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Armies of Warhammer 40,000
Kat_RE
Throughout Dawn of War I and Dawn of War II, you will encounter the following armies. We’ve given a brief overview to help familiarize you with the unique playstyle of each army.
Armies
Space Marines
The Adeptus Astartes, also known as the Space Marines, are the Imperium’s most elite soldiers. Biologically engineered into weapons in their own right, they serve as the primary defense for the Imperium of Man.
The Space Marines are tough warriors and, as such, they make an excellent army to start with. With a nice balance between ranged and melee warfare, it is a great army choice when deciding which type of combat you prefer.
Orks
The Greenskins are a barbaric race with mysterious origin. Itching an ever-present urge to fight, they are just as likely to turn against each other as they are to band together against a common foe.
Orks are built to push early advantages. They are all about attacking with as much power as it is possible for them to secure.
Eldar
An ancient race, the Eldar possess superhuman agility and a natural affinity with psychic powers. Following a disastrous loss of life, they are a slowly dying race.
The Eldar, unable to afford heavy casualties, have adapted to strike hard but quick – utilizing stealth and teleportation. This is an excellent army choice if you enjoy mobility and sneak attacks.
Chaos Space Marines
Corrupted by the Ruinous Powers of Chaos, these former Space Marines are the sworn enemies of the Adeptus Astartes and the Imperium of Man.
The Chaos Space Marines play a distinctly different role than their counterparts. What they lack in heavy infantry they make up for in their melee prowess.
Imperial Guard
The Imperium of Man’s ordinary human soldiers, the Imperial Guard are more numerous than some entire species. Constantly in the trenches, the Imperial Guard are well-versed in combat tactics.
The Imperial Guard command the Imperium’s strongest vehicles. Well-placed Commanders provide morale and bonuses to your squads.
Necrons
Ancient and powerful, the Necrons are synthetic skeletal forms inhabited by the souls of a long-dead humanoid empire. Using astonishingly advanced technology, they are a formidable foe.
The Necrons are notoriously hard to kill. Though slow-moving, they deal considerable damage. The ability to resurrect Necron units will keep your squads up close and personal.
Tau
A much younger race, the blue-skinned Tau champion what they call the “Greater Good”. The Tau wish to unite the other races, but will resort to aggression if they meet any resistance.
Although Tau will be defeated in close combat easily, their ability to deal damage from afar is the army’s strong point. If you can keep your squads safely out of range of your opponents, you’ll find the Tau very impactful.
Sisters of Battle
The Sisters of Battle belong to the Ecclesiarchy - the state church of the Imperium of Man. An all-female institution, the Adeptas Sororitas act as the Ecclesiarchy’s primary military force.
Utilizing strong vehicle support, the Sisters of Battle can make a mark on the battlefield with their mobility.
Dark Eldar
The Dark Eldar are Eldar who were so wholly consumed by their vices that they created Slaanesh, the youngest of the Chaos gods. Obsessed with pain and torture, the Dark Eldar are a ferocious enemy.
Like their counterparts, the Dark Eldar excel at striking first. Although their vehicles are generally weaker, they are formidable in both ranged weaponry and close melee combat.
Tyranids
The Tyranids are united under the mysterious Hive Mind. They move rapidly from planet to planet, consuming all organic life in order to sustain their large biomechanical fleets.
The Tyranids aren’t too concerned with self-preservation. As such, they excel at building up a massive force and overwhelming their opponents with raw numbers.
What is your favorite race to play as, or against? Which armies do you suggest for new players? Discuss here!
Comments
Hollow
Carnage
Is this a suggestion that all will be in DOW3?
camarade123
holy cow
are will all be in dow3?
because if it is
ho boi
I3ishop
I love the Space Marines, Imperial Guard and Tyranids. Love whe nthe 3 are combined to duke it out, even better onboard a space hulk!
BrotherVolker
I'm a massive fan of the Imperial Guard and Sisters of Battle (All love to the Astartes of course, but you really get a lot of beefed up space marines in the sci-fi genre)
I love playing them against Tyranids/Chaos. Just too fun.
I'd happily suggest IG/Astartes to new players. IG for the fact of how massively they can be a jack of all trades, making it easier for new players, and giving them a lot of options in what they want to do. As for Astartes, the morale and tankyness of their starting infantry is good for new players, letting them have a bit of easy time learning the ropes of using cover with units that will survive the beating they may take in the process.
Oh, holy Throne on Terra. If even half these factions are in DoW3
Swoon
Trenchwar
Imperial Guards all the way!!!! (as a favorite in terms of look and gameplay).
Though I've always felt they got countered HARD by eldars in both games. I didn't have systematically much trouble vs any other race than eldars as guards...
still love orks and chaos once in a while.
BrotherVolker
Oh Throne... the painful memories of Wraithguard cheesing...
JLB
You forgot to mention that the SoB and Dark Eldar had "support powers", which was most of what the SoBs did really.
Trillnatty
Love Necrons! Really hyped about the announcement! Hope to see all races by the end of next year... plz?
TheWulf
Oh my Goodness i swear to the Emperor if all the old races will be added into DOW 3 I Will purge the Unclean haters of dow and kill the Heretics!
By The Emperor this must be done.
mauritos
you forgot to mention grey knights and demons.
KeeperofSqueakers
No, what would likely happen is that you will have a boner and play>! (DoW3) with yourself furiously to all the cute daemonettes, you silly pervert you~ ;P
Rymeer
I really like playing Space Marines. I would guess my favorite opponents would be Orks and Chaos Space Marines. The trailer seems to imply we get to play Titans? Oh, My... Emperor... YES!!!
Ritual
It would be great to see all races in 3 parts. And I would like more balance at the level of infantry appliances, because the current situation, when you accumulate resources and suffer for the sake of art, and then the Space Marines comes with two units of missile and kills your dreadnought I do not like!
Akerson
Dark eldar all the way
from what i remember from soulstorm, and table top their style and characters are awesome. Also i wouldnt mind monoliths hovering around the field either 
XZaguer
Tyranids for life
HORDESLICER
I like the Space Marines the most because they are the toughest.
Warpten
Tau and Imperial gards all the way !
Everchosen
I would love to see the Adeptus Mechanicus (Skitariii) as a faction
DeRosa
Make all races already in 3 parts , as well as in the first . I'm tired of Space Marines and one , and so the race
Sherman
developers will support DoW 1?
GenDrameron
Necronomicon
Personally my favourite race is the Tyranids, although they sucked in DOW2 although I like Necrons just as much. Chaos and Eldar are my next choices.
Kat_RE
I'm a fan too. I've had a Trygon Prime model sitting on my desk for awhile, working on him on and off for a bit over a year. I'm in that stretch where only the basing needs to be finished (I guess the carapace too if I feel like re-doing my shoddy first attempt at a feathering gradient), but I'm so looking forward to just starting on my Tyrannocite.
I have way too many units that need to be painted!
WarEagle
for game play i have to go Imperial Guard
)
DoW 1 Basilisk spam (try in UA and your PC will crash
DoW 2
manticore and storm troopers
DoW1 and DoW2
cause nothing is more satisfying then surprising a enemies with a BANEBLADE and typing CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED B!#@#%$
themistoklis
my favorite faction from the dow is only one the empire of man that provide 3 sub race who is the sister of battle of daw1 soulstorm dow1 and 2 the imperial guards
for the strong units and the loved too the emperor
and the last my most favorite of all is space marines
_WaZa_FR
My favorite faction are Space Marines and Orks (because they are so funny)
Teqfoxpl
The faction i like the most are the Space Marines (general lore not specific chapter). I like their gameplay, how one space marine can utterly destroy for example 10's of ork boyz and not be winded. I like they're conviction, the faith in the Immortal God Emperor.
Fernandito
Tyranids; Dark Eldar and Tau. Orks always of course.
Eldar are for the effeminate, and Sisters of Battle are perfect the female audience I guess
Chaos is usually boring to play. Same for Necrons. Cool race but boring gameplay.
Tau were the most fun to play to me in dow1.
Hoping something like dow2 never happens again. Let's just roll back to the old good dow1 days, ok Relic?, just give us all dow1 races (DLC wallet-++heresy redacted++ plans you have in store are obvious when partnered with Sega as we know from Total War Warhammer), and the massive battles and multiple strategies we were able to do in that game, not the absolute crap dow2 was
Masonicon
all armies that aren't Eldar, Orks, and Space Marines are just DLCs for DOW3