The Infinite Archive — Imperial Knights

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 · 22 units

PERFORMANCE

48.2%

weighted across 3 src · 2125 games

40kstats · 50.1% · n=7431
Infinite Archive · 44.7% · n=244
Stat Check · 49% · n=579
Warpfriends · 48.5% · n=1302

view the Archive’s raw pull ›

PRACTICE

3.537 (≈ A-)

recency-weighted mean · n=2 publications

Breaking Heads · A · 2026-05-15 · w=0.89
Veizla · C · 2026-03-04 · w=0.268

ATTENTION

raw combined · src 2/2

Trends · 82 · relative interest
YouTube · 50 videos · 1105703 views

COMPOSITE Z (DEFAULT WEIGHTS)

+0.5839

± 0.1362

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: heavy vehicle, light vehicle.

DEFENSIVE — DURABILITY PER THREAT

Defensive specialisation: armour cracker, meq-killer.

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 · 22 MATCHED-PLAY UNITS

UNIT ▾	BAND ▾	THEORY Z ▾
＋ Knight Gallant BAND 5 z +3.0802 LOADOUT · ➤ Reaper chainsword - sweep · ➤ Reaper chainsword - strike · ➤ Thunderstrike gauntlet - strike · ➤ Thunderstrike gauntlet - sweep OUTPUT INDEX output_z +4.9105 PER TARGET Light Infantry +1.7842 MEQ +3.5938 Heavy Infantry +4.1492 Light Vehicle +7.5269 Heavy Vehicle +7.0644 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.8433 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.7049 MEQ-Killer +1.3973 Armour Cracker +1.8765 Anti-Tank +0.7312 Knight-Killer +0.4082 configuration_id: eb4-4a67-11e9-3cb8
＋ Canis Rex BAND 5 z +1.3639 LOADOUT · ➤ Las-impulsor - high intensity · ➤ Las-impulsor - low intensity · ➤ Freedom's Hand - strike · ➤ Freedom's Hand - sweep · Questoris multi-laser · Close combat weapon · Hekhtur's pistol OUTPUT INDEX output_z +2.0171 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.5864 MEQ +1.0027 Heavy Infantry +1.7512 Light Vehicle +3.3854 Heavy Vehicle +3.5134 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.5657 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.4556 MEQ-Killer +1.042 Armour Cracker +1.3944 Anti-Tank +0.35 Knight-Killer +0.0007 configuration_id: 55fb-9c91-1a4f-3037
＋ Armiger Warglaive BAND 4 z +1.3138 LOADOUT · ➤ Reaper chain-cleaver - strike · ➤ Reaper chain-cleaver - sweep · Thermal spear OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.365 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.8615 MEQ +1.1612 Heavy Infantry +1.4567 Light Vehicle +1.6537 Heavy Vehicle +1.3565 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +1.2513 PER THREAT Small Arms +1.3352 MEQ-Killer +0.6175 Armour Cracker +0.8184 Anti-Tank +1.695 Knight-Killer +1.4387 configuration_id: 5bbd-c5d3-58d7-e391
＋ Cerastus Knight Castigator BAND 5 z +1.0426 LOADOUT · Castigator bolt cannon · ➤ Tempest warblade - strike · ➤ Tempest warblade - sweep OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.2562 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.593 MEQ +1.2626 Heavy Infantry +1.0902 Light Vehicle +1.5127 Heavy Vehicle +1.572 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.7816 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.6495 MEQ-Killer +1.3183 Armour Cracker +1.7693 Anti-Tank +0.6465 Knight-Killer +0.3178 configuration_id: 1654-5c17-474e-2d84
＋ Cerastus Knight Atrapos BAND 5 z +1.0309 LOADOUT · ➤ Atrapos lascutter - high intensity (melee) · ➤ Atrapos lascutter - low intensity (melee) · ➤ Atrapos lascutter - high intensity (ranged) · ➤ Atrapos lascutter - low intensity (ranged) · ➤ Graviton singularity cannon - singularity · ➤ Graviton singularity cannon - contained OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.2724 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.3301 MEQ +0.8131 Heavy Infantry +1.3459 Light Vehicle +1.777 Heavy Vehicle +2.2828 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.7357 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.6083 MEQ-Killer +1.2596 Armour Cracker +1.6896 Anti-Tank +0.5835 Knight-Killer +0.2501 configuration_id: 37a7-d156-1e4c-8fe1
＋ Cerastus Knight Lancer BAND 5 z +1.0284 LOADOUT · ➤ Cerastus shock lance - strike · Cerastus shock lance · ➤ Cerastus shock lance - sweep OUTPUT INDEX output_z +1.2303 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.0443 MEQ +0.43 Heavy Infantry +1.025 Light Vehicle +2.5134 Heavy Vehicle +2.3658 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.7816 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.6495 MEQ-Killer +1.3183 Armour Cracker +1.7693 Anti-Tank +0.6465 Knight-Killer +0.3178 configuration_id: 9ee-e289-bc6c-d943
＋ Armiger Moirax BAND 4 z +0.7158 LOADOUT · Siege claw chosen from 6 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel OUTPUT INDEX output_z +0.4047 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.552 MEQ -0.1963 Heavy Infantry +0.2521 Light Vehicle +1.1778 Heavy Vehicle +1.989 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +1.0961 PER THREAT Small Arms +1.1782 MEQ-Killer +0.5056 Armour Cracker +0.6666 Anti-Tank +1.4548 Knight-Killer +1.1818 configuration_id: e3dd-7e90-140a-b3ab
＋ Cerastus Knight Acheron BAND 5 z +0.6272 LOADOUT · Twin heavy bolter · Acheron flame cannon · ➤ Reaper chainfist - strike · ➤ Reaper chainfist - sweep OUTPUT INDEX output_z +0.5009 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.1874 MEQ +0.4359 Heavy Infantry +0.2998 Light Vehicle +1.0576 Heavy Vehicle +0.9421 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.7816 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.6495 MEQ-Killer +1.3183 Armour Cracker +1.7693 Anti-Tank +0.6465 Knight-Killer +0.3178 configuration_id: 11d3-167b-6dff-a4c2
＋ Knight Castellan BAND 5 z +0.5724 LOADOUT · ➤ Plasma decimator - standard · ➤ Plasma decimator - supercharge · Volcano lance OUTPUT INDEX output_z +0.457 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.3605 MEQ +0.2592 Heavy Infantry +0.2217 Light Vehicle +1.283 Heavy Vehicle +0.9942 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.7136 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.5884 MEQ-Killer +1.2313 Armour Cracker +1.6514 Anti-Tank +0.553 Knight-Killer +0.2181 configuration_id: 6e36-f85-1c3b-8bf3
＋ Knight Destrier BAND 5 z +0.5219 LOADOUT · Questoris heavy stubber · Titanic feet · Chastiser gatling cannon · Frag bombard OUTPUT INDEX output_z +0.3047 PER TARGET Light Infantry +0.6236 MEQ +0.417 Heavy Infantry +0.3353 Light Vehicle -0.1277 Heavy Vehicle +0.0238 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.7873 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.6758 MEQ-Killer +1.3557 Armour Cracker +0.7273 Anti-Tank +0.6868 Knight-Killer +0.3602 configuration_id: 10d8-d702-f556-5d3c
＋ Armiger Helverin BAND 4 z +0.3673 LOADOUT · Armiger autocannon OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.4265 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.5898 MEQ -0.4842 Heavy Infantry -0.2566 Light Vehicle -0.1542 Heavy Vehicle -0.4407 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +1.3375 PER THREAT Small Arms +1.4224 MEQ-Killer +0.6796 Armour Cracker +0.9026 Anti-Tank +1.8283 Knight-Killer +1.5808 configuration_id: 7314-3c4a-36ab-a594
＋ Knight Defender BAND 5 z +0.3142 LOADOUT · Twin incendine combustor · Conversion beam obliterator · ➤ Plasma executor - standard · ➤ Plasma executor - supercharge · Phosphor blaster OUTPUT INDEX output_z +0.1085 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.2981 MEQ +0.0532 Heavy Infantry +0.3251 Light Vehicle +0.3606 Heavy Vehicle +0.2399 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.5657 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.4556 MEQ-Killer +1.042 Armour Cracker +1.3944 Anti-Tank +0.35 Knight-Killer +0.0007 configuration_id: f12b-ca2a-9c87-79bb
＋ Acastus Knight Porphyrion BAND 5 z +0.2467 LOADOUT · Twin magna lascannon · Lascannon · Helios defence missiles chosen from 8 alternatives · highest mean Output Index across target panel OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.3766 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.8594 MEQ -0.7085 Heavy Infantry -0.5354 Light Vehicle +0.3644 Heavy Vehicle +0.2886 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +1.0084 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.9987 MEQ-Killer +1.0968 Armour Cracker +0.981 Anti-Tank +0.023 Knight-Killer -0.4313 configuration_id: 61c9-8baf-22b4-5d84
＋ Knight Preceptor BAND 5 z +0.2014 LOADOUT · ➤ Las-impulsor - high intensity · ➤ Las-impulsor - low intensity · Preceptor multi-laser OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.2808 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.4323 MEQ -0.3943 Heavy Infantry -0.1942 Light Vehicle -0.1724 Heavy Vehicle +0.0883 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.7907 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.6577 MEQ-Killer +1.33 Armour Cracker +1.7852 Anti-Tank +0.6591 Knight-Killer +0.331 configuration_id: ebd9-7175-3f0c-72a9
＋ Questoris Knight Styrix BAND 5 z +0.0496 LOADOUT · Graviton crusher · Volkite chierovile OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.4774 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.5402 MEQ -0.5349 Heavy Infantry -0.4129 Light Vehicle -0.3149 Heavy Vehicle -0.3419 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.6937 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.5705 MEQ-Killer +1.2058 Armour Cracker +1.6167 Anti-Tank +0.5257 Knight-Killer +0.1889 configuration_id: f8f3-a438-1212-93e8
＋ Knight Valiant BAND 5 z +0.0237 LOADOUT · Conflagration cannon · Thundercoil harpoon OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.5408 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.9718 MEQ -0.8705 Heavy Infantry -0.7682 Light Vehicle +0.129 Heavy Vehicle +0.3163 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.7136 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.5884 MEQ-Killer +1.2313 Armour Cracker +1.6514 Anti-Tank +0.553 Knight-Killer +0.2181 configuration_id: 8fb9-50b2-adc6-161a
＋ Questoris Knight Magaera BAND 5 z -0.0039 LOADOUT · Phased plasma-fusil · Lightning cannon OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.5746 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.5652 MEQ -0.4881 Heavy Infantry -0.6074 Light Vehicle -0.4482 Heavy Vehicle -0.6205 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.6937 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.5705 MEQ-Killer +1.2058 Armour Cracker +1.6167 Anti-Tank +0.5257 Knight-Killer +0.1889 configuration_id: adfa-19fc-7337-7350
＋ Acastus Knight Asterius BAND 5 z -0.0193 LOADOUT · Twin conversion beam cannon · Asterius volkite culverin · Karacnos mortar battery OUTPUT INDEX output_z -0.7153 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.7529 MEQ -0.811 Heavy Infantry -0.7114 Light Vehicle -0.4983 Heavy Vehicle -0.4499 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.8313 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.8272 MEQ-Killer +0.9135 Armour Cracker +0.7739 Anti-Tank -0.1408 Knight-Killer -0.5997 configuration_id: f8d0-fdf2-2e5e-3b74
＋ Knight Errant BAND 5 z -0.21 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 +0.8433 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.7049 MEQ-Killer +1.3973 Armour Cracker +1.8765 Anti-Tank +0.7312 Knight-Killer +0.4082 configuration_id: 9efd-ec72-353f-4b23
＋ Knight Paladin BAND 5 z -0.2273 LOADOUT · Questoris heavy stubber OUTPUT INDEX output_z -1.0194 PER TARGET Light Infantry -0.9631 MEQ -1.0136 Heavy Infantry -0.9638 Light Vehicle -0.8983 Heavy Vehicle -0.8544 DURABILITY INDEX durability_z +0.7409 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.613 MEQ-Killer +1.2662 Armour Cracker +1.6987 Anti-Tank +0.5905 Knight-Killer +0.2576 configuration_id: 8441-8356-5e7c-69ee
＋ Knight Warden BAND 5 z -0.256 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 +0.7409 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.613 MEQ-Killer +1.2662 Armour Cracker +1.6987 Anti-Tank +0.5905 Knight-Killer +0.2576 configuration_id: c609-c87e-f9dd-5006
＋ Knight Crusader BAND 5 z -0.2773 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 +0.6937 PER THREAT Small Arms +0.5705 MEQ-Killer +1.2058 Armour Cracker +1.6167 Anti-Tank +0.5257 Knight-Killer +0.1889 configuration_id: 1e27-a6de-3840-a050

CROSS-LINKS RECAPS, METHODOLOGY, DIRECTORY

RECENT TOURNAMENT RECAPS

Imperial Knights VLOG vom WARHAMMER OPEN in Maastricht | 40k Turnier Bericht Breaking Heads · 2026-05-03

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.

Imperial Knights

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 · 22 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