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Mechanics

The systems that make each faction play differently, as described by the studio. Balance figures are not published yet and are not guessed here.

21 mechanics · 21 written upMost recent check

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Mechanics — list · 21

MechanicFactionStatusChecked
Action Points and Strike ForcesAll factionsWritten guide
Army PainterAll factionsWritten guide
Auger VisionAdeptus MechanicusWritten guide
Combat DirectorAll factionsWritten guide
CoverAll factionsWritten guide
DominionAll factionsWritten guide
Noosphere LevelAdeptus MechanicusWritten guide
Noosphere NetworkAdeptus MechanicusWritten guide
On-Field ReinforcementNecronsWritten guide
Power MatrixNecronsWritten guide
RequisitionAll factionsWritten guide
RetreatAll factionsWritten guide
StratagemsAll factionsWritten guide
Strategic PositionsAll factionsWritten guide
Structures from OrbitSpace MarinesWritten guide
Sync KillsAll factionsWritten guide
Translocation ScienceAll factionsWritten guide
VeterancyAll factionsWritten guide
Victory PointsAll factionsWritten guide
Waaagh!OrksWritten guide
WargearAll factionsWritten guide

Mechanics — cards · 21

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Action Points and Strike Forces

    The Crusade world-map turn, its Action Points and the Strike Forces that move between territories.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Army Painter

    The announced Painter tool for adding personalised finishing touches to units, with its detailed feature set still to come.

    Read the guide →

  • Adeptus MechanicusWritten guide

    Auger Vision

    The Adeptus Mechanicus strategic ability that gives enhanced awareness beneath the fog of war, according to the publisher.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Combat Director

    The confirmed Combat Director system, what the developer says it coordinates and what it does not reveal about combat balance.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Cover

    The published cover rules for Dawn of War IV, including faction differences and the limits of defensive optimization.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Dominion

    How the Necron Dominion resource is tied to the Power Matrix, and what the publisher has not published about its economy.

    Read the guide →

  • Adeptus MechanicusWritten guide

    Noosphere Level

    The confirmed Adeptus Mechanicus progression layer that unlocks research and upgrades through the Noosphere.

    Read the guide →

  • Adeptus MechanicusWritten guide

    Noosphere Network

    What Deep Silver has published about the Adeptus Mechanicus Noosphere Network and its relationship with research and territory.

    Read the guide →

  • NecronsWritten guide

    On-Field Reinforcement

    The confirmed reinforcement tool for extending a unit’s life in the field and buying time to hold a position.

    Read the guide →

  • NecronsWritten guide

    Power Matrix

    The confirmed Necron territory system: how the Power Matrix spreads, supports construction and changes the value of Dominion.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Requisition

    The post-launch Crusade resource earned by conquering territories and used to improve captured regions and Strike Forces.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Retreat

    How the multiplayer AMA describes Retreat, reduced damage, temporary loss of control and the yellow cancellation window.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Stratagems

    The publisher’s confirmed faction ability system, its commander-independent presence and the limits of pre-release advice.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Strategic Positions

    The map locations that define Domination’s published victory condition and award Victory Points when held.

    Read the guide →

  • Space MarinesWritten guide

    Structures from Orbit

    The published Space Marines deployment rule: structures can land within vision, with distance affecting deployment time.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Sync Kills

    The confirmed one-on-one combat animations that return in Dawn of War IV and how they relate to the Combat Director.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Translocation Science

    The named Necron Stratagem that can move up to five units to another visible part of the map, according to the faction deep dive.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Veterancy

    What the publisher has confirmed about the Unit Veterancy System and what remains unknown about progression values.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Victory Points

    The published scoring language for Domination and Maelstrom, with no invented point values or timing thresholds.

    Read the guide →

  • OrksWritten guide

    Waaagh!

    How the publisher describes the Orks’ Waaagh! mechanic, its trigger and the limits of pre-release timing advice.

    Read the guide →

  • All factionsWritten guide

    Wargear

    The confirmed upgrade category used to answer threats, with published examples and no guessed efficiency table.

    Read the guide →

The publisher does not label these by faction. A subject is filed under a faction here only when that faction is the only one named on its page — anything that names two or more stays under “all factions”.