It’s time to look at the latest tier list for the new edition of Kill Team!
Welcome to today’s Warhammer 40000 Kill Team article where I cover my newest quarterly tier list for Kill Team! Based off of tournament and personal experience, as well as reviewing every team, I rate every faction in the game! Find out who are the best and the worst for tournaments and events!
If you want, I’ve done a more in-depth video on the subject which you can watch here:
Explaining The Tiers
So the tiers are pretty simple:
S Tier – A super strong kill team, one you’re very likely to see at a tournament that will definitely make the top cut and/or win an event too. Possibly broken but in realty just the best team(s) to play and only really lose to other S Tier teams match-up wise, ergo having very few to no bad match-ups. Usually with a very high winrate, popularity/usage rate and good podium rate (getting 1st to 3rd at events).
A Tier – A very strong kill team. Very likely to be seen in a tournament that will make a top cut and even win the whole thing. Commonly finishes a 4 round tournament with a 3-1. Not as strong as a S Tier kill team but one you have to definitely keep in-mind for when aiming to play competitively.
B Tier – A strong kill team. Likely to be seen in tournaments and can make a top cut. Could win as well but not reliably. Definitely a team you need to remember for when playing in events Has more bad match-ups than the S and A tiers.
C Tier – An average kill team. Usually should be able to go 2 wins 2 losses in a 4 round tournament. May make the top cut but unlikely to win. You may need to remember these teams for events but it’s not a necessity.
D Tier – Bad kill teams. Weak due to either poor rules or mechanics. Unlikely to win with, commonly going 1 win and 3 losses at an event.
Also tiers do not represent skill. Someone who has spent a long time playing the same lower tier kill team is likely to beat someone hopping onto a higher tier one for the first time. This is just a general guide for players trying to find what the best kill team is for them to play or to watch out for at tournaments. These have all been charted by me based on the above factors as well as my tournament experience with the game.
Factions within tiers are also ranked by release from oldest to newest, it’s not an indication of power as generally factions are very close together when it comes to power rating for each tier.
The Tier Lists
On the left is the old tier list and on the right is the new. We’ve had some changes, as well as two brand new kill teams. The S Tier has changed up quite a bit, Hierotek Circle has gone all the way from S Tier while while Inq join the static Sanctifiers and Goremongers!
S Tier
Hierotek Circle: Up to S Tier for multiple reasons, Chrono only got minor nerfs but can still teleport operatives in and out of control range as well as it’s other two powerful abilities. Command is slightly worse but Hierotek Circle still abuses the Kill Op to give them another dominating advantage over everyone else (until Canoptek Circle are released). Easily either the best or tied for best Kill Team currently.
Sanctifiers: Despite some (confusing) nerfs (lol Blaze tokens), Sanctifiers still have amazing mobility, damage, damage negation, and interruption abilities, they’ll need a few more nerfs before being truly balanced. Good players will lock you out of the game and dance around you better than Aeldari players. You can do so much with the team to just stop your opponent playing, it’s wild. Tied for best with Hierotek, Sancs remain to wall anyone who isn’t a Space Marine (who all got worse overall).
Goremongers: Goremongers are arguably the best melee team in the game. They’re fast, hit hard, and can heal, with great Tac Ops too. Even the elite match-up isn’t as bad as people originally thought, and elites got worse! They blend any kill team that aren’t Space Marines but are a threat to everyone. Leader just has a normal JAS now and healing is slightly worse but they still have their crazy untouched melee damage negation, meaning they continue to gatekeep so many types of kill teams.
Inquisitorial Agent: Back in S Tier! Saw no buffs but got an indirect buff with the Breacher buff. With elites getting worse overall, Inq still have all the tools to shut everyone down with Absolute Authority and so on. The real trick comes down to mastering all the correct anciliary support options for each match-up but Inq are in an amazing spot now.
A Tier
Brood Brothers: Brood Brothers remain very powerful, lots of shooting power and mobility tricks, with the Magus being one of the best leaders in the game. The Magus change is interesting but moreso for the mirror. The Primus caught a random nerf but likely due to the (looking more and more bad) initiative change in Approved Ops 2025. The Patriarch is still…there but overall the team remains in a strong spot.
Blades of Khaine: Blades of Khaine remain great, one of the few Aeldari teams to ignore nerfs entirely. They still have powerful Aspect Abilities and are a very flexible kill team. Do well into all other opponents and are the best Aeldari kill team!
Chaos Cult: Disliking the accurate change but missing Parkour Team the most, Chaos Cult are still a great melee team. Ramping for a big TP3/4 push, Cult are a late-game monster team that can overwhelm teams quickly, just gotta play conservatively TP1 and TP2.
Corsair Voidscarred: Despite seeing several nerfs to their defensive playstyle, Corsairs remain very strong with access to 2 piercing 2 weapons, mobility, and mass power weapons. They still hunt elites like no one else, but will struggle into the more popular larger horde teams.
Gellerpox Infected: The best anti-melee melee team now. Love how the meta has changed around them, namely with elite nerfs. Hard to play but when done well will lock people out of the game. Especially Goremongers.
Imperial Navy Breachers: Shooting up to A Tier via somewhat clumsily added +1 wounds. Skull also was made more lethal for some reason too. The team still has inconsistent damage but now has damage negation that rivals Sanctifiers. Much stronger on Gallowdark but now a meta threat.
Phobos Strike Team: Deadly Shots nerf makes the team less reliable when rushing down along with when being rushed down, otherwise a very powerful and flexible elite team. Scores well and still very tricksy. Just watch out for Aeldari teams.
Tempestus Aquilons: Loving how they are still somehow 11 operatives, Aquilons remain a dominant meta threat with their mobility and firepower. Lose out to other horde teams but are in a very strong spot right now.
Void-Dancer Troupe: Despite having some more nerfs to their melee while also going back to 2″ climbs, Void-Dancer Troupe are still great. Their mobility is still strong as well as being very command point efficient. They can easily out-trade opponents with Murderous Entrance and their Fusion Pistol. Void-Dancers remain a threat, they just have to be a bit more respectful of opponents.
Warpcoven: Down to A Tier with the nerf to Brotherhood and Kopeshes. They’re still great a flexible but lose a huge melee threat from Sorcerers as well as losing shooting accuracy with the loss of Ceaseless. They’re still a very powerful faction and likely the best elite kill team, but they’re no longer the best.
Plague Marines: Dropping down to A Tier but the change to Contagion really forces you to commit to poison tokens. Melee teams breath a sigh of relief but Plague Marines remain very strong and tanky, just slightly harder to play.
Raveners: A very powerful melee team due to their wounds and constant healing. Love elites being nerfed and currently rely on Implant and running away (which is disappearing soon in Approved Ops 2025). Vulnerable to passive scoring teams but arguably one of the best melee teams that also does well into Goremongers.
Battleclade: Tough and weird to play, once you get the hang of Network Counteract though you’ll see how powerful they are. Lots of flexibility with powerful shooting that also dominate teams they out-activate. Oddly decent melee too of you invest into it. Just beware of Raveners and teams that out-activate you.
B Tier
Blooded: Blooded are in a great spot, elite teams fear them more and Blooded do decently into other hordes and Aeldari teams. They play their Tac Ops well and offer a flexible kill team composition that helps you tailor to the opponent. The only downside is that they are a Yassified (Year 1 Classified) kill team but Blooded players should be really happy right now.
Death Korps: Regaining Ceaseless on all orders along with Accurate 1 via Siege Warfare makes Death Korp a crazy good shooting team. Accurate 1 and Ceasless Krak grenades, Melta, Plasma, etc is a big threat. Dropping 1 Trooper to make Siege Warfare free all game will be a common tactic as 13 operatives are still a lot to deal with. The Clear the Line buff even makes them a decent threat in melee too now!
Fellgor Ravager: Down to B Tier but that’s more so due to the stronger melee teams around. Fellgor are still solid and love the nerf to elites. Mulch hordes but oddly just have to respect Goremongers.
Hearthlyn Salvager: A solid kill team that indirectly got hit by the retain dice change. Ions all the time now. Still great but hard to compete with the S Tier teams that really reign Salvagers in. Oddly elites getting worse isn’t great for this faction if the Space Marines become less popular, but still a team with decent durability and amazing firepower.
Hunter Clade: Boosted up to B Tier. Imperatives having their downsides all the time sans one once per game sucks but the team can now punch up quite reliably. They have some tricks but are still kinda too honest compared to the rest of the meta. At least they’re in a much more playable state now.
Legionary: Fickle Fate hurts, but is probably for the best, as Legionary lose their close-range shooting accuracy. Being unable to kill 8 wound operatives in a single strike for 1CP really hurts but the change to Implacable is the most damaging. Instead of making Nurgle better, it is locked into ignoring injury. Despite these nerfs, the team still has amazing individual operatives which still carry Legionary overall.
Mandrakes: Despite having no changes, Mandrakes remain one of the weaker Aeldari teams. The Volkus vantage change is annoying but you can still spend a CP to fight first if charged. Still amazing on Gallowdark and has all the interruption and teleport mechanics of old. Just a very difficult team to use well but can almost completely shutdown and out-maneuver the opponent when played well.
Nemesis Claw: In Midnight Clad getting worse along with Return to Darkness hurts but is still playable. The change to saving Prescience tokens is a huge gut punch though. You’re literally dependent on rolling hot to get the most use out of the ability, which just feels weird. You still have Vox Scream and power melee tools/operatives but Nemesis Claw has definitely been taken down a peg.
Pathfinders: Losing their TP1 alpha-strike ability hurts and the Grav Drone doesn’t slow down as much, still, Pathfinders retain their amazing Markerlight buffs along with great mobility after TP1. Lots of tricks but really don’t like Goremongers and Fellgor.
Wyrmblade: Also one of the more powerful horde teams. Saw no nerfs and pack tons of Ceaseless re-rolls via their faction ability. Cult Agents are still incredibly strong and the team has a solid Tac Op game. Requires careful planning but Wyrmblade are an oddly forgiving team and also very deadly to the opponent.
Kommandos: Kommandos still remain a solidly decent team and the Grot will still let you max Surveillance but you just have to be more careful with him. Orks love the Aeldari nerfs and have decent game into elites. All around solid choice currently.
Wrecka Krew: Wreckas are fun but reliable they are not. If you don’t roll 6s, they don’t function that well. However, they have amazing melee operatives and lots of utility. The two Bomb Squigs can be surprisingly useful, even if they randomly blow up and only hit themselves. Tac Ops aren’t great for Wreckas which also hurts them a bit but this Orky team is fun and powerful, but very wildly spikey as all good Ork teams should be!
C Tier
Angels of Death: Dueller being nerfed was expected and fine. Sergeants getting nerfed, however, is just bizarre. Captain is the only leader choice now but at least the Heavy Intercessor is movement 5″ now. The team was already under-performing and needed some more buffs with the Dueller nerf. They’re the weakest elite kill team now but are likely top of C Tier.
Exaction Squad: Space Police got randomly hit by the dice retain change, making the Malocator slightly worse. Regardless, they’re still a great tech team into melee factions (sans Sancs lol) but elites remain a big problem still. Could see them going up to B Tier but it is unlikely at the moment.
Farstalker Kinband: The hopeful stars of the last dataslate crash down to C Tier. Farstalker Kinband are a great team…in a horrible meta. No idea how they are supposed to deal with Sanctifiers and Goremongers as well as still struggling into elites. One day it will be the time of Kroot, hopefully it’s before they get declassified.
Hand of the Archon: Never recovered from the over-nerf via changing Stimulated Senses. Just give back Ceaseless to the team. Currently they’re the worst Aeldari team sadly.
Hernkyn Yaegirs: Another team trapped in a horrible meta but also with bad Tac Ops. At least the change in Tac Ops with Approved Ops 2025 should help, but Sancs is an impossible match-up. Looks like we’ll need to wait another 3 months before the Yaegirs see any more success.
Novitiates: Novitiates drop down due to the overall meta state, coupled with damage negation not working against crits and needing to be on objectives to trigger plus weakened healing leaves Novitaites far more fragile than they were. However, they still have amazing damage output and operatives, they just have to learn how to make proper trades now instead of moving up and not dying.
Scout Squad: The knife buffs help a lot and the team is very solid overall. They’re just quite hard to play and can fall apart if you mess up your Forward Scouting abilities. They still suffer into some key meta teams but can be quite the threat when played well.
Vespid Stingwings: Really needed one or two more buffs and got…nothing. They struggle on Gallowdark but do very well on Volkus. The buzz is strong but the Vespid aren’t there just yet.
Ratlings: Tormented by the current meta as well as their own height, Ratlings are in an odd spot. They’re not horrible but also don’t like elites becoming less common. Feel similar to Kroot in a way but it’s just not the time of Ratlings right now.
D Tier
Elucidian Starstriders: Just absolute pain for Starstriders currently. Melee teams are everywhere and they’re fast. Elites getting worse is great but Battleclade kinda do the Starstrider job but better. Not to mention Sanctifiers being impossible for them and so on.
Kasrkin: Completely invalidated by Tempestus Aquilons being 11 operatives. Legit just run them in Inq where they are still better. Kasrkin are just in such a confusing spot, trapped in a bad meta and seemingly replaced before being declassified. They need something, well a lot of things, but they got nothing this slate. They’re still great to learn the game with, just brace yourself if taking them to events.
Tier List Overview
With the latest Balance Dataslate, the Kill Team meta hasn’t really changed that much, sans elites just getting worse overall. The same gatekeeper teams still exist (Sanctifiers and Goremongers) while Hierotek will likely remain dominating too. We do have Approved Ops 2025 coming soon which may shake things up, but I can’t really see it doing that much considering the current teams we have in play. It’s just a huge shame that the last Dataslate didn’t at least include more buffs for the under-performing teams. Breachers will deffo see more play and Hunter Clade have had some more success, but teams like Farstalker Kinband and Kasrkin continue to suffer.
Tempestus Aquilons and Inquisition are likely to do very well, despite how both suffer into the rest of the S Tier. Blades of Khaine should also do well, although they were over-performing before all of this anyway. The upcoming meta isn’t really all that appealing/exciting to me but at least we have a lot of big events coming up over the next three months to help show how things all end up.
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So remember, until next time, no matter what the tiers say, stay away from tier 15 and you’ll always be able to roll a crit!
Can You Roll A Crit? 