[Top 5] Warhammer 40k Best Dreadnoughts That Are Powerful (2024)

Dreadnoughts are walking vehicles of war and destruction. Just as they are in the lore, they could also get quite fearsome on the tabletop. Explore this list to see which of the Imperium's combat walkers best suit your playstyle.

5. Librarian Dreadnought

A Chief Librarian Dreadnought backed up by Blood Angel Dreadnoughts

The Blood Angel’s Librarian Dreadnought is the only Psyker on this list. Coming up at 150 points, you have a durable model that can cast up to two psychic powers from the Sanguinary Discipline. This is excellent because the Librarian Dreadnought could make up for its weakness of slow movement by buffing himself up with Quickening and Wings of Sanguinus, both powers enabling the librarian to enter combat quicker.

The Librarian Dreadnought could take on a support role, but it’s better to take an ordinary librarian instead if that’s the case. A Librarian Dreadnought would be better utilized by being thrown onto enemy lines killing as much as he can for Saguinius.

Librarian Dreadnought Strengths

Can buff himself to have additional attacks in melee
Is a character that has less than nine wounds, making him benefit from Look Out Sir

What Librarian Dreadnought Excels In...

4. Venerable Dreadnought

Deathwatch Venerable Dreadnought providing fire support to Deathwatch Veterans

Next on this list is the honorable Venerable Dreadnought. A standard Dreadnought costs around 120 points; add 15, and you can have a Venerable Dreadnought. For a little points upgrade, you have a Dreadnought with a built-in 6+++ Feel no Pain, a 2+ Weapon Skill upgrade, and a 2+ Ballistic Skill upgrade.

In addition, a Venerable Dreadnought has <CORE>, making it benefit from character buffs. While having no specific role it exceeds in, a Venerable Dreadnought is an excellent jack-of-all-trades unit that could even act as a distraction while the rest of your army does their jobs. It’s durable, good in melee, and moderately average in shooting; it’s basically your army’s designated distraction Carnifex.

Venerable Dreadnought Strengths

Relatively cheap for what it does
Durable because of 6+++ Feel no Pain and has access to Smokescreen.

What Venerable Dreadnought Excels In...

Distraction. The Venerable Dreadnought would be troublesome if left alone until later turns, forcing your opponent to deal with them.

Details: https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Venerable_Dreadnought

3. Contemptor Dreadnought

A Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought equipped with an Assault Cannon

Now it’s time we get to the bigger dreads. 3rd on our list would be the Contemptor Dreadnought. This dreadnought has an additional way to mitigate damage. It has Atomantic Shielding, a rule that gives it a 5++ Invulnerable save. Stack this on standard dreadnought rules such as Duty Eternal and Armour of Contempt, and you have a tough nut to crack. The Contemptor also has <CORE>, giving it the benefit of certain buffs from your Space Marine Legion’s characters.

It’s slightly quicker than your average dreadnought as it has an 8” movement rather than 6”. This upgrade is vital, as the faster a dreadnought gets into combat, the more worth it. With 4 Strength 14 Melee attacks through its Dreadnought combat weapon, your opponent would have to do whatever it takes from it, breaching the frontline.

Contemptor Dreadnought Strengths

5++ Invulnerable Save will keep it alive from high AP weaponry

What Contemptor Dreadnought Excels In...

Destroying Vehicles. 4 Strength 14 Melee attacks could tear through high toughness vehicles or monsters.
Getting into Close Combat. The Contemptor Dreadnought is slightly faster than most other dreadnought variants.

Details: https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Contemptor_Pattern_Dreadnought

2. Leviathan Dreadnought

A Leviathan Dreadnought scouring ruins of a Hive city

Big guns never tire. The Leviathan Dreadnought is exceptionally menacing, more deadly than its Contemptor variant. It has similar rules, if not the same rules as a Contemptor Dreadnought, but it has many more wargear options to choose from. It has the option of sacrificing its close combat viability for more guns. The Leviathan has significantly more firepower in terms of shooting than almost any other dreadnought, and it has answers for any type of unit in the game. Think you’d need Anti-Infantry? Take Heavy Flamers and Grav-flux bombards. Need to blow up more tanks than usual? Bring out the Cyclonic Melta Lances. Thanks to dreadnought rules, you also have this massive firepower while still being durable.

A good synergy for this unit is pairing it up with a Technomancer in the backlines to keep it alive as much as he can. You wouldn’t want your Leviathan Dreadnought to die too early in the game to keep them as efficient as possible. Each one costs around 220 points, not even upgrades. Keep them alive as you rain hellfire upon your foes.

Leviathan Dreadnought Strengths

5++ Invulnerable Save will keep it alive from high AP weaponry
2+ Armor save with Armour of Contempt
Has Access to the Smokescreen strategem
Lots of Wargear options

What Leviathan Dreadnought Excels In...

Shooting. High AP Firepower, High Damage Output, Blast Weaponry. What more could you ask for?

Details: https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Leviathan_Dreadnought

1. Primaris Redemptor Dreadnought

An Ultramarine Redemptor Dreadnought equipped with a Macro plasma incinerator

And the strongest Dreadnought in 9th Edition Warhammer 40k would have to be the Redemptor Dreadnought. First of its kind in this list, the Redemptor Dreadnought has a degrading stat line based on how many wounds he has left. Comparatively, with the other dreadnought variants, the Redemptor performs worse as his wounds get lower, but he does start a game with a whopping 14 wounds. While still benefiting from Armour of Contempt and Duty Eternal, the Redemptor is another dreadnought that would be hard to blast off the table. In terms of firepower, the Redemptor has access to the Macro plasma incinerator; while already a solid heavy weapon in itself, the Redemptor still has access to different wargear options. If you compare the Leviathan to the Redemptor, you will conclude that the Leviathan packs better guns.

Nevertheless, the Redemptor is 35 points cheaper, has even better benefits by being a <CORE> unit, and will benefit from buffs from characters of your Space Marine Legion. It’s important to mention how, compared to the Leviathan, the Redemptor is also a beast in close combat, with its Redemptor fist having a Strength 14 AP -3 statline that could pierce even the most formidable vehicles. As for its role on the battlefield, it’s essentially an all-rounder unit that could do all sorts of tasks. From holding objectives to being the lynchpin of the army, the Redemptor is incredibly versatile for what it costs in points, a Venerable Dreadnought on steroids. And that is why it’s the strongest Dreadnought.

Redemptor Dreadnought Strengths

Relatively cheap for what it does
More wounds than other Dreadnought variants
Best All-rounder Dreadnought

What Redemptor Dreadnought Excels In...

Soaking Fire. A considerable threat to your opponent, the Redemptor is sure to soak fire, giving your other units more leeway to perform.

Details: https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Redemptor_Dreadnought