Introduction: The moment fans wait for every year
The Warhammer community spoke loudly in 2025, voting by the thousands for their favourite miniatures across three categories. After a year of astonishing sculpts, clever conversions, and flawless paint jobs, the winners of Warhammer Miniature of the Year 2025 have been revealed. This year’s lineup highlights bold design choices, intricate painting techniques, and a growing appreciation for narrative miniatures that tell a story on the tabletop.
How the voting works and what it signals
Fans cast their votes over several weeks, based on criteria that balance aesthetics, technical skill, and the ability to convey character and lore. The final tally reflects a broader trend in the hobby: collectors want pieces that not only look spectacular on the shelf but also feel like they could live in a story. The results underline a community that values craftsmanship, originality, and a fresh take on iconic factions.
Category highlights: what won in Warhammer 40,000 and beyond
The competition is divided into three major categories, with each winner representing a distinct corner of the hobby—be it the raw sci‑fi drama of Warhammer 40,000, the dynastic fantasy of Warhammer Age of Sigmar, or the tightly focused work of allied sub‑themes within the hobby. While we won’t list every entry here, the winning pieces share several common threads: high-contrast color narratives, dynamic posing, and meticulous panel line work that makes every scale detail pop from the tabletop.
In the Warhammer 40,000 category, for example, many entries leaned into dramatic lighting and battlefield storytelling. Across the Age of Sigmar category, players celebrated narrative dioramas and units that evoke a moment in a larger saga. The third category—often dedicated to best conversions or best painter’s choice—showcased daring reinterpretations and technical mastery that pushed the hobby forward in new directions.
The design trends that defined 2025’s winners
Three trends stood out among this year’s winning pieces. First, narrative-driven painting, where the miniature doesn’t just look good in isolation but reads as a scene—whether a heroic charge, a fallen crusader, or a moment of quiet tension before battle. Second, technical excellence in freehand detailing and edge highlighting that remains accessible to ambitious hobbyists, not only seasoned pros. Third, a willingness to experiment with color palettes, embracing unusual schemes that nevertheless feel cohesive within the faction’s lore. These trends suggest a hobby that rewards creativity without losing the essential appeal of recognizable faction identity.
Tips from the winners: what you can apply to your own projects
Even if you’re not aiming to win a competition, the winners provide actionable lessons for painting and converting miniatures. Start with a strong base palette that supports a narrative focus. Use high-contrast lighting to make details stand out in photos and on the table. Practice freehand work on small areas before committing to large surfaces, and don’t fear bold color choices that reflect a unit’s lore. Finally, document your process with clear photos and notes, so you can track what works and what doesn’t for future models.
What this means for the Warhammer community going forward
The 2025 results are more than a list of winners. They capture a moment when the community is embracing storytelling as a core value of miniature painting. The winners inspire both newcomers and veterans to push boundaries while remaining faithful to faction themes. Expect more hybrid dioramas, more expressive characters, and a continuing push toward accessible yet striking color schemes in the year ahead.
Conclusion: Celebrate the craft, learn from the craftsmanship
Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who shared their work with the community. The Warhammer Miniature of the Year 2025 competition once again demonstrated that the hobby is at its best when skill, imagination, and passion collide on the workbench and on the battlefield. Whether you’re evaluating your next project or simply admiring a finished piece, this year’s crop of winners offers ample motivation to paint, convert, and play with even greater confidence.
