Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV launches on 3 December 2026 with four modes: the campaign (solo or co-op), Skirmish against the AI, 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 multiplayer, and the three-player Last Stand. Crusade, a mode inspired by the Dark Crusade expansion, arrives for free after launch. Below is an overview of every mode, the multiplayer win conditions, how Last Stand works and what we know about Crusade. Everything comes from KING Art Games’ official posts, as of 10 November 2026. The game is not out yet, so the modes are described as the developers present them, not from a finished game.
Dawn of War 4 modes at a glance
| Mode | Players | Co-op | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campaign | 1 or 2 | yes, with a friend | at launch |
| Skirmish | vs AI | yes, e.g. 2v2 vs AI | at launch |
| Multiplayer | 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 | team matches | at launch |
| Last Stand | 3 | yes | at launch |
| Crusade | not announced | not announced | free after launch |
According to the official FAQ, many modes support co-op. On Steam the game is tagged Single-player, Multi-player, PvP, Online PvP, Co-op and Online Co-op.
Multiplayer and win conditions
Multiplayer offers 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 matches at launch. There are three ways to win:
- Annihilation: destroy every enemy HQ. This is the default in Quick Match.
- Domination: hold Strategic Positions to earn Victory Points.
- Maelstrom: complete objectives that appear on the map.
Quick Match lets you pick any of them. In multiplayer, commanders are generic faction units, not campaign characters. You choose them before the match and build them at your HQ, and match settings let you have them from the start or switch them off. The developers plan to adjust multiplayer balance after launch based on data and feedback. How the factions differ is covered in our factions guide.
Skirmish against the AI
Skirmish is a match against the computer where you choose the map, factions and difficulty. In one of their Battlefield Reports the developers showed a 2v2 Team Skirmish against AI on Hard, so you and a friend can take on the computer together.
Last Stand: three players against 20 waves
Last Stand returns from Dawn of War II. Three players face 20 waves of enemies. Each controls one commander with their own wargear and can now bring up to four escort units, paid for with deployment points.
Your score depends on speed, survival and holding locations. Progression unlocks new wargear and units rather than raw stat boosts. New commander scenarios for Last Stand are planned after launch, also for free.
Crusade: free after launch
Crusade is an endless mode inspired by the Dark Crusade expansion for the original game. It plays out on a turn-based map of Kronus where you spend Action Points, send your Strike Force into battle and manage Requisition. Units keep their experience between battles and weaker clashes are auto-resolved. According to the developers, a typical Crusade takes 8 to 10 hours, and five commanders get their own Crusade.
The developers list it as post-launch content: it arrives free as part of the Year One plan, together with map packs, a mission editor and new commander scenarios. Once the developers publish dates for individual items, you will find them in our DLC and roadmap article.
What applies in every mode
According to the developers, Dawn of War IV is a classic RTS. You build a base, capture and upgrade resource points (Requisition and Power), command squads and research upgrades. Units grow stronger by surviving and unlock new abilities through Veterancy.
- Cover: directional cover plus garrisonable buildings.
- Retreat: pull out of a fight. When the icon turns from red to yellow, you can cancel the retreat.
- On-Field Reinforcement: squads refill right on the battlefield, but it is expensive.
- Combat Director: synchronised animations for every fight, not just the final blow, with more than 10,000 combinations according to the developers.
Army Painter
The Army Painter is a tool for colouring your units. You can share schemes with the community, and the game includes ready-made schemes for popular chapters. It works everywhere except the campaign.
Crossplay and platforms
Dawn of War IV has no crossplay because it launches on PC via Steam only, so everyone meets on the same platform. The story mode is covered in detail in our campaign guide. Players who wanted to try the modes early had a chance in the Closed Beta, more in our beta article.
Join our Discord to find teammates for Last Stand and team matches: GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
Yes. The campaign can be played with a friend, Last Stand is for three players, and Skirmish and multiplayer offer team matches.
Yes, at launch. Three players face 20 waves, each with one commander and up to four escort units.
Free after launch as part of the Year One plan. The developers have not announced an exact date yet.
At launch 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3 with the Annihilation, Domination and Maelstrom win conditions.
No. The game launches on PC via Steam only, so there is nothing to cross over to.
Information verified on 10 November 2026. We will update this article after launch. More guides are waiting in our guides section.