Warhammer 40K London Grand Tournament 2025: Top 8 Lists and What They Reveal About the Meta

Discover the Warhammer 40K London Grand Tournament 2025 Top 8 lists and learn what they reveal about the evolving meta and faction power shifts.

As we near the conclusion of the largest Warhammer 40K event in history, the 2025 London Grand Tournament, fans of the hobby are watching closely, eager to glean insights from some of the best players in the world.

Which armies are dominating? What lists are these top players using to achieve success after a grueling series of games? These are the questions that every Warhammer 40K fan wants answered—and the top 8 of this event has plenty to reveal.

Top Factions at the London Grand Tournament 2025

The meta is as defined as it’s likely to get at this point in the season, and several factions clearly found success over the weekend. If you don’t already have a Best Coast Pairings account, you can create one here. This platform provides access to all event lists and deeper analysis for those who want to dive into the strategies behind them.

The top 8 factions, in no particular order, are:

• Space Marines (1 Stormlance, 1 Shadowmark Talon)

• Chaos Daemons (Daemonic Incursion)

• Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager)

• Black Templars (Gladius)

• Emperor’s Children (Coterie)

• Chaos Space Marines (Veterans)

• Necrons (Starshatter)

Notably, the Drukhari list stands out as a mild surprise, given that most other armies and detachments have been consistently strong throughout this edition, but this list does show a very decent spread, a good sign for the meta going forward.

Warhammer 40K Meta Insights

Most of these lists make a lot of sense given the current Warhammer 40K meta. Chaos Daemons rely on Greater Daemons to handle Knights or smaller units, while Drukhari bring the bodies needed to harass hyper-elite factions effectively. The Emperor’s Children list is consistent with what fans have seen perform well recently.

When it comes to list construction, it’s clear that many players were focused on countering the dominant threats. Interestingly, no horde or Knight-heavy armies reached the top 8. This is largely because these lists were deliberately designed to neutralize those threats. The top-performing armies needed to keep hordes at bay and manage Knights using either precision shooting (Space Marines and Necrons) or melee superiority (Templars and Drukhari).

The Impact of Shadowmark Talon in Warhammer 40K

The Shadowmark Talon detachment has quickly established itself as a top-tier list. With these rules only recently released, it’s impressive to see Raven Guard achieving success on the largest stage. Expect to see many more players adopting Raven Guard and devastating opponents with Devastator Centurions.

Countering the Horde Meta

At the highest levels of play, the solution to horde-heavy armies seems straightforward. While lists like World Eaters or Orks bring plenty of bodies, Black Templars and Emperor’s Children appear more efficient for their points. Their lists balance melee and shooting in ways that make them extremely effective in competitive play.

Shifts in Meta Favorites

The dominance of Death Guard and Knights appears to be waning. Death Guard failed to make the top 16, and only one Knights player reached that same cut. Both armies remain strong but face clear counters in the current meta.

Additionally, this tournament underscores the value of deep familiarity with your faction. Liam Vsl, the Chaos Space Marine player, reached the finals with a Veterans of the Long War list that many would not consider “meta,” and this isn’t his first time either. His opponent, Alexandre Sacco, played Drukhari, and is not new to that army either. Had anyone predicted this final pairing, it would likely have raised eyebrows—but this demonstrates that knowing your rules and army is just as important as following meta trends.

Shooting Focus vs. Melee in Warhammer 40K

The results show a pendulum swing back toward shooting-focused armies. Five of the eight top armies relied heavily on dedicated shooting units. While melee pressure remains viable, as evidenced by the Emperor’s Children appearance, gun platforms combined with mobility clearly dominate the current competitive landscape.

Conclusion

Overall, the London Grand Tournament 2025 has given us a clear picture of the current Warhammer 40K meta. From the rise of Raven Guard Shadowmark Talon to the continued effectiveness of Emperor’s Children and Chaos Daemons, competitive players now have a better understanding of what it takes to succeed.

If you want to stay ahead of the curve, analyze these top lists, refine your own army, and be ready for the next major event, don’t wait—check out the full lists and strategy breakdowns on Best Coast Pairings today!

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