The Adeptus Mechanicus are a well-established Warhammer 40K faction that's new to the Dawn of War series. The Space Marines are the iron fist of the Imperium, and the menacing Tech-Priests are supporting them with an army (and strategies) of their own in Dawn of War 4.
It's an interesting decision, but one that should please longtime Warhammer 40,000 fans who wanted a bigger focus on the AdMech, a key part of the Imperium of Man's history and this game's Kronus-set story campaign. As the group who holds the key to technology in the name of the Emperor (aka Omnissiah), expect advanced upgrades and lots of ranged combat units on top of unique gameplay twists.
History
The Adeptus Mechanicus are a Cult of the Machine based on Mars that control technological knowledge in the Imperium of Man. They're responsible for maintaining the Imperium's advanced machines and hardware, including the Golden Throne that sustains the Emperor of Mankind.
While the Adeptus Mechanicus are sided with the Imperium and considered valuable allies to other human factions, they enjoy a high degree of independence, as they've historically developed in different ways and separate from the rest of humanity. Tech-Priests are usually cybernetically augmented and have different ranks based on their status within the Cult Mechanicus.
Overall, it can be considered a religion built around the Omnissiah – the physical manifestation of the Machine God – who happens to be the Emperor of Mankind. During the Great Crusade, the Imperium established a relationship with the Martian Cult Mechanicus after the Emperor himself miraculously repaired machines with a simple touch. In exchange for technology, the Imperium protects the Adeptus Mechanicus and allows them to expand across the Galaxy alongside it.
During the Horus Heresy, some members of the Cult rebelled against the Emperor – they'd later be known as the Dark Mechanicum. 10,000 years later, the Adeptus Mechanicus have become even more fanatical and continue their Quest for Knowledge, hunting for ancient technology wherever they can. In Dawn of War 4, this search for answers leads them to unearth something terrible on Kronus...
Gameplay & Strategies
The Adeptus Mechanicus are the all-new faction coming to Dawn of War 4, so KING Art has made sure the Tech-Priests stand out with unique units and mechanics. As the group responsible for building most of the Imperium's war machines and technology, their focus is on deploying advanced long-range units and buildings on the battlefield, but there's more to their playstyle.
Their troops and heavy units are meant to excel at long range engagements for the most part, though certain units still allow them to stay competitive in melee encounters. Nimble and with impressive firepower, the Adeptus Mechanicus lay siege to enemy armies from afar if possible. The Imperium's House Raven granted them access to colossal machines in Dawn of War 4, with the mighty Knight Castellan packing some serious firepower.
The Void Shield is a key part of the Adeptus Mechanicus' playstyle, as it allows them to block ranged attacks in large areas, forcing the enemy forces into approaching yours – the shield can be crossed freely – or taking a step back. Meanwhile, they'll be torn apart by devastating ranged weapons. This is combined with another unique ability called Auger Vision, which allows the faction to have enhanced awareness of areas in the fog of war. While enemy units aren't exactly pinpointed, it's a useful degree of insight into enemy moves.
The Noosphere Network technology – another key feature of this faction – also allows the Tech-Priests to connect every building together. The more structures you add to the network, the cheaper units and upgrades are. You'll also gain access to new technology and make every unit within the network's sphere of influence stronger. Therefore, anyone opposing the Adeptus Mechanicus will probably want to keep the pressure on their structural presence on the battlefield.
Units
There's no official list of the Adeptus Mechanicus units available in Dawn of War 4 at the time of writing, but we'll be updating this section as new details come out and giving each unit its own page. For now, we have spotted the following in the promotional materials:
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Buildings
There's no full official list of the Adeptus Mechanicus buildings available in Dawn of War 4 at the time of writing, but we'll be updating this section as new details come out and giving each one its own page.
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