Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

After some consideration I'd have to delare Tyranids as the winner, within the context of 40k they are both innovative yet grounded and very much distrinct from the competition.

1st runner up: Orks, mostly for being exemplary of the technological maladies that are omipresent 40k.

2nd runner up: Elysian Drop Troops, for being neither to overtly inpired by a historical army, nor being too sci-fi to feel out of place.

The first honourable mention goes to the Kasrkin, these guys work for me where as the regular Cadian models don't, the combination of additional armour, respirators and backpacks make their models appear better proportioned and believable when compared to Cadian regulars.

The second and third honourble mentions go to the Raven Guard and Night Lords, as both armies capture the special forces essence of space marines better than respectively any other loyalist and traitor marine faction.

Lastly, While I overall like the Eldar, their best factions in my eyes are the Exodies and the Corsairs, both which are criminally underused.

The most aesthetically beautiful faction in my biased opinion are the custodes. Their model range was the main thing that brought me back to 40k after 15 years.
I think the armor design of the custodian guard and the wardens is stunning and they are also the best plastic kits gw has released in recent years in my opinion.

Objectively though I would give the crown to orks of all people. Their scrappy, techno-barbarian look is just quintessential 40k for me. They are the best faction to build custom, kitbashed models and have some amazing 3rd party support (Artel W's iron boss is the best ork model I have ever seen).
Some honorable mentions:
Tyranids: very distinct, coherent faction with awsome plasic range.

Adeptus mechanicus: amazing mix of 50s sci-fi and grimdark 40k tech. Even the basic skitarii look amazing

Genestealer cults: they did an awsome job with the gritty "freedom" fighter aesthetic. I always have to think of judge dredd when I see their model range (I know judge dredd was an inspiration for early 40k).

Harlequins: these guys are interesting to me, because when I first saw their model range, I hated them, but the murderclowns have really grown on me. I can't really say what changed my mind, but I think their models are awsome now.

Has to be Genestealers for me. It's probably because the entire range was released in just two big waves, relatively close together, so the entire faction just looks really consistent within itself, and for me, this consistency is beautiful.

Edit: Wait a minute! What the hell am I talking about? I completely forgot about the Death Korps! OK. They may be a sub-faction rather than a faction, but they are easily the most beautiful collection in the game for me.