The complete original Dawn of War collection, meaning the base game plus its three expansions, lets you play nine factions: Space Marines, Orks, Eldar, Chaos, Imperial Guard, Tau, Necrons, Dark Eldar, and Sisters of Battle. The base campaign itself is narrower. It follows the Blood Ravens, a Space Marine chapter, and the faction choices grow with each expansion.
The nine playable factions
The Definitive Edition, which bundles the original game with its expansions, is the simplest way to access the full roster. Relic Entertainment’s official Steam product description for that edition lists four complete campaigns and nine full-fledged factions, and it names all nine:
- Space Marines
- Orks
- Eldar
- Chaos
- Imperial Guard
- Tau
- Necrons
- Dark Eldar
- Sisters of Battle
These counts come from the product listing, which is the publisher’s own description rather than an independent test. Eldar and Dark Eldar are separate factions, and the listing treats them that way.
Campaign access is the real question
Having nine factions in the collection does not mean every faction is available in every campaign. Each entry in the series opened up more choice, so the answer depends on which campaign you are playing.
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| Faction | Original campaign | Winter Assault | Dark Crusade | Soulstorm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space Marines | Yes, as the Blood Ravens | Not stated as a campaign side | Yes | Yes |
| Orks | Not stated as a campaign choice | Yes, Disorder side | Yes | Yes |
| Eldar | Not stated as a campaign choice | Yes, Order side | Yes | Yes |
| Chaos | Not stated as a campaign choice | Yes, Disorder side (manual: Chaos Space Marines) | Yes | Yes |
| Imperial Guard | Not stated as a campaign choice | Yes, Order side | Yes | Yes |
| Tau | Not in original campaign | Not stated as a campaign side | Yes (Tau Empire) | Yes |
| Necrons | Not in original campaign | Not stated as a campaign side | Yes | Yes |
| Dark Eldar | Not in original campaign | Not stated as a campaign side | Not stated as a campaign choice | Yes |
| Sisters of Battle | Not in original campaign | Not stated as a campaign side | Not stated as a campaign choice | Yes |
“Not stated” means the sources consulted do not list that faction as a playable choice for that campaign. It does not mean the faction is absent from the game. The table is based on the official product description and the original, expansion, and Winter Assault manuals.
Original campaign: the Blood Ravens
The original Dawn of War campaign is built around the Blood Ravens, a Space Marine chapter. If you are asking which faction you command in the first campaign, the answer is Space Marines. The other eight factions are not presented as campaign choices there, so they should not be counted as part of the base campaign’s options.
Winter Assault: Order and Disorder
Winter Assault, set on Lorn V, groups its forces into two sides:
- Order: Imperial Guard and Eldar.
- Disorder: Orks and Chaos. The Winter Assault manual describes the Chaos force as Chaos Space Marines, while the Definitive Edition listing uses the label “Chaos.”
The sources do not list Space Marines, Tau, Necrons, Dark Eldar, or Sisters of Battle as playable sides in Winter Assault.
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- Real-time strategy game based on the popular table-top war game
- Vie for the survival of mankind or its ultimate destruction
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- Single player campaigns; Multiplayer for up to 8 via LAN or Internet
Dark Crusade: seven choices
Dark Crusade, set on Kronus, adds Tau and Necrons to the playable roster. Its listed choices are Space Marines, Imperial Guard, Eldar, Orks, Chaos, Tau, and Necrons, which makes seven. Dark Eldar and Sisters of Battle are not part of this campaign’s choices.
Soulstorm: all nine factions
Soulstorm, set in the Kaurava System, adds Sisters of Battle and Dark Eldar. According to the Definitive Edition listing and the Soulstorm manual, its campaign can be played as any of the nine factions. Soulstorm is the only campaign in the collection that offers the full roster.
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- Real-time strategy game based on the popular table-top war game
- Vie for the survival of mankind or its ultimate destruction
- Control 1 of 5 unique races
- Improved resource model makes it easier to focus on frontline action
- Single player campaigns; Multiplayer for up to 8 via LAN or Internet
Dawn of War IV is not part of this list
Dawn of War IV is a separate game. Its official site describes four factions and announces a December 3, 2026 release, so it should not be counted in the nine-faction answer for the original Dawn of War collection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which version you have matters
If you are playing the original game alone, you will have the Blood Ravens campaign and not the faction choices of the later expansions. To reach Tau and Necrons, you need Dark Crusade. To reach Sisters of Battle and Dark Eldar, you need Soulstorm. The Definitive Edition is the most straightforward way to have all four campaigns in one package, and the official Steam listing confirms it bundles the original game with its expansions.
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- Does not Require the original Dawn of War II
- Uncover the secrets of Aurelia- Build your squads up to level 30 and unlock devastating new abilities. Hold the chapter together and fight off the corrupting forces of Chaos.
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Before buying, confirm the edition and platform on the official Steam listing for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition.
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