As the most renowned Warhammer 40K faction and sci-fi icons, the Space Marines lead the pack once again in Dawn of War 4. They're the tip of the spear for the Imperium of Man, and their highly mobile strike forces mix strength and speed in the new entry in the long-running RTS series.
While the Space Marines are few when compared to the Imperium's main military force – the Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard) – their might is feared by all xenos who dare disturb humanity's dominion. They're entrusted with the most dangerous missions, and in Dawn of War 4 they seek to reclaim Kronus for the Emperor.
History
The first Space Marines were created using the genetic material from the Primarchs – supreme commanders created by the Emperor of Mankind that were taken away by the Gods of Chaos – and were part of 20 initial Legions. During the Great Crusade, the Primarchs were rediscovered. They took control of their Legions until the Horus Heresy, when Horus (one of the Primarchs) led many of them against the Emperor, who eventually slayed him and drove the rebels into a Warp rift named the Eye of Terror.
The loyalists were reorganised during the Second Founding according to the Codex Astartes, the doctrine that governs most Space Marine Chapters. Over the millennia, new Chapters have been created, but each of them ultimately descend from the original loyalist Legions. By the end of the 41st Millennium, the resurrected Roboute Guilliman – Primarch of the Ultramarines - and Mechanicum researchers had pushed to create a new generation of Astartes known as the Primaris Space Marines.
Like in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade, the story in Dawn of War 4 follows the Blood Ravens, but 200 years later. Commander Cyrus and Chief Librarian and psyker Jonah Orion return to Kronus in an attempt to rebuild their Chapter, but as we all know, at least two major xeno threats – the Orks and the Necrons – roam the war-ravaged world's surface...
Subfactions
The Imperium of Man's deadliest fighting force comprises around a thousand Chapters, yet Dawn of War 4 has only confirmed two so far based on the trailers and materials released: Blood Ravens and Dark Angels. While they're part of the same faction for all intents and purposes, each has a handful of distinct units and commanders.
Blood Ravens
The Blood Ravens' origins are unknown, with their recorded Chapter history beginning at some point of the 37th Millennium. This Chapter possesses a large and powerful group of Librarians (Space Marine psykers). They excel at predicting enemy strategies and executing precision strikes that devastate enemy forces before they have time to react and reorganise.
Though they're currently on the verge of extinction following some key defeats and the loss of their Chapter Master and many brothers to battle or Chaos, they have been given the ability to create many Primaris Space Marines. Led by Cyrus and Jonah, they embark on a new mission to take Kronus away from the xenos in Dawn of War 4.
Dark Angels
The Dark Angels, whose Primarch is the mighty Lion El'Jonson, remained loyal to the Emperor during the Horus Heresy, as they were the first Legion that was created. Their origins, however, are also a mystery. At times, their actions and objectives have been at odds with that of the Imperium as a whole, as the Chapter strives to atone for past sins. They're considered to be one of the most powerful Space Marine Chapters and are monastic in nature.
Over time, the Dark Angels have been defined by the distance they maintain from the rest of humanity. When joining a larger force, they often do so under their own goals, which happen to line up the Imperium's interests for the most part. The secrecy surrounding the Chapter doesn't make them any less lethal, as the Dark Angels have fought in more battles, wars, and crusades than most Space Marine groups.
Gameplay & Strategies
Dawn of War 4 makes a greater effort to make each playable faction distinct, and in the case of the Space Marines, pod deployment and rapid insertions are at the core of the faction's brutal gameplay loop and key strategies. While they can build structures and fortify bases, players can drop previously prepared squads of Space Marines on revealed parts of the map to keep enemy forces guessing.
Space Marines excel at concentrated firepower and mobility, and deployed pods can offer additional support as defensive turrets. Moreover, tanks and other heavy machinery can help break through enemy lines, letting the Primaris marines do the bulk of the killing. It's a 'quality over quantity' faction, with each different commander providing extra abilities and boosts that help reshape the army's strengths and overall build.
Come back at launch to learn more about the best Space Marine strategies in Dawn of War 4.
Units
There's no full official list of the Space Marine 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 Space Marine 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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