Kill Team Tier List Q4 2025

It’s time to look at the latest tier list for 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!

1. Explaining The Tiers
2. The Tier Lists
3. S Tier
4. A Tier
5. B Tier
6. C Tier
7. D Tier
8. Classified Tier List
9. Tier List Overview

If you want, I’ve done a more in-depth video on the subject which you can watch here:

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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/random order, it’s not an indication of power as generally factions are very close together when it comes to power rating for each tier.

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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 has finally crashed out down to C Tier while Sanctifiers have also dropped down. The Tomb World teams dominate S Tier but under-performing teams have moved up a lot too.

S Tier

Canoptek Circle: Even after the nerfs, still a very strong faction. The Matrix is still a powerful tool, despite being weaker on Gallowdark/Tomb World killzones. The Dimensional Isolator is still the scariest shooting attack in the game and Macrocyte Warriors remain powerful due to their damage output as well as being able to respawn. Canoptek Circle still require skill to play but need a few more nerfs before they’re actually fine.

Deathwatch: Also easily S Tier and helping to show the bad continued signs of power creep with the current edition of Kill Team. Special Issue Ammunition still works with non-Bolt weapons…for some reason but also the faction is just innately strong with powerful counteracts and mostly over-tuned operatives. The Demolisher is slightly worse now but, like Canoptek Circle, Deathwatch also need some more nerfs to bring them into line power-wise.

Wolf Scouts: Launching into S Tier on the power-creep train we have Wolf Scouts. The bonkers wide area of the storm, easy CP generation, -1 to enemy attacks, plus a multitude of other buffs easily place them into the top 3 factions. They shut down other melee teams and can do well into Death Watch, only stuggling into Canoptek and other shooty teams. Hopefully they get hit early in the January Dataslate with a 4″ storm plus some other nerfs, but otherwise enjoy the Space Wolf power-creep dominance.

A Tier

Kommandos: Also moving up from B to A Tier, Kommandos are mostly carried by the new Nob changed. Being able to double fight at 5 attacks with the Big Choppa helps the faction so much. Means they’re finally much better into elites and can reliably double-kill hordes. Just a shame to see them get this boost as they leave for Yassified heaven.

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.

Hunter Clade: Hunter Clade have proven to be very strong. They have some neat powerful combos and have a very respectable shooting and close combat threat. Only downside is that they’re no longer legal at classified events.

Fellgor Ravager: Going up from B to A Tier as well, Fellgor have seen a resurgence recently. Despite some nerfs, Frenzy remains a very strong ability, like with Goremongers, which causes Fellgor to gate-keep a lot of factions out the game. Most factions just don’t have the tools to kill 10 goats twice. They still don’t like Goremongers or Raveners, but Fellgor are in a strong spot currently.

Inquisitorial Agent: Down from S Tier, 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.

Chaos Cult: 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.

Blades of Khaine: Blades of Khaine remain great. 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!

Mandrakes: Very strong due to the meta but also changes with Approved Ops 2025. They also still have a few exploits which will likely be hit in the January Balance Dataslate. Mandrakes are still a strong pick currently.

Nemesis Claw: Despite all their nerfs, Nemesis Claw have proven to be a strong meta pick. Powerful operatvies and tools with better Tac Ops now, it’s still a great time to be a Night Lord.

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 reduced range of the Iconward is annoying but the overall changes with AO2025 still greatly benefits Brood Brothers as a whole.

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 remain in a very strong spot right now.

Wrecka Krew: Being able to get +1 APL from performing charge actions helps the faction so much, pushing them from B to A Tier. Now Wrecka Krew don’t have to fear Stun grenades so much. Opponents must respect them more and Wrecka Krew have great 6 dice shooting. Extra Amour is now a weird side-grade and Aeldari/Power weapon teams are still a problem, but Wrecka Krew will get it done!

Goremongers: Took heavy hits to Bleeding token generation as well as Aspirants and Rake being toned down, however, Goremongers are still probably the best dedicated melee team. Deathwatch are still a big problem but Goremongers just mechanically gate-keep a huge number of factions out of being competitive to their rules and design space.

Sanctifiers: Despite their heavy nerfs, Sanctifiers drop down only to A Tier. They now take way more skill to be played effectively but still have powerful aura-stacking abilities and great durability for normal humans.

Raveners: A very powerful melee team due to their wounds and constant healing. Stat-check lots of factions while finding new success with Dominate from AO2025. They’re harder to play with the loss of Implant but still do great with their denial type of play the quickly racks up points late-game.

B Tier

Legionary: Despite the nerf to 4APL Tzeentch, Legionary remain a strong choice. Powerful operatives and Marks of Chaos still do a lot of work.

Phobos Strike Team: Remain strong with their shooting and zoning prowess. Still have a few tricks but lose out to the more powerful teams in the tiers above.

Blooded: Perfectly balance Blooded remain in the B Tier as their name suggests.

Void-Dancer Troupe: Despite the nerfs they got, Troupe just drop down to B Tier. They still have powerful operatives, ploys, and CP usage, they’re just more fragile now.

Wyrmblade: Remain in B Tier, just overall solid. Still weak to melee but have amazing shooting threat.

Imperial Navy Breachers: Amazing tanks with low damage outside of melta and chainfist. Skullspolsion is funny but Breachers just exist to grind.

Hierotek Circle: Despite how terrible their Kill Op change is, Hierotek are still good in B Tier. Powerful shooting and zoning, they just need to go back up to kill grade 8.

Hand of the Archon: With their buffs HotA are back in B Tier. Lots of re-rolls but still tempo-heavy in the early game. Otherwise still great.

Exaction Squad: Double ammunition helps so much. Elites are more manageable and they play the Crit Op well.

Hearthkyn Salvager: Buffs help a lot and keep them in B Tier. Meta at the top end is still too much for them but hopefully January fixes all.

Hernkyn Yaegir: My personal favourite of the two Votann, Yaegirs have a lot of play with AO2025. Still very CP intensive and struggle in super tough teams but otherwise in a great spot.

Angels of Death: Out of C Tier, AoD are alright. Deffo on the lower end of B Tier but still a solid kill team.

Plague Marines: No real change. Plague Marines remain a static threat.

Ratlings: Scarper buffs make the team super mobile despite their 5″ move. Still have some flaws but play the Tac and Crit Ops so well.

XV26 Stealth Battlesuits: Stealths land in B Tier. They dominate elites and struggle into hordes. Could see a minor buff but currently they occupy a great spot.

C Tier

Death Korps: Death Korps are kinda just stuck in C Tier. Other hordes do their job but better and they overall struggle with the edition changes. Still have great consistent shooting damage.

Novitiates: Novis remain in C Tier. Still can surprise some factions but otherwise remain static.

Warp Coven: Probably nerfed too hard, they struggle to do much at 5 operatives effectively. Deffinetly need some love.

Gellerpox Infected: The Rust Emanations nerf hit hard, forcing the team down into C Tier. Until that is reverted, I can’t see the team doing well again.

Farstalker Kinband: A very strong Crit and Tac Op team that just suffers with damage output. A consistent problem for Kroot that has plagued them since their launch.

Scout Squad: Despite buffs, they’ve been completely power-crept out of relevance with Wolf Scouts. Almost Kasrkin 2.0.

Vespid Stingwings: Vespid are amazing on Volkus but where Tomb World and Gallowdark turn off their faction ability, there’s not much that can be done until that is tweaked.

Battleclade: A very strong defensive team that just can’t deal with all the aggressive teams in the game right now. When they can get shots off, Battleclade are terrifying. Currently, however, they just struggle.

D Tier

Pathfinders: Never recovered after the nerfs with no buffs received. Deffo need some loving but the issue is where without breaking them.

Elucidian Starstriders: A great team knocked down due to the overall power of the game. They just can’t deal with melee teams and how fast and lethal everyone is.

Kasrkin: Tempestus Aquilons. Nothing can be done for Kasrkin without a completel re-write. Just play them in Inq.

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Classified Tier List

For the Classified Tier list, not much has changed. AoD go down a bit with Breachers but otherwise very much a 1:1 list. Delete the S Tier and you have an amazing meta.

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Tier List Overview

Despite the doom and gloom of power creep plus S Tier, the game is actually in a great state now. If you ignore the S Tier, we really do have a solid meta. For the S Tier, the January Balance Dataslate will decide the fate of the game. Will Games Workshop be brave and properly nerf the big three (Canoptek, Deathwatch, Wolf Scouts), or will they do very little taps in contrast to the recent slate? I think I know what we’re all hoping for but only time will tell.

As for the weaker teams, hopefully they get some buffs too. Declassified teams being removed changes little but there are some teams who have effectively just been replaced by newer releases (Death Korps, Kasrkin, Scout Squad).

Approved Ops 2025 still has done great work for the game. New Crit and Tac Ops have shaken things up for the better while also slightly reducing the innate power of elites. It’ll be interesting to see how the season develops as more people full master AO2025.

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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!