Dawn of War IV Multiplayer Gameplay Shows Space Marine Reserve Deployment and Ork Base Crawling

King Art Games creative director Jan Theysen and senior game designer Elliott Verbiest have released a 1v1 multiplayer gameplay video pitting Space Marines against Orks, revealing several previously unseen faction mechanics ahead of the game’s 14 September release.

The Space Marines feature a reserve deployment system that allows units to be held back from the field and deployed directly to any location where the player has vision. Keeping units in reserve costs more time and resources than fielding them immediately, but the trade-off is the ability to respond to developing situations across the map, surprise opponents at key fights, and queue counters to specific threats as they emerge. The system allows for a more reactive, information-dependent playstyle compared to conventional RTS front-line production.

Both factions appear to share a wargear system allowing individual units to adapt their loadout during a match. The Intercessor squad is shown switching between a standard bolter, an auxiliary grenade launcher, swords, and anti-vehicle equipment, with the developers noting the system extends across other units as well. The mechanic reflects Dawn of War IV’s basis in Warhammer 40,000’s 10th edition tabletop rules, where adaptable unit loadouts are a core part of army building.

The Ork faction takes a fundamentally different approach. Most Ork units have the ability to construct buildings, allowing players to establish cheap forward bases across the map far more rapidly than other factions. The combination of widespread construction capability, low building costs, and well-armed infantry suggests an aggressive map control playstyle built around spreading quickly and establishing a presence across key areas before opponents can respond. The Waaagh mechanic brings the faction’s largest and most powerful units into play when triggered.

Strategic point capture and resource control from the original Dawn of War returns as the map control foundation. Dawn of War IV releases on 14 September, with some versions unlocking 17 September.