VITAL SIGNS — Theory: BSData BSData v10.6.0, matched-play filtered. Performance: weighted aggregator-source comparison. Practice: recency-weighted top-player tier lists. Attention: combined Search and YouTube engagement.
DOSSIERS · FACTION

Deathwatch

10TH EDITION · BSData v10.6.0 · CAPTURED 2026-05-18
BROADLY CAPABLE AUTOMATED
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HOW TO READ THIS PAGE

WHAT DO THE Z-SCORES MEAN?

Every “Theory Z” number on this page is a comparison to all matched-play units across all factions in the current dataset. Zero is the population average. A unit at +1.0 is one standard deviation above average — roughly the top 16% of all units in the game on paper. +2.0 is the top 2–3%; exceptional. The scale works the same way going down: −1.0 is the bottom 16%, −2.0 the bottom 2–3%. These numbers measure what units should do against fixed reference targets — they do not predict tournament outcomes. A faction’s score is the average of its units’ z-scores; small-roster factions have less smoothing.

HOW TO READ THE RADAR CHARTS

Each radar chart has five axes radiating out from the centre. The faction’s average performance against each target type (left chart) or against each threat type (right chart) is plotted as a point on each axis, and the points are connected to form a polygon. The inner pentagon marks the population average (0σ); rings move outward by one standard deviation each. A point past the +1σ ring means the faction performs meaningfully above average against that target or threat. The polygon’s SHAPE shows specialisation — pointy means strong in one direction and weak in others; broad and even means the faction has comparable capability across the board. A polygon that’s far from the centre overall (whether pointy or even) means a strong faction in that dimension; a polygon clustered near the centre means roughly average.

WHAT DO THE PANELS MEASURE?

OFFENSIVE — OUTPUT PER TARGET
Light Infantry
Cheap, lightly-armoured swarms with lots of bodies.
EXAMPLESTermagants, Cultist Mob, Boyz.
BASELINET3 Sv5+ W1, 10-model squad
MEQ (Marine-equivalent)
Standard power-armoured infantry, the bread-and-butter of the game.
EXAMPLESTactical Marines, Intercessors, Warriors.
BASELINET4 Sv3+ W2, 5-model squad
Heavy Infantry (Heavy infantry / elite)
Tough, expensive, durable infantry with invulnerable saves.
EXAMPLESCustodian Guard, Terminators, Possessed.
BASELINET6 Sv2+ Inv4+ W3, 3-model squad
Light Vehicle (Light vehicle / transport)
Mobile transports and lighter walkers.
EXAMPLESRhinos, Wave Serpents, Sentinels.
BASELINET8 Sv3+ W10, single model
Heavy Vehicle (Heavy vehicle / monster)
Tanks, monsters, and knights.
EXAMPLESLand Raiders, Hierodules, Imperial Knights.
BASELINET11 Sv2+ Inv5+ W22, single model
DEFENSIVE — DURABILITY PER THREAT
Small Arms
Standard infantry shooting; bolters, lasguns, autoguns. Lots of average shots that chip through wounds.
EXAMPLESBolter, lasgun, autogun.
BASELINES4 AP0 D1, 2 attacks per attacker
MEQ-Killer
Anti-Marine workhorses; cuts through power armour but does not crack tanks.
EXAMPLESHeavy bolter, plasma weapons, heavy stubber.
BASELINES5 AP1 D2, 2 attacks
Armour Cracker
Anti-light-vehicle weapons; punches through 3+ saves and threatens transports.
EXAMPLESMeltagun at short range, krak missile, autocannon.
BASELINES10 AP3 D3, 1 attack
Anti-Tank
Dedicated tank-hunters.
EXAMPLESLascannon, las-talon, dedicated heavy weapons.
BASELINES14 AP3 D6, 1 attack
Knight-Killer
Top-tier anti-armour; weapons designed to one-shot heavy titans.
EXAMPLESMelta-tier weapons, lance-tier weapons.
BASELINES16 AP4 D6+2, 1 attack

VITAL SIGNS FOUR-SIGNAL FACTION VIEW

THEORY
—
matched-play view · 10 units
PERFORMANCE
61.7%
weighted across 3 src · 911 games
view the Archive’s raw pull ›
PRACTICE
4.231 (≈ A)
recency-weighted mean · n=2 publications
ATTENTION
67
raw combined · src 2/2
COMPOSITE Z (DEFAULT WEIGHTS)
-0.1708
± 0.1397
Adjust the signal weights on the Strength Index.

PER-TARGET / PER-THREAT RADAR FACTION-MEAN Z-SCORES OF MATCHED-PLAY UNITS · -2σ TO +2σ SCALE

OFFENSIVE — OUTPUT PER TARGET
Light InfantryMEQHeavy InfantryLight VehicleHeavy Vehicle-2σ-1σ0σ+1σ+2σ
Output profile sits within ±0.3σ across all five target archetypes — no pronounced offensive specialisation.
DEFENSIVE — DURABILITY PER THREAT
Small ArmsMEQ-KillerArmour CrackerAnti-TankKnight-Killer-2σ-1σ0σ+1σ+2σ
Durability profile sits within ±0.3σ across all five threat archetypes — no pronounced defensive specialisation.

LIST BUILDER

No units selected · select units below to build a list view

Select units in the table below to overlay a list view polygon (cyan) on the radar charts above. Average z-scores recompute live as you toggle selections.

UNIT LAB SORTABLE BY UNIT, POINTS BAND, THEORY Z · 10 MATCHED-PLAY UNITS

UNIT ▾ BAND ▾ THEORY Z ▾
＋ Watch Master BAND 3 z +0.2516
LOADOUT · Vigil spear · Vigil spear
OUTPUT INDEX
output_z +0.6425
PER TARGET
Light Infantry +0.7939
MEQ +0.8837
Heavy Infantry +0.7012
Light Vehicle +0.0989
Heavy Vehicle +0.4098
DURABILITY INDEX
durability_z -0.2261
PER THREAT
Small Arms -0.1936
MEQ-Killer -0.3981
Armour Cracker -0.26
Anti-Tank -0.0106
Knight-Killer -0.2713
configuration_id: f7c3-45d2-a7ac-d8bc
＋ Corvus Blackstar BAND 5 z +0.201
LOADOUT · Armoured hull · Hurricane bolter · Twin lascannon · Stormstrike missile launcher
chosen from 4 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel
OUTPUT INDEX
output_z -0.4011
PER TARGET
Light Infantry -0.3484
MEQ -0.5419
Heavy Infantry -0.4202
Light Vehicle -0.2849
Heavy Vehicle -0.193
DURABILITY INDEX
durability_z +0.9369
PER THREAT
Small Arms +0.8118
MEQ-Killer +1.5496
Armour Cracker +0.9026
Anti-Tank +0.8947
Knight-Killer +0.5832
configuration_id: d861-972b-54f9-bdfa
＋ Watch Captain Artemis BAND 1 z +0.1495
LOADOUT · Hellfire Extremis · Master-crafted power weapon
OUTPUT INDEX
output_z +0.7083
PER TARGET
Light Infantry +0.7131
MEQ +1.3323
Heavy Infantry +0.4443
Light Vehicle +0.4022
Heavy Vehicle -0.0296
DURABILITY INDEX
durability_z -0.5334
PER THREAT
Small Arms -0.5368
MEQ-Killer -0.5441
Armour Cracker -0.3374
Anti-Tank -0.1331
Knight-Killer +0.1946
configuration_id: 3d7c-2de-31ea-b028
＋ Deathwatch Terminator Squad BAND 5 z -0.0997
LOADOUT · Power Weapon · Thunder Hammer · Chainfist · Power Weapon · Thunder Hammer · Chainfist
OUTPUT INDEX
output_z +0.3954
PER TARGET
Light Infantry +0.4963
MEQ +0.6039
Heavy Infantry +0.4494
Light Vehicle +0.1363
Heavy Vehicle -0.0263
DURABILITY INDEX
durability_z -0.7049
PER THREAT
Small Arms -0.6481
MEQ-Killer -0.7955
Armour Cracker -1.0988
Anti-Tank -1.2425
Knight-Killer -1.3413
configuration_id: 390e-706b-a059-378b
＋ Deathwatch Veterans BAND 3 z -0.2495
LOADOUT · Deathwatch thunder hammer · Frag cannon · Stalker-pattern boltgun · Deathwatch shotgun · Blackshield blades
OUTPUT INDEX
output_z +0.4273
PER TARGET
Light Infantry +0.5594
MEQ +0.4429
Heavy Infantry +0.5123
Light Vehicle +0.312
Heavy Vehicle +0.0106
DURABILITY INDEX
durability_z -1.0766
PER THREAT
Small Arms -1.0199
MEQ-Killer -1.0604
Armour Cracker -1.4583
Anti-Tank -1.9059
Knight-Killer -2.4114
configuration_id: 66ab-476a-134e-ec7b
＋ Indomitor Kill Team BAND 5 z -0.5202
LOADOUT · Auto boltstorm gauntlets · Twin power fists · Flamestorm gauntlets · Twin power fists · Deathwatch heavy bolt rifle · Deathwatch heavy bolter
OUTPUT INDEX
output_z -0.1905
PER TARGET
Light Infantry -0.2221
MEQ -0.0381
Heavy Infantry -0.1015
Light Vehicle -0.2313
Heavy Vehicle -0.3491
DURABILITY INDEX
durability_z -0.9231
PER THREAT
Small Arms -0.8866
MEQ-Killer -0.8704
Armour Cracker -1.2005
Anti-Tank -1.5253
Knight-Killer -1.7724
configuration_id: 6cb-912c-c43-210b
＋ Spectrus Kill Team BAND 5 z -0.5677
LOADOUT · Deathwatch marksman bolt carbine · Deathwatch occulus bolt carbine · Paired combat blades · Deathwatch marksman bolt carbine · Special-issue bolt pistol · Combat knife · Special-issue bolt pistol · Deathwatch Bolt carbine · Instigator bolt carbine · Bolt sniper rifle
OUTPUT INDEX
output_z -0.2386
PER TARGET
Light Infantry +0.319
MEQ -0.2215
Heavy Infantry -0.4303
Light Vehicle -0.491
Heavy Vehicle -0.5421
DURABILITY INDEX
durability_z -0.9699
PER THREAT
Small Arms -0.9327
MEQ-Killer -0.9672
Armour Cracker -1.1548
Anti-Tank -1.3458
Knight-Killer -1.4703
configuration_id: 2544-5189-7806-30f3
＋ Talonstrike Kill Team BAND 5 z -0.7676
LOADOUT · Assault bolters · ➤ Plasma exterminators - standard · ➤ Plasma exterminators - supercharge
OUTPUT INDEX
output_z -0.5719
PER TARGET
Light Infantry -0.6453
MEQ -0.5042
Heavy Infantry -0.4517
Light Vehicle -0.5053
Heavy Vehicle -0.5013
DURABILITY INDEX
durability_z -1.0068
PER THREAT
Small Arms -0.9628
MEQ-Killer -0.9994
Armour Cracker -1.2597
Anti-Tank -1.5393
Knight-Killer -1.795
configuration_id: c679-f252-32b1-ebcc
＋ Decimus Kill Team BAND 3 z -0.8591
LOADOUT · Xenophase blade
OUTPUT INDEX
output_z -0.6811
PER TARGET
Light Infantry -0.449
MEQ -0.6455
Heavy Infantry -0.7474
Light Vehicle -0.6868
Heavy Vehicle -0.7279
DURABILITY INDEX
durability_z -1.0766
PER THREAT
Small Arms -1.0199
MEQ-Killer -1.0604
Armour Cracker -1.4583
Anti-Tank -1.9059
Knight-Killer -2.4114
configuration_id: b169-ff89-b05e-3884
＋ Fortis Kill Team BAND 5 z -0.9253
LOADOUT · Heavy bolt pistol · Superkrak missile launcher
chosen from 2 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel
OUTPUT INDEX
output_z -0.8889
PER TARGET
Light Infantry -0.9142
MEQ -0.9198
Heavy Infantry -0.8176
Light Vehicle -0.6895
Heavy Vehicle -0.7233
DURABILITY INDEX
durability_z -0.9699
PER THREAT
Small Arms -0.9327
MEQ-Killer -0.9672
Armour Cracker -1.1548
Anti-Tank -1.3458
Knight-Killer -1.4703
configuration_id: a077-e1c9-f8f0-d38
2 of 10 matched-play units had choose-one weapon options; the pipeline picked the loadout maximising mean damage-per-point across the target panel per unit. 0 units used fallback summing. See methodology note for details.

CONCENTRATION HOW MUCH OF THE THEORY ROLLUP IS CARRIED BY ONE UNIT

No single unit dominates this faction’s Theory rollup. Most matched-play units contribute at roughly comparable levels.

EDITORIAL PERSPECTIVE EDITOR’S READ — INTERPRETIVE, NOT MEASURED

EDITOR

Editorial perspective coming. The Editor’s analysis of this faction’s current competitive position will appear here as the dossier program rolls out.

CROSS-LINKS RECAPS, METHODOLOGY, DIRECTORY

RECENT TOURNAMENT RECAPS

No recap titles in the current snapshot reference this faction by name. Faction-aware recap tagging is on the Phase 6+ roadmap.

METHODOLOGY

WAYFINDER

Data: BSData v10.6.0 captured 2026-05-18. Matched-play view filters Crucible and Legends suffixes; per-unit z-scores re-derived against the matched-play population. See methodology for caveats.