**Warhammer 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.
Modes at a Glance
The 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.
Mode | Players | Availability |
|---|---|---|
Solo or two-player co-op | Launch | |
Single-player versus AI | Launch | |
Survival against waves of enemies | Launch | |
Competitive PvP: 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 | Launch | |
Turn-based meta-campaign on the world map of Kronus | Post-launch (free Year One content; exact timing is being finalized) |
Campaign
The 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.
Skirmish
Skirmish 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.
Last Stand
Last 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.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer 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.
Crusade Mode
Crusade 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.
Co-op Across Modes
Cooperative 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.
Shared Systems
Across 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.
Related Pages
Campaign: 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.