

0pts