Warhammer 40K LVO XII 2025 Meta Breakdown — The Top 8 Armies Revealed

Discover the top 8 Warhammer 40K factions from LVO XII 2025. See which armies dominated the Las Vegas Open meta and why they stood out.

The second LVO of 2025 is officially in the books for Warhammer 40K, and Astra Militarum stands tall as king. Wesley St. Hines piloted the army to an impressive 9-0-1 record with an average of 91.6 points per match, and the massive success of the faction is sure to echo throughout the meta for months to come.

But Astra Militarum isn’t the only army worth watching. The Las Vegas Open (LVO) remains one of the biggest tournaments in the world—especially in the North American scene—and every top player will be dissecting these results, searching for the next winning formula.

As always, we’re diving into the Top 8, their standout results, and what this all means for the evolving Warhammer 40K meta.

Warhammer 40K LVO XII 2025: Top 8 Factions and Final Results

Here are the top players and factions from the event.
(If you want to view their full lists, you can find them on Best Coast Pairings.)

• Astra Militarum (Recon Element)

• Deathwatch (Black Spear Task Force)

• Aeldari (Warhost)

• Chaos Knights (Infernal Lance)

• T’au Empire (Kauyon)

• Drukhari (Reaper’s Wager)

• Grey Knights (Banishers)

• Adeptus Mechanicus (Haloscreed Battle Clade)

If this isn’t the most interesting Top Cut of the edition so far, it’s hard to imagine what is.

Where Are the Space Marines?

There are no traditional Space Marines in this Top 8—outside of Deathwatch and Grey Knights, which weren’t exactly on anyone’s bingo card. That’s shocking.

Codex Space Marines looked like one of the strongest books in the game leading up to the event, with builds like Ultramarines and Shadowmark Talon performing well. Yet even they couldn’t crack the top tables at LVO XII.

On the Chaos side, Codex CSM just won the London Grand Tournament, World Eaters have been one of the most played factions for weeks, and Death Guard have seen some of their best showings of the edition. None of them made the cut here. In fact, Thousand Sons ended up being the best-performing Heretic Astartes faction—an unexpected twist for sure.

Astra Militarum Reigns Supreme

Astra Militarum taking the crown is a monumental achievement, especially considering how turbulent their run has been this edition. Massed infantry builds have flirted with success before, but this marks their biggest win yet—and with perhaps the most extreme version of the archetype.

Do you have the patience (and stamina) to paint 200 models? If so, you might just find success in today’s meta.

Deathwatch: From Hunters to Contenders

Next up is Deathwatch, the faction that actually won LVO earlier this year. Known for their adaptability and devastating firepower, Deathwatch put up another stellar performance but fell just short in the finals.

They continue to prove that if you’re willing to master a few key units and surround them with the right support, you can consistently threaten deep tournament runs.

The Usual Suspects: Aeldari, Chaos Knights, and Drukhari

These factions need no introduction. Aeldari, Chaos Knights, and Drukhari continue to post top-tier results with lists that have been honed over the past few months. Strong rules, flexible secondary play, and pilot skill remain their biggest strengths.

The Aeldari and Drukhari both excel at precision damage, flexible activations, and board control—but they still struggle against mass infantry builds. Chaos Knights, on the other hand, are one of the best armies in the game right now, fielding the 3 Bigs, 4 Dogs, Rotigus list that continues to dominate the upper tables.

The Surprises: T’au, Grey Knights, and Adeptus Mechanicus

These three factions deserve special mention for their unexpected—but well-earned—Top 8 placements.

T’au Empire

The T’au Empire have been on the back foot for much of the edition, but we’re finally seeing a resurgence. Better pricing and stronger rules have made a huge difference. Triple Riptide builds have returned in force, and at 190 points each, it’s hard not to call them one of the best values in the game right now.

Grey Knights

Grey Knights have been lurking at the edges of the meta for a while, and now they’ve officially broken through. The Banishers Detachment brings out the best in the army’s strongest datasheets—Interceptors, Paladins, and Crowe with Purifiers—all combining for a balanced, flexible all-comers force.

Adeptus Mechanicus

Last but not least, Adeptus Mechanicus. After a wave of buffs and point drops, this army is finally hitting its stride. The Haloscreed Detachment, powered by Belisarius Cawl, amplifies the army’s output across nearly every unit. With over a dozen datasheets now providing strong, affordable utility, AdMech looks poised to become a major player moving forward.

This may be the first major event showcasing it—but Adeptus Mechanicus feels like it’s about to be a real problem in the current meta.

Final Thoughts: What LVO XII 2025 Tells Us About the Warhammer 40K Meta

If one thing is clear, it’s that the Warhammer 40K landscape is shifting again. Infantry-heavy armies are back in force, and the once-dominant elite armies are starting to fade—at least for now. The LVO XII results show that the best players aren’t just chasing power; they’re adapting to a game that continues to evolve at every level.

Join the Discussion

What do you think of the LVO XII results?
Which of these factions do you see rising—or falling—in the months ahead?

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