This article is incomplete
Some sections are missing or need additional details. Help improve it by contributing.
**Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV ships with four playable factions at launch: the Space Marines, the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Necrons, and the Orks**. Each faction has its own full Campaign, which can be played solo or in co-op, and all of those campaigns feed into one overarching narrative set on the war-torn world of Planet Kronus. A fifth faction is planned to arrive after release through the paid Aftermath expansion; its identity has not yet been revealed. See Post-Launch Roadmap and DLC for more on the Aftermath expansion.
Launch Faction Roster
The four launch factions each bring a distinct identity to the battlefield. The Space Marines are the elite, versatile poster boys of the setting; the Adeptus Mechanicus debut in the series as a ranged, tech-driven force; the Necrons are ancient, deathless beings awakening to defend their world; and the Orks are a brutal, battle-hungry horde that wins through sheer numbers and momentum.
Faction | Role / Identity | Status |
|---|---|---|
Elite, versatile superhuman warriors fielded across two Chapters in the campaign | Launch | |
Ranged, tech-focused army built around a growing battlefield network, in their series debut | Launch | |
Ancient, deathless beings awakening to reclaim their world | Launch | |
Brutal, battle-hungry horde that wins through strength in numbers | Launch | |
Aftermath faction | A fifth faction added after release; identity not yet revealed | Planned |
Shared Systems Across Factions
All factions share the same underlying gameplay framework. Units grow stronger over the course of a battle through Unit Veterancy, rewarding players who keep squads alive and engaged. Combat across every faction is handled by the Combat Director system, which governs how engagements play out on the battlefield. In total the game features over 110 units and buildings across all factions.
Own full campaign: Every faction has a complete Campaign that can be played solo or in co-op.
One shared narrative: The separate campaigns all feed into a single overarching story.
**Unit Veterancy:** Units gain power as they fight and survive.
**Combat Director:** The system that drives moment-to-moment combat for every faction.
110+ units and buildings: Across all factions in the game.
Leading Your Faction
Each faction is led on the battlefield by powerful hero characters. See Commanders for the playable battlefield leaders, and Characters for the wider cast of named figures tied to each faction's story. The Space Marines and Orks both field multiple named leaders, while the Adeptus Mechanicus debut with their own pair of Commanders.