Warhammer 40K Meta Roundup – Top Armies and Tournament Results from Malmö, Paris, and Tennessee

See which Warhammer 40K armies dominated in Malmö, Paris, and Tennessee. Full tournament results, meta trends, and key takeaways from October events.

This weekend may have lacked a singular event with the scale of an LVO or LGT, but that doesn’t mean players weren’t out competing hard in Warhammer 40K.

Smaller tournaments might not bring the same spectacle as massive conventions, but they’re often the best way to see how the meta is shaping up around the world. Following several weeks of high-profile events, this weekend gave us another valuable look at what factions are thriving and which ones might be starting to fade.

Below is a breakdown of three major Warhammer 40K tournaments that took place across three different countries, revealing how global trends are shaping up in the current meta.

Paris Wargame Expo – Warhammer 40K in France (393 Players)

Starting with the largest event of the weekend, the Paris Wargame Expo drew nearly 400 players for five intense rounds of Warhammer 40K action.

The event was ultimately won by Alban de Polignac, piloting Death Guard to a perfect 5-0 record. His list—a Virulent Vectorium “goodstuff” build—defeated Black Templars, Chaos Knights, Necrons, and Shadowmark Talon Space Marines along the way.

Death Guard were already on our radar as a likely winner based on their positioning in the meta and player representation, and this result confirms their strength heading into the next few months.

Top 8 Results:

1. Death Guard

2. World Eaters

3. Thousand Sons

4. Gladius Raven Guard Space Marines

5. T’au Empire

6. Adeptus Mechanicus

7. Aeldari

8. Orks

While there weren’t any shocking upsets, it’s notable that Thousand Sons continue to perform despite recent nerfs. Their datasheets and faction rules remain some of the strongest in the game. Chaos armies overall are still thriving, while T’au and Adeptus Mechanicus are both proving that elite ranged firepower is still a winning formula.

Malmö Wargaming Weekend 9 – Warhammer 40K in Sweden (122 Players)

Moving north, the Malmö Wargaming Weekend 9 in Sweden brought together 122 players and some of Europe’s best competitors.

Björn Eriksson took first place with an Infernal Lance Chaos Knights list, defeating Deathwatch, Space Marines, Death Guard, Orks, and Aeldari—the latter piloted by the highly respected Innes Wilson.

Top 8 Results:

1. Chaos Knights

2. Adeptus Mechanicus

3. Adeptus Mechanicus

4. Aeldari

5. Aeldari

6. World Eaters

7. Adepta Sororitas

8. Orks

The trends are starting to look familiar: Adeptus Mechanicus are on the rise, with more players picking them up as their win rates improve. While they aren’t winning every event, consistent top-table finishes are forcing people to pay attention.

Chaos Knights continue to dominate through sheer firepower—especially the triple Despoiler builds with Gatling Cannons. It might be time for Games Workshop to take another look at how those lists function.

Elsewhere, Orks continue their resurgence, Sisters of Battle are sneaking into the meta more often, and World Eaters remain a staple of Chaos success. Aeldari may no longer be oppressive, but in the hands of top players, they’re still elite-level contenders.

Tennessee Elite Open – Warhammer 40K in the USA (119 Players)

Across the Atlantic, the Tennessee Elite Open showcased a different side of the Warhammer 40K meta, with results diverging sharply from the European events.

Ken Edwards took the overall win with T’au Empire, a faction currently seeing a huge upswing. His list—a triple Riptide variant—cut through Ultramarines, Astra Militarum, Death Guard, Custodes, and Imperial Knights.

Top 8 Results:

1. T’au Empire

2. Adeptus Custodes

3. Astra Militarum

4. T’au Empire

5. Imperial Knights

6. Shadowmark Space Marines

7. Imperial Knights

8. Genestealer Cults

The T’au results here are significant. The combination of speed, durability, and oppressive long-range firepower continues to overwhelm opponents. Add in mission play from Kroot units, and it’s clear why they’re surging in performance.

Genestealer Cults making the top eight is a pleasant surprise—likely more due to pilot skill than a major meta shift. Custodes are also reappearing as more players test them, though their elite nature still struggles in objective-heavy missions.

Interestingly, Chaos and Adeptus Mechanicus were absent from the top tables, showing that the U.S. meta may still have different dynamics than Europe’s. Imperial Knights and Astra Militarum, with their ability to dominate board control, show that balance remains healthy across factions.

Warhammer 40K Meta Conclusions

Across Paris, Malmö, and Tennessee, a clear pattern is emerging: the Warhammer 40K meta is surprisingly balanced right now. A wide range of factions are capable of success, with no single army running away with the game.

Elite shooting armies—T’au, Adeptus Mechanicus, and Space Marines—are the big winners of the moment, but Chaos in all its forms remains a consistent powerhouse. From Death Guard and World Eaters to Chaos Knights, the faction family is thriving.

Overall, it’s an exciting time to be a Warhammer 40K player. Whether you favor brutal melee armies or precision firepower, there’s a path to victory in the current environment.

Join the Warhammer 40K Discussion

What do you think about the current balance? Are T’au and Adeptus Mechanicus too strong, or are we finally seeing true faction parity?

Share your thoughts below or join the conversation on our latest Warhammer 40K strategy articles at BladesandBolts.com—and stay tuned for more weekly meta breakdowns and tournament coverage.

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