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Game Modes - Version 4 vs Version 5
Aug 6, 2026, 09:45 PM
Added the three selectable multiplayer win conditions to the Multiplayer section
Aug 18, 2026, 07:16 AM
Rewrote image alt text to describe what the screenshots actually show
11Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV is built around several distinct game modes that cover solo play, cooperative play, and competitive play. At launch the confirmed modes are the Campaign, Skirmish, Last Stand, and Multiplayer. A turn-based meta-campaign called Crusade Mode is part of the free post-launch content plan rather than a launch feature. This page is a hub that summarizes each mode and links to its dedicated article. Because the game has not yet released, details below reflect pre-release information and may change.22Modes at a Glance44The table below lists the confirmed modes, the player counts associated with each, and whether the mode is available at launch or planned as post-launch content. Player counts and availability are based on pre-release information.77ModePlayersAvailabilityCampaignSolo or two-player co-opLaunchSkirmishSingle-player versus AILaunchLast StandSurvival against waves of enemiesLaunchMultiplayerCompetitive PvP: 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3LaunchCrusade ModeTurn-based meta-campaign on the world map of KronusPost-launch (free Year One content; exact timing is being finalized)99Campaign1010The Campaign is the story-driven mode set on the war-torn world of Planet Kronus. Each of the four launch Factions has its own full campaign, and those campaigns all feed into a single overarching narrative. The Campaign can be played solo or in two-player co-op, so a friend can join you for the faction campaigns. See the Campaign page for the full breakdown of its structure and the Story and Setting page for the wider narrative.1212Skirmish1414Skirmish lets you set up custom matches against the AI. You choose the map, the Factions involved, and the difficulty, then fight a self-contained battle. It is the mode for practicing army builds, learning a faction, or simply playing a one-off match without the structure of the campaign or the pressure of competitive play. See the Skirmish page for details.1616Last Stand1818Last Stand is a horde and survival mode returning to the series. In it you face increasingly deadly waves of enemies and try to hold out as long as possible. The mode is confirmed for Dawn of War IV; specifics beyond the core wave-survival format are covered on the Last Stand page.2020Multiplayer2222Quick Match defaults to Annihilation, in which you destroy every enemy headquarters while protecting your own, but two further modes can be selected for matchmaking. Domination is won by capturing and holding more Strategic Positions than your opponents to earn Victory Points, and Maelstrom scores Victory Points from objectives that appear dynamically across the map during the battle.2424Multiplayer is the competitive player-versus-player mode. At launch it supports 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 matches, letting you face other players one-on-one or in teams. Battles use the same Combat Director system and faction roster as the rest of the game. See the Multiplayer page for the confirmed team sizes and how competitive play is structured.2626Crusade Mode2828Crusade Mode is a turn-based meta-campaign played on a world map of Kronus. It is part of the free post-launch content plan rather than a guaranteed day-one mode, so its exact rollout timing is still being finalized. Official wording describes five Commanders each having their own dedicated Crusade when the game launches, while Crusade also appears on the post-launch free roadmap. A single Crusade is described as taking around eight to ten hours. Because of this, the Crusade Mode page presents both statements and hedges the precise timing rather than resolving it. For the broader plan, see Post-Launch Roadmap and DLC.3030Co-op Across Modes3232Cooperative play is supported in Dawn of War IV. The four faction campaigns are all playable in two-player co-op, so the Campaign can be shared with a friend from start to finish. This makes co-op a core part of how the story content can be experienced rather than a separate standalone mode.3434Shared Systems3636Across these modes the underlying gameplay is the same. Battles are driven by the Combat Director system, units grow stronger as they fight through Unit Veterancy, and the game features over 110 units and buildings across all Factions. Whichever mode you play, you are commanding the same armies built on the same foundations.3838Related Pages4040Campaign: the story mode, playable solo or in two-player co-op.Skirmish: custom matches against the AI.Last Stand: the returning wave-survival mode.Multiplayer: competitive PvP with 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3.Crusade Mode: the post-launch turn-based meta-campaign on Kronus.Post-Launch Roadmap and DLC: the free Year One content plan and paid expansions.
