The Infinite Archive — Emperor’s Children

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 · 23 units

PERFORMANCE

50.8%

weighted across 3 src · 2144 games

40kstats · 49.6% · n=9900
Infinite Archive · 51.4% · n=282
Stat Check · 58% · n=525
Warpfriends · 47.9% · n=1337

view the Archive’s raw pull ›

PRACTICE

4.537 (≈ A+)

recency-weighted mean · n=2 publications

Breaking Heads · S · 2026-05-15 · w=0.89
Veizla · B · 2026-03-04 · w=0.268

ATTENTION

raw combined · src 2/2

Trends · 88 · relative interest
YouTube · 50 videos · 4150716 views

COMPOSITE Z (DEFAULT WEIGHTS)

-0.2701

± 0.1818

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

Offensive specialisation: light infantry.

DEFENSIVE — DURABILITY PER THREAT

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 · 23 MATCHED-PLAY UNITS

UNIT ▾	BAND ▾	THEORY Z ▾
＋ Fulgrim BAND 5 z +1.4744 LOADOUT · Malefic lash · Serpentine tail · ➤ Daemonic blades - strike · ➤ Daemonic blades - sweep OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.6885 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.9888 MEQ +1.5411 Heavy Infantry +1.8277 Light Vehicle +1.7292 Heavy Vehicle +2.1398 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +1.2129 PER THREAT Small Arms +1.1967 MEQ-Killer +1.3083 Armour Cracker +1.2201 Anti-Tank +0.2121 Knight-Killer -0.2374 configuration_id: 1e0a-cf2b-6602-2a34
＋ Maulerfiend BAND 4 z +1.3953 LOADOUT · Maulerfiend fists · Magma cutter chosen from 2 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.4626 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.1202 MEQ +0.734 Heavy Infantry +1.7416 Light Vehicle +2.3781 Heavy Vehicle +2.6919 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +1.313 PER THREAT Small Arms +1.154 MEQ-Killer +2.0371 Armour Cracker +1.3438 Anti-Tank +1.418 Knight-Killer +1.1423 configuration_id: 656c-8b78-8e59-0591
＋ Defiler BAND 5 z +1.3844 LOADOUT · Shearing claws - strike · Shearing claws - sweep · ➤ Heavy missile launcher - frag · ➤ Heavy missile launcher - krak · Heavy baleflamer · Hades battle cannon · Excruciator cannon chosen from 4 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.8537 PER TARGET Light Infantry +1.4075 MEQ +1.306 Heavy Infantry +1.6804 Light Vehicle +2.323 Heavy Vehicle +2.122 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.8108 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.6758 MEQ-Killer +1.3557 Armour Cracker +1.8201 Anti-Tank +0.6868 Knight-Killer +0.3602 configuration_id: b541-3292-a5cc-dbeb
＋ Shalaxi Helbane BAND 5 z +0.9256 LOADOUT · Lash of Slaanesh · ➤ Pavane of Slaanesh - witchfire · ➤ Pavane of Slaanesh - focused witchfire · Snapping claws · Soulpiercer OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.3178 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.4515 MEQ +0.8858 Heavy Infantry +1.261 Light Vehicle +1.7712 Heavy Vehicle +2.346 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.4462 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.3654 MEQ-Killer +0.9135 Armour Cracker +0.3274 Anti-Tank +0.2121 Knight-Killer -0.1471 configuration_id: 20df-143c-fc59-77e0
＋ Keeper of Secrets BAND 5 z +0.8724 LOADOUT · ➤ Phantasmagoria - witchfire · ➤ Phantasmagoria - focused witchfire · Snapping claws · Witstealer sword · Living whip chosen from 2 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.6112 PER TARGET Light Infantry +1.9455 MEQ +1.4775 Heavy Infantry +1.8822 Light Vehicle +0.9578 Heavy Vehicle +1.1464 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.0305 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.1368 MEQ-Killer +0.4497 Armour Cracker +0.4389 Anti-Tank +0.3447 Knight-Killer +0.4759 configuration_id: 7b2b-4508-263d-f20f
＋ Chaos Land Raider BAND 5 z +0.8454 LOADOUT · Armoured tracks · Soulshatter lascannon OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.477 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.6276 MEQ -0.6329 Heavy Infantry -0.486 Light Vehicle -0.244 Heavy Vehicle -0.0256 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +2.4617 PER THREAT Small Arms +2.4057 MEQ-Killer +2.6003 Armour Cracker +2.6812 Anti-Tank +1.3676 Knight-Killer +0.9484 configuration_id: f10c-5f3e-c09d-0b12
＋ Sorcerer BAND 1 z +0.8375 LOADOUT · Agonising Energies - witchfire · Agonising Energies - focused witchfire · Force weapon OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.9222 PER TARGET Light Infantry +2.0926 MEQ +2.4385 Heavy Infantry +1.831 Light Vehicle +1.0114 Heavy Vehicle +1.2406 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.4882 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.4966 MEQ-Killer -0.5011 Armour Cracker -0.2441 Anti-Tank +0.0146 Knight-Killer +0.412 configuration_id: 2cd1-13f5-d59d-cc7f
＋ Lucius the Eternal BAND 4 z +0.5156 LOADOUT · Blade of the Laer · Lash of Torment OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.0567 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.9684 MEQ +1.0457 Heavy Infantry +1.2239 Light Vehicle +0.8688 Heavy Vehicle +0.7933 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.1458 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.0779 MEQ-Killer -0.3892 Armour Cracker -0.5476 Anti-Tank -0.4657 Knight-Killer -0.9329 configuration_id: e390-b58b-db9-816
＋ Lord Exultant BAND 2 z +0.4752 LOADOUT · Close combat weapon · Rapture lash · Phoenix power spear chosen from 2 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.296 PER TARGET Light Infantry +2.2064 MEQ +1.2885 Heavy Infantry +1.41 Light Vehicle +0.2442 Heavy Vehicle +0.5363 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.528 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.5293 MEQ-Killer -0.5361 Armour Cracker -0.32 Anti-Tank -0.1055 Knight-Killer -0.2939 configuration_id: 7b4c-dfe0-6a0a-304a
＋ Lord Kakophonist BAND 1 z +0.3994 LOADOUT · Power sword chosen from 2 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.0248 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.5861 MEQ +0.0507 Heavy Infantry -0.328 Light Vehicle -0.3038 Heavy Vehicle -0.4822 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.918 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.9987 MEQ-Killer +0.3777 Armour Cracker +0.4931 Anti-Tank +1.1803 Knight-Killer +0.7564 configuration_id: ee50-955a-0a81-41f1
＋ Chaos Rhino BAND 2 z +0.3336 LOADOUT · Armoured tracks OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.8935 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.7043 MEQ -0.9142 Heavy Infantry -0.9092 Light Vehicle -0.8351 Heavy Vehicle -0.8057 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +1.8333 PER THREAT Small Arms +1.924 MEQ-Killer +1.0369 Armour Cracker +1.3876 Anti-Tank +2.595 Knight-Killer +2.4015 configuration_id: 8ae1-aa47-e1d1-1b31
＋ Heldrake BAND 5 z +0.2494 LOADOUT · Heldrake claws · Hades autocannon chosen from 2 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.1863 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.1597 MEQ -0.0633 Heavy Infantry -0.0577 Light Vehicle -0.3007 Heavy Vehicle -0.3234 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.782 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.6709 MEQ-Killer +1.3488 Armour Cracker +0.721 Anti-Tank +0.6794 Knight-Killer +0.3527 configuration_id: 3750-df25-165d-d003
＋ Daemon Prince of Slaanesh BAND 5 z +0.1322 OUTPUT INDEX output_z -1.0717 PER TARGET Light Infantry -1.0658 MEQ -1.0601 Heavy Infantry -0.9969 Light Vehicle -0.9153 Heavy Vehicle -0.8742 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +1.6036 PER THREAT Small Arms +1.5969 MEQ-Killer +1.736 Armour Cracker +0.6497 Anti-Tank +0.5947 Knight-Killer +0.155 configuration_id: ad59-b823-900d-ee2d
＋ Fiends BAND 3 z -0.0856 LOADOUT · Barbed tail and dissecting claws · Barbed tail and dissecting claws OUTPUT INDEX output_z +0.5523 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.557 MEQ +1.1223 Heavy Infantry +0.3178 Light Vehicle +0.2866 Heavy Vehicle -0.1034 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.8653 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.8547 MEQ-Killer -0.8249 Armour Cracker -0.8193 Anti-Tank -0.8952 Knight-Killer -0.628 configuration_id: c2ca-f754-cc05-0743
＋ Noise Marines BAND 4 z -0.106 LOADOUT · Power sword · Screamer pistol · ➤ Blastmaster - varied frequency · ➤ Blastmaster - single frequency OUTPUT INDEX output_z +0.5384 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.8216 MEQ +0.5129 Heavy Infantry +0.5106 Light Vehicle +0.3644 Heavy Vehicle +0.085 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.8936 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.8575 MEQ-Killer -0.9061 Armour Cracker -1.0814 Anti-Tank -1.2106 Knight-Killer -1.2435 configuration_id: 5817-0d6c-973c-68f8
＋ Daemon Prince of Slaanesh with Wings BAND 5 z -0.1452 OUTPUT INDEX output_z -1.0717 PER TARGET Light Infantry -1.0658 MEQ -1.0601 Heavy Infantry -0.9969 Light Vehicle -0.9153 Heavy Vehicle -0.8742 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.9872 PER THREAT Small Arms +1.1709 MEQ-Killer +0.1102 Armour Cracker -0.1345 Anti-Tank +0.1876 Knight-Killer -0.2628 configuration_id: e452-08be-33e6-3864
＋ Flawless Blades BAND 3 z -0.3187 LOADOUT · Blissblade OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.0091 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.1021 MEQ +0.2358 Heavy Infantry -0.0599 Light Vehicle -0.2016 Heavy Vehicle +0.1015 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.6971 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.6667 MEQ-Killer -0.7248 Armour Cracker -0.9119 Anti-Tank -0.8977 Knight-Killer -0.7174 configuration_id: 183e-f3bb-3ce6-7b55
＋ Tormentors BAND 2 z -0.4021 LOADOUT · Boltgun · ➤ Plasma gun - standard · ➤ Plasma gun - supercharge · Meltagun OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.035 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.1437 MEQ -0.0081 Heavy Infantry -0.0661 Light Vehicle +0.1425 Heavy Vehicle -0.1278 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.8507 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.8352 MEQ-Killer -0.863 Armour Cracker -0.8155 Anti-Tank -0.7198 Knight-Killer -0.4181 configuration_id: 4494-dd7d-69f7-306c
＋ Chaos Spawn BAND 1 z -0.4728 LOADOUT · Hideous Mutations OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.3849 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.3085 MEQ -0.1438 Heavy Infantry -0.5062 Light Vehicle -0.4105 Heavy Vehicle -0.5863 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.5802 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.5713 MEQ-Killer -0.581 Armour Cracker -0.5909 Anti-Tank -0.5343 Knight-Killer +0.0082 configuration_id: 896c-5816-3abd-5199
＋ Seekers BAND 2 z -0.66 LOADOUT · Lashing tongues · Slashing claws · Lashing tongues · Slashing claws OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.4094 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.2833 MEQ -0.4769 Heavy Infantry -0.6068 Light Vehicle -0.701 Heavy Vehicle -0.6456 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.9662 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.9545 MEQ-Killer -0.9555 Armour Cracker -0.8891 Anti-Tank -0.8557 Knight-Killer -0.2939 configuration_id: c9df-2c38-25e5-ffc7
＋ Chaos Terminators BAND 4 z -0.7117 LOADOUT · Reaper autocannon chosen from 2 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.8116 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.6228 MEQ -0.8456 Heavy Infantry -0.767 Light Vehicle -0.797 Heavy Vehicle -0.7398 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.5896 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.5327 MEQ-Killer -0.7132 Armour Cracker -0.9873 Anti-Tank -1.0366 Knight-Killer -1.0091 configuration_id: 5926-4deb-a85d-c73a
＋ Infractors BAND 2 z -0.8037 LOADOUT · Duelling sabre OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.7653 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.4611 MEQ -0.7858 Heavy Infantry -0.8008 Light Vehicle -0.8147 Heavy Vehicle -0.7595 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -0.8507 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.8352 MEQ-Killer -0.863 Armour Cracker -0.8155 Anti-Tank -0.7198 Knight-Killer -0.4181 configuration_id: e456-0afc-9b42-226c
＋ Daemonettes BAND 3 z -0.8046 LOADOUT · Slashing claws · Slashing claws OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.6376 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.2093 MEQ -0.6714 Heavy Infantry -0.7193 Light Vehicle -0.7727 Heavy Vehicle -0.7114 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z -1.0087 PER THREAT Small Arms -0.9981 MEQ-Killer -0.9672 Armour Cracker -0.9524 Anti-Tank -0.9722 Knight-Killer -0.5292 configuration_id: 06f6-b870-4e43-4ed9

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

Methodology LibraryTheory column derivation, six bins, big soup
Strength IndexCross-faction Vital Signs view

WAYFINDER

Ecosystem DirectoryFaction-aware tagging not yet exposed; see the directory landing.

Emperor’s Children

WHAT DO THE Z-SCORES MEAN?

HOW TO READ THE RADAR CHARTS

WHAT DO THE PANELS MEASURE?

OFFENSIVE — OUTPUT PER TARGET

DEFENSIVE — DURABILITY PER THREAT

VITAL SIGNS FOUR-SIGNAL FACTION VIEW

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

LIST BUILDER

UNIT LAB SORTABLE BY UNIT, POINTS BAND, THEORY Z · 23 MATCHED-PLAY UNITS

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

EDITORIAL PERSPECTIVE EDITOR’S READ — INTERPRETIVE, NOT MEASURED

EDITOR

CROSS-LINKS RECAPS, METHODOLOGY, DIRECTORY

RECENT TOURNAMENT RECAPS

METHODOLOGY

WAYFINDER