This guide is designed to help new and experienced players master the skirmish mode in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War. It covers fundamental resource management and provides a detailed, step-by-step build order for the Space Marine faction, effective for defeating even Expert-level AI opponents.
Table of Contents
Understanding Core Skirmish Mechanics
Dawn of War is a unique RTS that rewards aggressive play and careful resource management.
Resource Management
- Requisition: This is your primary resource, used for almost everything. Your HQ generates a small amount, but you must capture Strategic Points (SPs), Relics, and Critical Locations to increase your income. Build and upgrade Listening Posts (LPs) on these points to maximize your requisition gain and provide some defense.
- Power: This resource is required for advanced units, research, and vehicles. It is not generated automatically; you must build Generators to produce it. Managing your early-game power is critical.
The Importance of Offense You cannot win by playing defensively. Dawn of War is designed around constant conflict and map control. The only way to win is to be on the offensive, capturing territory and destroying your enemy’s ability to produce units and gather resources.
Space Marine Skirmish Build Order
This is a standard, effective build order for getting a strong start as the Space Marines.
Tier 1: The Opening Moves
- Immediately have your starting Builder construct a Barracks.
- At your HQ, queue the following units in this order: a Scout, a second Builder, and a second Scout.
- As your units are created:
- Send your first Scout to capture the nearest Strategic Point.
- Have your second Builder assist in constructing the Barracks to speed it up.
- Send your second Scout to capture a different nearby Strategic Point.
- Once the Barracks is complete, have your two Builders start constructing Listening Posts on the captured points.
- From the completed Barracks, queue your hero unit, the Force Commander, and one squad of Tactical Space Marines.
- Strategic Note: Save your starting 100 Power. You will need it to build the Force Commander.
- Continue capturing SPs with your Scouts. As your economy stabilizes, build two Plasma Generators.
- Build an Armory. This is required to advance to the next tier.
- Focus on expanding your army to 3-4 squads of Tactical Marines and fighting for map control. If you have the resources, build two more Generators before advancing.
Tier 2: Mid-Game Transition
- Research the first HQ add-on to unlock Tier 2.
- Immediately begin researching the first requisition and power upgrade technologies from your Listening Posts and Generators.
- Build up to a total of four Plasma Generators if you haven’t already.
- Construct the Machine Cult (the vehicle building). Begin producing vehicles like Dreadnoughts or Hellfire Dreadnoughts to support your infantry.
- Research the Squad and Vehicle Cap upgrades from your HQ to increase your maximum population.
- Build the Sacred Artifact, which allows you to create your powerful secondary commander unit, the Librarian.
