Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War is a classic real-time strategy game that has stood the test of time, and its definitive edition, which includes all expansions, brings the grand scale of the 41st millennium to life. A cornerstone of the game is its diverse roster of nine playable factions, each with a unique playstyle, units, and strategies. To truly master the game, you must understand the strengths and weaknesses of every faction you face.Here is a detailed breakdown of all nine factions in
Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War, including their key units and overall playstyles.
Warhammer 40K Dawn of War: All Available Factions
1. Space Marines Faction
The Space Marines are the quintessential "jack-of-all-trades" faction and an excellent choice for new players. They are highly disciplined, durable, and have a unit for almost every situation. Their signature feature is the ability to deploy units directly onto the battlefield using drop pods.
Unit Type | Units |
Commander/Hero | Force Commander, Librarian |
Heavy Infantry | Space Marine Squad, Terminator Squad, Grey Knights, Venerable Dreadnought |
Light Infantry | Assault Marines, Scout Marines |
Vehicles | Attack Bike (Light), Rhino (Light), Land Speeder (Light), Land Speeder Tempest (Aircraft), Predator (Heavy), Whirlwind (Heavy), Land Raider (Heavy) |
Other | Chapel-Barracks Servitor (Builder), Skull Probe (Detector) |
2. Chaos Faction
The Chaos faction is the corrupted counterpart to the Space Marines. They trade versatility for raw, daemonic power. Their playstyle is similar to the Space Marines but with a greater focus on aggressive tactics and powerful daemonic summons in the late game.
Unit Type | Units |
Commander/Hero | Chaos Lord, Chaos Sorcerer, Daemon Prince |
Light Infantry | Chaos Cultists, Raptor Squad |
Heavy Infantry | Chaos Space Marines, Chaos Havocs, Possessed Chaos Space Marines, Obliterators, Summoned Bloodletters, Summoned Horrors |
Vehicles/Walkers | Chaos Rhino (Light Vehicle), Defiler (Walker), Chaos Predator (Heavy Vehicle), Hell Talon (Aircraft) |
Relic/Super-Heavy | Bloodthirster |
3. Eldar Faction
The Eldar are a highly mobile and fast-hitting faction, often described as "glass cannons." They excel at hit-and-run tactics, using their high damage and speed to strike quickly and retreat before the enemy can respond. Mastering them requires intense micromanagement.
Unit Type | Units |
Commander/Hero | Farseer |
Light Infantry | Guardian Defenders, Banshees, Rangers |
Heavy Infantry | Dark Reapers, Seer Council |
Vehicles/Walkers | Vyper (Light), Wraithlord (Walker), Fire Prism (Heavy Vehicle), Grav Platform (Light Vehicle), Nightwing (Aircraft) |
Relic/Super-Heavy | Avatar of Khaine |
4. Orks Faction
The Orks are a melee-focused horde faction that relies on overwhelming numbers and aggressive play. While their individual units may seem weak, they can quickly swarm and crush an enemy with sheer force. Their population cap is uniquely tied to Waaagh! Banners, encouraging a wide, forward-moving army.
Unit Type | Units |
Commander/Hero | Big Mek, Warboss |
Light Infantry | Slugga Boyz, Shoota Boyz, Kommandos, Stormboyz |
Heavy Infantry | Nob Squad, Flash Gitz, Mega Armoured Nobz |
Vehicles/Walkers | Trukk (Light Vehicle), Wartrak (Light Vehicle), Killa Kan (Walker), Looted Tank (Heavy Vehicle), Fighta-Bomma (Aircraft) |
Relic/Super-Heavy | Squiggoth |
5. Imperial Guard Faction
The Imperial Guard is a ranged swarm faction that focuses on overwhelming the enemy with cheap, numerous infantry supported by powerful vehicles and artillery. Their units are individually weak and have fragile morale, but with the right support, they can form an unbreakable firing line.
Unit Type | Units |
Commander/Hero | Command Squad, Techpriest Enginseer (Builder) |
Light Infantry | Guardsmen Squad, Scout Sentinel |
Heavy Infantry | Kasrkin, Ogryn Squad |
Vehicles | Chimera (Light), Hellhound (Light), Leman Russ (Heavy), Basilisk (Heavy), Marauder Bomber (Aircraft) |
Relic/Super-Heavy | Baneblade |
6. Necrons Faction
The Necrons are an undead machine faction that starts slow but becomes nearly unstoppable in the late game. Their unique resource system and ability to resurrect units from the dead make them incredibly durable. Their units are slow but extremely powerful, demanding map control to remain competitive.
Unit Type | Units |
Commander/Hero | Necron Lord |
Light Infantry | Wraith |
Heavy Infantry | Necron Warriors, Flayed Ones, Pariahs, Immortals |
Vehicles/Relic | Builder Scarabs (Builder), Destroyer (Heavy Vehicle), Heavy Destroyer (Heavy Vehicle), Monolith (Relic), Essence of the Deceiver (Relic), Essence of the Nightbringer (Relic) |
7. Tau Faction
The Tau are a long-range DPS faction that excels at ranged combat and stealth. They have powerful weaponry and battlesuits that can eliminate enemies from a distance. Their weakness is in melee combat, so they rely on a strong frontline to protect their more fragile, long-range units.
Unit Type | Units |
Commander/Hero | Ethereal, Earth Caste Builder (Builder) |
Light Infantry | Fire Warriors, Kroot Carnivores, Kroot Hounds, Pathfinders, Vespid Stingwings |
Heavy Infantry | Broadside Battlesuit |
Vehicles | Hammerhead Gunship (Heavy), Skyray Missile Gunship (Heavy) |
Relic/Super-Heavy | Greater Knarloc |
8. Dark Eldar Faction
The Dark Eldar are a glass cannon faction similar to the Eldar, but with an even greater focus on speed, high damage, and fragility. They are incredibly difficult to play but can be devastating in the hands of an experienced player. They have a unique "Soul Essence" resource that they collect by killing enemies to power their abilities.
Unit Type | Units |
Commander/Hero | Haemonculus |
Light Infantry | Hellion Squad, Mandrakes, Scourges, Wych Squad |
Heavy Infantry | Warriors |
Vehicles/Walkers | Reaver Jetbike (Light Vehicle), Raider (Light Vehicle), Ravager (Heavy Vehicle), Talos (Walker) |
Relic/Super-Heavy | Dais of Destruction |
9. Sisters of Battle Faction
The Sisters of Battle are a highly zealous faction with a playstyle that blends elements of both Space Marines and the Imperial Guard. They are excellent at breaking enemy morale and have a unique "Faith" resource that they generate through combat. This Faith allows them to use powerful special abilities.
Unit Type | Units |
Commander/Hero | Canoness, Confessor, Missionary (Builder) |
Light Infantry | Battle Sister Squad, Seraphim Squad, Missionary (Builder), Assassin |
Heavy Infantry | Arco-Flagellants, Celestian Squad, Retributor Squad |
Vehicles/Walkers | Immolator (Light Vehicle), Lightning Fighter (Aircraft), Exorcist (Heavy Vehicle), Penitent Engine (Walker) |
Relic/Super-Heavy | Avenging Angel |
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