Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV shows that Blood Ravens won't be the only Space Marine faction you play as this time around

A massive armored sci-fi warrior stands beside a battle tank as explosions flare behind him and a bright green laser cuts across the smoky battlefield. — A Dark Angel Chaplain rides into battle against the Necrons. (Image credit: Deep Silver)

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV, the long-awaited sequel to Warhammer 40,000's beloved real-time strategy series, has released a new trailer to whet players' appetites before its December 3, 2026 release on PC.

This cinematic showcases an epic battle between two playable factions of the game: the superhuman Space Marines and the mechanical, alien horrors known as Necrons.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV – Space Marines CGI Trailer [PEGI] - YouTube

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Space Marines come in a variety of different armies called Chapters, and the one you play as in this game is the Blood Ravens, the mascots of the Dawn of War series.

In this trailer, the Blood Ravens, despite being genetically engineered super soldiers, are getting annihilated by the Necrons' never-ending armies of undying robot monsters and advanced technology.

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Then, when all hope seemed lost, the Blood Ravens get rescued by the Dark Angels, an iconic Space Marine chapter from the tabletop version of Warhammer 40,000, who are heavily themed after medieval knights.

The Dark Angels will be a playable sub-faction of the Space Marine with their unique units, strategies, and heroes separate from the Blood Ravens, including the video game debut of Lion El'Jonson, the Primarch of the Dark Angels.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV continues to march towards its release date

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV Battlefield Report – 2v2 Team Skirmish Maelstrom PvE - YouTube

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As a longtime fan of Warhammer, I have a special place in my heart for the Blood Ravens Chapter, as they were the first Space Marines I ever met when I played the original Dawn of War back in the early 2000s, so I can't wait to play as them again.

As for the Dark Angels, I will admit I'm not quite as familiar with these guys other than their knightly aesthetics, their obsession with interrogations and paranoia, and being playable in 2016's Space Hulk: Deathwing game.

So it will be interesting getting to know them as I play through the story campaign and see how they get along with the Blood Ravens.

But what about you? Are you excited to play as the Space Marines in Dawn of War IV, or are you planning to play one of the factions like the Orks, Necrons, or Adeptus Mechanicus?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, let us know in the comments section, poll, or on our Reddit page.

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Alexander Cope is a gaming veteran with over 35 years of experience who primarily covers Xbox and PC gaming news and spotlights discounts on the best laptops, peripherals, and other electronics. He's also a diehard fan of JRPGs, action games, beat em’ ups, and Capcom’s Monster Hunter series