Dawn of War IV's battlefield report: a lesson in controlled violence

One side brings centuries of military doctrine and genetically enhanced super-soldiers. The other brings a lot of shouting and an alarming amount of scrap metal. Welcome to the first proper multiplayer showcase of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV. The newly released Battlefield Report 1 finally lets players watch the franchise's oldest grudge match unfold: the stoic Space Marines versus the irrepressibly loud Orks. And if there was ever any doubt about the game's intentions, this video makes one thing crystal clear: Dawn of War IV wants its factions to feel wildly, gloriously different.

A clash of philosophies, not just factions

Watching the Space Marines play is like watching someone carefully arrange pieces on a chessboard—if every piece happened to be carrying a bolter. Their army moves with purpose. Squads are deployed methodically, positions are chosen carefully, and every engagement seems planned three steps in advance. The Marines don't simply throw units into combat; they commit forces with the confidence of someone who has already calculated the outcome. Every squad feels valuable. Every casualty feels expensive.

The Battlefield Report showcases a faction that thrives on precision and timing. Marines pick their battles, preserve their troops, and wait for the right moment to unleash powerful reinforcements. Rather than flooding the map, they create pockets of control and dare the enemy to attack them. It's a playstyle built around discipline and efficiency. The result is a faction that feels less like an army and more like a scalpel—an extremely large, heavily armored scalpel equipped with missile launchers.

Then there are the Orks. The green tide doesn't so much deploy as it happens. Where the Marines advance with calculated precision, the Orks arrive in a glorious avalanche of enthusiasm, noise, and violence. Their strategy appears to be built around momentum, aggression, and the age-old military principle of "What if we just sent more Boyz?" And honestly? It works.

The Battlefield Report shows the Orks constantly pressuring the map, throwing units into battle and refusing to give the Marines a moment to breathe. They don't seek perfect engagements. They seek engagements. Preferably lots of them. Losing a few units hardly seems to matter when another mob is already sprinting toward the front lines. The Orks feel wonderfully reckless, but there is a method to the madness. Their strength comes from forcing opponents into uncomfortable situations, overwhelming defensive positions, and turning the battlefield into a chaotic brawl where careful plans start falling apart.

Promisingly asymmetrical

A single match doesn't reveal everything about a strategy game, but this one does reveal something important: Dawn of War IV appears deeply committed to faction identity. And in an era where many RTS games smooth away differences in the name of balance, that's refreshing. The Space Marines look like a faction for players who enjoy precision, control, and carefully timed power spikes. Meanwhile, the Orks look like a faction for players who see the words "tactical restraint" and immediately start building another mob of Boyz.

If this first showcase is any indication, Dawn of War IV understands one of the oldest truths in Warhammer 40,000: There are many paths to victory. Some involve discipline and strategic brilliance. Others involve screaming "WAAAGH!" and seeing what happens.

Orks and Space Marines are just two of the factions that will be present in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV at launch. The release of the game will mark the return of an iconic RTS franchise whose previous installment felt a bit lacking. The game will return to the roots that made Dawn of War and Dawn of War II big hits in the genre. Of course, our comparator can provide you with the best deals on Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV game keys with just a single click.