With Dawn of War returning, fans of the grimdark, never-ending Warhammer 40K conflicts have many reasons to rejoice. With a DoW: Definitive Edition, you can play with nine factions, each having a different approach to combat. This Dawn of War races tier list will help you decide which one to choose.
Best Ranked Races in Dawn of War Definitive Edition
When ranking DoW factions, we considered factors such as competitiveness, ease of use, strategic versatility, and even how fun it is to play them. All nine factions included are: Chaos Space Marines, Dark Eldar, Eldar, Imperial Guard, Necrons, Orks, Space Marines, Tau Empire, and Sisters of Battle. Here's our Dawn of War races tier list:
| Tier | Race |
|---|---|
| S | Eldar, Necrons |
| A | Orks, Tau |
| B | Space Marines, Imperial Guard |
| C | Chaos Marines, Dark Eldar |
| D | Sisters of Battle |
S Tier: Best Races in Dawn of War Definitive Edition
While all races in DoW should be nicely balanced, the Eldar and Necron factions are well above the others, provided you know how to play them.
Eldar
- Pros: Fastest movement speed, powerful ranged weapons, teleportation abilities
- Cons: Lowest unit health, expensive reinforcement costs, requires constant micromanagement
- Learning Curve: Hard - Difficult to master, but when you do...
Eldar excel at hit-and-run warfare and superior map control due to their unmatched mobility. Core units include Dark Reapers (heavy weapons), Wraithguard (elite anti-armor), Fire Prisms (mobile artillery), and Warp Spiders (teleporting harassment).
How to Play: Focus on attack and run tactics. For example, use Warp Spiders to teleport behind enemy lines and destroy resource buildings, then retreat. Establish Dark Reaper positions on high ground for crossfire support while Fire Prisms provide mobile artillery strikes. Avoid encounters against large enemy numbers, at least until you get Wrathguards. Control strategic points through speed by annoying enemies and taking them down one by one.
Necrons
- Pros: Self-resurrection, immune to morale, dominant late-game scaling
- Cons: Weak early game, expensive tech costs, vulnerable to early rushes
- Learning Curve: Moderate - Understanding tactics is relatively easy once you learn how to survive early enemy attacks
Necrons are the best defensive faction in Dawn of War. If you survive early game weaknesses, you'll become an unstoppable late-game force. Key units include Necron Warriors (self-repairing core troops), Destroyers (mobile heavy weapons), Wraiths (phase-capable scouts), and Monolith (teleportation/command hub).
How to Play: Be on defense while advancing through tech tiers. Use Warriors to hold chokepoints while Destroyers provide mobile fire support. Try to reach Tier 3 quickly to deploy Monoliths that can teleport entire armies and serve as mobile command posts. They may not be as fast or pretty, but they are so hard to kill.
A Tier: Waaagh and Taunder
Orks and Tau, factions within A-tier, are great to play with, as they're powerful enough to let you get away with rookie mistakes.
Orks
- Pros: Cheapest units, fastest early initiative
- Cons: Poor late-game scaling, weak against defensive positions, limited range options
- Learning Curve: Easy - Once you understand the WAAAGH! concept of constant war, you're good to go.
Orks specialize in rush strategies, making them the best option for small maps and aggressive playstyle. Primary units are Ork Boyz (cheap core infantry), Slugga Boyz (fast melee), Lootas (heavy weapons), and Killa Kans (light vehicles).
How to Play: Locate and rush the enemy as soon as possible with Slugga Boyz to disrupt their economy and slow down their development. Use WAAAGH! banners to boost combat effectiveness and move constantly, hitting enemy lines. Build massive Ork Boyz squads that are exponentially more effective with numbers. Focus on map control by sending wave after wave, rather than relying on defensive tactics. In mid-game, bring in vehicle support, but maintain an infantry-heavy army composition.
Tau Empire
- Pros: Best weapon range, excellent defensive options
- Cons: Bad melee units, requires careful positioning
- Learning Curve: Easy - having primarily range-focused units makes it easier to position and control their actions
The Tau Empire is closest to the good guys in the world of Warhammer 40k. Just like Peacemaker, they'll fight for peace no matter how many people they need to kill, for the greater good. They're one of the best defensive-oriented factions with the best range units in the game. Key units are Fire Warriors (basic ranged infantry), Crisis/Broadside Battlesuits (heavy infantry), and Hammerheads (mobile tanks).
How to Play: Establish defensive firing lines with overlapping fields of fire to maximize effectiveness. Use Stealth Suits for reconnaissance and harassment, while Crisis Suits provide mobile fire support. Avoid close combat at all costs, as Tau are very bad in melee. Retreat and reposition when enemies close the distance.
B Tier - For the Emperor!
Space Marines are arguably the most popular faction, mainly due to their lore. They're closest to classic WH40 warfare, making them very fun to play with. Having said that, you can argue that other factions are stronger, but for a true fan, Space Marines are always #1! And we can't forget their cousins, the Imperial Guard.
Space Marines
- Pros: High durability, versatile unit roles, forgiving gameplay mechanics
- Cons: Expensive production costs, slower than specialized factions
- Learning Curve: Easy - Marines are a jack-of-all-trades faction, which makes them ideal for beginners
Space Marines excel in balanced warfare, boasting strong defensive capabilities and flexible tactical options. Core roster includes Tactical Marines (versatile infantry), Assault Marines (jump troops), Terminators (elite infantry), and Dreadnoughts (walker vehicle).
How to Play: Establish strong defensive perimeters early while expanding step-by-step. Use Tactical Marines to hold territory while Devastators provide fire support from fortified positions. Assault Marines can respond to threats or exploit opportunities. Build toward Terminator/Land Raider combinations for powerful late-game pushes. Marines excel at holding strategic points, rather than employing rush tactics or relying solely on defense.
Imperial Guard
- Pros: Largest squad sizes, powerful artillery, cheap units
- Cons: Weakest individual units, vulnerable to close combat, requires static positioning
- Learning Curve: Easy - If you have any RTS experience, especially if you played Company of Heroes, you'll have no problem playing as Imperial Guard.
The Imperial Guard is your old-school military faction with plenty of cheap units and strong vehicles. Combined with bunkers and mines, you can easily entrench, play defensively, but also rush enemies in the early game. Core units are Guardsmen (cheap infantry), Heavy Weapons Teams (static fire support), Ogryns (heavy infantry), and Baneblade (super-heavy ultimate tank).
How to Play: Create defensive lines on strategic points with massed Guardsmen supported by Heavy Weapons Teams and bunkers. Use artillery to bombard enemy positions from long range, but don't be too static! Harass enemies by crossing their defensive lines and destroying their buildings, then retreat to the point of defense. Unfortunately, in later stages, your basic units will be overpowered. That's why it's crucial to turn to vehicles and artillery as they're harder to kill and offer more firepower.
Related: Best RTS games on PC
C tier - Forces of Darkness
Dark Eldar and Chaos Marines, more sinister versions of Eldar and Marines, are fun, although they're somewhat harder to play with. That's why they're stuck in the middle of our Dawn of War races tier list.
Chaos Marines
- Pros: Daemon reinforcements, corruption mechanics, strong offensive capabilities
- Cons: Complicated resource management, requires timing mastery, vulnerable during summoning
- Learning Curve: Hard - you must respect build orders and have micromanagement skills.
The Chaos faction combines Space Marine durability with aggressive daemon summoning and corruption abilities. Units include Chaos Marines (core infantry), Raptors (jump assault), Havocs (heavy weapons), Possessed (enhanced melee), and summoned daemons, Bloodletters/Horrors.
How to Play: Focus on aggressive mid-game strategies using daemon summoning to reinforce attacks. Use Raptors for deep strikes, while Possessed provides an elite melee punch. Don't forget to use corruption abilities to weaken enemy positions before assaults. Play more aggressively than regular Space Marines but with similar defensive actions around strategic points.
Dark Eldar
- Pros: Fastest vehicles, fear mechanics, excellent for guerrilla warfare
- Cons: Easy to kill units, requires perfect micro
- Learning Curve: Hard - similar to Eldar, you must manage units all the time
Dark Eldar specialize in lightning-fast raids thanks to their super-fast vehicles. Units include Warriors (basic infantry), Wyches (melee specialists), Reavers (fast bikes), and Ravagers/Talos (heavy vehicles).
How to Play: Execute hit-and-run attacks behind enemy lines for quick strikes on resource buildings. Use Reavers for constant harassment and map control. Never engage in sustained combat - strike fast, cause maximum damage, and retreat immediately. Constantly attack opponents' buildings to slow down their progress.
D Tier - Mercy!
Someone has to be at the bottom of the rankings, and the Sisters of Mercy are rightfully there, as they're simply not as dominant as other races.
Sisters of Mercy
- Pros: Faith point abilities, flame weapon specialization, good support faction
- Cons:
- Learning Curve: Hard - Faith points are hard to grasp, while units are too much of a master-of-none
Sisters of Battle attempt to employ balanced warfare with faith-based abilities, but they lack distinctive strategic advantages. Units include Battle Sisters (core infantry), Seraphim (jump troops), Celestians (elite infantry), Lightning (aircraft), and Exorcists (heavy vehicle).
How to Play: Sisters are played like Space Marines, but with faith abilities that provide situational advantages. Seraphim provide mobile harassment while Retributors deliver fire support. However, they lack the specialization needed for competitive play - they cannot match Space Marines' durability, Tau's range, or Eldar's mobility. Best suited for team-based multiplayer, where you can play as a support faction following the offensive activities of your allies.
Dawn of War Races Tier List FAQ
Necrons with multiple Monoliths create nearly unstoppable late-game armies thanks to their ability to teleport units.
Orks provide the best resource efficiency since Ork Boyz become exponentially more effective in larger squads while costing minimal resources.
Space Marines are the best race for beginners in Dawn of War: Definitive Edition, thanks to their defensive abilities and bullet-sponge units. Here, you can focus on base building, unit production, and basic strategies. As all units are relatively durable and useful, you can still win and have fun while you learn the basics.
Now that you know more about the best factions thanks to our Dawn of War races tier list, find out in what order to play the Warhammer 40K games.
Nebojša Prijić is a Managing Editor at Pro Game Guides with over 25 years of experience in journalism, screenwriting, and copywriting. He previously worked as Editor-in-Chief of Maxim Serbia magazine and the IGN Adria website. Nebojša is an old-school gamer who loves real-time strategies, shooters, and RPGs, but most of all, he plays Roblox and mobile games with his son. He remembers the first Diablo, PC games on a single floppy disk, and playing Mortal Kombat on the keyboard.