We jumped into the Dawn of War 3 multiplayer beta this weekend; here’s our take on how the Warhammer 40k game shapes up and if it lives up to the hype!
Updated April 8th, 2025, by Rob Baer with new information and links to relevant content.
If you’ve spent more time painting Ork boyz than socializing this month, same here—and this weekend, the Dawn of War 3 multiplayer beta had my full, paint-stained attention (after the single player version, of course). As someone who’s played more tabletop 40k than is probably healthy, I was curious (and mildly skeptical) about how Warhammer 40k Dawn of War 3 would stack up in digital form.
Fast-paced RTS with a MOBA twist? Cooldowns, elite units, and resource-scrambling chaos? Alright, Relic—let’s see what you’ve got. Spoiler: it’s not quite the same as rolling dice on a battlefield, but it might just scratch the right itch.
Warhammer Dawn of War 3 Multiplayer Beta: Chaos, Carnage, and Cooldowns
So, my weekend plans went out the window thanks to the Dawn of War III multiplayer beta—and honestly? No regrets. After three solid days of play, I can confidently say I had a blast.
Let me preface this review with some personal background: I’ve been hyped for this for a while. Having played the first two Warhammer Dawn of War titles and all their DLCs, I appreciated the shifts in gameplay—from large-scale army control to tight, squad-based tactics.
Each brought something unique to the table. And now, Warhammer 40k Dawn of War 3 comes charging in with some fresh tricks… though nothing completely revolutionary. Still, it injects some much-needed energy into a genre that’s been running on fumes.
Breaking the Mold, One Plasma Shot at a Time
Relic Entertainment is clearly trying to shake up the classic RTS formula. They’re speeding up the pace, throwing in more hero (but Gabriel Angelos is still around) variety, and pushing players toward aggressive, high-stakes combat.
I clocked over 30 matches during the beta weekend (yeah, I went a little hard), and it’s clear: passive turtling won’t cut it here. The maps and gameplay style feel like a hybrid between a traditional RTS and a MOBA—which surprisingly works. Instead of just annihilating your enemy’s forces, you have to breach their defenses and destroy their power core. Think towers, objectives, and calculated aggression.
Strategy? Check. Speed? Double Check.
The gameplay in Dawn of War 3 is designed around momentum. You’ve got 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 map options, and each one encourages rapid expansion and control over key resource points. These aren’t just bonuses—they’re critical. Resource points generate both standard resources and elite points, which fuel your big-hitter units for Space Marines, Orks, and Eldar.
Lose control of a resource point? You’re in trouble. Fall behind early? Good luck catching up.
The longer you hold a point, the more you can upgrade it, giving you a stronger economy and faster access to game-changing elites.
Factions 101: Marines, Elves, and Mad Ladz
The beta featured three factions:
- Space Marines – The jack-of-all-trades. Solid melee, solid range, solid vehicles. Classic and dependable.
- Eldar – Masters of speed, stealth, and hit-and-run tactics. High skill ceiling, but deadly in the right hands and those of Farseer Macha.
- Orks – Absolute chaos. Fun and aggressive, but maybe not as brain-dead simple as they first appear. There’s surprising depth here, especially with the right doctrines and late-game upgrades.
Some players noted that Orks require a bit more finesse than expected due to their faction-specific mechanics and synergy-heavy elites.
Elite Units: Your MVPs
Each faction has five elite units in the beta (nine in the full release). These aren’t just stronger versions of normal units—they’re full-blown game changers. They come with powerful active skills, passives that level up over time, and their own unique cooldown-based resurrection mechanic.
Yes, you heard that right. When an elite dies, it doesn’t stay dead. It goes on cooldown, and once that’s done (and you’ve got the elite points), you can drop it back into the fight. It’s like Pokémon, but with flamethrowers and orbital strikes.
Doctrines: The Secret Sauce of Strategy
Doctrines are like passive perks for your faction. You get three of them, and they apply across units, vehicles, or buildings. They’re unlocked using a resource called “skulls” and require elites of the proper level. These let you fine-tune your army and playstyle in some really fun ways.
Want to go all-in on vehicle rushes? There’s a doctrine for that. Prefer durable melee blobs? Yep, there’s one for that too.
Once players get their hands on the full system, I expect to see some wild builds coming out of the community.
Final Verdict: Warhammer 40k Dawn of War 3 Is Bringing the Heat
If you’re a fan of fast-paced RTS action with just enough tactical depth to sink your teeth into, Dawn of War 3 delivers. The blend of base-building, aggressive skirmishing, and elite-driven strategy offers something fresh for veterans and newcomers alike.
Sure, the speed and pressure might scare off fans of slower, more methodical RTS games—but this isn’t meant to be a nostalgia trip. It’s a bold new step for the franchise.
I’m all in—and I can’t wait to see what new factions and DLCs Relic has up its sleeve.
See the Latest on the Space Marine 2 Video Game Here!
What are your thoughts on the Warhammer 40k Dawn of War 3 game? Have you still been playing?
