Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II multiplayer factions, resources and victory points
Understand the original four factions and the difference between fighting and scoring.
Edition covered
Original Dawn of War II (2009) campaign and core multiplayer systems. The current Anniversary Edition package also includes Chaos Rising, Retribution and other content; those campaigns and rosters are separate.
Choose a faction and commander role
The original multiplayer roster consists of Space Marines, Orks, Eldar and Tyranids. Each offers commander choices with different combat and support roles; later expansions add other armies.
| Faction | Broad identity | Planning focus |
|---|---|---|
| Space Marines | Durable specialist squads | Preserve expensive units |
| Orks | Aggressive infantry pressure | Support the advance and protect key squads |
| Eldar | Mobile specialists | Use each weapon against its intended target |
| Tyranids | Interacting creatures and synapse | Protect supporting organisms |
Capture resources and scoring objectives
Requisition and power support production and upgrades. Victory Points decide the score in the relevant mode, so winning a fight far from the scoring objectives may not stop the ticket loss.
| Objective | Purpose | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Requisition point | Unit and upgrade income | Capture and defend key routes |
| Power infrastructure | Technology and specialist spending | Protect it from raids |
| Victory Point | Match scoring | Contest enough points to stop ticket loss |
| Headquarters recovery | Reinforcement and rebuilding | Regroup before another push |
Preserve veteran squads
Reinforcing a surviving squad preserves its accumulated value. Retreat before a wipe when a fight is lost, then rebuild the attack around cover and a better angle.
Use the original-game scope
Chaos Rising and Retribution change the available rosters and options. Check the game and rule set before assuming a unit or commander from another release is present.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Publisher game and edition listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Original publisher manual | shared.fastly.steamstatic.com |