Space Marines are the poster child for Warhammer 40K, and a lot of the games from this IP feature this faction front and center, with Warhammer 40K Dawn of War Definitive Edition being a prime example. While the Blood Ravens are the main chapter featured in the main story, players can pick various other chapters to play as, though this is mostly just a reskin of the overall Space Marine Faction.
Space Marines are one of the better factions to start with in Dawn of War Definitive Edition, though there's a lot this faction can do to make them one of the best when played correctly. Here are all the ins and outs of Space Marines so you can master this faction.
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Resources, Building, & Strategic Points for Space Marines in Dawn of War Definitive Edition
The main resource used by Space Marines is Requisition, which is earned by taking and holding Strategic Points. The secondary resource used by Space Marines is Power, which is generated using a Plasma Generator, which can be built with a Servator right at the start of the game.
Strategic Points can be taken by any infantry unit, and scouts built out of your Stronghold right at the start of the game give you decent options to get around fast and quickly claim a few points before anyone else. Scouts are fairly versatile, and can be upgraded to get snipers to help them take down other early game infantry and give you some map dominance as you claim strategic points to get a large Requisition production.
After a few scouts, you'll want to build at least three Servators, as they are needed to build any necessary structure. Early on, move two of your Servators behind your scouts to build Listening Posts on any captured Strategic Points to help with your Requisition production and holding the point. Additional Servators will also help just a bit later, as you aim to build multiple Plasma Generators all at once to kick-start your power production.
Space Marine Build Order in Dawn of War Definitive Edition
Upgrading your main building will give you access to new buildings that create better units to use in combat. The following order is what you'll want to build to quickly get to the final level of your stronghold. Listening Posts are left off below and should be built whenever you capture a nearby Strategic Point.
- Plasma Generator
- Chapel Barracks
- Monastery (Stronghold Upgrade)
- Armory
- Plasma Generator
- Plasma Generator
- Plasma Generator
- Machine Cult
- Fortress Monastery (Stronghold Upgrade)
- Plasma Generator
- Sacred Artifact
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Dominating Combat With Space Marines in Dawn of War Definitive Edition
A basic squad of Space Marines is arguably one of the most versatile units in the game. Give them some heavy weapon upgrades, a full squad, and have them be led by a character, and they will take on just about any other infantry squad with minimal effort. Since basic Space Marines can lock down the early and mid game, this will give you time to get your Machine Cult building completed to start working on vehicles.
Later on in the game, you'll want a healthy mix of terminators, dreadnaughts, and tanks, only using basic Space Marines to quickly get around and hit weaker points while your main force hits the enemy head-on, no matter the chapter you choose. Predator tanks are great against anything with heavy armor, and your Terminators will clean up everything else.
- Released
- August 14, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Relic Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Relic Entertainment
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Warhammer 40K
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Sci-Fi, Base Building
