The Necrons are coming to Dawn of War IV, and they're not happy about the "lesser species" digging through their tombs. A new CGI trailer introduces the ancient mechanical dynasty as the fourth launch faction, set to awaken on Kronus when the game launches September 17. For anyone who's been waiting for a faction that plays like a slow-building pressure cooker, this is your sign.
The trailer opens with Necron Chronomancer Thothmek observing the brawl between Space Marines and Orks from orbit. He's disgusted by the desecration of his kind's tombs and makes a call: awaken the dynasty's full force—warriors, Triarch Stalkers, Canoptek Scarabs, the works. It's a classic "you've disturbed something ancient" moment, and it sets up the Necrons as the fourth faction alongside Space Marines, Orks, and Adeptus Mechanicus.
The Necron Playstyle: Pressure Through Patience
We've already seen how they work in recent 1v1 gameplay previews. In those matches, Necrons face off against the Adeptus Mechanicus, and the result is a fascinating clash of philosophies. The Mechanicus brings tech-priest precision and ranged dominance; the Necrons rely on building up an unstoppable tide of units that gradually overwhelm you. Think of it as a strategy of inevitability—if you don't disrupt their early game, they'll steamroll you in the late game.
That dynamic is crucial for Dawn of War IV's competitive health. The game already has Space Marines for aggressive frontlines, Orks for chaotic swarm tactics, and Adeptus Mechanicus for high-tech control. Necrons fill the "patient ramp" slot, rewarding players who can survive the early skirmishes and then flip the table. It's a classic RTS design choice, but one that requires tight balance to avoid feeling unfair.
Why This Matters for the RTS Scene
It's been a while since we got a proper Dawn of War title—the last numbered entry shipped back in 2009, and Dawn of War III (2017) was a divisive departure. Developer King Art Games is taking the reins, and so far the approach looks more grounded in the series' RTS roots rather than the MOBA-lite shifts that frustrated some fans. The Necron reveal reinforces that: they're a classic faction with a classic playstyle, not some experimental take.
The timing also lines up with a broader RTS renaissance. Games like Albion Online have kept the full-loot MMO-RTS hybrid alive, while smaller titles prove there's still appetite for base-building and unit micro. Dawn of War IV has the advantage of a massive IP behind it—Warhammer 40,000 is bigger than ever thanks to Space Marine 2, Boltgun, and the Ace Combat 7-style flight sims that have drawn in new fans. The audience is there; the question is whether the game can deliver.
The Skeptic's View
Faction balance is the obvious worry. Four factions at launch means four distinct playstyles to tune, and RTS balance is notoriously fragile. The series has a history of certain factions dominating the meta (anyone remember the 2017 Dawn of War III launch chaos?). King Art Games will need to be aggressive with patches and community feedback. A three-day early access for Commander Edition buyers also means the hardcore crowd will break the meta before the general population even logs in—that could create a knowledge gap that's tough to overcome.
There's also the concern about content cadence. King Art has promised a year of free updates including new story content, maps, Crusade Mode, commanders, and an additional playable faction. That's ambitious, and it assumes the launch audience sticks around long enough to see it through. Post-launch support is the new industry standard, but AMD-powered hardware can only do so much to keep a game alive if the initial offering doesn't hook players.
What Comes Next for Kronus
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV launches September 17, with September 14 early access for Commander Edition buyers. The three-day head start is a throwback to the Dawn of War II era, when pre-order bonuses actually felt meaningful. After launch, the free content pipeline looks promising, but the real test will be how the Necrons—and the other three factions—feel in a live environment.
If King Art Games can deliver a balanced, deep RTS that respects the series' legacy while innovating where it counts, this could be the game that reminds everyone why Dawn of War mattered. The Necrons are just the latest piece of that puzzle—but watching them rise from their tombs, it's hard not to feel that the battle for Kronus is going to be something special.
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